Arianna rolled down the car window.

The summer breeze drifted in, heavy with the scent of lilies and the faint, sweet perfume of roses. The petals shivered in the draft. As the car merged onto the highway, Maxwell leaned back against his seat, perfectly still.

The wind tousled his hair, leaving it a mess, but he seemed entirely oblivious. His focus was fixed entirely on the bouquet in his lap, staring at it with an intensity that bordered on reverence.

Arianna kept her eyes on the road, though she risked a quick glance at the rear-view mirror. "You can put the flowers on the seat beside you, Maxwell. You don't have to hold them the whole way."

He nodded, murmuring an acknowledgement, but he didn't let go. He kept a firm, gentle grip on the stems until the moment the car finally came to a stop.

***

Maxwell had been acting strangely all evening—quiet, withdrawn, and almost unnervingly subdued. Usually, he was the one to bridge the gaps in conversation, but tonight, the burden of talk fell entirely on Arianna. Sometimes, even when she offered him a conversational thread, he would just look up at her with a dazed, empty expression, as if he hadn't heard a word.

Arianna began to wonder if this was really the same Maxwell King—the man who was usually so effortlessly confident and unrestrained. How had he become so... adorably dense?

Once they reached their destination, Arianna didn't wait. She hopped into the backseat, settling into the space right next to him. She rested her elbows on the center console and looked up at him, her voice soft. "What is going on with you?"

"Are you upset because I came to pick you up?"

Maxwell shook his head. "Not upset."

"Then what is it?" Arianna studied his face. "You’ve been acting completely out of character."

Maxwell pursed his lips, searching for the right words. "It just feels..." He paused, his gaze drifting. "Like I’m dreaming. It feels too surreal."

So, that was it.

Arianna couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. She reached out and brushed a finger against the flowers in his lap. Her heart rate was climbing, a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Maxwell looked down, watching her pale, slender fingers weave through the velvety blue and white petals.

Then, she moved her hand lower, slowly closing her fingers over his.

"How about this?" she asked, her ears turning a deep, burning crimson. She was doing this for the first time, and it felt clumsy, but she forced herself to sound casual. "Does this make it feel any more real?"

Maxwell felt the warmth radiating from her skin. His hand went rigid; he didn't dare move an inch. He closed his eyes, his sharp, defined Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.

When he finally looked at her, his expression was weary but overflowing with a kind of desperate contentment. "What am I supposed to do, Arianna? This just makes it feel even more like a dream."

Arianna froze.

She pulled back, but Maxwell caught her hand, tangling his fingers firmly through hers. The heat of his palm pressed against her skin, making her pulse jump. She blinked, muttering, "I thought you said it felt like a dream."

"Then I hope this dream lasts a long time," Maxwell said, gently squeezing her fingertips. "I hope I never have to wake up."

***

They stepped out of the car, and Maxwell finally realized where they were. Throughout the drive, he had been so fixated on the flowers that he hadn't paid any attention to the route. They were parked in a sprawling, elegant courtyard surrounded by neatly lined luxury cars.

He turned to Arianna, his brows raised in question. "This is...?"

Arianna couldn't hide the flicker of triumph in her eyes. She waved her phone, her expression bright and mischievous. "Come on. I booked a table upstairs."

Maxwell’s lips tugged into a smile. "When did you arrange this?"

"This afternoon."

He took a look around. "A romantic bistro?"

"Yes, and no." Arianna refused to give him a straight answer. Before he could press her, she linked her arm through his. "No more questions. You'll see when we get there!"

She had reserved a window table. A massive floor-to-ceiling glass panel offered a sweeping view of the city, the night lights glittering like a sea of diamonds against the dark. It was a place designed for lovers. The menu was extensive—prime cuts of steak, delicate appetizers, and decadent desserts. The place even offered a high-end delivery service.

After the meal, Arianna blocked Maxwell as he started to stand up. "Don't move. I'm taking care of the bill."

Maxwell chuckled, his eyes softening. "There’s no 'yours' and 'mine' between us."

"It's different," Arianna insisted, her voice stubborn. She sounded like she was pouting, a playful complaint that was really more of a flirtation. "I’m the one treating you today. I can't let you buy your own birthday dinner, that makes no sense!"

She followed the waiter to the front desk, but not before leaning back to whisper, "Stay right here. I’ll be back in a second."

"Alright," Maxwell promised.

He watched her walk away, his smile deepening until it reached his eyes. He pressed a hand to his chest, right over his heart. From the moment he’d seen her tonight, his pulse hadn't stopped racing. One surprise after another had completely blindsided him. The way she had ordered the couple’s set menu without blinking an eye had left him dizzy, unable to tell where reality ended and the fantasy began.

He stared at his reflection in the polished silver fork on the table, thinking he must look like an absolute fool right now.

At the front desk, Arianna grabbed a thick menu filled with pictures of cakes. She skimmed through them and pointed to one. "I'll take this one."

"Certainly," the waiter said, handing her a slip. "If you could provide an address, we can have this delivered to you later."

"How long will it take?"

"Two to three hours, ma'am."

Arianna nodded, satisfied.

The waiter smiled. "Is this a birthday cake? Would you like to include a message on the card?"

Arianna thought for a moment, then scribbled a note on the paper. "Just write that, thank you."

"Of course. Please keep your phone nearby, and our courier will call you upon arrival."

***

The cake wouldn't arrive for another two hours. If they went home now, they would have already finished dinner, and the night would likely end with them retreating into their separate rooms. The cake wouldn't be much of a surprise then.

Back in the car, Arianna gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing. Maxwell had moved to the passenger seat, still clutching the bouquet. He was quiet again, staring out the window at the passing city lights.

Arianna searched for a distraction. As they passed a massive shopping plaza, a spark of inspiration hit her. "Want to go to the supermarket?"

Maxwell blinked, clearly surprised by the sudden suggestion.

"We're out of snacks," Arianna lied, doing her best to sound convincing. "And the fridge is empty. We should stock up."

In truth, their housekeeper handled all the grocery shopping, but Maxwell didn't point that out. He simply nodded, ready to follow her lead. "Sure, let's go."

It was peak hour, so the street parking was packed. Arianna steered the car into the underground garage, and they took the elevator straight up to the store.

...

An hour later, thanks to Arianna’s tactical stalling, they emerged carrying several shopping bags.

In the car, Maxwell organized their haul, placing the ice cream and frozen goods into the portable cooler.

"Where else should we go?" Arianna asked, glancing at him.

"Hm?"

"Is there anywhere you want to go?" she quickly corrected.

Maxwell couldn't understand why she was so keen on dragging out their evening. It wasn't just the supermarket; they’d spent time at a third-floor cafe sipping green bean smoothies, too. The Arianna he knew wasn't usually like this. But whatever the reason, as long as she was willing to spend the time with him, he was content.

Across from the shopping plaza was a small park.

"How about a stroll through the park?" Maxwell suggested.

It was exactly what she wanted. Arianna unbuckled her seatbelt, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Yes, let's go! There's a night market behind it, too. We should check it out."

Maxwell smiled, watching her. "Sounds like a plan. Whatever my wife decides."