Nicole's POVSelena looked at me, unaware of what she had just heard from Chris. "Is that true, Miss Nicole?"I nodded. "It's true."I closed my eyes momentarily as she looked at me and the man in turn. I tried to avoid everything related to the man still standing without knowing what he had done, but with just what the man said just now, my wish could not happen.The middle-aged woman closed her mouth, admiring Chris. "Wow, you're perfect. If that is the case, then you are like a hero to Miss Nicole."I still didn't say anything after that, just listened to how the woman sitting next to me couldn't stop praising Chris's not-quite-righteous deeds, while the man seemed unremarkable.Although it was confirmed that he was the one who saved me, I also knew that his arrival at that time was utterly coincidental. He, who had no idea what his purpose was in coming to see me, ended up seeing me as an insane man who was kidnapped.I was grateful for what that man had done, overcoming the worst
Nicole's POVI brushed my hair back, trying to quell the feelings in my chest, but I couldn't hold it in anymore. He's the one who always acts as he pleases, but why do I feel like I have to give in every time? I don't want to have to act like that anymore.I looked at him sharply. "Stop it, Chris. I don't want to hear your nonsense anymore, and I don't want to see your annoying presence around me.""Annoying?" The man repeated my words as a question, making me stare at him even more sharply, but he just snorted softly and shook his head for a moment. "Alright, today I'll just get here. I originally came just to see how you were doing, Nicole...."He explained that his coming was never meant to be bad, but I always put him in the wrong position with my actions when it was just the two of us like this. The man quickly brought up my previous words and claimed that I was the one who made him become like this.I didn't take my eyes off him when I heard his twisted statement. Even now, he
Matthew's POVI remember the first time I met Nicole again. I was immediately attracted to her. She was beautiful in one look, and her aura did not seem weak. She was a strong existence that I immediately noticed among the many people I had met.The woman's eyes didn't seem to hesitate as she looked at me, whom she didn't seem to recognize right away. Although her voice sounded a bit cautious, she seemed to respond in the same way that I did: friendly but not immediately familiar and providing enough boundaries.Although I did cross the line a bit by giving her a hint about our next meeting and touching hands and cheeks with her a few times because I couldn't help myself."Richard...." I muttered the name of that beautiful woman's son I had recently learned.He's a boy who looks much like his mother but is also slightly different. I knew he had the distinction of having a calm demeanor like an adult, but he could also have fun or behave like a child with his mother.With just one look
Matthew's POVI was eating with my father at the dining table in our house. I glanced at my father several times while we were eating, waiting for him to say something until he finally looked at me."What's wrong, Matthew? You seem to have something to talk to me about." He said.I put down the cutlery I was using before looking at him again. "It's not me, it's Dad. That time, you said that there was something you wanted to talk to me about, but you had other things to do."I only remembered discussing Nicole when he suddenly excused himself, and I went somewhere else. I was pretty excited about the engagement being discussed between Nicole and me. Still, my father said that there were things that I should know before the engagement procession was fully executed.Of course, I wanted to know, but some things had happened, so the conversation could only continue now.My father looked at me with slightly widened eyes, realizing the conversation I was having. "Oh, you remember our convers
Matthew's POVToday was the day Nicole would be discharged from her hospitalization. I was on my way to the hospital feeling rather uncomfortable, remembering the time when I thought that Nicole was Natalie when talking to her about my childhood memories.I remembered how that woman's expression made me a little sad. I thought she was just unable to remember a memorable event for me, but it turned out that it could be her other past that she didn't want to talk about anymore.The only thing I can be sure of is that my feelings for her are true. Childhood was important, but our accidental meeting at the cafe and what followed made me fall for that woman even more."It's here," I muttered softly, exhaling after I had finished parking my car.I looked at the bouquet of flowers I had leaned against the passenger seat, noticing the soft-colored arrangement the florist had suggested before I came here. I had intended to give this bouquet to Nicole to congratulate her on her return, but then
Nicole's POV I looked at Chris, who had started to calm down but didn't look like he would back down. "Now you can go, Chris. You must be busy." He seemed to open his mouth, but I didn't let that happen, so I spoke first, more seriously than before. "You heard what my fiancée said. Go away." I gave the man a cold stare, while he seemed to love not believing my words. "Are you really serious, Nicole? He is your fiancé?" His eyes seemed to flutter as he looked at me, uninterested in mentioning Matthew's name or seeing him for himself. "He's not a nice guy." I snorted softly, looking at her even colder after hearing those ignorant words. "Look, who's talking? Don't you know, or should I confirm it for you?" The man fell silent. Although he had been behaving as he pleased, he also had his own calculations about what he could admit and not with his mouth. I sighed, already too tired of the tension I always felt when dealing with him. As long as that man was near me, I couldn't res
