𝐄𝐙𝐄𝐊𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

19

I knocked on her door early in the morning, taking a deep breath as I glanced down at the cart filled with a carefully prepared English breakfast: freshly baked croissants, vibrant fruits, fluffy scrambled eggs, and a cup of black coffee. I’d spent most of the night debating if this was a mistake, wondering if she'd even open the door. But in the end, my decision was clear. Akira might push me away, but I wasn’t giving up. If winning her trust meant bringing breakfast to her doorstep every day, then I’d do it without question.

Just as I was rehearsing my words one last time, her sharp, unmistakable voice startled me from behind.

“What are you doing here, Morganthe?”

I spun around, nearly bumping into the cart, and found myself face to face with her. Akira was standing there, arms crossed, her gaze a mixture of suspicion and faint surprise. She looked like she’d just come from a workout—her hair slightly damp, sweat glistening on her brow, giving her an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

“Akira,” I managed, trying to regain my composure. “You’re… awake and, uh, busy, I see.”

She arched an eyebrow, looking from me to the breakfast cart with visible irritation. “I asked you what you’re doing here. And what is all this?”

“Oh, this?” I gestured toward the cart, trying for a casual smile. “Your breakfast. I thought I’d bring you something to start your day right… a little surprise.”

She narrowed her eyes. “A surprise?” she scoffed, folding her arms even tighter. “You can eat that yourself, Morganthe. I don’t do breakfast.”

I chuckled softly, ignoring her sharp tone. “Everyone needs breakfast, Akira. It’s the most important meal of the day, and I figured—”

She interrupted me with an exasperated sigh. “Are you serious? What if I had been sleeping? Just because you own this place doesn’t mean you can barge into my morning whenever you feel like it.”

I felt the sting of her words, but I steadied myself, keeping my voice calm. “I’m not trying to intrude. I only wanted to make your morning a little better, that’s all.”

For a brief moment, her expression softened, and I caught a glimmer of something gentler in her eyes. But she quickly pulled herself back, crossing her arms defensively. “You can’t just… show up like this. Even if you own the hotel, I’m still a guest, Morganthe. This is my space.”

I nodded, accepting her words. “I understand, Akira. But this is just… a small gesture. A start. I’m not asking you to forgive me or to change anything. I just want to be here, even if it’s just to bring you breakfast. No strings attached.”

She looked at me for a long moment, almost as if weighing my sincerity. Finally, she let out a sigh and glanced at the steaming cup of coffee.

“Fine,” she muttered, reaching for the coffee cup but refusing to meet my eyes. “But don’t think this changes anything.”

A small smile crept onto my lips as she took a sip. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said, watching her with a mix of hope and quiet resolve. “One day at a time, Akira. That’s all I’m asking.”

With that, she turned to head back into her room, leaving me standing there with the breakfast cart. But I couldn’t help but feel that, even if it was just a small step, I’d finally made a bit of progress. And for now, that was enough.

🤍🤍🤍🤍

I went with Jade to shop for our gowns for the upcoming ball at the Morganthe Residence. As we browsed through rows of glittering dresses, she started telling me about the mansion, describing its grand size, the opulent decor, and the sheer luxury it radiated.