Ch. 1041..1050: Chapter 1041-1050

Chapter 1041

Ivor furrowed his eyebrows when he saw Bonnie switch from video to audio.

"Honey, why didn't you answer the video call? Don't you want to see me?"

Bonnie responded with a smile, "You've been away from home for so long, do you think I wouldn't miss you? I was just about to call you, but you beat me to it. Isn't that telepathy?"

Ever since marrying Ivor, Bonnie's behavior became much bolder and more straightforward, unlike before when she was more reserved.

Ivor was quite pleased that Bonnie said she missed him. However, looking at the dark screen, her words lacked conviction.

"If you miss me, why not switch on the video to see me? It makes me wonder if you're just saying that to make me happy, and you don't actually miss me."

Bonnie had already prepared an excuse in her mind, so she wasn't nervous when she heard Ivor's words. "I've been doing some research for a few days and look a bit disheveled. I was worried that seeing me like this might scare you, so I switched to audio. I didn't expect you to think I didn't miss you."

Ivor quickly replied, "I don't mind. No matter how you look, I like you all the same."

"You might not mind, but I do. Which girl doesn't want to show her best self in front of the person she loves?" Bonnie said this to make Ivor happy.

Soon, the man's hearty laughter came from the other end, clearly showing how pleased he was with Bonnie's words. "Honey, you're really becoming... more irresistible."

Bonnie smiled helplessly at Ivor's happy voice.

"By the way, why haven't you called or messaged me for so long? Did you run into some serious problems during your business trip?"

"No, the issues have been mostly resolved. I'll be back tomorrow, and I'll give you a big surprise."

The surprise was still intact because Ivor told Bonnie simply that he would be returning and not that he was arranging a surprise for their one-week wedding anniversary.

"Y-You're coming back tomorrow?" Bonnie was so shocked by the news that her voice trembled slightly. She was currently in Yale. If Ivor returned tomorrow, could she make it back in time? If not, wouldn't she be caught?

"What's wrong? Are you not available tomorrow? If it's inconvenient, I can adjust my schedule," Ivor said, thinking Bonnie should be able to find some time even if he returned. But he felt something strange in her tone.

"No, it's not inconvenient at all. It's just that my research is at a critical stage, and I didn't expect you to come back tomorrow. It's a bit surprising, but if you're coming back, that's fine.

"I'll finish my research early, though it might be a bit late. If you get back earlier, just wait at home for me.

Bonnie said this to buy herself some time. The time from now until tomorrow was very tight, and if she couldn't make it back in time, she would be in trouble.

"Sure, take your time with your research. I'm okay with that." Ivor thought it would be good if Bonnie came back a bit late, giving him more time to prepare a romantic surprise.

"Alright, I'll get back to work. Message me when you arrive tomorrow, and I'll try to come back as soon as I can." Bonnie hung up and quickly called Collin back in.

"Collin, check if there are any flights from Yale to Pyralis tonight or tomorrow morning. I need to get back as soon as possible."

Seeing her urgency, Collin didn't dare delay and immediately took out his phone to check the flights.Chapter

"Ms. Bonnie, it's the peak travel season. Most flights from Yale to Pyralis are fully booked." Bonnie furrowed her brows profoundly and asked, "Is there not a single seat left?"

 

Chapter 1042

"There's not a single seat left. The only tickets available are for the day after tomorrow, and even those are going fast," Collin said, puzzled by Bonnie's urgency. "Ms. Bonnie, why are you suddenly in such a hurry to go back? Is something wrong in Pyralis?"

Bonnie's usually calm voice was now tinged with anxiety. "Ivor said he would return tomorrow. I need to get back as soon as possible; I can't afford to delay too long."

Seeing Bonnie so anxious was a rare sight, and Collin quickly started brainstorming solutions. "How about we arrange a private jet from Yale? That would save us more time."

Bonnie hesitated. "But that would attract too much attention. I don't want Falcon and the organization helping him to know I'm returning; it might make them even more reckless."

