Chapter: 1612

His feelings for Norah were still unresolved, preventing him from making commitments to anyone else.

Alyssa felt an unexpected relief at his honesty. "I guess you still have feelings for Norah, right?" she continued, to which Bryson defensively replied, "No."

"Come on, I've noticed how you act around her," she shot back: She had been quietly observing Bryson, which led her to this conclusion.

"Perhaps you struggle with letting go of her and seeing her so happy around Sean upsets you. Yet, you still showed up and offered your blessings," Alyssa stepped aside, adding. "It's natural to feel this way. Gradually, these feelings will diminish."

Bryson couldn't help but smile. "You're quite mature for your age."

"I really want to date you. Talking about marriage might be premature, but would you consider being my boyfriend?"

Technically, this was only their second meeting. "My feelings for Norah don't bother you?" Bryson frowned.

"Not at all. Norah's’ charm undoubtedly attracts many admirers. Whether you have feelings for her or not doesn't really matter to me. As long as there's a little room for me in your heart, that's enough." Alyssa reached out her hand, her voice gentle, continuing, "Would you consider dating me with the possibility of marriage in mind?"

In the moonlit night, her face glowed radiantly, her eyes twinkling with light.

Suddenly, Bryson felt his heart pounding, overwhelmed by an unfamiliar emotion. He extended his hand to gently grasp her smaller one.

Their hands met and clasped together in the cool night air. His voice was soft and resolute. "I'm willing."

"From now on, please take care of me. I hope you can tolerate my silliness and not get annoyed."

With a playful grin, Alyssa hopped over to him and linked her arm with his.

She was aware that full trust might take time to develop between them, but she was patient. As she often remarked, while some feelings diminish over time, others grow stronger gradually.

Meanwhile, the card game was in full swing indoors. Sean was barred from playing by Susanna, who claimed his consistent winning made the game unfair due to his exceptional skills.

Sean and Phillip were relegated to merely observing, unable to contribute any advice as Norah, Susanna, Joanna, and Duncan engaged in the game.

Norah was good at card games and skilled at card counting, though she wasn't sure if she could beat Sean.

That evening, they played poker and dice, much like the games found in the casinos of Brightmont, a city famous for its thriving gambling scene.

In Brightmont, gambling was not only legal but a way of life. It was a place where fortunes could turn overnight, making some rich and others bankrupt in mere moments.

While occasional gambling brought joy to some, excessive gambling posed risks. Norah wasn't really a gambler; she was more focused on performing her job well.

However, her prowess in gambling was undeniable.

They continued playing until past two in the morning, with Norah winning decisively, leaving the other three thoroughly bested.

In the end, Sean and Norah, feeling cheerful, headed to their room for some rest, while the others stayed behind, lamenting their losses.

The next morning, Norah and Sean decided to take a stroll after breakfast since the group outing was scheduled for the afternoon.