"She said yes to me," Jasper said over the phone, speaking to Rita.
"That's a good start. Don't give her any reason to doubt you. Don't spoil this for me," Rita replied sharply, refusing to show any excitement even though her plan was finally moving the way she wanted.
That night, Jasper tried initiating intimacy, but Ella gently refused. Even though she had said yes to him, something inside her felt wrong, like her decision wasn't truly hers. A small voice in her heart whispered that she had made the wrong choice, but she pushed it aside.
"Ellaaaa… don't chase him away," she whispered to herself, worried Jasper might feel unwanted.
"Wakey… wakey…" Jasper said the next morning as he walked into her room holding a tray of breakfast. Freshly cut fruits; apples, strawberries, pineapples, mango slices, grapes, and kiwis were arranged neatly for her.
"You didn't have to," Ella said with a soft smile, unable to hide how touched she felt seeing him serve her breakfast in bed.
"I told you… you deserve everything good and more," Jasper replied gently as he picked a slice of apple and fed her.
"Thank you," she whispered as she chewed.
They spent the morning laughing, talking, sharing soft kisses, and enjoying the warmth between them.
"I have something to show you," Jasper said suddenly.
Ella felt a spark of curiosity, wondering what he was planning.
Later that day, after freshening up, Jasper drove her out. The drive lasted almost an hour, leading them to a place Ella had never seen before.
It was breathtaking.
A garden filled with flowers of every kind; red roses, white lilies, tulips, lavender, peonies, orchids, marigolds, hydrangeas, cherry blossoms, sunflowers, jasmines, dahlias, hibiscus, baby's breath, and countless others, each one vibrant and bursting with color.
Ella stood speechless. The air smelled sweet, butterflies floated everywhere, and the sky glowed with soft, warm tones that made everything feel magical.
"This looks really beautiful," Ella breathed out, amazed.
"Thank you for bringing me here. This is truly a surprise," she added, her eyes tracing every detail of the garden.
They walked around slowly, taking their time admiring everything around them. For a moment, the world felt still, quiet, peaceful, almost unreal.
"It's getting dark. We should head home," Jasper suggested gently.
Ella nodded in agreement.
On their way back, they stopped to grab ice cream and a few snacks, laughing and enjoying every bit of the moment.
Ella kept smiling throughout the night as she replayed everything; the flowers, the peace, the simple joy Jasper gave her.
"How did you get to know there was something beautiful like that?" Ella asked, still mesmerized.
"My father was once a gardener," Jasper said, his tone dipping into old memories. "He used to take me to some of the fields he worked on, and that was one of them."
He gave a small smile. "This isn't even beautiful compared to the others I know. But I took you there because it was the closest."
Ella smiled warmly. "Thank you again. I needed that."
"You're so thoughtful, Jasper… I guess you learned that from your father as well," she added softly.
"Oh yes," he replied proudly. "I sure did."
Ella leaned back, still smiling, yet deep in her heart, something remained unsettled. She ignored the feeling, choosing instead to hold onto the warmth of the day.
For now, she wanted to enjoy the illusion.
They ended the day with a beautiful meal they prepared together. The table was filled with laughter, soft chatter, and the kind of peace Ella hadn't felt in a long time.
"This is nice, Ella," Jasper said, looking at the food proudly.
"Oh, please… we made this together," she replied with a grin. "Don't give the credit to only me."
Their laughter filled the room, a soft echo of two people trying their best to enjoy each other's company, even if one of them was hiding a storm behind their smile.