Chapter 234: Your Heart In Exchange For Mine
Wearing a casual white dress with a black blazer over it, Natalia stood outside her apartment, holding a black purse in her hands.
She wrung her fingers around the bag’s handle, feeling the nerves rush through her.
"It’s just a date, Natalia. Why are you feeling nervous?" she chastised herself quietly.
A glistening grey sports car pulled up right in front of her. From the dark tinted windows, she couldn’t see who was behind the wheel, but she knew it was Christopher.
He stepped out of the luxurious-looking car.
"Hey." He smiled, making him look even more alluring.
"Hey," Natalia replied.
His eyes trailed over her. There was an unspoken intensity in his gaze, and he didn’t bother hiding it. "You look beautiful," he said.
Taking it as a simple compliment, Natalia smiled casually. "Thanks, you look good yourself."
Of course, she thought he looked far more than just good—he looked heavenly. He always did. But she certainly couldn’t tell him that.
Christopher chuckled, taking a step closer to her. "No, I mean..." he began, drawling his words while keeping his eyes locked on hers.
His dark orbs were so deep that when she looked into them, it felt like a vortex pulling her in. She couldn’t look away. There was something about his eyes—there had always been. A strange sense of familiarity she couldn’t quite place. It always felt like a distant memory sat at the tip of her tongue, close enough to taste, yet impossible to grasp.
Just where had she met this man?
"...I said you’re beautiful, not as a subtle compliment. What I really mean is, Natalia, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on."
Her eyes widened slightly in shock. She was taken aback, but the seriousness in his gaze made it clear he meant every word.
Her heart skipped a beat, then continued in a rhythm of its own.
Normally, such sweet comments were something Natalia would laugh off. They were romantic, sure, but she knew better than to believe in absolutes like "the most beautiful woman in the world." Having worked in the fashion and beauty industry, she believed every woman was uniquely beautiful in her own way.
However, she did believe one thing—a woman could become the most beautiful in the eyes of a man who truly loved her.
Men had said similar cheesy things to her before, but none had made her heart race like this. Maybe it was the sincerity in his eyes, or the depth in his voice... or maybe it was simply his devastatingly handsome face.
Whatever it was, her heart was racing—and in that moment, she realized something.
After three years, her heart had finally awakened from its slumber.
And this time... it was beating for someone else.
Natalia wanted to say something, but she couldn’t break her gaze from his. They stood there for what felt like minutes, yet it passed like seconds.
Christopher finally broke the silence—not awkward, but strangely comfortable.
"Shall we? Time’s not on my side, since I only have you for one night. I’ll have to win your heart... or lose you forever."
Smiling, she replied, "Uh-huh. I believe what you mean to say is, you have until midnight. After that, your time’s up."
"What? Do I look like the male version of a modern-day Cinderella?" he asked humorously.
"Well, since you’re the first, I guess now we know what the male version of Cinderella looks like," she shot back.
"Hmm. I win the heart of my princess before midnight, or I lose her forever. Interesting story. It would top the box office charts," he said as he walked around to open the passenger door.
Natalia stepped in, mumbling softly, "Thank you."
He smiled before getting into the driver’s seat, and the car drove off.
She watched as they passed houses and trees lining the road. The ride felt calm... comfortable. For some reason, she felt at ease with him.
It was a slightly long drive—they arrived at their destination after about half an hour.
They hadn’t spoken much, but even the silence between them felt natural. Occasionally, he would glance at her, and they would both smile at the same time. There was an undeniable, unspoken chemistry between them.
She thanked him again as he opened the door for her, but he gave her a subtle scowl.
"Are you always so unbearably polite?"
"Shouldn’t I be?" she returned.
"With other people, you can. But not with me," he said, that same intensity returning to his eyes.
"Why?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"Because I could give the whole world to you, Natalia, if you asked for it. And if you don’t, then I’ll spend every day of my life trying to please you. I don’t want your gratitude, nor do I ask for effort from you... just your heart, in exchange for mine."
Once again, she was rendered speechless.
His words were undeniably cheesy—but coming from him, her heart still pounded wildly in her chest. A fluttering sensation bloomed in her stomach, like a thousand feathers brushing lightly against her.
This time, she quickly looked away.
"How can you say that? You barely even know me," she said, clearing her throat.
"Like I said, Natalia, for you, we just met. But for me... I’ve known you longer than anyone else."
She glanced up at him, startled. Before she could respond, he extended his hand.
"Come."
She stared at him for a moment before lowering her gaze to his outstretched hand. That familiar warmth stirred in her chest again as she slowly placed her hand in his.
His large hand enveloped her smaller one, and the warmth sent a strange sense of security through her.
Just from holding her hand.
He smiled, as though holding something precious, and led her up a set of stone steps toward a place she didn’t recognize.
"Where are we anyway? I don’t think I’ve been to this part of the city before," Natalia asked.
The area felt deserted, filled only with the faint sounds of night creatures.
"This is just a place I come to relax. Don’t worry—it’s safe," he assured her.
As they reached the top, Natalia froze.
Before her stretched an open grassland, vast and breathtaking, with an endless view of the sky. The full moon hung low, so close it felt like she could reach out and touch it.
To the side stood a beautifully decorated shed. Beneath it was a table set for a candlelit dinner.
Looking up at him, she smiled. "Not bad."
She could tell he had put a lot of effort into it.
"This is only a small part of tonight. But don’t worry—your royal highness won’t be disappointed," he said with an exaggerated bow, making her laugh softly.
"Till midnight," she corrected.
"Yes, yes. Midnight it is," he said, leading her to the table.
He pulled out her chair, and she sat down, smiling—almost thanking him before he shot her a pointed look.
The gesture made her heart skip again.
How could someone say such cheesy things with such serious intensity?
If his looks didn’t captivate someone, his words certainly would.
But for someone to speak like that... he had to mean it.
Love?
The thought made her frown slightly before her eyes widened. She looked up at him as he sat across from her.
Could he be...
In love with her?
She studied his face, searching for answers, but all she found was her heart betraying her again.
She quickly looked away just as he glanced up, catching her subtle reaction. The corner of his lips lifted slightly, but he said nothing as he uncovered the dishes.
"Bon appétit, my lady."
Natalia looked down—and froze.
"These are... these are all my favorite dishes!" she exclaimed. "How did you know?"
"I told you. I know you more than anyone else."
This time, his words unsettled her—not because of how he said them, but because they felt true.
Not just about the food... but the setting too.
What’s your ideal first date?
A familiar voice echoed in her mind.
Of course, a beautiful candlelit dinner with all my favorite dishes under the moon.
Her own voice responded.
Natalia frowned, trying to recall when she had said that—but the memory remained just out of reach.
Again.
She looked up at Christopher as he served her food, then handed her a spoon. She took a bite.
Every dish was exquisite, bursting with flavor.
Silence fell between them as they ate. Though she enjoyed the food, her thoughts kept drifting back to that voice—and somehow, she felt it was connected to him.
But when had she said those words?
And to whom?
Could it really be him?
Had they truly met before?
Looking up at Christopher as he ate with quiet elegance, she finally asked:
"We have met in the past... haven’t we?"