The laughter still echoed softly between them, lingering like the warmth of a hearth fire in the quiet corners of the luxurious restaurant. Jason leaned back in his chair, the dim golden lights above glinting faintly across his jawline. For a moment, he felt a strange sort of peace—a rare one. His world, usually a blur of grease, engines, routines, and the constant hum of responsibility, seemed to pause here in this elegant cocoon of polished marble floors and hushed violin strings.
The wine glass before him sparkled as if daring him to forget himself. He had sworn off drinking, yet he'd been reckless enough a moment ago to take a sip, caught in the spell of Elena's beauty and the energy of the night. He quickly spat it back into the napkin, his expression twisting as if he'd just realized he'd broken a vow to himself.
Elena couldn't help it—she laughed. It wasn't mocking, just soft, light, musical. Her laugh had a way of loosening the tight rope Jason often tied around himself.
"I'm sorry," Jason said quickly, wiping his mouth and putting the glass aside as if it were an enemy in disguise. "I got carried away." He glanced at her, his lips twitching into a sheepish smile. "Guess I was a little too distracted by your beauty. Almost forgot the new me doesn't drink."
Her brows lifted, playful curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "The new you?"
Jason gave a small shrug, leaning forward slightly. "Yeah. The old me loved drinking. Too much, actually. But that part of me—I buried him. I don't touch the stuff anymore."
For a second, Elena tilted her head, studying him. Her expression softened, but Jason caught the flicker of doubt. She didn't entirely believe him.
He noticed. He always noticed.
"You don't believe me, do you?" he asked, half-amused.
She bit her lip, not hiding her smile. "Mmm… not really. You looked a little too comfortable with that glass in your hand."
Jason chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Alright, you got me. I won't lie—back then, yeah, I had my share. But that was before Sophie. Before responsibilities. Before… this version of me." He gestured vaguely to himself. "Now, I stay away. For her. For myself."
Elena leaned in slightly, her chin resting on her palm, her eyes locked on him with an intensity that made him shift in his seat. She wasn't judging. If anything, she looked… proud.
"Well," she said softly, "I don't care about who you were. I only care about who you are right now."
The words hit him harder than he expected. Jason blinked, holding her gaze. It had been so long since anyone said something like that to him without hidden expectations.
For a while, silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable, but heavy with meaning. Jason's hand twitched slightly against the tablecloth. He looked at her fingers, slender and delicate, resting on the edge of her glass.
He had to do it.
His chest tightened, the weight of the moment pressing on him, but he couldn't let it pass. If he was going to take this step, he wanted it to be real—no jokes, no half measures.
"Elena," he said, voice low, steady.
She blinked at the sudden seriousness in his tone. "Yes?"
Jason exhaled slowly, then leaned forward, his gaze steady. "I know this might sound sudden, but… I don't want to pretend anymore. I don't want to keep dancing around what's obvious between us."
Her heart raced, and she sat straighter in her chair.
Jason gave a small smile. "What I'm trying to say is… will you be my girlfriend?"
For a heartbeat, the world froze. Elena's eyes widened, and her lips parted as if she needed time to process what he'd just asked. Then, before she could even stop herself, she let out a sharp, high-pitched squeal of joy.
Heads turned in the restaurant. The elegant hum of millionaire conversations broke for a moment as eyes flicked toward their table. Elena slapped a hand over her mouth, embarrassed, trying to compose herself. Her cheeks burned crimson.
"I—oh my God—sorry!" she whispered harshly, glancing around. "I didn't mean to—"
But Jason only laughed, the deep, genuine sound cutting through her panic. He reached across the table, gently taking her hand in his. "You don't have to apologize. I like that kind of joy."
Her fingers trembled against his palm, then tightened their grip. She was glowing—literally glowing—as though happiness had lit her from within.
He raised her hand slowly, and with a boldness that surprised even him, pressed his lips against her skin. The warmth lingered, both in the touch and in the stunned way Elena stared at him.
Jason leaned back with a smirk. "Guess I just pulled the impossible. Managed to get a girl way out of my league."
Elena's laughter spilled out again, though this time she didn't care if people heard. "Don't say that! You don't even know how happy I am right now." She pressed her free hand against her chest as if her heart might burst. "I feel like… I don't know. Like I want to tell everyone. Literally everyone. Jason, you don't understand—this feels like the first time I've actually been seen."
Her words tumbled out quickly, like she couldn't contain them.
Jason leaned back, grinning, amused by her rambling. "You talk too much when you're happy, huh?"
She gasped. "Do not mock me right now!"
He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm not mocking. I like it. It's… cute."
Her blush deepened, and she covered her face with both hands for a moment. "Stop. You're going to make me melt in the middle of this restaurant."
Jason leaned forward again, lowering his voice just enough for only her to hear. "Then maybe I should keep going."
Her hands dropped, her wide eyes locking onto his again. There it was—the spark, the undeniable pull between them.
But before the moment became too heavy, Jason broke it with a grin. "You think you're happy now?"
Elena tilted her head, confused. "Huh?"
"Wait until I tell Sophie," Jason said, smirking mischievously. "She's been waiting for this day for a long time. She always wanted me to have a girlfriend. And trust me—she's going to rub it in my face, not yours."
Elena laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious."
She leaned forward eagerly. "Tell me about her. Tell me about Sophie."
Jason's expression softened instantly. At the mention of his sister, his entire demeanor shifted—lighter, warmer, protective. His eyes gleamed with a tenderness Elena hadn't seen before.
And so, he began to speak.