The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 825

"Is something wrong?" Catching his intense stare, Claire instinctively glanced down at herself. Nothing was out of place; she had buttoned the shirt all the way up to her collarbone, and the hem safely covered her completely.

"Nothing." He forced his eyes away, feigning absolute indifference. She stood there looking beautifully innocent, her bright eyes utterly oblivious to the dangerous effect she had on him.

"I'm going to bed then." Having napped on the flight, she wasn't actually that tired anymore. However, given the late hour and her rather intimate attire, standing in the doorway chatting with him wasn't the smartest idea.

"Alright. Goodnight." He pulled her door shut and retreated to the guest bedroom down the hall.

He should have been exhausted from the long night of traveling, yet as he lay in bed after a cold shower, sleep entirely evaded him. His mind ruthlessly replayed the image of her vibrant smile, followed by the agonizingly seductive sight of her wearing his shirt.

He let out a frustrated sigh. He prided himself on his ironclad self-control, but when it came to Claire, his discipline shattered instantly. But that was fine. A faint, predatory smile touched his lips as he closed his eyes in the dark. Even if he couldn't sleep, he needed to rest; he had a massive corporate merger to oversee in the morning.

Claire had fully expected to toss and turn all night, but to her surprise, she slept like a rock.

Waking up early the next morning, she headed downstairs. Dane was nowhere in sight, but she ran straight into Baldrick. The older man was absolutely thrilled to see her.

"Claire! Come have breakfast. Did you sleep well last night?" Though his leg still required a cane, his mobility had vastly improved and the chronic pain was gone.

Overjoyed upon learning she had stayed the night, he had instructed the kitchen staff to prepare an extravagant morning feast. Looking at the massive dining table overflowing with gourmet dishes, she couldn't help but marvel at the sheer opulence of billionaires.

"But with my bad leg, I don't want to be a burden on anyone." More importantly, he dreaded the inevitable gossip that he was only going there to pursue Pandora. They had been close in their youth, and now, as a widower and a widow, their reunion would spark relentless rumors.

It wasn't the public scandal he feared, but rather the idea of disrespecting the memory of his late wife. His loyalty to the woman he had buried decades ago remained absolute and unyielding.

"There are plenty of incredible places to beat the heat. If you're looking for beautiful scenery, you should visit Montara," Claire suggested, gently steering him away from the village. While the mountains there were stunning, the heavy humidity would wreak havoc on his healing leg. Montara, with its dry, sun-drenched climate, was the ultimate destination for a healing retreat.

"You know what? I think I'll head to Montara next year," Baldrick agreed, liking the sound of the plan. His grandson was more than capable of running the empire alone now, leaving him with little reason to stay cooped up in Cabinda.

Once Dane finished his breakfast, Claire took out her medical kit to give Baldrick a thorough check-up. The old man had been taking excellent care of himself and following her strict medical regimen to the letter.