After work in the afternoon, Annette called Connor as she walked to the school gate. She asked, "What do you want to have for dinner?"
"Whatever. As long as you treat me."
Annette thought for a moment and said, "I'll send you an address later. Come to me."
She hung up the phone and got into Leonard's car at the school gate.
"Leonard, we're not going home. Let's go to the Night Restaurant."
"Yes, Ms. Hall."
Connor arrived at the entrance of a restaurant according to the address Annette had sent him.
He smiled and walked in.
The waiter welcomed him warmly. "Sir, have you booked a table?"
"Ms. Hall booked table 3. She is here already."
"Okay. Sir, please put your hand on my shoulder. I will take you in." The waiter put on a pair of night vision goggles and led Connor through two doors.
Connor was led to table 3 and had a seat. Annette's eyes had adapted to the darkness. She looked up at Connor with a cute smile, but Connor could not see it.
"I've ordered the dishes."
Connor raised his eyebrows and walked to Annette.
Annette was startled. She whispered, "What are you doing?"
"I'll remind you. It is more convenient to do certain things in the dark."
Connor held her shoulder and kissed her cheek. "You picked a good place. I am satisfied."
Annette said in a low voice, "Connor, don't mess around. Last time, Roxanne brought me here for a meal. We couldn't see each other, and I felt relaxed. I wanted to invite you here before, but I never had the chance.
"Recently, you have been on the news and are easily recognized. I think this place is suitable for you, so I invited you here. Go back to your seat."
Connor put on a faint smile. He got up and went back to his seat.
His eyes adapted to the darkness. Through the faint light on the dining table, he could see Annette's facial outline.
The waiter served the steak and spaghetti Annette had ordered.
Annette said, "Though this restaurant can't be compared to the places you often go, the atmosphere here is great. Isn't it?"
Connor looked around and said, "Yes. It is indeed suitable for confessing. Do you have anything to say to me?"
Annette was a little upset. She had explained so much, yet Connor still thought that she had invited him here because she wanted to confess to him.
"I only want to treat you to dinner," Annette emphasized.
"It seems that you don't intend to confess to me. Then I'll confess to you."
Just as Connor finished his words, the lights in the restaurant suddenly lit up.
Under the dazzling light, Connor frowned and looked at Annette.
Annette was also looking at him.
He smiled and asked, "How is it? Do you want to hold my hand, or do you want to leave?"
Annette looked at him with mixed feelings.
She had never been so confused before.
Connor leaned forward and said, "Do you dare to admit that you kinda like me now?"
The lights were turned off. Annette closed her eyes and exhaled softly.
Connor smiled, "You didn't leave. It seems that you are going to accept me."
"I just haven't finished my dinner. Connor, stop joking. Hurry up and enjoy the meal."
Connor put the steak he had just cut in front of Annette and took her steak.
Annette was glad that she was at the Night Restaurant.
In the darkness, she didn't have to face Connor with embarrassment.
Seeing that Annette was silent, Connor sighed, "You are always avoiding my questions. You should know that you can't avoid them forever. Do you understand?"
"Let me ask you a question," Annette said.
"Go ahead."
Annette took a deep breath and asked, "Do you love me?"
Connor smiled, "I love you more and more."
"Then, between me and Alina, who is more important to you?" Annette asked.
Her question made Connor silent all of a sudden.
"Why do you compare yourself with her?" Connor asked.
"Is that a difficult choice?"
Connor was silent for a moment. He said, "Of course, you are more important to me."
"Connor, you hesitated just now because you are not sure who is more important. After weighing the pros and cons, you think that Alina has Lucas, so you say that I am more important, right?"
"Annette, everyone has his past. There's no point mentioning the past all the time."
"That's right. I have a past as well. That's why I won't accept a man who is hesitant to choose between me and another woman. What I want is not admiration, a little bit of love, 'love me more and more', or 'I am not sure'.
"I know that I didn't do well in terms of affection. Alpha Lance has brought me terrible trauma. You may not understand it. But you need to know that before I let go of the uneasiness and fear in my heart, I would not take the next step easily, even if I fell in love with a man."
"Therefore, I didn't respond to you directly even though I could feel your affection. You have fallen for someone else, and you can never forget about her. That makes me feel insecure.
"Connor, people are selfish. I am even more selfish. I love myself the most."
Connor was silent for a long time.
He knew that Annette had never trusted him completely, yet he never thought that there was so much fear in her heart.
He looked at her in the dark, and the lights lit up again.
Annette closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her eyes adapted to the light.
She looked at Connor and slowly put down her knife and fork. "I didn't make a choice just now. I'll do it now."
She got up, picked up her bag, and left.
After returning to Connor's villa, Annette sat on the bed and stared at the door.
It was not until late at night that Connor returned.
Annette was a little nervous, but after a long time, no one came to her room.
It seemed that Connor had returned to his room.
Annette guessed that Connor must be angry.
After all, the high and mighty Alpha Connor had never been rejected by a woman over and over again.