Overwhelmed by the man’s heartfelt confession, Claire Sinclair abruptly pushed him away. She planted her hands on his chest, her wide, shimmering eyes staring into his dark, affectionate gaze.

"If I only didn’t divorce you because of a moment of weakness, and I might not even fall in love with you in the future, would you still want to spend the rest of your life with an insincere and flippant girl like me?"

"As long as you don’t mind my complicated family, I’m willing to spend the rest of my life with you."

"..."

’She knew it. Her moment of weakness would be met with this strange devotion of his.’

’No, that’s not enough. I have to be more direct.’

Claire Sinclair asked again, "Then what if I’m only with you because I want you for your body? What if I only come looking for you because I’m lonely and needy? Could you accept that?"

"It would be my honor."

"..."

’Oh, for heaven’s sake. I was just talking nonsense, and he’s still managing to completely fluster me.’

’How could someone so contradictory exist? He’s practically royalty, yet he insists on humbling himself for me. Isn’t he afraid I’ll waver and end up betraying his devotion?’

"I’m only just realizing that your emotional intelligence is even lower than mine."

"So you don’t have to feel insecure. I’m not a perfect man."

’That’s not it at all. Being devoted isn’t a flaw. What woman in the world wouldn’t like a devoted man?’

In that moment, the high, impenetrable walls Claire Sinclair had built around her heart were shattered by his tenderness, crumbling into dust.

Feeling a bit helpless, she nestled into the man’s broad, secure embrace and said softly, "I really wish a woman would come along who could be wholeheartedly devoted to you and love you with all her heart. That way, you wouldn’t have to waste your time on me... Ah—"

Before she could finish, the man pinned her underneath him.

The man held her down firmly, his voice low and husky in her ear. "If such a woman truly exists, it can only be you."

"It’s not me at all!"

"Want to go again?"

’What kind of twisted logic is that?!’

"I’m hungry. Get off me."

"Let me hold you a little longer. I’ve missed you so much these past few days."

Claire Sinclair froze. Feeling his familiar warmth, her heart softened once again.

"Mr. Quincy..."

"Try calling me by my name."

’His name...’

"Adrian?"

"Mm."

’Oh my, this is so embarrassing!’

Claire Sinclair buried her face in his chest and said in a muffled voice, "No, that’s too weird. I’ll just stick to calling you Mr. Quincy. I feel like it better suits our... improper relationship."

"Claire."

"Huh?"

"What do you mean, ’improper relationship’?"

Claire Sinclair’s eyes darted about as she explained, "It’s... you like me a lot, but I don’t like you enough, and yet you refuse to divorce me. That’s what it is."

"Why don’t you like me?"

"It’s just... it’s just..."

’That wasn’t true at all. She liked him. She liked him a lot. A deep, bone-deep kind of love.’

’But she was so weak. How could she possibly be worthy of someone so perfect?’

’She couldn’t say yes to him, not until she had become a great tree with deep roots.’

’Only by holding back would she have the motivation to strive...’

’If she did nothing and simply became his wife, she’d be nothing more than a trumpet vine, a flower that relies on a great tree for support. Once it withers, all that’s left are dried-up vines and rotten leaves, devoid of any substance.’

’So, Claire Sinclair, you have to keep trying!’

With that thought, Claire Sinclair shamelessly declared, "Anyway, I just don’t! There’s no reason!" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Even as she spoke, her restless hands betrayed her, tightening their grip around his lean, firm waist.