He slowly turned back, the pain evident as he touched his cheek, his eyes burning with dark intensity.
In that heated moment, Kaiden, spurred on by the liquor, strutted forward with a bold, self-assured demeanor.
“Hey, what’s gotten into you, slapping someone in public? Do you have any idea who this is? This man is…”
As he drew closer and his eyes registered Corrine’s face, his bravado faltered, and he stopped mid-sentence. Kaiden’s confidence turned to confusion, his mind clearing as dread took over. Cold sweat formed on his forehead.
After a tense silence, he managed to stammer out a weak, “Miss…”
Corrine glanced at him coldly, her eyes carrying a subtle warning. The rest of Kaiden’s words stuck in his throat.
Realizing he was out of his depth, he quickly reassessed the situation.
“Ah, Mr. Ashton, I suddenly recall a meeting I need to attend this afternoon. I must excuse myself. Thank you for your hospitality.”
Awkwardly sidestepping Corrine, Kaiden hurried out, his departure a mix of urgency and embarrassment.
“Mr. Hudson, Mr. Hudson…” Bruce muttered, watching Kaiden’s hasty retreat with a scowl.
As Bruce was momentarily distracted, Corrine seized the opportunity to walk away.
“Wait!” Bruce exclaimed, catching hold of her wrist.
“Corrine, we need to talk! I know our breakup was tough, but why lower yourself like this?”
Before he could say more, a firm grip clamped down on his wrist. The knuckles were prominent, the grip tightening painfully.
Bruce yelped in pain, his grip loosening involuntarily, and the next moment, he was shoved aside forcefully. He raised his eyes to encounter a stern, sharply defined face. Cold and menacing, Nate’s eyes seemed on the brink of fury
With a stern look, Bruce asked, “Who are you?”
“The car’s outside. Let’s go.” Nate, as if not hearing Bruce’s question, turned to look at Corrine behind him.
Without showing any signs of doubt, Corrine silently agreed and began to walk away.
Following instinctively, Bruce attempted to catch up with Corrine, only to be blocked abruptly by Nate. With a calm stare that seemed to regard Bruce as if he were already gone from this world, Nate warned, “Don’t let me catch you bothering her again.”
Bruce stood there, teeth clenched. Nate’s eyes swept over him with clear disrespect, treating him like something distasteful. This left Bruce feeling deeply offended. Who exactly was this man? What was his connection to Corrine?
Back at the car, Nate observed the red marks on Corrine’s wrist, his eyes flashing with cold sharpness.
“Without you, what do you think the Ashton family’s fate would be?”
“It’s up to his fate,” Corrine replied sharply.
“And you shouldn’t meddle.”
As she spoke, Nate leaned in close with a daunting air, momentarily stealing Corrine’s breath.
“Still thinking about him?” he asked, his smile cold and uninviting.
Corrine’s expression tightened.
“Do you really think I don’t know what’s good for me?”
At her words, a genuine smile finally broke through Nate’s stern demeanor.
“You always seem so indifferent to what I do. It does seem you don’t know what’s good for you.”
“Nate!” Corrine cried out and playfully punched Nate’s chest.
Her hand was caught by him unexpectedly, and he said, “Corrine, I truly love you.”
Corrine was dumbfounded by his sudden declaration. Nervously, she retreated her hand and pretended to fix her already neat hair.
Yet Nate persisted, enveloping her in his arms and drawing her close. He nestled his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply, cherishing the closeness. Whispering right beside her ear, he admitted, “This might surprise you, but I’m equally astounded. My love for you has grown far more than I ever thought possible since just yesterday.”
Rooted to the spot, Corrine’s eyes widened in shock.
With a gentle touch, Nate caressed her cheek, his thumb grazing her lips. His anticipation was clear as he leaned in for a soft kiss.
The coolness of his breath snapped Corrine out of her daze. She finally met his earnest, intense look.
Feeling suddenly overwhelmed, she quickly looked away and tried to push him back.
Despite her efforts, Nate’s hold tightened around her waist, securing her close to him. He admired the blush that colored her cheeks, his heart racing as he said, “Corrine, I can’t wait any longer.”
A wave of panic surged through Corrine, and she only managed to say, “Nate…”
Interrupting her, Nate’s hand cradled the back of her head, and he claimed her lips with a passionate, unyielding kiss. He inhaled deeply, his kiss exploring with a passion that seemed to fill the very air between them.
Her mind cleared of all thoughts. Corrine was swept up in the unexpected intensity of the kiss, feeling as if fate itself had ordained their lips to meet. As Nate’s embrace tightened, a spark of clarity returned to Corrine, and she mustered her strength to break away.
He was close, his dark eyes burning with an intensity that sent her heart into a frenzy, as though he intended to consume her entirely. Nate’s fingers gently but firmly held her chin, compelling her to look at him. He whispered softly, their foreheads touching, “Corrine, I don’t regret what just happened.”
Corrine’s lips pressed tightly together, her breath held in an effort to quell her inner turmoil.
“You said you wouldn’t force me.”
“I had hoped to keep up the appearance of a gentleman,” Nate admitted, his gaze intense and unyielding.
“But losing control just now has only solidified my belief that we are meant to be together in this lifetime.”
Normally composed and controlled, Nate was astounded to discover that a mere kiss could nearly push him over the edge.
Corrine’s inner turmoil grew, leaving her heart restless and her mind uncertain. After a moment of silence, her voice shaky and filled with hesitation, she said, “I need some time to think about this.”
Seizing the moment as the car halted, she opened the door and hurried out into the street.
Nate watched her leave with a knowing smile, reflecting on his journey from mere physical attraction to a profound fascination with Corrine. What began as simple allure had quickly evolved into a determined pursuit to win her heart.
Exiting Nate’s car, Corrine meandered down the avenue without a clear direction. The struggle within her was undeniable, pulling her apart. Nate’s actions had stirred something within her heart. Still, a lingering voice of reason cautioned her to remember past pains, though the immediate wounds had healed.
Her three-year relationship with Bruce had drained all her sincerity, leaving her with nothing but disappointment. Nate had only recently entered her life, just a few days ago.
With a sigh of frustration, Corrine combed her fingers through her hair, entertaining the idea that maybe things would just sort themselves out. A wry smile crossed her face as she remembered Karina’s earnest prediction, saying that she would fall for him soon. And indeed, Karina had been right.
Lost in her thoughts, she was jolted back to reality by her ringing phone. It was Karina.
“Corrine, weren’t you supposed to be here by now?”
“Just caught a cab, I’ll be there shortly,” Corrine responded, swiftly hailing a taxi and climbing aboard.
She reached the bridal studio ten minutes later.
The studio was located within a quaint villa on Harmony Street, flanked by birch trees, offering a serene escape. The villa stood out with its melancholic, vintage allure, complete with pointed arches and rose windows. A bronze plaque marked “Redamancy” adorned the exterior
While Karina managed the studio’s every detail, from design to location, Corrine contributed financially and occasionally managed client orders. Upon entering, she was immediately greeted by Ivy Frazier, a staff member, who said to her, “Karina’s in her office.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.