Chapter 4

Back at Brooke’s villa, as I was about to enter my room, she stopped me.

Without a word, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed me.

“Mmm—”

I tried to pull away, but she firmly wrapped her arms around my neck.

She pressed me against her with surprising strength, cupping my jaw, and assertively, without question, pushed her tongue into my mouth. It was so intense I felt my breath catching. Slowly, she guided my hand, inviting it to trace downwards and part her legs.

But for some reason, she stopped the movement between her legs.

After a long moment, she pulled away, stroking my face and whispering, “We took a step forward today, didn’t we? We can get to know each other more and more.”

I looked up at her, dazed.

Her actions seemed to completely contradict what her best friend had said.

I didn’t understand her.

Clara and I had vastly different family backgrounds, and she had worked hard, step by step, to make me accept her.

Later, I met some of her friends, a group of socialites and trust fund kids, especially Brooke.

Brooke hated me, looked down on me—it was a known fact within their circle.

She always treated my relationship with Clara with a hint of disdain.

In the past, I’d always tried to avoid her.

But after my ‘amnesia,’ when Clara forcibly paired Brooke and me as a couple,

Brooke kept taking advantage of the situation.

Was she doing it to get back at Clara for setting us up?

…

My design job was pretty flexible, so I often worked from home.

Brooke knocked and came in. “Hard at work, huh? There are fireworks tonight, let’s go see them.”

When we arrived at the lake where the fireworks were being set off, Clara and Lucas were already standing in the best spot, watching the grand display.

Lucas, with Clara leaning against him, suddenly kissed her on the cheek, his eyes full of tenderness.

Clara smiled back at him, gently smoothing his messy hair.

Then she turned and saw us.

Clara saw me, and for a fleeting moment, she stiffened and looked flustered. But then she pretended as if nothing had happened.

Lucas also saw us. “You guys made it.”

“Asher, can you do me a favor and take some pictures of Clara and me?”

Lucas called out, walking over and handing me his phone.

Clara’s face faltered for a second, then she glanced at me.

“I’m so happy today! Clara set off these fireworks just for me. I want to remember this moment forever,” Lucas said, standing next to Clara and gazing at her with deep affection.

Clara’s expression softened, and she hugged him.

My hand, holding Lucas’s phone, paused.

So, today was Clara’s grand fireworks display for Lucas.