14. Let's Have A Stroll

Nadine looks very happy with the cheesecake she just got. She placed the cake nearby and fastened her lunch.

"Adrian? You're not eating?"

Adrian who was watching her just shook his head and started to eat his lunch.

"Nadine, why don't you have breakfast and dinner with me?"

Adrian's sudden question made her choke.

"Cough Cough..."

Adrian looked a little panicked and immediately handed a glass of water to Nadine.

"It seems that I've been punished for making you several times."

Adrian just chuckled hearing her words.

"I didn't mean to let you eat alone. I just didn't wanna make you annoyed."

Thinking of the right words to say, Nadine then put down her spoon and looked at Adrian.

"I don't want to ruin your breakfast and dinner. So it's better to not eat with you."

Again Adrian sighed.

"Since when did you care about my feelings?"

Nadine was slightly surprised by Adrian's question and lowered her head.

"I just want you to enjoy your vacation."

Seeing Nadine gloomy again, Adrian took a deep breath. And tried to talk to her gently.

"Nadine.... I just don't like it when you interfere with my business and control my meetings with my friends."

Nadine stared at Adrian's face.

"Sorry...."

Adrian felt a little sorry for Nadine.

"It seems you are overworked. Aren't you the one who rented this place, you should be the one enjoying this place."

Nadine quickly responded to Adrian's answer.

"I chose it for you. So you are the one that should enjoy it."

Adrian chuckled and studied Nadine's gloomy face.

"Aunt wants to video call with you... She also wants you to show her this place."

Nadine looked up immediately and looked confused by Adrian's words.

"We'll video call with aunty and you'll be the one that explains about this place."

Nadine was really surprised this time.

"Huh? Why should I?"

Adrian chuckled again.

"Auntie wants you to show her this place."

Nadine still looks confused why Adrian didn't do that.

"She just wanted to make sure you weren't overworked."

Nadine was a little surprised but then a smile appeared on her face. Then she looked at the cake.

"This cheesecake is also from Marie? How does she know I like this?"

Nadine's smile was still plastered on her face.

"I think it's from Miss Anna. It's a thank you from aunty for the food that was sent by Jim."

Adrian was a little surprised to see Nadine's gentle smile. And it was certain that Nadine was very pleased with his aunt's attention.

"I hope it's your taste."

Nadine immediately turned to Adrian.

"Of course I'd like it. Mom used to make it for me when I was little."

Nadine's eyes lit up when she told her mother.

"Don't throw it away if you don't want it. Just give it to me."

Adrian still doubts that Nadine will like Benjamin's cheesecake.

"Tsk... You just wanted this cake too, right? I'll share a little bit with you."

Nadine peeking a little at the cheesecake. Making sure that the cake was enough to share with Adrian.

In front of him Adrian just sighed and continued his lunch. Still can't believe that it is so easy to persuade Nadine with just a piece of homemade cheesecake.

Once again Adrian saw Nadine still fastened her lunch. Nadine, who used to eat elegantly this time, seemed to have lost her table manners.

"Tsk... Tsk.... Nadine? Have you forgotten your table manners?"

Nadine, who had just finished her lunch, glanced at Adrian.

"No... I just can't wait to eat this cute cake."

Nadine had already opened the box of cheesecake. Take the empty plate in front of her and cut the cake into small pieces.

"This is for you Adrian...."

Nadine gave it to Adrian. Adrian could only stare at the small piece of cake that Nadine gave him.

"Are you sure you can finish it all?"

Nadine nodded and prepared to leave.

"Where are you going?"

Nadine was a little confused by Adrian's question.

"Back to the study room. I'll eat it there."

Adrian looked a little annoyed with Nadine's answer and sighed again.

"Nadine, you know that this villa is huge, right? And it's just the two of us here."

Nadine nodded and didn't return to her chair.

"It's really weird eating in this big place alone. Can't we eat together?"

Nadine was very surprised by Adrian's request. Dan started laughing but not because she was laughing at Adrian.

