Chapter 37 — Am I a Joke To You?
"Can I kiss you?" Cynthia asked with a bright smile, locking eyes with Lucian. His eyes widened in surprise.
For a moment, silence fell between them. Then, he softly whispered, "Sure."
Caught off guard by his response, Cynthia stumbled, nearly falling off the wagon. She quickly pulled her hand away from his and grasped the wagon’s wooden handle to steady herself.
"What’s wrong?" Lucian asked, his expression composed, though amusement flickered in his eyes. He found it rather entertaining to see her so shaken by his answer.
She didn’t expect me to agree, did she?
His suspicion was correct. Cynthia had been faking her affection every time she was near him. She had no real intention of kissing him.
Forcing an awkward laugh to mask her discomfort, Cynthia climbed down from the carriage. Once she stood on the grass, she looked up at him—her expression hardening as if she were preparing for battle.
"I was just surprised. My apologies for the... inconvenience." She straightened herself and, with forced resolve, added, "Shall we try the kiss now?"
Lucian sighed heavily, stepping back.
She really won’t give up, he thought, watching her carefully. Even when her facade was nearly exposed, she had regained control, acting as if nothing had happened.
Lucian couldn’t help but wonder—what was driving her to keep up this charade of being a loving wife when it was clear she despised him just as much as he did her?