It Should Have Been Like This (The Revised Version)

Chapter 80: Dinner and Presents

A soft smile graced his lips as he replied, "On a date."

"Huh?" The word escaped me, a mixture of surprise and delight.

Nic beamed, gesturing between us as he spoke. "You, me, date."

I blinked, astonished by the sudden turn of events. A date? When was the last time I had the opportunity to enjoy such a thing? That's right, with him. It had been so long, that I'd almost forgotten that couples still partook in such activities. The fact that he had planned this surprise was both surprising and delightful, and my heart began to thump with excitement. I had completely forgotten that we, too, could indulge in the simple pleasures of a date.

A wide smile blossomed across my lips as I stared at him, and he mirrored my expression. "Now, just so you know, this is also a strategy to show that we're completely fine, that our marriage is working out," he explained. "But that doesn't mean this isn't a real date, so don't tell yourself otherwise."

I nodded eagerly, already moving towards the bathroom. "You don't have to dress fancy," he called after me. "Something simple but sophisticated would do. Alright?"

"Yes!" I looked at him over my shoulder, my smile brightening before I stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. The prospect of a date filled me with a sense of anticipation and excitement that I couldn't quite wrap my head around, but it didn't matter. I was looking forward to it.

I hurried to prepare, doing my best to get ready as quickly as I could. As expected, Savia burst into the room shortly after Nic left, more excited than I was. She practically bounced from one foot to the other as we selected my outfit together—a royal blue full cape top, black pants, a delicate silver necklace, and a pair of sleek black pumps.

"So?" I asked, twirling around with my hands spread wide, presenting myself to Rominic. "How do I look?"

His eyes roamed over my body, a grin spreading across his face. "Perfect," he declared.

I glanced down at myself, a tinge of doubt creeping into my heart. "Are you sure? Isn't it too plain?"

"It's perfect because it doesn't have any distracting elements," he replied, his tone reassuring. I lifted my gaze, offering him an amused smile, and he shrugged nonchalantly. "I need my head to focus on making you happy tonight, not keep drifting to the size of your breasts, the tightness or shortness of your dress, and how it would look on the floor with you under—"

"Yes, yes, I get it," I interrupted with a laugh, butterflies fluttering in my stomach at his words. "Alright, let's go." I stretched my hand out, which he took in his with delight, entwining our fingers. He pulled me close, our bodies separated by only a few inches, and led me out of the house.

He led me to his favorite car, a sleek, repainted model courtesy of our son, Zayne. As we approached, Cadmus, the chief bodyguard, tried to open the door for me, but Nic gestured for him to stop. Quickening his pace, Nic opened the passenger door himself, bowing gentlemanly.

"We're not going with any bodyguards today, at least, not openly," Nic said calmly, drawing my attention as I settled into the passenger's seat. "Today is a date between two normal people."

I couldn't help but respond playfully, a smirk playing on my lips. "What are we, royal elves?"

Rominic leaned against the open door, a grin spreading across his face, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I'd prefer if we were werewolves," he replied. "That way, I'll be certain you are my mate and have a good reason to kill any man that gets close to you."

I let out a derisive snort, rolling my eyes in exasperation. "As if being human could ever hope to stop you from doing just that," I scoffed, my words dripping with sarcasm.

Nic's laughter erupted, a rich, joyful sound that sent a blissful rush through my heart. I shook my head, marveling at the dizzying flutters that his laughter always stirred within the pit of my stomach—a curious, fortunate-unfortunate reaction.

I quickly slid my seatbelt into place before he could enter the car, but the action elicited a displeased frown from Nic as his earlier smile fell away. "You already wore your seatbelt," he stated, his brow furrowing in displeasure.

Tilting my head, I met his gaze with a puzzled expression. "Yes?" I responded, uncertain as to why this would upset him. He remained silent for a few moments, simply staring at me, before shaking his head and turning the key in the ignition. I furrowed my brows, watching him intently as I pondered the reason for his irritation. It didn't take long for the answer to become clear—Nic had taken great delight in the past in being the one to secure my seatbelt, using it as an opportunity to steal a few playful kisses along the way.

"Ah," I breathed, my eyes widening with realization.

"Mm-hm," he hummed chidingly, glancing in my direction as he drove the car out of the compound. "Just be sure to reflect on your mistake, and don't make the same one again when I park the car later, understood?"

"Yes, sir," I replied whimsically, a small chuckle escaping my lips as a beaming smile graced my face. I shifted in the plush seat, adjusting my position, and then turned my gaze to the window, squeezing the seatbelt in my grasp as I took in the familiar sights of the estate we were leaving behind.

After a few minutes on the road, I turned my attention back to Nic, my eyes burning with curiosity. "So, where are we going? Classic dinner at a five-star restaurant?"

"Four-star, and it's a private establishment," he corrected.

I hummed thoughtfully. "I see. Although you know I'm quite capable of preparing any fancy meal myself," I muttered, not entirely enthused about the idea of dining out. Nic was aware of my aversion to restaurants and formal affairs, but I understood that sometimes it was necessary to indulge.

"You can't prepare everything, Laverne," he replied calmly. "And it's alright to eat out occasionally. Besides, this particular setting will be the perfect atmosphere to talk about things and exchange romantic gifts," he added with a meaningful glance in my direction.

At that, I couldn't help but grin. "So you do have a present for me, then?"

Nic chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Yes, a very big one, so be sure to keep your expectations high," he teased, and that tantalizing promise was all I could think about as he drove us to one of his friend's exclusive restaurants.

Even after we were ushered into a private dining room and engaged in casual conversation, catching up on the details of each other's lives, I found my mind continuously drifting back to the mysterious gift he had in store. Nic was known for his lavish and thoughtful presents, and I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anticipation.

"The moment you've been waiting for has finally arrived," he announced, dramatically producing a wrapped box and placing it on the table between us. A nervous smile played on his lips, and I noticed a hint of worry in his expression. "You might even hit me or pour your drink on my face," he chuckled, the concern evident in his tone.

I eyed the box curiously, wondering what could possibly elicit such a reaction from him. As I began to carefully unwrap the present, Nic clasped his hands on the table, fidgeting with his thumbs and refusing to meet my gaze.

"So, you mentioned that you'd still be able to meet with your friends from work, even if you were to quit, right?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Yes, of course," I replied absentmindedly, my attention focused on the contents of the box. When I pulled out the documents and laid them on the table, I felt a surge of confusion. This was not at all what I had been expecting—no lingerie or sex toys, but rather official-looking papers.

As I opened the first document, the realization hit me, and I understood why Nic had been so nervous. He had returned the ownership of my mother's company to me.