Maisie Joyce met Claire Chapman's gaze calmly for a long moment before slowly asking, "Are you saying you genuinely want to be with me?"
"...Yes!"
Claire Chapman was so frustrated he felt like he could vomit blood. 'Have I not made myself obvious enough?!'
A fleeting look of confusion crossed Maisie Joyce's face. Then, she uttered a single word. "No."
Claire Chapman hadn't missed the slightest change in her expression. He'd had a bad feeling just a moment before, but hearing her say that clear, single word still felt like a dull knife was slowly sawing away at his heart.
A dark look flashed in his eyes as he leaned back against the sofa.
