His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 147

“Shh, big brother.” Nadia gave a sly, playful smile, rising up on tiptoe to silence him with a kiss.

Their breaths tangled, heat simmering between them. Nadia whispered against his lips, “Lumina’s here. If she sees us like this, do you really think she’d ever accept your love?”

Soren gripped her waist, a coldness flashing in his eyes as he abruptly pushed her away.

“Nadia?”

When Lumina stepped out of the steamy bathroom, towel drying her hair, the living room was empty.

A chilly gust bit at her back—the front door was wide open.

Seriously? Has this girl slipped out again, bewitched by love, and gone off to find Keegan in the middle of the night?

With a silent sigh, Lumina moved toward the door to close it.

But before she could, Nadia darted in from outside, grinning mischievously. “Lumina! I’m right here!”

Lumina frowned. “What were you doing out there?”

She glanced into the hallway—empty, not a soul in sight.

“Just took out the trash downstairs. It’s freezing.” Nadia flopped onto the sofa as if nothing was amiss, slipped on her headphones, and disappeared into her music.

...

Every Christmas, the people of Yuria celebrated with grand festivals. The streets sparkled with red and green decorations, and Santa made his rounds, bringing candy and cheer to every doorstep.

Tonight, Lumina had accepted Soren’s invitation to dinner.

She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the delicate necklace around her neck, gazing at the calm, lovely woman reflected back.

It was time, she decided, to stop hiding behind the label of “just friends.” Time to accept the affection Soren offered her, and even more—time to summon the courage to start a new chapter in her life.

She had barely made up her mind when, suddenly, her suitcase—standing upright in the corner—toppled over with a loud thud.

The noise made her jump.

Turning around, she saw that the suitcase had burst open, and a small velvet box had rolled onto the floor.

For a moment, Lumina stood frozen. Memories she’d tried to bury came rushing back, relentless and sharp.

—“There’s something I want you to have. Open it when you get home.”

Staring out at the moon, Lumina would think, more times than she cared to admit, that across the ocean, he was probably asleep, the woman of his dreams at his side.

But in her own dreams, she saw only that dazzling lantern festival—his warm, slightly rough hands, the taste of sweet candy on his lips, and the soft, sorrowful words: “Will you make me another cup of coffee?”

...

Her hand hovered over the velvet box, her breathing unsteady.

What would Cedric have given her?

Nervously, she gripped the tiny box, prying it open inch by inch.

The moment she saw what was inside, Lumina clapped a hand over her mouth.

A ring, quiet and unassuming, lay nestled in the velvet.

In that instant, she finally understood. The orderly new life she’d built over the past few months—all her efforts had been nothing but a thin disguise, a poor attempt to mask how much she missed him.

Snow had piled up on the window ledge. In the deep silence of the night, her emotions flipped page after page, restless as an open book.