Chapter 115 Feeling a Bit Uncomfortable Inside
The three of them left and got in the car — Vincent up front behind the wheel, Vanessa in the passenger seat, Luna alone in the back, watching the city go by through the window.
The whole drive, there were Christmas decorations everywhere. Colored lights hung from the streetlights, Christmas trees glittered behind shop windows, and the streets ran red and green in every direction. The city had dressed itself up entirely.
There was a large pedestrian street in the city center that was usually crowded with shoppers, and now it was even more packed.
Both sides of the street were lined with stalls selling mulled wine, grilled sausages, and Christmas candy. Luna held Vincent's hand and moved through it all with wide eyes, pulling toward everything that caught her attention, which was more or less everything.
At the heart of the square stood an enormous Christmas tree, lit from base to tip, its lights shifting and twinkling against the winter sky.
People clustered around it from every angle, phones raised.
"Daddy, take my picture!" Luna planted herself in front of the Christmas tree, holding her little candy cane high in the air.
Vincent took a few shots, then glanced at Vanessa. "You should get in a few too."
She didn't answer. She wasn't looking at him — her gaze had drifted somewhere down the street, unfocused and a little distant.
He followed it.
There was a flower stall at the corner. In the middle of winter, the roses were vivid and extravagant, almost aggressively beautiful against the grey cold.
He walked over. "You like them?"
Vanessa crossed her arms and looked away. "They're okay, I guess. Roses are only meaningful when someone gives them to you, not when you ask for them yourself."
Vincent smiled and walked straight to the flower stall. A moment later, he returned carrying a large bouquet of gorgeous roses.
He held them out to Vanessa with a smile. "Merry Christmas."
The corner of her mouth curved before she could stop it. She took the bouquet, and as she did, her fingers found something unexpected nestled among the stems — a small red leather box, no bigger than her palm.
Her heart jumped. She pulled out the small box and opened it with one hand, then let out a soft gasp.
The ring inside caught the light immediately. An elaborate setting, centered with a ruby of extraordinary size — fifteen carats at least, maybe more. For something so compact, it was breathtaking.
"Vince..."
"Just a little surprise." He watched her face. "Do you like it?"
Her eyes filled before she could blink it back. She nodded hard — once, twice — then rose onto her toes, wrapped both arms around his neck, and kissed him, right there in the middle of the square.
This was the first time she'd been so affectionate with Vincent in front of Luna.
She wasn't sure what the feeling was exactly — only that it was uncomfortable, somewhere between her stomach and her chest, pressing in without explanation.
She just knew that Auntie Vanessa shouldn't be doing that with Daddy. It didn't feel right.
She turned away from them with a pout and let her gaze drift toward the street.
Suddenly, her eyes went wide. She jumped up, waving her hands and shouting loudly, "Mommy! Mommy, I'm over here!"
Daisy had originally just come out for a casual stroll.
She walked slowly along the pedestrian street, looking at the Christmas decorations in the shop windows and listening to street musicians playing classical pieces. It felt quite relaxing.
The holidays seemed to have put everyone in a gentler mood, and she found herself hoping that included the Bennetts.
Especially since a while ago, that Marcus guy had sent Shawn a message saying he was safe, which had Shawn crying and laughing, unable to sleep for half the night.
Maybe in a little while, she wouldn't need bodyguards secretly following her when she went out.
She'd reached the edge of the square and spotted a mulled wine stall. She was weighing whether to stop when someone called her name.
"Ms. Hart!"
Daisy turned around to see Felix standing not far away.
He seemed to have dressed up specially today—white shirt with a white cashmere coat, wrapped in a bright red scarf, his hair styled, hands in his pockets, smiling at her.
"Felix." She walked over, already amused. "You look like you're going somewhere important. What's the occasion?"
"I did a tarot reading before I left," he said, completely seriously. "It told me I was going to run into you. So I dressed accordingly." A beat. "I'd say the reading was fairly accurate."
After spending so much time together, Daisy had become immune to his occasional flirtatious remarks.
The two of them walked along the pedestrian street together.
"What were you looking at just now? I saw you staring at that mulled wine stall for a while."
Daisy laughed. "I wanted to buy a cup, but then I thought drinking alone wouldn't be much fun."
Without a word, Felix went over and bought two cups, handing one to her.
Daisy took it and had a sip. The taste wasn't exactly delicious, but it wasn't bad either. The mixed scent of cinnamon and cloves masked the alcohol, and when she swallowed, warmth spread from her throat all the way to her stomach.
"Thanks," she said.
Felix smiled. "That's worth a 'thanks' from you?"
The two of them walked to the center of the square, where there was a huge Christmas tree covered in twinkling lights, with many people gathered around taking photos.
Daisy was just thinking about whether to take a photo when she heard Luna's voice behind her.
"Mommy! Mommy, I'm over here!"
She barely had time to turn before Luna crashed into her, arms first.
Felix raised an eyebrow and looked in the direction Luna had come from, spotting Vincent and Vanessa in the distance.
The two stood intimately close, the large bouquet of roses and the small ring box very conspicuous.
Seeing this, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.
When he'd run into Vincent last time, something had seemed off—the guy's eyes practically glued to Daisy. He'd wondered then if Vincent regretted the divorce.
But now, seeing the flowers and ring, he felt much more at ease.
Looks like those two have a pretty good relationship.
Meanwhile, Luna had Daisy's hand in both of hers and was already talking at full speed. "Mommy, what are you doing here? Did you come to see Santa Claus?"
Daisy stroked her head. "I came out for a walk."
Luna was thrilled, holding her hand and not letting go. "Mommy, come play with us! Daddy bought me a candy cane and took pictures of me! Auntie Vanessa got flowers and a ring! Look!"
By now, Vincent and Vanessa had also walked over.
Vanessa deliberately held Vincent's arm, her gaze sweeping over Daisy and Felix before she smiled. "Ms. Hart, is this your new boyfriend? Looks like he's pretty well-off too."
That phrase "pretty well-off too" had a rather meaningful tone, as if Daisy went looking for men based on their wealth.
It also brought up how she'd married into the Blacks through questionable means.
Daisy's expression didn't change. She was about to speak when she heard Felix say casually, "I'm still in the pursuit phase. It would be great if Ms. Hart would give me a chance."
Vanessa's smile went slightly rigid.
Felix stepped forward and extended a hand to Vincent. "Mr. Black, what a coincidence."
Vincent shook it. "Indeed, quite a coincidence."
Luna pulled on Daisy's hand, looking up at her. "Mommy, come eat with us! I'm hungry!"
Daisy hesitated for a moment, looking toward Felix. Felix smiled and said, "I happen to be hungry too. Why don't we all go together? My treat."