Chapter 51 Kael Chased Nova Desperately
Just did you a huge favor. Grace’s teasing voice came through the phone. “Since I helped you out, you owe me an explanation. Why go to all this trouble?”
The rumors about me were getting too big. I didn’t want it to affect the company,” Corin replied, his voice short and to the point.
He glanced out the window–Nova had left the café. Her figure was lonely as she stood on the street, waiting for a taxi. She stood on her tiptoes occasionally. craning her neck to look for a ride.
Corin’s Adam’s apple bobbed, then he suddenly wanted a cigarette.
He spoke to Grace again, his voice flat. “You’ve been asking for the resort project. I’ll give you a three–percent cut.”
Grace was stunned into silence. She’d done favors for Corin before, but he’d always been strict about work–he’d never given her special treatment.
Why is he being so generous now?
Grace laughed. “So you’re using one scandal to cover up another? That’s not like you, Mr. Thorne.”
Corin’s voice turned cold. “You talk too much.”
Grace sniffed. She’d worked with him long enough to know what he was thinking.
“Fine, fine. Whatever you say.” She sighed, softening her tone. “Being indecisive won’t help. You need to stop before you get in too deep. Some things are off–limits.”
She paused, then added, “Your grandfather issued an ultimatum. He wants you back in Seattle for a blind date.
“I’ve delivered the message. It’s up to you.”
Corin’s eyes darkened. He hung up the phone, his gaze still fixed on Nova. When she got into a taxi, he told Jaxs to drive.
On the way back, Jaxs hesitated to speak. “Mr. Thorne, if you like Geisha coffee, I can have some prepared for your office. It’s a nice reminder-”
“No need.”
Jaxs froze. He liked it a second ago… He wanted to ask more, but Corin had closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. The cold aura around him made it clear
he didn’t want to be disturbed.
Jaxs fell silent, focusing on driving.
Corin gradually calmed down.
It had been a long time since anything had affected him this much.
As Grace had said, it wasn’t a good thing.
He looked out the window, his eyes cold. He’d returned the rabbit keychain–there was no more connection between them. There shouldn’t be.
Nova got home around 9 PM.
Kael had been beside himself with worry, his eyes bloodshot from stress. He’d searched everywhere for her, but she’d seemed to vanish.
The thought of losing her terrified him.
When he heard the door open, he rushed over immediately.
“Nova!”
00:03
Cala
Chap 1 Kael Chared Nova bespusty
As he saw her face, his heart finally vetted the patted her into a tight hug, as if she were a precious treasure he found again.
He asked his voice hoarse with rettet and fear. Whereve you been? I called and called–did you want to scare me to death?
But this was how she’d waited for him every night, once upon a time
He never once called her to ask if she was worried, or if she was scared sleeping alone…
Nova’s chest ached sharply. She was exhausted from this back and forth, her tone turning cold. “Let go of me. I’m tired–I want to rest.”
“Baby, it’s all my fault, every bit of it. Punish me however you want, scream at me, hit me–just don’t scare me like this. Don’t make me lose you.” Rael dung to her stubbornly, his eyes red with genuine fear.
He was truly terrified.
Nova let out a bitter laugh. She’d only been gone for one afternoon, and he was already this scared? Where had this panic been all those nights she’d waited alone?
She didn’t have the energy to argue. Pushing at his arms, she said, “I really need to rest.”
Watching her walk away, Kael felt a hollow ache in his chest. Nova seemed to be pulling further away from him every day–colder, more distant.
And for no reason he could name, even with her right in front of him, he felt like she was slipping through his fingers.
His heart tightened painfully. He hurried after her, taking her arm gently. “You didn’t eat dinner, did you? You know your stomach acts up when you skip meals. I made food–just a little, before you sleep.”
Nova frowned, ready to refuse, but Kael was already pulling her to the dining table.
Three dishes and a soup–all her favorites.
When her eyes landed on the cinnamon apple oatmeal, she froze, a wave of dull sadness washing over her.
she’d always loved warm, spiced dishes, but the pre–packaged oatmeal from the grocery store had never tasted right–too sweet, too artificial. This recipe? Kael had learned it just for her, back when his friends had teased him relentlessly for “going soft.”
‘Since when does the suave Kael slave over a stovetop? Where’s the guy who used to live on takeout?”
