Chapter 68: A Meaningful Gift
Charlotte didn’t eat all the food they bought, but she loved the experience of smelling the rich aromas, feeling the warmth of freshly cooked dishes in her hands, and standing in line like any other visitor at the night market.
Damon, on the other hand, ended up eating most of it. Not that he minded. As long as she was smiling, he’d gladly take care of whatever she left behind.
The night air had turned colder, but Charlotte wasn’t ready to leave just yet. There was something comforting about walking through these familiar streets, surrounded by laughter and the conversations, reliving memories she thought she’d forgotten.
She stopped in front of a dart game stall, her eyes twinkling with nostalgia. "I used to play this with my friends," she said, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "But my aim is so bad, I never won anything. They’d always laugh at me."
Damon followed her gaze to the game. The prizes were nothing fancy—cheap plush toys, little trinkets, keychains—but that wasn’t the point. A few couples were taking turns, one of them aiming for the grand prize: a massive pink teddy bear.
Damon had bought Charlotte countless expensive gifts before, but she always looked hesitant when accepting them, as if she felt guilty. Maybe if he got her something small, something won with effort rather than money, she’d treasure it more.
"Want to give it a shot?" he asked.
Charlotte shot him a knowing look. "Didn’t I just say I have terrible aim?"
Damon smiled. "So what? As long as you have fun, it’s worth it." He nudged her toward the stall. "Come on, one try won’t kill you."
She sighed dramatically. "Fine. Just once."
After paying for the game, Charlotte picked up a dart, took careful aim... and completely missed the target. Her next few attempts weren’t any better, most barely stuck to the board, and one even went flying past the target altogether.