Bianca looked up at him, her eyes full of disbelief. “But you made a promise to Skylar. You won’t break it, right?”
“I promised I wouldn’t marry you,” he replied. “But I never said I’d marry someone else. Bianc, you once said marriage is just a piece of paper. Let’s not let that ruin what we have. As long as we love each other, we don’t need a wedding to stay together.”
Bianca was shocked. “You mean you’ll never get married? How can that be? You’re the heir to the Evans Group. One day, you’ll need to settle down and have a family.”
“I’m not the heir anymore,” Dave said as he gently touched her nose. “Marriage and children don’t matter to me now. What matters is spending my life with the person I love.”
Bianca looked at the man in front of her with a gentle elegance.
Dave had always been like this. His words could touch her heart and make her want to cry.
“And what about you?” he asked, raising a brow playfully. “Do you really want to marry Blake and start a family with him?”
Bianca answered right away, “No, never. I’ve never had feelings for him, and I’ve never thought about marrying him. I just want him to heal and thank him for what he did. Skylar saved your life once, and you felt the need to repay her. Blake saved me twice. I just wanted to do the same. You’re the only one I loved.”
She looked him straight in the eyes and spoke clearly, “Dave, I love you. Only you.”
Touched, Dave leaned in and kissed her deeply.
For the first time, Bianca said she loved him. Her simple words touched Dave deeply. He silently promised to always protect her.
Their kiss was cut short by the sound of Bianca’s phone ringing.
She quickly pulled away, her cheeks turning red.
“Answer it,” Dave said as he leaned back against the headboard.
Bianca looked at their clothes scattered on the floor. Her face grew even redder.
She got out of bed, took her phone from her pocket, and sat at the edge of the bed. When she saw her mom’s name on the screen, she paused before picking up.
“Mom.”
“Bianc, it’s already midnight. Why aren’t you home yet?”
Bianca usually called if she wasn’t coming back. Tonight, Madison hadn’t heard anything, and it made her worry.
Bianca pressed her lips together, feeling a bit guilty. “Well… I’m working late. Tasks just got piling up.”
As she spoke, Dave wrapped his arms around her waist. His warm breath brushed against her neck as he whispered, “Stay with me tonight, okay?”
Bianca’s body gave a small shiver.
Madison’s voice came through the phone. “Bianc, is someone there with you?”
“No!” Bianca answered quickly, giving Dave a sharp look to make him stop.
Dave pulled back with a grin and leaned against the headboard.
Madison didn’t ask more questions. “When will you be done? It’s late. I’ll ask your brother to pick you up.”
“I…” Bianca looked at Dave, then bit her lip. “It’s fine. I’ll be working really late. I won’t come home tonight.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard. Home’s more comfortable than the office. Make sure you rest.”
Madison had once been a workaholic too, but her illness made her see things differently.
“Mom, I know what I’m doing. You don’t need to worry. If that’s all, I’ll hang up now. Good night!” Bianca ended the call quickly, scared her lie might be found out if she said more.
She let out a deep breath and turned around. Dave was watching her with his head resting on his hands.
“You’re not leaving?”
“Yes.”
As soon as Bianca spoke, Dave pulled her into his arms again. “Are you scared your mom will find out you’re with me?”
“Not really. She knows we broke up. It’ll just take time for her to accept us again,” Bianca said softly.
“I know. She wants you to marry Blake.” Dave’s face tightened slightly. “How will you explain this to her?”
Bianca looked him in the eyes. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll persuade her to give up.”
Dave saw how serious she was. His heart felt warm. He pulled her close and smiled with a hint of mischief. “Looks like we won’t be getting much sleep tonight.”
The next morning, soft sunlight fell on Bianca’s face as she slowly opened her eyes.
She saw Dave sitting up against the headboard, silently watching her.
“Good morning. Breakfast is ready.”
Bianca rubbed her eyes and sat up. She noticed the apron Dave was wearing, making him look like a perfect husband at home.
She used to dream about having a simple life like this with him.
“If people saw the mighty CEO wearing an apron and cooking, they would faint from shock,” Bianca teased as she got out of bed.
Dave chuckled. “A real man should know how to handle both work and house chores. But I only cook for you.”
Bianca couldn’t help but smile even wider.
After breakfast, Dave changed from a warm househusband to a sharp businessman. His fitted suit showed off his tall build and gave off a strong, commanding vibe.
But his eyes stayed only on her. Bianca felt lucky just being beside him.
“Let me drive you to work,” Dave said as he took her hand.
“It’s okay. Work’s just two stops away. I can take the bus,” Bianca said without thinking.
Dave shook his head. “You’re the CEO’s woman now. Taking the bus doesn’t really match that, does it? Besides, we’re going the same way.”
Bianca didn’t argue. He walked her to the garage and opened the car door for her like a true gentleman.
She had been in his Bugatti before, but this time felt different.
Last time, she was nervous. Now, she actually noticed the sleek and fancy interior.
“Are you free this weekend?” Dave asked, breaking the silence. “Come with me to a car show.”
Bianca frowned. “Car show? Why?”
He gave her a wink. “To buy a new car, of course.”
Bianca raised an eyebrow, surprised. “You’re getting a new car?”
Dave gave her a quick glance. “It’s for you.”
Bianca’s eyes went wide. “For me? Why?”
His voice turned gentle. “It’s a gift. You don’t need a reason to be treated well, right?”
“But a car? That’s so sudden… and expensive,” Bianca said softly, worry showing on her face. “A taxi would be enough.”