CHAPTER 199: CHAPTER 199: ISLAND DATE AND SILAS HAWTHORNE’S SURPRISE

Time flew by swiftly.

The time for Serena Sterling and Silas Hawthorne’s third date had arrived.

This time, the date was taking place on an island.

This island was just a 15-minute trip from Aeston.

Usually, many activities are held there.

Recently, there had been a lot of commotion, arousing curiosity about what was happening on the island.

Even Serena had heard about it.

That day, when Silas came to pick her up, she finally understood that the bustle on the island was all prepared for her.

As they boarded the boat, Serena looked at Silas beside her and said, "Such a grand setup?"

But Silas just smiled slightly and said, "It’s not just for the two of us."

This made Serena even more curious.

They boarded the boat at dusk, with the sunset as red as blood, and 15 minutes later, they stepped onto the island.

After a few steps and a turn, Serena was astounded by the scene before her.

The entire street in front of her looked like a scene out of a dream.

Full of exotic charm, intermixed with strange and shining gems along the street, exotic burning spices, and more things resembling magic tricks.

Just as they reached the entrance, something caught Serena’s attention.

A man wearing a magician’s robe reached into the air, and suddenly, a ring appeared in his hand. With a flick, the ring turned into a string of balloons.

Serena kept watching him, trying to figure out how he did it.

But he had already bowed slightly, handing the string of balloons to Serena.

Serena glanced at Silas, but found that, while she was captivated, Silas had disappeared.

While she was lost in thought, the string of balloons was already thrust into her hands.

Beside her, the pleasant scent of burning spices filled the air, and out of an unknown window suddenly came a cascade of colorful bubbles.

These colorful bubbles surrounded her.

They appeared as romantic as a fairy tale under the orange sunset.

Holding the string of balloons in one hand, Serena reached out with the other to poke the colorful bubbles.

As a gigantic bubble encasing smaller ones burst, a man appeared before her eyes.

He was clad in a black tuxedo with an exaggerated half-face mask on.

In his hand, he held a top hat, wearing white gloves.

He overturned the top hat, and Serena assured there was nothing inside.

Having captured her attention, he smiled slightly and then took something off her left shoulder and tossed it into the top hat.

The next moment, he pulled a white dove from the top hat.

The dove flapped its wings, struggling.

"Wow!" Serena was utterly entranced; she had just seen that the top hat was empty when flipped over.

The man had placed something on her left shoulder, then tossed the dove.

The dove landed peacefully on her left shoulder.

Serena moved slightly, but the white dove stayed; it wouldn’t leave, cooing softly.

"Snap!"

While Serena’s attention was captured by the dove, a snap of fingers sounded, and Serena turned her head.

She saw the magician smiling at her.

He flipped his top hat again for Serena to see, and again, it was empty.

Then, he took something from her right shoulder and placed it into his top hat once more.

This time, he rummaged inside the top hat, and Serena watched, curious to see what he would retrieve.

Then, as a gentle breeze blew and colorful bubbles drifted past, he pulled out a female half-face mask garnished with all kinds of gemstones from the top hat.

He tipped the hat, and petals fluttered down as he bowed slightly to present the half-face mask to Serena.

Serena hesitated for a moment but accepted it.

As he straightened—

"Snap!"

Another snap of fingers, and the previously black section of his chest now displayed a board.

It read—"Would you wear it for me?"

Serena gazed at the familiar handwriting.

She looked at the familiar figure of the man before her and nodded with a smile.

"Alright."

Serena said, putting on the half-face mask encrusted with colorful gemstones.

The man watched her, eyes filled with gentle laughter.

Once he saw Serena wearing the gemstone half-mask, he donned the top hat and removed the note from his chest.

With a rub of his hands, the paper suddenly ignited.

The dazzling flames lit up Serena’s eyes.

Then, as the flame extinguished, a red rose symbolizing love appeared in his hand.

He bowed again, handing the red rose to Serena.

The man’s smiling eyes were in front, surrounded by colorful bubbles, with the cooing of the dove in her ear.

The air was infused with the scent of burning spices.

The red rose in his hand bloomed exceptionally bright.

Had she seen such a scene somewhere before?

"Hmm?"

The man gently prompted.

Serena smiled, pulling away from her memories.

She reached out, took the red rose in her hand, still uncertain of how he had conjured it.

By now, the man was standing properly, extending his right hand.

"Dear lady, may I take you for a stroll around the island?" It was Silas Hawthorne’s voice.

"Sure," Serena replied, preparing to place her hand in his.

But at that moment, one hand held the rose while the other held the balloons, leaving no free hand.

He motioned toward her hand holding the balloons.

Understanding his gesture, she let go of the string of balloons.

The balloons soared skyward as he held her hand.

Their eyes met, filled with mutual smiles.

He held her hand as he led her into the street crowd.

The sunset gradually descended, and the entire island slipped into the night.

Silas first took her to a bespoke clothing boutique.

As soon as they arrived, a person immediately approached them.

"Miss Serena?" the other smiled, "Please follow us."

Serena glanced at Silas, who simply nodded.

Then, she followed the others inside.

They dressed her in a bespoke gemstone gown, matching her gemstone half-mask. In the mirror, the woman appeared exceptionally bright and beautiful.

When she came out, a man dressed complementarily to her awaited outside.

"Silas?" she spoke.

She had already recognized him, of course; it was him.

"It’s me," he answered with a smile.

Spreading his hand again, he grasped hers once more.

He led her back onto the street.

While she had been changing clothes, the sky had turned completely dark.

Unlike earlier, the entire island now glowed with various strange lights—lights mixed with the glow from burning spices.

If one looked down upon the island from above, they’d see the lights forming a word—Serena.