Under their scrutiny, Corrine’s lips curved into a composed yet enigmatic smile as she approached the chair he had pulled out for her with effortless grace.
“Corrine!” Carl’s voice suddenly rang out-firm, not quite reprimanding, but his displeasure was unmistakable.
She turned toward him, her expression calm. At first, she had merely suspected that her grandfather harbored some kind of grievance against Nate, but now she was certain. He clearly didn’t approve of her getting too close to him. Could it be that he knew Nate was her boyfriend? Her instincts, however, told her the situation was more complicated than that.
Carl met her questioning gaze, immediately realizing his reaction had been too abrupt. Recollecting himself, he softened his tone and said smoothly, “That’s not your seat, my dear. Come sit by me instead.”
“No need for that,” Nate interjected, his voice steady.
“Miss Holland and I seem to have a lot in common. I’d consider it a privilege to have her by my side.”
With no room to argue, Carl was forced to let it go.
As Corrine lowered herself into the seat, Nate’s crisp, woody cologne wrapped around her, its cool undertones distinctly masculine. Instinctively, she stole a glance at the man beside her. He had just begun rolling up his sleeves, unfastening his diamond cufflinks with practiced ease. His forearm, corded with prominent veins, radiated quiet strength-like a predator lying in wait, exuding an undeniable authority.
“Miss Holland, do you have something to say to me?”
Nate’s voice was smooth, yet the weight of his words commanded attention. Every pair of eyes at the table turned toward them-including Carl’s.
Corrine, ever observant, caught the subtle flicker of unease in her grandfather’s expression. Suspicion stirred in her mind. Was there something between him and Nate that they were keeping from her? Now wasn’t the time to press for answers.
Composing herself, she offered Nate a poised smile.
“I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Hopkins.”
Behind her, Matias nearly fumbled the water jug, his wrist shaking mid-pour. His gaze darted to Corrine, a mix of surprise and uncertainty flashing in his eyes. What exactly was she playing at?
Nate lifted his gaze at her words, his dark eyes settling on her with quiet intensity. After a moment of scrutiny, the smirk at the corner of his lips deepened
“You’re welcome.”
His presence cast a certain tension over the table, making even casual conversation feel restrained.
It wasn’t until Fatima, draped in a gown, arrived with the groom that the mood finally shifted. The younger guests all stood, raising their glasses-everyone except Nate. Yet, not a single person dared to question it. He wasn’t someone they could afford to offend.
Fatima hesitated for just a moment when her gaze landed on him, and then a knowing smile curled her lips.
“Mr. Hopkins, here alone tonight? Where’s Moses?”
“Fatima, mind your manners,” Quentin chided, his tone edged with quiet authority.
But Fatima remained unfazed. As the only daughter in her generation of the Seymour family, she was treated like royalty. It was no secret that part of Quentin’s family’s standing in Lyhaton stemmed from the affection the Seymour family’s main branch had for Fatima. Having grown up alongside Moses, she had always been surrounded by powerful men-Nate included.
“Moses had to leave for a last-minute business trip,” Nate said smoothly, his gaze flicking toward Matias.
“He asked me to bring you a wedding gift.”
Matias stepped forward, presenting a black velvet box.
Fatima accepted it with effortless grace, but a mischievous glint danced in her eyes as she turned back to Nate.
“Just a gift from Moses? Mr. Hopkins, surely you prepared something as well?”
“I’ll send you the exclusive access pass later,” Nate replied evenly.
Many around them remained oblivious to the weight of his words, but Fatima knew better. It was an exclusive access pass to Independent Continent-a privilege reserved for only a select few worldwide.
By tradition, once she was married, her ties to the Seymour family would change. She wouldn’t have the freedom to enter the territory of the Seymour family’s main branch as she pleased. For Nate to offer her this pass was nothing short of astonishing.
Still, she masked her surprise with a bright, playful smile.
“Deal!”
As she turned to leave, her gaze caught on Corrine, seated beside Nate. She hesitated, something sharp and knowing flickering in her expression. Most people barely knew the real Nate, but Fatima had spent years by Moses’ side-she understood Nate far better than most. He had always kept his distance from women. Yet here he was, sitting beside Corrine.
“Miss Holland,” Fatima greeted smoothly, lifting her glass in a toast from across the table, “Thank you for coming to my wedding.”
Corrine met her gaze with an elegant nod.
“Congratulations! It was my pleasure.”
After the banquet, Corrine left with Carl. In the car, after a moment of deep thought, she asked, “Grandpa, is there some bad blood between you and Nate?”
A flicker of shadow passed through Carl’s eyes, his expression tightening.
“It’s not bad blood, just some old connections.”
“Then why haven’t you ever mentioned it before?” Corrine pressed, her instincts prickling as she sensed Carl was keeping something from her.
Carl’s gaze softened, but there was a weariness in his eyes. He pursed his lips, sighing quietly before saying, “I’m feeling a little tired. I think I’ll rest for a while.” Seeing his exhaustion, Corrine nodded with quiet understanding
“Alright.”
Once Carl closed his eyes, Corrine quickly grabbed her phone, fingers flying over the screen in search of answers from Jules. But all she received in return was a single warning.
“Stay away from that man!”
Corrine stared at the message, her brow furrowing as a deep, unsettling curiosity began to churn within her.
Even after she returned to the Ford mansion, the questions continued to swirl in her mind, unanswered and persistent.
Lying in bed, the tension coiling in her chest, she hesitated before finally pressing the dial button on Nate’s number.
“You heartless woman, finally decided to call me.” Nate’s deep voice, rich with its usual magnetism, added an unexpected warmth to the cold line.
Corrine felt a flutter in her chest at the sound, but quickly cleared her throat, redirecting the conversation.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.” Nate’s voice was steady, without hesitation.
Corrine twirled a loose strand of hair around her finger, the action almost absent-minded as she spoke.
“What’s the connection between you and the Ford family? Why haven’t you ever mentioned it?”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, the silence thick before Nate responded, “Hasn’t anyone from the Ford family told you?”
“No,” Corrine replied, her voice steady, yet carrying a quiet edge of impatience.
“And it seems my grandfather isn’t planning to tell me either.”
Otherwise, Carl wouldn’t have used fatigue as an excuse to avoid her today.
“If Mr. Ford doesn’t want to tell you, he must have his reasons.”
Nate’s voice was smooth and measured, though there was an edge of something unreadable beneath it. He didn’t know Carl’s true intentions, but he wasn’t about to disturb the delicate balance that had been established.
Corrine’s keen intuition picked up on the calculated evasiveness in Nate’s words. His reluctance to volunteer information hung heavy in the air, leaving a bitter taste of frustration settling deep within her heart. The sensation of being deliberately kept in the dark while others seemed privy to secrets gnawed at her consciousness.
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.