"Then... with no flights available, what should we do?" Collin was frustrated and scratched the back of his head.

Bonnie thought for a moment. "Keep an eye on the flights. See if anyone cancels their ticket between now and tomorrow. If there's any availability, grab it immediately, no matter the time."

"What if, there are still no tickets in the end?" Collin voiced his biggest concern.

"If it comes to that, we'll use the private jet," Bonnie said, knowing that she had to consider every detail during this critical period. A single mistake could mean losing the best chance to retrieve the chip. "Understood, Ms. Bonnie. I'll keep watching for tickets now." Collin took out his phone to monitor the flight availability.

Meanwhile, Ivor was facing the same problem. No tickets were available through any channel.

He furrowed his brow, his face clouded with displeasure. "But I've already told honey. How can there be no tickets at this crucial moment?"

Floyd explained, "It seems to be due to the peak travel season. There's a high demand for flights from Yale to Pyralis, and more people are traveling during the winter holidays. All the tickets have been booked."

Ivor's frown deepened as he got up from the sofa and sat back down, clearly restless. He had promised to surprise Bonnie, but there were no flights available.

As he pondered this, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and his eyes lit up. "Arrange a private jet for the return trip immediately. We need to move fast."

"Understood, I'll arrange it right away." Floyd quickly went out to make the arrangements.

Everything was set up within minutes. "Mr. Ivor, it's all arranged. We can depart now."

"Good," Ivor replied, getting up and following Floyd to the location to board the private jet back to Pyralis.

Just as Ivor departed, Bonnie received the news.

"The leader of the Dark Knight organization just left on a private jet? This timing is too coincidental."Chapter

She was still contemplating whether to use a private jet herself when the leader of the Dark Knight Organization left ahead of her. 'Was this a coincidence or something else...?"

Upon hearing this, Collin advised, "Ms. Bonnie, maybe you should also take the private jet. After all, it will take Falcon some time to crack those four code locks. Leaving for a bit shouldn't make much difference."

 

Chapter 1043

"How's it going over there? Any open tickets?" Bonnie furrowed her brows, feeling both hesitant and conflicted.

"I'll check again," Collin replied, glancing down at his phone. "Still nothing."

Bonnie pressed her fingers to her temples in frustration. "It looks like I'll have to take the private jet. But we need to keep it under wraps and make sure they don't know we're heading back. Even though it might not make much difference if I'm away for a bit, it's better to keep it secret."

"Got it. We'll follow your plan." Collin, not wanting to make any decisions on his own, asked again, " Should I prepare the private jet now?"

Bonnie nodded. "Yes, go ahead."

Collin immediately started making arrangements with her approval.

Half an hour later, Bonnie had packed everything and boarded the private jet back to Pyralis.

Ivor landed before Bonnie. Alfred was there to greet him as soon as he arrived. "Mr. Ivor."

Without waiting for Ivor to ask, Alfred began updating him on Bonnie's status. "Ms. Bonnie has been out most of the time recently and hasn't returned home."

Ivor nodded knowingly. "She's been busy with her research at the lab, and there's no point in her coming back with me not being home."

"I figured Ms. Bonnie must have informed you. I just wanted to keep you updated," the butler explained, knowing it was his duty to report. After all, Ivor had instructed him to take good care of Bonnie before he left. With Bonnie leaving soon after, he felt he owed an explanation.

"No worries, I understand." Ivor acknowledged the butler's intentions and didn't say much more after a brief response.

After resting on the sofa for a bit, he called Alfred over again. "Tonight, gather all the household staff to help me with something. Time is tight, and the more people we have, the better. We need to get everything done by tomorrow afternoon."

"What's the urgent task, Mr. Ivor?" Alfred inquired.

Ivor's lips curled into a slight smile. "I haven't been home for nearly a week. Now that I'm back, I want to give honey a big surprise."

Alfred nodded. "Alright, Mr. Ivor. Just tell me what needs to be done, and I'll instruct the staff accordingly,"Chapter

"Good." Ivor beckoned the butler closer. "Come here, I'll explain what I need."

