Dakota felt like electricity was coursing through her ears.
An unfamiliar tingling sensation crept into her ear canal, spreading through her blood to every nerve ending, even her fingertips felt numb.
"Wh-which side?"
Dakota lowered her eyelashes, feeling somewhat uneasy, noticing that her breathing had become somewhat rapid.
Curtis remained bent over, whispering into her ear in a deep, magnetic voice, "Left."
Dakota felt like she was about to lose her balance in her high heels.
She really hadn't expected that Curtis, this puppy, could be so seductive when pretending to be affectionate. How had she not noticed his charm before...
But now, after all, they were just acting.
They had to play it through to the end.
Dakota pursed her lips, turned her head to the left, and then reached out to touch Curtis's pants.
In that moment, even through the fabric, Curtis felt his leg muscles tighten at Dakota's touch.
He held his breath, rolling his Adam's apple twice.
Dakota reached into his pocket, feeling around for the small ring, which took a bit of searching to locate.
Alan watched them with suspicion.
He wanted to see how far they would take the act, but to his surprise, Dakota actually pulled out a wedding ring from Curtis's left pocket.
"Put it on for me," Curtis murmured into her ear.
He wrapped his left arm around Dakota, his hand on her right hip, the bones prominent, the fingers pale and slender, with veins subtly visible on the back of his hand.
So sexy...
Artists can't resist the allure of the human form—the urge to dissect and sketch the bones.
Dakota took a deep breath to clear her mind.
She lowered her gaze, slipping the ring onto his left ring finger, fitting perfectly.
Curtis's lips curled slightly.
He slowly lifted his chin to look at Alan, raising an eyebrow, "Now do you believe me, Mr. Acosta?"
Alan: "..."
He seemed humiliated, his facade of civility nearly crumbling, his jaw twitching slightly.
"What does a ring prove?"
"Oh." Curtis nodded calmly, "Next time, I'll remember to carry our marriage certificate."
Alan: "..."
He looked at Curtis with suspicion, clearly still not believing that they were married.
Once bitten, twice shy.
Acosta had been tricked by the two when he was younger. Even if this time it was true, to him, it was just like the boy who cried wolf—not worth believing.
"Alright, marriage certificate." Alan looked at Curtis provocatively, "Then I'll wait and see."
He really didn't believe it.
These two could really put on a show!
After all, they weren't kids anymore. Marriage was something the civil affairs bureau decided, not just words that could fool him.
"Mrs. Pineda?"
Curtis tightened his grip on Dakota's waist, his gaze softening as he looked at her, "Let's go home."
Dakota lifted her face to look at him.
For a moment, their gazes met, and her heart skipped a beat, almost entranced by the depth of emotion in his eyes.
But it was all an act.
Just a performance.
So Dakota quickly looked away, a sweet smile curving her lips, "Okay, honey."
Curtis smiled, chuckling silently.
The couple, in perfect sync, ignored Alan. Curtis escorted Dakota to the passenger seat, opened the door for her, closed it, and then went around to the other side.
The luxurious car sped off.
Alan squinted at the tail of the car, huffing in frustration before turning sharply and heading back to his car, glancing worriedly at his extravagant watch watch on the way.
Luckily, it wasn't scratched.
This Dakota...
No one to love her, but she's stubborn.
Even grown up, she's still blind to who can truly make her happy, harder to chase than ever!
Finally rid of the pest, Dakota relaxed.
She sat in the unique car, the air conditioning cooling her, strands of hair blown by the wind making her lingering anger all the more vivid.
"Thank goodness you came!"
Dakota crossed her arms, pouting, "You have no idea how annoying Alan is. He was like a clingy booger when we were kids, and he's even more stubborn now!"
She seemed genuinely angry.
Thinking back to the confrontation with Alan, she felt she hadn't done well enough, mimicking throwing her quilted bag at his face.
"Curtis."
"Mmm..."
"Do you think I should reflect on myself?"
"What are you reflecting on?" Curtis glanced at her.
Dakota turned to him with a playful smile, her eyes twinkling, "Actually, it's all because of my irresistible charm, making him infatuated with me, hence why I can't get rid of him."
Curtis braked at the red light.
He casually leaned his wrist on the steering wheel, turning his head to smile at her, "Yeah, Mrs. Pineda is quite likable."
Dakota's expression turned incredulous.
She reined in her pride, looking at Curtis with a complex expression.
A woman's intuition.
She felt that Curtis was acting weird today, starting from when he appeared at the museum, and he didn't even mock her for her self-centered comments.
And he said she was indeed likable???
"Curtis."
"Yeah."
Dakota pointed at her head, "Did the water get you silly that day at my house?"
Curtis: "..."
He gave her a cryptic glance before focusing back on the road and accelerating through the green light.
"What's wrong?"
"You praised me!"
"Isn't it normal to compliment you?"
"..."
"You think people don't like you?"
"..."
Dakota was taken aback by Curtis's words, but she couldn't pinpoint what exactly was off.
"I guess I am pretty likable..."
She mumbled softly.
Dakota, always clear-headed, refused to deny her charm and chose to change the subject, "But, why did you suddenly come to the museum today?"
And it was such a coincidence.
Just when her little car ran out of gas and she couldn't hail a cab.
"Just passing by," Curtis said nonchalantly, lifting his chin.
He seemed focused on the road ahead, but actually stole glances at Dakota during traffic stops.
Seeing that she didn't seem to believe him either.
Curtis clicked his tongue, deciding to be straightforward, "Could it be that I had a husbandly realization and wanted to pick up Mrs. Pineda on my way home after work?"
