Was he… rejected?
Corrine cleared her throat, hoping to smooth over the awkwardness. Her expression regained its usual composure, her voice cool and measured.
“Timme district, please.”
“Understood,” Matias replied without hesitation.
The car soon pulled up to her destination. As Corrine stepped out, Nate handed her the bouquet of roses, his voice dropping to a quiet murmur.
“Good night.”
“Good night,” she replied, her tone even.
With a faint, almost imperceptible smile, she turned and walked away. Nate watched her figure recede until she disappeared from sight. Only then did the car ease back into motion
Matias glanced at Nate through the rearview mirror, his thoughts bubbling to the surface. Tonight, he had witnessed something entirely out of character. Nate had left a mountain of work back at the office, all for dinner with Corrine. Corrine was breathtakingly beautiful-that was true. Still, Matias couldn’t help but question if this was the same unshakable Nate Hopkins he had known for years.
“Is there something on your mind?” Nate said suddenly, his sharp gaze catching Matias through the mirror.
Matias blinked, his thoughts slipping out before he could stop them.
“I was just thinking… you seemed a bit head over heels tonight.”
As soon as the words left Matias’ lips, an unsettling silence descended over the car, heavy as a shroud.
Matias silently cursed himself, wishing he could rewind time and bite his tongue. With a tentative glance at Nate’s expression, he scrambled to recover.
“Miss Holland’s performance tonight was truly… remarkable,” he ventured cautiously.
Nate’s frown deepened, and Matias’ thoughts raced, searching for a way out. Then, like a desperate gambler playing his last card, he added, “A woman like her could possibly be worthy of you, sir.”
It worked. The tension in Nate’s jaw eased, and the storm cloud that had darkened his face lifted.
Matias exhaled internally, his respect for Corrine skyrocketing. In his mind, she had ascended to near-divine status.
He even made a mental note to pray before bed, giving thanks for her unintended rescue.
“You did well tonight,” Nate remarked, his deep voice carrying its usual chill but with an undertone that Matias couldn’t quite decipher.
Matias froze. Was Nate praising him? For what? Could it be related to Corrine? After a beat, he cautiously responded, “We had nothing to do with the video spreading online.”
Nate’s lips curled into a cryptic smile, his tone laced with something almost indulgent.
“She has her secrets,” he murmured, more to himself than to Matias.
By the time Corrine returned to Ford Mansion, the night was well past its prime. She carried the bouquet of roses to her room.
After a quick shower, she was drying her damp hair when her phone, resting on the table, buzzed to life.
Answering it, she was greeted by a familiar, languid drawl.
“Someone’s snooping into information about the CEO of Ford Group.”
“Are they better than you?” Corrine asked, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather.
The voice on the other end scoffed, dripping with mock offense.
“Better than me? Come on. I’m the best hacker alive-no contest.”
“Does their reputation make you tremble, then?” Corrine teased, her words laced with playful challenge.
The question hit a nerve. Jules Ford, the voice on the other end, bristled.
“Corrine, insult me if you must, ignore my brilliance if you dare, but do not humiliate me like this!”
As a revered, albeit unofficial, member of the hacker alliance, Jules prided himself on being untouchable in his craft.
Corrine’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“Then what are you so worked up about?”
Jules faltered, momentarily struck dumb. After a long pause, he grumbled, “I cleaned up your mess, you know. And this is the thanks I get?”
Corrine picked up a glass of water, taking a slow sip to soothe her hoarse throat.
“I didn’t ask for your help, Jules. I could’ve handled it myself. In fact, I haven’t even called you out for botching my plans.”
“Botching?” Jules spluttered.
“Fine, fine. Next time, I’ll just let you fend for yourself!”
“Who’s investigating me?” Corrine asked, cutting through his theatrics.
There was a mischievous chuckle on the other end.
“Bruce Ashton. The CEO of Ashton Group.”
Corrine’s expression didn’t flicker. It was exactly what she’d expected. No matter what Bruce tried, she was confident he wouldn’t uncover anything meaningful.
“I can’t believe you fell for that guy,” Jules blurted, his tone incredulous.
“Back then, the Ashton family was circling the drain, and even now, with all their success, they’re not in your league. Honestly, I was beginning to think someone had cast a spell on you.”
It wasn’t just Jules; everyone in Corrine’s circle had been baffled by her choice of Bruce Ashton.
She pressed her fingers to her temples, her voice as frosty as a snow-laden breeze.
“Do you remember when we snuck out of school five years ago?”
Jules’ tone shifted, sharp with disbelief.
“You’re saying… that night… Bruce was the one who saved you?”
Corrine leaned against the window, her gaze tracing the crescent moon half-hidden by wispy clouds. A melancholic shadow crossed her features.
“After my return, I investigated thoroughly. All evidence pointed to him.”
When she first discovered the Ashton family teetering on financial ruin, she had deliberately approached Bruce, offering assistance. Their relationship had unfolded with calculated precision.
She had developed genuine feelings, but the sentiment was hers alone. To Bruce, their three-year connection was nothing more than a transaction from beginning to end.
Jules remained silent on the other end of the phone, the quiet stretching between them.
Finally, Corrine spoke again, her voice resolute.
“Let’s consider those three years as repayment for a life-saving debt. From this moment forward, I have no connection to him.”
After ending the call, Jules sent a stark warning via WhatsApp.
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.