Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Eva’s POV
I woke up to the soft patter of rain against the windows. The sky outside was gray and lazy, draped in low clouds that seemed too tired to move. It was one of those days where everything just felt slow. The kind of day that made you want to stay curled up in bed, wrapped in a blanket, with a hot drink and no responsibilities.
But life doesn’t pause just because the weather begs for a break.
Dominic had already left the penthouse before I even rolled out of bed. He didn’t say much last night either—just a soft goodnight before disappearing into his room. Maybe he had an early meeting. Or maybe he just needed time to think. We both did, honestly.
I brewed a cup of tea and stood by the window, sipping it slowly as the city blurred behind streaks of rain. The lights looked softer today, almost dreamlike. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a day to myself, completely unplanned.
That gave me an idea.
\---
By late morning, I was in a long hoodie and leggings, my hair tied up in a simple bun. I pulled on ankle boots and grabbed my umbrella, slipping out of the penthouse with one of the guards quietly following from a distance. Dominic insisted on the guards, even if I was just going to the grocery store.
Today, though, I wasn’t going to the grocery store. I was going somewhere I hadn’t been in a long time.
The bookstore.
There was a small, cozy one tucked between a flower shop and a quiet bakery down one of the older city lanes. I used to come here when I was in college—back when I’d escape after long shifts at the café or stressful exams. It wasn’t anything grand. No fancy walls or tech-driven shelves. Just warmth. The scent of old pages and coffee beans. And peace.
The bell over the door jingled as I stepped inside.
The store hadn’t changed.
Rows of wooden shelves filled with both old and new books. A sleepy black cat lounging by the window. A kind-faced older man behind the counter, humming a tune as he arranged bookmarks on a rack.
“Hello,” he greeted with a smile when he looked up. “Rainy day reading, huh?”
“Always,” I smiled back, walking slowly down one of the aisles. The smell hit me immediately—faded ink, aging paper, and a soft touch of vanilla from the candle near the register.
I lost track of time flipping through paperbacks, some poetry, and a few thrillers. I even picked up a cookbook with pages so worn it looked like it had survived generations of trial and error.
By the time I reached the small reading section in the back, I had three books in my arms. I sat in one of the plush chairs, cracking open the first one. A historical romance. Ridiculous premise. But that was the point. I needed something that wasn’t my life.
Something that didn’t involve fake weddings, fatherly pressure, or playing a role I hadn’t trained for.
The rain outside grew heavier, and the rhythm of it tapping against the window lulled me into a quiet calm. I was halfway through the third chapter when my phone buzzed.
Dominic: Where are you?
I stared at the message for a second. Then typed back.
Me: Bookstore. Just needed a breather.
His response came almost instantly.
Dominic: Alright. Let me know when you're on your way back. Lunch is on me.
I smiled a little.
Me: Only if you’re picking the dessert too.
Dominic: Deal.
I finished one chapter and made my way back to the counter. The man gave me a paper bag and added a free bookmark with a soft chuckle. “You look like someone who needs a peaceful day.”
“More than you know,” I replied.
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Back at the penthouse, the place smelled like fresh herbs and lemon. The dining table had already been set. Dominic was in the kitchen, oddly dressed in a plain T-shirt and joggers—relaxed, casual, and barefoot.
“I didn’t know you cooked,” I said, stepping inside with my bag of books.
He looked up from the pot he was stirring. “Don’t sound so surprised. I had a life before meetings and property takeovers.”
I leaned against the wall. “What’s on the menu?”
“Chicken and vegetable stir-fry. With ginger rice. And I ordered chocolate lava cake because I don’t trust myself with baking.”
“That’s smart,” I said, smiling.
He gestured to the stools by the kitchen counter, and I joined him. While he stirred, I unpacked my books and showed him what I’d gotten. He raised an eyebrow at the romance novel.
“Dukes and scandals?” he asked, amused.
“Don’t judge until you try it,” I shot back, flipping the cover toward him.
Lunch turned out better than I expected. The stir-fry was fresh and flavorful, and Dominic ,somehow, keeps getting better at cooking. We ate at the counter, side by side, the city still pouring rain outside the glass walls.
We didn’t talk about the wedding.
We talked about random things. He asked about the bookstore and the cat I used to feed there. I asked if he’d ever learned to swim, and he told me about how he once nearly drowned during summer camp as a kid because he refused to admit he didn’t know how.
By the time we got to dessert, I felt lighter.
Later that afternoon, Dominic disappeared into his office for a few calls, and I curled up on the couch with one of the books. The rain had eased into a soft drizzle, and the sky was beginning to clear.
I read in silence, the soft hum of his voice in the background through the closed door.
Eventually, he joined me again, holding a mug of tea and sitting down on the opposite end of the couch.
“Still reading?” he asked.
“Still pretending I’m not in a complicated fake engagement with my boss,” I said without looking up.