Chapter 6

He scrutinized them, searching for any hidden intent, but the humiliation had vanished from her face, replaced by a faint shame at having laid her soul so bare. Clifton knew her. It was not just her fair face that was naive; her entire disposition was untouched by the world’s cynicism. He knew as much from his sister’s occasional complaints. Such a woman was incapable of telling such a brazen lie. So, was he supposed to believe her? That was even more impossible. Nauseated by the mere thought of holding hands? It was physiologically absurd. A dry, humorless laugh escaped him.