She…
Suddenly, she wasn’t so distant and formal with him anymore.
A secret thrill stirred in Sylas’s chest, though he didn’t realize how much delight sparkled in his eyes.
Ruby didn’t notice his odd reaction, simply heading over to her seat.
That snapped Sylas out of his daze. He hurried forward and pulled out her chair like a proper gentleman.
“Good evening, miss, sir. Since you don’t have a reservation, there’ll be a bit of a wait for your main courses. May I bring you some dessert in the meantime?”
“I’ll have the raspberry black forest cake,” Sylas replied, not even glancing at the menu.
The server paused, caught off guard. “I’m sorry, sir, we don’t serve that dessert here.”
Sylas tossed his black credit card onto the table as if it were nothing. “If the chef can’t make it, feel free to let him go.”
Ruby watched this exchange, a giant question mark flashing in her mind.
What on earth was he doing?
The server, visibly intimidated, carefully straightened the card in front of Sylas. “I’ll check with the kitchen right away, sir.”
Well, some people just ask for it and others are happy to play along.
Ruby rubbed her temples in exasperation. When she looked up, she caught Sylas staring at her with wide, hopeful puppy-dog eyes. He didn’t say a word, but the smug, expectant look all but shouted: Well? Wasn’t that cool?
Ruby simply smiled. “Don’t go throwing your money around to make life hard for others.”
Sylas’s shoulders slumped instantly, like a plant withering in the cold.
He grumbled under his breath, “The chef’s bio says he used to work at The Capital’s Grand Fountain Opera Hall. Their signature dessert was raspberry black forest cake—your favorite…”
“What are you muttering about?” Ruby gave him a sidelong glance.
“Nothing,” he replied stubbornly, turning away.
Ruby let it drop, turning her gaze to the window.
Propping her chin in her hand, her eyes wandered, lost in thought. No one noticed her other hand clenched tightly in her lap.
Raspberry black forest cake… After all these years, he still remembered.
The restaurant was tranquil and refined, a soft evening breeze drifting in through the open windows. In her white dress, Ruby looked ethereal—like an angel about to take flight.
Sylas found himself staring, covering his mouth to hide the blush creeping up his cheeks.
The air between the two was harmonious, but at the next table, tension was thick enough to cut.


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