The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 139

"My father is British." Yves seemed to catch Annelise's shock, explaining with a grin. "He was part of the first batch of exchange students sent to Norway in the late seventies. My mother is Norwegian. I was born and raised in Oslo. So, my Norwegian is definitely better than my English."

As he spoke, he pushed open the heavy glass door and made a polite gesture for her to enter.

Annelise followed him inside.

The interior space was significantly larger than she had anticipated.

It was around six hundred square feet, split perfectly into a front and back area.

The front room was incredibly open, with the massive floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the entire space with breathtaking natural light.

The back room was slightly smaller, but it featured a private restroom and a compact storage closet—a perfect setup for a floral design studio.

Yves was clearly a designer with exquisite taste.

He hadn't covered up the building's original textures with cheap drywall.

The walls were left as exposed, weathered brick, exuding a raw, industrial aesthetic.

However, the floors had been completely redone with brand-new, warm-toned oak, perfectly neutralizing the coldness of the brick.

The ceiling still proudly displayed its original wooden support beams.

"The heating system and all the plumbing were completely replaced just last month."

Yves patted a radiator by the wall, which was radiating a pleasant heat.

"So, you won't have to worry about freezing in the winter or dealing with bursting pipes."

Annelise listened quietly, but her eyes lingered on the south-facing window for a long time.

Winter sunlight was fleeting, but it was as precious as pure gold.

For plants and flowers that craved light, this window was practically a gift from God.

She turned around and began asking practical questions.

"How much is the rent?"

Yves quoted her a number.

It was slightly lower than she had budgeted for.

"What's the minimum lease term?"

"It's very flexible."

He glanced around the empty space, then looked back at Annelise, suddenly offering a proposal.

"If you don't mind, I could help you design the interior layout and the floral display racks for free."

Fearing she might misunderstand, he quickly added a disclaimer.

"Don't worry, I won't charge you a design fee. Just consider it... a small favor between neighbors."

He pointed up at the ceiling.

"My architectural design studio is right up on the third floor. Technically speaking, we'd be upstairs-downstairs neighbors."

An enthusiastic, handsome, Asian-European landlord who was willing to offer free architectural design work.

It all sounded too perfect—almost unreal.

The deeply ingrained strings of trauma from Annelise's past subconsciously pulled taut.

She didn't immediately agree, but she didn't instantly reject it either.

She simply took a subtle half-step back, reestablishing a safe distance between herself and Yves.