The call connected almost instantly.

"This is room one. I need dinner for two delivered within thirty minutes." His voice shifted seamlessly into the commanding tone. "Grilled lamb chops with rosemary and butter. Truffle risotto. Pan-seared salmon with lemon and capers. A Caesar salad. Roasted vegetables with herbs. Fresh bread. Sparkling water. And a bottle of the 2015 Burgundy."

He paused, listening with an expression that suggested he expected nothing less than perfection.

"And a dessert platter. Whatever the pastry chef recommends."

"Is that all, Sir?"

"That is all."

He ended the call without a farewell, set the phone down on the marble coffee table with quiet finality, and lowered himself onto the sectional sofa. He settled back effortlessly, one arm stretching along the backrest, his long legs crossed at the ankle. There was nothing casual about the way he sat.

Then he asked Cixi. "Sit," inviting her to take a seat.

Cixi’s gaze flickered to the sofa. Cassian occupied the right end. The entire left side remained empty. The armchair across from the sofa looked. more comfortable and had a respectable distance, separated by a polished coffee table.

She chose the armchair rather than sit next to Cassian.

She lowered herself into it carefully, adjusting the padded belly beneath her loose clothing with a subtle touch before settling back. Her hands folded over the silicone curve, as though protecting something real. She couldn’t even understand why she was acting like a pregnant woman in front of Cassian when they both knew she wasn’t. The chair was deep, far softer than anything she had sat on all day, and for the first time since morning, her spine eased against support that did not demand endurance.

Across from her, Cassian watched her closely.

His dark eyes narrowed just slightly, not enough for anyone unfamiliar with him to notice, but enough to suggest that he did not like something. The faintest twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth out of suspicion, but he decided to watch Cixi for a while until she finished her dinner.

"Why are you sitting all the way over there?"

It took a while before Cixi could come up with a good excuse for why she was sitting next to him. Her eyes darted between the sofa and him, and when she was ready with the right answer, she parted her lips to spit a lie. "I need more space to sit comfortably."

She placed both hands deliberately over her belly and adjusted her posture, as though the belly required accommodation. "Because of this."

For a moment, there was silence, and Cassian watched her with pointed pleasure.

A small, wide smile spread across Cassian’s face. "Pathetic excuse. You need to do better than this. Why do I get a feeling you are turning into a pathological liar?"

The words landed like a slap. "Since we met, I have only heard lies from your lips. I think I need to do something about it. Good girl is turning into a bad girl, and she is enjoying doing it."

"I am not a pathological liar!" How dare he call her that? "It’s because of you that I am in this getup. Ever since I met you, I have lied more than I ever did in my whole twenty years. Don’t call me a pathological liar."

Cassian leaned forward, the intensity in his eyes suggesting he was challenging Cixi. "No one is here, yet you still wear the silicone belly. Why? If you truly loved me, there would be every reason for you to be by my side. All I see is a lie meant to make me sign a contract," saying that he leaned back like a lion caught the mouse, feeling satisfied.

"I am upset with you. That is why. Even someone who loves you has the right to be upset. It’s not always roses, Mr Don... I mean Cassian." Cixi decided to tell another lie.

"Take the belly off, make yourself comfortable... and sit here... next to me."

He tapped the cushion beside him just as he did in the car, possessively.

Cixi stared at him first.

Her mind raced with every possible answer, only for them to collapse within seconds.

If she refused, he would question why she truly loved him.

If she removed it and stayed away, he would question why her actions don’t match her words.

If she insisted on distance, it would contradict everything she had claimed about loving him.

There was no escape from him. He simply arranged the situation so that every path led to him.

Cixi cursed him silently in sheer frustration. She stood and started to look for the bathroom door.

"It’s there." Cassain showed her using a long finger.

Her movements were stiff as she walked toward the bathroom. She glanced at him once before opening the door and stepping inside. Once there, she reached beneath her loose clothing, and it took her a moment to peel the silicone belly away from her skin. She winced, though she refused to make a sound.

She rolled the belly into a compact shape, pushed it into her backpack, and zipped it shut.

When she turned back, her stomach looked flat even under the oversized fabric of her dress.

Cassian’s gaze followed her through the change without interruption.

Cixi walked to the sofa and sat beside him as he wanted.

Not close enough to touch but close enough. Her hands rested in her lap, fingers clasped tightly together.

"Better," Cassian murmured, and Cixi heard it clearly.

Soon, the doorbell rang, catching Cassian’s and Cixi’s attention. As soon as the door opened, the chef entered, followed by another chef pushing a dining cart.

Mr. Crown, I am glad to hear you finally ordered food from the restaurant. That is why I came myself with the meal." He bowed after finishing his sentence.

"Yes, my fiancée was very hungry, and I decided to let her taste the best food from my restaurant, taken care of by you, Chef."

The chef smiled and then bowed toward Cixi. He, too, had heard about the rumoured fiancée, and today he finally got to see her.

"I will not take more of your time. Please enjoy your meal."

With that, the chef left.