Chapter 281 The Proposal

    Third Person POV

    18 Pearls

    Aubrey was indeed hungry. She picked up her fork and began eating the breakfast Charles had prepared. The eggs were cooked to perfection, the bacon fragrant without being greasy. Before she knew it, she was cating a little too quickly.

    A fleck of golden yolk clung to the corner of her lips.

    Charles, now in a clean white T–shirt, sat across from her. His gaze, calm and gentle at first, caught on that

    ente, he leaned forward and brushed his thumb softly across her

    out–of–ce crumb. Almost without 3.1

    mouth.

    “You got something there,” he murmured, the gesture so natural it felt rehearsed a thousand times.

    His touch vanished as quickly as it came, but Aubrey froze. When she lifted her eyes, she collided with his- steady, intent, and tinged with a tenderness he himself hadn’t even realized.

    The air grew thick, heavy with silence, broken only by the faint sound of their breaths.

    “Well, well,” E’s voice teased from within, dragging out the sybles with a mischievous lilt. “That’s some service.”

    The words jolted Aubrey back. She quickly reached for her ss, taking a sip to cover her sudden disarray.

    “…Thanks.” Her voice was softer than usual.

    Charles, as if only just realizing what he had done, drew back his hand. His fingers curled slightly, still haunted by the memory of her warm, delicate skin. He cleared his throat and looked away, lifting his own cup.

    “You’re wee,” he said evenly, though his throat bobbed as he drank.

    “We’re friends now, aren’t we?”

    Charles smiled. When he did, it was a quiet, soothing thing that invited trust.

    Aubrey studied him for a long moment before finally returning the smile. “Mm.”

    The rest of the day passed in simple calm. Neither of them left the apartment. Charles cooked all three meals, and Aubrey, her belly full, sat curled on the sofa, staring into space.

    Charles didn’t disturb her. He sat nearby with a book, quiet and steady. In the evening, his orange long- haired cat emerged from hiding, its fluffy coat almost the same color as her hair. The plump creature sniffed curiously at Aubrey before curling up nearby, and somehow, that small gesture soothed her more than she expected.-

    That night, Aubrey slept soundly for the first time in ages.

    The apartment only had one bed, so she took the bedroom while Charles slept on the couch. When she rose at dawn, he was still asleep. She didn’t wake him, slipping quietly out for a walk instead.

    At the door, the fat orange cat/mewed insistently, rubbing against her leg. To keep it from waking Charles,

    she scooped it up, covered its mouth, and left in a hurry.

    b13:13 /bbWed/bb, /bb17 /bbSept /bO

    Chapter 281 The Proposal

    +6 Feats

    So it was that one woman and one cat wandered into the nearby woods. But there, she ran into ba /bbfar /bless wee acquaintance–Justin.

    “Aubrey!”

    Her expression chilled instantly, but Justin’s eyes lit up like fire.

    He sprinted toward her as if the Moon Goddess herself had pushed him forward, brimming with excitement. “Oh my god, running into you here–it has to be fate! This is destiny!”

    Before Aubrey could react, Justin’s next move stopped her cold.

    He dropped to one knee. From somewhere, he pulled out a velvet box, flipping it open ito /ireveal a massive, gaudy diamond ring.

    “Aubrey! Will you marry me? Please–I’ll treat you well! I swear it!”