“There’s no need. You’re perfectly fine.”
“Really?” Nate’s gaze shifted toward her, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips, his deep eyes gleaming with mischief.
“But how can you be so sure without checking?”
Corrine drew in a steadying breath, lifting her chin with quiet resolve, her gaze unwavering.
“I have complete confidence in you.”
Her words settled into the stillness, creating a palpable tension in the air. A low, amused chuckle rumbled from Nate. His rich, magnetic laughter broke the quiet.
“Then, why don’t you enlighten me on what makes you so confident in me?”
Corrine hesitated, her thoughts racing. No matter how she chose to respond, it felt like walking straight into his carefully laid trap. She opted for silence instead, inwardly cursing Karina for being such a troublemaker
The car moved on in a hushed rhythm, and Corrine kept her focus low, her gaze fixed on her hands. Nate glanced at her briefly, his eyes tracing the soft curve of her flushed cheeks and the delicate set of her jaw. A subtle smile played on his lips, amusement flickering in his expression. Something in him warned that if he pushed her further, she might cross the line from embarrassed to genuinely upset.
Just as he was about to speak, Nate’s gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, catching sight of a suspicious vehicle. A black car trailed them, carefully using other vehicles for cover. Its precision marked it as the work of a professional.
Nate’s eyes hardened, a cold gleam flashing in their depths. Without a word, he pressed the accelerator, the car surging forward.
Corrine, seated calmly in the passenger seat, noticed the sudden change in speed. Her brows knitted slightly as she turned to face him.
“What’s going on?”
“If you’re tired, you should rest for a bit.” Nate masked the sharp edge in his gaze, looking at her with practiced ease.
Corrine didn’t reply immediately, her eyes catching the movement of the car behind them in the mirror. She quickly picked up on the situation. Her expression remained composed, but her voice turned crisp, carrying a subtle chill.
“Can you lose them?”
A faint, confident smirk tugged at Nate’s lips.
“Sweetheart, never question what your man can do.”
“Are they after you?” Corrine asked, her calm demeanor free of panic, exuding a quiet strength that was captivating.
“Unlikely.” His tone was measured, though a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. His movements were always meticulously concealed. No one should have been able to track him.
Corrine’s eyes glimmered with understanding at his response.
“Seems like I’ve pulled you into this,” she said, her nonchalant tone igniting a spark of curiosity in Nate. What exactly had she been through? How could she be so composed in a situation like this?
Pushing aside his questions, he asked evenly, “Are you scared?”
“Not in the slightest.” Corrine met his gaze directly, her lips curving into a faint, teasing smile.
“With you here, at worst, we’ll be a pair of star-crossed lovers fleeing into the night.”
“I couldn’t bear the thought.” The girl he loved was meant to flourish beneath the sun, to revel in the warmth of the spotlight, not to be lost among the bones and shadows of the forgotten.
“Would you mind if we played some music?” she asked.
“Go ahead.”
With a soft smile, Corrine reached for the player, her fingers brushing the buttons until the car was filled with the mournful beauty of a violin’s song. The track was titled “Timeless Longing.” A melody Corrine knew well.
Nate’s eyes caught the fleeting look of surprise that danced across Corrine’s face, and he asked casually, “Do you enjoy violin music?”
Corrine’s smile was soft, almost wistful.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a favorite, but it doesn’t bother me either.”
Nate’s gaze lingered on the road ahead, and he fell silent. The quiet stretched between them, unexpected, and Corrine turned to him, her voice laced with curiosity
“Aren’t you going to ask more?”
“Would you like to talk about it?” Nate’s voice was gentle, yet firm.
Before Corrine could answer, he added, “If you need to speak, I’m here to listen. If not, I won’t push.”
His words, soft as they were, carried an undeniable weight that seemed to reach into the deepest part of her soul.
Corrine’s heart fluttered, a mixture of emotions rising within her, and she pressed her lips tight, trying to hold it all in.
After a moment of quiet reflection, she began, her voice barely above a whisper.
“As far back as I can remember, my mother rarely smiled, except when I played the violin. This piece…” She paused, her fingers instinctively tracing the edge of her seat.
“This was her favorite. Every time I played it, her gaze would soften, and a smile would appear as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Sometimes, she’d even join me on the piano. For years, I played it just to see that smile. Eventually, I couldn’t tell if I truly loved the violin or if I was simply chasing after the happiness in her eyes. After she passed away, I stayed away from it for a long time. It wasn’t until I started living in the Ford estate that my grandfather insisted I take up various arts, saying that as a Ford, I had to be skilled in everything to represent the family properly. And so, I picked up the violin again.”
Nate’s fingers gently wrapped around hers, his touch warm and reassuring.
“We should play a duet sometime.”
“You play the piano?” Corrine’s eyes widened in surprise, her voice faltering slightly.
Then, as the thought settled, she realized it made sense given his background. Nate offered a knowing smile.
“I know a lot of things. I’ll let you discover them, one piece at a time.”
As they spoke, the car reached the gates of Celtis Estate.
“This is…” Corrine’s words faltered, her surprise clear that Nate had brought her here.
Nate honked the horn once, and the grand gates of the estate slowly creaked open.
“Until the danger passes, you’ll stay here, for your own safety.”
His words were simple, but the underlying authority in his tone left no room for argument.
His concern for her safety was evident, and in that moment, Corrine knew she had no reason to refuse.
Seeing her lack of resistance, Nate couldn’t suppress a smirk and raised an eyebrow.
“Corrine, deep down, you’re secretly excited about sharing a roof with me, aren’t you?”
Corrine flashed him a playful grin.
“Mr. Hopkins, you have a knack for flattering yourself. You might want to look in the mirror to see how thick your skin is.” With that, she swung open the car door and stepped out with a hint of satisfaction in her stride.
Nate quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and followed her, grasping her hand with a cheeky smile.
“Why bother with pride when my wife is standing in front of me?”
“Who is your wife?” Corrine’s cheeks flushed with a mixture of surprise and embarrassment, and she quickened her pace
“Of course, it’s you,” Nate answered, his tone unwavering.
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.