Alfred leaned in as Ivor detailed his plan, which took a good 10 minutes to outline fully.

When he finished, Alfred smiled helplessly. "Mr. Ivor, you really know how to be romantic. I have a feeling Mrs. Bonnie will be moved to tears by your gesture."

"She won't cry," Ivor said, smiling at the thought of Bonnie. "With her personality, do you really think she'd cry?"

Reflecting on Bonnie's strong character, the butler shook his head. "You're right, it's unlikely she'd cry..."

"On such a happy occasion, why would I want to make her cry? I want to see her smile." Ivor said, laughing softly. "Alright, don't delay any further. Go ahead and make the arrangements."

Chapter 1044

Ivor couldn't bear to see Bonnie cry, even if it was from being moved to tears.

"Yes, yes." Alfred knew Ivor was in a great mood, and he also smiled. "Mr. Ivor, I'll mobilize the villa staff to get started on this task right away."

"Go ahead." Ivor then headed to the study to tackle the backlog of company matters.

A few hours later, Bonnie's plane landed. She first went back to Verdant Valley Retreat to remove all her disguises and then made a quick call to the lab at the research institute to check in. Only then did she fully relax.

Throughout the journey, her mind had been on edge. She was worried that Ivor might suddenly call her, and she wouldn't be able to get back in time. Fortunately, he hadn't called, and she landed without incident.

After ensuring Bonnie's safe return, Collin prepared to head back to his apartment. "Ms. Bonnie, now that you're safely home, I'll be heading back. I'll let you know immediately if there's any news from Falcon." "Alright, you go on. I'm going to rest for a bit." Bonnie yawned lazily. The past few days dealing with Falcon had left her sleep-deprived. She felt the fatigue wash over her as she was back in her own home. "Okay, bye, Mrs. Bonnie," Collin replied. He then opened the door and left.

Bonnie sprawled on the sofa, draped a blanket over herself, and quickly fell asleep.

The following day, Ivor went to a flower shop early to pick out flowers before heading to Bonnie's research institute to find her. He was beaming the entire way there, his whole demeanor radiating joy.

Floyd noticed this and teased, "Mr. Ivor, you must really miss Mrs. Bonnie. You're practically wearing your eagerness on your face."

Ivor gave him a mild look. "Mind your own business!"

Despite his words, there was no anger in his expression. Floyd smiled but wisely chose not to comment further.

An hour later, they arrived at the research institute. The security guard recognized Ivor and immediately allowed them in. The researchers inside, busy with their work, were surprised to see him.

"Mr. Ivor, is there something important you need?" one of the professors asked.Chapter

Ivor looked around but didn't see Bonnie. He furrowed his brows and asked, "I'm here to see Bonnie. Isn't she in the lab?"

The professors exchanged puzzled glances. Bonnie hadn't been to the lab in some time. Why would Mr. Ivor come here looking for her? But being tactful, none of them dared to speak up right away.

Ivor pressed more urgently after sensing something off, "Where is Bonnie? I need to see her right now."

Chapter 1045

The professors exchanged uneasy glances, none willing to speak up. Ivor narrowed his eyes, considering barging in, but restrained himself out of respect for Bonnie's research institute.

"Can any of you professors tell me where Bonnie is? She said she's been working on a major project in the lab these past few days, but I can't see her anywhere. Has something happened to her?"

The professors, who were already cautious, became even more reluctant to speak. Saying the wrong thing could offend Bonnie, and no one wanted to be responsible for that. However, Ivor's imposing presence made silence equally inappropriate.

Finally, one professor suggested quietly, "Someone should go inside and call Ms. Bonita to ask her how to handle this situation."

"But... if we leave under Mr. Ivor's watch, won't he become suspicious?" Another professor doubted the feasibility of the plan.

