The Jilted Heiress' Return to the High Life - Chapter 182

Chapter 182:

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“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.

gⱯ𝗅𝗇0ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝗈𝗺´ 𝘾𝒽𝓮𝒸𝓀 𝒶𝓾𝓉𝒽 𝓬𝓸𝓹𝓎

“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.

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