Chapter 17
“Hello, I’d like a hot cocoa with double marshmallows and a slice of tiramisu with 30% sugar!”
“Okay. Two minutes, please.”
Holly skillfully prepared the coffee, adding a mint leaf as the final touch before bringing it with a smile to Table 7.
Summer in Mireva was especially hot. She wore a heat ponytail and had rolled her sleeves up to the elbows as she cleaned up the trash left by the previous guests.
“Miss, your tattoo is so pretty!” said a cute mixed–race girl named Ella Olson, who came by almost every day after kindergarten to enjoy a drink.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Holly gave her two newly developed egg tarts and gently patted her
head.
When she first arrived in Mireva, things hadn’t gone nearly as smoothly as they did now. She had initially gone to Aldrike, only to find she couldn’t handle the intense work pressure there.
So, she decided to quit and used the money she had to come to Mireva and open a café of her
Own.
Everything had been unfamiliar to her in Mireva. The language barrier made things worse. As soon as she got off the plane, her documents and wallet were stolen. She used the little cash she had to take a cab, only to almost be sold off on the black market.
While running away in the forest, she encountered a tiger cub that lunged at her with its mouth wide open. She barely escaped with her life. Her wrist was mauled until it was bloodied and mangled.
Due to severe blood loss, she fainted in the forest, where she was rescued by Connor Larsen, who had been out sketching.
When she woke up, her wrist became permanently scarred. At that time, Connor was about to enroll in a local university to pursue a PhD in art. He asked if she wanted to come along with
him.
Holly agreed without hesitation. There was nothing holding her back anymore. She didn’t want to think about anything that would remind her of the past.
After settling down, she used her savings to open a small café by the sea. Every day, she could feel the ocean breeze, soak in the sunshine, and interact with people from all walks of life. Slowly, her emotional wounds began to heal.
Just yesterday, she had suddenly decided to get a tattoo over the scarred area.
Connor, who was an art student, stayed up all night designing a meaningful image and
Chap 22
excitedly brought it to her.
“Do you like it, Holly?” He beamed, revealing two canine teeth when he smiled. His eyes. always seemed to sparkle with delight.
The design was a blooming hyacinth atop a mountain peak, bathed in light. It looked like all the world’s brilliance had gathered on this single flower.
“It’s beautiful,” Holly praised sincerely.
“Hyacinths symbolize hope and rebirth. I hope you can always have love and goodness in your life and that you can live every day the way you want,” Connor elaborated.
“Thank you.” Holly felt a wave of warmth surge in her heart.
Over the past six months, Connor had cared for her in every way. It was impossible for her to remain completely unmoved. Looking at his proud, smiling face, she couldn’t help but reach out and hug him.
His body stiffened immediately. Though he tried to stay cool on the outside, his ears turned- bright red, giving him away.
Once Holly got the design from Connor, she didn’t hesitate and had the hyacinth inked on her
wrist.
Looking at what was once a scar–ridden arm, which was now marked with a beautiful image, Holly felt that she had received a stamp of blessing from the cosmos. It was a reminder that she was one of a kind.
After closing the shop that night, Holly grabbed an Emronian copy of “To Be Human” and sat in her rocking chair. She was going to read for half an hour as usual. If she was in the mood, she might even watch an old black–and–white film and fall asleep to it.
She had just turned two pages when she heard someone gently tapping on the window.
“What is it this time?” Holly asked with a smile without even looking up.
Only Connor would think of such a unique way to get her attention. Every day after leaving his studio, he would go out of his way to find her and bring her something interesting.
Sometimes, it was a glow–in–the–dark seashell. Sometimes, it would be a rare butterfly specimen from the rainforest. And other times, it would be dozens of quick sketches of Holly.
No one could resist such heartfelt surprises.
Holly didn’t know when it started, but she had begun looking forward to lying on the rocking chair by the window, waiting for his arrival.
“I’ve got a big surprise for you today,” Connor said mysteriously, motioning for her to come
out.
He gently took her dainty hand in his broad one. For the first time since losing her family, Holly felt warmth that truly reached her heart.
On the distant beach, a colorful bonfire blazed. Surrounding it were neatly wrapped presents. Many people sat in a circle, smiling at the stunned Holly.
Connor gave a small nod, and someone quickly handed over a guitar.
A resonant voice rang out in the dark, filled with unmistakable gentleness and warmth.
He began singing Holly’s favorite song. “I believe that it’s you supporting me from behind, always walking alongside me…”
Everyone clapped. Some even whistled to liven up the mood.
Connor’s face flushed red as he held a giant gift box and lowered his head. He was too shy to look at Holly.
After a long moment of hesitation, he stammered. “Holly, h–happy birthday!”
In an instant, brilliant fireworks exploded across the night sky, illuminating the sea’s surface.
Holly stood frozen, her eyes gradually welling with tears. This was the life she had dreamed of for so many years. She hadn’t celebrated her birthday in a long time. No one had ever been there to spend that special day with her, let alone plan a surprise.
But Connor kept surprising her, again and again. He even calculated the time zone difference just to celebrate her birthday according to her home country’s time. He knew she had gone through too much and feared being alone.
So, he took her by the hand and led her, step by step, out of that dark past. He led her into a new world, where she could feel love and be loved.
And he had even gathered so many people to celebrate with her.
A man with dreadlocks couldn’t help rolling his eyes at Connor while teasing, “Is Happy Birthday seriously all you’ve got to say?”
The adorable Ella chimed in, “Didn’t you prepare a whole list of lines to confess to Holly? Why can’t you say a single one now?”
Connor’s face turned even redder. He nervously scratched his head, having completely lost the ability to speak.
But this time, Holly spoke first. She met his eyes with a bright smile and said, one word at at time, “Yes, I do,”
