The faint smile at the corner of Hugh''s lipspletely vanished. He had never intended for Serena to repay the full amount.


    But Serena had alreadye to terms with it.


    She took Snuggle to the cat room cheerfully.


    The cat room wasn''t very big. It had been converted from a study.


    Cat trees and climbing tforms were mounted all over the walls, angled this way and that, along with tunnels and slides.


    The litter box was ced right outside the bathroom door. Snuggle was free to use the toilet or the litter. So all bases had been covered.


    Not to mention the floor was scattered with plush toys and a little robotic arm dangling a fluttering feather.


    The moment Snuggle walked in, it waspletely enthralled. It rolled from one side of the room to the other, darting back and forth, meowing non-stop.


    It was having the time of its life.


    Serena walked over to a built-in cab. Inside were all of Snuggle''s favorite foods-kibble, canned treats, fish oil, some basic medicines, even dewormers neatly lined up like a pet clinic''s inventory.


    It was better stocked than most veterinary clinics.


    Hugh didn''te in. He stood at the doorway and asked, "Is there anything else you need?"


    "No, everything''s here." Serena''s hand rested lightly on the ss cab door.


    She had once imagined that if she ever got a cat or dog, she''d give it its own room, filled with toys and treats. But she''d never thought of preparing medicine, or having multiple cors in different designs.


    Yet, Hugh had thought of all of it.


    He''d never owned a cat before. Did he really do all this just for Snuggle?


    Her fingers curled slightly, emotions swirling in her chest.


    This didn''t feel like a mere alliance. It felt more like friendship... no, something even closer. What kind of rtionship was this?


    Hugh didn''t hear a follow-upment from Serena. He began tapping his fingers on his arm impatiently.


    What was missing? Was the cat leash not cute enough? Too short? Were the cors not stylish enough? Was the litter box not the right shade of blue?


    Countless questions flew through his mind.


    He frowned and added, "There are cat beds in the other rooms too. It doesn''t have to stay in just this one-it''s free to roam the whole vi."


    Serena suddenly snapped back to reality.


    What was she even thinking just now? What could there possibly be between her and Hugh?


    This was a business marriage, and they''d only known each other for a few months. What kind of rtionship could grow from that?


    - tough on the ot


    Pulling herself out of her thoughts, sheposed herself and turned around.


    "I was just spacing out," she said.


    "Thinking how surprising it is that you could put together such a well-prepared cat room. Seems like you''re not like the rumors at a all.


    "I think you''re actually incredibly


    thoughtful-tough on the outside et


    the inside. There''s no


    than this cat room. I really love


    it."


    With that, she turned and walked up to Hugh, hands sped behind her back,


    leaning in yfully with a bright smile.


    "I love the new ce you set up too. So, as a thank-you, how should I repay you, Mr. Larson?"


    If he were a female friend, Serena


    wouldn''t have hesitated to give him


    a big hug. But unfortunately, he was


    a man-her political ally, her


    marriage partner-someone she needed to maintain distance from.


    So instead, she simply widened her eyes, waiting to hear what Hugh might ask


    for.


    What she didn''t realize was that her sudden closeness had made his heartbeat quicken in his chest.