The evening was quiet, with only the soft hum of the television breaking the silence in the living room.
Layla was upstairs in her room, engrossed in her own world, while her mother, Sarah, sat on the couch, feeling the usual boredom settle in.
They had already eaten dinner an hour ago, and now she was dressed in her elegant, and comfortable black silk pyjamas.
Sarah found herself staring blankly at the TV, her mind wandering about her daughter's friend.
"Ding-dong"
The sudden sound of the doorbell pulled her out of her thoughts.
She glanced toward the door, curious about who was ringing the bell since they don't get many visitors.
"Who could that be at this hour?" she wondered, thinking it might be one of Layla's friends dropping by.
Sarah got up and walked to the door, peeking through the eye lens.
What she saw made her heart skip a beat.
Standing outside was Noah, looking as handsome as ever. Her shock quickly turned into a flutter of emotions she couldn't quite place.
"Noah!" she whispered, slightly taken aback.
Disappointment soon hit her as she assumed he was there to visit Layla.
"He's probably here to talk to her since they didn't get a chance last time."
A small, melancholic smile formed on her face.
"Why am I feeling this way?" she thought, her hand subconsciously clutching her chest where she felt a dull ache. "It must be work stress," she reasoned, trying to push the confusing emotions aside.
With a composed expression, she opened the door, greeting him with a warm, albeit slightly sad smile.
"Hello, Noah. Here for Layla?" she asked, her voice carrying a tone of sadness she hadn't intended to reveal.
However, Noah's response took her completely by surprise. He smiled, his eyes locking onto hers, and said, "No, I'm here for you."
His words were straightforward, but the way he looked at her made her heart race.
Sarah's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, and she quickly averted her gaze, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Rascal," she muttered silently, attempting to sound scolding but failing to mask the warmth in her voice.
She turned away, trying to collect herself, but Noah wasn't done.
Stepping closer, he gently took her chin and tilted her face back toward him, his touch sending a shiver down her spine.
"Get ready," he said softly, his voice leaving no room for refusal.
"We're going out."
Sarah's heart pounded in her chest, her ears turning a rosy red as she found herself nodding in agreement.
"Mhm," she managed to squeak out before hastily retreating to her room, her movements almost comical in her flustered state.
As she disappeared down the hallway, Noah couldn't help but smile to himself.
As Sarah hurried to her room to get ready, Noah casually stepped inside the house, making himself at home on the cosy couch.
He glanced around the living room, immediately struck by the fresh, floral scent that lingered in the air. The aroma was light, soothing, and unmistakably feminine.
Taking a deep breath, he couldn't help but smile. "It smells like fresh flowers in here," he mused aloud, the pleasant fragrance adding to his growing admiration for Sarah.
"She is quite the housewife," he thought with a grin, appreciating the attention to detail that had gone into making the room feel so inviting.
His eyes wandered over the living room, noting how everything was perfectly in place.
The cushions were fluffed, the coffee table was spotless, and even the small decorations seemed thoughtfully arranged.
It was clear that Sarah took pride in her home, and Noah appreciated this side of her even more.
Settling back onto the couch, he let out a contented sigh.
"This evening was already off to a good start."
A few minutes later, Sarah emerged from her room, wearing a long, elegant black dress that flowed gracefully down to her ankles.
The dress, simple yet stunning, perfectly highlighted her mature beauty. The black fabric contrasted beautifully against her fair skin.
Her light brown hair cascaded down in soft waves, framing her face and adding to the allure of her look.
Her ocean blue eyes were unable to stand still, jumping from one place to another revealing her deep emotions.
There was something undeniably captivating about the way she carried herself—calm, and graceful, yet with a hint of nervousness that made her even more enchanting.
As she stepped into the living room, Noah's gaze locked onto her, unable to tear his eyes away.
He stared at her with an intensity that made Sarah blush deeply, her heart racing under his predatory gaze.
She felt both flattered and shy, a warmth spreading through her as Noah's eyes roved over her form, taking in every detail like a wolf eyeing its prey.
In Noah's mind, a single thought stood out.
"She's quite conservative." A grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he admired her modest yet alluring appearance.
"I like it," he thought, his possessiveness flaring up.
"You are Mine." He silently muttered, whilst looking at her.
His jealousy surged as he imagined anyone else daring to look at her the way he was now.
"Did you say something?" she said, while still fidgeting nervously, her cheeks flushed under his scrutinizing gaze.
"No, let's go?" Noah replied, a smile tugging at his lips that he couldn't quite hide.
His eyes, however, remained fixed on her, the warmth of his smile unable to conceal the depth of his feelings.
Sarah nodded, her own smile shy but eager, as she waited for him to lead the way.
Seeing her stand there, looking elegant, only made Noah's affection for her grow stronger.
He extended his hand, offering it to her with a gentle, inviting gesture.
As they walked out together, Noah couldn't help but steal glances at her.
As Sarah settled into the luxurious leather seat of the Lamborghini, adjusting her small bag on her lap, she looked at Noah with a curious smile.
"So, where are we going?" she asked, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the car's interior lights.
Before Noah could respond, a familiar chime resonated in his mind.
[Ding! Ultimate Choice System activated!]
Option 1: Roam the city again.
[Reward: +10 Affection and Basic Travel& Tourism skill]
Option 2: Go to a fancy restaurant.
[Reward: +15 Affection and $25,000]
Option 3: Go to a racing track and dominate.
[Reward: +20 Affection and $100,000]
Noah glanced at Sarah, who was waiting expectantly. Her curiosity only made her more charming.
"Option 3!" Noah silently mutters in his mind.
[Ding! $100,000 was Rewarded to the Bank account ending in xx04. Current Balance $158,820]
[Ding! +20 Affection will be rewarded when the host dominates the track!]
looking at the system reward, Noah showed a puzzled look for a second then hid it.
"It seems like, the system doesn't alter the person's affection to me. But the action I take will result in me gaining affection!" Noah realised as he thought about it.
"That's better, I don't want her to love me just because the system made her affection higher, she will be my wife after all." he thought, as he stared at Sarah who was waiting for him to tell her their destination.
"Nope, that's a secret!" Noah said, his mischievous smile widening as he glanced at her.
"Rascal," she muttered, this time a bit louder, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Her gaze was fixed outside the window, but the corners of her mouth twitched up in a reluctant smile.
Noah couldn't help but laugh at her reaction.
"It's not funny!" Sarah said, her voice carrying a faint pout as she continued to look out the window, trying to hide her amusement.
"Trust me," Noah said, his voice softening as he turned to glance at her. "You're gonna love where we're going."