Chapter 32

After Dimitri disappeared into the bedroom, I sat back in my chair, my heart still fluttering from his words.

*You're the only surprise I'll ever love.*

I bit my lip, shaking my head with a soft laugh. He always had a way of leaving me breathless, whether it was through his teasing, his unexpected tenderness, or the sheer intensity of the way he looked at me.

With a deep breath, I stood up and cleared the table, rinsing off our plates before heading to the bedroom to get ready.

...

An hour later, Dimitri emerged from the walk-in closet, dressed in a crisp white button-up with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, paired with dark slacks. Even in something so simple, he looked effortlessly powerful.

His gaze landed on me, and I saw the subtle flicker of appreciation in his eyes. I had chosen a light sundress, something casual yet flattering, perfect for the plans I had in store.

He smirked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going yet?"

I crossed my arms, mirroring his stance.

"Nope."

Dimitri sighed dramatically.

"So stubborn."

I grinned. "You love it tho."

He chuckled, shaking his head as he walked over to me. His hands found my waist, pulling me close.

"That, yes, I do."

Before he could kiss me again, I playfully pushed against his chest.

"Come on, we have places to be."

His brow lifted. "And I'm just supposed to trust you?"

I rolled my eyes, taking his hand and leading him toward the door.

"Dimitri, you trusted me last night to—"

His grip tightened, yanking me back against his chest. His lips brushed against my ear as he whispered, "Careful, Ophelia. If you remind me of last night, we might not leave this villa.”

A shiver ran down my spine, but I quickly composed myself, stepping away with a teasing smirk.

"Then we better hurry, shouldn't we?"

Dimitri exhaled, amusement flickering in his eyes as he let me drag him out of the house.

As I approached the car, keys in hand, Dimitri stepped in front of me, blocking the driver's side door. His usual composed expression carried a hint of amusement, but I knew better.

"Let me drive," he said smoothly, holding out his hand for the keys. "You know I prefer to be in control."

I raised a brow, crossing my arms. "And you know I prefer not to be chauffeured around like some helpless passenger."

His lips twitched, but his eyes held a knowing glint.

"Ophelia," he sighed, tilting his head slightly, "we both know this isn't about control. You just don't want me to figure out where we are going."

I forced an innocent smile. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

His fingers grazed the edge of my keys, but I pulled them back swiftly, unlocking the car with a decisive click.

"If you drive, you'll start asking questions," I continued, opening the door. "And if you ask questions, you'll connect the dots. And if you connect the dots—"

"I'll know your plans." His voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable challenge in it.

I smirked. "Exactly."

For a second, we stood there in a silent standoff, the tension buzzing between us. Then, with an exasperated sigh, he stepped back, hands raised in surrender.

"Fine. But don't expect me not to figure it out anyway."

I slid into the driver's seat, shooting him a playful wink before shutting the door. "We'll see about that, Dimitri Cox."

...

The car ride was peaceful, with Dimitri stealing occasional glances at me, clearly still trying to figure out what I had planned.

"Are we at least leaving the city?" he asked, watching as I navigated through the streets.

I grinned. "Nope."

He sighed, but I could tell he was enjoying this. Dimitri was used to being in control, making every decision, yet he was letting me take the reins today.

When we finally arrived, I saw the moment his curiosity deepened.

"A… fair?" Dimitri asked, glancing at the lively setup of food stalls, carnival rides, and colorful booths.

I turned to him with a bright smile.

"Yes! You said no business, no formal events—just us. And I figured, when was the last time you did something completely normal?”

Dimitri stared at me for a moment before exhaling a soft laugh.

"Never."

I laughed, tugging on his hand.

"Exactly. So today, you get to experience it."

His gaze softened, and he nodded.

"Alright, lead the way, darling."

...

Watching Dimitri in this setting was adorable.

At first, he was his usual composed self, analyzing everything with that calculating gaze of his. But the moment I convinced him to try a carnival game, everything changed.

"You just have to knock down the bottles with the ball," I explained.

Dimitri scoffed.

"That's it?"

He threw the ball with precision, knocking all the bottles down in one smooth motion. The game attendant blinked in surprise before handing him a giant stuffed bear.

I laughed as Dimitri handed it to me. "Show-off."

He smirked. "You picked the game, darling. I just played."

I rolled my eyes, hugging the bear.

"Fine. But you're not getting out of trying cotton candy."

Dimitri eyed the fluffy pink treat with suspicion before taking a bite. His brow furrowed slightly, as if processing the texture, before he nodded.

"Not bad."

I gasped dramatically.

"Not bad? Dimitri, this is childhood nostalgia wrapped in sugar!"

He chuckled, shaking his head as he wiped a stray bit of fluff from my lips with his thumb.

"If you say so."

The day continued like this—us trying different foods, playing silly games, and even riding a Ferris wheel. But the best part? Seeing Dimitri truly relax.

As the sun started to set, we found ourselves sitting on a bench, watching the soft glow of the fair lights flicker on. I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling perfectly content.

"Thank you for this," Dimitri murmured after a moment.

I tilted my head up to look at him. "For what?"

"For giving me something I never knew I needed," he said, his voice quiet, almost reverent.

My heart swelled, and I reached for his hand, intertwining our fingers. "You deserve moments like this, Dimitri. Just as much as anyone else."

He brought our joined hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles. "Only with you."

I smiled, squeezing his hand as I looked back at the fair.

Today had been perfect.

As I leaned against Dimitri's shoulder, the warmth of his presence grounding me, my mind drifted back to the past—the days when this moment had felt like nothing more than a distant dream.

There was a time when Dimitri was hardly ever around.

Back then, his life revolved around business—meetings in different countries, late-night calls, high-stakes deals. I had spent so many nights alone in his mansion, waiting for him to return, only to be greeted with silence.

His secretary, Elena, had been my only company on most days. She was always polite, always professional, but she was just a reminder that Dimitri wasn't there. That he chose work over being with me.

And then, he disappeared entirely.

For almost a year, Dimitri was gone. No calls, no messages, not even a single sign of life.

I had felt abandoned, questioning everything. Had I been foolish to think I was important to him? That I meant something more than just a daughter left by his deceased business rivals?

Yet now, here he was—next to me, his fingers laced with mine, giving me the moment I had longed for all this time.

A soft sigh escaped my lips as I squeezed his hand gently, as if to confirm that he was really here. That I wasn't dreaming.

Dimitri shifted slightly, his thumb brushing against the back of my hand absentmindedly. He probably didn't even realize how much that small gesture meant to me.

For so long, I had waited for him to be present—not just physically, but emotionally. And now, it felt like I finally had him.

But then, something he had said last time crept back into my mind. I ignored it, brushing it off. I had been too caught up in the moment, too happy to finally have him.

But now…

Now, the words lingered.

What was it that he needed to tell me? And why did it feel like, no matter how perfect this moment was, there was still something I didn't know?

I glanced up at Dimitri, who was watching the fair lights with a rare, peaceful expression.

For now, I pushed the thought away.

Tonight wasn't about doubts or unanswered questions. Tonight was about us.

I'd deal with the rest when the time came.