Walking hand in hand in the twilight, it felt perfect. Abrielle smiled at the evening sky, her heart brimming with gratitude.
"Is there anything else you want to do?" Cedric asked, his gaze fixed on her side, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun.
Abrielle pouted her lips, then bead.
"There is one more thing," she squealed, pulling her husband through the crowd. They had been moving all day, yet she was still as energetic as ever.
Abrielle dragged Cedric to a booth, her eyes locking on a large blue teddy bear. "Win that for ," she chid, pointing at it.
Cedric arched a brow at her before sweeping his gaze around the booth, watching others trying to win the prize. It was a ga of darts, and he instantly realised sothing.
"The ga is rigged," his voice chid in her mind.
Abrielle was startled. She often forgot Cedric could now read and communicate with thoughts, though he still preferred speaking aloud.
"I know..." Abrielle’s eyes glead with determination as she paid for the ga. She had tried several tis at the booth before, but always lost.
"You have three chances," the booth owner announced with a smile.
Abrielle almost snorted. She knew Cedric would beat his little sche. "Thanks," she replied.
"Goddamn it. Not again."
She heard soone curse and her heartbeat slowed. Abrielle turned to the side, her eyes catching two girls eagerly throwing darts, hopelessly failing. One of them—a familiar blonde—made her chest tighten.
She almost blurted out her best friend’s na. Kimberly...
Kimberly was too focused on the ga to notice her. Her hands were steady, yet each dart always missed. Abrielle’s eyes narrowed as old mories resurfaced—how she and Hazel always tried this sa ga whenever they ca here, despite its reputation for being unwinnable.
Everyone suspected it was rigged, but no one ever had proof. Kimberly threw her last dart and missed completely. She hissed under her breath, her hands clenching.
After the morial service last night, her heart hadn’t been at ease. She rembered how badly she and Hazel had wanted that teddy, but they never got it.
Abrielle quickly glanced away. She hadn’t expected to run into Kimberly here.
"I want another try," Kimberly muttered, handing the owner more cash, determined to beat the ga.
Cedric sighed, his gaze shifting to the darts. It was fine. He could win this.
His eyes locked on the target and, as expected, the bullseye shifted just before his dart landed. He smiled faintly—he had anticipated that. To the owner’s shock, Cedric’s dart still hit the mark.
Abrielle’s face lit up. She knew he had cheated—that was the plan all along. She hopped forward, hugging his neck.
"You won!!!" she gushed.
Cedric smiled faintly. "Did you expect not to?" he teased.
The owner stood stunned but quickly tried to cover it.
Kimberly, however, froze, staring at the couple blankly. How did he do it?
"You got lucky on the first. Which teddy do you want?" the owner forced out. His brow twitched—the teddy was worth more than the ticket.
Cedric smirked. "I still have two more tries."
His smug look made the owner’s face scrunch up. He wanted to stop him but knew he couldn’t.
Surely, there was no way Cedric would win all three.
But to his astonishnt, Cedric hit the bullseye with all three darts. Perfect score.
Abrielle was over the moon, laughing as she watched the owner’s blackened expression. Her laughter made the night feel lighter.
"So I can pick three teddies." She shot the owner a smug look before pointing to three large ones.
"Congratulations. You’re super lucky," the owner muttered, reluctantly handing them over.
The teddy bears were so large, Abrielle couldn’t hold two at once.
"Of course, my hubby is a lucky charm," she teased, sticking out her tongue at the owner on purpose.
Kimberly could only watch, helplessly smiling.
Their eyes accidentally t. Abrielle smiled warmly at her. Kimberly froze, stunned. For a mont, her brain shut down.
Then, Abrielle shoved one of the teddies into her arms. "You can have this. We only want two," she said, before walking off with Cedric.
Kimberly stared at the brown teddy in her hands, her heart suddenly heavy. She hugged it tightly. The strange lady felt hauntingly familiar, like the girl she’d been friends with since daycare.
It must be because her morial was yesterday, she told herself, pushing away the frightening thoughts.
The night, however, was just beginning for Abrielle. She wanted to savour every mont.
After leaving the park, she road the streets with Cedric, pointing out places filled with mories. She dragged him to her favourite street food joint, insisted he try everything, and told little stories of her past along the way.
The highlight of the night ca when they reached the rooftop of their hotel.
A helicopter was waiting. Abrielle practically bounced with excitent as she pulled him toward it. She wanted to give him a tour of the city from above.
The pilot lifted them into the night sky, the city sprawling beneath them like a sea of stars. Abrielle played tour guide, her voice lively and cheerful. Each ti she spotted sothing familiar, her smile grew wider.
Cedric didn’t quite understand why she’d pay for a helicopter when he could easily fly them across the city himself. Still, he let her do whatever made her happy.
The glittering skyline shimred like rivers of light. Abrielle paused, her breath catching, then turned to him.
"Isn’t the city beautiful?" she asked.
Cedric didn’t look away from her. His gaze softened. "Of course it is," he said. Though in truth, he hadn’t been paying attention to the city at all.
Abrielle still smiled, pleased that he seed to be enjoying himself.
By the ti they landed and returned to their hotel, Abrielle was finally tired.
The door creaked open.
The TV was on.
Abrielle frowned—she clearly rembered switching it off before they left. Cedric imdiately went on guard. He couldn’t sense anyone inside, yet they both approached the living area cautiously.
Cedric shielded Abrielle behind him.
A soft laugh drifted into their ears.
Abrielle peeked over his shoulder. Her eyes widened. A silver-haired man was sprawled on the couch, lazily watching Netflix. He looked like so idol lounging in modern clothes.
"Yuki," she blurted.
The familiar face looked even more striking now.
Maximus turned his head, his violet eyes softening. "You’re finally back," he said with a smile.
Cedric froze, his frown deepening. "Yuki?" he repeated, watching his wife approach the so-called god of strength.
Was that annoying cat actually Maximus?
His eyes grew cold.
Abrielle let out a nervous laugh, realising Cedric didn’t know Yuki’s true identity.
Maximus gave Cedric a neutral look, ignoring the dangerous aura emanating from him. His expression turned stern as he asked:
"Have you made your decision?"
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