Estelle scoffed. "Before, you were so sure Sylvia liked you, always acting high and mighty, thinking you had everything under control and that no one could defy you. Now you seem a bit flustered. Did you confess to Sylvia and get rejected?"

Gabriel's chiseled lips curved into a semblance of a smile. "You think you're a relationship expert just because you're dating Jonathan?"

Estelle sighed. "Can you please take your own feelings seriously?"

"How?" Gabriel retorted. "She's still with Eugene. What good would it do if I did?"

"But you already know she has her reasons for being with Eugene."

"She had her reasons at first. What if she genuinely fell for him along the way?" Estelle was speechless.

She chuckled. “So, you're planning to just hand Sylvia over to Eugene?"

Gabriel's eyes glinted sharply as he said slowly and deliberately, "That's impossible."

“If it's impossible, then find a way to win her back,” Estelle said with a frown. “If you're not anxious, I am."

"What are you anxious about?" Gabriel asked with a slight laugh.

"I'm afraid Sylvia will really give up on you!"

Gabriel fell silent.

He slowly drank the tea in his cup and said, as if to himself, "We'll have to wait until after your wedding anyway."

J City

With Estelle gone, Jonathan found it hard to focus on his work. When Chuck came in with a report, he noticed his boss's unusual state.

"The wedding is just around the corner, Mr. Lamont. You could take these few days off."

Jonathan casually flipped through the report. "Everything is proceeding as planned. I'll manage my time."

The truth was, he needed something to keep himself busy.

Chuck hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully. “Mr. Lamont, actually..."

Seeing him trail off, Jonathan looked up. “What is it?"

Chuck said, “Actually, you don't need to be so nervous. Just relax."

Jonathan was at a loss for words.

He frowned. "Which eye of yours sees me as nervous?"

Chuck pointed out, "You're holding the report upside down."

Jonathan glanced down.

*

35

After work, Jonathan was supposed to go back to the family estate, but he ended up

telling Millard to drive to the Royal Mansion.

On the way, he sent Estelle a message: [What are you doing?]

Estelle replied quickly: [Thinking of you.]

A light ignited in Jonathan's dark eyes. He stared at the screen, fixated on those words, his mind filled with every nuance of Estelle's smile was like a warm current flowing into his heart, making his entire body tingle.

After a long moment, he typed back: [What a coincidence. I was thinking of you too.]

Estelle: [I forgot to tell you something. I prepared an early birthday gift for you. It's in

the top drawer of your desk. I hope you like it.]

Jonathan's heart skipped a beat. [When did you prepare this?]

[A long time ago.]

Jonathan's desire to get back to the Royal Mansion grew even more urgent.

By the time he arrived home, it was

evening. He opened the door to a room bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, which poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

But without Estelle there, the space felt empty and desolate.

Jonathan headed straight for the study.

Sitting at the desk, he opened the drawer. Inside was a long, rectangular, deep blue velvet box.

He held it in his hand but didn't open it right away. His mind flashed back to his birthday three years ago, when she had given him a gift he would never forget.

Now, holding another birthday gift from her, he felt a flicker of trepidation.