Chapter 8

After asking that question, Cassidy remembered feeling as though her heart was about to leap out of her chest. She had been so nervous that she could barely hold her pen. Zoe had tilted her head and thought for a moment before answering, "Nope. Stefan doesn't seem interested in anyone." Only then had Cassidy's heartbeat settle back into a normal rhythm. "He has really high standards," Zoe had added. "I seriously have no idea who could catch his attention." Cassidy's thoughts returned to the present. By then, she had already changed into slippers and was following Stefan into the living room. There were obvious signs of the suite having been lived in. Some of the items were personal belongings rather than hotel-provided amenities, making it clear that Stefan stayed here often. "Sit wherever you like," Stefan said as he took off his coat and hung it on the rack. He then headed into the kitchen. Cassidy sat on the couch and glanced around the living room. It was spacious and decorated in black, white, and gray. The space showcased a minimalist style that felt cool and austere, much like Stefan himself. A moment later, Stefan came out of the kitchen holding a cup of water. He set it down in front of Cassidy. It was a disposable cup, and steam was still rising from it. Cassidy held the warm cup in her hands and thanked him. In an even tone, he said, "The two rooms over there are guest rooms. Pick whichever one you like. They both have private bathrooms." "Okay." Cassidy nodded. Stefan paused, as if choosing his words. Cassidy looked at him, feeling slightly puzzled. She waited patiently for him to speak. "You…" After pausing for another two seconds, he said, "What size do you wear? I'll have someone bring up a change of clothes." Cassidy froze, clearly not expecting him to ask that. A flush instantly crept up her cheeks. Her doe eyes flickered with shyness as she said hesitantly, "Um… Could I tell the staff myself?" Stefan seemed to relax slightly. He nodded and said, "Alright." He made a call and instructed, "Send up a set of toiletries and a change of clothes for a woman." After that, he handed the phone to Cassidy. He respected other's boundaries, so he went into his bedroom. Once the door was closed and separated them, Cassidy finally felt comfortable enough to state her sizes. On the other end of the line, a woman asked politely, "Ma'am, may I ask your bra size?" Cassidy was a little surprised that they would even be sending underwear over. She answered very quietly. The woman replied warmly, "Alright. Please wait a moment. I'll prepare it right away." Cassidy thought the hotel's service was surprisingly thorough. They even prepared fresh clothes for their guests. After hanging up, she glanced at Stefan's phone screen. The wallpaper was one of the default ones. Most of his apps were related to work, finance, and business. Cassidy looked away almost immediately. Peeking at someone else's phone felt impolite. Even though she hadn't opened anything, she still felt a bit guilty. With Stefan's phone in her hand, she went to his bedroom door and knocked. There was no response. Cassidy pursed her lips and waited for a moment before knocking again. Still nothing. She had no choice but to return to the couch and place the phone on the coffee table. About ten minutes later, the bedroom door opened. Hearing the sound, Cassidy instinctively looked up. The sight made her freeze. Stefan was wearing a gray bathrobe, loosely tied, and his chest was slightly exposed. His hair was damp, water droplets still clinging to the ends. It turned out he had been showering. Cassidy turned her head the other way and focused on the coffee table. "I'm done with the call. I knocked on your door earlier to return your phone." Stefan nodded and walked over to pick it up. He was standing right in front of her. In that brief instant, Cassidy unintentionally caught a glimpse of his chest under the bright overhead lights. She could even make out the outline of his abs. Her breathing hitched. After taking his phone, Stefan sat in the single armchair beside her instead of leaving as she had expected. "After giving it some thought, there's something I should talk to you about," he said, looking at her calmly, his expression unreadable. "What is it?" Cassidy asked. Stefan said in a serious voice, "Your boyfriend isn't as simple as he seems." Cassidy looked up in surprise. She hadn't expected him to bring up Isaac. After a few seconds of stunned silence, she lowered her gaze and said, "I know." Stefan raised an eyebrow. "So you know he's been pretending to be poor and lying to you?" Cassidy clenched her hands and answered softly, "Yes." "Are you aware he's cheating on you?" She nodded again. "Yes." "And you're not breaking up with him?" "I plan to pretend I don't know for now," Cassidy replied. "Then I'll break up with him by ghosting and ignoring him completely once I go to Norville." Stefan fell silent. Cassidy stared at the floor, not daring to look up. The pressure he exuded was overwhelming. The way he asked those questions felt less like concern and more like an interrogation. After a moment, she heard Stefan speak again. "Your mother is seriously ill. Has your boyfriend offered any help at all?" Cassidy shook her head awkwardly. She couldn't help wondering why he suddenly brought this up. And how did he know Kate was seriously ill? She quickly realized that Zoe must have told him. Leaning back on the couch and resting his gaze on her, Stefan said, "The money you earn from part-time jobs is nowhere enough to cover your mother's medical bills." With her head still lowered, Cassidy mumbled, "I know. I'm trying to figure something out." "Then help me with something, and I'll cover all of your mother's medical bills," Stefan proposed. "What?" Cassidy snapped her head up and stared at him. Stefan met her gaze squarely, the emotion in his eyes inscrutable. "Marry me," he said solemnly. There was no mistaking his words. For a brief moment, Cassidy's mind went completely blank. She stared at Stefan, feeling bewildered and not fully comprehending the meaning of those words. "W-What?" she blurted, eyes full of confusion. She saw Stefan's lips move again as he repeated, "Marry me." In that instant, Cassidy wondered if she was dreaming. Her confusion turned into shock as she exclaimed, "Why?" Compared to her flabbergasted expression, Stefan remained remarkably calm. His expression stayed cool, and his tone was even. "My family is pressuring me to get married," he replied. "I need a wife, and you need money. It's mutually beneficial, isn't it?" Mutually beneficial? It sounded almost reasonable. But this was marriage, not a business deal. How could it be measured in terms of mutual benefit? Cassidy pressed her lips together and frowned. "I'll give you time to think it over," Stefan said calmly. "Once you've decided, let me know anytime."