Chapter 412: Hiking

Aria and Alan's decision to return to their small world pulled a huge distance between Aria and Roxy. They literally didn't contact each other in the following week.

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It was on Sunday, Ceon and Zara returned jovially after their extended trip. The slow baby steps in the relationship he had expected from her weren't really slow. Zara opened up to him pretty quickly and she even started to plan if they could completely change their career paths as travelers and bloggers.

"Cooldown... Cooldown..." Ceon stopped Zara who was over excitedly planning everything out without knowing if they could really change the passion into a career.

Zara looked confused but she shrugged it off quickly, "I will talk to your father so don't worry. My parents will not have any problem unless I am happy so the problem is solved." She gave a wide smile of success.

Ceon chuckled shaking his head. Her initial image for him was mature and stoic but she was no serious person. She gets excited about little things and she decides about her life on her own without letting others conclude for her.

She hated others controlling her but she considered the other's opinion. If she liked something she would want to do it like a kid repeatedly eating its favorite chocolate without thinking about the cavities. 

He never felt her as elder than him instead she was an excited little kid who ran around everywhere while he took care of her enjoying her company.

He didn't let down her excitement by giving her the reality check. Opening the car door, the driver pulled out her luggage from the truck to pass it to the Wood's mansion servant. "Alright, we will plan things slowly. Before that, take good rest and then talk with your family. Alright?"

Zara was nodding saying, "I will..." The housekeeper's voice cut in, "Young miss, master and madam are calling you and sir. They are relaxing at the cabana."

Zara faintly smiled nodding at the housekeeper and looked at the cabana where her mother was waving her hand to call them. "Ceon, come, I will introduce them to you."

Ceon cued his driver to wait and followed her towards the cabana thinking what to do if Zara speaks to her parents in front of him.

"Mom, Dad, he is Ceon Davis. Ceon, my parents." Zara introduced them to each other and they didn't need more to it as Ceon had already spoken to them over the call when they were in France. 

"Aunty Wood, Uncle Wood!" He greeted both and shook his hand with Master Wood before taking the chair with Zara.

Madam Wood revealed after scrutinizing Ceon a few times, "Zara said her boyfriend isn't good looking so I was expecting an ugly man. Ceon, you are quite handsome."

Blushing Zara and shocked Ceon: "..."

Master Wood started laughing looking at his daughter while Ceon looked at Zara in loss of words. Ceon agrees he wasn't over the top good looking man but he was nowhere ugly or bad. He was still better than many A list stars.

Master Wood spoke seeing them quiet, "She was all out explaining and elaborating 'On the verge', so we thought to meet you. You guys must be tired, how was your vacation?"

Zara who felt Ceon's gaze on her after her father's words complained, "Could you two please give me face?"

Ceon ignored her for time being and responded politely, carrying the faintest smile, "We didn't rush to places and took proper rest so we have only journey tiredness and we will be on jet lag. We will be fine uncle after a day's rest."

They continued to generally talk for some time, then Jeep rubicon reached the yard, and the couple who alighted saw Zara and Ceon with the parents. They joined four and another round of teasing started by Noah.

"Sis, why do you look a little fluffy?" Noah raised his brows with a teasing smile and continued, "The people lose weight after traveling so long. What is so special to you?"

Zara: "..."

Norah added her part, "Mom, don't you think sister Zara is happier?"

Madam Wood, "Happier? She is practically glowing."

Master Wood didn't let her daughter off either, "I am thinking when she was so much happy last time?... I can't even remember it."

Zara whined while Ceon continued to laugh with others, "Dad, not you, please. Why are you all bullying me? Shouldn't you scare him away from me according to books and dramas?"

Noah overreacted as a bewildered, "Scare him away?" Norah slapped his arms and started chuckling. Madam wood removed her reading glasses seriously and asked, "Do I look scary? Why should I scare your boyfriend away?"

"Mom, and you brat, don't you dare bully me." Zara wanted to jump at her little brother and cover his mouth to stop him fueling her mother to continue to tease her. All burst into laughter while she blushed in embarrassment and shyness. 

Master Wood checked the time and suggested, "Ceon, why don't you have dinner before leaving?"

Ceon was still new to the family hence he was modest, "No need to bother uncle. I will..."

"Are you waiting for my daughter to invite you?" Madam Wood was really happy because Zara started to date and she was happy with Ceon. She needs nothing more. She had really thought Zara was going to be a spinster, so her worry was erased.

Ceon smiled glancing at Zara who continued to blush. He had really thought he would have to cross many hurdles of the family but they were very warm and welcoming.

Zara now wanted to hide from them, "Mom... Ahh... Ceon, please listen to them else they will continue to tease me."

Ceon agreed in a flow, "Alright, I will have dinner before leaving."

Norah exclaimed, "Mom you are so right. Sister Zara asked and he agreed." She high fived Noah and saw Zara blushing red and Ceon bewildered.

Zara and Ceon: "..."

Master Wood stopped them from overdoing it, "Zara, show him the guest room to get fresh. You two brats, go and get fresh. Don't forget they are still your elders." The duo chuckled and went with Zara and Ceon continuing to tease them. 

Entering the huge mansion, Ceon had expected everything posh and luxuriant but everything was simplistic and elegant. He felt like the people lived there and the mansion harmonized well. All maids were extremely polite like the housekeeper, he smiled to himself and followed Zara to the guest room while the other couple went upstairs.

"There are new toiletries inside so you can use them. There must be a pair of clothes too if you want to change. There are still fifteen-twenty minutes, so you can rest till that. If you want anything else, you can ask anybody in the mansion, they will help you."

Ceon was leaning on the door looking at her radiant face. He felt her mother was right. Before their trip to France, he had never seen her as happy as she looked now. If she likes traveling too and if her parents don't have any problem, he thought of visiting different destinations once a month.

Zara who waited for his response didn't get to hear anything other than his gaze on her. She unknowingly blushed when his intense gaze on his poker face didn't waver. "Ceon!" She called him loud enough to bring him out of the daze.

But the expected response didn't come again instead Ceon took a step closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. It was the first hug after they had officially become a couple. After knowing her past with Toby Lewis, he didn't want to force or push anything on her so he hadn't tried to get near her.

Zara had almost taken a step back when he moved closer but she didn't and raised her head to look at his face when he carefully hugged her. She stiffened before she let herself relax. She was able to open up and be her real self around him because he left enough space for her to get along with him unlike rushing to hold her, hug or try to kiss her. He always made sure she was comfortable during the complete trip.

Ceon wasn't expecting her to reciprocate but Zara closed the distance between them and embraced him who was hesitant to hug, "Next, we will go for hiking, I never went backpack hiking."

A content smile soon taped on his lips and glanced her little hopeful face, blinking eyelashes, His hands involuntarily caressed her head as he responded, "Sure but before that, we will have to get proper rest and train your body for the tedious trekking."

Breaking their hug, Zara crossed her arms on her chest, "Right. From tomorrow I will jog." Ceon chuckled looking at her how seriously she was deciding to do anything just to enjoy being outdoors.

He offered after remembering Woods' headquarters, "How about working out together in Woods' headquarters' gym? We can do when we are free or after working time."

Zara didn't want to disturb the young couple in the morning who workout in the home gym, "You aren't stupid as I think." She said tussling his hair and left to her room leaving him puzzled.

Ceon badly wanted to ask, 'Do you still think I am stupid?' But saw her chuckling taking the stairs.