Knock Knock!

"Naomi, are you awake? Open the door."

A few seconds later, the soft shuffle of slippers echoed across the hardwood floor from inside the penthouse.

Luca had originally planned to call Naomi before coming upstairs, but hearing movement inside this early in the morning caught him slightly by surprise.

Creak...

The heavy mahogany door slowly opened.

"You’re were awake so early?" Luca grinned, lifting the bouquet of fresh baby’s breath with a teasing smile. "Did you miss me that much?"

The words stopped in his throat.

The woman standing in the doorway wasn’t Naomi.

Instead, it was an elegant middle-aged woman in simple home clothes, looking to be in her late forties. She carried herself with quiet grace and warm eyes that studied him with curiosity.

Luca froze for half a second before clearing his throat.

"Ah... I’m terribly sorry. I must have come to the wrong apartment."

Embarrassed, he turned to leave.

Just as he was about to head back toward the elevator, the woman spoke.

"Young man... are you looking for Naomi?"

Luca immediately turned back.

"Yes, ma’am."

He smiled politely.

"If I may ask... who are you?"

The woman’s smile instantly softened.

She opened the shoe cabinet beside the entrance and took out a pair of guest slippers.

"I’m Naomi’s mother."

"Please, come in."

Luca immediately understood.

Without hesitation, he took a respectful step back and gave a slight bow.

"Good morning ma’am."

"My name is Luca Hale."

"I’m Naomi’s boyfriend."

"You can call me Luca."

The moment she heard him say the word boyfriend, Elena Monroe’s eyes brightened.

For years, she’d worried about Naomi’s love life.

Throughout university, countless outstanding young men had pursued her daughter. Naomi had rejected every single one of them, including several personally introduced by family friends.

At one point, Elena had even begun wondering whether her daughter was even interested in the male gender.

Now...

Standing before her was a young man who looked like he’d stepped straight out of a movie.

Handsome.

Polite.

Well-mannered.

Most importantly...

Her daughter actually liked him.

The realization instantly lifted a weight that had been sitting on Elena’s heart for years.

...

After entering the apartment, Luca placed the flowers carefully on the coffee table before noticing Elena struggling slightly with a heavy porcelain teapot.

He immediately stood.

"Let me help."

"Oh? Thank you."

She smiled warmly.

"Could you grab the tea leaves from the cabinet above?"

"Of course."

Elena wasn’t particularly tall, which made Luca quietly wonder where Naomi’s impressive height had come from.

’She must take after her father.’

The tea was soon ready.

They had only just sat down when a bedroom door at the end of the hallway slowly opened.

A sleepy figure wandered into the living room.

Naomi was still half asleep.

She wore a thin silk nightdress that reached halfway down her thighs, her long hair a beautiful mess from sleep. She rubbed one eye lazily while yawning.

"Mom..."

Her voice was soft and slightly hoarse.

"What are you doing so early? You’re making so much noise..."

She looked exactly like a spoiled little kitten that had just crawled out of bed.

Luca had always known Naomi possessed an incredible figure.

But seeing her completely natural under the soft morning sunlight...

He almost forgot how to breathe.

Her fair skin seemed to glow beneath the warm light pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Without makeup or careful styling, she somehow looked even more breathtaking.

For a brief moment...

Luca genuinely felt dizzy.

"Cough."

"Cough."

Elena deliberately cleared her throat twice.

Naomi frowned.

"Mom, don’t tell me you’ve caught a—"

She finally looked toward the sofa.

Their eyes met.

"..."

Her sleepy expression disappeared instantly.

Her beautiful face flushed bright red from her neck all the way to her ears.

"Ah!"

With a startled squeak, she snatched up the giant teddy bear lying nearby and hugged it tightly against her chest before spinning around and sprinting back toward her bedroom.

Bang!

The bedroom door slammed shut.

Unfortunately...

The teddy bear’s little leg was caught in the closing door, leaving it dangling outside and gently swinging back and forth.

Silence filled the apartment.

Elena rubbed her forehead helplessly.

"This silly girl..."

...

Nearly thirty minutes later...

Naomi finally emerged again.

This time, she was properly dressed in a stylish casual outfit, her long hair neatly brushed, though the lingering blush on her cheeks hadn’t faded in the slightest.

She walked straight toward Luca and puffed out her cheeks.

"Luca."

"Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?"

"If you’d called first..."

She stopped herself before finishing the sentence.

If she’d known...

She never would have walked out wearing that nightdress.

If only her mother had been home, it wouldn’t have mattered.

Even if only Luca had been here, she could have accepted the embarrassment.

But exposing herself like that in front of both her mother and her boyfriend...

It was enough to make her wish the floor would swallow her whole.

Even now, every time she caught Luca smiling to himself, she couldn’t stop herself from shooting him an annoyed glare.

Elena folded her arms.

"Naomi."

"When exactly were you planning to tell me you had a boyfriend?"

"If Luca hadn’t shown up today, would you have kept hiding him forever?"

Naomi’s face reddened again.

"Mom..."

"We’ve only just started dating."

"It hasn’t reached that stage yet."

Elena raised an eyebrow.

"Not that stage?"

She laughed.

"What stage are you waiting for?"

"Your face practically says you’ll never marry anyone except this young man."

"What else is there to confirm?"

"Mom!"

Naomi covered her burning face.

"What are you saying?"

Unable to win against her mother, she immediately turned toward Luca for help.

"Luca!"

"Aren’t you going to say something?"

"You’re just going to sit there and watch her bully me?"

Luca nodded with exaggerated seriousness.

"Actually..."

"I think your Mom makes a very convincing argument."

"If anything, I feel like making her a cup of coffee as thanks."

Naomi stared at him in disbelief.

"..."

Traitor.

Elena burst into laughter.

"See?"

"Even Luca agrees with me."

She stood up and picked up her handbag.

"You two stay here and chat."

"I’m going to the market to buy some groceries."

"We’ll have lunch at home today."

Luca quickly stood.

"Wait, there’s really no need."

"Let me take both of you out for lunch."

Elena waved him off immediately.

"Restaurants are expensive, and home cooking is healthier."

"You two spend some time together."

Without waiting for another response, she left the apartment with a knowing smile.

Click.

The front door closed.

The spacious penthouse suddenly became very quiet.

Only Luca and Naomi remained.

For a few moments...

Neither of them spoke.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the room in a warm golden glow.

Naomi stood with her hands clasped behind her back, gently looking down at the floor.

After what had happened earlier that morning, she didn’t dare look Luca directly in the eyes.

Beholding Naomi standing before his silhouette, looking as fresh, elegant, and delicate, like a flower blooming in the morning sun, Luca felt a massive surge of excitement hammer against his ribs.

She looked

He couldn’t help smiling.

Naomi sensed his gaze and instinctively took half a step backward.

"You..."

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What exactly are you planning to do?"

Her cheeks were already pink, making her look like a perfectly ripened peach.

Without answering, Luca slowly stepped closer.

Naomi’s heartbeat quickened.

Before she could retreat again, Luca gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her into his embrace.

A soft moan escaped her lips as she instinctively rested against his chest.