Nicole's POVI couldn't leave it at that, seeing that woman who just stood there and pretended to sympathize with me when I had to get up slowly and put the cake I bought for Richard in a safe place.I looked back at the woman who was still in front of me. "You saw me clearly earlier. Your gaze never even left me when I actually fell, right?"I already knew that Julia Dorris was interested in Chris. Still, like a woman with no power to deal with a man who cared so little for others, she preferred to come to me because I was already seen as an obstacle to her reaching his heart.The woman unexpectedly smiled. "So what, aren't you having more fun on top of other people's suffering right now? You should look in the mirror first, Miss Nicole."I, who had been standing face to face and heard the woman's words before me, was shocked. I didn't know the meaning of her accusing me like that when I had only been working and occasionally spending the rest of my time between jobs and afterwards w
Nicole's POVI met with my father at the office, reporting on the deal I had managed to secure a few days ago."I met with Mr. Hudson, Father. The cooperation between our companies is going well. He will meet with you during these two days for further talks."The man, much older than me, looked at me in surprise. "Why should Mr. Hudson meet with me? That is your business, Nicole." I returned his gaze with surprise, but he continued."You're the one who got the deal with his company, so you'll be in charge until the end, not me." He smiled slightly. "You have to remember that, Nicole."I nodded. "Yes, Father."Actually, I was used to doing my work until the end. Still, considering that part of my workload was reduced and transferred to my father, I thought that this deal would also be completed by a man who was more experienced than me. But it wasn't.I felt relieved. Before letting it go, I wanted to see this deal through to the end. There were a few collaborations that I was really i
Nicole's POV"What do you mean?" My father was asking.I looked at the man still standing next to me, repeating my question so that it could be heard more clearly: "You've known Mr. Thompson, Matthew's father, since when?""Oh, that." He seemed to mumble. "I've known Benny since we were teenagers. Roughly, when we were seventeen?”I was silent momentarily, not expecting the answer about how long they had been friends to go back further than he had told me. They started their friendship when the first business cooperation between their companies began."That was a long time ago, Father." I finally said, staring at the street in front of us that was still filled with a few passers-by. "The friendship between you has been almost fifty years...."My father nodded. "We met your mother at the academy and have been friends ever since. Ah, the three of us were in the same batch."The old man told me that despite being in the same academy, he and Benny never actually said hello to each other.
Nicole's POVOne week had passed. Right now, I was staring at the woman in front of me, tied to a chair with several of my bodyguards standing guard around us. I had just arrested her along with some suspicious people because one of my confidants informed me of her unusual actions.I immediately took action so that it would be noticed. I could already guess her intentions, and the end result wouldn't be good for me or the people I was involved with.The tied-up woman didn't say anything, and neither did I, but I finally opened the conversation by giving her a cold stare. "I had expected that you might do something like this, but you didn't waste any time at all, Miss Julia Dorris.""As a businesswoman, time is money, Miss Nicole. You must know that." Julia smiled, showing absolutely no agitation that I had caught her. "But why are you bothering to catch me like this? What does it have to do with you if I do something? You're the one who said that you don't want to get involved in this
Chris' POVAt that moment, I received a call from one of the people I had assigned to observe Julia Dorris. The man sounded a little tense when he spoke to me, telling me something that couldn't be good. "Mr. Grant, that woman is missing.""You lost track of her?" I asked, correcting his report that probably wasn't the truth.He was silent for a moment but eventually answered my question. "No, we just managed to find out and follow the kidnapper, sir. The people who did this are from the Duncan Family's side.""No way...." I immediately stood up from my seat.Only one person was behind the behavior of the people ordered by the family when it came to Julia. Nicole. I immediately thought of the woman who I had always thought of as a gentlewoman and would not be involved in such a violent act, especially when they were both women.I had recently learned that the woman from abroad had approached Nicole before I realized it. Selena was there, too, but Julia was not an easy woman to deal wi
Chris' POV What happened in the hidden place was already known to Edwin Duncan. After Nicole's departure, Key came as the old man's messenger to take care of some things left behind by his adopted daughter. Julia and the few people who came with her were taken away by the other staff members brought by the professional-looking assistant. One pick-up truck was available. All the people arrested by Nicole were put in there, even Julia, who should have gotten a little better treatment with her status. Still, the family seemed to have their own standards. The car immediately drove to a place I didn't know, but they had planned it beforehand and were far away from this town. Standing there without doing anything, I watched as the once-crowded room was left with just me. Meanwhile, the assistant who had been tidying up all the things in this place walked over to me, looking at me coldly, though still bowing politely afterward. He spoke in the same tone. "Mr. Grant, the Great Master
