Leanne remembered her last visit here, and she was certain it wasn't this well-lit back then.
It was early summer, and the temperature was just right. The gentle murmur of the stream played like ethereal music, while the fragrance of flowers wafted through the air. In the crystal-clear pond, prized koi fish swam lazily.
Pink and white roses climbed over the garden walls, their lush blooms bursting with vibrant color.
Rose was Leanne's favorite, but these weren't here before. They must have been newly planted.
Curtis led her further into the estate, past the garden's pavilions and ornate bridges.
This tranquil oasis, nestled in the heart of the city, was designed and built over several years by a renowned landscape architect hired by Maddox. The land alone was worth a fortune.
After its completion, it caught the eye of the Stonebridge city council, which wanted to turn it into a public park. The offer, however, failed to sway Maddox.
He had set up a private restaurant here, a place to occasionally enjoy a meal or a cup of coffee, though his busy schedule meant visits were rare.
Now, the garden had been transformed into a private residence.
Curtis strolled leisurely, asking her, "How about we live here from now on?"
"There are plenty of trees and flowers, perfect for cats to roam freely. Plus, they'd have the koi fish to play with. If you like, we could get a few more, give them some company.”
Such a garden was perfect for raising cats, far better than confining them to the cramped spaces of apartment buildings. Here, they could scale walls, patrol their territory, lazily fish from the pond, and nap in the grass under the sun, lulled to sleep by the scent of flowers.
What cat wouldn't dream of such a grand garden? Leanne felt excited on their behalf.
Curtis continued at a leisurely pace, "There's plenty of space here. We could even offer a spot to your girlfriends, let them come over whenever they want."
Normally at odds with Joy like sworn enemies, now he was even considering offering her a place here.
"You..." Leanne started to say something but then hesitated, unsure how to proceed.
She had thought his agreement to move meant going back to Crystal Cove Villas, not here.
"How did you manage to get it from your dad? He loves this garden, doesn't he?"
Curtis glanced at the orange glow of the lights, speaking in a casual tone, "It's just a small garden compared to our happiness. To thank you for not sending me to a monastery, he gave this as a gift for our engagement."
"Really?" Leanne was skeptical of his extravagant claim.
"Not really," Curtis grinned, playfully pinching her nose. "You believe everything I say?"
She should have known.
"I had to threaten him a bit," Curtis admitted with brazen righteousness. "You weren't happy at Crystal Cove Villas, and that place was fraught with danger for me. We were like secret lovers, meeting only in hotels at night. If he hadn't said yes, it'd pretty much be his fault, like 80% his fault, if his granddaughter wasn't born on time."
Leanne's heartfelt emotions were scattered by his words, unable to imagine Maddox's exasperated expression at the time. Despite owning numerous properties, Curtis had chosen to extort his father.
"Can you try not to scam everyone?" Leanne chided. "Getting ahead of ourselves here."
"We could get ahead," Curtis suggested, his smile deepening as he pulled her close for an affectionate embrace. His features were sharp and handsome. Under the soft glow of the garden lights, he looked particularly tender. His voice low, he murmured, "Today's Children's Day, a day for making children. How about we make one too?" At a loss for words, Leanne pushed him away and turned to leave, "I've never heard of Children's Day before."
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