Chapter Sixty-Three: Dangerous beauty

Mr.Davis raised an eyebrow, holding back his urge to applaud and praise her lying skills.

James was surprised by the convincing expression, tone, and fabricated story. She even 'blushed' and 'shyly' looked away.

Even if Clair wasn't confident in her act, the pair of father and son did.

"That's right, mom. I think we really did 'click'." James added.

"Ha...how amusing. My son is in 'love'. That's a first." Mrs.Davis took a sip of drink with a sarcastic tone in her remark. She looked extremely agitated.

"Wife, calm down. You should at least get to know her. Your son won't love just anybody, okay?" Mr.Davis tried to comfort her.

Mrs. Davis ended up standing up from her seat and taking a deep breath. "Excuse me, but I can't breathe with such an overwhelming amount of lies."

Clair swallowed.

'Yup, there's no way we're fooling her'

"That's not how a couple who love each other act. You just look like actors from a pathetic play. If you are going to lie, at least do it convincingly. Just witnessing this makes me nauseous." She walked away after that and the table fell silent.

"Cough* To put it out there, I give you an A for the effort. My wife is difficult to lie to, you see. I will go talk to her, please continue with your meals." Mr.Davis then ran off to find his wife.

"Oh, sh- I mean damn." Clair looked up at James with an awkward smile.

"Do you want to head out of here?" He offered, returning the smile with calmness.

She had to question where she got that calmness from, she could never.

"Can we?"

"Of course we can. Let's go." He offered her his hand, and she took it.

They walked outside and he talked to one guard. "Prepare the helicopter."

"Huh, where are we going?"

"To my palace."

"..."

"Why do we need to go there?" She asked nervously.

"We don't need to if you don't wish to. I just wanted to take you there, so I can lift your mood." He explained.

She laughed softly, "I'm not feeling down, I'm actually perfectly fine."

James sighed and gave it another shot, "Just think of it like I'm compensating you for the way my mother treated you. She's not usually like this, but she's very opposed to my decision."

Clair pursed her lips, and she stopped walking.

"Are you cold?" He asked.

"I am...I'll be taking this." She said helping him remove his coat, knowing very well that she had another underneath.

"I told you it would be cold."

"Yeah, yeah…" Her lips twitched, and he helped him put on his coat. Buttoning it up, he looked into her eyes and said, "What is it you wish to tell me?"

"I understand where she's coming from. No mother would want her child to have a loveless and unhappy marriage."

"Just because it's loveless doesn't mean it has to be unhappy. We can make good friends, we both like each other and relate." He argued.

"Yes, but it's not the same. People don't marry to make friends. At first, since it's me who didn't find a loss with this marriage I accept your proposal. I ignored your position in this agreement and now I'm regretting it."

"You regret marrying me?" He asked with a frown.

"Yes." She gave him a small nod and continued walking.

He held her palm and asked, "Why? Am I not a suitable partner for you?"

"No, you're more than a suitable partner...perfect actually. But it's not that. I simply feel bad for your mother. It must be hard having a son who doesn't wish to be happy, despite her efforts to give him love and happiness."

James clenched his jaw.

"I read situations easily. It wasn't hard to read you and your mother's interactions," she added.

"But it makes me wonder why. Why don't you think you're worthy of happiness, love, warmth, and a family?"

"I will answer if you tell me why you loathe yourself so much, why you wish everyone would just ignore and forget you ever existed. Why do you think all you do is hurt everyone around you? I also read things easily."

When he finished his sentence, he left her speechless. She then looked down and chuckled.

"I guess we are really alike in some ways."

"Yeah…"

She seemed to be conflicted, so it took her a few seconds to clear her thoughts.

"Then let's go visit your palace. Will we be back by morning?"

"A few hours to get there and back, so I suggest we spend the night there."

"I have work tomorrow maybe ano-"

He held her hand and placed his palm on her cheek. "It's just for today, it won't hurt to miss a day. I also think it would be a good idea to look around beforehand."

When his palms were on her face, he felt something warm in his heart. Was it that her face was small and her skin was smooth and warm? Why did his heart to feel that warmth?

She stared at him silently, pleasing his deep desire to just stay in such peaceful silence for a while longer.

"Your highness."

"It's urgent." The guard insisted when he heard no response from James.

With his palm on her cheek, he looked down at her lips and slowly pressed his thumb on them. Holding back his urge, he told her, "I'll be right back."

She nodded and watched him leave.

With a blank expression on her face, she was rooted in the very same spot.

"Uh...Uhm." She placed her hand on her mouth in disbelief.

She even shivered.

What the actual f- was that?

She looked at his back and looked away with greater disbelief.

"Why do I feel like I'm blushing?" She patted her cheeks in embarrassment at her own behavior.

Clair facepalm. "People's beauty is way too dangerous for me."

She cleared her throat when she saw him heading towards her. She took a deep breath, and she was sure that she was back to normal until she saw his small smile.

As if it were the perfect moment, the chilly breeze of the night hit his handsome face and made him look even more gorgeous than he already was.

She looked away and coughed again.

"What's wrong? It's freezing, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I shouldn't have worn this dress."

He nodded in agreement and walked closer towards her, "Do you mind if I carry you back inside?"

"Huh...no, I mean-" Before she could refuse his request, he scooped her off her feet as if she wasn't heavy at all.

'She's very light.' He noticed.

"It's rude to this without people's permission." She scolded him.

James received a black fancy bag from one guard and then he continued to walk her inside.

"That's why I asked for permission….and you agreed."

"I- you- nevermind, I give up."