Chapter 161: Give me a chance Inside the bathroom, water still streamed from the faucet, but Anna barely noticed. She stood before the mirror, hands braced on the sink, trying to steady her breath.
"I like you, Anna. And I’m going to pursue you."
Daniel’s words looped in her head like a song she couldn’t turn off, their echo pulsing with every beat of her heart until her reflection started to blur.
"I don’t remember drinking that much wine," she muttered to herself. "Then why do I feel so dizzy?"
It wasn’t the wine. It was him.
She shook her head furiously, trying to brush off the warmth rising to her cheeks. "Snap out of it, Anna," she whispered, giving herself a half-hearted glare in the mirror before turning off the tap.
But the moment she stepped out, her breath caught.
There he was — Daniel Clafford — lounging against the headboard without his shirt, the low light of the room tracing the sharp lines of his shoulders and chest. His eyes lifted lazily to meet hers, and that crooked, knowing smile appeared.
"I think... I should lower the temperature," she stammered, fumbling for the AC remote on the nightstand.
Before she could reach it, a strong arm caught her waist, and in the next second, she was pulled down onto the bed — caged beneath him, their faces inches apart.
"Nice try at acting ignorant," Daniel murmured, his voice low and teasing. "But your husband’s smarter than that, wifey."
"..."
Anna froze, her pulse hammering in her ears. "W-what are you doing?" she managed, eyes darting everywhere but his face.
He chuckled softly. "Did you really think hiding in the bathroom would stop me from seeing you?"
Her breath hitched as his gaze softened — playful, yet deeply intent.
"Daniel, shouldn’t we... discuss this?" she whispered, her words tumbling out in a rush.
He tilted his head, amused. "Discuss?" he echoed. "I thought I was pretty clear earlier. What else is left to talk about?"
Anna swallowed hard, her mind blanking under his gaze.
Because Daniel Clafford — calm, controlled, unreadable Daniel — was no longer hiding behind his walls.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
’What part of my behavior made him like me?’ Anna wondered helplessly. There wasn’t a single day they hadn’t argued or driven each other insane. Half the time, she was ready to throttle him—and yet, somehow, this man had the audacity to fall for her.
’Just... how?’
Daniel, meanwhile, watched the storm of emotions flicker across her face. Her brows furrowed, her lips pressed together, her eyes darted away—she was clearly spiraling in that overthinking head of hers.
With a faint sigh, he loosened his hold and gave her a little space to breathe. "Alright," he said smoothly, tilting his head. "What exactly should we discuss?"
"Huh?" Anna blinked, thrown off by his calm tone. "Oh—yes, right... the discussion!" She cleared her throat, flustered, trying to sound composed while her voice betrayed her.
"W-what I mean to say is..." she stammered, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt, "...shouldn’t you at least ask if I—I like you too?"
Daniel’s dark eyes lifted to hers, calm yet unreadable. The air between them shifted.
For a heartbeat, Anna forgot how to breathe. Her heart raced wildly, and that maddening smirk curved on his lips again.
’Why does he keep looking at me like that? Like I’m his prey?’
Her inner voice didn’t help.’And why does your heart leap like it?’
Before she could spiral any further, Daniel leaned closer, his voice dipping low enough to send a shiver down her spine.
"I don’t need to ask," he said simply. "Because I already know you don’t."
Her eyes widened. "Then why—"
"That’s why," he cut her off smoothly, a teasing glint flashing in his gaze. "That’s exactly why I decided to pursue you."
Anna just stared at him, speechless, her heartbeat roaring in her ears.
Because somehow, the man sitting before her—calm, confident, infuriating—made her feel as though she was the one being chased... and he had no intention of stopping.
"So let me, Anna," Daniel said softly, his voice low but steady. "Because I can’t let you go."
This time, his tone wasn’t teasing or playful. It carried something deeper — something she hadn’t heard from him before — sincerity.
For a moment, the world around her blurred. His words echoed in her mind, looping again and again like a song she’d once longed for but never believed she’d hear.
’This... this was what I dreamed of once.’
But dreams were dangerous. She knew that better than anyone. Because in another life — a life filled with betrayal, pain, and heartbreak — Daniel Clafford was the last person she ever thought she’d trust again.
Her heart twisted painfully as doubt seeped in. Can I trust him this once?
The question lingered like a whisper in the dark. Her lashes fluttered as tears welled up, glimmering under the dim light.
Daniel’s breath hitched. Panic flickered across his face at the sight of her tears. Before he could stop himself, he reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he cupped her cheek.
"Anna..." His voice cracked just a little. "I promise to be better — to be nice. And when I say I will, I mean it. Please... give me a chance."
Anna looked up at him, eyes swimming with uncertainty and emotion. She wanted to believe him — God, she wanted to — but fear still clung to her like a shadow.
And then she saw it.
The faint shimmer of tears in his eyes. The kind of pain that couldn’t be faked, that mirrored her own.
Something inside her broke — or maybe, something finally mended.
Before she could think, before reason could catch up, Anna leaned forward — her lips brushing against his, soft and trembling.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she stopped running from what her heart wanted.
’Then don’t break my heart this time, Daniel," she whispered inwardly, her voice trembling between hope and fear. ’Because if you do... there will be nothing left to mend me — not even your sincerity.’