Chapter 352

Daphne

I pull up at the cottage.

The headlights cut through the fog, illuminating the small house nestled in the hills. It’s modest—nothing like the Han mansion, nothing like the penthouses and estates I’ve accumulated over the years. But it’s ours. For now.

I stop the engine and exhale. The tension in my shoulders doesn’t disappear, but it softens. Just a little.

I get out of the car. The night air is cool, carrying the scent of pine and distant rain. I walk up the path, unlock the door, step inside.

Warmth. Light. And the smell of food simmering on the stove.

I follow the scent.

She’s in the kitchen, her back to me, stirring something in a pot. Her hair is tied up in a loose bun, a few strands escaping to frame her face.

I stand in the doorway and watch her.

She doesn’t notice me. She’s in her zone, humming something under her breath, moving around the kitchen with an ease that makes my chest ache.

She’s so beautiful.

I could stand here all day. All night. Forever. I’d never get tired of watching her.

I walk closer. Press a kiss to her cheek.

"You’re back?" She doesn’t turn, but I see the small smile tugging at her lips.

"Smells good." I peer at the pot. Something with tomatoes and herbs and what might be chicken.

"Shoo." She waves a wooden spoon at me. "Go take a shower. Dinner will be ready when you’re done."

"What a strict household this is."

She hits me with a dish towel. I laugh, dodging out of reach.

*

"Is everything okay?" Vivienne asks.

I look up at her from where I’m massaging her feet at the edge of the bed. The lamp beside her casts soft shadows across her face, turning her into something from a painting.

"Define everything." I focus on her arch, pressing my thumb into the tender spot.

"You know what I mean." She shifts, settling deeper into the pillows.

"My phone’s been off all week. I’m too scared to turn it on."

I glance at her. The way she’s worrying her bottom lip.

"Told you I would take care of it, didn’t I?"

"Mmm."

I scratch the inner sole of her foot. She yelps, tries to pull away.

"Stop!" She’s giggling now, squirming.

"All my wife has to do is sit and look pretty." I hold on, not letting her escape. "I’ll take care of everything."

"Hmmmph." She pouts, but there’s no heat in it. "You owe me a wedding ceremony."

I move to her other foot. "Of course."

"It should be grand." She’s getting into it now, her voice taking on a dreamy quality. "So grand they’ll talk about it for decades."

"Done."

"Hmmmnn." She taps her chin, thinking. "I also want a tiara with eight different precious stones."

"Why eight?"

"Because when you turn eight, you get infinity."

I smile despite myself. "Done. Any other demands, my beloved?"

"Hmmmnn." She closes her eyes, considering. "I also want an outdoor wedding. At a cliffside."

"A cliffside?"

She opens one eye. "Are you questioning me?"

"Of course not."

"The cliff should overlook a horizon. Give the prettiest sunrise and sunset."

"Okay."

"Sshhh." She waves a hand. "I’m not done."

I press my lips together, hiding my smile.

"And when I’m walking down the aisle at sunrise, the sun will reflect off my tiara and my sparkly princess dress with the longest train." She spreads her arms wide.

"And I will look like a goddess."

"You always look like a goddess."

She rolls her eyes, but I see the flush creeping up her neck. "I want to look like a goddess to anyone who sees."

"Done." I say.

She looks at me and smiles, and it’s the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.

She studies me for a moment.

"You love me, don’t you?"

I tilt my head. "Of course I do."

"It’s odd." She laughs a little, shaking her head. "Not like that. Logically speaking, we haven’t known each other long enough for you to feel this... intense way about me."

"Regretting marrying me already?" I try to joke, keeping my voice light.

"Don’t." She reaches down, touches my face. "I’m serious."

I fall silent.

"It feels like I’ve known you for lifetimes." Her voice is soft, almost wondering. "My whole life, I’ve had this void in me. Something inexplicable." She pauses.

"But since I met you... it’s like the missing piece of the puzzle is filled."

I pause. Move to her other foot. I don’t look up. I’m afraid of what she might see on my face.

"Maybe we’ve known each other for lifetimes." I keep my voice light, like it’s a joke. "Maybe you can feel it."

"Bleh." She wrinkles her nose. "How cheesy."

I smile down at her foot.

"...but not absolutely ridiculous." She adds.

I look up.

"I didn’t think you’d be the kind to believe in reincarnation and next lives," she says. "You’re so... practical."

"Well." I hold her gaze. "I just don’t think this would be the only time we’d be together. Don’t you think that would be a little sad?"

She’s quiet for a moment.

"A little sad," she agrees. "Maybe a lot sad."

I set her foot down, crawl up the bed, and settle beside her. She turns into me, her head finding its place on my shoulder.

"If there were other lives," she says slowly, "do you think we were always like this?"

"Like what?"

"In love." She says it simply, like it’s obvious. "Do you think we always found each other?"

I pause, as if thinking about it. As if I haven’t known the answer for centuries.

"Certainly." I say.

She looks at me, searching my face for something—a tell, a crack, a sign that I’m joking. She won’t find one.

"That’s a very certain answer for something you can’t possibly know."

I touch her cheek. "Some things you just know."

"Daphne Han." She raises an eyebrow, but there’s a smile tugging at her lips. "You’re quite the romantic, aren’t you?"

"Only for you, my beloved." I lean in and kiss her nose.