Claudia Wants to Cancel the Engagement

At the station of Seeeasti.

a girl clad in a white tee and jeans made her way out.

She was a vision of freshness. Her hair cascading down, framed a face brightened by radiant eyes. Her nose was stately. Her lips, akin to cherries. Even unadorned, her visage shone.

“Claudia? I'm Elliot, the driver of the Walker’s.”

Claudia nodded, an air of nonchalance about her as she wearily followed the driver.

As they left the station, Elliot couldn’t help but steal glances at her resting her eyes in the backseat.

So this is Zak’s betrothed.

Zak Walker, the formidable president of Walker Holdings. 21 and already known for his decisive and adept strategies, he commanded respect and fear in the world of business.

Many years prior, his grandpa Archie had betrothed him to Claudia, who is just an ordinary rural girl.

Observing her innocent countenance, Elliot said inwardly, "It's hard for a Cinderella to marry into the Walker."

Yet Claudia opened her eyes to the unfamiliar cityscape, her expression tranquil.

The car soon arrived at the Walker's, Elliot attended to Claudia’s luggage.

As they stepped inside, they were met with an imperious woman at the door who regarded Claudia with disdain.

“Heather.”

“I'm here, Madam.”

The maid, Heather, wielded a bottle of disinfectant, dousing Claudia from head to toe.

Zak's mom, Mollie, added, “And the shoes, the hair.”

As the pungent odor assailed her, Claudia shielded her face,“Are you insane?”

Her words incited Mollie’s ire.

“Where are your manners? We are just worrying you might carry viruses and get us infected.”

Usually, Claudia would have turned on her heel and left. But not today.

“Then perhaps, your mouth requires a spray as well, for it reeks…”

With that, Claudia strode into the residence.

Mollie was irate. Heather moved to console her.

Within the house, another girl of Claudia’s age cast a scornful look.

“So, you’re my cousin’s betrothed, Claudia?” Gemma asked, eyeing Claudia’s nondescript apparel with disdain. “Archie has surely lost his touch. I heard you came by train, why don't you take a plane? Oh, there is no airport in the countryside.”

What a moron.

Did insolence run in their family?

Indeed, there is no airport in the countryside, yet her dear grandfather had reserved an entire train. A luxury lost on Claudia who traveled alone.

If she wanted, a private plane would have whisked her to her destination.

Claudia found it fruitless to explain, ascending the staircase without further engagement.

Snubbed, Gemma’s face turned ashen with anger as she followed.

“Where is my room?” inquired Claudia, turning to the maid trailing her.

Before the maid could respond, Gemma interjected: “This way.”

She flung open a door proclaiming, “You’ve likely never known such grandeur. Cherish your days here. I'm Gemma, Zak’s cousin. So, you must please me…”

Gemma’s words hung unfinished. Claudia had already closed the door behind her with a resounding slam.

“A country girl with such insolence. What was grandfather thinking?” raged Gemma.

The maid murmured, “But this is Zak’s room...”

Gemma glanced dismissively at the closed door.

“Hold your tongue. Zak detests others entering his room. ”

A gleam of cunning shone in Gemma’s eyes.

Claudia did not realize she had entered Zak’s room. The men’s toiletries in the bathroom made her think it symbolized that this family did not welcome her.

Yet her wager with her grandfather only required her to stay for three months. If she still has no affection towards Zak after that, their betrothal would be annulled.

Having bathed and consumed the supper provided, Claudia succumbed to a heavy slumber.

At midnight, Zak returned from his social engagements.

Aware of Claudia’s arrival, Archie had requested Zak to pick her up. But he declined under the pretext of work. He held no interest for his fiancée, and he deemed their arranged marriage inevitably void.

After a bath, Zak went to bed.

Perhaps due to the excess of drink, it wasn’t until he lay down that he noticed the unexpected presence of another woman.

In the darkness, the visage of her was indiscernible to Zak. She embraced herself, murmuring tenderly—“Behave, my little bear, slumber now.”

Zak was paralyzed with shock.

The scent emanating from her was strikingly familiar…

In his intoxicated state, Zak holding Claudia, fell into sleep.

That night, he did not suffer from insomnia as usual.

Within his dream, he revisited a moment from a decade past: in a dim chamber, a young girl cradled him, her voice nascent yet reassuring, “Don't fear, for I am formidable and will protect you.”

Zak dreamed that he had found her.

The next morning.

Gemma heard no reports from the maids of Claudia being expelled from Zak’s room.

Why? Zak did not returned yesterday night? Yet his car was in the garage.

They might have shared the night…

Unable to contain her curiosity, Gemma rapped on the door, “Zak, rise swiftly!”

The commotion rousted the pair from their deep sleep. Claudia, realizing she nestled in an embrace, was suddenly wide awake.

Rising from the bed, she inquired in surprise, “Who are you?”

Zak’s gaze grew somber.

“You must be Claudia.”

Claudia surmised this man was Zak, but what brought him to her bed? She craved an explanation.

Before she could receive one, he remarked caustically, “To ascend my bed on your very first night, you're trying way too hard.”

He thinks she's seducing him?

Is he a paranoia?

However, recalling the men's supplies, she figured out that Gemma did it intentionally.

Claudia walked out of bed and spoke coldly, “Firstly, I did not plan to seduce you. It was Gemma who informed me this was my room. I'm not interested in you at all, Zak.”

“Secondly, as I was already asleep upon your return, did you not perceive another human being in your bed? And yet, you embraced me throughout the night. Are you sure you want to blame me for this?”

Zak’s visage darkened further. The memories of the preceding night flooding his mind, rendered him speechless.

Meeting Claudia’s gaze, he was momentarily dumbfounded.

Those eyes, so reminiscent of her…

Observing this, Claudia offered a mocking smile.

“What? Are you in love with me already?”

Regaining his composure, Zak coolly commanded, “Get out, and never enter this room again.”

Claudia made no delay in collecting her belongings and departing.

Their first encounter was mutually distasteful.

Gemma, witnessing Claudia’s departure, was astounded.

With a smile, Claudia greeted, “Good morning! As you wished, Zak and I shared the night. We get along well.”

“You are lying,” Gemma retorted, her expression ashen.

Zak could not possibly fancy Claudia.

Yet the irrefutable truth lay before her: Claudia had indeed spent the night with Zak.