“Not at all-selling it for ten times the price is more than worth it.”
“You’re right. It felt good to rip them off,” Karina replied with a shrug.
The two women exchanged a knowing glance before turning to head upstairs. But just as they took a step, Bruce’s voice rang out behind them.
“Corrine, don’t forget to attend my grandfather’s 80th birthday celebration next Saturday.”
Corrine’s steps faltered for a fraction of a second, but she neither turned to face him nor acknowledged his words.
Bruce’s comment, however, caught Karina’s attention. Her brows lifted in curiosity.
“Didn’t you sever all ties with the Ashton family? And back then, they barely tolerated you. Why the sudden invitation to Farris’ birthday party?”
When Corrine had concealed her identity and followed Bruce back to the Ashton family, not a single member had shown her kindness. Behind closed doors, they ridiculed her and barred her from public appearances, deeming it unseemly for a young woman to be in the spotlight. The truth was, they thought that Corrine, with her humble origins, would embarrass them and tarnish the Ashton name.
Corrine’s tone was calm, her words measured.
“Farris gave me something years ago. Once I return it, any ties we have will be completely severed.”
Karina sighed softly, her gaze distant as though recalling a memory.
“Farris had such sharp instincts back then. It’s a shame his family doesn’t share his wisdom.” She shook her head slightly.
“But I can’t help feeling uneasy-what if those ingrates try to cause trouble during the party?”
Corrine glanced at her from the corner of her eye, her voice light yet unyielding.
“That’s their decision. As long as they’re not afraid of ruining the party themselves.”
Leaving the studio behind, Corrine returned to the company. She dove straight into a two-hour meeting about the land in the southern district, focusing intently on every detail. Afterward, she retreated to her office, burying herself in more work.
The hours passed quickly, and by the time she lifted her head, the golden hues of the setting sun bathed her office.
Natasha entered quietly, standing at attention with her usual professionalism.
“Miss Holland, Jackie mentioned he has something urgent to discuss with you.”
Corrine frowned, though not from annoyance at Jackie’s timing. A sudden, sharp pain radiated through her abdomen, causing her to tense. She drew in a steadying breath, pressing her palm against her stomach to brace against the discomfort. Her voice remained even
“If it isn’t urgent, tell him he doesn’t need to meet with me.”
Natasha nodded briskly and exited the office.
The moment the door clicked shut, Corrine hunched over her desk, her breathing shallow as the pain intensified. Her other hand balled into a tight fist, her nails digging into her palm.
After what felt like an eternity, the pain began to ebb. Slowly, she straightened and exhaled a shaky breath. She poured herself a cup of warm water and brought it to her lips, the gentle heat soothing her slightly with each slow sip.
Initially, Corrine dismissed it as her usual stomach ache, thinking that some warm water and a little rest would ease the discomfort. By the end of the day, however, the pain struck with renewed intensity, sharper and more insistent, making her question whether it was something far worse.
Her phone buzzed on the desk just as she doubled over, her teeth clenched tightly against the agony. She forced herself to reach for it, but another searing wave of pain crashed through her, like a blade twisting deep in her abdomen.
A sharp gasp escaped her as her knees gave out, sending her crumpling to the floor. The phone slipped from her hand, clattering loudly against the hard floor.
“Corrine…” Nate’s voice filtered through the phone, cool yet laced with an undeniable warmth, his familiar tone softening the sharp chill that seemed to fill the room.
Curled up on the floor, Corrine pressed both hands to her stomach, her body trembling as she fought against the onslaught of pain. With a shaky breath, she tried to steady herself enough to respond.
“N-Nate…” Her voice cracked under the weight of the pain.
She didn’t know if he heard her before the call abruptly ended, the line cutting off like a lifeline slipping through her fingers.
Desperately, she attempted to dial for emergency help, but her hands quivered uncontrollably, her grip faltering as the pain blurred the edges of her consciousness.
Through the haze, she vaguely registered the sound of the door being flung open. Natasha’s frantic voice broke through the fog as she dropped to her knees beside her.
“Miss Holland… Corrine!”
Corrine forced her eyes open, catching a fleeting glimpse of Natasha’s panicked face. A weak smile tugged at her lips as she tried to reassure her.
“I’m… fine…”
The words barely escaped her lips before her vision went black, and she sank into oblivion.
“Corrine!” The voice calling her name was steady but carried a faint tremor, familiar enough to pull at her fading awareness.
Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, she thought she must have been dreaming of Nate. How else could she hear his voice so clearly? How else could she feel his arms gathering her up, strong and steady, as though anchoring her to reality?
The faint scent of cool earth clung to him, grounding her even as the darkness threatened to swallow her whole.
Corrine’s eyelashes fluttered weakly, a vain attempt to lift the heavy veil of darkness shrouding her vision. Try as she might, her body refused to obey, pulling her deeper into an abyss of dreamless sleep
When she finally stirred again, her senses came alive to unfamiliar surroundings.
Corrine sat up abruptly, her head still heavy, her gaze darting around the room. This wasn’t her room. Panic laced her thoughts.
“Where am I?” she murmured.
Before she could dwell on the question, the door creaked open, and a stranger stepped inside. The woman’s face was calm, her smile warm as her eyes met Corrine’s.
“Miss Holland, you’re awake,” the woman greeted, her tone gentle.
Corrine’s guard shot up instinctively.
“And you are?” she asked.
The woman’s smile widened, unbothered by Corrine’s suspicion.
“I’m the family maid here. You can call me Tanya if you like,” she replied simply.
As if remembering something important, Tanya Hinchcliffe added, “Please excuse me for a moment, Miss Holland. I’ll go inform Mr. Hopkins that you’re awake.”
Before Corrine could utter a word, Tanya had turned on her heel and slipped out of the room.
The silence didn’t last long. Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor. These steps were heavier, more deliberate, and certainly not Tanya’s. Corrine’s gaze instinctively fixed on the doorway just as Nate appeared, dressed in a fitted black shirt that accentuated his tall, commanding frame.
For a moment, she froze, staring at him. His presence was striking, and the pieces clicked in her mind-the voice she’d heard faintly before she’d blacked out was indeed Nate’s. It hadn’t been her imagination after all.
“Feeling better?” Nate’s deep, steady voice broke the silence as he strode toward her. The bed dipped slightly as he sat down at her side, his hand resting gently against her forehead.
Corrine’s breath hitched at the unexpected contact. She found herself gripping the sheets beneath her fingers as if they were a lifeline to steady her emotions.
“I’m fine,” she murmured hoarsely, her throat dry, likely a lingering effect of the fever that had consumed her the night before.
Without a word, Nate reached for the glass of water on the bedside table and handed it to her.
“Drink.”
Before she could even manage a sip, Tanya reappeared in the doorway, carrying a tray.
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.