The father’s expression shifted as he turned to his daughter, crouching down to meet her eyes.
“Didn’t I tell you not to run around when we’re out? If this happens again, our outings will have to stop.”
“Sorry, Daddy,” the little girl whispered, her fingers finding their way to her father’s sleeve, her eyes swimming with tears.
“Daddy, could I have a lollipop?”
The father’s stern facade crumbled at his daughter’s pleading.
“Promise me you won’t run around anymore.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
The moment the sweet treat touched her hands, she wrapped her arms around her father’s neck and planted a tender kiss on his cheek.
The scene stirred something deep within Corrine, casting a shadow across her usually bright eyes.
When she emerged from her reverie, she discovered Nate had vanished from her side.
Her eyes searched the crowd instinctively, finding him approaching with a lollipop in hand, his presence standing out even among the sea of faces.
“Try it,” he offered, having noticed her lingering gaze earlier.
Corrine accepted the treat after a moment’s hesitation and tasted it, its sweetness melting on her tongue and seeping into the corners of her heart.
“What crossed your mind earlier?” Nate inquired, having caught both the flash of sadness in her eyes and the bittersweet smile that followed.
Corrine’s grip tightened on the lollipop stick, her demeanor cooling.
“Just remembering people and things that shouldn’t matter anymore.”
“If they’re not worth remembering, let them go.” Nate enveloped her cold hand in his warm one.
“Don’t carry the weight of others’ mistakes.”
A smile graced Corrine’s lips, transforming her delicate features.
“How can you be so certain the mistake wasn’t mine?”
“Your happiness matters more to me than assigning blame.” His words rode the evening breeze to her ears, stirring emotions she struggled to contain. Corrine’s gaze wavered as she exhaled softly.
“My mother died when I was very young. When my father remarried, I discovered I had a sister just three months younger than me. Everything seemed fine at first, but then…”
Her body tensed, fingers curling into tight fists as she fought for composure.
Her voice quivered despite her efforts.
“When my maternal grandfather learned of my situation, he brought me to live with the Fords, severing all contact with my father. Even though I tried to forget those people and memories, they resurface without warning.”
Nate listened intently, his dark eyes studying her pale features, noting her increasingly cold hand and trembling voice. The pain of her memories was evident-too raw to fully voice.
Feeling her tremors, he drew her into his embrace.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you then, but from now on, you won’t face life’s storms alone.”
Corrine’s fingers clutched his suit jacket as her eyes widened slightly.
Then, slowly, a genuine smile bloomed on her lips.
At that moment, she had made her choice-to trust him with her future, hoping he would remain by her side forever.
As Corrine almost finished the lollipop in her hand, the road they were walking on gradually came to its end. For the first time, she found herself wishing that a road could stretch on forever.
Back in the car, she held the lollipop stick loosely in one hand while fumbling with her seatbelt in the other. Before she could manage it, Nate leaned over, his hand brushing hers as he grabbed the seatbelt and clicked it into place.
Their faces were so close their eyes naturally met, each reflecting the other’s features. Their breaths mingled in the small space between them.
A subtle tension hung in the air, filling the car with an almost palpable sense of romance.
Corrine’s mind drifted back to their earlier kiss, her lips pressing together instinctively as a faint blush crept across her cheeks.
“I got you that lollipop,” Nate said, his deep voice smooth and magnetic, his gaze fixed on the shine of her slightly parted lips.
Corrine blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard.
“How much was it? I’ll pay you back.”
Nate didn’t answer right away. His brow furrowed slightly as he continued watching her, his silence louder than words.
Corrine noticed his focus lingering on her lips, and a sudden memory surfaced-the little girl kissing her father on the cheek as a thank-you for a treat. Was that what he wanted?
Corrine’s eyes flickered with hesitation before she lowered her gaze, leaning in slowly with the intention of brushing a kiss on his cheek. But just as her lips neared, Nate turned his head unexpectedly.
Corrine froze as her lips landed on his cool, firm ones instead.
This kiss wasn’t like the fleeting one they shared earlier on the street. It was deep and lingering, pulling her in like a tide she couldn’t escape.
Before she could think to pull away, Nate’s arm slipped around her neck, holding her in place as he deepened the kiss further
“Breathe.” Nate’s low, husky voice caressed her ear, sending shivers down Corrine’s spine as she was lost in the moment. Like a puppet on strings, she clumsily and awkwardly tried to obey, her breath uneven and shallow.
Nate inhaled her sweet, intoxicating scent, a fragrance that was both alluring and addictive, igniting an ache he couldn’t ignore. He kissed her softly, savoring the taste of her, until he felt himself teetering on the edge of control, forcing himself to reluctantly let her go.
Corrine’s cheeks carried a delicate flush, her clear eyes shimmering like morning dew, her lips slightly swollen and enticing. The blend of innocence and unintentional allure stirred something dark and primal deep within Nate, a temptation he struggled to suppress.
Brushing his restless thoughts aside, he lightly touched her cheek, his voice deep and steady.
“Where to?”
Without hesitation or pretense, Corrine gave him an address, her voice calm but her heart racing.
As they drove, Karina’s message lit up Corrine’s phone with a soft ping, catching her attention. Corrine opened it to find a picture of her and Nate locked in a kiss on the street, framed by the glow of soft streetlights. The warm amber light bathed them in an almost magical aura, making the scene look intimate and picture-perfect.
Corrine’s lips curved into a slight smile, a flicker of amusement glinting in her eyes at the candid shot. Beneath the photo was a voice message teasing her.
“Wow, sweetheart, that was a smooth move! He looks good on the outside, but I wonder how skilled he is!”
Corrine had hit play, but before she could bring the phone to her ear, the second sentence echoed through the car. Her face turned crimson as the words lingered in the air.
She quickly shut off her phone, mortified.
The car descended into silence, thick with tension, as Corrine instinctively held her breath, her body rigid and her toes curling in embarrassment.
“If you’re curious, you can always find out for yourself.” Nate’s deep, velvety voice broke the silence, laced with a teasing edge.
Corrine was momentarily stunned. What kind of absurd remark was that? She could find out for herself? How exactly was she supposed to do that?
She cleared her throat, attempting to compose herself.
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.