Fated Marriage Spoiled by My Ice Billionaire novel Chapter 823

823 Car Conversation

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Chapter 823 Car Conversation

“Hey! Ms. Bowman!” Robin called after her, hoping to explain further, but Randall cut him off with a sharp

kick..

Robin stumbled and hit the pavement.

“You’ve got some nerve,” Randall growled through clenched teeth before hauling Robin up and shoving him into the car.

Claudia didn’t look back. Maybe what that kid really needed was a good reality check.

Just as she reached the gate, Harold’s car pulled smoothly to a stop in front of her.

He stepped out and noticed her subdued expression.

“Everything okay?” he asked, moving closer. “You seem upset.”

–“Hmm? No, I’m fine.” She offered a faint smile.

“A student gets under your skin?” Slipping an arm around her shoulder, Harold guided her toward the passenger side.

“Something like that,” Claudia admitted as she settled into the seat.

Harold chuckled softly. “Must’ve been quite the troublemaker to ruffle you.”

He leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, his eyes catching the small trinkets in her hand.

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“You like kids?” he asked casually.

“Yeah, I do.” She set the toys aside.

“Ever think about having one?”

Claudia’s mind went blank for a second.

Seeing her freeze, Harold brushed a kiss near the corner of her mouth. “Just kidding.”

He closed her door and walked around to the driver’s side. Claudia wasn’t sure why her heart was beating

so fast.

During the drive to the restaurant, she avoided looking his way.

His question lingered in the air. Ever think about having one?

She sat with her hands folded on her lap, unsure where to rest her gaze. Letting out a quiet breath, she stared out at the passing city lights.

Harold kept glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

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Chapter 823 Car Conversation

Before long, he pulled the car over to the curb.

Claudia looked from the street back to him. “What’s wrong?”

“You tell me. You’ve been quiet the whole ride.”

“Oh… no, I’m okay.” She sounded unsure.

“If you’re not ready for kids, that’s fine. I’d never push you into it. It’s your choice.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to… it just feels too soon.”

She wasn’t used to conversations like this–especially not with Harold.

“You still don’t love me, do you?” he said, his dark eyes holding hers.

Claudia met his gaze, speechless.

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Harold smiled to himself. Whether she loved him yet didn’t really matter. What mattered was that she was here, and he knew she wasn’t going anywhere.

Sooner or later, she’d come around.

For now, it was enough.

“You’re overthinking it,” he said gently. “Just relax. I won’t force you into anything–not even loving me.” He hadn’t meant to sound accusing.

But he would find a way to win her heart.

That morning, he’d heard her whisper “I love you” in her sleep.

That kind of “love” was probably just a sleepy murmur, but still–it was something.

He reached over and ruffled her hair lightly before pulling back onto the road.

They hadn’t even had a real wedding. They’d only been together for a month or so. Talking about kids was way too early.

“You’re being too good to me,” Claudia murmured after a while.

“Maybe. So you should be nicer to me too,” he replied, half–joking.

She pressed her lips together.

How was she supposed to be nice to him? Harold had everything–money, status, comfort. He didn’t need a thing from her. She couldn’t even handle basic chores; he did most of that for her already.

“How… how do you want me to be nice to you?” she asked hesitantly, biting her lower lip.

The question caught Harold off guard.

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Chapter 823 Car Conversation

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He glanced at her in the passenger seat, then looked away. His throat moved slightly as he swallowed, eyes fixed ahead on the neon–lit streets, his expression softening.

Claudia had spent most of her life keeping to herself. She was shy, bookish, and had mostly followed Graham around. When it came to relationships, she was pretty clueless.

After a pause, Harold spoke again. “My mom was crazy about my dad. From what my uncles say, they got married quick–didn’t really know each other at first.”

“How’d they fall in love then?” Claudia asked, curious.

Harold smirked. “My dad had no shame. He wanted my mom ‘cause she was gorgeous. He had women chasing him left and right, and his temper was something else. Still not sure how Mom/ended up liking him.”

Claudia covered her mouth as she laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Harold shot her a look.

She shook her head, still smiling.

“For the record,” Harold added quickly, “I might have a temper, but I don’t have a trail of women following me around.”

“Your mom must’ve seen something in him,” Claudia said thoughtfully. “And your dad seems like a good man. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have raised all of you so well.”

“You sure know how to sweet–talk. You haven’t seen him when he’s fired up. Every time he comes home, he’s all over my case.” Harold grinned. “Though he does go easier when you’re around.”

“I think he treats you better than the others,” Claudia said, a touch of sadness in her voice.

“Why do you say that?”

“People who really care don’t just spoil you. They pay attention—even if it means being harder on you.” Harold studied her face, catching a flicker of emotion he couldn’t quite name.

He turned her words over in his mind.

She wasn’t wrong.

A faint smile touched his lips. “What makes you think that?”

Claudia met his eyes. “That day… I heard what your dad said to you, even though he tried to keep it from me. He told you not to bring Zander around. He didn’t want me to feel uncomfortable, but he also didn’t want things to be difficult for you. He didn’t want Zander causing problems between us.”

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