"Ha ha ha ha... Adrian... Why is everything reserved now?"

Adrian was very confused to see Nadine's response.

"If you don't want it, it's fine."

Seeing Adrian who was a little annoyed, Nadine immediately sat back down.

"Of course I really enjoyed eating with you. I hope we can do this more often in the future."

Nadine smiled and looked at Adrian for a long time, who still looked annoyed.

"I used to always eat alone... Ha ha ha... Even though I asked him to eat with me, he just smirked and left."

Adrian now looks at Nadine who is telling a story while starting to spoon the cake in front of her.

"Your father?"

Nadine didn't have time to put the cake in her mouth and glanced at Adrian.

"Ha ha.... Someone I'll never get."

Adrian looks questioning and curious.

"Your lover?"

This time Nadine put down her spoon and started chuckling.

"You could say that. Haha..."

Adrian was still silent and hesitated to ask again. Seeing this Nadine then chuckled.

"Can I eat my cake now?"

Adrian was surprised by Nadine's question.

"Huh? Oh... Of course... But eat it here. I have to make sure you don't throw it away."

Nadine laughed again, Nadine looks much better than when Adrian woke her up earlier.

"Heemmmm..... This is so good..."

Adrian looked at him with doubt and suspicion.

"Nadine? You seem really different from before. Are you sure you didn't plan anything?"

Nadine who was about to put a second bite into her mouth stopped again.

"Which do you prefer? before or now?"

Adrian was taken aback by Nadine's question. And without hesitation he answered right away.

"Both are you, and you know for yourself what the answer is."

Nadine was a little disappointed with Adrian's answer. But as much as possible she smiled very sweetly at Adrian.

"Thank you for not wavering."

Adrian knew that Nadine's smile was forced but he didn't want to comment.

"You're right. The former me was a form of my attempt to protect myself and the current me is the me who wants to protect something precious to me."

Adrian looks very confused by Nadine's answer.

"Never mind, it's going to be a long story... Like you said, both are me and I don't have any bad plans for you."

Nadine raised her spoon again.

"Now may I eat without any questions from you?"

Adrian just nodded this time. Adrian continued to stare at Nadine who was now almost finished with her cake.

"You're really going to spend it...."

Nadine again stopped her feeding.

"I told you, my mother often makes me this cake. So for me, homemade cheesecake is a memorable cake for me."

Seeing Nadine become a little gloomy, Adrian felt a little guilty and Nadine realized this.

"Don't worry... Benjamin's cheesecake is almost like my mother's."

Adrian was silent and didn't say anything else. That afternoon Adrian learned a little about Nadine's childhood.

Even at dinner Nadine was also waiting for Adrian in the dining room. Unlike the previous day where Adrian was alone eating in that big room.

"Tomorrow we leave early."

Nadine looked up quickly.

"Where to?"

Adrian was a little surprised to see the confused Nadine.

"Nadine... I told you this afternoon that auntie wanted you to show me this place."

Nadine thought a little.

"Yeah I know.... Shouldn't I just show you the area around the villa?"

Adrian sighed and explained to Nadine.

"Auntie told me to show you around and have a stroll in this area."

Nadine was dumbfounded not believing what she heard.

"Ha ha ha.... Marie told her beloved nephew to date the person he hates the most.... Unbelievable...."

Adrian was a little annoyed to see her laughing. Realizing that Adrian will be angry again, Nadine stopped her laugh.

"I don't know what Marie was thinking. But fine, we can pretend to 'date' for two days."

Adrian quickly denied Nadine's words.

"We're not dating. I'm just taking Jim's job to show you around."

Nadine chuckled and this time smirked.

"Tsk.... I'm just kidding Adrian.... And thank you for accompanying me around."

Adrian was a little awkward when Nadine thanked him while smiling at him.

"Think of it as a thank you for borrowing your car."

Nadine just smiled and hoped that her decision was not wrong.

***

"Huh? Where's our breakfast?"

