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Chapter 8
The next evening. Byron told Adele he had a surprise planned. She didn’t ask questions, just grabbed her coat and followed him out:[]
They pulled up to a high end restaurant, all soft lighting and valet service. A host greeted them and guided them straight to the rooftop suite without a word
When
the door opened, Adele stopped cold.
entire room was glowing–candles flickering, flowers everywhere. It was a romantle cliché come to life
Byron pulled out a chair with a flourish, that proud smile still on his face, So? What do you think?“||
Adele didn’t answer. She just stared for a second, then slipped silently into her seat.
He picked up the menu and ordered nearly everything she used to love. When the food arrived, he even peeled shrimp and cracked crab shells for her, dropping them gently into her plate.]]
All night, he kept the conversation going bringing up old memories, trying to get her to laugh.
*Remember when we first started dating? You used to walk me to dass every day. He actually pulled me aside one day and joked, “Usually it’s the boyfriend sitting in on the girlfriend’s classes–what’s going on with you two?”
Adele gave him a strange look. “What’s going on with you?““]
Byron shrugged.“You’ve just seemed… off lately. I wanted in cheer you up. There’s another surprise coming too,
He checked his watch, then got up and drew back the curtains.
Fireworks erupted outude the window, lighting up the sky in bursts of color.
Adele turned to look. Thousands of tiny explosions shaped like hearts glittered over the city.
She stared, stunned. “You arranged all this?”
Before Tyron could answer, the door burst open.
Scarlett stormed in, followed by a group of friends. Someone had a camera, snapping shots like they were covering a tabloid scandal
Scarlet’s voice rang out, full of aimag delight!]
“So? What do you think of tonight’s date? Pretty dresing, right? This whole setup was my idea. Feeling moved yet?”
Adele’s expression froze
She ained in Byron again, her voire tight
“Did you plan this?”]
Byron didact calcis the shult in her for He laughed lightly and glanced at Scarlett.
“Nadi. It was her idea. Wig
Searlelland ||
told me he forgot your anniversary, so 1 lielped him x it. The candles, the food, the fireworks–I picked everything. I wanted to make sure it was i night you wouldn’t forget. Oh–and the perfume. You got it, right? That took me forever to choose. You like it
So it was all Scarlett No wonder Hyton had suddenly turned romantic overnight ||
Adele sat there, not saying a word, her mind spinning backward to college, when Scarlet had helped them get together too.||
the was the one who told Byron to bring her flowers. The one who told him to take her to Hyde parks. The one who told him to send goodnight texts at the same
time every evening
Byron had followed every instruction like a machine–down to the way he confessed his feelings. Tial, Rehearsed.
Now, listening to everyone praise Scarlett for how perfect tonight was, a wave of quiet despair washed over Adele ||
Scarlett hadn’t arranged this dinner to be kind ||
She’d done it in femind her that no matter how far this relationships had goër–ils beginning, is end, even its so–called happiest moments–nope of it had ever truly belonged in her.|]
It was Sardell’s story all along ||
He was perfectly fine being part of it]}
