Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 521: Slowly
Anna had not celebrated her birthday properly in years. Not in her past life. Not in the way she had truly wanted to.
There had always been expectations. Responsibilities. Roles she had forced herself to play.
She had missed so many moments.
Tonight was supposed to be different.
She wanted to celebrate freely.
Not cautiously.
Daniel watched her without interrupting.
He understood.
More than she realized.
But that did not change his answer. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
"It is not about what it will do," he said gently. "It is about what it could do."
Anna frowned.
"I am not fragile," she replied.
"I know," he said immediately.
His voice carried no doubt.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his glass down as his eyes met hers.
"But you do not need alcohol to make tonight meaningful."
She looked away briefly.
"It is not about the alcohol," she admitted quietly. "It is about the choice."
Daniel studied her carefully, his expression no longer teasing but serious.
"And we both know what that choice could cost me," he said quietly.
Anna stilled.
His words were not spoken in accusation. They carried no anger, no force. Only quiet truth.
How could she forget?
Getting drunk was the last thing Daniel ever wanted for her. Not because he wished to control her. Not because he did not trust her. But because they both knew what alcohol did to her.
Even a single glass was enough.
It lowered her guard. It unraveled the careful composure she carried so effortlessly. It made her reckless, unfiltered, and unpredictable in ways she herself could not control.
She became someone else.
Someone softer. Someone bolder. Someone who acted on emotions she normally kept hidden.
And Daniel had seen it before.
He had seen the way her eyes lost their restraint. The way her words became honest to the point of vulnerability. The way she stopped protecting herself.
It was not the embarrassment he feared.
It was the aftermath.
It was the way she would look at herself the next morning, questioning her own actions. Wondering if she had said too much. Done too much. Exposed parts of herself she was not ready to share.
Daniel did not want her to feel that way.
He did not want her to lose control, even for a moment, only to regret it later.
"Just one drink," she spoke softly, her voice losing its earlier frustration and taking on a gentler tone.
Daniel looked at her.
She was pouting.
Innocently.
Acting cute had never been Anna’s way of persuasion. She had always relied on her confidence, her sharp words, and her unshakable presence. She was fierce, commanding, and unapologetically herself.
But this?
This was different.
And it hit him far harder than her anger ever could.
Daniel felt as if an invisible arrow had pierced straight through his heart. He blinked, momentarily caught off guard, his usual composure faltering.
Anna watched him carefully, trying to maintain the expression she had so awkwardly forced onto herself.
She was not used to this.
Not used to softening herself like this.
Not used to asking like this.
Come on, do not make me look stupid, she cried inwardly, forcing herself to continue.
Slowly, she rose from her seat and walked toward him.
Daniel’s eyes followed her every step.
Her movements were hesitant, uncertain, yet deliberate.
She stopped in front of him, close enough to feel his warmth.
For a brief second, she hesitated.
Then, gathering what little courage she had left, she moved.
With a smooth but careful motion, she slid onto his lap.
Daniel froze.
Her arms wrapped around his shoulders naturally, as if they belonged there. Her closeness surrounded him, her familiar scent, her warmth, her presence overwhelming his senses.
"I promise," she whispered softly, her voice near his ear, "I will not act out of character."
Her words were gentle.
Careful.
Sincere.
Daniel remained still, his hands hovering uncertainly at her sides, unsure whether to hold her or maintain the restraint he had fought so hard to keep.
She pulled back slightly, just enough to look into his eyes.
There was no arrogance there.
No stubbornness.
Only quiet hope.
Anna did not like asking.
She did not like needing permission.
But tonight was different.
Tonight, she wanted to celebrate without hesitation.
Daniel studied her face carefully.
He could see the effort she was putting into this. The vulnerability she was allowing him to witness. The trust she was placing in him.
He let out a slow breath.
"You do not fight fair," he murmured.
Anna’s lips curved faintly.
"I never said I would."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Daniel’s hands finally settled gently at her waist, holding her securely, grounding both of them in the moment.
He had always been weak when it came to her.
Not because she overpowered him.
But because he never wanted to deny her happiness.
His resistance, slowly and inevitably, crumbled.
"One drink," he said quietly.
Anna blinked.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"One," he repeated firmly, though his voice carried no real authority anymore.
Relief flooded her expression, followed by genuine joy.
She smiled.
Not the forced pout from before.
But her real smile.
The one that had always belonged only to him.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Daniel shook his head faintly, unable to stop the small smile that formed on his lips.
Because in the end, he had never been able to refuse her.
And he never truly wanted to.
Anna did not waste a second.
Before he could change his mind, she reached for his glass, her fingers wrapping around the delicate stem with excitement she did not bother to hide. But Daniel caught her wrist gently before she could lift it.
"Slowly," he warned.
His voice was calm, but his eyes carried that familiar caution.
Anna nodded obediently, though the spark in her eyes betrayed her eagerness.
Daniel took the glass from her hand and replaced it with his own, one that still held most of the champagne. He watched her carefully, silently reminding himself that he had agreed to this.
Just one drink. Nothing more. That’s what he tried to convince him, but deep down he knew this wasn’t going to end well.
