Dakota didn't feel the need to be shy.
Her eyes involuntarily glanced at the blue and white gradient roses, nodding, "Yeah."
Curtis's originally dark pupils darkened even more.
He gently massaged Dakota's waist, then handed her the flowers, "Go wait in the car."
Dakota felt an instant sense of liberation.
It was as if she had been rescued by Curtis. Whether it was because of his massage or the mental relief, the pain in her back mysteriously subsided significantly.
Dakota gladly accepted the roses from Curtis and noticed him slightly leaning toward her.
"What else?"
"The car keys."
"Oh." Without hesitation, Dakota reached into Curtis's pocket and pulled out his car keys, heading in the direction of the car following the sound of the unlocking beep.
Meanwhile, Alan stood there.
Watching the natural interaction between Dakota and Curtis, his already aggressive eyes suddenly filled with a sense of defensiveness and the urge to compete.
It was as if someone had suddenly snatched away his territory and insulted his dignity as a man.
Yet Curtis stood there lazily.
His tall frame, broad shoulders, and loosely draped suit jacket gave an air of nonchalance, yet he subtly shielded Dakota behind him.
Dakota, holding the flowers, left from behind him.
Curtis completely blocked Alan's view, setting up a barrier that forbade him from approaching.
Alan could only watch Dakota walk away.
Frowning deeply, he said discontentedly, "Curtis, what's your meaning? As far as I know, the Acosta family hasn't offended the Pineda family. I'm just chasing a woman, do you have to oppose me like this?"
"I also remember that I didn't offend you."
Curtis lazily lifted his eyes, "Why does you insist on pursuing my wife?"
"Nonsense! You two aren't—"
Alan wanted to expose the lie about Dakota and Curtis's relationship, but Curtis suddenly raised his hand, revealing a marriage certificate he had taken out from his suit pocket.
Curtis had slender fingers.
He bent his fingers and used his fingertips to flip open the cover of the marriage certificate. The photo of the couple with its official seal caught Alan's eye immediately.
Certificate Holder: Curtis.
On the right was a photo of him and Dakota taken at the Civil Affairs Bureau, with their information as husband and wife below.
No mistake.
Alan stood there as if struck by lightning.
He was dumbfounded for quite a while before he came to his senses, "You... actually went and got married just to trick me?"
Curtis didn't say a word.
He arrogantly lifted his chin, then pointed to the registration date with his fingertip.
Alan followed his gesture.
Alright, it wasn't recent.
The date was from two months ago, just short of two months—end of June, around the time Dakota had just returned from Italy, or perhaps the day she landed.
Therefore, this wasn't a marriage certificate obtained just to fool Alan. They were actually married, and what they said last time wasn't a lie at all!
Alan's face turned very sour.
Besides the humiliation of losing territory, he now felt embarrassed for unknowingly being the third wheel.
Turns out, the joke was on him all along.
"Alright—"
Alan's words were heavily enunciated, "Fine, fine, fine, you two are really something."
With that, he forcefully threw the roses away, seemingly venting, then turned and walked away in his leather shoes.
Curtis sneered, "Mr. Acosta, better not let me catch you messing with my wife again."
Alan's back stiffened for two seconds.
His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his hands, but he didn't respond, instead quickening his pace.
Dakota slumped into the luxurious car.
The moment she sat down, she felt a wave of comfort, especially when she saw a lumbar cushion on the passenger seat, she felt like she was floating on clouds.
It was as if she had finally crawled out of a mud pit, washed clean, and then lay down on a cloud.
"Mmph!"
Dakota let out a long sigh of relief.
While the back pain wouldn't disappear so easily, at least for this moment, she felt a significant relief.
She gently massaged her lower back.
The roses Curtis gave her were laid across her lap, emitting a faint litchi-like fragrance from time to time.
Perhaps it was the scent.
Dakota moved her hand from her back, curiously picking up the flowers and lowering her head to take a light sniff.
It wasn't a hallucination.
Indeed, it was a very sweet litchi fragrance.
It was quite nice.
So Dakota couldn't help but lean in for another whiff, reaching out to fiddle with the beautiful rose petals, trying to determine if the blue-white gradient was natural or dyed.
Click—
Then the sound of the car door opening suddenly sounded.
Dakota instinctively pulled her hand back and looked up, meeting Curtis's long, cool gaze that seemed emotionless when he wasn't smiling.
She immediately laid the roses down flat.
As if she hadn't been hugging, smelling, and touching the bouquet just moments ago, she casually placed them on her lap.
Then she looked up at him, "Alan left?"
Curtis glanced at the lumbar support behind Dakota, then climbed into the car with his long legs, "Yeah."
He closed the car door and fastened his seatbelt.
Then he put the marriage certificate he had been holding back into his inner suit pocket.
Dakota glanced and knew.
He probably showed the marriage certificate to get rid of Alan. Otherwise, given Alan's thick skin, it would have been hard to make him back off.
To think he actually carried the marriage certificate with him...
Dakota's mind wandered.
But then a familiar scent drew near.
Dakota's eyelashes fluttered as she looked up and saw Curtis lean in close, his arm stretching towards her right shoulder, almost enclosing her in his embrace.
"What are you doing?" She quickly covered her mouth.
Her first reaction was to recall the kiss from that night, causing her to shrink back slightly.
Curtis smiled casually, quirking his lips.
He reached out to pull the seatbelt over her, "I said I'd pursue you properly, so I won't kiss you again until you agree. Or maybe you're looking forward to my kiss?"
Curtis's eyes twinkled with amusement.
His dark pupils showed a hint of interest.
Dakota realized she had misunderstood again, "No expectations, I just want to protect my virtue!"
Curtis didn't argue.
After pulling the seatbelt over her, he shifted his gaze to her lower back, "Still hurts?"
Dakota nodded without any pretense.
Curtis nodded slightly, responding softly, "Hang in there a bit longer, I'll rub it for you when we get home."
