Ava Sterling found herself at a loss for words, forced to admit that Nathan Ford's talent for spouting nonsense was unparalleled.
"I don't need your help," Ava Sterling declared, infuriated.
Nathan Ford couldn't help but burst into laughter at Ava's statement, finding immense joy in her frustration. One was elated beyond measure, while the other was on the brink of madness.
"Nathan Ford, even if I wanted to have children, it wouldn't be with you, because you're unclean. Besides, if I really wanted a child, I think I have a great idea. You could have one with Iris Hart, and then we could say it's ours. In the meantime, I could just play along. After all, we won't be together for long, and letting things take their natural course afterward doesn't sound too bad, does it?" Ava Sterling thought her idea was brilliant, applauding her own ingenuity.
Dirty? The word made Nathan Ford's brows furrow in displeasure. He got up from the bed, walked over to Ava Sterling, and stared at her intently. "I'm dirty?" He had intended to tease Ava Sterling, but it dawned on him that she might genuinely find him repulsive. Did she believe that Nathan Ford was unworthy of Ava Sterling?
Suddenly, Ava Sterling sensed a shift in the atmosphere. The temperature around them seemed to drop instantly. She realized that no one likes to be called dirty, even if it's true. Saying it out loud might indeed be unpleasant. Their usual banter, though heated, had never taken such a serious turn.
Ava Sterling knew she had misspoken, but there was no taking back her words. Being a pragmatist, she understood that this was not the time to be confrontational with Nathan Ford, as it would only be to her detriment.
"Uh, about that...I think you're right. Since I promised Grandpa, I should indeed follow through. It wouldn't be right to deceive an elderly person. But, think about it, our last encounter was a bit...," Ava Sterling delicately tried to broach the topic of their previous intimate moment, yet felt too embarrassed to speak openly.
"It seems it wasn't the best, was it? I believe we need to prepare a bit more this time," Ava Sterling admitted reluctantly.
"Oh?" Hearing Ava Sterling's suggestion, Nathan Ford's interest was piqued once again. He wanted to see what kind of scheme this woman was plotting. Narrowing his eyes, he reminisced about their last time together, an accident he hadn't anticipated would leave Ava Sterling with such a psychological impact. Nathan Ford felt a twinge of guilt about that.
With this realization, much of Nathan Ford's anger dissipated.
"So, this is like the official time, right? I was thinking, can we not make it so casual? Everything should have a sense of ceremony, don't you think? I feel like I need to take a shower, change my clothes, and get dressed up. This way, we can also increase our efficiency..." Ava Sterling didn't even realize what she was saying. Discussing such a sensitive matter openly with a man, and doing so seriously, was something only she and Nathan Ford, a true oddity, would do.
Efficiency? The word sent a surge of disbelief through Nathan Ford, yet he was also curious about what Ava Sterling could possibly come up with next.
"I think what you're saying makes a lot of sense," Nathan Ford said, stroking his chin and nodding in agreement.
"Could you step out for a moment so I can change my clothes?" Ava Sterling asked tentatively, fearing that any misstep might cause the fickle Nathan Ford to change his mind.
Nathan Ford remained silent, ultimately deciding to leave the room to maintain his dignity, rather than appear overeager or lecherous towards Ava Sterling.
As Nathan Ford stepped out, Ava Sterling felt a wave of relief and quickly locked the door behind him.
That's when Nathan Ford realized he had been tricked, knowing it couldn't have been that simple.