Chapter 47
Seren followed Lennon up to the rooftop of The Grand Seaside Hotel.
Lennon called for a waiter to take their order, while Seren gazed out the window at the vibrant city below-neon lights flickered, the streets glowed with promise, and the nightlife thrummed with energy. It was a sparkling, bustling scene.
When the waiter had finished taking their order and discreetly closed the door behind him, Seren finally broke the silence.
“Don’t you think I’m too cold and heartless toward my family?” she asked quietly. “I refused to let them arrange a marriage for me, and I never even mentioned our engagement to my parents or introduced you to them. I’ve kept you completely apart from my family p>
She listed each point, her voice steady but laden with guilt.
To the average person, any one of these things would be almost unthinkable— enough to have people whispering behind her back, calling her ungrateful, heartless, even ruthless.
In moments like this, she felt the gulf between herself and Lennon widening. He was the very image of a gentleman-reserved, self-disciplined, unfailingly polite.
She bowed her head, eyes lowered, unable to meet his gaze. Her voice was barely audible. “Compared to your family, with all its traditions and manners, I must seem completely out of place p>
In her mind, someone raised as well as Lennon would surely resent her for this.
But Lennon’s tone was calm and reassuring. “I have eyes, Seren. I’ve seen how you treat my grandfather-with nothing but respect and patience. And you’re always polite and considerate with my cousin, too. That’s more than enough to prove that you’re not cold-hearted at all p>
He continued, his baritone voice gentle, every word measured and steady. “If you’re distant from your own family, it’s because they must have done something to hurt you. You’re not heartless, Seren. You simply know right from wrong. That’s not a lack of manners p>
Time seemed to slow in that moment. Somewhere, the night breeze drifted in, sweeping away the clutter of her thoughts.
Seren finally looked up, cautiously meeting Lennon’s gaze. His eyes were deep and dark, like a still lake at midnight, full of concern and tenderness-worry, yes, but never a hint of contempt or disappointment.
The anxiety that had been knotting inside her began to melt away.
In the quiet that followed, Lennon spoke again, his voice soft. “You must be hungry. Did you skip lunch p>
Seren blinked in surprise. “How did you know I didn’t eat p>
“I guessed.” Lennon smiled slightly. “You didn’t reply to my message this
afternoon, so I figured you were too busy to even check your phone-let alone eat lunch p>
He glanced at her bandaged arm. “You’re the type to ignore your own injuries, Seren. You’ve never really learned to take care of yourself p>
Seren didn’t know what to say for a long moment. Her throat felt tight. A strange mix of gratitude and sadness welled up inside her, making her eyes sting.
Maybe it was because she’d gone so long without anyone genuinely caring about her. Lennon’s concern hit her like a wave, flooding her with emotion.
For the first time, she understood what it really meant to have someone quietly ask if you’d eaten to share a peaceful moment together as the day faded-those small, ordinary acts of warmth shel always thought were reserved for other people.
The waiter returned with their food.
The dishes were plentiful, all things she liked-comforting, hearty fare. Lennon knew she preferred meals that were colorful, fragrant, and full of flavor.
Seaside City was famous for its riverside cuisine. The steamed sea bass, topped with fresh herbs and ginger, was tender and bursting with flavor Lennon had even ordered a spicy dish, knowing she loved a bit.. of heat-the kind that tingled on the tongue and lingered pleasantly.
She hadn’t eaten a thing all day, and now she found herself eating more than she meant to. Only when she realized she’d finished most of the food on the table did guilt set in—a sudden, sheepish regret for indulging so much.
Lennon noticed her frown and asked gently, “What’s wrong p>
She sighed deeply. “It was so satisfying while I was eating, but now I regret it. I’ll probably gain five pounds by tomorrow p>
At nearly five foot seven and just under one hundred twenty pounds, she was hardly overweight-her figure was healthy and balanced. But Seren had struggled
with her weight as a kid, and the fear of gaining it back still haunted her.
Back when she was thirteen, starting high school she’d spent long hours in the art studio, barely going outside. Her grandparents doted on her, always worried she hadn’t eaten enough, constantly telling her to have another helping For a while she had been heavier than most girls her age.
Putting on weight was easy; losing it was another story. It had taken her years of
hard work and dedication to get fit again. The memory of that struggle still
lingered, shaping the way she saw herself even now.