Her Rebirth.-Chapter 20

The streets were quieter than usual, the cool evening air carrying the faint aroma of roasted coffee and aged paper. Amelia walked aimlessly after a long day of house hunting. Ever since Mason came unexpectedly to her hotel room, the feeling to be far away and independent from the Cosgroves became stronger than ever. Now, she wasn’t in the mood to return to the hotel, nor did she know where else to go.

Then, a small book café by the roadside caught her attention. A warm glow emanated from the large windows, and inside, she could see wooden bookshelves lined with countless novels, the scent of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air.

Without much thought, she stepped inside.

The café had an inviting charm as it had cozy corners with plush chairs, the soft hum of classical music playing in the background, and a few scattered customers quietly immersed in their books. Amelia made her way to the bookshelves, trailing her fingers along the books as she picked up a few, flipping them over to read the synopsis.

She reached for another book, ’The Roses and Her Thorns’, admiring its quite attractive cover.

"It’s a classic," a soft baritone voice remarked from beside her.

Amelia turned, a flicker of surprise crossing her face when she recognized Kai standing there.

"You?" she asked, slightly caught off guard.

Kai gave a small, almost amused smile. "Me," he confirmed.

She hadn’t seen him after the banquet, or rather, there was nothing requiring them to meet. Besides, they had already agreed to be engaged in name only.

Amelia glanced back at the book. "You’ve read this before?"

"Yeah," he replied, then let out a small cough, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. "It... really opened my eyes to a lot of things."

Amelia’s brows furrowed at his words until her gaze dropped to the small 18+ tag on the corner of the book cover.

Oh.

Understanding dawned on her.

She coughed into her hand, suppressing a laugh. "I see."

Kai, catching her expression, chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "It’s not just that, you know. It actually has a well written story."

"Right," she said, humoring him. "Do you read often?"

"All the time." His tone softened, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "It brings me a kind of peace."

That was unexpected. He didn’t seem like one to enjoy these kinds of books. Especially after their first encounter at the bar, he came across as someone dangerous. But perhaps even someone like him needed an escape.

"Then, recommend me something," she said, intrigued.

Kai tilted his head slightly, considering. "Well, The Roses and Her Thorns is definitely a good one. But if you want variety—" He reached for a couple of other books and handed them to her. "Try these as well."

Amelia accepted them, skimming the covers before offering a small smile. "Thanks."

"You’re welcome," Kai said easily, his lips curling slightly.

She found herself a comfortable corner and settled in to read. The book was... interesting, to say the least. At first, she was taken aback by the forced romance, confinement, and darker themes, but the writing was captivating. Before she knew it, she had lost track of time.

A voice broke through her focus. free𝑤ebnovel.com

"Would you like a cup of coffee?"

Amelia glanced up. Kai stood there, hands in his pockets, watching her with a neutral expression.

She blinked. It felt a little strange, him offering to bring her coffee when they weren’t particularly close.

But... it would be rude to decline.

"Sure," she said. "Espresso."

She expected him to call over a barista. Instead, she watched as he walked straight to the counter, put on an apron, and started working the coffee machine himself.

Her brows furrowed. Wait...

He returned minutes later, placing the cup in front of her.

She took it, looking up at him. "Do you... work here?"

Kai shrugged. "Yeah. Part-time."

"Oh."

She stared at him, processing that. He, a Blackwood, working as a barista?

Is that how badly the Blackwoods treat him?

The thought left a strange feeling in her chest, but she said nothing. Instead, she took a sip of the espresso, the rich bitterness settling on her tongue.

"It’s good," she admitted.

Kai’s lips quirked slightly. "Glad you like it."

She continued reading, and soon the moon shone over the night sky. Amelia was so engrossed in the book that she was unaware it was nighttime until suddenly—

"We’re closing."

Amelia blinked, glancing up to see Kai standing beside her.

"Oh." She glanced around and realized the café was nearly empty. "Sorry, I didn’t notice."

He smirked. "I figured."

She stretched slightly, closing the book. "Your recommendation was... unexpected."

Kai arched a brow. "Unexpected good or unexpected bad?"

She hummed. "A bit of both."

She found herself wanting to talk about the book more in detail, but considering the time and the relationship between them, she refrained from doing so.

Amusement flickered in Kai’s eyes. "So, do you want to borrow it?"

"Can I?"

"Of course." He took the book from her and walked over to the register, taking out a ledger. "Just need to register your name and ID."

She complied, and once everything was settled, she tucked the book under her arm.

"Thanks again," she said before paying for her coffee. Once again, she felt conflicted; should she leave a tip or not? She did not want to come across as finding him pitiful. She genuinely felt his service was really good.

So finally, she decided. "Keep the change. I really enjoyed the coffee and your recommendation."

"I am flattered."

Amelia hummed in response and headed for the door.

Kai watched her go, his gaze lingering on her figure.

Then, a man in a black suit stepped beside him, lowering his voice. "Sir, a rat has been caught."

Kai’s expression shifted, his smile turning cold.

"We can’t keep it waiting, can we?" he murmured, a dangerous glint in his eyes.