Nadine was a little confused by the empty dining room. Adrian, who was looking at his cellphone, then stood up and explained to Nadine.

"I told them to go back. We're going to have breakfast at a restaurant near the lake and will take a stroll a bit. For tomorrow I'm already planning to tour the nearby village here. There's a market and a souvenir shop there."

Adrian looks excited when he shows some photos of the market view on his cellphone.

"You're really excited Adrian ha ha ha..... Why didn't you have a stroll yesterday?"

Adrian was a little embarrassed to hear Nadine's words.

"How can I have fun if my aunt's condition still hasn't stabil."

Nadine seemed to find an answer again.

"Aaah.... So that's what made you not wanna go out in the past?"

Adrian just looked at Nadine confused.

"Never mind... Let's go."

Adrian once again studied Nadine. Nadine is always have classy elegance style, so it's not surprised him that her clothes are too much to be casual, especially with the trench coat she's wearing, there's nothing wrong with that. There was only one thing that caught Adrian's attention.

"Are you sure you're wearing those shoes?"

Nadine scanned her heels and looked at Adrian.

"Why?"

Adrian just shook his head and immediately left.

Finally they walked to a restaurant by the lake which was not far from their villa. And Nadine was starting to look uncomfortable in her shoes.

It's not a big restaurant. But it looks comfortable and cool. Around it, there are many herbs, vegetables and some lemon trees.

Adrian took Nadine to the side of the restaurant. It's the best place to see the lake and mountain ranges.

"Maybe this place is too simple for you."

Nadine shook her head and observed her surroundings.

"This place is great.... I didn't even know there was a restaurant here."

Nadine is still seriously looking around. There were some workers who were picking some lemons and plants in the restaurant's garden.

"Because you seem to have booked a full package vacation without any intention of traveling around."

Nadine was a little surprised by Adrian's statement. Because what he said was true. The main purpose of booking a villa in a remote area was to be able to flirt and spend time with Adrian without any distractions.

"Ha ha ha.... Maybe I want to focus on work."

Adrian chuckled hearing Nadine's excuse.

"Tsk... You'll fall without anyone knowing because you're overworked."

It didn't take long for their food to arrive. Nadine once again looks very happy with the food menu.

"Ehm you said Marie wanted to go around with us, I wanted to show her this place."

Adrian then took out his cellphone and gave it to Nadine.

Nadine immediately greeted Marie. Shows how the atmosphere in the restaurant and the scene in front of them.

"Thank you for helping me find a hospital. Enjoy your vacation."

Nadine smiled hearing Marie's words.

"No need to worry, I'll show you another place. I hope our call doesn't disturb your rest."

Marie shook her head and prepared to hang up the call but Nadine stopped her.

"Wait.... Thank you for the cheesecake, it's so delicious... I've eaten all of it."

Benjamin, who was beside his mother, couldn't believe Nadine's words.

"Yeah she finished it all...."

Benjamin looked even more surprised.

"Wow your sugar m-...."

Adrian immediately pulled out his cell phone and ended their conversation. Nadine, who didn't really hear Benjamin's words, looked a little surprised.

"We should have breakfast soon and take a look at the garden beside the lake. Auntie likes flower gardens like that."

After they finished their breakfast they headed to the park near the lake. The scenery there is like the atmosphere of a flower garden out of a fairy tale book.

Around the park which is on the edge of the lake there are Magnolia trees that are in bloom, making the edges of the lake covered with pink flowers, along the road leading to the middle of the garden, pink, white, purple azalea flowers line at the road.

"Wow there's a fountain, Marie...."

Nadine shouted, showing the fountain which was also surrounded by colorful flowers.

Adrian, who just followed behind him, didn't say anything. After Nadine made her call she gave her cell phone to Adrian. Then Adrian recorded the view in the garden.

"You want to show it to Marie again?"

Adrian was still seriously looking at the video, casually answering.

"I'll show it to Olivia. Marie and her both love places like this."