Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 204

Chapter 204

AUTHOR’S POV.

Dinner plates were soon cleared away, leaving only the soft flicker of candles and the gentle hush of the waterfall behind them. Alina’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as she slid a plate closer, the one that had been left covered all along. Lucian’s brow furrowed, curiosity sharpening the quiet intensity of his gaze.

With a little effort, she lifted the cover. Inside were two velvet boxes, their dark sheen catching the golden light. She pushed them across the table toward him, her lips curving in a small, nervous smile.

Lucian glanced from the boxes back to her. “What’s this?” He asked, his voice low, already carrying a weight of meaning as though he sensed more than just gifts lay inside.

“Your gifts, open them.” She urged softly, her hands clasped in front of her like she was holding back her own excitement.

Lucian picked up the first box, his long fingers brushing over the velvet before flicking it open. His breath stilled.

Inside lay a wristwatch, sleek and elegant, but unlike anything he’d ever seen. Its face shimmered faintly, and when he tilted it, a hidden image revealed itself, Alina’s face, captured delicately within, like a secret meant only for him.

At the back of the watch, their initials were engraved, etched into the metal with a permanence that made his chest tighten.

Lucian’s throat worked as he lifted it carefully. “Alina…” His voice was husky, almost reverent. “This is…” He shook his head, words faltering as his gaze flicked to hers, full of awe and a flicker of emotion he rarely allowed to show.

She smiled softly, her voice tender. “So no matter where you are, no matter how busy you get, when you look at the time… you’ll always see me.”

His lips curved slowly, but the emotion brimming in his eyes made his usual restraint slip. He reached across the table, brushing his thumb over her knuckles, holding her hand as though grounding himself.

Then he turned to the second velvet box. Opening it, he found a necklace nestled within, dark, striking, perfectly in line with his aesthetic. The pendant was a black heart encrusted with small black diamonds, gleaming under the candlelight. Alongside it lay a small key, delicate and silver, clearly meant to pair with the heart.

Lucian lifted the chain, feeling the weight of it in his hand. With a careful press, the heart locket clicked open. Inside was Alina’s picture, her smile captured in miniature. Opposite it were words inscribed in delicate script:

“Forever close to your heart.”

Lucian swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as he read it. He turned the locket slightly, fingertips lingering over the tiny engraving as though memorizing the feel of it.

“I have the spare key,” Alina explained gently, pulling her own necklace from where it rested against her collarbone. “It opens the heart too. And inside… well, you already saw.” Her lips curved into a small, teasing smile, though her eyes shimmered with emotion.

Lucian stared at her, silent for a long moment. The weight of what she’d given him, the intimacy, the thought, the symbolism, pressed against the walls of his chest. Finally, he let out a low breath, voice rough.

“You’ve outdone yourself,” he murmured. “Alina… no one’s ever…” His words faltered again, but his the rest. His admiration, his gratitude, his love, laid bare.

“I know.” She nodded with a smile that told him she understood his unspoken words.

gaze said

Alina rose from her seat, her movements graceful, and stepped over to where Lucian sat. He watched her with quiet curiosity, his dark gaze following her every step.

Carefully, she lifted the chain from the box and fastened it around his neck, adjusting it so that the black diamond heart locket rested against his chest beside the small silver key. Her fingers lingered there, brushing lightly over his skin, before she let them fall away.

Lucian didn’t let her move back. His hand slid around her waist, pulling her effortlessly down onto his lap. His mouth found hers in a kiss that was deep, unrestrained, every ounce of emotion he kept hidden pouring into the moment. Alina melted against him, her nerves dissolving in the intensity of his embrace.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead still resting against hers, his lips curved faintly. “Do you have any more surprises waiting outside,” he murmured, his tone laced with warmth, “or can we go back inside now?”

Alina’s lips tugged into a playful smile. “Yeah, we can go back inside. That’s where I have your last gift for you.”

Lucian arched a brow, amused and intrigued. “There’s more?”

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