Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
It was a nice, homely place, with the interior covered with raw wood, as was the trend these days. There were plush toys at every corner, helping to create an atmosphere of calm and soothing frayed nerves.
‘Take a break or a shower. Maybe play a game or something while I cook,” Xavier told her as he put up an apron.
When he did, he suddenly appeared to be a domestic husband, and there was hardly a hint of the playboy that he really was.
“Okay,” Leia replied tamely. Though she was suddenly a little wary, she gulped, finding herself staring stupidly at him.
She had to give it to him-a man in an apron was awfully seductive, and her appetite for the man was whetted more than her appetite for crayfish.
While he cooked in the kitchen, she could not help surveying his house gingerly out of curiosity.
Tut, tut.
3,000 square feet apartments really were luxurious, and all five rooms were so wide one could jog in it.
The interior of Xavier’s room was actually kept prim and clean, and nothing special about it.
The others were the same-clean and homely, not unlike that from a sample house, and showing little individuality.
However, the last room was closed, which somehow made it stand out.
Leia’s hand was already on the doorknob, and she was hesitant if she should go in for a look.
It would be impolite if she did, but she could not resist the curiosity in her either.
After all, you could not stop yourself from finding out more about a person when you loved them-it was just like opening stacking dolls-you would always hope to see something you’ve never seen…
In the end, she gritted her teeth and opened it!
The instant Leia opened the door and saw the interior, her expression of anticipation stiffened on her face.
Within the 300 square feet room, all the walls were covered in huge posters of Shirley
White, the recently crowned best actress.
It was not just posters-everything from magazine covers, figurines, and photo albums of
Shirley was there!
It was as if the huge room was a realm that Shirley ruled, the shrine of a zealous devotee!
Just as Leia thought, Xavier loved Shirley-to him, Shirley would always be the one who got away.
Even as her heart seemed to clench, Leia stopped at the doorway and turned away, closing the door firmly behind her.
At the same time, sizzling could be heard from the kitchen-the crayfish was soon cooked, and Xavier carried two plates full of crayfish. Five pounds were seasoned with pepper, while the other five were seasoned with lemon, all served with two large cans of beer.
“Come on, eat up!” He exclaimed cheerfully.
Leia took a deep breath, composing herself despite her disappointment, and walked up with a smile, her eyes glowing as she stared at the red crayfish filling the plates to the brim, steaming and sizzling.
“Goodness, it smells so good,” she gushed. “Be honest-your real profession is a chef, isn’t it? Showbiz tycoon is just a side job.”
“You flatter me. I actually just learned it,” Xavier smiled, passing her a pair of gloves before remembering something and quickly saying, “Wait, weren’t you allergic to shrimp? Are you sure you can eat this?”
“I’m just allergic to shrimp. Crayfish live in freshwater, so they’re not seafood. There are no problems there,” Leia replied as she picked up a steaming crayfish still dripping with sauce, peeling it and chomping down.” Mmmhmm. I can already tell this is fantastic from just one bite!”
It would not lose out to crayfish cooked by Michelin chefs.
“Take your time. There’s plenty,’ Xavier said, watching her with a tender smile and quietly peeling off the crayfish one after another, even skewering them for her.
Leia stared at the skewers he passed her, her eyes suddenly red, perhaps from the spiciness of the pepper. “Be honest. Why are you being so nice to me?”
Xavier paused for a moment, a look of half-amusement showing in his eyes just then. “Is that so wrong?’
“Yes, it’s absolutely wrong,” Leia shook her head, her eyes turning redder. “I will get serious, even addicted. What would happen to me if you stopped being nice to me?”
“That won’t happen,” Xavier said, taking a sip of beer while watching her with tender affection. “I will always be nice to you.”
“But your heart is like your room. You don’t clean it up…”
Leia finally gave in, turning to look at that very special room, and asked him, “Why would you abandon her when you love her so much?”
If she remembered correctly, back at Quartz Island, Shirley threatened him with suicide just to make him stay with her.
Even as she teetered over the sea, he rejected her resolutely.
And that was something Leia struggled to understand.
Xavier’s gaze turned cool in turn, and he chugged the beer he was holding before he said coolly, “Did no one tell you that it’s basic manners to not barge into someone’s room when you visit their house?”
Leia’s heart was stung right then, and she took off her gloves as she rose to her feet. “I’m sorry. I was out of line, though I’m used to pulling out before I get hurt. So this is it!”
She could not help giving the crayfish one last look as she did, resisting the urge to ask if he could box it up for her.
And he would never know how hard he tried to stop himself from looking behind that door!
Seeing that she was determined to leave, Xavier took off his gloves as well and caught her by the wrist. “What if I told you that I was hoping that you can clear my ‘room’?”
Leia froze, feeling as if every fiber of her being was jolted while her heart raced.
She turned towards Xavier and feigned nonchalance as she scoffed. “I have to give it to you-you really know your way around a girl’s heart. But I’m immune now, so just spare me.’
In fact, it was almost a habit for him to flirt-to speak ambiguously, then make a clean break from her when she was lost in love. When that happened, she would not even cry…
Hah! That was why no matter how much her heart raced for him-no matter how much she loved him, she was not about to fall for the same trap.
All those ambiguous words, stirring emotions, and enigmatic affection? She would rather live without those!
“Really? What a shame…” Xavier trailed off.
However, a hunter as experienced as he understood that Leia was just being obstinate and not actually eager to leave.
As such, he walked up to her, staring at her dainty, fresh face as he wiped the pepper sauce staining the corner of her lips, and said slowly, “Ruthless, aren’t you? Leaving just as I finally found my resolve to get in the game.”
Leia’s heart pounded, a little deflated as she gulped, “What do you mean, ’ get in the game’?”
“I, Xavier Stuart, sincerely invite you, Miss Leia Osborn, to clean this messy room of mine and be my new guest.”
“W-What are you talking about, cleaning my room? What do you take me for If
Before she could finish, Xavier had leaned in to kiss her in the next instant- gently, briefly, and innocently. His eyes were closed as he locked his lips against hers with focus and tenderness, his long, thick eyelashes brushing against her cheek like how a butterfly’s wings would flutter.
It was a strange coincidence of metaphors since Leia did feel butterflies in her stomach, and she felt like she could take flight-her toes and fingers stiffened as she stood there, her mind going blank as if she had been sealed within a bottle.