The first professor gave him a stern look. "You fool! Just make an excuse to check on the experiment's progress. Who told you to tell the truth?"Chapter

Realizing the suggestion, the second professor responded, "Oh, I get it. I'll call Ms. Bonita right away." Clearing his throat, the professor adjusted his demeanor and addressed Ivor, "Mr. Ivor, I need to check on the experiment's progress inside. You can talk to the others while I'm gone."

The professor dashed away without waiting for a response. As Ivor watched his hasty retreat, he became more suspicious. 'Where could Bonnie be? Why were these professors so evasive?'

Ivor's lips pressed into a thin, stern line, and his gaze became as deep and unreadable as a dark ocean. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense until Toby emerged from inside, looking puzzled at the gathered professors.

"Don't you all have your own tasks today? Why are you standing around here?"

The professors tried to signal Toby with their eyes when they saw him. "Uh, wasn't Ms. Bonita just in the lab with you? We can't find her now. Did she tell you where she went?"

Realizing Ivor's presence, Toby recalled Bonnie's earlier instructions and calmly replied, "Oh, Ms. Bonita? She's been exhausted from the experiments and went home to rest. She mentioned that Mr. Ivor would be returning today and wanted to be well-rested for your rare visit."

Feigning surprise at seeing Ivor, he continued, "Mr. Ivor, you're back so soon! Should I call Ms. Bonita and let her know, so she can prepare?"

Ivor's sharp gaze scrutinized Toby to seek the truth. "Prepare for what?"

Toby was taken aback by Ivor's intense gaze and felt his heart skip a beat. However, he maintained his composure and answered, "Well, every girl likes to look her best in front of the one she loves. Ms. Bonita is no exception.

"She felt disheveled from spending days in the lab, so she went home to freshen up. She would want to look her best when seeing you. Since you're back earlier than expected, I should call her to give her a heads -up."

This explanation matched what Bonnie had previously mentioned; hence, it eased Ivor's suspicions

slightly. Just as he was about to say something, the professor who had gone to call Bonnie returned while frowning.

"Hey, Ms. Bonita's phone is '

 

Chapter 1046

The other professors started coughing as soon as the professor started speaking, trying to warn him to be careful.

“Cough, cough, cough—”

The coughing echoed throughout the research institute, creating quite a spectacle. The professor shut his mouth as soon as he realized what they were trying to say and concluded that it would be best to leave things unsaid.

Ivor raised an eyebrow in curiosity upon seeing this. "What's going on with you all...?"

He had almost dismissed his suspicions, but the professors' strange behavior reignited his unease. It felt like they were hiding something from him about Bonnie.

Sensing the tension, Toby quickly intervened. "Mr. Ivor, recently our professors here have caught a bad case of the flu and have been coughing non-stop for days. You should leave quickly to avoid getting infected."

"Caught the flu?" Ivor's worry for Bonnie was evident. "What about Bonnie? Did she catch it too?"

"Ms. Bonita has been very careful with her protective measures. She always wears a mask when she comes to the institute, so she hasn't been infected," Toby replied while avoiding direct eye contact with Ivor, afraid his lie would be detected.

Ivor sighed with relief. "As long as she's not infected."

He then looked at the group of professors and politely said, "If you're all sick, please rest well. I'll take my leave now."

"Goodbye, Mr. Ivor." Toby waved as Ivor nodded slightly and left with Floyd.

Once they were gone, the professors collectively exhaled in relief. One professor turned to Toby and asked, "Ms. Bonita hasn't been at the institute these past few days. Where did she go? Why did Mr. Ivor come here looking for her?"

Other professors echoed their confusion.

"Yeah, Ms. Bonita is usually either in the lab or with Mr. Ivor. Now that Mr. Ivor is looking for her and she's not here, could there be trouble in their relationship?"

"Yes, this is quite unusual."

As the professors continued speculating, Toby interrupted, "Enough! Stop jumping to conclusions! If Ms. Bonita isn't here, she must have her reasons. Our job is to cover for her, not to pry or gossip."

The professors quickly agreed, realizing the importance of their support.

