Lila’s POV
After leaving the jewelry store, the sun began its slow descent westward. I held the desert rose and chocolates I’d bought for Zoe, my heart filled with anticipation. I could already picture the surprised look on her face when she received the gifts.
"What’s next?" I swung the bag in my hand and looked up at Jasper. "Are we going back to the hotel, or..."
Jasper looked at , the afterglow of the sunset casting a golden outline on his profile. He smiled mysteriously and reached out to gently tap the tip of my nose. "Of course we’re not going back to the hotel. I have an even bigger surprise for you."
"A surprise?" I asked curiously. "What is it?"
"You’ll know when we get there." He took my hand and led to a luxury car parked by the roadside. "Get in. I’m taking you to see a ’museum floating on the sea’."
"A museum floating on the sea?" I turned to ask Jasper, who was sitting beside . "Are you talking about the Abu Dhabi Louvre?"
Jasper was leaning back in his seat, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing my question, he opened them, a smug smile playing on his lips. "It seems my dear architect caught on right away. That’s right, that’s the one."
I was surprised. "What made you suddenly decide to take here?"
’Even though I knew Jasper doted on , and that he’d made a lot of arrangents for this honeymoon, the Abu Dhabi Louvre... this was just... he understood too well.’
As an architect, I was more than familiar with the works of Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel. The Abu Dhabi Louvre is one of his most famous creations, and I had seen countless pictures of it in architecture magazines and online, longing for ages to see its exquisite "rain of light" do design. But I never expected Jasper would specially bring here.
Jasper looked at my surprised expression, apparently very satisfied with the result. He reached out, took my slightly cool hand in his, and gently caressed it. "What’s wrong? You don’t like it?"
"No, it’s not that I don’t like it..." I shook my head quickly, a warm feeling spreading through . "I just didn’t expect you to know I liked this. I thought... you’d just take to so island to sunbathe."
Jasper chuckled softly and leaned close to my ear, his warm breath making my earlobe tingle. "My woman. Of course I have to understand you completely. I know your love for architecture is genuine, and I know you’re not interested in those so-called ’Instagram-famous spots.’ Rather than take you to a crowded beach, it’s better to bring you to see the building you’ve been dreaming of. Besides..."
He paused, his gaze deepening. "I also wanted to see for myself what kind of magic this building that’s captured your heart and soul holds."
The car drove over the bridge to Saadiyat Island, and a point of light on the sea in the distance gradually ca into focus.
My heartbeat quickened involuntarily.
When the car stopped at the museum entrance, I eagerly pushed the door open and stepped out.
Even though I had seen countless pictures, I was still deeply awestruck when the Abu Dhabi Louvre appeared before , real and tangible.
It truly looked like a white palace floating on the sea, radiating a holy and serene light in the afterglow of the sunset. The seawater lapped gently against the building’s base, making the entire museum look as if it might drift away with the waves at any mont.
"Oh my god..." I couldn’t help but take a few steps forward, my eyes greedily scanning the building before .
Jasper ca up behind and said softly, "I booked the whole place. Today, it belongs only to you."
I whipped my head around, looking at him in disbelief. "You... booked the whole place?"
’The Abu Dhabi Louvre! This is a world-class museum! He actually booked the entire place just so I could look at the architecture in peace?’
Jasper raised an eyebrow, his expression saying it was a matter of course. "What else? Was I supposed to watch a bunch of strangers disturb you while you appreciate the architecture? Co on, let’s go inside."
I was at a loss for words. This feeling of being so cherished felt a little unreal, but it was overwhelmingly sweet.
We crossed the plaza and walked toward the enormous silver do. The do was composed of eight complex layers of geotric patterns, like interwoven layers of branches creating a vast shadow against the sky.
"The design of this do is absolutely brilliant..." I looked up, unable to hold back my admiration. "It’s made of nearly 8,000 tal stars, layered one on top of the other, allowing sunlight to filter through the gaps and create a ’rain of light’ effect. In a desert climate, it’s both beautiful and provides insulation. It’s nothing short of an architectural marvel..."
The more I spoke, the more excited I beca. Like a child explaining a beloved toy, I pulled Jasper along, touching this and pointing to that, explaining the ingenuity of every design detail.
Although Jasper wasn’t interested in architecture, he stayed by my side patiently, listening to my every word. I could feel his attentiveness and sincerity.
As we walked directly beneath the do, the sun was just setting. Golden sunlight stread through the gaps in the do, casting countless moving spots of light that danced and shimred like stars across the floor, walls, and water.
In that mont, I felt as if I were standing in a flowing river of stars.
"Jasper, look!" I pulled on his arm excitedly. "This is the ’rain of light’! It’s so beautiful! The designer called it ’a rain of light’—see? It’s really flowing just like rain!"
Jasper looked at the dancing spots of light, then at my face, illuminated by the glow and sparkling with excitent. A gentle smile touched his lips. "Yes, it’s beautiful."
But it seed he wasn’t looking at the spots of light, but at .
We walked slowly along the waterside path. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the white building and the sunset clouds in the sky. With every step, it felt as if we were walking on the surface of the sea.
"Lila," Jasper said, suddenly hugging from behind. His arms wrapped around my waist, and he rested his chin gently in the crook of my shoulder.
I stopped walking and leaned back against his warm chest.
"Do you like it here?" he asked in a low voice, his warm breath brushing against my ear.
"I love it," I answered softly, gazing at the sea before us, which was dyed gold by the sunset. "Jasper, thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for . This... is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen."
"As long as you love it, that’s all that matters." He tightened his arms, holding more securely in his embrace. "From now on, we’ll travel to every place you love and experience even more beautiful things together."
I turned my head and looked at his handso face, so close to mine. The sunset’s afterglow burned in his golden eyes like two gentle flas.
"Jasper..." I called out softly.
"Hm?"
"I love you."
He froze for a second, and then a wide smile spread across his lips. He didn’t say a word, answering instead with a fiery, passionate kiss.
Just then, the satellite phone in Jasper’s pocket suddenly rang.
The urgent ringing sounded exceptionally jarring in the empty museum, instantly shattering the romantic tranquility.
Jasper’s brows furrowed slightly. He was clearly displeased by the interruption, but He still let go of and answered the call.
The na "Zoe" flashed on the screen. My heart leaped, and a sense of foreboding washed over . If it wasn’t an ergency, Zoe, knowing we were on our honeymoon, would never have called this encrypted number directly.
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