Part 40

They really went back to the inn. Gian parked his car in a different spot because the original one had been taken by another vehicle. One by one, the group got out, murmuring their thanks.

Claire and Bella returned to their room. Claire didn't care where Abigail was going to sleep because, clearly, it was the responsibility of the ones who brought her to fully accommodate her.

"What's wrong with you? Why have you looked upset since earlier?" Bella asked shortly after their room door closed.

"Nothing," Claire replied flatly. She took off her t-shirt and jeans, replacing them with her sleepwear. Bella did the same.

"Who is it that you don't like? From what I know, you're close with Sir Altezza. Sir Antony's child gets along well with Abigail, so I thought your relationship with Sir Antony would be fine too. So, who is it you don't like? Gian? He may seem carefree and look like a playboy, but so far, I've seen him act politely."

Instead of answering Bella's comment, Claire shot her friend a sharp look. As a result, Bella felt awkward and turned away. Claire and her emotions were certainly not easy to understand or manage.

Claire herself was confused about her behavior. She didn't want to come off as too confident. Whether or not Antony liked her, she knew she should be acting much better than this.

Even Claire didn't know what made her so emotional. Was it because Antony was openly trying to get close to her, or was it because she knew he was also seeing other women at the same time?

Jealous? No. Claire simply thought that he was a playboy who liked to toy with women, and she didn't like that.

Claire tried to sleep. The cold air of Chand's hometown made her drowsy, and slowly but surely, she drifted into a deep sleep.

In another room

"So?" Gian looked at Altezza. The man was casually absorbed in his tablet, completely ignoring Gian's question. "Who's upset with whom?" he asked again, glancing back and forth between Antony and Altezza.

"Claire. And she's upset with Antony," Altezza replied flatly.

"Why?" Gian didn't understand.

"Antony's playing with fire," Altezza replied again. He placed his tablet beside him before leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest. "Our dear Sir Antony here has been caught by his 'prey' while trying to steal her attention."

Gian frowned. "Whose attention is he trying to steal?"

"Claire's, of course," Altezza answered, irritated.

"Oh." Gian nodded in understanding. "So, where's the problem?"

"The problem is that our cousin here is going about it all wrong."

"What exactly is he doing wrong? Please explain it in terms I can understand," Gian pleaded with a helpless tone.

Altezza looked at Gian and chuckled. "Well, our billionaire cousin here, the widower, is trying to get close to Claire by using Flavia as an excuse. Also, he's approaching Claire while his relationship with another woman hasn't fully ended yet."

Antony, who had been standing on the balcony, turned around. "Don't be foolish, Al. You know there's nothing between Anastasia and me," he retorted, irritated.

Altezza shrugged indifferently. "That's what 'we' know, although I have no idea what you two do behind closed doors," he said with a mocking tone.

"Are you accusing me of something with Anastasia?" Antony shot back, clearly agitated.

Altezza shrugged again. "Whatever's going on between you and Anastasia is none of my business," he replied in the same flat tone. "What you do with her behind the scenes isn't my concern either," he continued. "The issue here is that Claire feels like she's being played. Even before you said or explained anything, she's already assumed the worst about you."

Antony furrowed his brow, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Don't you realize that Claire doesn't like you?" Altezza asked.

"I've noticed. She's been acting aggressive all day. How can you even like a woman like that?" Gian asked, puzzled.

"Shut up, Gian!" Antony hissed angrily. Gian immediately looked at his older cousin and mimed zipping his lips with his thumb and index finger.

Altezza burst out laughing. Bringing Gian to America was definitely the right move; their youngest cousin sure knew how to push people's buttons.

Altezza turned to Antony. "She doesn't like you because you're using your daughter as an excuse to get close to her. She doesn't like you because you're trying to pursue her while you're still involved with another woman. And she doesn't like you because you're using her niece as a way to approach her."

"Even if she knows you've broken up with Anastasia, she'll still be suspicious because there's hardly any gap between your breakup with her and your approach to Claire. And to women, that feels the same as being 'easily swayed.' And you know what thoughts cross their pretty minds?

'If he can forget his ex that easily, he'll do the same to me.' That's one example.

Another example is, 'He's a man who falls in love too easily. Tomorrow or the day after, he'll leave me if he finds someone else more interesting.' That's the second. And there are plenty of other thoughts like that."

Gian asked, "What else?"

Antony immediately glared at him, but Gian ignored it, staying focused on Altezza.

Altezza smirked, his eyes on Gian. "They could also think, 'What if he's got another woman behind my back?' There are all sorts of suspicions that could pop into a woman's head."

"So, which one of these does Claire think?" Gian was genuinely curious.

"Claire?" Altezza glanced at Antony. "She clearly thinks our cousin here is a sneaky and insincere man."

Gian burst out laughing. "The playboy finally met his match?" he asked Altezza, who simply nodded in agreement.

"If you understand women so well, why couldn't you figure out your ex-wife's thoughts?" Antony grumbled.

Altezza shrugged. "That's how people are. They're good at judging other people's relationships but bad at understanding their own," he answered simply. "Anyway, I'm going to rest. Who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll meet a beautiful woman to make my wife and the mother of my children." Altezza stood up, patting Antony's shoulder as he passed him.

"Isn't your approach just as bad? Looking for a woman only to make her a child-bearer?" Antony reproached.

Altezza turned and smiled. "I'm just following your advice, Cousin. Besides, I'm a single man with no attachments. To the world, I'm considered loyal, not a playboy like you." He teased, then walked into one of the rooms.

Antony scoffed. He turned back to face outside, letting the cold breeze hit him.

Was his approach really wrong? Was he being too hasty? All of this was because of Anastasia's sudden arrival. If she hadn't shown up, none of this would've happened.