Fussing over oatmeal for a girl? Next you’ll be folding her laundry–who’s the one being spoiled here?”
Cael had just smiled and shrugged, stirring a dash of nutmeg into the pot like he didn’t care. “You guys wouldn’t get it.”
Back then, women had flocked to him–at parties, at work, even just passing him on the street–but his eyes had only ever been for her.
fe’d doted on her in the small, quiet ways–memorizing her order at the café, leaving sticky notes with bad jokes on her fridge, staying up late to perfect this
atmeal recipe until it tasted exactly like she’d described.
he still remembered the first time she’d taken a bite–he’d sat across from her at the kitchen table, his elbows on the counter, watching her so ntently–nervous, hopeful, like he was waiting for her to say it was perfect. And it had been.
Try a bite?” He scooped a spoonful into a small, shallow spoon, blowing on it gently until it was cool enough to eat.
fe held it up to her lips, his eyes soft, overflowing with that familiar affection. “You used to say this was your favorite.”
Nova stared at the spoon, her throat tight. She couldn’t feel that flutter of warmth anymore–the one that used to make her smile even on her worst days. All she
elt was a heavy, leaden mix of sadness and regret, like she was tasting a memory that had gone sour.
she looked away, forcing her voice to stay steady, to sound like she didn’t care about the oatmeal, about the memory, about him. “How’s the hospital? Did that woman wake up?”
That was all she cared about now.
She wanted to see how Kael would finally deal with Sloane–she wanted to watch them turn on each other, messy and ugly, like two dogs fighting over a scrap.
00:03
He Cried at My Funeral Laughed at His Gala
31.5%
apher 1 Ka Chord Nerves Drapsvarsty
Boy as her question, Kasi went gates His hand free mad wit, the spean still havering near her lips
Nova’s stanach, dingpord, a cota dread setting in She frowned, pushing harder. “You said she was fine. You said shed wake up soon–orhat’s going or
Kat this apuson down in the howl with a soft clink, the oatmeal still untouched.
He hated for a beat, then reached for her hand, his fingers wrapping around hers like he was trying to ground her.
There’s a small complication. The doctor said it might take a few more days. He squeezed her hand, like that would make his lie feel real. “But don’t worry–once she wakes up, I’ll make her talk. I won’t let whoever hurt you get away with it.”
Wait again
“Wall had to be the most ridiculous word in the world. The speaker said it so lightly, like it was nothing–just a few more days–but they never felt the weight of it. They never knew how it sat in the listener’s chest, heavy and cold, full of lies and empty promises.
the thought, Kael must already know Sloane set her up. He just couldn’t bear to hurt Sloane–to admit he’d been wrong–so he was lying to her instead
the thought, how stupid had she been to believe he’d avenge her? To think he’d choose her over the woman who’d been stringing him along?
he thought, maybe after she left this afternoon, he hadn’t even looked for her. Maybe he’d gone straight to the hospital to sit by Sloane’s bed, holding her hand he way he was holding hers now. He was a good actor–always had been. And she’d been fool enough to believe his worry was real.
oolish, naive hope.
Nova’s heart ached dully, but she blinked back the tears, refusing to let him see how much he’d hurt her.
I see.” Her voice was flat, empty, like she was talking to a stranger.
Cael felt a surge of panic, his thumb brushing over her knuckles like he was trying to wake her up.
le couldn’t meet her eyes–couldn’t stand the way she looked at him, like he was already gone. “As soon as she wakes up, I’ll question her. I promise. Nova. I von’t let you down.”
¡ova forced a faint, hollow smile, pulling her hand away as she stood up. “I’m really tired. I’ll go upstairs.”
he hurt in her eyes was like a knife to Kael’s chest.
le moved without thinking, stepping in front of her, his hands reaching for her waist to pull her into a hug. “Baby, I’m sorry. Yell at me, hit me–just don’t shut he out. Don’t push me away.”
he sharp, dean scent of his cologne surrounded her–mint and cedar, the one she’d picked out for him years ago, because it made her feel safe. Now it only sade her nose burn, like it was mocking her.
Let go!”
he pushed at his chest, but he was too strong–too stubborn, too used to getting his way. She couldn’t break free.
rustrated, angry, heartbroken, she grabbed his wrist to yank it away from her waist–and froze when her fingers touched it.
00:02