Nicole's POV"Huh..." I unconsciously let out a breath between shock and unsure of what to say about Matthew's sudden statement.The bespectacled man looked at me again with a faint smile, but I could see his hands on the stiff steering wheel. Now that I've revealed my feelings, I think you can start considering my offer regarding our engagement, considering my statement just now.""That still sounds difficult to me, Matthew." I stammered a little but hadn't changed my mind about our possible relationship.Maybe the issue regarding the misunderstanding in his childhood had been resolved, but he still didn't know me and what I had gone through to end up with the Duncan Family.I can't lie. In a way, I felt much more relieved that he had feelings for me, as Nicole, not someone else. It embarrassed me, and I didn't know how to react to the overwhelming emotions I couldn't decipher inside me.He seemed to look at me again, still seemingly calm despite my reluctance. "I know, but I'm only
Nicole's POV"Shouldn't we get out of here?" Matthew asked, looking at me, who was working, with a deep gaze. He asked me to get up from my seat and go with him.I stopped staring at the computer screen, turned to the man, and exhaled softly. "You're getting more and more pushy the longer you act."Some time had passed after our conversation in the car about the bespectacled man's confession and the possibility of our relationship continuing. It seems like it happened only yesterday, but time has really flown by, and we're getting closer to each other.He also visited my office more frequently, sometimes checking in with me via text or just walking into my office like he was alone. Key eventually told the staff concerned that he was allowed to come in whenever he wanted so that he wouldn't always be questioned about his sudden visits.Just like now. I was just checking the man's message when he came in first, wanting to take me to lunch, but I still had a lot of paperwork to take care
Catherine's POVI was surprised by my father's overly friendly reaction. He doesn't usually behave like this. I was uncomfortable and a little creeped out by his actions, but I couldn't make any comment.We stepped inside, passing by several servants who seemed to have been ordered by my father to welcome us.I saw my father walking first, then Edwin, who kept walking with me. The servants' stares seemed to follow us, but then I realized that they were only paying attention to the man who had just entered the Varma Family residence, the figure next to me.Apart from some of my father's colleagues, he was the only man who had ever entered this house. Benny hadn't even had that opportunity in all the time we'd been friends. My father was cautious in his dealings with businessmen and other conglomerate families. Perhaps that's why not just anyone could visit our house.And because of that, the man I called father was more guarded in Edwin's presence to maintain a good chance for our fami
Edwin's POVI kissed Catherine more than the touch of lips she gave me. I did it slowly, not entirely sure, but following what felt right with her lips on mine.I just knew that something like this made everything around me slow down. I loved the feel of her soft lips, the slightly sweet taste of the wine left in her mouth and the moisture that mingled on each of our lips.Catherine pulled away from our kiss first, slightly out of breath but smiling at me. I paused, staring at the woman who was so innocent but also made me feel things I had never felt before.I had never known anything like this and went back to kissing her a few more times until my own lips felt like they were going to swell and felt hot with the inside of the car tightly closed, even with the coolant on.After that, we went beyond the point of no return."What is this?" The woman was heard shouting.My consciousness returned, and then my head felt like it was ringing. Her voice sounded really loud. It took me some t
Edwin's POVI know why Catherine is acting like this. She was proposed to by Benny, her best friend who seemed to have more feelings for her, but she herself didn't want that to happen.She had told me the things she wanted, some of the things in between the annoyance and sadness she felt. Above all, for Catherine, Benny was her treasured friend, not as a future husband nor one who could free her from the Varma family.I agreed to that after feeling a little uncomfortable with the way she had been talking about a man who had not been with us for some time.No sooner had I approached her who stood up from her seat in the restaurant and was in an unsteady state, than she fell into my arms. I could feel how soft and fragrant her body was close to mine.The sound of her breathing could be clearly heard over my shoulder where she was leaning. She was almost unconscious, so I sighed softly and whispered to her. "You seem to be looking for trouble with me, Varma."I repositioned her between
