Maximilian patted her hand lightly. The gesture was simple. Too simple considering everything they'd been through.
Catherine turned her head… and suddenly saw it from the outside.
Her hand was gripping his sleeve, his body was angled toward hers and his fingers were resting over her wrist.
They looked… like every bit a couple.
She knew that bringing him with her to meet her father when he was sick meant she considered him family. That was how her family would take it. That was how any family would take it. But the reality was… it was because of this cursed bracelet. Bracelet alone.
But they didn't know that. And now… Awareness slammed into her.
She pulled her hand back a little too quickly.
"I saved you from them only because I didn't want you saying something you weren't supposed to," she said, lifting her chin.
If she were a little late, he would have blabbered nonsense to them, making them build an entire fortress out of nowhere. Yes. That was the only reason.
