The old man forced a smile. "Grandpa's old and has a lot of health problems. I'll be fine after some sleep, don't worry."
Just then, Adrian Quincy suddenly spoke. "Grandpa, Quinn and I have already registered our marriage."
Claire Sinclair looked at the old man, words catching in her throat.
The old man, however, looked at his grandson, his tone one of clear satisfaction disguised as a scolding. "You brat! Didn't I tell you ages ago to get married? You're only just getting it done now, when your grandpa is on his last legs. Now go home and make me a great-grandson right away, you hear me!"
Claire Sinclair: "..."
'Looks like Grandpa White-beard is in for a disappointment. I have no intention of doing *that* with his grandson.'
Adrian Quincy put on a dutiful expression. "I'll take your lesson to heart, Grandpa. I'll get right on making one as soon as we get back."
'What a kiss-ass…'
The old man turned to Claire Sinclair, his voice gentle. "Quinn, Grandpa doesn't have much time left. Will you promise me one thing?"
Claire Sinclair nodded obediently. "Go ahead, Grandpa. If it will help you get better, I'll promise you anything."
The old man smiled, satisfied. "Good, good. Go home and give Grandpa a great-grandson."
The smile on Claire Sinclair's face froze. 'Can I take back what I just said?'
Suddenly, she felt an intimidating chill from behind her, and Claire Sinclair instinctively glanced back.
She saw The Great Demon King Quincy's face had darkened, his eyes filled with a bone-chilling cold.
Cowed, Claire Sinclair immediately beamed at the old man. "Okay, okay, Grandpa. I promise."
"Good, good..." The old man turned his head to look at the man standing behind the girl, his expression instantly changing to one of profound disappointment.
"Oh, Adrian, you're the one I'm most worried about right now. You're always running off on missions, stone-faced all the time. Have you ever taken Quinn on a date? Have you held her hand? Have you two kissed? If you haven't done any of that, how am I supposed to get a great-grandson!"
Adrian Quincy frowned slightly, his dark, ocean-deep eyes slowly fixing on the girl.
Without a word, he reached out and pulled the girl to her feet, his other hand clasping her slender waist.
He ducked his head, swiftly and decisively capturing her red lips, which were parted in astonishment...
"Mmph—" Claire Sinclair's eyes flew wide. It was her first time being kissed by a man, and her mind instantly went blank, as if a bomb had gone off in her head.
'Who am I?'
'Where am I?'
'What's happening??'
Her mind went completely numb, and she totally forgot to struggle.
Suddenly, the man deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth. His other hand, now free, slid gently around to her back, but his touch was restrained.
It was a surprisingly gentlemanly and restrained kiss...
Even so, Claire Sinclair's breathing grew ragged.
She swallowed nervously, but the taste of him made her face flush crimson.
Adrian Quincy frowned and abruptly ended the kiss, asking breathlessly, "Grandpa, are you satisfied now?"
The old man immediately grinned from ear to ear. "Satisfied, I'm satisfied! Now go home and get to work on that great-grandson, as soon as possible..."
Adrian Quincy nodded and abruptly released her.
Claire Sinclair lowered her head in embarrassment, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into and hide.
Her first kiss, saved for twenty-two years, had just been ruthlessly stolen by a man who was practically a stranger—and all just to put on an act.
'Dazed and confused... so, so confused...'
As if sensing her unspoken complaint, Adrian Quincy suddenly wrapped an arm around her slender waist and turned her to face the old man alongside him.
"Don't worry, Grandpa," he said. "From now on, I'll take good care of Quinn."