“Anything is fine,” Corrine responded with grace.
Penny’s expression softened.
“Please, feel at ease here, Miss Holland. We wouldn’t want Mrs. Hopkins to think we’re not hospitable.”
Suddenly, a voice outside shouted, “Wow, the weather’s changed so suddenly!”
“Oh dear!” Penny’s expression shifted to concern as she hurried outside.
“Mrs. Hopkins’ prized orchids are still on the veranda. We must protect them from the rain!”
Evelyn spent many joyful hours with her cherished plants, which she adored.
Corrine, sensing Penny’s urgency, quickly followed her out.
Displayed on the veranda were several beautiful potted plants, with one particular orchid catching Corrine’s eye-she had seen the same type at her grandfather’s place.
Corrine recalled a childhood memory when she had knocked over her grandfather’s orchid. Instead of getting angry, he was more concerned about whether she was scared or hurt. Years later, Jayden revealed to her that the orchid had been worth fifteen million.
Now, observing this orchid, Corrine’s curiosity about the Hopkins family’s status and wealth deepened.
As dark clouds gathered, Corrine realized there was no time to ponder. She lifted a potted plant and hurried to the safety of a nearby shelter.
“Miss Holland, you really should rest,” Penny called out, noting Corrine’s delicate stature.
“We can manage the heavy lifting.”
Corrine assured her, “I’m fine, really.”
As a light drizzle turned into a steady rain, Corrine hastened her steps, cradling the plant protectively. The rain made the garden path’s cobblestones slippery, causing her flat shoes to skid. Corrine lost her balance and fell toward the grass. From a short distance, Penny shouted, “Miss Holland, be careful!”
Corrine’s heart leaped into her throat, her face blanching as fear gripped her. She squeezed her eyes shut and instinctively clung to the potted plant in her arms, as though it were her lifeline.
In a heartbeat, a firm, unyielding arm encircled her waist, pulling her into a secure, almost possessive embrace.
Everything unraveled so quickly that Corrine barely had time to process what was happening.
But the dreaded pain never came.
Hesitantly, she opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Nate, his face so close that she could feel the warmth radiating from him.
His sharply sculpted jawline looked impossibly smooth, his Adam’s apple subtly enticing as it moved. Beneath it, the crisp, buttoned collar of his shirt exuded effortless sophistication, a quiet magnetism she couldn’t ignore.
The closeness between them was almost suffocating, their bodies pressed together with no room for escape. Nate’s cool, intoxicating scent surrounded her, leaving her feeling utterly cornered
Their eyes met without warning, and Corrine caught a glimpse of herself reflected in his dark pupils.
Her heart stuttered, as if caught in a vice, and began to race wildly. A delicate blush crept across her cheeks, betraying her composure.
“Do you always throw caution to the wind like this?” Nate’s deep, velvety voice murmured near her ear, the timbre sending shivers down her spine.
His warm breath caressed the strands of hair near her temple, an electric current jolting her senses and making her body tense instinctively.
It was only when Nate loosened his grip slightly that Corrine seized the opportunity to step out of his arms. She straightened, her voice soft but tinged with defiance.
“It wasn’t recklessness. The cobblestones are just too slippery.”
Nate’s lips curled into a teasing smile as he noticed the lingering flush on her cheeks. His voice carried a playful lilt.
“Ah, so you’re suggesting we pave the entire path instead?”
Corrine pursed her lips and opted for silence, crouching to retrieve the plant from the shattered pot.
Her fingers delicately brushed the soil from the roots, and a faint, unguarded smile softened her face.
“Thankfully, the roots are unharmed.”
Nate crouched beside her, his gaze steady and unusually tender, a quiet warmth flickering in his eyes-one he rarely allowed anyone to see.
But his expression darkened when his eyes fell on Corrine’s hands. Without warning, he grabbed her wrist, his brows knitting together in concern. Corrine blinked in surprise and followed his gaze to find a thin, barely noticeable scratch on her wrist-a mark she hadn’t even realized was there.
“It’s nothing,” she said dismissively, rubbing the cut on her sleeve as though that would erase it.
Nate, however, remained silent. His jaw tightened slightly before he swiftly swept her into his arms, standing with an ease that left Corrine breathless.
“The plant!” she gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. Her forehead brushed against his lips in the movement, the brief contact freezing him in place for a fraction of a second.
Nate’s body stiffened, but he continued walking, his stride resolute and unyielding.
Once inside the living room, he gently set Corrine down on the sofa and disappeared momentarily, returning with a first aid kit in hand.
“I can handle it,” Corrine said, glancing at the kit as if it were unnecessary. She hadn’t paid much mind to the scratch-if anything, she would have ignored it entirely had Nate not noticed.
But Nate’s focus was unwavering, his movements meticulous as he opened the kit. The tenderness in his actions tugged at something deep within Corrine, softening her resistance.
“This might sting a little,” Nate murmured, kneeling on one knee in front of her. His strong yet careful hands worked efficiently, holding a pair of tweezers as though tending to something infinitely precious
At that moment, Penny burst into the room, followed closely by Matias. Matias observed Nate kneeling before Corrine, a realization crystallizing: she was truly unique in Nate’s world.
Never before had he witnessed Nate kneel for anyone.
Before long, Evelyn stirred awake.
Her eyes immediately landed on the bandage wrapped around Corrine’s wrist, and her expression flickered with surprise.
“What happened? How did you hurt yourself?”
Her gaze shifted momentarily to Nate, her expression difficult to read-layered with curiosity and a hint of suspicion. Could it be that Nate, in one of his rare displays of eagerness, had inadvertently caused this?
Corrine smiled faintly, her tone light and reassuring.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I accidentally cut myself while breaking a flowerpot earlier. No need to worry.”
Evelyn nodded, her brows lifting slightly as her features softened.
“I’m glad it’s nothing too bad.” She reached out and gently took Corrine’s hand, her voice warm and inviting.
“Since you’re injured, why don’t you stay the night? It’s better to rest here than to go home.”
Nate’s brow twitched, but his timing was impeccable.
“The rain’s coming down hard, and it doesn’t seem like it’ll let up anytime soon,” he added, his tone calm but firm.
Evelyn chimed in with mock gravity, her lips curling into a knowing smile.
“Corrine, you’ve only just recovered, and you really shouldn’t risk getting caught in the rain. Now that you’re hurt, it’d only make things worse if you got an infection.”
Nate set a steaming cup of coffee in front of Evelyn, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
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.