"Right, if Ms. Bonita asked us to keep Mr. Ivor in the dark, she must have a very good reason, possibly related to some important international matter. She wouldn't do this without a significant cause."

"Exactly. Ms. Bonita is always involved in critical work that advances humanity. It's likely due to confidentiality if she didn't inform Mr. Ivor."

"Alright, everyone, let's get back to our work. The fact that Mr. Ivor didn't suspect anything means we handled it well. Let's focus on completing this phase of the experiment."

"Absolutely. I still have to finish my part. Time to get back to it."

With that, the professors returned to their respective tasks.

Meanwhile, Ivor sat with a pensive expression in the Maybach parked outside the research institute.Chapter

Sensing his boss's mood through the rearview mirror, Floyd hesitantly asked, "Mr. Ivor, are you thinking that the professors' responses about Ms. Bonita's whereabouts were a bit off? Almost like they were evasive?"

 

Chapter 1047

Ivor did not deny it. "Yes, don't you think their behavior was strange? Like they were hiding something?"

After seeing the professors, he had a nagging feeling that Bonnie hadn't been in the research institute while he was away. But where could she have gone if she wasn't at the institute?

"I noticed it too, but I can't figure out their motive," Floyd replied, frowning and confused.

Ivor remained silent for a moment before saying, "Let's go back."

Floyd was taken aback, not fully understanding Ivor's intent. "Just go back? We're not going to wait here?"Chapter

"Wait?" Ivor glanced at him coolly. "Wait for what?"

Floyd was momentarily speechless.

Indeed, what were they waiting for? Though they sensed something odd about the professors, they had no concrete evidence that they were covering for Bonnie. And even if they waited, they wouldn't necessarily get a definitive answer. It would be better to head back.

Noticing Floyd was still in a daze, Ivor's tone hardened. "Drive. Let's go."

Floyd snapped back to reality and quickly replied, "Yes, Mr. Ivor, I'm driving now."

Upon returning, Ivor continued supervising the preparations.

Meanwhile, Bonnie was in a deep sleep when the piercing ring of her phone startled her awake. The relentless ringing made it impossible for her to go back to sleep. She groped for her phone, answered the call groggily, and asked, "Hello, who is this?"

"Ms. Bonita, it's me, Toby!" Relieved that she finally answered, Toby quickly recounted how Ivor had come to the lab looking for her.

"Ivor went to the lab to find me?" Bonnie sat up abruptly, glancing at the time and feeling shocked. "I slept from yesterday afternoon until today? And I missed so many calls!"

She never used to sleep so deeply; it must have been due to her exhaustion over the past few days.

Toby didn't know how to respond upon hearing this. "Ms. Bonita, I've told you everything I needed to. Handle it as you see fit. I'm not sure how else I can help with your situation with Mr. Ivor."

"It's fine. Thank you for informing me." Bonnie thought, grateful she had briefed Toby before sleeping; otherwise, her situation could have been much more awkward.

Bonnie then freshened up, put on some light makeup, and changed into a dress. She then drove to the Knight Residence alone. She knew today's events would surely make Ivor suspicious, but she was confident she could smooth things over with a bit of sweet talk.

As she thought about seeing the man she hadn't seen in days, she smiled helplessly. She stepped on the gas, speeding towards her destination.

Ivor was busy instructing the servants on the preparations when Alfred rushed in at the Knight Residence.

"Mr. Ivor, Mrs. Bonnie is here. She's at the gate, but we haven't finished the preparations. What should we do?"

 

Chapter 1048

"Bonnie? She's here so soon?" Ivor glanced around the hall. "The rest of the arrangements are almost done. You all keep working on them; I'll go see Bonnie."

"Yes, Mr. Ivor," the butler immediately responded.

Ivor stood up from the sofa and walked briskly toward the door. Just before reaching the doorway, he slowed his pace. It had been a whole week since he last saw Bonnie.

'Did she miss me? What will our reunion be like?'

Various emotions flooded his mind, causing him to quicken his pace once again. Regardless of his feelings or impressions, nothing could surpass his urgent desire to see Bonnie.

