Chapter 110
After a rather comical yet comforting breakfast, Sofia washed herself up in another cozy bathroom before she walked out of the room and found herself in one of the most comfortable cabins she had ever seen.
Alexander had already explained that they were currently in a cabin that once belonged to his mother’s family, a small cabin by the lake.
She found him sitting by the window, reading a book. “Japanese?” she asked.
A soft smile played on Alexander’s lips as he closed the book, his gaze meeting Sofia’s. “Trying to decipher the kanji?” he asked, his voice warm and inviting.
Sofia sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck. “Actually, I recognized it. I used to want to learn Japanese, but…” she trailed off, a hint of self–deprecation tinging her voice. “I convinced myself I wasn’t smart enough.”
Alexander’s smile widened, the amusement reaching his eyes. “There’s a reason they call it learning a language, not knowing it. You could always give it another shot.”
Sofia considered this, a flicker of interest sparking in her eyes. “Maybe,” she admitted. Maybe soon?
The warmth of their conversation settled around them like a soft blanket, but a nagging thought pricked at Sofia’s conscience. She glanced out the window, where the winter sun cast a silvery sheen on the frozen surface of the lake.
According to Alexander, Lawrence survived, but the bullet hit his spine, and he might become paralyzed from the neck down. And because it was all self–defense, Sofia just needed to submit her statement once she was back.
Sofia recalled what Lawrence told her but ended up not saying anything about it to Alexander. After much deliberation, she realized it wasn’t worth it. After all, she and Alexander had a pretty strong prenuptial agreement. Both of them are pretty capable. Was there a need to talk about wealth between them?
She still had so many questions but in the end, she said nothing and continued her conversation about languages.
Apparently, Alexander knows not just two or three but five languages aside from English!
He knew how to speak French, Japanese, Mandarin, Arabic, and Spanish. He
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Chapter 110
emphasized that this was needed for his business.
“Speaking of your company…” she lifted an eyebrow. Her gaze landed on the laptop and some paperwork on the table in the living room. “Are you planning to work while we are here?”
“Just something that I needed to finish. Josef will take them later.”
She smiled.
“Do you want to go to the lake?” he asked.
She turned towards the lake beyond the trees. “It’s frozen…”
“Isn’t it perfect for skating?”
“Skating…” she frowned.
A playful glint lit up Alexander’s eyes as he noticed Sofia’s frown. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little ice?” he teased, a hint of amusement dancing in his voice.
Sofia scoffed, puffing out her chest in mock indignation. “Afraid? Please,” she countered, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Ice doesn’t scare me. It’s the inevitable faceplant that comes with it.” Actually, she liked to skate when she was younger, but Charlotte was always better than her. Slowly, she simply lost interest and now, she definitely sucked at it.
Now, all she wanted was to save herself from the embarrassment.
“Come…” he got up and held her hand. “Unless you just wanted to stay in bed all day with me. Obviously, I can do that but-”
“I will skate!” she interrupted him, causing him to laugh.
It didn’t take too long for them to change into their appropriate outfits that were prepared in advance by Josef.
The crisp winter air hit them as they stepped outside, the sun glinting off the vast expanse of the frozen lake. The ice stretched before them like a smooth, white canvas, dusted with a light layer of snow that sparkled like scattered diamonds. In the distance, a snowy pine forest edged the horizon, adding a touch of picturesque charm to the
scene.
Alexander stopped by the porch, pulling a pair of thick winter boots from beside the door. “Here,” he said, kneeling down and helping her untie the laces of her sneakers.
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Chapter 110
These will keep your feet warm while we get to the smoother ice.”
Sofia slipped on the boots, a comfortable fit thanks to Josef’s foresight. As they reached the edge of the lake, Alexander pointed towards a specific area. “See that stretch there, closer to the center?” he said, his voice warm. “The ice looks nice and clear. Perfect for beginners.
“I am not a beginner…” she mumbled.
“Of course,” he said before he explained that they should take small steps at first, getting a feel for the ice and how their weight transferred with each movement. He suggested keeping their knees slightly bent and their arms out for balance. For stopping, he said they could simply try slowing down gradually until they came to a halt, or they could practice a simple snowplow technique where they pointed their toes inward to create a wedge against the ice.
“Don’t worry,” Alexander reassured her, a smile playing on his lips. “I’ll be right beside
the whole time. And if you do take a tumble, it’ll be soft with all this fresh snow. Or you can grab my hand and fall into my arms instead.”
you
She immediately glared at him. Why was he treating her like a complete newbie? “I know how to skate…” she does. She really does!
“Right…”
“Hey! I am telling the truth!”
“I know,” he said. His playful wink did little to quell the nervous butterflies fluttering in Sofia’s stomach. The ice looked beautiful, serene even, but the memory of past tumbles was a nagging reminder of her lack of grace on skates.
Ignoring Alexander’s teasing wink, Sofia puffed out her chest in a show of false confidence. “Fine,” she conceded, a hint of defiance lacing her voice. “Let’s see these beginner tips in action.”
Alexander chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. “Alright, alright,” he soothed, guiding her towards the smoother ice he had pointed out earlier. “But remember, even Olympic skaters started somewhere.”
He helped her lace–up a pair of ice skates he’d retrieved from a hidden compartment near the cabin door. They were surprisingly comfortable, fitting snugly around her ankles. Taking a deep breath, Sofia gripped the edge of a nearby wooden bench and slowly pushed herself onto the ice.
Chapter 110
The first few steps were wobbly, her legs feeling like jelly beneath her. Self–doubt threatened to bubble up, but Alexander’s encouraging presence beside her kept her going. He skated a slow circle around her, holding his arms out just out of reach, a silent promise of support.
Gradually, Sofia started to find her rhythm. The initial awkwardness gave way to a tentative glide, the feeling of the smooth ice beneath her blades surprisingly exhilarating. She focused on keeping her knees slightly bent, just like Alexander had instructed, and found that it helped her maintain some semblance of balance.
With each successful push, Sofia’s confidence grew. She dared to take a little more speed, a giddy laugh escaping her lips as she glided across the ice. The winter sun glinted off the snow, casting a dazzling display of light that danced before her eyes.
Laughter and the rhythmic scrape of blades against ice filled the air.
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were a couple of wobbles, a near tumble that made Alexander shoot out a hand to steady her. But even the stumbles felt different here, somehow less embarrassing and more like part of the learning process.
With each wobble, Sofia felt a sense of accomplishment as she managed to regain her balance, a silent victory over her self–doubt.
“I didn’t know you were actually good…” Alexander said as he stood beside her.
“Me too…” her answer came before she could even think about it. “I mean… them… I am really good at it, right?”
He chuckled in response.
Sofia beamed then she started moving again. “If I knew I would be this good… I would have become a professional skater instead.” Obviously, she was simply bragging.
A bead of sweat trickled down Alexander’s temple as he watched Sofia skate. He couldn’t deny a wave of surprise washing over him. Despite her initial protests about being a beginner, she was gliding across the ice with surprising grace, her laughter echoing through the crisp winter air.
He skated a parallel path a few feet away, keeping a watchful eye on her. She seemed to be finding her rhythm, her movements growing more confident with each push.
A smile tugged at his lips as he saw a genuine sense of joy light up her face. It was a far cry from the guarded woman he’d encountered just a few days ago.
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