Chapter 654

1/10

The car pulled up outside the cozy cottage. Alexander opened the door for Evelyn, gesturing for her to step out.

Just then, his phone rang.

"Evelyn, it's Lucas. It's freezing out here—go inside first. I'll join you after this call," he said.

She nodded absently, not giving it much thought.

When Lucas answered, confusion laced his voice. "Alexander, why did you ask me to call you?"

Alexander's eyes lingered on Evelyn until she disappeared inside. Then he smirked. "Just wanted to chat."

Lucas scoffed. "Since when do we call each other for small talk?"

"Exactly," Alexander agreed. "There’s nothing to talk about. You’re just a convenient excuse."

Lucas sputtered. "Excuse me? What the hell does that mean?"

Alexander chuckled. "This is why I have a wife, and you don’t."

Lucas bristled. "That’s low, man!"

2/10

"Claire drank too much at her reunion. A few guys were all over her—probably trying to ask her out," Alexander added casually.

Lucas immediately tensed. "What did you just say?"

He had barely dealt with Julian, and now rivals were already circling Claire?

"Alexander, I gotta go! My future wife needs defending!" Lucas hung up, handed his daughter to the nanny, and sped toward the restaurant.

Alexander glanced at the cottage. Evelyn had been inside for five minutes.

A slow smile curved his lips. He hoped she liked what awaited her.

Evelyn pushed open the door, and the rich scent of roses enveloped her before she even found the light switch.

Fumbling in the dark, she finally flicked it on.

3/10

She expected the living room to brighten instantly—but it didn’t.

Instead, a trail of warm, star-shaped lights flickered to life at her feet, casting a soft, romantic glow.

The fragrance wasn’t just from a few roses—it was everywhere.

The path of lights was intricately woven with rose petals, guiding her forward. The golden glow wrapped around her, turning the space into something dreamlike.

Evelyn’s breath caught. The entire room was blanketed in roses.

She followed the path, heart pounding, until she reached their bedroom door.

When she pushed it open, her knees nearly gave out.

A massive heart of roses covered their bed, spelling out I love you in bold crimson.

Honestly? It was a little cheesy.

But her chest tightened anyway.

A man like Alexander—raised on a ranch, hardened by years in the police academy—had no idea how to romance a woman properly.

Yet here he was, trying.

4/10

A realization struck her. Is this for our anniversary? I thought he’d forgotten…

But he hadn’t. And judging by the roses, he’d done this all himself.

She traced the petals, estimating thousands of them. The earlier arrangements were meticulous, but as she moved deeper, they grew haphazard—like he’d run out of time.

The I love you on the bed was slightly crooked, the letters uneven.

Tears pricked her eyes.

Alexander could’ve hired professionals. Instead, he’d done this—thorn-pricked fingers and all.

Her emotions had been a rollercoaster today. From disappointment to overwhelming gratitude.

The落差 was staggering.

5/10

He must’ve planned this for weeks, yet played it off as a spontaneous decision.

She’d never found him more irresistible.

Just as she thought the surprise was over, the projector hummed to life, casting images across the wall—photos she’d never seen.

All taken from Alexander’s perspective.

The first showed her in the kitchen shortly after their wedding, wearing an apron, nervously tasting a dish.

She remembered him working at the table, seemingly absorbed in his laptop.

Yet he’d stolen this moment without her noticing.

Had he been working—or watching her?

6/10

The next photo froze her.

The morning after their first time, Alexander had kissed her forehead while she slept—and captured it.

Her pulse skyrocketed.

Three more photos followed, all from her days as his secretary at Titan Capital.

He’d been observing her even then.

These images spanned their entire relationship. Alexander had documented her life without her ever realizing.

One photo stood out: her outside the orchestra, turning to wave at him, radiant amid the crowd.

The composition was stunning—like his gaze had tunneled through everyone else, landing only on her.

7/10

Photos spoke louder than words.

Through these, she felt Alexander’s love—raw and unwavering.

There were exactly 520. By the last one, tears streamed down her face.

Memories flooded back, tiny moments she’d forgotten, now vivid again.

She hadn’t realized how much they’d shared.

Her shoulders shook as she cried.

This wasn’t some generic anniversary—Alexander had poured his soul into it.

A warm presence enveloped her from behind. "Why the tears?" Alexander murmured, pulling her close.

Evelyn smacked his chest weakly.

8/10

"You jerk. Why didn’t you tell me?" she choked out.

"You thought I forgot?" He wiped her cheeks, heart aching at her tears. "I fought too hard to marry you to ever forget."

He’d spent days preparing. Sourcing ten thousand roses last-minute meant clearing out multiple florists.

Arranging them was harder.

That’s why he’d stayed away from Hawthorne Estate—every spare moment went into this.

For two nights, he’d barely slept.

Some roses still had thorns. His hands bore the scratches, but he hadn’t cared.

He wanted no help. This was his gift to her—imperfect, but entirely his.

9/10

Right before fetching Evelyn, he’d been fussing over the I love you on the bed.

The middle word refused to cooperate. After multiple failed attempts, he’d swapped it for a heart.

But hearts weren’t easier.

A man built for chasing criminals and tactical training now wrestled with flower petals.

Every muscle had been repurposed for romance.

This was his first time doing something like this. Until moments ago, he’d worried she’d find it tacky.

But her tears told him otherwise.

Guilt pricked him. He’d wanted to make her happy, not cry.

10/10

Alexander cradled her gently. Her tears unraveled him.

"Don’t like it? Next anniversary, I’ll do better," he promised.

But the truth?

She couldn’t have loved it more.