Dennis quickly reached out, wrapping his arms around Claire's waist, his hands instinctively supporting her hips.
Before Claire could react, she found herself in his embrace, her arms encircling his waist.
The space between them was almost nonexistent; she could even feel the warmth of Dennis's chest.
"Sorry," Claire said awkwardly, trying to pull away from Dennis's hold.
But he held her tighter, his deep eyes filled with an intense emotion. "Had enough of a hug?"
Under the night sky after the dance, Claire covered her flushed cheeks, embarrassed, and hurriedly escaped from the center of the dance floor, running to a corner of the banquet hall. Her heart was still racing, the feeling of making a fool of herself in front of everyone making it hard to breathe.
At that moment, her eyes accidentally met Dennis's.
He was standing there, dressed in a sharp suit, looking out of place amidst the lively crowd. He had just turned down a girl's invitation to dance, and now his gaze was fixed on her.
Claire suddenly felt exposed, as if Dennis's eyes could see right through her, revealing her inexperience with men.
She instinctively lowered her head, trying to avoid his intense gaze.
"Heading back?" Dennis's voice suddenly sounded in her ear, startling Claire. She looked up quickly. He had somehow already walked up to her, looking at her with a calm expression.
"Yeah, I... I'm not feeling well," Claire stammered, not daring to meet his eyes, afraid she might get lost in their depth.
"Let's go together," Dennis said briefly, then turned and walked towards the exit of the banquet hall.
Claire hesitated for a moment, then hurried to catch up with him.
The night breeze carried the salty scent of the sea, and Claire took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling a bit calmer.
She glanced at the luxury car parked at the entrance and instinctively shook her head. "I can walk back."
Dennis frowned, seeing her determined look, but didn't insist. "Be careful then." He turned to get into the car.
But just as the door was about to close, he changed his mind. "Wait!"
He strode over to Claire. "Let's go back together." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Claire was about to refuse, but he grabbed her wrist. "Don't be stubborn."
However, Claire's stubbornness flared up. She forcefully pulled her hand away from Dennis. "I don't need your help!" She turned and walked briskly towards the beach, intending to walk back along the shore.
Dennis watched her stubborn back, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
He stood silent for a moment, then turned and followed her.
Moonlight spilled over the beach, casting a silver glow on their figures.
They walked one behind the other, neither speaking.
But in the quiet night, they could clearly feel each other's presence.
Claire walked ahead, occasionally glancing back at Dennis.
She suddenly realized that this man wasn't as cold and unfeeling as she had thought.
He followed her silently, not forcing her into the car, nor mocking her.
This made her curious about him.
So she slowed her pace, waiting for Dennis to catch up.
When they walked side by side on the beach, Claire felt an inexplicable sense of security.
She stole a glance at Dennis's profile, noticing his gaze was fixed on the sea ahead.
Moonlight highlighted his chiseled features and strong jawline.
Claire was mesmerized; she had never seen such a handsome man.
At that moment, Dennis seemed to sense her gaze. He turned to look at her, smiling slightly. "What's up?"
Claire's heart raced, her cheeks heating up. She quickly looked away. "N-nothing!" She stammered, then walked faster, trying to hide her flustered state.
But Dennis didn't let her off the hook. He quickly caught up, walking beside her. "Do you like the sea?" He asked, his voice gentle and caring.
Claire paused, then nodded. "Yeah..."
"Then I'll take you to see the sea often," Dennis said with a serious glint in his eyes.
Claire's heart skipped a beat, feeling as if she had been struck by happiness, making her feel light and airy...
Just then, the sound of crashing waves interrupted her thoughts.
She instinctively looked at the sea, seeing the tide rising, a huge wave rushing towards them!
"Watch out!" Dennis shouted, grabbing her hand and shielding her.
They were both swept onto the beach by the wave...
When the wave receded, they were soaked, covered in sand.
Claire lay in Dennis's arms, too shy to look at him, while Dennis stared at her, his eyes burning with intensity...
The sunset cast a golden glow over the sea, the waves shimmering in the breeze.
"Are you an idiot?" Dennis couldn't help but scold.
Claire felt touched but knew she was at fault. She apologized softly, "Sorry, I didn't notice the tide."
Dennis glared at her but said nothing more, just holding her tightly as he walked towards the shore.
Claire pressed against his firm chest, feeling his strong heartbeat and warm body.
Once they reached a safe spot, Dennis let go of Claire and started taking off his shirt.
Claire glanced unintentionally, seeing Dennis's well-defined chest, and her face turned bright red. She quickly turned away, not daring to look again.
After Dennis put on his clothes, he looked at Claire's back, a smile playing on his lips.
He walked up to her, speaking softly, "Let's go back." Claire nodded, and they returned to the villa together.
After showering, Claire lay in bed, reflecting on the day's events, silently vowing to stay in the villa from now on and not cause Dennis any more trouble.
As night fell, the bay's pier was brightly lit.
A yacht slowly docked, and a young girl disembarked, surrounded by people.
Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, her delicate makeup shining in the sunlight, and her white dress fluttered in the evening breeze, making her look like an angel.
"Ms. Thomas, welcome home," a fifty-something servant greeted her with a smile.
Gwyneth Thomas smiled sweetly. "Thank you. Is my dad here?"
"Mr. Thomas has been waiting for you at home."
The servant took Gwyneth's luggage. "By the way, Mr. Thomas asked me to tell you that Raymond's wedding is in a few days, and you must attend."
Gwyneth's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and complex emotions flashing through them, but she quickly regained her composure.
She nodded slightly, speaking calmly, "I see. I heard Raymond's future wife is Melinda? I'm quite curious to meet her."
The servant smiled but said nothing.
They got into the car, heading towards the Thomas Villa.
Inside the car, Gwyneth watched the scenery fly by, her mind plotting something secret.
She clenched her fist lightly, determination and resolve flashing in her eyes. This time, she was determined to make her father see her in a new light!