When he arrived at the door, he saw Bonnie wearing a black dress with her long hair flowing. He felt as if everything around them had lost its color, leaving only Bonnie before his eyes.

Caught in Ivor's intense gaze, Bonnie blushed, which made her cheeks turn slightly red.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?" His gaze was so direct, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Ivor replied, "Yes."

Bonnie didn't immediately grasp his meaning. "Yes? Yes, what?"

Before she could react, Ivor reached out and lifted her off the ground. "There's something on your face—my favorite expression."

With her body suddenly suspended in the air, Bonnie was momentarily stunned. Then she heard what he said and felt her cheeks burn even hotter. "It's been a week, and you're still so smooth with your words."

Ivor smirked and carried Bonnie inside. "It's not being smooth; it's..."

"Telling the truth," Bonnie interjected. "You always use the same phrases. Can't you change it up a bit?"

Ivor's lips curled into a pleased smile. "Then what do you want to hear? Should I go learn something new and tell you when I come back?"

"Aren't you already self-taught? What else is there to learn?" Bonnie wrapped her arms around his neck and glanced around. She noticed that he had brought her to the backyard, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

"Why are we here in the backyard? Shouldn't we go to the front hall?"

Ivor blinked mysteriously. "Guess."Chapter

Seeing through his little scheme, Bonnie teased, "I guess... your surprise for me isn't ready yet."

"You've guessed it?" Ivor chuckled. "My clever honey. Let's stay in the backyard for a while. We'll go over it once the staff finishes the preparations."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow playfully. "It's not a special day today. Is it necessary to make it so grand?"

Ivor pretended to sigh helplessly. "You don't even know what day it is? That disappoints me a little."

Bonnie pondered for a moment but couldn't recall anything significant about the day. "Are you implying that today marks a week since we last met?"

 

Chapter 1049

She laughed helplessly as she spoke. Wasn't the excuse of preparing a surprise a bit far-fetched?

"Not only that," Ivor said, lowering his head to look at Bonnie. His gaze was intense, as if containing vast galaxies. "Today is also the one-week anniversary of our marriage."

Bonnie's smile became even more pronounced. "I've only heard of one-year anniversaries, not one-week anniversaries. You went to such lengths just to prepare a surprise for me."

Ivor smiled. "I thought I would use today, our one-week anniversary, as an excuse to want to spend some romantic time with you. We were only married for a short time and had to be apart for work. I didn't expect you to tease me like this."

With that, Ivor pretended to sigh despondently.

Bonnie knew Ivor was pretending, but she still had to coax him. Cradling his face, she smiled and said, "I was just teasing you. I'm really happy that you prepared a surprise for me."

Ivor didn't respond but chuckled softly and carried Bonnie into the backyard.

In an instant, Bonnie was greeted with the fragrance of flowers enveloping them. She saw roses all over the courtyard.

Bonnie patted Ivor's arm. "Can you put me down? I want to take a look at the flowers in the yard."

"Sure." Ivor complied and set Bonnie down.

Bonnie ran into the flower bushes. Her skirt swayed elegantly with her movements, like an elf dancing among the flowers, appearing exceptionally beautiful.

Ivor looked like he was in a trance as he watched Bonnie. If she were a flower, he would willingly be her nourishment, allowing her to bloom beautifully.

Bonnie gently touched the petals, then looked at Ivor with joy. "When were these flowers planted in the backyard? Why didn't I know about it?"

She had planned to use this fertile land to grow herbs but had been too busy with her research to till the soil. She hadn't expected that in such a short time, the place would be filled with roses, all in full bloom.

"These were planted before we got married." Ivor slowly approached Bonnie from behind.

He wrapped his arm around her slender waist. "Originally, I wanted to surprise you on our wedding day, but the flowers grew too slowly. I couldn't surprise you on that day. It's only now that these flowers are in full bloom."

Bonnie hadn't expected that Ivor had quietly done so much for her behind her back.

