In the Lap of Luxury by Unsweetened Chestnuts

Xander glanced at her after he finished speaking. What he meant was evident enough.

Grace tightened her grip on the seatbelt as she calmly asked, "What did you want to tell me? Was it something that could be done with just a call?"

Xander replied, "You only had Luke with you. I was worried that you might have been forced to drink."

Grace asked, "You were the one who introduced Mr. Thorne to me. Don't you know the kind of person he is?"

Xander answered, "He's a gentleman. He wouldn't make it hard for you."

Grace continued, "Then you still-"

"I wanted to see you."

Xander tilted his head and looked at her as he made it clear. "Would you be able to accept this answer?"

Grace was stunned. She was clearly surprised.

She replied, "We just met yesterday."

"Meeting once isn't enough for some people."

Xander glanced over at the rearview mirror and drove out of the city center. He then slowed the car down and stopped by the roadside.

Grace asked, "Why did you stop the car?"

an accident somewhere further down when I came over earlier. They haven't cleared up the road yet, so I figured we

was only a pack of cigarettes

hand to stop him and said, "This is a mild one. You

try it." Xander took out a cigarette

"Light it up,

clear and piercing

took out a lighter and lit it up. The flame illuminated both

how to smoke in

replied, "Nobody was looking after me in Pamore. I just

his cigarette and tossed

when she had been married to Benjamin. But none of the Hawkinses had cared about her, not

from the cigarette. It was just as Grace had said. It was too mild

the window and said, "You

did it willingly. Even you're blaming me now,

you ever thought what things might have been

wasn't the best, at

Hawkins family and Benjamin looked down on

deep down and begged, "Can you stop

you regretting it, or do you still have feelings

pressing on. Perhaps the smoke was too strong, but Grace felt her eyes

having fun rubbing salt in my wounds,

It's