Chapter 38 Stolen Dumplings & Stolen Hearts
The delicate chime of wind bells danced in the air as Emilia walked through the sunlit garden of the florist's boutique. Her yellow sundress clung to her curves in all the right places, the soft fabric swaying with each graceful step. The gentle breeze tousled her wavy hair, the little rose bun at the nape of her neck holding it together just enough to keep the loose tendrils from falling into her eyes. She reached out to touch a bouquet of soft pink peonies, their petals plush and fragrant, but it wasn't the flowers that had her cheeks tinged with warmth.
It was the memories.
The scent of fresh blooms and the warmth of the sun against her skin reminded her of the way candlelight had flickered across Henry's sculpted frame, how his lips had traced the curve of her shoulder before whispering sweet nothings into her skin. Their bodies had moved in perfect harmony, each kiss, each touch unraveling another layer of the passion they had discovered in one another. The silk sheets were a tangled mess, a testament to the heat between them, but in that moment, nothing else had mattered.
Afterward, wrapped in his arms, their bare skin still warm from the aftermath, they had talked in hushed tones, as if the world outside their cocoon of love didn't exist.
"Where do you want to get married?" Henry murmured, his fingers tracing lazy patterns along her spine.
Emilia sighed dreamily, her head resting against his chest. "I know it's cliché, but... I've always dreamed of a castle wedding. Something grand, something timeless—like a fairytale."
Henry had gone still for a moment, his hand pausing before curling gently around her waist. Then, that familiar, mischievous smirk tugged at his lips. "A castle, huh?"
She lifted her head to look at him. "Yeah. But I know it's a little unrealistic."
His deep chuckle sent shivers down her spine. "Sweetheart, do you really think I'd let something as small as reality stop me?"
The way he had looked at her then—like he would move heaven and earth to make her dreams come true—left her breathless all over again.
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Now, standing among rows of roses and hydrangeas, Emilia felt that same warmth spread through her chest. Henry had left early for meetings, but she didn't mind. Last week, he had been hers, completely and entirely, and that was more than enough.
Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was up to something.
Emilia pulled out her phone, snapped a few pictures of the stunning floral arrangements in front of her, and sent them to Roxanne and Lily.
Emilia: These look beautiful. It's so hard to choose.
Roxanne was the first to reply. "The pink peonies! They're so you. Soft, romantic, and classic."
Lily, however, had other thoughts. "I think an orchid seems more like you. Elegant, mysterious, and a little unpredictable."
Emilia grinned as their texts rolled in, quickly turning into an enthusiastic debate about floral arrangements. It made her heart warm—she had never expected to find such great friends, but these two had become like sisters to her.
As the conversation drifted, Emilia decided to check in on her friends.
Roxanne's response was immediate.
Emilia laughed, shaking her head. These two were impossible.
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After picking up her flowers, Emilia decided to make a quick detour. She knew Henry had been in meetings since 7 a.m., and if anyone deserved a break, it was him. With that in mind, she made her way to her favorite Chinese restaurant, eager to surprise him with lunch.
Before she could take another step, a familiar voice called out.
"Aiyah! Look who it is! My favorite customer!"
Emilia turned just in time to see Mrs. Lang, the restaurant's owner, bustling toward her with a bright smile. The older woman's dark hair was streaked with silver, but her energy had never wavered in all the years Emilia had known her.
Mrs. Lang!"
Emilia greeted with a grin.
"How are you?"
"Busy, as always. Everyone loves my cooking too much!" Mrs. Lang teased, wiping her hands on her apron before clasping Emilia's warmly.
"And you? How's life? You look... different. Happy."
Emilia let out a breathy laugh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's been a rollercoaster, honestly. A wild, crazy, emotional ride. But... things are better. I'm happier."
She hesitated, then admitted with a smirk, "I met someone. Someone who has completely made me lose my mind."
Mrs. Lang cackled, giving Emilia's hand a playful squeeze. "
Ah! That is how it starts! Love makes fools of us all. Tell me, is he handsome?"Emilia laughed, already knowing her answer.
"Devastatingly."
Mrs. Lang nodded in approval.
"Good, good. But handsome isn't enough. Bring him here so I can make sure he is good enough for my Emilia."Emilia burst out laughing.
"Oh, I will. I promise."
They chatted as Emilia placed her order, and Mrs. Lang, ever perceptive, noticed just how much food Emilia was ordering. A knowing glint flickered in her sharp eyes.
"You're bringing this to him, aren't you?" she asked, already reaching for extra containers. Without waiting for a reply, she added four extra dumplings, a couple of egg rolls, and an extra set of fortune cookies.
When it came time to pay, Emilia slyly slid a crisp $50 bill into the tip jar. Mrs. Lang caught the movement and gasped dramatically.
"Aiyah! Emilia, too much!"
