Chapter 8 The Deceiver's Game

Claire felt nervous sitting beside Ryan in the backseat. She didn't know the kind of person he was. Even though their wedding was arranged, she thought he was still going to demand sex.

It wouldn't be out of place if he demanded it anyway. After all, it was their wedding night, and it was clear she had no choice but to accept.

The driver was driving very fast, and their bodies brushed each other several times, making her shiver. It was like he would grab her any moment from now, and the stench of beer on him wasn't helping matters.

Earlier, Mason and she had won the dance, and Ryan hadn't been pleased about it. After Ryan lost, he whispered in Claire's ear that a woman is supposed to help her husband and not bring him down.

Claire had been terrified and unable to utter a word when he began to laugh suddenly. Still, she couldn't tell whether he was offended or not.

Many rumors had been spread about Ryan, and the entire city knew he didn't value women. Today, she was beginning a new life with him.

Mason had been right in his prediction; he had gambled and won. Mason must have known people would be biased when the competition was between men and women because they only saw that Ryan was facing Josie.

Mason was clever; he had used that to his advantage and won. Claire began to feel worried again; Mason was dangerous.

The moment he recognized her would spell doom for her. If he weren't a total idiot, he would have found out immediately.

Claire thought about her brother; he was still in the custody of Josie's father, and she was worried about how he was being treated.

Claire tightened her fists; none of this was her fault. The one sin she had committed was resembling an emotionally unstable girl, and now both she and her innocent brother were suffering for It.

Josie's father was evil; Claire decided she would not let him get away with what he had done. When she got powerful enough, she planned to rescue her brother and flee the country secretly.

"Is anything the matter?" Ryan asked.

Oh no, Ryan had noticed her squeezing her face earlier, and he had thought it necessary to ask. Ryan wondered what had provoked her to squeeze her fists that way.

Being the renowned playboy of the city, Ryan was no stranger to the behaviors of women. He knew that she was angry about something and he felt that it was something that happened at the wedding.

If anyone annoyed her, Ryan wanted to know. He couldn't tolerate disrespect from anyone toward his bride, as he was not one to be messed with.

"I asked you a question," said Ryan, this time facing Claire when she refused to answer.

"No, I don't know why you would ask that in the first place," Claire replied without turning to face him.

"I don't believe you; something is bothering you. This car we're in is one of the most expensive in my garage, with the best air conditioning, and yet you've still managed to break a sweat; why is that?" Ryan asked.

Claire knew that he was suitable; it was strange that she was sitting despite the fantastic atmosphere they were in.

Claire was not good at hiding her emotions; it was who she was. Wherever she felt would show all over her every single time, which was often very frustrating.

The few friends she had had pointed that fact out to her severely, and even though she wanted to change it, she couldn't.

Aside from all that, Ryan was probably knowledgeable and observant, so she couldn't be careless around him without facing the consequences.

"It's my makeup. It's making me hot. I don't usually apply it daily, so I'm not used to it. I would love to wash it off immediately; we alight," I said, lying to keep myself safe.

"Very well. Do you think you're more beautiful without your makeup?" Ryan replied, turning to face Claire once more.

This was a tricky question; It seemed like a trap. Claire wondered why he wanted to know what she felt about the subject. In the last few days, she had established the rich were terrible people and were never up to anything good.

Ryan was one of them; he was at the top, and it was only natural that he turned out to be worse than they were.

Another thing bothered her: Ryan looked directly at her every time she spoke.

She hoped he wouldn't grab her the moment he stared into his eyes. The best friend to a person like Mason was going to be a pervert as well.

"Well, I would love to believe so, but then it's others' opinions on a given topic that often stand," I replied, treading cautiously.

"Well, well, well. It seems you're asking me to find out for myself. I knew it from the moment I saw you that you weren't the person everyone thought you were," Ryan said.

Claire's heart began pounding in her chest, her knees started trembling, and she even began sweating more than before.

What did he mean by this statement? How had he figured it out so quickly? No, he was referring to something else. He had to be, or else that would spell doom for her.

"What do you mean by that?" Claire asked.

"Stop that," Ryan said.

"What," Claire asked, confused.

Ryan didn't reply to her but did something she wasn't expecting. He turned her face towards him, and she shivered when his hand touched her.

Claire began to panic; this was it. Ryan's eyes were like that of a lion, and he seemed like he was about to devour her.

It felt like he was checking to see if she was Josue. Ryan was looking into her eyes, and Claire couldn't even afford to blink.

The words from his mouth sent a chill down her spine.

"Josie, are you afraid of me?"

Those words caught her unaware; he had figured it out. Claire knew she wouldn't be able to keep herself composed any longer.

Suddenly, Ryan fell on Claire, and she screamed, feeling he was up to no good. It took her some time to figure out that he had fallen asleep.