Xeria’s P.O.V

It's been three weeks since our date, and things are pretty normal now, with no bickering and no picking on each other.

Potato has also been getting along with Aunt Nora just fine, though my crime documentary mind is convincing me to believe that they're bribing each other.

Mom is also doing okay, and for now, I have returned to work.

Khaos left yesterday for a meeting; he will return by evening today. He's really putting in a lot of stress on him in order to take care of all the things, so I can be rest assured.

I want to buy a present for him, so that's how I'm here in a jewelry shop, looking for something that fits him perfectly.

I didn't give him a ring; the ring that he wears was selected by my mom. Cufflinks, tie pins, chains, lapel pins—I'm not sure what to get him because I don't know what he likes.

After wasting a good hour, I settle on buying a platinum chain for him and me.

"Xeria," on my way out of the store, I hear someone call for me.

Turning around, I see Jake and Janice standing beside each other, Jake carrying some shopping bags, and Janice smiling at me.

"Janice," smiling, I greet her.

"Shopping alone, I see," she says, walking closer to me.

Jake is walking behind her and is clearly awkward about the situation. Which makes me think that Janice is still not aware of our relationship.

"Yes," I reply, hugging her.

"Sorry, we weren't able to attend your wedding; we were on our honeymoon," she chirps, her cheeks hinting a shade of red.

"It's ok, Janice. Uncle and Aunt were there to make it up for you two. I hope you are doing well." I assure her, and her smile brightens even more. She's really sweet.

"Yes, Jake is really nice to me; though he is always busy, he takes out time for me," she says, looking back at Jake, who smiles at her.

"How are Uncle and Aunt, Xeria?" Jake asks, surprising me because, all this while, he was even avoiding looking at me.

"They're fine," I reply, giving a weak smile. As of now, no one knows about mom; we're keeping the situation under wraps; there is no need for people to know for now; no one has the time to handle it all.

"Where is Khaos? You're not going to move in with him, or what?" She asks, quirking her eyebrows.

Why is she so interested?

"No, Khaos is staying with me for now, till we sort things out here, and he is out for a meeting today," I reply, and she makes an o with her lips.

"It's really different between us; we both are in an arranged marriage, but unlike you two, I think Jake and I are getting along better; you and Khaos should take some advice from us." Giggling, she keeps a hand on my shoulder, and Jake's expression looks like he has never been so embarrassed before.

And I take back my impression of her; she is not that nice.

"Sure, why not?" I smirk, and her hand falls on my shoulder.

"Beryl," Khaos says, appearing besides me.

Is he a vampire or what?

"Khaos?" I look at him dumbfounded.

When did he arrive here?

"My meeting ended early, and Aunt Nora informed me that you are here." He takes my hand, and I know he's ready to walk out of here without greeting neither Jake nor Janice.

"Khaos—Jake, and Janice," I hint, him, holding his hand with my other hand. And he just nods at them—seriously, this man.

"We will get going now. Take care, you two." I smile at them, and again, Jake's expression is full of disapproval.

What does he want?

"Stop being so rude to everyone," I tell him, and he just guides me out of the store to the car, holding my hand.

"I will recognize people only if they are worth recognizing," he says, opening the door for me.

"You're just too much." Getting inside, I mumble, and he shuts the door.

"What were you buying?" he asks, getting in.

"Sit, and I will show you," I reply, taking the box out of the shopping bag.

I open the box, revealing two chains; there were no pendants, but Khaos looks satisfied already.

"This is for you," I tell him, taking out his chain.

"Thank you, Beryl," he says softly.

"We can put a pendant on it after figuring out things for us, which can signify it's importance," I suggest, and he nods his head.

He puts his chain on and then looks at me, hinting for me to put mine on too. But before I can do that, he takes the box from my hands and picks up the chain.

Sighing, I shift into my seat and lean towards him so that he can do what he wants to. I look into his gray eyes as he finishes his job.

"Is it working for us, or do we really need some advice?" he mumbles, making me smile.

"No, we are fine as we are." I answer without breaking eye contact.

Khaos leans in until our faces are inches apart, and then he stops, understanding that I give him a nod, and then he presses his lips on mine.

His lips softly on mine, the butterflies going crazy in my stomach, expressing his intentions that he doesn't desire more and is happy with what I'm comfortable with.

He cups my face with his hands as we break from our first kiss. Looking at me with a smile, he plants a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Thank you, Beryl," he says, caressing my cheeks with his thumbs, and I just melt at his sight.

This is the first time in a while that I feel happy.

"Let's get going now," he says, pinching my cheek, and I give him a nod.

"Let's take a selfie," I chirp, taking out my phone.

Instead of clicking one, we click many, with different poses, and then we finally drive home with the most genuine smiles on our faces.