Chapter 11; I'll always be there

Claire sat at the dining table, her fork idly pushing the food around her plate. She barely noticed the soft murmur of the in the background. Her mind was elsewhere—still caught up in the conversation she had just had with Leon in their room.

He had apologized.

It had caught her off guard, the way his voice softened just enough to let something slip past his usual cold exterior. He admitted that he found it difficult to trust people, that it wasn't personal. And for the first time, Claire saw something vulnerable in him, something raw and real.

She had told him she wasn't upset. Maybe she should have been, after the way he had treated her, but she wasn't. Instead, she had only smiled and said, "I thought we were supposed to be acting in love, as you said. But I'm glad you're not someone who pretends to be happy when you're not. I forgive you".

He had looked at her then, his gaze unreadable, before he finally said, "I'll try to make things better".

And now, here she was, unable to focus on anything else.

Her heart fluttered against her will, a warmth spreading through her chest that she wasn't prepared for. Who's supposed to be making who fall for the other here? she thought, pressing her lips together. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She was supposed to be the one leading this game, the one drawing him in. But with just a few words, she was left shaken.

She set her fork down, exhaling softly, trying to clear her mind.

Her gaze instinctively sought Leon, and the sight of him made her pause.

He looked every bit the powerful businessman in his tailored suit. The charcoal-gray fabric fit him perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders and lean frame. Underneath, a crisp white shirt added a sharp, clean contrast, while a navy-blue tie with subtle stripes gave him an air of quiet authority.

His dark hair was neatly styled, highlighting the sharp angles of his face—high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and stormy gray eyes that seemed to see through everything, taking in everything without giving anything away.. A pair of silver cufflinks gleamed at his wrists, simple yet striking, exuding a calm confidence that made heads turn and left no doubt—he was a man in control.

Every movement was precise, his jawline, strong and clean-shaven, moved slightly as he chewed. Claire realized she had been staring too long when his gaze shifted to hers.

For a moment, their eyes locked.

Her breath caught slightly, and she felt an unsettling flutter in her chest. She quickly looked away, turning her attention back to her food, pretending to focus on her plate

But others had noticed.

A mischievous glint sparkled in the eyes of those around the table, and Claire felt the weight of their stares. The realization made her smile sheepishly, like a teenager caught admiring her crush.

"Come on, Claire, you need to focus and eat," Old Man Yu teased from the head of the table, his aura though calm, still gave that vibe of a powerful man, his voice carrying a hint of mischief "Or did something happen last night? You're blushing."

Claire stiffened.

Her mind instantly flashed back to this morning—their fall, his warmth, the way he had held her.

Her blood rushed to her face.

"Oh wow, something must've happened! Look how red she is!" Mae joined in, her grin wide with delight.

"N-No! It's not like that!" Claire stammered, ducking her head in embarrassment, fiddling with her utensils

"Now, now, you two," Grandma Rinna interrupted with a gentle smile. "Let the poor girl eat in peace."

Even she had noticed the shift between them.

Claire risked a glance at Leon, only to find him watching her with an amused smirk.

Before she could react, he casually reached for an omelet from his plate and placed it onto hers.

She blinked.

Her wide, confused eyes shot up to meet his, but he said nothing—just returned to his meal as if nothing had happened.

Her heart did a little flip.

Despite knowing it was all just an act, she couldn't stop the warmth blooming in her chest. Wait... was he still acting? She didn't know anymore.

Whistles erupted from Old Man Yu and Mae, and Claire wished the ground would swallow her whole.

This was so embarrassing.

"So, Claire," Mrs. Yu spoke up, her voice kind, saving her from further teasing. "Do you have any plans for today?"

Claire thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Not really."

It was going to be another uneventful day—just like the past few weeks.

"Don't you have an audition?" Leon asked, his deep voice breaking through the conversation.

Claire blinked at him, caught off guard.

"My assistant contacted your agent," he explained simply.

