His Forever Bride: Bound by Contract, Kept by Love

The Second Dinner

The restaurant Adrian chose for their second dinner was nothing like the elegant waterfront venue where they had gone the first time. Instead of marble floors and breathtaking views of the city skyline, this place was tucked away on a quiet street lined with old trees. Warm lights glowed behind large windows, laughter drifted softly from inside, and the scent of freshly baked bread filled the cool evening air the moment Adrian opened the car door for Evelyn. It was charming rather than luxurious, and somehow, that surprised her.

"I thought billionaires only went to five-star restaurants," she teased as they walked toward the entrance.

Adrian smiled. "Sometimes they do."

"And tonight?"

"Tonight I wanted somewhere that serves the best homemade pasta in the city."

She looked at him curiously. "You've been here before?"

"A few times."

"Business meetings?"

He shook his head. "Usually when I need a quiet place to think."

Evelyn found herself smiling. Every conversation with Adrian seemed to reveal another ordinary side of him. He wasn't trying to impress her with exclusive clubs or extravagant displays of wealth. Instead, he kept choosing places that felt comfortable, places where two people could actually hear each other speak. As they entered, several staff members greeted Adrian warmly by name, not with the stiff politeness reserved for wealthy customers, but with the familiarity usually given to a regular guest. One elderly waitress even playfully scolded him for not visiting in almost a month, earning a sheepish apology that made Evelyn laugh.

"You know everyone here," she whispered after they sat down.

"I've been coming here for years."

The waitress returned with two glasses of water before smiling at Evelyn. "It's nice to finally meet the young lady."

Evelyn blinked in surprise.

"You've heard about me?"

The older woman looked at Adrian with a knowing smile. "Only that someone very special was coming to dinner one day."

Adrian cleared his throat awkwardly.

"I may have mentioned your name."

"You may have?" Evelyn repeated, trying not to laugh.

"I didn't realize she'd remember."

"Oh, I remember everything," the waitress declared proudly before leaving them with their menus.

Evelyn couldn't stop smiling.

"I think she likes you."

"I hope so," Adrian replied. "She's been threatening to retire for the last five years."

Once they had ordered their meals, the conversation drifted naturally from work to childhood memories. Adrian told her about learning to cook from his grandmother during school holidays and confessed that his first attempt at baking had nearly set the kitchen on fire. Evelyn laughed so hard that she had to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes.

"I don't believe you."

"It's true."

"The Adrian Kingston who runs a billion-dollar company nearly burned down a kitchen?"

"I was fourteen."

"That's not helping your case."

"It wasn't my finest moment."

She shook her head, still laughing. "I wish I'd seen it."

"I don't."

Their laughter faded into a comfortable silence, one that neither of them felt the need to fill immediately. Evelyn noticed how easy it had become to sit across from him. Just days ago, she had been searching every word he spoke for hidden motives. Now, she simply listened. There was something reassuring about his honesty, even when he spoke about his failures or embarrassing moments. He never seemed concerned with protecting his image.

Halfway through dinner, Adrian set down his fork and looked at her thoughtfully.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You've earned that right."

"What made you become an interior designer?"

Evelyn smiled softly.

"My grandfather."

"The founder of the Hart Group?"

She nodded.

"When I was little, he'd take me to every construction site he visited. Most children probably would've been bored, but I loved it. While everyone else admired the buildings from the outside, I kept imagining what they would look like inside. I wanted every space to make people feel... at home."

Adrian listened without interrupting.

"When I told my grandfather I wanted to study interior design instead of business, everyone expected him to disagree." She laughed quietly. "Instead, he told me that buildings were just walls until someone gave them warmth."

"That sounds like wise advice."

"It was."

She looked down at her plate for a moment before continuing.

"I just hope I haven't disappointed him."

"You haven't."

She looked up.

"The company is struggling."

"The company is struggling," Adrian corrected gently. "You are not."

She stared at him.

"I've watched you speak about your family, your employees, and your dreams. Not once have you blamed anyone else for your circumstances." His voice remained calm but sincere. "People like you don't disappoint the ones who love them."

His words settled deep inside her heart.

No one had said something like that to her in a very long time.

Before she could respond, the elderly waitress returned carrying two slices of chocolate cake.

"We didn't order dessert," Evelyn said.

"You didn't," the waitress agreed with a wink. "But someone insisted."

She placed the plates on the table before walking away again.

Evelyn looked across at Adrian.

"You planned this?"

He looked almost embarrassed.

"I remembered you mentioning chocolate cake was your favorite."

She blinked.

"I only said that once."

"I know."

"You remembered?"

"I try to remember the things that matter."

Evelyn looked down at the cake before smiling to herself.

It wasn't the dessert that touched her.

It was the fact that he had listened.

Really listened.

For the first time since this unexpected chapter of her life had begun, she realized something that both excited and frightened her.

She was no longer getting to know Adrian because she felt obligated to.

She was getting to know him because she genuinely wanted to.