Model to Holywood

Rumble, rumble~

Around 4 PM, Luca and Rachel drove into Niagara Falls City.

This waterfall, located on the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA, is one of the three largest transnational waterfalls in the world.

The waterfall originates from the Niagara River. In the Toronto section, the river plunges at a speed of 35.4 kilometers per hour, with the tallest waterfall reaching a height of 86 meters, forming one of the wildest whirlpool rapids in the world, known as the "Wrath of Thor."

As the mist rises, it forms a drifting cloud, like a bride's veil.

The scene is majestic yet graceful, stunningly beautiful.

Standing at the bow of the boat, Luca felt the deck trembling beneath his feet. The sound of the rushing water was like thunder in his ears. The waterfall gushing from the horseshoe-shaped crest felt like the heavens themselves pouring down, creating an overwhelming sense of awe.

This feeling reminded him of the first time he saw the Hukou Waterfall, instantly overwhelmed by the sheer power, like a thundering herd of wild horses, impossible to resist.

"Nature is amazing!" Luca, wearing a blue raincoat, marveled while gripping the railing.

"What do you think, Rachel?"

"It's alright! But it's a bit less impressive than I imagined," Rachel shrugged.

"What?" The sound of the water was too loud. Luca turned and asked her with his ear closer.

"I've known about Niagara Falls since I was two or three years old. After that, I saw it in books, on TV, and in newspapers. In my mind, it was incredibly beautiful. 

The 'Wrath of Thor,' 'Bridal Veil,' 'Maid of the Mist,' 'Moon Island,' 'Rainbow Bridge'—just hearing these names, they all sound so beautiful.

So beautiful that I didn't want to visit easily. I had planned to come here for wedding photos when I got married. But the falls aren't quite as beautiful as I imagined."

Rachel blinked, tiny droplets of mist clinging to her eyelashes.

Luca spread his hands, feeling a bit apologetic.

Niagara Falls held a heavy place in Rachel's heart, and his presence seemed to disrupt something.

"Rachel, the falls are indeed beautiful. Maybe today's weather just isn't great, and that's affecting the experience. I'm sorry, Rachel. Perhaps next time, on a sunny day, you could bring Ryan and visit again."

Luca tried to make up for it.

Rachel smiled faintly and looked at him. "Why would you apologize for something like that? I'm actually very excited, but my expectations were just too high. It's normal to feel a little disappointed when things don't meet them, right?"

"You're right, but I still feel a bit responsible."

Luca shrugged, deciding not to apologize further. The boat was slowly approaching the base of the waterfall. As they got closer, everyone on the deck began to shout, and Luca joined in with loud roars.

"Roar! I'm the king of the world!"

Rumble~

The roaring waterfall drowned out his voice in an instant.

"Ahh! I'm the king of the world!" Rachel, leaning against the railing, shouted too, and burst into laughter.

At the base of the falls, the atmosphere was electric.

Around them, couples kissed, newlyweds posed for wedding photos, and elderly couples held hands, smiling. Shouts echoed all around.

As the yelling died down, Luca exhaled and looked down at Rachel. She looked up at him, and for a moment, their eyes met in the romantic atmosphere. Without realizing it, they embraced and shared a passionate kiss at the bow of the boat.

The boat slowly moved closer to the falls, the roar of the water growing even louder. Mist filled the air, and the spray of water enveloped them. Their figures gradually disappeared into the mist, becoming one.

At 5 PM, the boat turned back, and the tourists disembarked. They took off their raincoats, revealing faces still flushed with excitement.

"Was the waterfall beautiful?" Rachel asked with a smile, brushing aside her mist-dampened bangs.

"Beautiful! The most beautiful waterfall I've ever seen!" Luca reached out as if to fix her hair, but in the end, he adjusted his own instead.

Rachel noticed and burst out laughing.

Luca spread his hands, thinking that her smile was like a ray of sunshine—bright but not blinding. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant for him.

"Do you want to go see an even more beautiful view?"

Once in the car, Rachel started the engine and asked.

"Is there something more beautiful in Toronto?"

"Of course! The most beautiful part of Ontario isn't the falls, it's the tens of thousands of lakes."

Rachel spoke with confidence.

"Do we still have time?"

Luca glanced outside. The sky was growing darker, the clouds thicker, and the golden sunset peeking through the western sky hinted at unpredictable weather.

He suddenly felt reluctant to leave, unwilling to go back. Maybe, as Linsey had said, he had come here to escape. But even after a few days, the challenges in his heart remained unresolved.

Rachel smiled slightly and shifted the gears. The car suddenly roared into wild mode, speeding through the cloudy sky.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see when we get there!"

They drove along Queen Elizabeth Way for half an hour, then took the 407 highway westward for another half hour, finally turning onto a muddy, overgrown path lined with wildflowers and tall grass.

There were fewer buildings along the way, and they hardly saw any other people or vehicles. The scenery became more natural and wild, with green hills, red pine forests, and crooked road signs.

After twenty minutes of bumping along, a shimmering green lake appeared in front of them, crystal clear like jade. A ray of golden sunset fell onto the lake, casting magical reflections.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"Beautiful!" Luca slowly pulled his gaze away and realized the car had stopped by the lakeshore.

Rachel wasn't admiring the lake, though. She was watching his expression with amusement.

Luca turned to look at her for a second, noticing her seductive red lips, playful eyes, and lively bangs.

Suddenly, he pulled her close, kissing her passionately. His hands gripped her shirt and skirt. He suddenly wanted something magical to happen in this beautiful place.

"Don't do that, Luca!" Rachel pushed against his hands, pressing her forehead to his chin and breathing heavily.

Luca snapped back to his senses, inhaling the scent of her hair. In the reflection of the mirror, he saw his own red eyes, filled with greed and desire, like a wild animal that had lost control.

He bit his tongue and quickly calmed down. Rachel was not only a friend, but also his friend's girlfriend. She had brought him here to cheer him up, but his actions were out of line.

"Rachel, I..."

He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

An explanation or an apology would both feel lame. He muttered a "sorry," let go of her shoulders, and stepped out of the car.

By 6 PM, the sky was growing darker, the sunset reflected on the rippling lake surface.

Luca sat at the edge of the pier, swinging his legs, silently gazing at the water.

Thud, thud~

The sound of high heels on wooden planks grew closer, accompanied by a hint of jasmine in the air.

Rachel brushed her skirt as she sat down beside him, quiet and elegant.

Neither of them spoke, just watching the sunset, the lake, the wooden bridge, and the fields on the other side.

"Rachel, about earlier, I..."

"You don't have to explain. I understand!"

Rachel stood up suddenly with a bright smile. "Wanna go check out the other side? There are lots of watermelons planted there. How about we pick one?"

"Sure!"

(End of this chapter)