ARRANGED MARRIAGE (REVISED VERSION)

Chapter 8

Confessions Under the Stars

Third Person POV

"Are you okay now, Winnie?" Bright asked as Win pulled himself away from him.

"Yeah, sorry if I startled you. I'm just tired," Win lied, trying to downplay his feelings.

"The house looks beautiful, thank you. I'm sorry I couldn't help you. I promise to assist with the bedrooms," Win added.

Just as he was about to stand, Bright gently stopped him.

"Win... can we talk?"

"We are talking right now," Win joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah..."

"What do you want to talk about?" Win asked, genuinely curious.

"About last night..." Bright said, gathering his courage.

"Oh, what about it?" Win replied, feigning nonchalance, though anxiety gnawed at his heart.

"You misunderstood," Bright finally said.

"What?! What did I misunderstand?" Win laughed, unsure of where this was going.

"I am in love..."

"Yes, I know. You said that last night."

Bright moved closer, and Win felt like he might need oxygen any second.

"And that's why you misunderstood it..."

Win frowned in confusion. "Well, please just say it already—"

Before he could finish, Bright leaned in and kissed him. Win froze, surprised, but before he could react, Bright pulled back and confessed, "I love you, Win."

Win's POV

"I love you, Win." Those words left me stunned, my heart racing faster than it ever had before.

"Please, let me love you even if you can't return my feelings," Bright added.

I was speechless, but Bright continued.

"When I was ten, I was terrified of the beach. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore scared me. I even cried. But then a younger kid approached me, held my hand, and told me it was just water. He invited me to play in the sand, but I forgot to ask his name before my nanny called me to go home." He paused, looking directly at me.

"That was you?" I asked, needing confirmation.

He nodded, and suddenly I felt overwhelmed with emotion.

"My mom partnered with your dad's company at that time and brought me along to get me out of the house, where I was always studying."

Bright took my hand in his.

"Growing up, I prayed to meet you again. After high school, my mom sent me to Canada. I accepted it, but while I was there, she kept sending pictures of you. Those beautiful eyes reminded me of that kid. I knew it was you. When I graduated, she offered me a position at her company..."

I interrupted, "What about the marriage?"

"I knew about it before the meeting at the mansion. Mom told me about your grandpa's promise for our families to unite. She said it was not just about the company but about the promise, especially since your grandpa was ill. Your mom urged my parents to hurry things along," he explained.

"So you didn't oppose it?"

"No, I wanted your grandpa to be happy."

Tears of joy rolled down my cheeks, but Bright gently wiped them away. "Shh, don't cry, Win. I'm telling you this because I want you to know that since that day, you've never left my mind. I wanted to be close to you, but I was scared it would seem creepy. I'm cold to everyone but you... I can't be cold to someone as warm as you." He hugged me tightly.

I pulled back and cupped his face, then kissed him deeply.

Bright's POV

Win's kiss filled me with warmth. Could this be a sign? Did he love me too?

After he pulled away, he said, "I love you too, Bright. I felt hurt last night, fearing you might love someone else."

I chuckled. "Now you know it's you. Shall we make it official?"

Win nodded and hugged me tightly.

Just then, I heard a growl from Win's stomach.

"Aww, you must be hungry. Come on, it's not midnight yet; let's head to a convenience store." With that, we walked to the nearest store.

Win picked out some food, and I paid for it. We sat outside at a table while he dug into his meal, looking adorable as he ate.

After finishing, we headed home and decided to sleep in the same room. I cuddled him close, and we drifted off to sleep.

In the Morning

I woke up before Win, glancing at the clock—it was only 6:30 AM. Win had school at 9, so I decided to make him breakfast.

I whipped up fried eggs, bacon, and fried rice, even making him a hot chocolate since he said it was great for the brain, especially on exam days.

After cooking, I returned to the bedroom to wake him up.

"Good morning, Winnie! Breakfast is ready," I said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Five more minutes," he murmured sleepily.

"Babe, get up! You have an exam today; you need to start your day early."

Finally, Win roused himself and followed me to the kitchen.

After we ate, he prepared for school.

"Bright! I'm heading out. Take care of the house, okay? I'll be home around noon," he said.

"Okay, babe. Good luck on your exam!" I replied, giving him a quick peck on the lips. "I love you, babe."

"Bye, babe. I love you more," he said, and my heart swelled with satisfaction.