Chapter 30

"Took some classes. How is it?"

Sebastian served Daphne a bowl of chowder. Daphne nodded, unable to contain her praise.

"It's really good! Let me wash the dishes later. I can't just freeload off you."

Sebastian didn't object.

Daphne got some chowder on the corner of her mouth. Sebastian reached out and casually wiped it away with his fingertip.

Daphne froze at the touch. The warmth of his finger lingered, intensely hot. Startled, she looked up at Sebastian, confused. His expression remained neutral, as if the intimate gesture held no significance.

Daphne pretended the touch didn't faze her, not wanting to seem flustered.

As she washed the dishes, her eyes fell on the cartoon puppy pattern on the plates. She couldn't help but ask, "You really like Pink Puppy, huh?"

The first time she saw Sebastian in Pink Puppy pajamas, she thought it was cute—maybe even a little funny. But seeing these puppy plates, she questioned his taste.

"It's my lucky charm. Of course, I love it. I love it to bits," Sebastian replied with a mysterious smile.

"Lucky charm?"

"Yeah. It was the first gift I ever got from the girl I like." A cold realization dawned on Daphne; he already had someone.

Since her second chance at life, she had been scrambling for a way forward, clinging to Sebastian like a lifeline. However, it hadn't occurred to her how this would affect his life.

Daphne set the plate down, dried her hands, and returned to the couch. She looked at Sebastian with a serious expression.

"Sebastian, I really need your help, but… if there's someone you care about, then we shouldn't get married. Marriage isn't a game. I don't want to ruin your chance at happiness because of my selfishness," she said.

Sebastian casually rested his arm on the back of the couch, his starry eyes calmly studying Daphne. He watched her carefully, almost dissecting her.

"But what if I tell you that she's already married to someone else?"

"Then it's not a problem," Daphne sighed in relief, returning to the dishes. "In that case, you already have someone in your heart, and I don't like you either. That makes this marriage perfectly fair."

Sebastian scoffed. "You're brutally realistic."

He lazily rose from the couch and strolled over to help her clean up. "Telling your future husband you don't like him—isn't that a bit harsh?"

Daphne laughed. "Maybe. But feelings can grow, right? Who knows? Maybe one day, we'll start seeing eye to eye."

Sebastian paused. Then a slow, amused smirk tugged at his lips. "Yeah… Maybe one day, we will," he murmured.

Once the kitchen was spotless, Sebastian changed into a suit and headed to the office. Daphne, on the other hand, went straight to the courthouse to file additional documents for her contract termination with Hugo.

The courthouse and city clerk's office were adjacent, and two very different lines stretched along their respective entrances. On the left, joy and celebration filled the air; on the right, tension crackled. Newlyweds beamed with happiness as they waited for their marriage certificates, while couples waiting for divorce papers were either arguing or on the verge of a fight.

Daphne, disguised in a face mask, sunglasses, and a baseball cap—bundled up and hidden under layers—stepped out of the car, determined not to be recognized.