A Vow of Deception, A Vow of Revenge novel Chapter 113

"I'm fine." Winona shook her head with a reassuring smile.

Elvis's expression softened a little, but when he turned to glare at the two people nearby, his eyes grew sharp as ice, and the temperature in the air seemed to drop several degrees.

The pair shrank back, stunned by Elvis's intimidating presence. Without daring to even collect their tickets, they hurried away in silence.

Sensing the chill radiating off him, Winona tugged gently at his sleeve. "Don't be upset, really, I'm fine."

She looked up at him, her eyes curving into a playful crescent smile.

Instantly, Elvis's stern demeanor eased.

Let it go, he told himself. This—this was probably their very first... date?

He wasn't about to let a couple of strangers ruin it.

By the time they entered the theater, the lights had already dimmed. Elvis led the way, guiding her carefully, his warm palm hovering protectively at the bend of her elbow.

Their seats were in the sixth row. Along the same row, two seats down on Winona's left, sat another couple—so close they were practically joined at the hip.

As soon as the room went dark, the couple couldn't help themselves and started making out, completely oblivious to anyone around. The muffled sounds of kissing and barely-suppressed laughter filled the space, making Winona squirm with embarrassment. She fixed her gaze on the barrage of movie trailers, refusing to look away from the screen.

She had no idea what kind of expression Elvis wore—she didn't dare glance his way. All she could hear was the steady rhythm of his breathing beside her.

Thankfully, as soon as the film began, the couple settled down.

Winona let out a quiet sigh of relief and forced herself to focus on the story unfolding onscreen.

The movie was captivating, just her favorite kind of genre, and before long, she was completely absorbed.

When the plot took a suspenseful turn, she instinctively leaned away, her shoulder bumping into Elvis's.

"Let's go." Elvis stood with her.

They made their way through the dispersing crowd, Elvis deliberately slowing his pace so Winona could stay on the inside, shielding her from the crush of people with his shoulder.

She didn't look at him, but couldn't hide the small, contented smile tugging at her lips.

On the drive home, they chatted about the film's twists and characters. Seeing how animated Winona was, Elvis suggested, "If you liked it that much, maybe we could watch it again sometime."

"I'd love that," Winona replied, her voice bright.

After a pause, she added, "Honestly, I never thought you'd be willing to go to a regular old movie theater with me."

Mr. Rogers himself, in a bustling city cinema—it was the kind of thing no one would believe if she told them.