Regardless of his reasoning, the expression on Anastasia's face told Christian something important.
She looked… betrayed.
Her narrowed eyes carried a faint grudge, as if his answer had offended her far more than she wanted to show.
Christian quickly realized that if he left things like this, the conversation might end badly.
So he moved.
Standing up from his chair, he stepped around the table.
Before Anastasia could react, he gently lifted her and settled back down, pulling her onto his lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Her small frame fit there easily.
Christian pinched her cheek lightly and looked straight into her eyes.
"Why are you sulking like this?" he asked with a soft smile.
Treating someone like Anastasia this way — like a stubborn child that needed comforting, would have been unthinkable for anyone else.
Yet she didn't react.
She didn't push him away either.
They sat so close that their breaths mixed together.
