CHAPTER 562: CHAPTER 550

The instant Clara opened the door and saw the interior, her expression of anticipation stiffened on her face.

Within the 300 square feet room, all the walls were covered in huge posters of Shirley White, the recently crowned best actress.

It was not just posters-everything from magazine covers, figurines, and photo albums of Shirley was there!

It was as if the huge room was a realm that Shirley ruled, the shrine of a zealous devotee!

Just as Clara thought, Ethan loved Shirley-to him, Shirley would always be the one who got away.

Even as her heart seemed to clench, Clara stopped at the doorway and turned away, closing the door firmly behind her.

At the same time, sizzling could be heard from the kitchen-the crayfish was soon cooked,and Ethan carried two plates full of crayfish. Five pounds were seasoned with pepper, while the other five were seasoned with lemon, all served with two large cans of beer.

"Come on, eat up!" He exclaimed cheerfully.

Clara took a deep breath, composing herself despite her disappointment, and walked up with a smile, her eyes glowing as she stared at the red crayfish filling the plates to the brim,steaming and sizzling.

"Goodness, it smells so good," she gushed. "Be honest-your real profession is a chef, isn’t it? Showbiz tycoon is just a side job."

"You flatter me. I actually just learned it," Ethan smiled, passing her a pair of gloves before remembering something and quickly saying, "Wait, weren’t you allergic to shrimp? Are you sure you can eat this?"

"I’m just allergic to shrimp. Crayfish live in freshwater, so they’re not seafood. There are no problems there," Clara replied as she picked up a steaming crayfish still dripping with sauce, peeling it and chomping down." Mmmhmm. I can already tell this is fantastic from just one bite!"

It would not lose out to crayfish cooked by Michelin chefs.

"Take your time. There’s plenty,’ Ethan said, watching her with a tender smile and quietly peeling off the crayfish one after another, even skewering them for her.

Clara stared at the skewers he passed her, her eyes suddenly red, perhaps from the

spiciness of the pepper. "Be honest. Why are you being so nice to me?"

Ethan paused for a moment, a look of half-amusement showing in his eyes just then. "Is that so wrong?’

"Yes, it’s absolutely wrong," Clara shook her head, her eyes turning redder. "I will get serious, even addicted. What would happen to me if you stopped being nice to me?"

"That won’t happen," Ethan said, taking a sip of beer while watching her with tender

affection. "I will always be nice to you."

"But your heart is like your room. You don’t clean it up..."

Clara finally gave in, turning to look at that very special room, and asked him, "Why would you abandon her when you love her so much?"

If she remembered correctly, back at Quartz Island, Shirley threatened him with suicide just to make him stay with her.

Even as she teetered over the sea, he rejected her resolutely.

And that was something Clara struggled to understand.

Ethan’s gaze turned cool in turn, and he chugged the beer he was holding before he said coolly, "Did no one tell you that it’s basic manners to not barge into someone’s room when you visit their house?"

Clara’s heart was stung right then, and she took off her gloves as she rose to her feet. "I’m sorry. I was out of line, though I’m used to pulling out before I get hurt. So this is it!"

She could not help giving the crayfish one last look as she did, resisting the urge to ask if he could box it up for her.

And he would never know how hard he tried to stop himself from looking behind that door!

Seeing that she was determined to leave, Ethan took off his gloves as well and caught her by the wrist. "What if I told you that I was hoping that you can clear my ’room’?"

Clara froze, feeling as if every fiber of her being was jolted while her heart raced.

She turned towards Ethan and feigned nonchalance as she scoffed. "I have to give it to you-you really know your way around a girl’s heart. But I’m immune now, so just spare me.’

In fact, it was almost a habit for him to flirt-to speak ambiguously, then make a clean break from her when she was lost in love. When that happened, she would not even cry...

Hah! That was why no matter how much her heart raced for him-no matter how much she loved him, she was not about to fall for the same trap.

All those ambiguous words, stirring emotions, and enigmatic affection? She would rather live without those!

"Really? What a shame..." Ethan trailed off.

However, a hunter as experienced as he understood that Clara was just being obstinate and not actually eager to leave.

As such, he walked up to her, staring at her dainty, fresh face as he wiped the pepper sauce staining the corner of her lips, and said slowly, "Ruthless, aren’t you? Leaving just as I finally found my resolve to get in the game."

Clara’s heart pounded, a little deflated as she gulped, "What do you mean, ’ get in the game’?"

"I, Ethan Stuart, sincerely invite you, Miss Clara Osborn, to clean this messy room of mine and be my new guest."

"W-What are you talking about, cleaning my room? What do you take me for If

Before she could finish, Ethan had leaned in to kiss her in the next instant- gently, briefly, and innocently. His eyes were closed as he locked his lips against hers with focus and tenderness, his long, thick eyelashes brushing against her cheek like how a butterfly’s wings would flutter.

It was a strange coincidence of metaphors since Clara did feel butterflies in her stomach, and she felt like she could take flight-her toes and fingers stiffened as she stood there, her mind going blank as if she had been sealed within a bottle.

Nonetheless, she could not help closing her eyes and answering his kiss.

As he pulled away reluctantly after a long while, he asked with a raspy voice and a light tone, "Is this definitive enough for you?"

Fiery passions seemed to linger in the air, leaving it steaming and charged with excitement.

Clara pursed her lips and shyly lowered her head, not unlike a virgin that just had a taste of the forbidden fruit, as she murmured meekly, "l-l think so.."

"Good. Then don’t let your mind wander anymore, and feel with your heart," Ethan told her solemnly.

Though he was certainly unreliable and almost too used to charming having decks of premeditated conversation at the ready to bewitch the ladies, he was somehow clumsy now that he got serious, and his charm seemed to fly out of the window.

Still, Clara found everything so hard to believe and looked up at him with seriousness in her eyes. "You kissed me... Does that mean you love me?"

Ethan nodded. "Yes. I kissed you, and I love you—I want to start a meaningful relationship with you."

He did not run away this time and gave her a definitive answer.

"Oh, you finally came around! My faith is really rewarded!" Clara exclaimed in joy, not holding back at all just then as he eagerly wrapped her arms around his neck. ’So? Was kissing me beautiful? Is your heart racing?"

"Hmm..." Ethan frowned in thought for a while before saying seriously, "It’s a little spicy."

"Haha! That’s spicy? Don’t you know that I’m feeling embarrassed about this?"

"Well, it really was spicy... Just like pepper crayfish."

The man held back a laugh as he confessed his true feelings.

Her lips were soft, but the taste of spiciness lingered since she had so much pepper crayfish.

It was memorable, just like she was to him.

"Oh, you mean that?! I’m so embarrassed I could die!" Clara buried her face behind her palms, feeling so embarrassed she needed to hide right then.

"It’s alright," Ethan chuckled. "That sort of spiciness applies too. I have faith in your

potential."