Dakota turned to look at Curtis.
Reflecting on the past few months, the business marriage was real, and love after marriage was real, but if Curtis pursued Dakota first, it seemed to stem from a series of misunderstandings.
Dakota got drunk and acted rowdy.
Curtis thought she was trying to lure him.
So he couldn't help but slowly fall for her.
It really fulfilled the playful words from their childhood—
"Kota and Curtis, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
On their engagement day,
J City happened to have its first snowfall of the year.
After toasting at each table, Curtis and Dakota sneaked out unnoticed.
Snowflakes danced in the air, creating a fairyland on earth.
Dakota wore a beige wool coat over her dress, with a soft scarf around her neck. She buried half her face in the scarf, looking up at the falling snow.
Curtis wore a black coat over his suit, standing beside Dakota, watching her.
Snowflakes landed on Dakota's long, curled lashes.
Melting as they fell.
Her lashes instantly looked like a mist, adding to Dakota's allure.
Curtis couldn't resist pulling her into his embrace.
He opened his coat, enveloping her inside, and asked with a low laugh, "Do you like watching the snow?"
"Yes," Dakota nodded, "I like watching the snow, I like watching the rain, I like watching fireworks, and I also like watching..."
"The rain is God's fireworks," she blinked.
A snowflake that hadn't melted fluttered down as she blinked.
Curtis gently brushed her lashes.
Dakota felt the tickle and her lashes quivered.
She tiptoed, leaning into his chest, pouting slightly, "But today I suddenly realized…"
"Hmm?"
"Curtis." Dakota reached out.
She lightly touched his lashes, "Why are your lashes longer than mine?"
Curtis laughed, "Do you like them too?"
"Yes," Dakota nodded seriously.
Curtis took a deep breath, pulling her into his embrace, his open collar draping over her, "Mm, then let's have a daughter with lashes like mine."
Dakota's expression turned incredulous.
She hadn't figured out how the topic shifted, still feeling dazed, when Curtis leaned down to kiss her.
Dakota was suddenly sealed with a kiss.
The snow continued to fall, covering the heads of those locked in an embrace.
When Noe and Jasiah came out to sober up, they saw this scene from afar.
"Damn." Noe lit a cigarette sadly.
He muttered with endless disdain, "Unbelievable, seriously, they're such jerks. I mean, even if you told me to guess, I'd never imagine these two would actually end up together!"
Jasiah was much calmer now.
He snatched the lit cigarette from Noe's hand and took a deep drag, "You don't know, that dog was so self-absorbed and cocky when he told me he thought Dakota liked him too."
What did he reply back then?
Oh.
He said, "I'm glad you're happy."
Now, Curtis was indeed very happy. Look, he had already won her heart.
Sweet and tender, a kiss in the first snow.
Noe and Jasiah couldn't bear to see such a heart-melting scene, especially recalling how Dakota and Curtis used to bicker and fight…
Now, this romantic scene felt like the end of the world itself.
After finishing the cigarette, Noe and Jasiah turned back to the hotel, not wanting to stay there any longer.
As for Dakota and Curtis, they slowly released each other.
Dakota looked up at Curtis, her breath fogging up his face as she smiled softly, "Do you think what we're doing right now feels like eloping?"
"Hmm?" Curtis raised an eyebrow.
"They're all in the banquet hall attending our engagement party, and here we are, sneaking out."
"But…"
Dakota wrapped her arms around Curtis's neck, "This thrill feels pretty good."
Curtis chuckled, tilting his head closer, "How about we make it even more exciting?"
"How?" Dakota asked him.
Curtis didn't answer. Instead, he slid his hand down and lifted Dakota into a princess carry, his voice hoarse, "Let's forget about them."
"Let's go home."
Dakota wrapped her arms around his neck.
She didn't refuse.
Curtis actually took Dakota away.
Later, the engagement party did indeed turn chaotic.
Guests were still eating, but the main characters were nowhere to be seen in the latter part of the event.
Greta was furious and called Dakota several times, but when there was no answer, she flipped her phone over on her lap, "That child… where did she run off to? How could she be so irresponsible?"
However, Reagan and Andre didn't mind.
Reagan reassured, "You know how young people are—they're not really into these kinds of events. The engagement party was more for us, to share the news with our friends and family. If they want to slip out early, let them."
"Yes," Andre agreed cheerfully, "Besides, it's definitely that rascal Curtis who didn't do anything good and ran off with her."
After all, he used to be like that when he was young.
"Greta."
Reagan pretended to scold her, "You're usually too strict with her."
"Is that so…" Greta smiled weakly.
She was initially worried about losing face due to Dakota's behavior.
But the in-laws' words left her at a loss for response, making her feel like she'd been lectured.
So Greta didn't say anything more, and the incident was easily dismissed.
As for Dakota, she wasn't particularly calm upon returning to Whispering Pines.
She had some more drinks.
Maybe because she was no longer afraid of acting rowdy with Curtis, she didn't restrain her drinking in front of him.
Today was a good day, and she was happy.
So, back at Whispering Pines, she had a few more sips, and after getting tipsy, Dakota knelt astride Curtis.
Curtis sat on the sofa.
A fluffy blanket was between them.
Looking at that perfectly sculpted figure, Dakota suddenly remembered a joke among her colleagues at the museum.
Someone who studies relief sculpture should sketch a man's abs!
Dakota's eyes suddenly lit up, and she wrapped her arms around Curtis's neck, "Take your clothes off."
"Hmm?" Curtis arched his eyebrows.
Of course, he could tell Dakota was drunk, but he was curious about what kind of mischief Mrs. Pineda was up to this time.
Though Dakota's eyes were bright,
her mind wasn't clear, and her gaze lacked focus, "Anyway… take your clothes off first, and you'll see."
Curtis: "I won't."
Kota: "Then I'll help you."
While Curtis said he wouldn't, he didn't stop Dakota at all.
He leaned back lazily on the sofa.
Not exerting any effort anywhere.
He even relaxed his arms to the sides, making it easier for Dakota to undress him.
Dakota really did start undressing him.
Drunk, she was like a little rabbit, fidgeting atop Curtis.
She played with the buttons on Curtis's shirt with her fingertips.
At first, she was patient, but later, whether due to her blurry vision or frustration with the buttons, she suddenly grabbed the collar and yanked.
Several buttons popped open.
Curtis's chiseled chest was fully on display, the perfectly sculpted muscles and those mesmerizing contours that always drew Dakota in now right in her line of sight.