Emilia just grinned. "Consider it my thank-you for all the extra dumplings."
With her heart full and her arms loaded with food, Emilia stepped out of Golden Lotus and into the sunshine, excitement bubbling inside her.
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Henry sat at the head of the long, polished conference table, his jaw clenched, fingers tapping against the dark wood. His so-called partners stumbled over their words for the third damn time.
"Let me get this straight," he said, voice calm but razor-sharp. "You want me to clean up your mess because you failed to anticipate market shifts that I warned you about six months ago?"
The three men across from him flinched.
He barely heard their excuses. His patience was razor thin. If they thought he'd bail them out without consequences, they were mistaken.
As they left, Henry exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. Then, something changed.
A familiar scent drifted through the air—warm, savory, impossible to ignore. Dumplings.
His eyes snapped open just as the door swung open.
And then she walked in.
Emilia.
His chest tightened. She was a vision in yellow, her presence cutting through the stress like a bomb. She held up a takeout box and grinned. "Hey there, trouble. Have you had your lunch break yet, or do I need to drag you away from your evil villain lair?"
A slow smirk curved his lips. In three long strides, he pulled her flush against him and kissed her like she was the only thing that mattered.
By the time he pulled back, Emilia was breathless. "Well," she murmured. "That's one way to say thank you."
Henry smirked. "I've got plenty more where that came from."
And for once, in the middle of his chaotic workday, Henry Kingsley found himself completely at peace.
Cayden cleared his throat loudly. "Not to interrupt, but I'm still in the room. Just saying."
Emilia snickered as Henry rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand.
"Come on, darling. I'm starving. Let's eat."
Emilia turned toward Cayden, grabbing one of the smaller takeout boxes from the bag. "Here, I got you your own mini set of everything. Mrs. Lang was a little too thorough with the portions, but I'm happy to share."
Cayden blinked, genuinely touched. "Seriously?"
Emilia grinned. "Of course. Consider it a thank-you for always looking out for Henry-and for not giving me too much trouble when I barge in unannounced."
Cayden smirked as he took the box. "Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine?" He opened it, nodding in approval. "Damn, these smells amazing. You might've just secured my loyalty forever."
Emilia laughed before turning her attention back to Henry, who was still standing there, watching her with an expression she couldn't quite place.
"What?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
Henry just shook his head, a small, almost disbelieving smile on his lips. "You know, I've had people try to impress me with extravagant gifts, expensive gestures, ridiculous nonsense. But this?" He gestured toward the food. "This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me."
Emilia's teasing smirk softened. She reached up, lightly brushing her fingers over the lapel of his suit. "Well, you do tend to forget to take care of yourself, Mr. Kingsley. Someone's gotta do it."
His gaze darkened slightly-not in anger, but in something deeper, something warmer. He didn't say anything else, just took her hand and led her to the couch in the sitting area of his office.
"Sit," he instructed, his tone firm but affectionate.
She plopped down, watching as he grabbed the containers and set everything out in front of them. The coffee table was now filled with dumplings, shrimp fried rice, egg rolls, and more fortune cookies than she knew what to do with.
Henry sat beside her, close enough that their thighs brushed. He loosened his tie slightly and exhaled. "Now this is what I call a meeting."
Emilia laughed, grabbing a dumpling with her chopsticks and popping it into her mouth. "Right? Much better company than those bumbling business partners of yours."
Henry groaned. "Don't remind me."
She giggled, then focused on her food, happily munching away-until she felt her chopsticks suddenly lighter.
She looked down.
One of her dumplings was gone.
Her eyes snapped to Henry, who was chewing-way too innocently. His expression was all smooth arrogance as he chewed like he hadn't just stolen from her plate.
"Henry!" she gasped, reaching over to snatch one back. He only smirked, easily leaning away and holding his own chopsticks up like a weapon.
"Finders keepers," he said smoothly.
"Oh, hell no."
She tried again, but he dodged, popping another dumpling into his mouth with a smug look.
"Oh, you menace!" she huffed, narrowing her eyes. "Fine, if that's how you wanna play."
Henry barely had time to react before Emilia grabbed one of his dumplings-his favorite one-from his container and stuffed it into her mouth with a victorious smirk.
His jaw dropped, a mix of disbelief and amusement flashing across his face. "You little thief."
"Finders keepers," she said sweetly, mimicking his exact tone.
Henry let out a deep laugh, shaking his head. "You really are trouble, aren't you?"
"Always."
He watched her with pure adoration as she grinned, going back to her food like she hadn't just declared war on his dumplings. Something about her-her warmth, her ease, the way she turned an ordinary lunch into something fun-made him realize just how much he loved her.
They spent the rest of their lunch break teasing, sharing food, and stealing playful touches between bites. And for once, in the middle of his chaotic workday, Henry Kingsley found himself completely at peace.