"Did you plant all the roses in the courtyard?"

"Yes, I planted them together with the staff from the old house," Ivor said as he tightened his grip around Bonnie's waist. "Do you like them?"Chapter

"Of course, how could I not like flowers planted by you?" Bonnie's eyes were bright. Seizing the opportunity when Ivor wasn't paying attention, she leaned over and planted a kiss on his lips.

"Ivor, thank you."

Ivor was initially taken aback. He then squeezed Bonnie's chin and gave her a passionate kiss after realizing what was going on.

Bonnie's eyelids trembled slightly, feeling the man's fierce strength and action. However, she didn't evade but instead wrapped her arms around the man's neck and returned the kiss.

The two kissed in the backyard, filled with the fragrance of roses. Rose petals fluttered in the breeze and made ripples.

Ivor looked at Bonnie's slightly flushed cheeks and sighed, "Honey, you're so beautiful."

Waiting for the warmth to fade from her face, Bonnie raised her eyebrows and asked teasingly, "Are you implying that I'm not beautiful on ordinary days?"

Chapter 1050

"Normally, you're beautiful, but you're even more beautiful like this, to the point where I can't take my eyes off you." While saying this, Ivor stared straight into Bonnie's eyes, his gaze filled with deep affection.

Bonnie awkwardly shifted her gaze away, and a blush spread across her cheeks. "I don't want to hear your smooth-talk anymore," she said.

Ivor was about to say something when the phone in his pocket vibrated.

He took out his phone and glanced at it. It was a message from Alfred.

“Mr. Ivor, everything is ready. You can bring Ms. Bonnie over now.”

After reading it, Ivor put the phone back, took Bonnie's hand, and headed toward the hall. "Let's go to the front hall."

Bonnie turned her head to ask him, "Is everything ready?"

"Yes, it's all set, but the timing was a bit rushed. I don't know if it will be surprising enough for you."

Ivor's voice contained a hint of nervousness. It was clear that he was trying his best to make things perfect, but the time constraints were challenging.

"My standards aren't that high," Bonnie said, looping her arm through Ivor's. "The garden full of roses you planted for me was already enough to surprise me."

"No, it's not enough," Ivor said as they arrived at the front gate, seeming even more nervous than Bonnie. He took a deep breath. "Are you ready, honey?"

Bonnie laughed. "What's there to prepare for? Are you going to scare me?"

"Whether it's a surprise or a scare, it's up to you to decide. But I wouldn't prepare a scare for you," Ivor said, pushing the gate open with force.

A burst of light flooded Bonnie's eyes. It took her a moment to adjust to the sudden brightness, and she instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. After a few seconds, she slowly lowered her hand.

What she saw made her serene eyes ripple with emotion.

The entire villa was covered in colorful lights, and various delicate ornaments were placed in every corner, making it look like a dreamy and beautiful castle. Bonnie loved these peculiar little ornaments, and seeing so many of them all at once made her smile uncontrollably. Chapter

She walked over, picked up one of the ornaments from the table, and played with it lovingly.

Seeing her smile, Ivor smiled, too. "I knew you'd like these. Every time I went on a business trip abroad or to a place you hadn't been to, I'd take the time to collect these little things. It's taken me until now to gather so many. Do you like them?"

There was no need to ask. He already had his answer from Bonnie's smile, but he still wanted to hear Bonnie's evaluation of the gift he had prepared for her.

"I love them," Bonnie said casually, but each item she picked up touched her heart deeply. It was evident how much effort Ivor had put into preparing this gift for her.

"Good to hear. It wasn't in vain for me to collect them for so long." Ivor said as he walked over and gently wrapped his arm around Bonnie's shoulder. "Come on, let's go see what's in the dining room."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow playfully. "Another surprise?"

"It's not exactly a surprise. You'll see when you get there," Ivor said, holding Bonnie's hand as they walked toward the dining room.

Just as they reached the entrance, they heard a "click" as the lights were turned off, leaving only the candles on the table burning gently, casting a dim and intimate light.