The Jilted Heiress' Return to the High Life - Chapter 302

Chapter 302:

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But the current Corrine was different.

She had endured his betrayal and now faced Rita’s calculated assault on her reputation.

With her fierce spirit, forgiveness seemed impossible.

The realization sent ice through Bruce’s veins, making him shudder uncontrollably.

Panic drove him to reach for his phone, seeking Farr’s counsel.

Then doubt crept in—the Ashton family had evolved beyond its humble beginnings. Could Corrine’s words alone topple their empire?

They held numerous important development projects, and once loans and government permits were secured, the Ashton family’s power would be consolidated.

Her threats seemed hollow in the face of such stability.

Inside the car, Corrine sat in contemplative silence, watching the world blur past her window. Nate’s rich, magnetic voice broke through her thoughts.

“Aren’t you worried about making your boyfriend jealous now?”

Corrine leaned into Nate’s offered comfort, a weary sigh escaping her lips.

“All these years of dedication suddenly feel absurd.” The truth she had cherished had crumbled to dust, rendering her years of devotion meaningless.

“Have you been to Forestvale?” Nate’s question pierced the silence.

Emotion flickered across Corrine’s features as memories resurfaced.

“Yes,” she admitted after a pause.

“During a summer camp with Jules. One sleepless night, I scaled the school wall and wandered until I found myself in a place…” That place had shown her life’s fragility and humanity’s cruel indifference. Time had seemed to crawl, each moment stretching into an eternity of horror. People had huddled like terrified animals in filthy corners, desperate to survive the chaos. The memory remained a festering wound in her psyche.

“That was no place for a girl,” Nate observed quietly.

Corrine straightened, studying him intently as if searching for something hidden beneath his exterior.

“What is it?” Nate asked, raising an eyebrow.

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“Nothing,” she murmured, lowering her gaze.

Back then, someone had protected her through that blood-soaked night, speaking those same words. She had spent years searching for answers, but Bruce’s responses had left her hollow.

Then Nate spoke again, and his words left her mind completely blank.

“I’ve been to Forestvale. Maybe we even crossed paths back then?” Nate’s tone was casual, yet there was an underlying intrigue in his voice.

A sudden chill coursed through Corrine’s veins at his words, but her heart pounded relentlessly. Her gaze locked onto his, searching for something deeper, something hidden beneath his steady stare.

“What’s wrong?” Nate tilted her chin up with his fingers, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips.

Corrine’s eyelashes fluttered as she leaned back against his shoulder. Just moments ago, a wild thought had flashed through her mind—one that sent her pulse racing. But without proof, she wouldn’t let herself believe it. Another disappointment was the last thing she could afford.

“Are you planning to let the Ashton family off the hook just like that?” Nate tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering slightly. Corrine’s lips curled into a knowing smile as she traced the smooth surface of her phone with her fingertips.

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