Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 144: Romantic Dinner

She let him guide her out of the car and toward the restaurant’s entrance. The air was cool but not uncomfortable. The breeze was just enough to stir her hair, brushing it gently along her cheeks.

As Kendrick pushed open the restaurant’s glass door, a soft chime rang above them. Zephany stepped inside and immediately paused.

The place was nearly empty—no clatter of cutlery, no crowd, no background noise. Just them. She glanced around, her eyes taking in the surroundings with quiet curiosity.

The restaurant had a soft elegance, not overly extravagant. Cream-colored tablecloths, warm amber lights hanging from antique brass fixtures, and simple flower arrangements sat at each table.

The floor was polished wood, and classical piano music played faintly in the background, barely louder than a whisper. The air smelled faintly of roasted garlic and something buttery and rich. It felt more like a cozy evening in someone’s carefully kept home than a public space.

Kendrick glanced at her, noticing how she was absorbing every detail. He gently tugged her hand and led her further inside.

"I thought it would be nice if it was just the two of us," he said, motioning toward the table near the wide window. The fading light outside painted the glass in soft violet and orange tones from the sunset.

Zephany followed him silently. Her eyes wandered across the interior again, catching sight of a small painting on the far wall—an old couple laughing over coffee. For a reason she couldn’t quite name, it made her smile.

Kendrick stopped in front of the table and pulled out her chair. "Here," he said, his voice low, laced with a quiet gentleness. "Sit down. I’ll get us started."

She glanced at him, her chest feeling oddly tight.

"Thank you," she murmured, lowering herself into the chair as he helped tuck it in. Her eyes flicked up to meet his. "This place... it’s really nice. You chose it?"

He gave her a modest shrug as he took the seat across from her. "I wanted somewhere peaceful. Somewhere you could relax."

Her lips curled slightly. "You make it sound like I’m hard to relax around."

"No," he said, chuckling softly. "You’re just... always on edge lately. I thought maybe tonight could change that a little."

Zephany looked down at the table for a moment, then brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "It already does. It’s nice here. Really."

Kendrick watched her carefully. Her eyes wandered, lingering on the soft lighting, the way the curtains gently swayed with the breeze from the open window nearby. The corners of her lips curved faintly, as if she was trying not to let the smile show fully.

He reached for the wine list and handed it to her.

"Want to order something to drink?"

She accepted it and scanned the page briefly, though her attention drifted as her thoughts wandered. She still couldn’t shake the way he looked when he opened the car door for her earlier—quietly composed, familiar, and somehow comforting.

She looked back up. "I’ll let you choose," she said, setting the list down. "Surprise me."

Kendrick raised a brow. "That’s dangerous."

She shrugged, trying to hold back a smile. "I’ll take my chances."

"Alright then," he said, signaling the waiter waiting discreetly in the far corner.

As Kendrick began ordering, Zephany quietly observed the space again. It wasn’t extravagant, but the care in the setup was undeniable.

It felt personal.

The flower arrangement at their table was made of fresh lilies and baby’s breath. The silverware sparkled against the cream napkins. And the window view gave them just the right amount of light—warm, natural, and unintrusive.

She folded her hands on the table and allowed herself to relax, just a little. The awkwardness she had feared never arrived. He wasn’t forcing anything. He wasn’t expecting her to perform or entertain or explain herself. He just... wanted to spend time with her.

When Kendrick turned back to her, the wine already on the way, she met his eyes and smiled quietly.

"I haven’t had dinner like this in a while," she said softly.

He tilted his head. "Like this?"

"With someone who actually wants to talk to me," she said with a hint of teasing. "Someone who makes reservations and pulls out chairs."

She paused for a moment, then smiled brightly. "Also, we rarely go out. So a dinner date sounds... really pleasant."

Kendrick laughed. "Well, I had to put in effort. I’ve got a pretty special dinner date." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Zephany’s cheeks warmed, and she busied herself with her napkin, unfolding it with more focus than necessary.

