“Grandma, you make an excellent point.”
Corrine, who hadn’t managed to get a word in edgewise, could only stare at them in silence.
And just like that, she found herself staying at Evelyn’s house without fully understanding how it had all transpired.
By the time dinner was served, the three of them gathered around the dining table.
Evelyn studied Corrine quietly, taking note of her graceful posture and poised demeanor. Her gaze lingered before she asked, “Corrine, are your parents in Lyhaton?”
At the mention of her parents, Corrine’s lashes lowered, and her voice softened as she shook her head.
“My mother passed away when I was still a child.” A shadow of something sharper crossed her face when her father came to mind-a cold detachment that suggested his absence was both satirical and bitter.
Evelyn’s expression grew sympathetic, and her tone turned more tender.
“So, you’re living alone now? If that’s the case, why not come live with me? It’s not safe for a young woman to be on her own. Here, I can take care of you, and I’d love the company.”
“Grandma, isn’t there a rule about no serious conversations at the dinner table?” Nate interjected smoothly, shooting her a pointed look.
Evelyn huffed, crossing her arms with a pout.
“Rules can bend for special cases. Honestly, you’re already acting so protective of Corrine, and she hasn’t even married you yet!”
Nate’s lips parted, but no words came out.
Corrine, flustered by the exchange, ducked her head and focused on her food, her lips pressing into a tight line to hide her awkwardness. Out of nowhere, a hand appeared in front of her. Nate’s hand.
His hands were strikingly elegant, the kind that would make artists sigh with envy. With steady precision, he reached for a plump Pacific white shrimp. His fingers, long and deft, worked with such ease that peeling the shell seemed like an art form.
In moments, the shrimp meat separated from its shell with elegant precision. Corrine found herself transfixed. She had never witnessed such artful shrimp peeling. Her gaze settled on his hands, momentarily lost in their beauty.
Such hands, she thought, could make any action a visual pleasure.
Unbidden, an intimate image flashed through her mind, causing her cheeks to flush.
Nate caught her staring. A rare, soft smile transformed his usually stern face. By the time he placed a plate of neatly peeled shrimp in front of her, Corrine blinked herself back to reality, startled by the gesture.
“Try it,” he said simply, his voice low and steady, his gaze holding hers with an intensity that made her heart skip.
Corrine hesitated, then murmured softly, “Thank you.”
She picked up a piece, biting into it carefully. The sweetness of the shrimp melted on her tongue, sending a warm, subtle satisfaction through her.
Evelyn, watching from the other side of the table, raised an eyebrow.
It seemed her grandson wasn’t quite as emotionally oblivious as she’d feared. She glanced at her own plate of shrimp, now looking rather unappealing, and casually tossed the piece back down.
Leaning forward with an expectant gleam in her eyes, Evelyn spoke again.
“So, Corrine, about moving in with me-when do you think you’ll do it?”
Corrine set her fork down gently and said to Evelyn with a polite smile, “I’m currently staying with my grandfather.”
“I see.” Evelyn nodded, her expression softening with understanding, though a fleeting glimmer of disappointment crossed her features. She had hoped that by inviting Corrine to stay with her, there might be an opportunity for Nate and Corrine to grow closer. But with Corrine living with her grandfather, that plan seemed out of reach-for now.
After dinner, Nate led Matias to the study to wrap up some work. When he emerged later, the quiet scene in the living room caught him off guard.
Corrine was seated next to Evelyn, her posture poised yet relaxed. She listened intently, her smile warm and engaging, as Evelyn spoke. The soft glow from the living room lamp illuminated her features, lending her an almost ethereal presence
For a moment, Nate stood at the staircase, taking it all in. It was a simple moment, yet it stirred something unfamiliar in him-a sense of warmth, of family, of belonging.
“Nate,” Evelyn called out, breaking his reverie. She waved him over with a faint smile.
“Now that you’re done with work, why don’t you take Corrine for a walk around? I’m feeling a bit tired, so I’ll head to bed.”
He nodded, his gaze shifting to Corrine, silently asking if she agreed.
Corrine rose gracefully, offering Evelyn a soft smile.
“Have a good rest.”
As the two walked side by side toward the door, Evelyn’s smile grew more affectionate, a wistful sigh escaping her lips.
“I hope Nate puts in the effort to win her heart,” she murmured.
Standing beside her, Penny smiled knowingly.
“With Mr. Hopkins’ charm and character, I’m sure Miss Holland won’t be able to resist for long.”
Evelyn’s brow arched subtly, her lips curving into a meaningful smile.
“And where exactly do you think Corrine falls short?”
She didn’t wait for an answer. Evelyn’s years of experience told her that Corrine was no ordinary woman. Every gesture, every word, spoke of an impeccable upbringing and refinement that couldn’t be learned overnight.
This wasn’t going to be easy for Nate. Winning her heart would take more than just charm-it would require sincerity, patience, and perhaps even vulnerability. Outside, the rain had softened into a gentle drizzle, the kind that painted the world in a silvery haze. Corrine stepped into the cool night air, reaching out her hand to feel the raindrops land softly on her palm.
Nate stood a few steps away, one hand in his pocket, his eyes fixed on her with an unreadable expression. A slight smile tugged at his lips.
“How about some coffee?” he asked, his tone casual, but his gaze intent.
Corrine turned her head, surprised by the unexpected invitation. Her eyes met his, and for a brief moment, she forgot how to breathe.
Her fingers curled slightly as she exhaled, regaining her composure. A soft smile played on her lips.
“Sure,” she said.
The coffee room, tucked away in the west wing, exuded a quiet, old-world charm. An arched antique shelf divided the space into two areas. On the table in the outer room, an aromatherapy diffuser released a soothing fragrance, mingling with the rich aroma of coffee beans.
Corrine’s gaze swept across the room, her attention drawn to a painting hanging in the inner space. She stopped mid-step, her eyes flickering with recognition.
It was Spring Breeze, by a famous painter, the swirling masterpiece she’d once seen in an art catalog. But this wasn’t just any replica-this was the original, the same painting that had been sold anonymously at one of the most exclusive auctions in the world.
To even attend such an auction, one had to possess a net worth exceeding two hundred million dollars. To bid anonymously required an even higher level of access-mid-level membership and a fortune exceeding a billion
Corrine studied Nate with a subtle, probing curiosity. Who was this man really?
Nate reclined with a calculated ease, his shirt collar rebelliously undone, exposing the faint curve of his collarbone-an act that felt both deliberate and careless. There was a palpable shift in his aura, a touch of rawness creeping into his typically composed demeanor, like a flame momentarily unguarded by the wind.
The warm light spilled over him like molten gold, tempering his otherwise imposing presence with an almost tender glow. His eyelids were half-closed, the corners of his mouth curling into a subtle, enigmatic smile as he moved through the coffee-making ritual with the precision of a watchmaker.
When he finally slid a cup toward Corrine, his voice, low and resonant, wrapped around the words like velvet.
“When are you getting discharged?”
Corrine cradled the cup, savoring the first sip. The rich aroma filled her senses. When its sweetness dissipated on her tongue, she replied, her tone calm, “Tomorrow.”
“I’ll take you home then.” His words dropped into the space between them, steady and unyielding, laced with an authority that left little room for negotiation.
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.