Chapter 159: Chapter 159- all my fault
Lilian was hungry, after all. And his words had touched her just enough that she no longer resisted. She simply pushed him slightly aside and walked to the table, taking a seat.
Morrison’s heart soared. Of course, he didn’t let his excitement show too blatantly, but the smile on his face betrayed him anyway. He followed her to the table and called the waiter to take their order.
The restaurant was Tina’s recommendation, sourced through the food expert. It was one of A.T’s top-rated eateries and, more importantly, renowned as a destination for couples.
At first, Lilian had no idea. She assumed it was just a nice restaurant—upscale, perhaps, but not extraordinary.
But when the dishes arrived, when the red wine was uncorked and poured, shimmering deep red in the glass, the waiter dimmed the lights and left a single spotlight above the center of the table. In the darkness, only the man before her and the spread of exquisite food were visible.
Soft, flowing music began to play as the waiter left, filling the room with gentle elegance.
Looking out the window, the entire cityscape of A.T sprawled beneath them, glittering and alive.
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. It was romantic—truly, undeniably romantic.
Lilian’s mind could find no other word to describe it.
On her left, the city’s night view; on her right, the warmth of the intimate private room; before her, a table of delicacies—and across from her, a handsome, devoted man. No woman could see this and not feel the romance.
Her surprise and delight didn’t escape Morrison’s eyes. It was exactly the reaction he had hoped for.
At this moment, he wanted nothing but to give her happiness, joy, and endless care.
Ever since he learned she would be coming to A.T for a cover shoot, he had begun arranging this—all through Tina, of course. When Tina confirmed the restaurant, she consulted him first. The moment he saw the setting, he agreed without hesitation.
Chief’s recommendation had been simple yet clear: By the time she comes back to her senses, the ring is already on her finger.
It was the perfect environment—romantic enough to make any woman swoon, almost impossible to resist if a man proposed.
Tina immediately booked the restaurant. She knew this was what Morrison needed right now. A proposal might have been too soon, but this environment could at least soften the tension between them. Perhaps even inspire a lingering, passionate kiss.
From the looks of it, the suggestion from Tina and Chief had been worth every bit.
Lilian, after her initial surprise, gradually calmed and began to enjoy the meal, the quiet warmth of the evening settling around her.
In such a romantic, intimate setting, even speaking a little too loudly felt inappropriate—let alone saying anything cold or rejecting.
Only a single beam of light illuminated the room, casting their faces in soft glow.
As they lowered their heads to eat and then glanced up, they could see each other clearly. Lilian didn’t know what she looked like in Morrison’s eyes, but in hers, he was breathtaking—his gaze deep, tender, and warm enough to feel like it could spill over.
They ate in silence, savoring the wine and the carefully prepared dishes.
Lilian had only intended to take a few small sips, but the enchanting atmosphere made her drink a little more than she planned. A gentle warmth rose in her chest, a pleasant tipsiness that made her head light and soft.
Near the end of the meal, Morrison excused himself for a moment. When he returned, something had changed: a soft light shone on the wall opposite them. A projector had been turned on.
But it wasn’t a movie playing.
It was a slideshow of Lilian’s photos.
Morrison had obtained them earlier from the bearded director. Now, the timing was perfect. When Tina mentioned the projector, he immediately knew what he wanted to show. He meticulously selected the photos, picking out the ones he thought captured her best—though in truth, every single one of them was beautiful.
Tina had suggested recording a heartfelt confession, but Morrison felt words had been repeated too many times. Photos could speak louder—they showed the past year he had spent missing her, trying to make up for lost time.
When the photos finished, a simple sentence appeared on the screen, centered and bold:
"Meeting you was my greatest luck."
Lilian immediately recognized the line—it was from a song she loved, one she had sung herself before.
Her emotions broke.
She pressed her hand tightly over her mouth, trying to stop the tears from falling.
Why did he have to do this? Why did he create so many heartfelt moments, designed to shake her heart?
Wasn’t he the one who had said he was willing to guard only one person for a lifetime?
Did he understand what would happen if he touched her heart like this? That he would be bound to her forever—loving only her, being loyal only to her, for the rest of his life?
Could he really do that?
Morrison hadn’t anticipated this kind of emotional collapse. He only wanted her to see that his intentions were sincere. Seeing her cry, however, panic surged in him. He hurried to her side, offering tissues and gently speaking:
"I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to make you cry."
But Lilian couldn’t stop the tears.
"Morrison... how can I trust you again? How can I love you again?"
Her voice trembled, raw and broken, each word spilling out with hot, uncontrollable tears.
She pressed her hands against her face, letting all the emotions of the past year—every grievance and hurt since their breakup—pour out at once.
She let everything out in front of him.
After he had broken up with her, she had cried a few times—but never in front of him.
This time, it was different. In front of him, every hurt, every ache, every grievance, every ounce of confusion and distrust she had harbored—it all poured out in tears.
Morrison held her close, cradling her trembling shoulders against his chest, his voice heavy with concern and remorse:
"I’m sorry... I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault."
"You can trust me again... this time, I won’t ever hurt you."
He didn’t know how to completely erase her mistrust, but he knew one thing: if she was willing to give him just one more chance to be close, he would spend the rest of his life proving his loyalty to her.
Lilian cried uncontrollably in his arms.
She had never been the type to sob and whine, but this time, the emotions overwhelmed her completely.
His strong, comforting hands cupped her tear-streaked face. Embarrassed, she turned her face away, muttering:
"Don’t look at me... my makeup’s ruined, I must look awful..."
She had gotten ready for this evening, following Tina’s instructions, to look beautiful. She hadn’t expected to show him all that effort... only to end up crying and ruining it all.
Morrison gently tilted her face back toward him, his gaze steady and tender.
"You’re not ugly at all," he said softly.
She felt a little less embarrassed, only for him to continue:
"Just your eye makeup... it’s a little smudged. You kind of look like a panda."
Lilian flushed crimson, mortified. She tried to push him away, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.
His warm breath brushed her cheek as his lips found hers, soft and lingering, gentle yet full of care.
The kiss was filled with tenderness, with reverence.
Lilian tried to push him away again, but she couldn’t. Eventually, she let herself melt into him. Their lips carried the faint aroma of red wine, lingering across her soft lips, her cheeks, her earlobes, and the curve of her pale neck.
Just when the intensity between them threatened to overwhelm, Morrison finally released her.
If they went any further, it would be dangerous—but now was not yet the time to reclaim her completely.
Lilian turned away, her cheeks burning. Morrison loosened his tie, both of them taking a moment to steady their racing hearts.