The harm done to her today, she vowed, would be repaid a hundred times over!
Sitting in the car, Corrine occasionally snuck a glance at Nate, who was seated beside her.
Nate sat gracefully, one leg crossed over the other, maintaining an upright posture, with his hands resting casually on his knees. The soft shadows partially concealed his sharp, well-defined features, lending him an air of mysterious restraint.
Breaking the silence, she finally said, “Thank you for earlier.”
She knew she could have handled the situation herself, but she valued Nate’s well-meaning efforts and believed it was important to express her thanks.
Nate shifted his gaze toward her, his eyes carrying a casual detachment.
“Is a simple thank you all you have for me?”
Surprised by his bluntness, Corrine paused to think, realizing that simple words might feel insincere.
“Do you have something in mind that would be a fitting way to thank you?”
Nate’s dark eyes locked onto hers as his fingers softly brushed her cheek.
“You already know what I want.”
His deep, captivating voice filled the small space, resonating like the rich tones of a cello, striking a chord deep in her heart.
Their eyes met, and the intensity made Corrine quickly look away, feeling as if she had been burned.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she pressed her lips together nervously.
“Taking advantage of the situation isn’t right.”
“I prefer being a truthful scoundrel over a fake gentleman,” Nate murmured, playing with a loose strand of her hair. His voice was a seductive whisper, adding, “My patience isn’t endless. You don’t realize how much you captivate me.”
He smelled her hair and then lightly brushed against it with his lips.
Corrine’s heart skipped a beat, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. Annoyed, she yanked her hair out of his grasp, took a deep breath to compose herself, and responded with a cool tone, “Are you threatening me?”
“It’s honesty, an impatience,” Nate’s gaze remained fixed on her, his Adam’s apple moving as his eyes grew darker and more profound.
Ever since Nate first saw Corrine, he had felt an undeniable pull toward her. He had always thought he could maintain control in any situation. However, Corrine’s mere presence unraveled his composure effortlessly.
Initially, his plan was merely to provoke a little, yet now it seemed he had ensnared himself instead.
Nate settled back into his seat, taking a deep breath to suppress the restlessness within.
“Will you treat me to dinner someday?”
Relieved yet hiding it well, Corrine answered softly, “Sure.”
Silence then took over the car for a moment.
The silence was broken by Corrine’s ringing phone. It was Karina on the other end.
“Sweetheart, you’ve really outdone yourself managing everything in my absence! Teaching that woman a lesson was perfectly justified!”
Raising her eyebrow, Corrine asked, “Has it gone viral?”
Given Leah’s celebrity status, it wasn’t surprising that her dramatic outburst drew widespread attention.
Karina’s voice came through the phone as she casually sipped her coffee.
“These days, people are quick to exaggerate every little thing online. Considering Leah’s fame, the video stirred up quite the commotion, but she clearly was at fault. Now, it seems she’s trying to lay low by pulling down the posts.”
Corrine’s expression hardened slightly.
“I’ll manage.”
“Since her return, she’s been consistently clashing with you. I suspect she’s not going to let this go easily,” Karina warned, a note of anxiety in her voice.
“Be extra careful when you go out; her fans might do something rash.”
With a slight, mocking smile, Corrine responded, “My only concern is that she might not stir up enough trouble.”
“I have a question…” Karina hesitated briefly on the other end of the line. Her tone was light, but curiosity seeped through.
“Whose Rolls-Royce was that?”
Corrine pressed her lips together, casting a quick glance at Nate seated beside her. Clearing her throat in a bid to mask her discomfort, she replied with an air of indifference, “That’s not important.”
Without waiting for a response, she ended the call.
Turning her attention to Nate, Corrine’s tone softened.
“Sorry for troubling you with all this.”
“It’s not you who should apologize,” Nate said firmly. His eyes lingered on her delicate features, his gaze unconsciously tender. Slowly, he reached out and tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
“I won’t let them bother you anymore,” he added, his voice steady with quiet resolve
Corrine caught the weight of his words instantly. As Nate reached for his phone, her instincts kicked in, and she grabbed his hand.
“Wait!”
Her slender fingers, cool to the touch, rested against his palm. The contrast between the chill of her hand and the warmth of his skin sent a curious calm rippling through him, as if her touch alone could soothe a storm.
Nate’s sharp eyes softened, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
“Your hand is cold,” he remarked, his voice low and warm.
With an effortless motion, he twisted his wrist, enveloping her hand in his. His larger hand radiated heat, and Corrine felt a fleeting sense of security she hadn’t expected. The flicker in her eyes betrayed her thoughts, but she quickly steadied herself. In a soft yet resolute tone, she said, “This is my problem, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Then take care of it,” Nate replied with a faint, knowing smile, his grip on her hand tightening just slightly.
“Do it your way. No matter what happens, I’ll always have your back.”
Surprise flitted across Corrine’s face. She gazed at Nate, momentarily speechless.
Every woman deserved to feel protected and cherished, yet such a feeling had eluded her for so long.
In her three years with Bruce, she had been like a shadow-silent, careful not to provoke him, suppressing her own voice to avoid conflict. Those years had been a quiet endurance of her own making.
But Nate’s words held a different promise: she didn’t have to endure. She didn’t have to shrink herself. She could stand tall, and he’d be there, unwavering.
For a brief moment, the walls she had so carefully erected around her heart seemed to crack. Something soft and unfamiliar slipped through, spreading warmth in its wake.
Matias’ cough broke the spell, his voice cutting through the charged silence like a knife.
“Miss Holland, where should I take you?”
The interruption jolted Corrine back to the present. Realizing Nate’s hand was still covering hers, she felt an abrupt flush of heat and instinctively shook it off. Nate blinked, clearly taken aback.
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.