"I mean it," Kendrick added. His tone softened, his eyes not leaving hers. "This... this means a lot to me."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Outside, the sun dipped further, painting the sky a deeper orange. The restaurant felt like a world of its own—quiet, warm, untouched by whatever chaos existed beyond its glass doors.

Zephany allowed herself to stay in that moment. Not overthink it. Not question it. Just sit across from Kendrick, in the soft golden glow of the restaurant, and let her heart feel full.

Her fingers traced the rim of the water glass in front of her. Every now and then, she looked at him, then back down. There were so many words lingering just behind her lips, and it felt like this might be the perfect time to finally say them.

She cleared her throat softly, preparing to speak. Her heart was beating faster than she liked, but she took a steady breath. Just say it, Zeph. Just tell him.

But when she glanced at Kendrick again, something about his demeanor stopped her. He looked... nervous. His shoulders were a little tense. And he kept glancing around toward the kitchen like he was waiting for something.

Zephany watched him in silence for a few seconds before biting her lip. Then a small, knowing smile formed on her lips.

Seems he really prepared something for me. Should I wait for him to tell me about it first? What if it’s really a proposal? Then that would save me the trouble of confessing my feelings first. I can just directly answer him "Yes, I do!" Then things will work perfectly for the both of us.

She nodded slightly to herself, still smiling. Yeah, better to wait for his surprise first. I don’t want to ruin his efforts on it.

Across the table, Kendrick’s thoughts were just as tangled.

He had gone through the instructions three times already. The staff knew what to do, exactly when to bring the food, when to deliver the wine, and when to dim the lights. He had even slipped a small note to the head waiter earlier, making sure the ring would come with the final dessert.

Still, his palms were damp. He tried to steady his breathing.

He looked at Zephany.

How could someone make him feel like this?

He had braced himself for her answer. If she said yes, then he would begin planning the wedding as soon as possible. Something small, but beautiful. Something she deserved.

But if she said no—

He bit the inside of his cheek.

If she said no, then he’d ask her to let him stay by her side anyway. He’d prove it to her, over and over, until the day she felt ready. Until she wasn’t afraid anymore.

He just wanted to be with her. Even if it wasn’t the way he hoped. He could wait.

He would wait.

Both of them were silent, too wrapped up in their own thoughts to speak. But their silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was filled with unspoken anticipation.

Then it happened.

A sudden screech of tires cut through the air, sharp and jarring.

Zephany blinked, her head turning instinctively toward the window.

Kendrick’s eyes followed, his body stiffening as he saw the car.

It was moving fast. Too fast.

A black vehicle was skidding across the pavement just outside the restaurant. The driver clearly had lost control.

There wasn’t time to think.

Glass shattered.

Kendrick lunged across the table, grabbed Zephany by the arm and pulled her down with him.

They hit the floor hard just as the front of the car crashed through the window.

Shards of glass sprayed everywhere. A loud crash echoed through the restaurant. Wooden chairs splintered. The flower vase on their table shattered.

Zephany felt the sting of something cutting across her arm, but she barely registered it. Kendrick’s body shielded her from most of the impact.

He grunted, clearly hit by debris, but he didn’t let go.

Silence followed. The kind of silence that rang in your ears.

Zephany’s heart thudded wildly.

He moved first, slowly rising to check her.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, voice low, steady, but urgent.

"I’m fine," she whispered.

Both were overwhelmed with concern for each other.

"Are you okay?" they asked almost in unison, quickly checking one another for injuries.

There were small cuts on her forearm. Nothing deep. Just red, glistening scratches.

Kendrick had a few too. A small one on his cheek, a deeper one across his wrist, already bleeding.

He exhaled shakily.

She looked at him. His eyes. The way he held her.

"Kendrick," she whispered. "You—"

"I’m okay," he said quickly. "Are you dizzy? Lightheaded?"

"No, I’m fine. Really."

What happened next shook their entire lives.