After the gaming exhibition, Seth and Ondine went to dinner. As they walked toward the underground parking garage, two young women approached them. One of them stopped short, her eyes wide. "Mr. Thorne?"Ondine paused, looking up.The woman's shocked gaze darted from Seth to Ondine and back again."It really is you, Mr. Thorne! I thought I was seeing things. What a coincidence!"she exclaimed, then her eyes landed on Ondine. "And this is?""My wife," Seth said, his expression perfectly calm."Oh, your wife..." The woman trailed off, then the words sank in and her voice shot up an octave. "What? Wife?!"Seth gave a slight nod. "Yes."The woman looked as if she'd seen a ghost.Ondine offered a polite smile. "Hello."The woman swallowed hard, recovering slightly. "Hello, Mrs. Thorne."As Seth and Ondine walked away, the woman grabbed her friend's arm, shakingher violently. "Oh my god, did you hear that? Mr. Thorne is married! He's actually married!"Her friend stumbled, dizzy. "I saw, I saw! Stop shaking me, you're making me sick!""But did you see? He was carrying her bags! Mr. Thorne! Seth Thorne! The man who's basically an iceberg, carrying a woman's bags! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it!"noveldramaOn the thirty-sixth floor of a skyscraper, Seth had booked the entire Celestial Blossom, a members-only, Michelin-starred restaurant, for the evening.The French head chef was personally preparing their meal. Soft, soothing piano music filled the air, which was fragrant with the scent of roses. Through the floor- to-ceiling windows, the glittering city skyline stretched out before them.Seth and Ondine sat across from each other, the very air between them charged with a romantic energy.Ondine could feel her heart racing. She had never been alone with Seth in such an intimate setting. It felt like that summer evening when she was seventeen and saw him for the first time, when the entire world went quiet and all she could hear was the frantic beating of her own heart. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ fιɴdnοvel.net"Happy Valentine's Day, Mrs. Thorne," Seth said, raising his wine glass.Ondine froze. Today was Valentine's Day?Between her thesis and her mother's illness, she had completely lost track of the date.So this was a Valentine's date?The thought sent a jolt through her. When she had first walked into the restaurant, she had sensed something was different. They were the only two guests. Rose petals were scattered across the polished floor and a vase of vibrant red roses saron the table She had assumed it was just the restaurant's lavish decor. Now she realized it had all been for them.She sat there, completely flustered, not knowing what to do with her hands."Relax," Seth's voice was a gentle murmur.Ondine picked up her wine glass and touched it to his. "I'm sorry, Seth. I didn't know it was Valentine's Day.""It's okay," he said, his voice a low, magnetic hum. His eyes held an emotion she couldn't quite decipher.She quickly looked away, her heart skipping a beat. The deep night outside seemed to have seeped into his eyes, making them dark and bottomless. He took a slow sip of wine, his gaze never leaving her.Ondine took a sip of her own. The wine was exquisite, rich and intoxicating, but her mind was too numb to appreciate it.Seeing her nervousness, a soft smile played on his lips. "You're still as cute as ever, sweet Ondine."