Chapter 174.

The night in Brazil felt different from the night before.

There was nowhere they had to be.

Emilia’s hand was intertwined with Adrian’s as they moved down the lively street, their steps were slow and unhurried.

Rio looked beautiful at night.

The buildings were glowing beneath the streetlights, music spilled from restaurants and little bars, and people moved around them in small groups, laughing, talking, holding hands.

Somewhere nearby, someone was playing a guitar. The sound floated through the warm night air.

Emilia turned her head to the sound of the music. "Listen."

Adrian glanced at her. "To what?"

"The music."

He listened for a moment. "I hear it."

"You don’t sound impressed."

"I am."

"You don’t look impressed."

"I don’t usually look impressed."

Emilia laughed quietly. She swung their joined hands between them.

Adrian looked down at their hands. Then at her. "You’ve been doing that for five minutes."

"Doing what?"

"Swinging my hand."

She looked at him innocently. "I like it."

"Apparently."

She swung it again, and Adrian’s mouth twitched.

She leaned closer.

"You are really beautiful under these lights." He smiled at her. "However, you won’t get away with the beach race."

Suddenly, Emilia stopped walking.

Adrian playfully continued walking.

She hurried after him. "Why are you still reminding me of that race?"

"Because you forgot." He nodded toward her.

Emilia looked down at herself.

She was wearing a simple cream dress she’d changed into earlier, paired with white sandals. The compass bracelet rested against her wrist, catching the streetlights whenever she moved.

She looked back at him. Her smile softened, as he stopped walking, waiting for her.

For a few seconds, she said nothing. Then she squeezed his hand. "Forgive me, please."

Adrian turned to her.

Emilia stared up at him innocently.

Adrian chuckled. He pinched her nose softly with his free hand, and searched her eyes. "I..."

"Adrian." She batted her lashes at him.

Adrian lovingly rolled his eyes at her. "Okay, sweetheart." He rubbed his thumb on her forehead.

Emilia smiled. She took his hand on her forehead in hers, and kissed his thumb.

Then they kept walking.

The city seemed to unfold around them.

A woman laughed somewhere behind them, a motorcycle passed, a couple stood outside a restaurant sharing a dessert, and two children ran past them, chasing one another until their mother called them back.

Emilia watched everything.

She didn’t know what she loved more. The beauty of the city or the fact that Adrian was seeing it beside her.

She looked at him.

He was wearing a blue shirt with the sleeves pushed to his forearms and light trousers. His hair was slightly untidy from the breeze.

He looked less like the intimidating man everyone at Blackwood knew. And more like someone who had simply stepped outside with the woman he loved.

Emilia smiled.

"Is there something on my face?" Adrian asked without looking at her.

"Nothing."

"You’ve been staring."

"I like looking at you." Her cheeks reddened.

"I know."

She laughed. "You’ve become very confident."

"You’ve been telling me I’m handsome all day."

"Because you are."

Adrian finally looked at her. "And you’re beautiful."

Emilia smiled. "Thank you."

They walked another few steps. Then Emilia noticed something ahead. A small flower stand sat beneath a warm yellow light.

A man stood behind it, arranging flowers into little bundles.

Emilia’s eyes immediately brightened.

Adrian followed her gaze. "You want one?"

"Yes."

He started toward the stand.

Emilia tightened her grip on his hand. "No."

He stopped.

She smiled. "I’ll get it."

"You?"

"Yes."

"For yourself?"

"No."

She pulled him toward the flower stand. The older man behind it smiled as they approached.

He greeted them warmly in Portuguese.

Emilia smiled back, even though she didn’t understand every word. She looked over the flowers.

There were roses, small white flowers, bright yellow ones, and delicate pink blossoms.

Her fingers hovered over them. Then she picked one. She picked a simple flower. Nothing extravagant.

Just something alive, and beautiful.

She turned toward Adrian.

He watched her.

She held the flower toward him. "For you."

Adrian looked at it, then at her. Visibly surprised. "For me?"

"Yes."

He took it carefully.

Emilia smiled. "Most men get their first flower at their funeral."

Adrian’s expression changed.

She continued. "I don’t want you to be one of them."

For a moment, he said nothing. The noise of the street seemed to fade behind them. He looked down at the flower in his hand, then back at her.

"You bought me a flower because you don’t want to wait until I’m dead?"

Emilia nodded quietly.

"That’s romantic."

"I thought so."

He looked at the flower again. "I’ve never received one."

Her smile softened. "Then I’m glad I’m your first."

Adrian’s fingers closed carefully around the stem. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you."

She smiled. "You’re welcome."

He kept the flower.

"You really like it?"

"I do."

Emilia’s heart warmed. The flower was small. Almost insignificant compared to everything else Adrian owned. But he held it as though it mattered.

And somehow, that made Emilia love him a little more.

They continued walking. The streets became quieter as they moved farther from the busiest part of the city.

The breeze became cooler.

Emilia lifted her face toward the sky. "Do you think it’s going to rain?"

Adrian looked up.

The sky was dark, and clouds had begun gathering overhead.

"Probably."

"That’s okay."

"We should head back."

She turned to him. "Why?"

"Because you’re going to get wet."

"That’s usually what happens when it rains."

"Emilia."

"What?"

"We have no umbrella."

She shrugged. "We have legs."

Adrian stared at her. "What does that have to do with an umbrella?"

"We can run."

Before he could answer, the first drop landed on her cheek. She blinked, and another landed on her forehead. Then another.

She looked up.

Adrian glanced at the sky.

The rain came suddenly. Within seconds, the street began shining beneath the streetlights.

People hurried toward awnings and storefronts, and someone pulled a jacket over their child’s head.

Emilia grabbed Adrian’s hand. "Run!"

He barely had time to react before she pulled him down the street.

"Emilia."

"Come on!" She laughed. Her hair began sticking to her face. Her sandals slapped against the pavement.

Adrian ran after her, still holding the flower in one hand.

They reached a small covered storefront.

Emilia ducked underneath, and Adrian followed.