Chapter 99: You’ve Changed
Alexander felt like the air had been sucked from the room. Rain’s boldness left him completely speechless, overwhelmed by how unapologetically vocal she was about her feelings. She was fearlessly forward and impossible to ignore.
Struggling to hide his embarrassment, he frowned and managed to speak, "Stop messing with me, Rain!"
She blinked innocently, her wide eyes fixed on him. "But I’m not messing with you! I meant it. I want to keep you," she replied, her voice sincere.
Alexander’s heart was racing, pounding so hard he feared it might burst from his chest. This woman would be the death of him at this rate.
"If you say another word like that, I’ll have you kicked out next," he muttered, his tone serious, though he didn’t mean it. He was merely trying to calm his chaotic nerves, but Rain had a way of disarming him with every word.
Rain scoffed lightly and took a deep breath. "Fine, no more courting you... for now. Maybe later?" She grinned mischievously. "Come on, let’s enjoy the art."
Before he could protest, Rain grabbed his hand and pulled him along, her energy infectious as they moved from one piece of art to another. She pointed out details in the paintings with childlike enthusiasm, and Alexander found himself strangely captivated—not by the art, but by her. He stole glances at her, observing how her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
As they continued through the gallery, Rain suddenly paused in front of a particular painting. Her eyes lingered on it, her usual playful expression giving way to something more thoughtful.
The painting was striking. A lone tree standing tall amidst a violent storm. Dark clouds swirled around it, the wind bending its branches, but the tree remained rooted, resilient against the chaos. Lightning flashed in the background, illuminating the jagged edges of the storm.