CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: I THINK YOU LOOK FUCKING HOT WHEN YOU SMOKE

The atmosphere between them wasn’t the tender awkwardness of a couple, nor the intimacy of an engaged pair. To call it distant didn’t seem right, yet if they were familiar, why did they stand so politely?

The shop assistant looked at the handsome man and beautiful woman before them, and a thought suddenly popped into their mind. Could these two have just randomly found someone to marry and come here to buy rings? In this day and age, a flash marriage isn’t surprising.

Isn’t that the case? A family alliance, meet once through a matchmaker, and if neither dislikes the other, the marriage progresses. It can indeed be summarized as a flash marriage.

Zane Thorne kept his hands in his pockets and didn’t take the ring handed over by the assistant. Natalie Vaughn didn’t feel awkward either and just kept her hand outstretched.

She wasn’t bothered by other people’s gazes; she knew what she wanted.

Since Zane wanted to declare his territory to satisfy his bit of possessiveness, was it too much to put a ring on her?

Zane lowered his eyes to look at the hand persistently stretched out before him, a smile tugging at his lips. He was mistaken earlier; the reason everyone in the Vaughn Family spoiled Natalie was precisely because it nurtured her stubborn streak.

What she wanted, she must obtain, both stubborn and proud.

A difficult personality indeed.

Finally, Zane lifted his eyelids to meet Natalie’s gaze. He remained casual, with a hint of amusement in his indifferent eyes. Maintaining eye contact with Natalie, he reached out, and the assistant quickly placed the ring into his palm.

He was always warm, while the ring was cold, as though its chill was spreading from his palm outward.

When Zane used to race, his clothes weren’t overly flamboyant, but he wore plenty of accessories. Things like necklaces and rings, even earrings, he’d worn them all.

He was handsome, exuding masculinity, and such items only added an air of audaciousness rather than detracting from his presence.

Zane didn’t even need to lower his head, adeptly twirling the ring to his fingertip.

He continued to lock eyes with Natalie, a roguish smile on his lips. Withdrawing his other hand, he supported Natalie’s hand and smoothly slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

Natalie’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Generally, the popular way to wear an engagement ring domestically is on the middle finger, whereas wearing it on the ring finger originated in Europe.

It’s said that the left ring finger has a vein connected directly to the heart, being the closest point to it. Wearing an engagement ring on the left ring finger signifies intimacy and a meeting of hearts.

But what kind of intimacy, what kind of heart connection, existed between her and Zane?

The ring was cold, but Zane’s hand was scorching.

Natalie didn’t understand why men’s bodies were always so warm. Her father was this way, James Vaughn too. She even felt Zane’s heat was more intense, his entire being like a furnace.

It seared into her heart.

Natalie lowered her gaze to the ring on her left ring finger, simple yet with a light from the scattered diamonds that was particularly captivating.

Zane’s hand hadn’t moved away; his skin was tanned, contrasting sharply against Natalie’s pale complexion. His hand was large, easily enveloping Natalie’s entire hand.

Watching this scene, Natalie couldn’t help but squint, swallowing her throat.

The dominance and security brought by a strong and sexy man were enough to make a woman’s heart tremble.

Natalie took a deep breath, her fingers playfully scratching Zane’s palm.

Like a cat.

The shop assistant noticed this little action and couldn’t help but look away, blushing to the tips of their ears. They realized their earlier doubts were unnecessary. The two’s gaze was so passionately intertwined it could stretch into threads; where was the distance?

Even as a bystander, the shop assistant found their throat dry, yet the parties involved remained particularly calm.

Zane’s palm was thick, his skin rougher compared to Natalie’s. Her touch wasn’t forceful, carrying a deliberate flirtatious intent, like a feather brushing against the heart.

Itches and becomes addictive.

Zane’s eyes suddenly darkened, deep and impenetrable, devoid of the earlier playfulness and smile, brimming with intense and complex emotions.

The man discreetly withdrew his hand, taking the male ring from the assistant, just preparing to put it on himself when Natalie’s slightly cool hand intervened.

"Let me help you wear it."

Natalie’s eyes gleamed mischievously, clearly pleased with her earlier move, her eyes sparkling.

Zane didn’t look at her, avoiding her hand, then proceeded to put the ring on himself.

Originally, he intended to wear it on the middle finger, but since the size was a bit small, he placed it on the ring finger instead.

Natalie raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding Zane’s behavior. But she didn’t think too deeply about it. Although Zane’s expression was unflappable, he clearly avoided her earlier, didn’t that mean the tickle had finally rippled the calm lake?

With this thought, Natalie’s lips curled up, even humming a tune.

She pulled out a card and handed it to the assistant.

Zane frowned, glanced at the assistant, halting their movement.

In the end, the shop assistant accepted Zane’s card.

Natalie initially thought she’d pay for Zane’s ring, but upon reconsideration, knowing Zane’s temperament, how could he tolerate such an act, so she let it go.

She cheerfully withdrew her card, extending her left hand and examining it under the light.

Tsk, her hand was beautiful, looked good no matter what it wore.

Once back in the car, Natalie was still admiring it.

Zane glanced over, smiling faintly.

"Do you really like this ring?"

Natalie turned her head, blinking at the man.

"I like the title of future Mrs. Thorne."

Zane’s hands paused, squinting as he looked at Natalie beside him, boldly sizing her up. Natalie didn’t shrink back, meeting his gaze head-on.

She reached out to poke at the ring on Zane’s hand.

Asked.

"Do you like it?"

Zane found himself somewhat unable to understand Natalie.

She was bold and direct, unashamedly showing her interest in him, even frequently doing little things to entice him, yet her eyes didn’t hold affection for him.

It was simply the curiosity sparked by encountering something novel.

But isn’t a girl like her at an age where she should be seeking love?

Initially, she came to the bar against the arranged marriage her family planned. But as things developed, she seemed quite content with this marriage.

Interesting.

A person living boldly, daring to love and hate, stubborn and proud, yet willing to enter a cold alliance without pursuing true love.

Zane lowered his left hand, taking out a cigarette and placing it in his mouth.

He didn’t answer, nor did he light the cigarette, just looked at Natalie, yet it seemed he wasn’t really seeing her.

Natalie curved her lips, finding a lighter from the console, ready to light Zane’s cigarette.

But the man leaned back slightly.

"Don’t you dislike the smell of smoke?"

That day at the bar, Natalie had clearly left the room because she couldn’t stand the smoke.

Natalie’s eyes flickered with surprise, but she quickly caught on.

She said.

"I don’t like the smell of smoke, but I like your scent with smoke."

Zane looked up at her.

She continued.

"I think you look fucking handsome smoking."

As the words fell, Natalie leaned in, striking the lighter with a click, igniting the cigarette in Zane’s mouth.