104: Pretty Face

"Why are we here?" Ayla spoke up as she brought her steps to a stop right next to Claude. 

His hand was still holding hers, his fingers wrapped around the back of her palm with no intention of letting go. It was like Ayla was complaining about it, but his actions only made her wonder about the thoughts that ran through the man's mind. 

"Because I wanted to be here with you." He gazed down at her from the corner of his eye, a faint smile clinging to the curve of his thin lips. With a light tug at their clasped hands, he pulled her closer to himself. "I wanted to enjoy a couple of peaceful moments with you before things went down the drain back at the mansion." 

Ayla watched his shoulders becoming tense under the coat. She wanted nothing more than to take his worries away, every last one of them just like he had helped her family at their lowest without asking anything in return. All the man wanted from her was her companionship. That too because it