Chapter 6 Do You Dare to Kiss Her?
- Clara looked at James with shock and disbelief.
- "Chief, I am married. This is inappropriate!"
- "It is only a pretend," James added and looked at her firmly. "It is only to attend a gathering."
- Clara breathed a sigh of relief.
- Since it was only a pretend, Clara felt she could help him.
- "Sure. Remember we have agreed that I am only acting as your girlfriend. Our relationship is not real."
- James grunted in response and smirked.
- The car passed by Sherson Hotel.
- Jon walked out of the hotel with an arm around a beautiful woman.
- He was in a good mood and spoke softly with the woman. Then, he smiled wickedly and kissed the woman on her forehead.
- Clara looked away and leaned against her chair. She was staring ahead calmly.
- She had long grown numb to such pain and felt nothing.
- James brought her to a jetty where a cruise ship docked in the harbor. One could vaguely see the word 'Frazer' on the ship.
- He opened the car door for her and said, "We are here. You are to pretend to be my girlfriend tonight. Once the party ends, we can call it even."
- Since he had spelled out everything clearly, Clara could not reject him. Thus, she hesitated for a moment and got out of the car.
- James placed a hand on her shoulder and held her gently, leaving enough space between them.
- Clara stiffened but did not push him away.
- Since they were faking a relationship, they needed to maintain an appearance.
- They got onto the cruise deck.
- Elias Randel noticed Clara. He came over to them and sighed. "It seems my sister is going to be sad again tonight. Let's go. They are waiting for you."
- James held Clara's shoulder and walked in.
- The cruise set sail, so it wobbled slightly.
- Clara lost her balance, but James quickly grabbed her waist and pulled her into his embrace.
- "I will let go once the ship becomes stable," James said and behaved like the gesture was only to protect her.
- It seemed she had misjudged him. "Thank you."
- Once they walked into the cabin, Elias pulled a woman from the side and said, "Let me introduce you to my sister, Elly Randel."
- Elly glanced at Clara disdainfully before turning to James and said sadly, "How much did you pay this woman to make her agree to help you trick me?"
- James glanced at Elly indifferently. "She is my girlfriend."
- Elly glared at Clara and demanded, "How much did James pay you? I'll pay you ten times more for you to disappear from my sight."
- Clara regarded Elly calmly. Since she had agreed to put up an act with James, she would not give up halfway.
- "He didn't pay me. I'm his girlfriend."
- "You bitch!" Elly raised her hand to slap Clara.
- However, James was quick and grabbed hold of Elly's arm. He gave her a cold glare and warned, "Don't you dare hit her."
- "How can you do this to me? James, I'm your fiancée!" Elly was trembling with fury.
- "I have never regarded you as my fiancée."
- The atmosphere instantly turned tense.
- Elly's eyes were red as she clung onto James' arm. "Do you dare to kiss her? If you do, I will believe she is your girlfriend!"
- James turned silent.
- Elly scoffed and said, "You don't dare, right? You must be acting!"
- James sneered and turned to Clara.
- Clara was frightened by his strange gaze.
- She instinctively took a step back.
- But James pounced forward. Clara immediately felt the pain on her lips, and his unyielding breath against her skin.
- It felt electrifying as their lips touched.
- Clara widened her eyes in shock.
- He… He is overdoing it.
- Clara's heart was beating wildly.
- She pushed at his chest, but he grabbed her hands.
- He dominated their kisses, and he poked her tongue with his.
- His breath blew onto her face. She felt dizzy as he kissed her deeply.
- Clara suddenly remembered the man from three years ago had also forced himself on her.
- He thrust hard into her again and again until her bones felt like it was on the verge of shattering.
- She was in pain for many days.
- Clara began trembling and hitting his back repeatedly.
- Her defensiveness caused his irises to darken.
- Meanwhile, Elly clenched her fist and looked away. She went to the bar and poured herself a glass of wine.
- She was on the verge of going mad from jealousy.
- Thus, Elias sighed and tried to comfort Elly, "Give up. There are many other good men in this world."
- "But none of them is like James." Elly protested and gulped down the wine.
- She looked at Clara enviously and held two bottles of beer. "Hey, woman! Do you dare to bet with me? If you lose, you have to strip naked and dance. Otherwise, you are to scram from James' life."
- Clara looked at Elly.
- "Elly, don't go overboard!" Elias said furiously.
- Elly smashed a bottle of beer and yelled, "I'm talking to her. What does it have to do with you?"
- Clara looked at Elly's crazy behavior and sighed.
- "Fine! I'll drink with you!"
- "Humph, don't blame me for not giving you a chance. We shall each have three bottles of beer. Let's see who among us will finish them faster." Elly said delightedly.
- Clara took a bottle of beer, but James suddenly grabbed her wrist.
- His eyes filled with concern as he said, "Don't play this bet with her!"
- She smiled at him. Her gaze suddenly grew blurry with tears.
- "Don't I have you if I am drunk?" Clara replied softly.
- James was stunned by her trust.
- His gaze darkened as he saw the sadness underneath her graceful facade. He let go of her wrist.
- Clara raised the bottle and gulped down the beer.
- She drank one bottle after another.
- However, she could not swallow fast enough and spilled some beer on her shirt.
- Still, her heart hurt even as she drank.
- After finishing the third bottle of beer, Clara put down the empty bottle and wiped the beer stain from her lips. Her expression fell upon seeing the three empty bottle on Elly's table.
- "I lost." Clara admitted.
- I have lost!
- I should have realized it a long time ago.
- My marriage with Jon is completely doomed!
- Elly looked at Clara mockingly and said, "Do you choose to strip and dance or give up on James. Choose one now! I want to see whether you would choose your dignity or James."
- "That's enough, Elly. Don't you dare mess with her." James shielded Clara behind him.
- Elly widened her bloodshot eyes and insisted, "She chose to bet with me, so she must fulfill its terms!"
- "I'll dance." Clara announced calmly.
- "Music!" Clara shouted.
- The music began.
- Clara walked onto the dance floor and began to dance with the music. She could not stop herself from thinking about Jon bedding his mistresses.
- The thoughts repeatedly wounded her heart.
- Clara lost her inhibitions under the influence of alcohol and stopped caring. She danced to release all her unhappiness.
- "Strip."