Page 188 of Cruel Devotion

But the best part was watching Moni's expressions of delight and surprise at the buns.

It filled me with a great sense of satisfaction.

In fact, I loved her reactions all day.

To share such integral parts of my culture with her, and to see her embrace it with such openness and appreciation, deepened the connection I felt towards her.

As we savored the last bites of the sweet red bean buns—the rich flavors lingering on our tongues—a comfortable silence settled between us.

The final course marked the end of our meal, but it was clear that it was just the beginning of something far more significant.

I watched Moni’s face, illuminated by the candlelight.

Her eyes reflected excitement.

It was a look that mirrored my own feelings.

“Moni,” I licked my lips. “Are you ready to leave?”

“I'm ready.” A smile played on her lips. “Where are we going now?”

I stood up. “Somewhere more private.”

“Hmmm.” She rose.

Finally.

Chapter twenty-nine

Getting Ready for the Madness

Monique

This date was beyond anything I could have imagined.

I loved the tour and the exquisite dishes, however, the grandeur of his palace and the decadent cuisine paled in comparison to Lei's raw emotional vulnerability.

That was where my heart truly swelled.

He opened up, baring his deepest desires and fears.

And because of that, this was feeling like more than just a date and more an affair of the soul.

There was only one question left.

What else does he have in store for today?

Just before we reached the door leading back to the main corridor, Lei stopped and turned to face me. His face took on aserious expression, a sharp contrast to the carefree one during our meal.

Curiosity bubbled within me. “What's wrong?”

“Before we go through this door, I should prepare you for the madness.”

“O-kay.”

“I was only able to close off everything for the beginning of the date. Any more time and all operations would have been fucked.”

“And now shit is about to get real?”

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