Chapter 286:
Now, they wouldn’t hesitate to crush her if it served their interests.
A scornful smile curled on Corrine’s lips, her eyes cold with detachment.
Regarding those photographs…
Corrine lifted her eyes, a tangle of emotions flickering in their depths, impossible to decipher.
At that instant, her phone buzzed. Recognizing Nate’s number on the screen, Corrine’s cold facade melted, replaced by a hint of warmth.
As soon as she answered, Nate’s soothing voice filled her ear.
“Do you need my assistance?”
“No,” Corrine responded gently.
She was confident in her ability to handle things on her own.
Yet, something continued to trouble her…
“Have you seen the kind of woman I am?” she asked.
“Think what you will, but remember, my love for you is unwavering.” Nate’s words were casual, yet they struck Corrine deeply.
Her grip on the phone tightened, as if trying to hold on to the sentiment behind his words.
Corrine inhaled deeply, attempting to quell the surge of feelings his words provoked.
“Even now, do you truly understand me? Does none of this matter to you? Aren’t you troubled by the photos?”
She wondered if Nate, like any man, would harbor doubts upon seeing the photos.
Once doubt creeps in, guilt is often presumed.
To the world, her innocence mattered little; she was already condemned.
Repeatedly, she had felt the sting of abandonment.
If a separation from Nate was inevitable, Corrine preferred to leave on her own terms, not to be forsaken once more.
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝘦𝗅𝘀⧸ⅽ𝗈𝗺
“I realize you’re delicate on the inside, but don’t use that as a reason to shut me out.”
His voice carried a residual frustration but also touched a tender part of Corrine’s heart.
Emotions welled up inside her, warmth radiating from her heart through her body.
“Corrine, why don’t we get married?”
Nate’s proposal was simple, devoid of grand gestures or elaborate promises.
Yet, Corrine felt the weight of his words as if struck by lightning. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes upon hearing his suggestion.
Nate’s straightforward statement carried a depth that Corrine understood completely. His simplicity was a testament to his commitment. He pledged to stand by her through every challenge life might bring—through sickness and health, prosperity and adversity—always ready to defend and cherish her.
A tightness formed in Corrine’s throat. Bitterness swelled within her, rendering her speechless. Tears sprang to her eyes, clouding her vision. Her lips quivered as she pressed them together, her hand slipping from the desk’s edge to her lap, gripping her dress firmly.
She wondered why fate had taken so long to bring Nate into her life.
After a long silence, she inhaled sharply, steadying her trembling voice.
.
.
.