Seconds ticked by, and the surrounding tourists were all rubbernecking, eager for a spectacle.
"Looks like their connections aren’t cutting it."
"Think about it, that kind of prime spot isn’t just for anyone! After all, it’s a famed landmark in the country!"
"I bet she’s just some ordinary heiress, way out of her league!"
Serena could feel her anxiety mounting as she listened to their whispers. She turned to Martin, "Well. What’s the word?"
Martin was still waiting for his dad’s text. Today was his grandpa’s birthday, and his dad was probably busy keeping his grandpa company, not checking his phone.
He himself had almost forgotten his grandpa’s birthday. Thankfully, he had the present ready. He’d drop it off later, along with an apology.
He wouldn’t make dinner, though. Serena had agreed to eat with him, and that was a rare treat.
"Just a little longer," Martin said soothingly.
Serena was irked. If this was Romeo, his presence alone would’ve swung the doors wide open. In the end, it was Martin’s lack of clout that was embarrassing.
He couldn’t even book a venue without causing her to be the butt of jokes!
After what felt like an eternity, she decided it might be time to call in Uncle Bard to turn the tables—anything was better than being mocked by this crowd!
As she stewed over this, Serena couldn’t help but silently rebuke Martin for making her resort to asking Uncle Bard for help. Utterly useless!
Just as she was about to pull out her phone, Martin’s buzzed with a message from his father, who had already squared things away.
Martin smiled at her, "Serena, we can go up soon."
"For real? You managed to book it?" Serena wrapped him in a hug, her mood instantly lifting. "How much longer do we have to wait?"
"Just until the current guests clear out, and then it’s all ours."
"I’m gonna want to stay up there for a while then!"
She raised her voice purposefully with that last remark, causing the tourists around them to groan inwardly.
How long would it be before they could ascend now?
Serena couldn’t have felt prouder, and for once, she looked at Martin with genuine affection.
At the summit.
Romeo wrapped his arms around Rosemary from behind, both of them gazing down at the sprawling Oakridge City below.
How he wished he could freeze this moment in time.
"Rose," Romeo’s voice was tender and magnetic, "do you like Dawnstar?"
"Are we talking a fleeting fondness, or the settle-down-and-stay kind of like?" Rosemary played along, still captivated by the view.
"If it’s the latter, I’d rather build our life back home."
"Then that’s where we’ll be," Romeo said indulgently. "Wherever you want to live, I’ll follow. If you wish to disappear, we’ll retreat to the heart of the wilderness. If you want to make your mark, I’ll be by your side, through thick and thin."
Rosemary turned, her smile light. "And what if I’m just hungry?"
Romeo chuckled, his hand instinctively finding her stomach. "What about some gourmet food?"
"Perfect."
When the two of them, hand in hand, stepped out of the elevator back on the first floor, everyone was stunned.
"Doesn’t that guy look just like Romeo?"
"Kinda does. Is it really him? He’s even more handsome than in the pictures online!"
"Who’s that girl with him? She’s gorgeous!"
"Was it them who booked the whole place? Did Romeo do that for her?"
"Isn’t she just the luckiest girl ever?"
"It’s so much prettier! Look at how crowded our boat is, and they seem to be all alone."
"Did they, like, charter the whole thing?"
"Look at us, having to book weeks in advance, and the prices are all over the place depending on where you sit. But they can afford a whole boat. So loaded!"
Rosemary hadn’t expected a simple date to be turned into such a grand affair by Romeo.
Even the starters, main course, and dessert were tailored to her tastes.
Meanwhile, Serena, at the top of the Emerald, had lost all enthusiasm, her mind fixated on the image of Romeo taking Rosemary’s hand and passing by her.
She gazed down at the Luminescent Brook, twinkling with lights, and wondered aloud, "What’s that?"
Martin replied gently, "That’s the dinner cruise along Luminescent Brook. Wanna give it a try?"
"Yeah, sure." Serena nodded.
The tourists on the ground were shocked at how extravagant the couple was, leaving not even an hour after reserving the place.
"Talk about splurging, just to enjoy the view for less than an hour. Is money just like onions to rich folks, not worth much?"
When Serena heard the surrounding envy and awe, her mood lifted a bit.
She let Martin lead her forward, not watching where she was going, just staring at the photos Martin had taken of her on the top floor.
"Look at this mess you shot, it’s so bad!" Serena handed her phone to Martin.
Martin couldn’t see any issue.
"It looks great—your expression, the pose, and even the background."
"You made me look fat! Don’t you think this angle makes me look a bit chubbier than the last one?"
Martin inspected it closely. Perhaps there was the slightest difference, but without scrutiny, it was imperceptible.

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