Her Rebirth

The streets were quieter than usual, the cool evening air carrying the faint aroma of roasted coffee and aged paper. Amelia walked aimlessly after a long day of house hunting. Ever since Mason came unexpectedly to her hotel room, the feeling to be far away and independent from the Cosgroves became stronger than ever. Now, she wasn’t in the mood to return to the hotel, nor did she know where else to go.

Then, a small book café by the roadside caught her attention. A warm glow emanated from the large windows, and inside, she could see wooden bookshelves lined with countless novels, the scent of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air.

Without much thought, she stepped inside.

The café had an inviting charm as it had cozy corners with plush chairs, the soft hum of classical music playing in the background, and a few scattered customers quietly immersed in their books. Amelia made her way to the bookshelves, trailing her fingers along the books as she picked up a few, flipping them over to read the synopsis.

She reached for another book, ’The Roses and Her Thorns’, admiring its quite attractive cover.

"It’s a classic," a soft baritone voice remarked from beside her.

Amelia turned, a flicker of surprise crossing her face when she recognized Kai standing there.

"You?" she asked, slightly caught off guard.

Kai gave a small, almost amused smile. "Me," he confirmed.

She hadn’t seen him after the banquet, or rather, there was nothing requiring them to meet. Besides, they had already agreed to be engaged in name only.

Amelia glanced back at the book. "You’ve read this before?"