The ground floor of the building had been entirely devoted to commercial spaces, and one quarter of it housed an upscale fine dining restaurant. Stepping through the revolving doors, Mizuki and Pablo entered a world of refined elegance. The restaurant boasted an interior that masterfully blended Asian and Western influences: sleek, modern lines met subtle nods to traditional Asian design. Walls draped in warm, muted tones framed intricate wood carvings, while soft ambient lighting highlighted tables adorned with delicate floral arrangements.
The din of hushed conversation mingled with the gentle strains of a live piano. On an elevated platform in the center, a pianist caressed the keys, sending ripples of soft, soulful notes across the room. Diners—women in haute couture cocktail dresses and men in impeccably tailored suits—sat around tables laden with artfully presented dishes. Bejeweled patrons laughed softly, their eyes alight with delight as they dined with friends or cherished loved ones, all set against this backdrop of cultured luxury.
Mizuki and Pablo found themselves seated at a table near a window that framed the glittering city lights. They had ordered an exquisite dish of pan-seared ribeye, accompanied by a medley of baby vegetables drizzled in black truffle sauce—a dish that embodied the restaurant's fusion of Eastern subtlety and Western indulgence.
"Did you give your parents an earful?" Pablo asked as he cut through his steak with practiced ease, his tone teasing yet curious.
"More than an earful," Mizuki answered with a grin. "I won't let them get away from setting me up." She paused, studying Pablo's handsome face, which appeared even more striking under the restaurant's ambient lighting. "But I don't blame them a lot. They're worried, and it's good to have a big brother around."
Pablo's eyes widened momentarily in surprise at her use of the term. He had often called himself a big brother in jest, but hearing Mizuki say it on her own made it feel more real. He simply smiled—a beautiful, sincere smile that made his brown eyes twinkle. "Right. It's good to have someone familiar."
His voice carried a note of uncertainty that piqued Mizuki's curiosity. "What's wrong?" she asked softly, tilting her head.
Pablo shook his head and smiled again. "It's just that I'm an only child, and I don't have any cousins either. So you have to teach me how to be a good big brother, alright, sister?"
"Sister."
At that single word, Mizuki paused—memories of the pain the word had once carried in her previous life flashed through her mind. But those memories no longer hurt; they had softened with time. Now, hearing Pablo use "sister" felt warm and reassuring. Her lips curved into a cheeky smile.
"Oh, I don't know, but I do know that I'd like a big brother who spoils me rotten," she said semi-seriously. Pablo's laughter rang out, genuine and light, and he reached across the table to pat her on the head—a gesture he had often given in the past. That familiar touch stirred something deep within her. Mizuki's eyes welled up with a few tender tears, and though she closed her eyes briefly, she kept her smile. In that small gesture, she realized that the love she once believed belonged solely to her former marriage was evolving into something else entirely. The closure she had sought was finally within reach.
At that moment, amid the soft piano notes and the murmurs of elegantly dressed patrons, the restaurant transformed into a sanctuary of unspoken promises. The past life—the former roles, the faded chapters of what had been—seemed to dissolve into the gentle glow of the present. Now, not as man and wife but as siblings in spirit, they vowed to support one another.
Outside, the night deepened, and the city's lights shimmered like scattered stars. Inside, the restaurant hummed with quiet intimacy and refined sophistication. As the evening wound down, Mizuki felt a stirring within her—a sense of renewal that was both fragile and fierce. With every bite of her meal and every tender word shared with Pablo, she realized that life, in all its unpredictable twists, had a way of rewriting fate.
And as the soft strains of the piano soared to a poignant crescendo, Mizuki understood that the night was not just an interlude between old regrets and new beginnings—it was the prologue to a future where every unspoken promise, every whispered hope, would find its own dramatic, beautiful resolution.
"By the way, I'm not sure you know, but the reason why I'm here is to take over the branch of Wolfe Mall," Pablo explained over coffee.
Mizuki nodded. She technically wasn't supposed to know this life's details, but in their past life—though it had happened a few months later—she and Pablo had come to Singapore so that Pablo could prepare for his future takeover of the group. Back then, Pablo was her husband, and it was only natural for him to assume such a role. However, in this life, she wasn't sure if that was still the case, although she wouldn't have minded if it were. After all, she had never been one to desire running a company.
"Uncle Caleb suggested I could use this experience as practice for when my father hands over his company to me," he continued, and Mizuki nodded again. She recalled that Pablo's family was also in the mall business—though their focus was more in Europe.
"How about the Wolfe Group?" Mizuki asked. "Aren't you going to take over after my dad retires?"
Pablo shook his head. "Are you kidding? Not only do I think it's appropriate, but it's better for you to do that or marry someone who does. Though you don't have to worry about that for now. Uncle is still very strong and has a long way to live."
Mizuki laughed. "I don't think I'll ever marry, but I'll keep that in mind."
"What?" Pablo looked scandalized this time. "Little sister, as an only child, I dreamed not only of being a brother but also an uncle, alright? Don't close the door to romance yet—you're only twenty-three."
Mizuki shrugged with a mischievous grin. "How about you? You're twenty-seven. Are you going to get married?" she prompted, watching Pablo's smile widen.
"Of course," he answered confidently. "Though I don't know who I'll marry for now, I at least want to find someone I love to settle down with."
Mizuki studied his face and saw the sincerity and anticipation for a future shared with someone dear. She nodded. "Then let's work on finding that someone. I want to be an auntie too," she announced, prompting Pablo to give a playful shudder.
"Oh please, don't be like my mom and set me up with a bunch of girls," he replied, his tone mixing mock horror with genuine amusement, which made Mizuki laugh again.
"I won't," she promised. Yet, behind her dancing silver eyes, she secretly vowed to set him up with that mysterious Stella—whom Pablo had loved until he died in their past life.