“Miss Holland.” Tanya’s soft voice broke Corrine’s thoughts. She had appeared silently behind her, her expression calm, with a gentle smile on her lips.
“Mr. Hopkins had to leave for an urgent matter, but he specifically asked me to show you around.”
Corrine gave a slight nod, her tone reserved.
“Thank you.”
Tanya blinked at the response, caught off guard for a moment, before her smile brightened, reaching her eyes.
Since last night, when Nate had brought Corrine back, Tanya couldn’t help but notice how differently he treated her. Faced with Corrine’s striking beauty, Tanya had felt a twinge of bias. After all, women vying for Nate’s attention weren’t new to her.
But Corrine’s quiet composure set her apart from those who schemed to get close to him.
It made Tanya start to understand why Nate seemed so drawn to her. Leading Corrine through the estate, Tanya pointed out various facilities and introduced the names and origins of the exotic plants with practiced ease.
Familiar with the estate, Corrine spoke casually.
“Tanya, have you been working here for a long time?”
Tanya responded with a modest smile, “It’s been five years now.”
Her eyes lingered on Corrine’s face for a beat, and then she smoothly steered the conversation.
“This estate is Mr. Hopkins’ private residence. Other than a select few friends, no one else has ever been invited here.”
Tanya’s tone was casual, but Corrine caught the subtle undertone. As sharp as she was, she couldn’t ignore the implication behind those words.
Corrine offered a faint smile, clearly intending to steer the conversation away. But Tanya, now that she had started, seemed unwilling to stop.
“To be honest, Miss Holland, you are the only woman Mr. Hopkins has ever brought to the Celtis Estate. And it’s the first time I’ve seen him stay up all night for someone.” That single word, “only,” carried a weight that was impossible to ignore
The way it lingered in the air made Corrine’s heart stumble for a brief moment.
Still, her thoughts were elsewhere. Looking at Tanya in disbelief, she asked, “Did you just say… he stayed up all night?”
Tanya’s lips curved into a knowing smile as she nodded.
“Yes. Last night, when Mr. Hopkins’ private doctor came to check on you, it turned out you had acute gastroenteritis that caused a fever. You were put on an IV drip, and Mr. Hopkins stayed by your side. He didn’t leave, even when it was finished. If that doesn’t show how much he cares for you, Miss Holland, then I don’t know what would. Why else would he personally make soup for you?”
Her smile widened as if recalling something amusing.
“Picture it-Mr. Hopkins, so out of his depth, trying to make soup with me. It was… quite the sight.”
Corrine’s expression faltered, her emotions betraying her calm facade.
When she had seen Nate after waking up, she had sensed something. But hearing Tanya confirm it all left her shaken, unable to keep her composure. She couldn’t even remember the last time someone had cared for her like this. The memory was lost in the wreckage of Bruce’s betrayal.
And yet, through Nate’s small but genuine actions, it felt as though he was carefully planting seeds in the barren field of her heart. Seeds that now seemed to be sprouting with delicate, vulnerable shoots. Sometimes, love wasn’t grand or loud. It was found in these unexplainable moments of tenderness.
Corrine inhaled deeply, her composure steadily returning as she quelled the storm within her.
“Thank you for telling me this, Tanya,” she said, her tone calm but thoughtful.
Tanya blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She averted her gaze, her eyes betraying a flicker of guilt.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. Just rambling on, as usual. I’m glad you don’t mind my chatter, Miss Holland.”
But Tanya wasn’t entirely being honest. Beneath her words lay her own intentions. She had observed how deeply Nate cared for Corrine and noticed Corrine’s hesitation when it came to him. If this delicate moment offered a chance to bring the two closer, she was willing to take it, even if it meant playing the role of a humble matchmaker.
Yet, Corrine’s gratitude left her feeling undeserving.
The two strolled idly for a while before Tanya glanced at her watch.
“Miss Holland, it’s time for your medicine. Mr. Hopkins was very clear about it.”
“Alright,” Corrine replied softly. After taking her prescribed pills, she retired to her room for some rest.
Later, when Nate returned from being out, his sharp eyes instinctively scanned the living room. Though his voice carried an air of practiced indifference, the question he posed was unmistakably pointed.
“Where’s Corrine? Has she taken her medicine?”
There was an almost domestic familiarity to his tone, like that of a husband checking in on his wife after a long day.
Tanya caught the subtle undertone and couldn’t help the faint smirk that danced on her lips
“Miss Holland is resting in her room,” she answered with ease.
Nate gave a small nod.
“Make sure lunch is light,” he said, his tone casual but purposeful.
Without waiting for her response, his tall frame moved confidently toward the stairs.
As he ascended, Nate loosened his tie with one hand. When he reached Corrine’s door, he pushed it open with quiet resolve.
The room was dim, but his eyes unerringly found her. Corrine lay peacefully on the bed, her dark hair fanned out like spilled ink against the pillow.
Her face, serene and unguarded, resembled a work of art, each feature deliberate and captivating.
The loose collar of her shirt revealed the gentle slope of her shoulder, her skin glowing faintly in the muted light.
Nate’s gaze lingered, darkening with an intensity he couldn’t fully rein in. Desire simmered in his eyes, restless and undeniable.
He let his tie slip to the floor, his fingers moving to unfasten the first button of his shirt as he stepped closer.
With deliberate care, he brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. Her lashes quivered at the featherlight touch, like delicate wings brushing against his fingertips.
The memory of her lips, soft and inviting, stirred in his mind, filling him with a longing that refused to be silenced.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, the pull to close the distance between them growing stronger with each passing second.
Just as he leaned down, his breath ghosting over her lips, Corrine’s eyes fluttered open. For a heartbeat, their gazes locked. Nate’s smoldering eyes held hers captive, the spark between them as palpable as the warmth of his breath on her skin.
Startled, Corrine bolted upright, scrambling to put some space between them. Nate’s lips curved into the faintest of smiles, though the fleeting disappointment in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed. He settled on the edge of the bed, his posture deceptively relaxed.
“How are you feeling?”
“Much better,” she murmured, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes drifted down, catching sight of the burn on his hand.
Tanya’s words about Nate making the soup for her surfaced in her mind. The realization clicked-his injury was a casualty of his cooking attempt.
Her lips pressed together, a mix of guilt and gratitude warring within her.
“Your hand… is it alright?”
Nate glanced at the small burn, his expression unreadable.
“First time cooking. I wasn’t exactly a natural,” he admitted with a wry smile.
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.