Realization dawned.

Of course. This was part of their arrangement. Helping her career was expected.

She nodded in understanding. She had almost forgotten about the audition, probably because she had already braced herself for another rejection.

Mae seemed to have read her thoughts. "Don't worry, Claire. I'm sure Big Bro won't let you get rejected again," she said with an encouraging smile. "You've got the talent, and with his connections, you'll definitely succeed."

Claire nodded again, though the idea of relying on Leon's influence didn't sit well with her. She'd always preferred earning things on her own, but she knew better than to let pride get in the way of her goals—especially in the competitive world of entertainment.

After breakfast, Leon and Claire prepared to leave, but not before Mrs. Yu and Mae reminded them to make sure they come home together. She could see through their intentions—they clearly wanted to give the couple more time together.

'Good for me' she thought to herself, she'd been reading an e-book on how to make a man fall for you and had started planning on which suggestions to apply.

She couldn't forget why she was here in the first place.

———

The drive out of Yu's residence was eerily quiet. Claire focused her attention on the scenery outside, letting her thoughts drift. When she arrived in Yu's residence the first time, it had been nighttime, and she hadn't been able to see anything clearly. She also hadn't really thought of venturing out to explore the place. Now that she could, in the light of day, she could truly admire the view, and it was breathtaking.

Yu's residence sat perched atop a hillside, its surroundings dominated by a dense forest. The trees looked ancient and untouched—perhaps a virgin forest, she thought. The sight was serene, almost magical, and for a moment, she felt as though she'd stepped into another world.

She couldn't help but wonder who had decided to build the house here. Whoever it was had impeccable taste. To her astonishment, the Yus owned the entire forest. The thought of such wealth left her speechless; an entire forest belonged to one family.

"What's this place called?" Claire asked, finally breaking the silence. She turned to Leon, her voice curious.

"Snowflake Hill," Leon replied, his tone neutral as he drove steadily down the winding road.

"Why's it called that?" she muttered, placing a thoughtful finger on her chin as she stared out at the towering trees.

"Because the scenery becomes incredibly beautiful when it snows," Leon explained simply, his voice betraying no emotion.

"Wow," Claire murmured, her voice filled with awe. "I wonder whose idea it was to build your house in this forest," she said, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.

"My grandmother and my mother," Leon replied. "They both wanted a place surrounded by nature."

He glanced at her briefly, noting the way her face lit up as she admired the scenery. She had a clear appreciation for nature—something he hadn't expected from her.

Claire nodded slowly, making a mental note to thank Mrs Rinna for creating such a magnificent home. She also resolved to spend more time walking through the forest whenever she got the chance.

As the car emerged from the forest and the sprawling city came into view, Claire couldn't hide her disappointment. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and her expression dimmed. Leon noticed her reaction and chuckled softly, finding it cute, though he didn't comment, his attention returning to the road.

"Where's Levy?" Claire asked, breaking the silence once more. She had expected Leon's assistant to be the one driving as he usually came to the house early to drive Leon to work.

"I asked him to go to the company first," Leon replied. "We have an important meeting this morning, and since I knew I'd be late, I asked him to take my place."

Claire furrowed her brows slightly. "If it was such an important meeting, why didn't you go?" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Leon heard her. He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Claire blinked, the sight of him like that was still new to her and her face heated up as memories of their awkward morning resurfaced. A blush crept up her cheeks. "I-I'm sorry" she stammered, turning her gaze to the window to avoid his eyes.

"Why are you apologising, you needed someone to comfort you when you woke up, I'm glad I was there" he told her "I'll always be there if you need help" he added his voice a soft whisper that wrapped around her like a blanket, comforting her.

Her grip tightened on her lap.

She didn't want to believe he'd delayed his schedule just for her, but his tone held no hint of a joke. Biting her lip to stop herself from smiling, she turned back to the window, pretending to admire the view outside.