[EVE]

    The chill of the night nipped at my skin as I hugged my knees closer to my chest, gazing up at the endless sky.

    Streaks of green and purple light painted the heavens, weaving together in a hypnotic dance. The aurora was more beautiful than I ever imagined, yet somehow, the sight felt incomplete. Something was missing—or rather, someone.

    "Are you cold?" Cole''s voice broke the silence, low and steady, as he approached from behind. I turned to see him carrying a blanket in one hand and something else hidden beneath his jacket in the other.

    Before I could answer, he draped the blanket over my shoulders, his touch lingering just a little longer than necessary.

    "Thanks," I murmured, feeling the warmth of the fabric sink into my skin.

    "You shouldn''t sit out here alone." He settled down beside me, close enough that our shoulders touched but not too close to overwhelm me. "I''ve got something for you. Close your eyes."

    I gave him a skeptical look. "Cole, if this is another one of your pranks, I swear—"

    "It''s not," he said, grinning faintly, his usual aloofness replaced by a softness I rarely saw. "Just trust me, Eve."

    Sighing, I relented and closed my eyes, the cold air brushing against my face while I waited. The next thing I knew, I felt a faint warmth near my hands.

    "Okay, open."

    When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a small, beautifully arranged dinner laid out on a blanket in front of us. There were candles flickering in delicate lanterns, and plates of food that smelled far too good for something prepared while camping.

    The flames of the candles flickered gently in the wind, casting a golden glow over the snow-covered ground. A bottle of wine sat at the center, next to two glasses.

    "You . . . you did all this?" I asked, unable to hide my surprise.

    Cole shrugged, though there was a hint of pride in his expression. "Figured you deserved something special. It''s Christmas Eve, after all."

    I stared at him, momentarily speechless. For someone like Cole—who usually treated life like a series of business proposals—this was so . . . unexpected. He wasn''t the type to go out of his way to make grand romantic gestures, yet here he was, doing just that.

    For a moment, we just sat there, the world around us fading into the background. The aurora continued its dance in the sky, the shooting stars still streaking across the heavens, and in the distance, the faint sound of fireworks echoed through the night.

    "Thank you," I finally said, slipping the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly, as though it had always belonged there.

    Cole leaned back, propping himself up on his hands as he gazed up at the sky. "Merry Christmas, Eve."

    I smiled, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the blanket wrapped around my shoulders. "Merry Christmas, Cole."

    And in that moment, under the shimmering lights of the aurora and the falling stars, I realized something. Life with Cole was never going to be predictable or easy, but it would always be full of surprises. And maybe, just maybe, that was exactly what I needed.

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    || A/N ||

    My new book, "The Villains Must Win", is out now! ???? It''s my entry for WSA 2025, and I hope you can show it some love and support.

    Here''s the premise: It''s a transmigration story where the MC is thrown into various storylines with one goal—ensure that the villain of each world wins and gets their own satisfying ending. And yes, the villains are all guys. ????

    Expect a mix of all the tropes out there, including ancient China, werewolves, vampires, devils, CEOs, pop stars, and more! Every arc is short (around 30 to 50 chapters), keeping the story fast-paced and fresh as we move on to different villains in each world.

    PS: There are plenty of steamy, mature scenes, so be prepared! Don''t forget to add it to your library. I can''t wait to hear what you think!

    Thank you so much for your continued support—it means everything! ??

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