Chapter 94
bez’x breath quickened her puler hammering in her ears * Li leaned closer The weight of his prearre, the prsimity tary’s
peechpri of his face to hers, made her feel as though the world had shrunk to put the reen of them. His eyes flickerf down briefly to her lips and in that fleeting moment, hey resolve wavered.
Was he really about to kiss her? In the middle of this crowd?
She wasn’t sure if her heart was racing out of anticipation, panic or a mix of both. Before she could process the answer, a She I ure it hat wa H tiny voice pierced the moment like a pin popping a balloon.
“Excuse me,” a child said, loudly enough to grab their attention
Both Izzy and Liam froze, turning their heads in unison to see a small boy–maybe six or seven years old–standing a few feet away. He was clutching a colorful stuffed shark in one hand and pointing at the large aquarium behind them with the
other.
I’m trying to take a picture of the sharks,” the boy announced with the kind of unfiltered honesty only a child could muster. He waved the small camera in his hand. “You two have been standing here for a long time, just staring at each other. Since you don’t like the sharks then…can you, like… move? This isn’t a place to do bad stuff, you know. It’s for looking at fishes.”
Izzy’s eyes widened in mortification as she processed his words. Beside her, Liam straightened, his lips twitching as if he was fighting hard not to burst into laughter.
“We weren’t-” Izzy began, she couldn’t help but be defensive. She glanced around and realized, to her horror, that several nearby visitors had turned to look at them. The boy’s loud declaration had attracted a small audience.
“You were too close,” the boy stated firmly. “Mom says when people are that close, they’re doing bad things.”
Izzy felt her cheeks flame, her embarrassment quickly escalating into full–blown humiliation. She instinctively reached out, grabbing Liam’s wrist. “We should go,” she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper.
“But I wanted to-” Liam started, his grin firmly in place.
“Now,” she snapped, cutting him off before he could make the situation worse. Without waiting for a response, she tugged him away from the tank and toward the nearest exit.
As they stepped into the open area near the escalators, Izzy finally let go of Liam’s wrist and patted her hot cheeks. Her face was still flushed, her mind replaying the scene over and over. She refused to look at him, knowing that the second she did, she’d see that smug, infuriating grin.
“You’re going to laugh, aren’t you?” she muttered.
A low chuckle escaped Liam’s lips despite her warning. “I’m sorry, but did you see his face? That kid was dead serious.”
Izzy glared at him, but the corners of her own mouth betrayed her, twitching upward against her will. Izzy couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. It bubbled out of her, uncontrollable and genuine. Liam joined in almost immediately, shaking his head as they leaned against the wall near the escalators. The absurdity of the situation–the boy, his innocent accusations, the awkward crowd–was too much to take seriously
“Did you see his face?” Liam managed to say between breaths.
“I thought I was going to sink into the floor,” Izzy replied, clutching her sides.
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Chapter 94
Liam wiped at the corner of his eye, still chuckling-
Izzy shook her head, finally starting to catch her breath. “Unbelievable. I’m never going to live that down.”
They stood there for a moment, recovering, as the commotion of the park moved on around them. Izzy brushed her hair back. For some reason, she could no longer remove the silly grin from her face.
Straightening up. Liam glanced at her. “Come on,” he said, nodding toward the escalator.
“Where to now?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.
“There’s a restaurant upstairs, just above the aquarium. You’ll like it,” he replied, turning toward the escalator without waiting for her to object.
Izzy hesitated for a second but followed. “Alright. But if the food’s terrible, you’re paying for dinner too.”
They made their way up the escalator, the buzz of the theme park below fading into a quieter atmosphere as they reached the upper level. The entrance to the restaurant as understated but elegant, with subtle marine–themed decor that hinted at the view inside.
The host greeted them and led them through the softly lit space. As they stepped inside, Izzy paused, taking in the sight before her.
