The relationship between their families was already hanging by a thread. Neither side could handle another round of drama.
"So if I agree to this engagement, there's no backing out, right?" Claire caught the implication in his words.
"That's right." Dane didn't hesitate.
Claire tilted her head, thinking. "Let me give it some thought."
Dane watched her, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Alright."
She frowned, clearly weighing her options. She seemed lost in thought for so long that Dane started to wonder if she would turn him down. Who could blame her? This whole thing was a mess left behind by their parents. Claire had been switched at birth and never felt any real love from her biological family. As for her adoptive parents, it was hard to say if they'd ever truly cared for her. After the truth came out about the switch, the James family treated her completely differently.
"It feels a bit like emotional blackmail, you know?" Claire finally broke the silence. "My dad did steal the woman who was supposed to marry Ablett. Handing me over as some kind of repayment almost makes sense."
She sighed. “But I don't like being tied down. If your family wants the perfect, traditional daughter-in-law, I'm not your girl." She wanted to be honest from the start. Dane let out a soft laugh. “My family doesn't have any special expectations for you."
It wasn't that they didn't care about their daughter-in-law, just that Claire was already more than enough. Baldrick liked her a lot.
"Oh, really? So... if we do get engaged, I get to decide when we actually get married?"
Dane nodded. "Yes, that's up to you."
"Alright then," Claire shrugged, "I'll pay off my dad's debt."
"You're actually willing?" Dane sounded surprised.
Claire shot him a look. "If I wasn't, do you think we'd even be having this conversation?"
Dane went quiet for a moment. "You can take your time. No one's going to force you."
Claire burst out laughing. “There's nothing to think about."
Just when Dahe thought she might refuse, Claire added, "You're good-looking, rich, and run your own company. You don't have to answer to anyone You're mature and dependable. That's a hundred times better than my ex-fiancé. Honestly, I'm not getting the short end of the stick here."
So this was how she made her decision? Dane looked at her, seeing nothing but sincerity on her face.
After a brief pause, he agreed, “Yeah, I am better than your ex.”
He couldn't help feeling a little disdain for her ex-fiancé. Thank goodness they'd
been switched at birth. Otherwise, what kind of man just stands by while his fiancée gets bullied?
Meanwhile, Baldrick and Padgett had no idea that while they'd been arguing, the younger generation had already settled the engagement.
"Wait, Claire, you're really agreeing to this?" Padgett looked at his daughter in disbelief. Was Dane just that chạmming? He was handsome, after all, and who knows how many girls he'd swept off their feet. Maybe Claire was just another one who fell for his face.
Baldrick seemed to be thinking the exact same thing. He winked at Dane like he'd cracked some sort of code. He'd always said it—the women in the James family couldn't resist a good-looking guy.
Dane turned his face away, pretending not to notice. He'd changed into nicer clothes after Claire called, not just his usual home outfit. Sure, it was basic manners, but there was no denying Claire appreciated it.
Padgett finally relented. "Well, if you're both okay with it, then I have no objections."
He already felt bad for how things had ended with the Green family. That was why he'd handed over those rare herbs so quickly when they asked. Now that Claire was willing to go through with the engagement he was happy to lef things play out.
Just then, a housekeeper came in and announced, "Sir, Achilles and Latonia are
here to see you."