Chapter 178:
“She’s still so young—thinking she can fool everyone. But her actions give her away every time.”
“Should we ask Waldo to dig deeper into this?” the butler asked cautiously.
Carl waved his hand dismissively, his tone heavy with concern.
“Waldo won’t hold back if he uncovers something. And if that happens, there’s no telling how far he’ll go. It’s better to wait for now.”
He turned his gaze toward the towering Ford Group building ahead, his expression hard to read. Then he leaned back in his seat, exhaustion pulling at his features. He exhaled deeply, shutting his eyes.
He couldn’t deny it—his late daughter had left behind an intricate, painful puzzle for him to solve. All he wanted was for Corrine to stay out of the chaos. But lately, it seemed as if fate had other plans entirely.
Meanwhile, Corrine stood silently by the floor-to-ceiling window, her eyes fixed on the lively streets below, her mind tangled in thought. Her grandfather’s earlier behavior had been strange; she replayed the moment he had discovered her relationship with Bruce, how his anger had been immediate and absolute, ordering her to end things right away.
Back then, she had thought it was just about family expectations. When she broke up with Bruce, her grandfather’s visible relief seemed to confirm her theory. She had accepted it, even if it hurt.
But now? Even though she was single and free to move forward, any mention of a new relationship left her grandfather unsettled.
Was it because he thought she was moving on too fast—or was there something else he wasn’t telling her?
If it wasn’t for the first reason, then what could it possibly be?
Corrine’s gaze narrowed, suspicion flickering in the depths of her eyes. She couldn’t shake the feeling that her grandfather was keeping something significant from her. Could there be some hidden truth about her, buried deep beneath the surface? Her thoughts churned, a tangled mix of confusion and frustration. She raised a hand, pinching the bridge of her nose as if trying to push away the storm of questions swirling in her mind.
“Corrine, don’t you think I deserve a proper explanation?” Nate’s deep voice resonated behind her, carrying an ominous chill. His words snapped her back to the present moment.
She turned to find him unbuttoning his suit jacket and tugging at his tie with growing irritation. The more he pulled, the tighter it became, his impatience manifesting in the deepening furrow of his brow.
“Would you like some help?” she offered, her tone gentle and placating.
𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻’𝓼 𝓼𝓲𝓽𝓮: 𝓰Ɐ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧿𝓬𝓸𝓶
Nate paused at her words, decisively shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the nearby sofa. He stood silently, awaiting her approach.
Drawing a measured breath, Corrine stepped forward and reached for his tie. The deep blue silk felt luxuriously smooth beneath her fingers. The knot, likely tightened by his earlier frustration, required careful manipulation to loosen.
Unconsciously, she drew closer, her slender fingers working at the stubborn fabric.
Nate observed her within the circle of his arms, intoxicated by her subtle fragrance. Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings. Her features captivated him—the delicate nose, the rounded chin that lent her face such youthful charm. Her quiet concentration enchanted him.
His arm encircled her slim waist, drawing her closer.
Corrine retreated instinctively, like a wary cat.
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