Catherine's Point of View"So, how was it?" He asked, looking at me.I wiped my face with my handkerchief, unable to look directly at the man again after a long stare, but still shook my head with certainty. "No way, my opinion hasn't changed from what I said before. I don't think it makes any sense.""Alright." The man nodded. "Come on, I'll treat you to dinner."I returned Edwin's nod, accepting the man's ride to a private restaurant that catered to a wide variety of conglomerate families from this city and abroad. This was the first time I had visited this famous place; previously, I had only heard about it from my father and Daniel.In addition to being a place to formally entertain guests, some also make official cooperation agreements between foreign companies, including my family, which is also the reason my younger brother was able to go to this place first with my father.I sat opposite Edwin, enjoying the view of the city through the restaurant's glass, which was almost as t
Catherine's POVI looked at the man over my glasses, feeling mixed emotions inside me as I poured out all sorts of things I had wanted to say to him since last night but could only say today."Did you know that your family sent a marriage proposal to my family?" I began. "It wasn't that long ago that we entered college, Ben, but how could the proposal come at such an unexpected time and from your family."My gaze was fixed on his eyes, which were also looking at me. "Did you ask for the proposal to be sent to my family so that we can get married?"He didn't say a word in reply; he just squeezed his hands on each side of his body and turned his gaze away from me. I clamped my mouth shut for a moment."I'm furious." I took a deep breath, trying to control myself from overwhelming feelings."You already know I don't like this at all, Ben. Getting married. It's a new prison for me and indirectly proves to my father that I'll never escape the Varma family's female nature."I still remember
Catherine's POVWhen I woke up, my head hurt, as well as my eyes, which were quite difficult to open even though I was awake. I seemed to have cried too much and fallen asleep immediately afterwards to have this effect.I felt thirsty and looked for a drink on the small table not far from the bed and grabbed it. I drank the contents of the glass in four big gulps and put it back on the table. My gaze automatically went to the large mirror on the other side of the bed.There, the reflection of my face looked messy. I really looked like someone who had just woken up after crying for hours. My eyes were puffy with traces of tears that I could feel with my fingers, my nose was slightly reddened, and the area around my eyes was slightly reddened.I stared at my appearance with mixed feelings. It's really embarrassing even though I'm the only one who sees this right now, and maybe one of the waiters who refilled my water, but it doesn't really matter because I have to leave for college in a
Catherine's POVI was feeling tired.It's been one week since the end-of-semester exams, and I have to repeat the lessons of the whole semester on my own. I also have to read copies of the assignments I've done and notes from the lecturer on topics that might come up in the exam this time.I was so busy that I didn't have time to do anything other than study and get enough rest when night fell, that is, if I didn't have any assignments to complete for the practical exam.Arriving home, I already felt a piercing headache that made me want to lie down and sleep for a while. I still had to study for the theoretical exam and submit other practical assignments to the lecturer from other courses.I had envisioned a soft mattress on my bed, as well as blankets and pillows that would feel very soft on my body after I had exhausted my thoughts and abilities for today's exam, but it didn't work out.Someone knocked on my bedroom door and opened the door after I let myself in. It was one of the
Edwin's POGIn my father's study, I was reading a book he recommended. He was also reading for a while, but then he put the book on the desk and looked at me."What do you think about our new project?" he asked, slightly serious but also relaxed.I moved the book out of sight to look at him. "The things they're doing are right. I can't find any flaws."He nodded. The report he had shown me this morning followed the book he had put down. It was about the business collaboration between the Duncan Family and the Thompson Family, with Benny and I as the chief executives, while our father was the funder and in charge.Although the two of us had not completely taken over the family business, our fathers had agreed to involve their family successors in this newly started business. Aside from the family interest, both of them said it was important for our future.I had no problem with that. After all, my father had taught me everything about our family business since I was a child and other i
Catherine's POVAfter receiving the gift from Edwin, I was now only with Benny and his personal driver driving. The man sat down with me and then noticed something was different about my attitude.He rested his chin on one of my hands, which was still clasped tightly. "What are you holding on to? You didn't let go at all....""This." I showed him the bracelet.His eyes look wide. "Isn't that the jewelry you saw earlier? I thought you didn't buy it.""I didn't buy it."Considering Benny was also aware of what I was doing while looking at the jewelry, perhaps my liking for this bracelet was too obvious.My gaze was fixed on the bracelet, and I thought about how the man who had left the festival first had unhesitatingly bought me this jewelry and given it to me without anyone knowing. I don't know what that man was thinking when he bought me this, but the pounding of my heart was starting to feel too clear in my chest.The car stopped. I blinked, realizing that I had arrived in front of