The car ride to the amusement park was filled with an unusual sense of calm, considering how chaotic their lives had been in recent days. Damien drove, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the steering wheel. Liyana sat beside him, her gaze drifting out the window as the city passed by, the night air crisp with promise.
They hadn't said much since agreeing on the amusement park. It was as though words didn't need to fill the silence. It was a rare moment—just the two of them, outside the walls of their corporate towers, away from their families' expectations, and free from the suffocating presence of the media.
When they arrived at the amusement park, Liyana's eyes lit up. The vibrant lights of the ferris wheel and roller coasters cast a playful glow over the scene. People of all ages were milling about, and the air smelled of popcorn and cotton candy. It was a stark contrast to the high-powered, high-stakes world they usually inhabited.
"You look like a kid in a candy store," Damien remarked, his voice filled with amusement.
Liyana turned to him, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe I am," she replied, her eyes sparkling. "And you? You look like you're about to run for the hills."
Damien smirked but didn't deny it. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to lose my lunch on some roller coaster."
Liyana laughed, a sound that seemed to lighten the heavy tension between them. She took his hand, leading him toward the entrance of the park. "Trust me, it's fun. You'll love it."
The first stop was the ferris wheel. As they ascended, Liyana looked out at the sprawling view of the city beneath them. The lights twinkled like stars, the cool breeze ruffling her hair. It felt like they were on top of the world, even if just for a moment.
"Why the ferris wheel first?" Damien asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and reluctance.
Liyana leaned against the railing, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Because it's peaceful. It gives you a chance to breathe. To just... be here with me. To let go of everything else."
Damien stayed silent, his gaze drifting over the park below. He had spent so many years consumed by ambition, by the expectations of his family and the weight of the Lu Group, that he'd forgotten what it felt like to simply exist without the pressure. With Liyana beside him, it felt like a moment of escape, one that he didn't know he needed until now.
The ride ended, and they stepped off to find the line for the roller coaster. Liyana could see the slight hesitation in Damien's posture, the tightness in his jaw. He was clearly nervous. She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"You don't have to do this, you know," she said softly, reading his unease. "I just wanted to have fun. If you're really not up for it..."
"No, I'm fine," Damien interrupted, giving her a tight-lipped smile. "I promised you a good time, didn't I?"
Liyana chuckled, but there was a hint of tenderness in her eyes. "It's not about promises. It's about you being comfortable. I don't want you to feel like you have to do something you don't want to."
Damien took a deep breath, the tension easing from his shoulders. "It's not that. I guess I'm just... afraid of losing control. It's silly, isn't it?"
Liyana shook her head. "Not silly. You've been through a lot. But you're here with me now. I'll make sure nothing happens."
She reached up to touch his cheek, her fingers brushing against the stubble there. "And besides, sometimes, losing control isn't the worst thing. We can face whatever comes, together."
He nodded, his expression softening. "I guess so."
They got on the roller coaster, and despite Damien's reluctance, he ended up laughing—loudly—during the wild twists and turns. His fear melted away with each exhilarating loop. Liyana's laughter joined his, and for the first time in ages, they weren't the CEOs of powerful companies. They were just two people, caught up in the thrill of the ride.
Afterward, they wandered through the park, playing games, eating cotton candy, and enjoying the simplest of pleasures. Damien even won a stuffed animal for Liyana at one of the booths, his competitive side coming out as he carefully aimed the dart at the balloon targets.
"You know, you're surprisingly good at this," Liyana teased as she clutched the stuffed bear to her chest. "I had no idea you were a secret carnival champion."
Damien grinned, his confidence shining through. "I don't usually lose."
"You're a little competitive, huh?" she teased further, nudging him with her shoulder.
He chuckled, his gaze falling on her with an intensity that made her heart flutter. "Maybe. But when it comes to you, I don't mind losing."
Liyana blinked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. For a moment, there was a soft, silent understanding between them, as if the world had stopped for just a second.
"You've been through so much," she said, her voice low. "I don't want you to carry all that burden alone."
Damien looked at her, his expression unreadable for a heartbeat before he spoke. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Liyana."
Liyana's heart skipped. There was a vulnerability in his words that she hadn't expected. In all their banter and rivalry, it was rare for Damien to show this side of himself.
They continued to walk through the park, but the weight of their earlier conversation lingered. By the time they stopped at a quiet bench near the edge of the park, Liyana leaned her head on Damien's shoulder, exhaustion settling in.
"It's funny," Liyana said after a pause. "I never thought I'd be here with you—just like this. I always thought I was too focused on my career, too driven to... have this."
Damien looked down at her, his arm wrapping around her shoulders, pulling her closer. "You deserve it. You deserve everything."
Liyana looked up at him, a small smile forming on her lips. "And you? You deserve it too. Even if you're a little afraid of roller coasters."
He smirked, but there was warmth in his eyes. "Maybe so. But I'm starting to think that this—this with you—is worth the ride."
As they sat there, the amusement park lights twinkling around them, it felt like the beginning of something new. The past still loomed, but for now, they had each other—no rivalries, no expectations, just two people who were learning to trust, to laugh, and maybe, just maybe, to love.