Episode 20

I swallow hard, feeling a slight determination, mixed with hesitation in me.

Without thinking any further, I just hold his hand, unable to look into his eyes.

Adrian seems surprised by the gesture, but his expression quickly softens into a warm smile.

Our fingers intertwine gently, and a comforting feeling spreads through me...

The heat in my cheeks intensifies when I notice Adrian's gaze on me. An electric current seems to run through my body as our eyes meet, and I get lost in the intensity of the moment.

Our gazes lock, and for a moment, time seems to stand still.

It's as if all the noise and commotion of the festival fades away for a moment...

It's a new and strange feeling, but at the same time, deeply comforting....

"How about an ice cream to finish off?" he asks, and I nod.

He gently pulls my hand to a stall and then orders for us...

A short while later, each of us has an ice cream cone in our hands.

The sweetness of the ice cream contrasts with the feeling of warmth in my hand, where Adrian holds it firmly.

We find a quieter spot and then sit down on a bench, and at no point does he let go of my hand...

At one point, he turns a little serious and then turns to me.

"I'm going to need to go over there for just a moment. I promise it'll be quick," he says, and I nod.

A little reluctantly, he lets go of my hand and then leaves me there alone...

I look around as I eat my ice cream, enjoying the festival and the moment of tranquility.

However, my moment of peace is interrupted when Taylor approaches, his gaze full of malice and his expression challenging.

I face him with a mixture of distrust and discomfort, knowing that his presence never means anything good.

"What a waste... you here alone... Where did your fiance run off to?" Taylor asks, making me roll my eyes.

"Get out of here before I lose my patience..." I say through gritted teeth.

However, Taylor seems determined to annoy me even more... He leans closer, his invasive presence making me uncomfortable.

I stand up and as I go to leave, he grabs my arm, too tightly.

But before I could even think about pulling away, a tall figure appears in front of me, pulling Taylor's arm and pushing him away from me.

"Calm down, stallion. No need to get all bent out of shape. I was just trying to be nice to your fiancee," Taylor provokes.

"Stay away from her," Adrian says through gritted teeth.

"And if I don't want to?" Taylor retorts.

"Then you'll see what happens when someone messes with what's mine." Adrian takes a step forward, his expression dark and muscles tense. His eyes lock with Taylor's with an icy intensity, as if he could freeze hell itself. "If I find out you've breathed near her, there'll be no place in this world where you can hide. And I guarantee you'll regret every step you take."

"Ooh, I'm shaking in my boots... Relax... No need to be jealous, Alpha," Taylor says with a mocking smile, taking a step back.

He looks at me and then walks away.

After Taylor leaves, a palpable tension hangs in the air, echoing Adrian's silent threat. I find myself looking at him, my heart still pounding from the adrenaline of the moment.

Adrian takes a deep breath, his eyes still fixed on the spot where Taylor stood moments before. His posture is stiff, but there is a gentle wave of relief in his expression as he turns to me.

"Are you okay?" he asks, his voice soft, contrasting with the ferocity he displayed moments ago.

I nod, unable to articulate any words in the face of the intensity of the moment.

"Let's take a walk," he suggests, his tone calm. "Let's not let this ruin our night."

Adrian extends his hand towards me. A simple gesture, but full of meaning. I look at his outstretched hand for a moment before intertwining my fingers with his in gratitude.

His grip is firm and comforting, conveying a sense of security that makes me relax a little more. Together, we walk along the path illuminated by the festival lights, each step strengthening the connection between us.

Adrian leads me through the stalls until we reach one with a large table and some bottles on it, and I see some children throwing rings to hit them.

"Adrian!" The stall owner greets Adrian, who responds with a smile and a nod. "Good to see you came... and with your fiancee."

Adrian responds with a kind smile. "It's a pleasure to be here. And this is Ayla," he says.

"Hello," I greet with a shy smile.

The stall owner invites us to participate in the game, and Adrian readily accepts. He takes some rings and starts trying to hit the bottles while I watch with interest.

Soon, Adrian invites me to try it too, and I take some rings, trying to imitate the movements I saw the children making. It's harder than it looks, but the fun is in trying.

We both laugh as my attempts fail miserably, and we're soon competing with each other to see who can hit the most bottles.

As we're having fun playing, the stall owner decides to strike up a conversation between throws.

"So, Adrian, how are the preparations for the party going?" he asks, his gaze curious.

I turn to Adrian with a confused expression, not understanding what he's talking about. Adrian seems a little embarrassed.

"Party?" I ask with a slight laugh.

"The engagement party, of course!" he exclaims as if it were obvious.

"Engagement party?" I repeat, my voice full of surprise and confusion.

The stall owner nods, looking excited.

"Yes, I heard it's going to be in a few days. I can't wait to celebrate with you!"

I look at Adrian with a mixed expression of indignation and disbelief. The idea of an engagement party takes me completely by surprise.

Adrian seems to notice my reaction and looks visibly uncomfortable. He gives me an apologetic look, but says nothing.

I take a deep breath, trying to control my frustration. The engagement party is just more proof of how our fake engagement is becoming more and more real, and it disturbs me a little.

I turn my back and leave, walking quickly, ignoring Adrian's attempt to reach me.

When we finally get far enough away from the crowd, Adrian tries to take my hand, but I instinctively pull my hand away, my irritation overflowing.

"I can explain, Ayla," he begins, his voice tense.

I turn to him with eyes full of fury, my hands clenched into fists at my sides.

"Explain? How could you not even mention an engagement party to me?" I retort, my voice raised with contained anger.

He looks guilty, his expression strained as he tries to find the right words.

"I... I completely forgot! Things haven't been easy, and our start was completely complicated, we didn't even talk to each other..." he tries to explain, his voice laden with regret.

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head in disbelief.

"That's no excuse, Adrian. You should have told me, regardless of the situation," I reply, my voice heavy with frustration and disappointment. "What's next month? The wedding? Let me know in advance so I can remember to show up!" I scoff, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I turn on my heel and start walking back home, my footsteps echoing on the ground.

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