From Heir's Ex to His Aunt novel Chapter 1

In the third year of her relationship, Alicia Gibson was preparing to propose to her sweet and gentle boyfriend.

She had carefully arranged a romantic candlelit dinner for the two of them tonight. Slipping into an exquisite dress, she applied a bold layer of makeup to finish her look.

Her boyfriend, David Burton, suddenly hugged her from behind as she began to pour the wine. Holding her tightly in his arms, he pressed fiery kisses along the back of her ears. "Have you finally made up your mind, Alicia? Tonight…"

His strong arms circled around her slender wrist, his long fingers lightly tracing over the smooth satin of her dress.

She turned around and gently nudged his chest. "Stop fooling around. Let's have dinner first."

Being three years younger than her, David was just about to graduate from university. He was tall and lean. Even a plain white T-shirt could not hide his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and well-defined muscles.

His features were sharp and sculpted; his profile was smooth and refined. The atmosphere around him resembled the first rays of sunshine—full of youthful vitality.

He gave a low chuckle, a wicked smile tugging at his lips. Stepping closer, he smoothly moved between her legs. He caught her slender waist and pressed her back against the wine cabinet, then leaned down to claim her lips in a deep kiss.

In the flickering firelight, the heat of his breath grew more intense. He was burning with unbridled desire.

His fervent enthusiasm nearly overwhelmed her, but she did not forget the real reason for her preparations tonight. Gently pushing him away, she stepped away before the situation became too steamy.

His half-lowered eyes were dark with desire. Biting her lip lightly, he murmured in a husky voice, "Forget dinner, Alicia, and eat me instead…"

She laughed softly.

Her face was impossibly beautiful, with striking features that highlighted her delicate countenance.

It was just that she rarely smiled due to her extremely hectic work schedule. She was only three years older, but the pressure of her work often left her with a cold and unreadable expression. His friends even jokingly gave her the nickname "Ice Queen".

But when she smiled without reserve, it was as though spring was breaking through the ice—warm and full of life. Her unexpectedly stunning appearance made his heart skip a beat at the sight.

Just the thought that he might finally embrace her tonight made him uncontrollably giddy with excitement.

She sternly chided, "Behave yourself."

Then, she resumed pouring the wine as she silently observed the man sitting obediently before her. That was the best thing about him—he always listened to her instructions.

Setting the bottle down, she took her seat across from him.

A quiet yet suggestive tension flowed between them under the soft amber glow of the lights.

Her tone turned unusually soft and tender. "David… do you love me?"

He reached out and took her hand, his teasing expression fading into something more serious. "You've been observing me for the past three years. Don't you know how I feel about you by now? Of course, I love you, Alicia."

Her lips curved into a faint smile at his answer. She pulled out a small velvet box. "This is for you."

Inside was a simple platinum ring, designed for men. The plain band caught the candlelight, gleaming with a brilliant shine.

The look of anticipation on his face instantly froze, an unforeseen chill creeping into his expression instead. He did not look happy to see the ring. In fact, the joy she had expected… never came.

Nevertheless, she could understand his feelings a little. He might not have been mentally prepared, so she might even have frightened him with the sudden proposal.

"What is this supposed to mean, Alicia?"

"My family has been pressuring me into marriage, so I was hoping to bring you home to meet them," she explained gently. "We can also take the chance to make our engagement official."

She looked him straight in the eye, her tone calm but firm. "What's wrong? You don't want to?"

They had been together for three years. It was easy to see just how much he loved her.

Otherwise, he would never have lived under the same roof without ever once crossing the line with her.

It had taken her three years to accept having a boyfriend who was three years younger.

Naturally, she had not agreed to the relationship just because of his sincerity. She had investigated his background thoroughly from the beginning.

He was the youngest son of the prestigious Burton family, known throughout the social circles of Litchbrook. But he had hidden his identity to enroll in a university in the southern region, living as nothing more than an ordinary student for four years.

She, on the other hand, was his complete opposite. Despite being the eldest daughter of the Gibson family, she was the unloved child. Her father had immediately brought his mistress and their children into the home as soon as her mother passed away, while she was sent overseas for years.

Even after she returned from studying abroad, she had to fight for a place in the family. She eventually accepted her grandfather's proposition: Strip herself of the family name and take over a failing company that had nearly gone bankrupt. If she could turn the company around within three years, he would consider handing the family's business to her.

Since the Gibson family and the Burton family were equal in terms of influence, they were the perfect match for a marriage alliance.

It could be said that they were made for each other—they not only loved each other, but their family backgrounds were a suitable match too.

Now that she had successfully achieved her performance targets, she received word from home: The Burton family was indeed considering a marriage alliance with the Gibson family.

Alicia stared at the untouched ring on the table in stunned silence. I see, he… has never truly considered marrying me…

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