Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 517: It was about you

Kathrine watched as the car disappeared into the distance, her chest tightening with every second it grew smaller. The emptiness that followed felt heavier than she expected.

She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to steady the storm raging within her.

It was only when she instinctively reached for her bag that she froze.

Her hand met nothing.

Her breath hitched.

She looked down at her empty shoulder, her mind racing.

She had left it behind. Inside the restaurant.

For a moment, she considered leaving it there. Considered walking away from everything connected to today. But she knew she could not. Her phone, her keys, everything she needed was inside.

Taking a slow, steady breath, she turned around and began walking back toward the restaurant.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

The entrance loomed before her, and as she stepped inside, the familiar space felt unfamiliar now. The air seemed thicker, harder to breathe. Her heels echoed softly against the floor as she made her way toward the private room.

Kathrine did not want to face him again.

She did not want to see Marcus. Did not want to feel that suffocating tension, that invisible pressure his presence carried. But she had no choice. She could not leave her belongings behind simply to avoid him.

Her fingers curled into her palms.

"Breathe, Kathrine," she whispered to herself, forcing her lungs to expand.

She reached the door.

Her hand hesitated on the handle for only a moment before she pushed it open, already preparing herself to walk in, to keep her eyes down, to pretend he was not there.

But the moment the door opened, her steps halted abruptly.

Her breath caught.

Her eyes widened in shock, her body going still as the sight before her shattered every expectation she had prepared herself for.

***

[Rosewood House]

Anna had no idea how long she had been asleep.

Sleep had claimed her so deeply, so completely, that when she finally stirred, it was not restlessness that woke her, but the quiet awareness of being watched.

Her lashes fluttered open slowly.

For a moment, everything was soft and hazy, caught between dream and reality. And then her eyes met his.

Daniel was lying beside her, propped slightly on his elbow, his gaze fixed on her face with an intensity that was not overwhelming, but tender. As if he had been watching her for a while. As if simply looking at her was enough.

A small smile formed on his lips when he realized she was awake.

"Hello," he whispered.

Before she could respond, he leaned closer and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

It was soft. Familiar. Safe.

Anna smiled against his lips, the warmth of him grounding her.

But then something shifted.

Her eyes moved past him, toward the window.

Darkness.

Her smile faded.

The sky beyond the glass was no longer painted with afternoon light, but with the deep blue of night. The room was dim, illuminated only by the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

Her heart skipped.

Realization hit her all at once.

She pushed herself upright abruptly, the blanket falling to her waist.

"Why did not you wake me up?" she asked, her voice filled with panic. "Did we already miss the plan you prepared for us?"

Guilt flooded her instantly.

She remembered everything. The day. The effort he had put in. The way he had told her he had something special planned. And yet she had fallen asleep like this, wasting the time he had set aside just for her.

She turned to him, her brows knitting together.

"I am sorry," she added softly. "You planned everything, and I ruined it."

Daniel watched her quietly, his expression gentle, unchanged.

Anna felt worse under his calm gaze.

She had not meant to fall asleep. But the massage had felt so relieving, so soothing, that her body had surrendered without warning. The exhaustion she had been carrying for days had finally caught up to her.

She had only meant to rest for a few minutes.

Not hours.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket.

"I did not even realize when I fell asleep," she admitted, her voice smaller now.

Daniel reached out then, his hand gently cupping her cheek, guiding her to look at him.

"There is nothing to be sorry for," he said softly.

His thumb brushed against her skin in a slow, comforting motion.

"You needed the rest."

Anna searched his eyes, unsure if he truly meant it or if he was simply trying to make her feel better.

"But your plan..." she whispered.

A faint smile returned to his lips, this time carrying something deeper. Something knowing.

"It is not ruined," he said.

Daniel’s gaze held hers steadily. "It was never about the plan."

His hand slipped into hers, his fingers intertwining with hers naturally.

"It was about you."

"I know," Anna said softly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of the blanket. "But still... I was looking forward to what you intended to do with me."

The words slipped out so naturally, so innocently, that she did not realize their meaning until the silence that followed made her aware of them.

Her breath caught.

Her eyes widened instantly, and she turned to look at Daniel.

The corner of his lips had curled into a slow, unmistakably mischievous smile.

Heat rushed to her face.

She had not meant it like that. Or maybe she had, without realizing it. Either way, the way he was looking at her now made her heart race in a completely different way.

Anna quickly looked away, embarrassed, but she could still feel his gaze on her.

She remembered the trek he had taken her on earlier. How she had complained endlessly, warning him never to make her climb another mountain again. Her legs had ached, her lungs had burned, and she had been certain she would collapse halfway through.

And yet...

She had loved every moment of it.

The way he had held her hand when the path became uneven. The way he had laughed when she threatened to turn back. The way the world had looked from the top, endless and beautiful, with him beside her.

It was exhausting.

It was overwhelming.

It was unforgettable.

Even now, the memory made her smile faintly.

Those moments had carved themselves into her heart, becoming something she would carry forever.

And yet, in one weak moment, she had fallen asleep.

She had slept through the afternoon, through the time he had set aside just for her, only to wake up with the quiet realization that she had missed something she had truly wanted to experience.

"Then let’s get started," he announced, interrupting her thoughts, and she blinked.