At first, Leon was startled by Claire's unexpected hug, but he gradually relaxed, allowing himself to savor the warmth it brought. The sound of the door opening caused Claire to pull away abruptly. Both turned to see Mae, Grandma Yu, and Old Man Yu standing in the doorway, grinning widely.
"We came to check on Leon. Don't mind us—carry on," Grandma Yu teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"No, Grandma, it's not like that!" Claire stammered, her ears burning red with embarrassment.
"You don't need to explain; we get it," Mae chimed in, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Father was so worried about Leon's health that he thought we'd cancel the festival. I guess we don't have to anymore." Her words seemed to remind Old Man Yu of their purpose, and he turned to Leon with concern.
"Son, are you sure you're well enough for us to start the preparations?" he asked, his sharp eyes scanning Leon's face and posture for any sign of lingering weakness.
"Mn, I'm fine, Dad. You can proceed," Leon reassured him calmly.
"Why wouldn't he be fine? Claire's clearly taking excellent care of him," Mae teased, shooting Claire a wink. Flustered, Claire averted her gaze, nervously scratching her neck.
"All right, you two, let's leave them alone. We need to prepare. Claire, stay with Leon—no need to come out. Now, shoo!" Grandma Yu said, shooing her son and granddaughter out of the room.
Left alone, the atmosphere between Leon and Claire turned awkward. After a moment, Leon excused himself to take a shower while Claire busied herself by taking the dishes downstairs. Upon her return, she was surprised to find their room filled with racks of clothing.
She had noticed some designers bringing in garments earlier, but she had assumed they were for Mae. She certainly hadn't expected this.
"Leon, what's all this?" Claire asked, her eyes sweeping over the lavish array of outfits.
"We couldn't go out to pick a dress for the festival because of my health, so I had the best designer shops bring their collections here," Leon explained matter-of-factly, as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Claire stared at him, speechless. "You didn't have to! I already have plenty of clothes from my last shopping trip with Mae," she said awkwardly.
"Mrs. Yu, this is a special occasion," one of the sales ladies interjected, her tone slightly condescending. "You need to look your best to fit in—"
"What are you implying? That she doesn't fit in?" Leon cut her off sharply, his tone cold and authoritative.
"N-no, young master! I only meant that she was rejecting your offer," the lady stammered, bowing her head in panic.
"My wife was talking to me. Who are you to interrupt?" Leon demanded, his deep voice resonating with quiet power.
The sales lady paled, bowing lower. "I'm sorry, young master," she murmured, then turned to Claire with a pleading expression. "I apologize, young madam. I misspoke."
Still reeling from Leon's protective response—and the casual way he'd referred to her as "my wife"—Claire finally snapped out of her daze. Smiling faintly, she said, "It's fine. You're right—I shouldn't reject his offer. I'll try this one." She picked a random dress and hurried into the closet.
The sales ladies sighed in relief as the tension eased, exchanging glances. Leon, seemingly unfazed, was already engrossed in his phone. They had never seen or heard about him getting annoyed, but he actually seemed annoyed right now because someone insulted her.
And she wasn't even someone important, like an heiress, model or star as they had thought when they heard he was married. Sighing again, they all stood there like mannequins while waiting for the young mistress to come out.
Inside the closet, Claire stood before the mirror, absently smoothing the fabric of the dress. Yet, her thoughts were elsewhere. The words my wife echoed in her mind, making her chest tighten. No matter how she tried to rationalize it—telling herself it was just part of their agreement—her heart refused to listen.
"Claire, stop overthinking," she muttered at her reflection. "You're supposed to make him love you, not fall for him yourself." Shaking off the thought, she took a deep breath and stepped out.
By the fifth dress—a red lace gown adorned with delicate embroidery—she caught everyone's attention. The rich crimson fabric complemented her jade-like complexion, making her look almost ethereal.
Leon stilled, his gaze lingering on her as if transfixed. Even the sales ladies, momentarily forgetting themselves, couldn't hide their admiration.
"I really like this one. Is it okay?" Claire asked hesitantly, fiddling with the hem of the dress under Leon's unwavering gaze.
He seemed to snap out of his trance. "Mn. It's good. If you like it, we'll take it."
Her face lit up with a wide smile. "Thank you so much!" She rushed back to change out of it. When she returned, the sales ladies were gone, leaving only Leon and Levy, who appeared to be discussing business.
Excusing herself, Claire headed downstairs to help with the festival preparations. She assisted with setting up chairs, arranging flowers, and other small tasks. As the event drew near, Mae dragged her back to the room, where a personal stylist awaited her.
Claire glanced around for Leon, and a maid informed her that he was getting ready in an adjacent room. Allowing the stylist to work, she was soon dressed in her gown, adorned with jewelry Grandma Yu and Mae had given her, as well as pieces Leon had bought.
Descending the stairs, she caught everyone's attention. She looked so breathtakingly radiant that, for a moment, no one could believe it was her.