The restaurant was stunning. Massive floor–to–ceiling glass panels overlooked the aquarium, giving diners an unobstructed view of the marine life below. Soft blue lighting from the tanks bathed the room in a tranquil glow, while the quiet hum of the water added to the serene atmosphere. Tables were spaced far enough apart to give a sense of intimacy, each one adorned with simple candles and crisp linens.
They were seated at a table right by the glass wall, where they could watch colorful schools of fish dart through coral reefs. Larger creatures, like rays and sharks, moved gracefully in the background.
“This is amazing,” Izzy said as she sat down, her gaze still fixed on the view.
Liam pulled out his chair and sat across from her, glancing at the menu the server handed him. “Told you it was worth it.”
Izzy didn’t respond immediately, as she was too busy watching a pair of sea turtles lazily drifting past. She eventually picked up her own menu, scanning the options. Seafood was the obvious star, but there were enough choices to suit anyone’s tastes
Once they placed their orders, Izzy leaned back slightly, her eyes wandering back to the tank. “It feels like a completely different world here.”
Liam nodded, his attention also on the aquarium. “It does. Peaceful.”
The silence between them was comfortable as they watched the marine life, the stress of the morning fading into the background. Their food arrived shortly after, beautifully presented and as elegant as the restaurant itself.
Izzy’s dish–a perfectly prepared seafood pasta with delicate herbs and a hint of citrus–was as delicious as it looked. Liam’s grilled fish came with a vibrant side of vegetables and a light, flavorful sauce. They ate without much conversation, letting the view and the atmosphere speak for itself.
By the time their plates were cleared, Izzy felt surprisingly relaxed. She sat back in her chair, her gaze once again drawn to the aquarium. “This turned out better than I expected,” she said, almost to herself.
Liam finished his drink and set the glass down, glancing at her. “Glad you enjoyed it.”
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Chapter 94
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he gave a small nod, not needing to say more. Izzy’s gaze softcard as she watched the graceful creatures gliding through the water. The stingrays flapped their wing like fins as if they were flying, while schools of fish shimmered like living rainbows. For a moment, she seemed lost in the tranquil rhythm of the underwater world. Then, almost absentmindedly she pursed her lips and spoke.
“You know, my mother loved everything about the sea,” she said quietly. Her fingers brushed against the edge of the table, tracing the smooth surface as if anchoring herself to the memory
She took a deep breath, her gaze following the slow, graceful drift of a sea turtle past the glass. “When I was younger, she used to take me to aquariums all the time,” she said softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “She’d tell me about all the sea creatures—their names, their habits–like they were her own little secrets. She made it feel like magic.” A small, wistful smile curved her lips as the memory surfaced.
Her mother had studied marine biology before meeting Izzy’s father, though few people knew this. After graduation, she’d gone straight to work for his company, setting aside her passion for the ocean. In fact, they had met in the most unassuming of places–a small fish store where her mother worked part–time surrounded by the very creatures she loved.
Izzy turned to Liam. “You knew, didn’t you?” she asked. Her eyes searched his, looking for confirmation. “Is that why you brought me here?”
Liam didn’t answer immediately. His gaze lingered on her for a beat too long, his face unreadable. But he didn’t deny it.
Izzy’s chest tightened as the thought hit her. This wasn’t just about having fun or fixing an old memory. It was something Izzy’s chest tightened as the thought hit her. This wasn’t, that meant more than she’d expected.
Her eyes flicked back to the aquarium, watching the rays glide effortlessly through the water. For the first time in a long while, the ache that always accompanied thoughts of her mother softened. The vivid blues and greens of the sea creatures brought with them warmth, as though a part of her mother was here, lingering in the glow of the tanks.
“Thank you,” she murmured after a moment, the words barely above a whisper. But Liam heard her, and though she didn’t look at him again, she could sense his presence beside her.
She felt his warm hand slip into hers. This time, she didn’t hesitate–her fingers curled around his.
Sadly, this quiet moment didn’t last for long as a familiar voice broke through.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise?” the voice said. Izzy and Liam turned toward the sound, and there they were–Pamella and Calen standing just a few steps away.
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Chapter 95
