Fated Marriage Spoiled by My Ice Billionaire novel Chapter 775

Chapter 775 Mountain Night

Chapter 775 Mountain Night

Anthony chose not to step in or question his decision.

+5 Free Coms

Harold carried Zander uphill toward the resort and bed–and–breakfast, while Claudia followed Nolan down to the lake shore below the hotel. Harold had mentioned he’d be back that evening, and Claudia wanted to talk with him face–to–face about the marriage contract.

At that moment, both of them were restless. Neither was really focused on the party or the team–building activities going on around them–each was quietly preoccupied with thoughts of the other.

As night settled in, the mountain air grew chilly. Claudia pulled on a black windbreaker and watched from a distance as a whole lamb roasted over a crackling bonfire.

Not far off, a group of campers–clearly fellow vacationers–had brought along instruments and were strumming guitars and singing, filling the lakeside with an upbeat, gathering energy.

Some of the faculty from Willow Studio even mingled in, joining the impromptu jam session with singing and casual dancing.

Claudia allowed herself a soft smile.

She enjoyed the lively vibe, but preferred to stay on the sidelines, taking it all in quietly. A part of her almost envied how freely others could lose themselves in the moment–something she never quite allowed herself to do.

Nolan came over holding a fresh plate of carved lamb and passed it to her. “If you keep standing back and watching, there won’t be any left,” he said lightly.

“Thanks,” she replied, accepting it with a smile.

Just then, Keith walked by.

“Heading out already, Keith?” Nolan called.

Keith turned and grinned, adjusting her jacket. “Just running up to the lodge to meet an old college friend. I’ll be right back.”

“Study–abroad people–always know someone everywhere. Not going to introduce us?” Nolan teased.

When Keith returned, Claudia noticed she looked slightly flustered.

Figuring she might have been spooked by the dark or hurried on her walk back, Claudia didn’t dwell on it.

Nolan, spotting Keith, pulled her into the dice game that had started up nearby.

“Claudia, you too!” He reached over and drew Claudia into the circle as well.

“I’d rather not–I don’t really know how to play,” Claudia said, her nerves tightening. She rarely joined group games like this.

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19:07 Sat, Jul

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Chapter 775 Mountain Night

“You’ll pick it up as we go!” Nolan insisted, tugging her over anyway.

+5 Free ComIS

That was Nolan for you–a couple of drinks in, and he acted like everyone was his lifelong buddy.

Keith and Claudia ended up seated on either side of him, with the group making room for thèm.

Jaron caught Claudia’s eye and smiled faintly.

Nolan really was the only one who could get Claudia to step out of her comfort zone. Otherwise, she’d probably still be at home, buried in her own routines.

They were playing a simple dice game, and Claudia truly didn’t know the rules.

Luckily, the stakes were low: if you lost, you either took a sip of your drink or did a small dare–nothing too wild.

Keith seemed distracted too, as if something was weighing on her.

Nolan showed Claudia the basics a few times, and she caught on quickly–even winning her first couple of practice rounds.

“Claudia, is there anything you’re not good at?” Nolan laughed. “Well, except maybe being vertically challenged.”

He never missed a chance to poke fun at her height.

Claudia offered a half–awkward smile.

“If Ms. Bowman is short, what does that make the rest of us?” one of the women teachers across from her chimed in playfully.

That sparked a round of good–natured teasing directed at Nolan.

“Alright, alright, I surrender!” Nolan chuckled, shaking the dice again.

Keith, lost in thought, ended up losing to Claudia.

Not wanting to drink, she told Claudia to choose a dare.

Claudia glanced at Nolan, who just waved her on.

(

Quietly, she suggested, “Maybe sing a song?”

Keith nodded–fair enough.

She walked over to the campers with the guitar, chose a track, and sang a foreign tune.

The crowd applauded warmly, Claudia clapping along with them.

When Keith returned to the circle, she gave Claudia an appreciative nod.

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19:07 Sat, Jul 4

Chapter 775 Mountain Night

+5 Free Coms

What goes around comes around–soon after, Claudia lost to the same teacher sitting across from her. Şince Claudia was the designated driver, she couldn’t drink. The teacher’s request was for her to sing the same song Keith had just performed.

“I heard Ms. Bowman take music lessons with the dean’s wife for a while?”

“The dean’s wife always spoke highly of her…”

Nolan joined in, “Yeah, Claudia, give us a song!”

Keith shot Claudia a quick glance, hesitating for a second.

Claudia felt a wave of nervousness and didn’t know how to respond.

Nolan gently pulled her up. “C’mon, you’ve got this!”

He led her over to a clear spot on the grass nearby. Claudia felt utterly exposed–she’d never performed in front of a crowd like this before.

And, of course, right then the guitarist from the camper band had slipped away to the restroom.

She stood there awkwardly until Nolan sat back down, leaving her in the spotlight.

Left with no real alternative, Claudia pushed through the nerves. She borrowed a guitar from one of the band members, settled into a chair, crossed her legs, and rested the instrument on her lap.

“Don’t sweat it,” one of the musicians told her kindly. “You look like you know your way around a guitar. Just close your eyes and sing–don’t even think about who’s watching.”

Claudia managed a small smile and strummed a few test chords.

Keith watched her intently, then scanned the friends and colleagues nearby–everyone’s eyes were fixed on Claudia.

She didn’t choose the song Keith had sung. Instead, she started playing another one.

Her fingers moved steadily over the strings as she began to sing, and before long, the nearby drummer softly joined in, matching her melody.

That song happened to be a favorite among many of the studio’s women faculty. As the intro played, voices around the fire began to rise, singing along.

One by one, people stood up, swaying gently, phone flashlights held high like makeshift lighters, all singing together into the cool mountain night.

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