If she hadn't met Melinda, Claire thought, she might still be waiting foolishly back home, and Dennis would never return. The thought made her even sadder, and tears streamed uncontrollably through her fingers as she cried like a child.
Dennis turned around and saw her in this state. "Hey, why are you crying?" he asked softly, but Claire told him to leave her alone.
She even pushed away his hand when he tried to wipe her tears, creating a distance that left Dennis feeling frustrated.
"Alright, I'll have someone prepare a late-night snack," Dennis said, thoughtfully placing a box of tissues next to Claire. "Cry if you need to. Call me if you need anything." Claire couldn't help but feel that he still remembered her, but the thought of his wedding the day after tomorrow made her cry even more.
After the servants prepared two light and delicious snacks, Dennis knocked on the door again. Claire, now in her pajamas, hobbled over to open it.
Dennis reached out to help her, but she quickly pulled her hand back when she saw the servants behind him.
Dennis didn't mind and gently took her arm again.
Claire was starving and quickly finished her snack. After the servants cleared the plates and left, Dennis, who had no appetite, asked her again, "Do you really have a boyfriend? When are you planning to get married?"
Claire answered each question, and Dennis seemed a bit upset by her responses. He bit his lip and clenched his jaw, his emotions visibly turbulent. "I hope you’ll be happy after getting married," he muttered, then left, leaving Claire feeling incredibly lonely as she lay in bed, unable to sleep all night.
The next morning, Cleo came to see Claire. After introducing herself, she sat down and noticed Claire's injured leg. "What happened to your leg?" she asked. Claire hinted that it was Ivy's doing.
Cleo bluntly said, "I know about you and Dennis. Don't cause any trouble that would hinder Ivy's happiness." She even pointed out that Claire wasn't on the guest list and threatened to report her as an intruder if she didn't leave. Cleo then offered two million dollars as a breakup fee.
Claire refused and was then sternly told to leave that day, or Cleo would tell Qiana that she was trying to seduce Dennis and ruin the wedding.
Claire tried to explain that Dennis had arranged for her to be there and that her leg injury was Ivy's fault, but Cleo called her shameless.
In the end, Claire promised to attend the wedding and then return home, never to come back.
Cleo was skeptical but warned her, "If you don't keep your promise, I won't let you off easily." After Cleo left, Claire felt a mix of relief and bitterness.
She thought it might be better not to attend the wedding banquet tomorrow, as she couldn't bear to watch Dennis marry someone else.
After Cleo left, Claire felt extremely low, as if a heavy stone was pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Claire, feeling weak, went to open it, only to see Dennis standing outside. She instantly broke down, tears streaming uncontrollably, and she quickly slammed the door shut, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle her sobs.
Dennis had come to kindly remind her to come down for lunch, but he was met with a closed door. His brows furrowed tightly, and he continued to knock.
Claire responded through the door, "I don't want to eat. Just leave me alone."
Dennis was initially annoyed but then softened his tone, "Are you feeling unwell? Do you need to see a doctor?"
When Claire didn't respond, he asked the servants if anyone had visited her recently.
Upon learning that Cleo had been there, he was slightly taken aback, not understanding why Cleo had come.
He instructed the servants, "Keep an eye on Claire and let me know if anyone comes or if she leaves the room."
The servants agreed, secretly noting that Dennis seemed to care more about Claire than Ivy.
Meanwhile, in the guest room, Melinda sat on the couch, knowing that Dennis had lost his memory due to someone's meddling. She couldn't help but marvel at the audacity of the Price family to use such underhanded tactics against the Gonzalez family. If it hadn't been discovered, Dennis and the entire Gonzalez family's future would have been controlled by the Price family.
Just then, Melinda's phone rang. It was Claire, saying she wanted to come over. Raymond reminded her not to tell Claire about this yet and to keep it a secret.
Melinda agreed, and Raymond, feeling he had spoken too harshly, got up to escort her. As they left, he held her hand and half-embraced her shoulder to apologize.
Melinda assured him she wasn't angry. With the servant's guidance, she met Claire in the garden.
Claire affectionately linked arms with Melinda, but Melinda noticed her red, swollen eyes, as if she had been crying. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I just want to go back home," Claire replied, though she didn't get the answer she wanted.
Melinda comforted her, telling her not to be too pessimistic. Claire gave a bitter smile.
"How's Dennis been acting lately?" Claire asked, thinking about how she had just shut Dennis out and regretted her impulsiveness.
As they walked in the garden, their bond grew closer, like sisters. Melinda, who had been cautious about friendships after past betrayals, now trusted Claire like a sister, thinking that if Claire married Dennis, they would be family. Raymond and Dennis were good friends, after all.
After their chat, Melinda went back, and Claire returned to her room. Having skipped lunch, her stomach ached with hunger.
When Dennis returned, the first thing he asked the servants was if Claire had eaten. Learning that she hadn't, he ordered dinner to be prepared and told the servants to inform Qiana that he wouldn't be joining her for dinner.
Hearing a knock, Claire thought it was a servant. She opened the door and was surprised to see Dennis. He stepped in, not allowing her to close the door, and asked irritably, "Are you on a diet or something? You need to eat."
Just as Claire was about to retort, her stomach growled, making her blush with embarrassment.
Seeing this, Dennis's lips curled into a smile, the most expressive he'd been in days. "Come on, let's go to the dining room," he said, reaching out to take her hand.
Claire, flustered, tried to pull her hand back. "I can walk on my own," she said, worried the servants would report to Cleo. But Dennis held on tightly, leading her to the dining room.
In the dining room, under the crystal chandelier, the candlelight flickered, and the fresh red roses from the garden filled the air with a heady fragrance. Claire was momentarily dazed, feeling like this dinner was a romantic candlelit dinner for lovers.
The servants quickly served a sumptuous meal. Dennis ate elegantly, his eyes fixed on Claire, as if supervising her to finish her plate.
Claire was indeed hungry and didn't hold back, eating heartily.
Meanwhile, Qiana was disappointed to learn that Dennis wouldn't be joining her for dinner. She had important things to discuss, with the wedding the next day. She reflected on Dennis's recent coldness, wondering if she had been too strict. She asked the servants if Dennis was dining with Ivy.
The servants, not wanting to anger Qiana, had previously hidden Claire's presence. They had no choice but to report that Dennis was dining with another guest. Qiana was shocked and asked who it was. Learning it was Claire, who was staying in the room next to Dennis's, she grew even more puzzled, not understanding Dennis's intentions.
With the wedding the next day, was he planning to cause a scandal by running away? Dennis stubbornly insisted Claire have a drink.
Claire wanted to refuse, but Dennis firmly gripped her wrist, pulling her towards the wine cellar.