"Can I kiss you?" Cynthia asked with a bright smile, locking eyes with Lucian. His eyes widened in surprise.
For a moment, silence fell between them. Then, he softly whispered, "Sure."
Caught off guard by his response, Cynthia stumbled, nearly falling off the wagon. She quickly pulled her hand away from his and grasped the wagon's wooden handle to steady herself.
"What's wrong?" Lucian asked, his expression composed, though amusement flickered in his eyes. He found it rather entertaining to see her so shaken by his answer.
She didn't expect me to agree, did she?
His suspicion was correct. Cynthia had been faking her affection every time she was near him. She had no real intention of kissing him.
Forcing an awkward laugh to mask her discomfort, Cynthia climbed down from the carriage. Once she stood on the grass, she looked up at him—her expression hardening as if she were preparing for battle.
