Love in Deceit; When Duty meets Desire

The soft light of dawn spilled into the room, highlighting the faint outlines of the furniture and casting a golden glow across the bed. Leon stirred awake, his sharp mind already alert despite having just woken up. He blinked a few times, clearing his blurry vision, and was about to rise when he noticed something unusual.

Something warm and unfamiliar was pressed against his side.

His muscles tensed instinctively as he glanced down, his gray eyes narrowing in confusion. There, curled up against him, was Claire.

She was fast asleep, her expression serene, completely unaware of her position. One of her arms draped across his chest, her head nestled just below his shoulder, while her legs tangled lightly with his. Her hair, slightly tousled, spilled over his arm, brushing softly against his skin.

For a moment, Leon froze, his breath hitching as he tried to make sense of the situation. His first instinct was to move—to carefully free himself from her hold—but something made him pause. Claire, who was always so guarded and distant around him, looked utterly vulnerable in sleep.

Her soft breaths fanned against his shirt, and his eyes lingered on her face. The slight crease between her brows hadn't smoothed even in rest, hinting the amount of stress she carried. His gaze traced the curve of her cheek and the way her lips parted ever so slightly as she exhaled.

How did this happen? he wondered.

He tried to recall the events of the night before, but there had been nothing out of the ordinary. They'd gone to bed after his little narration with an agreement to keep to their respective sides. Yet, at some point during the night, she had drifted closer.

Leon considered waking her but then halted. He remembered how exhausting her day had been yesterday—registering their marriage, shopping, and then dinner with his family. She deserved the rest. For reasons he didn't care to analyze, he decided to stay still, his expression blank as he watched her sleep.

Claire murmured something inaudible in her sleep and shifted slightly, snuggling closer. The warmth of her body seeped through his shirt, impossible to ignore. He glanced at the clock. It was time to get up, but as he carefully reached to remove her hand, she stirred.

Her lashes fluttered as her eyes opened slowly, confusion clouding her gaze. Then, realization dawned, and her body stiffened. She quickly pulled away, her face flushing a deep crimson.

"I—I didn't mean to…" she stammered, sitting up abruptly and avoiding his gaze.

Leon sat up as well, adjusting his shirt with practiced ease. "It's fine," he said coolly, his tone neutral as ever. "You were asleep."

Claire bit her lip, clearly embarrassed "I must've moved without realizing. I'm sorry," she explained, cursing herself inwardly. She always stirred in her sleep, but she hadn't expected to feel so comfortable around Leon that she'd move into his arms on the very first night.

He looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Don't apologize," he said finally, his tone softer than usual. "It happens

The words hung in the air, neither of them sure how to navigate the awkwardness that followed, until Claire looked away.

Claire busied herself with smoothing the covers, while Leon swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, heading to the bathroom. "Breakfast is in an hour," he said, his back to her. "Get ready."

The door clicked shut behind him, and the sound of running water filled the room. Claire let out a long, shaky breath and buried her burning face in her hands, groaning softly.

Soon, he was done freshening up and she went in to do the same.

---

Claire stepped out of the bathroom a little while later, dressed in a loose yellow shirt and blue jean shorts. She made her way downstairs to find the family already gathered around the dining table.

Her gaze instinctively sought Leon, and the sight of him made her pause.

He looked every bit the powerful businessman in his tailored suit. The charcoal-gray fabric fit him perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders and lean frame. Underneath, a crisp white shirt added a sharp, clean contrast, while a navy-blue tie with subtle stripes gave him an air of quiet authority.

His dark hair was neatly styled, highlighting the sharp angles of his face—high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and stormy gray eyes that seemed to see through everything, taking in everything without giving anything away.. A pair of silver cufflinks gleamed at his wrists, simple yet striking, exuding a calm confidence that made heads turn and left no doubt—he was a man in control.

Every movement was precise, his jawline, strong and clean-shaven, moved slightly as he chewed. Claire realized she had been staring too long when his gaze shifted to hers. For a moment, their eyes locked, and she felt an unsettling flutter in her chest. She quickly looked away, as she greeted everyone.

She could sense that they were all watching her admiring Leon because of those mischievous glint in their eyes, causing her to smile sheepishly, like a teenager caught by her parents admiring her idol.

"Come on Claire, have a seat and eat" Old man Yu said cheerfully, sitting on the head of the table, his aura though calm, still gave that vibe of a powerful man.

Flustered, she immediately walked and sat down beside Leon, she smiled faintly and reached for her utensils, only to have Leon place an omelet on her plate.

Despite knowing he was acting, her heart still did a little flip as she ate.

"So, Claire," Mrs. Yu began, her tone kind, "do you have any plans for today?"

Claire thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Not really," she replied.

"Don't you have an audition?" Leon asked, his deep voice breaking through the chatter. Claire blinked as she stared at him, caught off guard.

"My assistant contacted your agent," he explained simply.

Realization hit her. Of course, helping her career was part of their arrangement. She nodded in understanding, She'd almost forgotten the audition, likely because she expected yet another rejection.

Mae seemed to have read her thoughts. "Don't worry, Claire. I'm sure Big Bro won't let you get rejected again," she said with an encouraging smile. "You've got the talent, and with his connections, you'll definitely succeed."

Claire nodded again, though the idea of relying on Leon's influence didn't sit well with her. She'd always preferred earning things on her own, but she knew better than to let pride get in the way of her goals—especially in the competitive world of entertainment.

After breakfast, Leon and Claire prepared to leave, but not before Mrs. Yu and Mae reminded them to stop by the market for festival supplies. She knew they could've easily sent the maids so she could see through their intentions—they clearly wanted to give the couple more time together.

'Good for me' she thought to herself, she'd been reading an e-book on how to make a man fall for you and had started planning on which suggestions to apply.

She couldn't forget why she was here in the first place.