The Jilted Heiress' Return to the High Life - Chapter 16

Chapter 16:

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“Miss Holland, let me emphasize two points,” Nate responded.

“First, pursuing you is my decision. Second, my intentions are pure, and I don’t expect immediate enthusiasm from you. There’s no need for apologies or feeling encumbered by my choice.”

Before Corrine could protest further, he turned and strode away, his tall frame moving with quiet confidence.

Corrine watched his retreating figure, caught between amusement and frustration. Had Nate proclaimed love at first sight or leveraged his past kindness, she could have rejected him decisively. Instead, his disarming honesty and transparency left her strangely vulnerable.

After all, she was only human—how could she remain completely unmoved? Later, as hunger gnawed at her, Karina appeared bearing Corrine’s favorite cupcakes.

“Sweetie, have something to eat.”

After setting down the treats, Karina settled onto the sofa, her gaze falling on a men’s suit jacket nearby. Her lips curled with disgust, contempt blazing in her eyes.

“You claimed you were leaving everything behind. Why cling to his old clothes? Are you considering returning to him?”

“That’s not Bruce’s,” Corrine murmured, glancing at the jacket Karina held with such disdain. Thoughts of her perplexing new acquaintance drew a soft sigh from her lips.

“It belongs to the man who took me to the hospital yesterday.”

Karina’s eyebrow arched with interest, her eyes sparkling with newfound curiosity.

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“You’re hiding something from me.”

“What could there possibly be to hide?” Corrine’s gaze flickered downward as she spoke softly.

“It was just a chance encounter, nothing more.”

“If it was truly so simple, why do you seem so flustered?” Karina’s lips curved into a knowing smile.

“Come now, honesty between friends is always best.”

Under Karina’s gentle persistence, Corrine shared a brief account of her hospital encounter. Mercifully, Karina’s attention soon shifted to Bruce and Leah’s situation.

“Those two are absolutely revolting! In your place, I would have struck her across the face!”

A subtle frost crept into Corrine’s gaze.

“Perhaps this experience will teach me something valuable.”

Though she harbored no desire to waste energy on Leah, Corrine remained prepared to deliver a firmer lesson should her previous warning fall on deaf ears.

Mercy and excessive forgiveness had never been her defining traits. Karina bobbed her head in agreement before declaring, “But Bruce won’t escape consequences so easily!”

“What do you have in mind?” Corrine’s curiosity piqued.

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