Rio carefully lifted the first slice, presenting it to Layla with a soft smile. She hesitated for a moment before taking a small, tentative bite, her eyes never leaving his.
As she moved to offer him a slice of cake, the boy didn't take it, causing her to furrow her brow. But she soon found out why he did it as Rio leaned in, the distance between them gradually diminished, until their breaths mingled, warm and inviting.
His eyes conveyed a tenderness that spoke volumes, and Layla's heart tickled with bliss. Gently, his lips met hers, delicately brushing against them as if to tease her with the sweetness of their shared cake.
He deepened the kiss slowly, savoring every sensation as he captured the remaining morsel from her lips, taking his time to enjoy the bonding they shared. The taste of the cake mingled with the taste of Layla, creating a unique and unforgettable flavor that etched itself into his memory.
A soft sigh of contentment escaped Layla, her eyes gleaming with unspoken emotions that flickered across her gaze. The moment seemed to stretch into eternity, enveloping them in a profoundly intimate connection that transcended words.
After having the cake and the sweet kiss, Layla and Rio savored the warmth of their embrace, their arms entwined and their hearts beating in unison.
For a while, they simply basked in the comfort of each other's presence before allowing their conversation to gently resume.
Rio inquired about how everything had remained in its place and how Layla had obtained the keys to unlock the electric lock of his old apartment.
"After Grandfather sealed your memories, I stayed in the Land of Asura for a month so he wouldn't suspect me... But after that, I couldn't bear it any longer and came looking for you. There were no clues left behind, and when I arrived at this apartment, you were nowhere to be found.
After a month had passed, the owner contacted me about the rent since the apartment had been vacant for two months. I realized this place still held a special connection to you, so I decided to buy the entire building and move in to live here.
Whenever I came back, I returned to your room, finding solace in my Rio's lingering presence. I slept on the bed that carried your scent and looked at the cupboards filled with your clothes... These small reminders of you were the only things that brought me happiness when we were apart.
I didn't stay at the Havenglow Villa much, so Rose would often complain about why I don't come back home..." Layla narrated her story with a tender, loving tone, revealing how everything had remained in place as she used it as his memento.
It turned out that after Rio had left, she had lived here. She hadn't been able to find him because he never returned to this place after that incident. It wasn't as he had thought; she had actually come back to find him, but he was no longer there.
"Why did you want to win the tournament so desperately, even if it meant injuring someone so gravely?" Rio asked calmly.
"When Grandfather did that to you, I resolved to surpass him in the future and become strong enough so no one could harm you again... If I couldn't even defeat a boy younger than me in an international tournament, how would I be able to defeat Grandfather in the future?
I worked hard so that one day I could protect you, and he wouldn't be able to separate us... If I had found you, I would've brought you to the Land of Asura, where we could've lived together without worrying about him..." Layla replied with a loving tone.
"But my memories were sealed, how would you have convinced me that we had a past together and that my memories were sealed?" Rio asked, amused.
"We could always create new memories, silly. I would've become your girlfriend again, even if you didn't remember me..." Layla said tenderly, pinching his nose.
"What if I already had a wife by the time you found me?" Rio inquired.
"Though it pains me to share you with anyone, if that is what destiny has planned for us, I would gracefully accept it. But..." Layla paused, deep in thought.
"But?" Rio asked, curious about what she meant.
"But I would make it known to your wife that you are mine and I am your first wife. She would need my blessing," Layla replied, her tone a blend of playfulness and authority, her love for Rio shining through every word.
He chuckled and raised an eyebrow, amused by her declaration, "Wait a second... When did we get married?" he teased her, a playful glint in his eye.
"My precious, Do you really think our souls need man-made rituals to be called husband and wife? Those were only for society to recognize us as a couple, but we already acted like husband and wife before the incident on your sixteenth birthday...
Moreover, Mom wanted me to marry you because our parents had decided we would be married in the future when I was only a child and you weren't even born yet so that also makes me your first wife..." Layla declared confidently, her voice filled with affection.
The boy still didn't know how his parents and Layla's parents knew each other; the truth about his parents remained a mystery to him, as his second mother had yet to reveal it. He had planned to ask her, but when she disclosed the information about Lily and his mother's promise, he was too stunned to inquire further.
If the heavens had chosen Rio to protect Lia and change her future, it seemed as if Layla was his own predestined destiny.
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