Chapter 114
Daniel's POV.
Christiana had actually letcomfort her yesterday. | could still feel the warmth of her skin against mine, the
way she had let her guard down, just for a moment. It was enough to makefeel like maybe, just maybe, she
was finally seeing me. Me...not the guy struggling to make it, not just sfriend...me, Daniel, the man who
could love her more than anyone else ever would. For the first time, it felt like Christiana was ready to letin.
I hummed a tune as | threw on a clean shirt, looking in the mirror with a grin that hadn't left my face since
yesterday afternoon. For once, my mind was at peace, not wandering back to the what-ifs and doubts. Today, |
wasn't second-guessing everything. She had chosen me, | thought, pushing my hand through my hair and
nodding at my own reflection. For once, | wasn’t the backup plan, the shoulder to cry on. | was the man she'd
turned to.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted down the hall, and | stepped into the kitchen where Grandma was
serving breakfast, looking up in surprise as | entered with a grin.
“Well, look at you!” She laughed, eyes crinkling with a smile. “I haven't seen you this chipper since... well, since |
can remember. What's got you in such a good mood, Danny?“.
| grabbed a mug, unable to stop smiling. “Just... things are finally looking up, Gran. Things are starting to make
sense.”
“Oh, really?” She raised a brow, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. “Is that ‘thing’ a ‘someone’ by any chance?”
My cheeks flushed, but | nodded, unable to hide it from her. “It’s Christiana. | mean, it could be. She... she let me
be there for her yesterday, and it feels like maybe, finally, she’s ready to give us a chance.””
She gavea slow, approving nod, her smile widening. “It’s about tshe saw what's right in front of her.
You'd make a wonderful partner for her, Daniel. Just don’t rush her, alright? That girl's been through a lot.”
“Of course,” | said, trying to keep my voice steady, though inside, | was ready to make my intentions clear. “I
know she needs time, but | want to show her that I'm here. Not just for her, but for Ethan and Emma too. They're
already so special to me.”
At that, Grandma's face softened even more. “I can see it, Danny. | can see it in the way they look at you, those
little ones. They know you care, and so does she.”
| felt a swell of confidence, even if part ofwas still nervous. Today, though, | was ready to push aside the
self-doubt. Christiana was lettingin; she was ready, or close enough. | would ask her to take the next step
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtwith me, to make it official.
Suddenly, my little brother Jake wandered in, blinking atin confusion. “You're smiling like a goof. Did you win
the lottery or something?”
“Nah,” | said, chuckling as | ruffled his hair. “But maybe | found something better than that.”
Jake rolled his eyes, groaning. “Ugh, this has gotta be about a girl, right? Girls are so weird.”
“Trust me, Jake,” | said with a grin, “one day, you'll get it.”
He gavea skeptical look before snatching a piece of toast, muttering, “I doubt it.”
As | sat down to breakfast, | felt every bit of tension start to fade Because the thought of Christiana had
brightened my
mood
After breakfast, the anticipation buzzing withinmade it hard to sit still. I'd been waiting for this moment,
waiting for Christiana to look atthe way | had looked at her for so long. Yesterday, she'd letcomfort her;
it felt like a step forward, like she was finally lettingin
Grabbing my phone. | texted her: Morning, Christiana. Hope you and the kids slept well. Thought | could swing by
later...
11:10 Wed, Oct 30 BUB.
Chapter 114
0X066%
maybe take everyone out for lunch?’ | hit send, feeling my heartbeat quicken. It was a simple text, but it held so
much more. Today wasn't just another day. Today was a chance to show her exactly how serious | was about her,
about Ethan and Emma, about a future together.
| poured myself another cup of coffee, staring at the phone, waiting for the familiar buzz of her reply. The
minutes dragged on, but | didn’t let it discourage me. She might be busy, that’s all. After all, she had a lot on her
plate, and | knew it better than anyone.
Finally, my phone lit up, and her npopped up on the screen. My heart gave a little leap as | opened the
message: ‘Hey, Daniel. Morning to you, too. Lunch sounds good, but I've got serrands to run first. Ill let you
know when we're free.’
| smiled to myself, already picturing the kids‘ excited faces when I arrived. | could already imagine Christiana
laughing at something silly I'd say, the light in her eyes ‘finally shining without any of the usual worries or
shadows. Today was going to be different. Today, | would show her | was all in, that she wasn’t alone.
As the morning stretched on, | busied myself with little things, double-checking that | looked presentable, even
though | knew Christiana didn’t care about that stuff. | wanted to be my best self around her, to remind her of
the kind of stability, care, and loyalty | could bring into her life.
A small box sat in my pocket, its
f .
edges worn from where I'd fidgeted
with it all day. It had been a
spontaneous decision, Qne maden
with MAE selfing ar hought. But
f )
f&edhee, | didn’t care about
overthinking it. Every second | spent
with her, every glance, every word,
seemed to etch her further into my
mind. And the idea of surprising her
with something special... something |
felt she would like...becan
irresistible thought. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
The moment | saw it, | thought of her. It was simple yet elegant, something that would complement her style
without being too flashy. | couldn’t stop smiling, imagining the way her eyes might light up when she saw it.
| walked into the store, scanning
through rows of different options.
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow
as he approached asking. il Aebed
Stab OB Ta
agsista €BUt I'already had my eyes
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmon one particular piece...a delicate,
silver bracelet with a single sapphire
stone at its center. The gem was
subtle, its color soft and deep, yet it
seemed to hold an intensity that
remindedof her. The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
| picked it up, running a thumb over the cool surface of the sapphire. Perfect. Just like her, in so many ways.
This one,” | told the shopkeeper, grinning like an idiot as | handed it over for wrapping. He gavean amused
smile, no doubt recognizing the look on my face. People like him probably saw this kind of thing all the time...a
fool who'd lost himself in someone else and was now trying, in his own way, to let that someone know.
)
After | left the store, | couldn't help
but smile to myself, feeling like a
damn schoolboy. It was ridiculoys,
honestl someanéiketné standing
2 q q 0.4 ©
ohdbu Street, grinning like I'd just
won the lottery. But she had that
effect on me, twisting up everything |
thought | knew, makingbelieve, if
only for a moment, that things could
be different. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
| caught a glimpse of my reflection in a nearby shop window. | looked... hop
eful. Maybe even happy, in a way | hadn't been in a long time.
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