The Rose He Showed Off Is Putting Down Roots in a Garden of Her Own novel Chapter 27

The night gradually grew quiet.

Noticing his distracted demeanor, Elara assumed the alcohol from earlier had finally gone to his head.

She stopped talking, realizing that whatever she said now was pointless; her words probably weren't even registering in his brain.

The night was hazy, and Zane remained silent. It really seemed like he was drunk.

He looked up at the lake and the night sky, a smile playing on his lips.

He said, "The moonlight is beautiful tonight."

Elara sighed inwardly. *Great, he really is drunk. Everything I just said was a waste of breath.*

She didn't understand the true meaning behind that phrase at the time, thinking it was just a poetic outburst fueled by liquor.

She noted mentally that this man loved his wine far too much; from now on, she had to discuss business *before* the drinks started flowing.

Knowing there was no point in saying more, Elara stepped back into her leather shoes.

Because the insides were soaked, they were still uncomfortably slippery to walk in.

Elara stared silently down at her expensive shoes for a moment before helplessly taking them back off.

Zane took the opportunity to glance at her bare feet and asked, "Not going to wear them?"

Elara picked up the high heels. "When shoes no longer fit, it's faster to just walk barefoot."

"Aren't you worried about stepping on something sharp?"

Elara’s lips twitched slightly. "The place I'm going isn't too far. It won't hurt forever."

Zane looked at her and smiled. "True. The destination is near."

She was talking about her future, thinking he was talking about shoes.

In reality, he knew everything, which was why he said the destination was near.

"Aren't you heading back, Mr. Whitaker?"

Zane couldn't walk back with her. He had to avoid arousing suspicion. She wasn't divorced yet, and he couldn't allow any gossip to ruin her reputation.

"I'm going to have a smoke first."

Elara paused, her lips twitching slightly. "You certainly are in a leisurely mood, Mr. Whitaker."

After Elara left, Zane sat back in his original spot. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. It felt heavy; when he tipped it, water dripped out.

Never mind.

In high spirits, Zane simply lay back on the wooden planks. Staring up at the sky, his smile was gentle, and his eyes mirrored the starlight.

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