Edwin's POVI was already facing Nicole, looking at her quite sharply after learning of her actions before this. "Why would you do something like that, Nicole?"She shot someone with a gun I didn't even know she had.I thought I had ensured her security well all this time, sending some bodyguards or my subordinates to watch her movements, but apparently, I and the people around her had let their guard down.She can even do things that are entirely incautious for herself. Owning a gun and using it are two different things. Of course, it was OK for her to have it for self-protection, but actually, shooting another person was something that could endanger her.Her clothes and equipment at that time were inadequate, especially when she was seen being pushed in the CCTV footage I got from one of the bodyguards. His defenses must have been weak to not be prepared for a pistol shot's thrust force."I was just defending myself, Father." She finally said, her hands visibly shaking as her gaze
Edwin's POVTwo days later, I got a message from someone I didn't want to meet unless I had to. It was polite and arrogant, but I knew that even his usual demeanor was like that, so I didn't want to see him even more.Although I didn't like the idea of meeting without discussing the schedule first, I couldn't refuse the man's invitation to meet when he wrote Nicole's name. Ultimately, I still went to the appointment place according to his request, which I could have rejected outright.Christian Grant. The man had arrived first and sat down in front of me.He didn't mince words and got straight to the point. "Nicole cannot marry Matthew Thompson, Mr. Duncan."My gaze sharpened, already disliking the serious-looking man's topic of conversation, which didn't sound plausible at all.He had no connection to our family other than that we were businessmen. Still, even though it was never related to the family's internal affairs, outsiders like him were not allowed to interfere.Just saying t
Edwin's POVI didn't realize that loving someone would make me feel things I didn't know. Although my first encounter with Catherine was not good, it still left a deep impression on me.She was just an innocent woman who knew little about the world around her, even worse than me, who had always received a private education before deciding to attend a public university.However, the more I got to know her and talked to her, the more I found out that she wasn't just a spoiled child from a rich family. She had her own difficulties and realized that she couldn't just stand by and accept the injustices that were always said in favor of her family.We also became friends in the end, but something went wrong.I didn't have a problem with it at all. In fact, I liked it a lot. That woman had a lot of eyes around her, who noticed her and were obviously interested in her from a mild level to infatuation, just like her best friend.Although I didn't really understand the concept of love or anythi
Benny's POVI was very surprised to hear that Catherine would marry Edwin. Her father had rejected the proposal letter sent by my father a while ago, so I called her immediately."Yes, I'm going to marry Edwin, Benny." She answered without hiding anything else.I was silent for a long time, unable to believe what I was hearing even though Catherine had admitted it herself. She didn't seem to realize what I was feeling until she started telling me what had happened.My frown deepened as she told me, unable to contain my shock about what had happened to her. The fact that the woman I liked was pregnant with a man who had been hanging out with us for the past few days, making friends as usual.The man didn't show that their relationship had changed, but the truth was more than I could have imagined. The threat that I felt from Edwin finally came true. He usurped my position to be the only man who could be by her side.In the end, the relationship I tried so hard to build with Catherine m
Catherine's POV"Wow, you really made my parents speechless, Edwin."I praised him, feeling a little amazed by the man who could make me look at my father, who could only be silent without being able to do anything. My mother also looked very surprised and watched the man stunned, but still, my father's reaction was the best thing I had ever seen.No one had ever rivaled him, not even Daniel. My father only relented or made compromises regarding my brother, unlike when dealing with Edwin, who seemed to have slapped him to reality.We were already outside my house. I had deliberately escorted him to the residence fence because I didn't want to be with my parents and still wanted to chat with the man who had caused such a stir inside our house.The man snorted softly. "I know someone like your father. He wouldn't dare to contradict someone like me."I nodded, remembering my father's face, which could only harden, but I could not say anything. After all, Edwin's family was far more impor
Catherine's POV"I am happy for your relationship, Catherine and Young Master Duncan, " my father said with a disgusting smile. I had no idea that we would become a family so soon."He laughed to himself while I felt increasingly uncomfortable with the old man's increasingly blatant attitude. My father did not hide his pleasure at all with what Edwin and I had said today after my examination at the hospital.My gaze fell on the man sitting next to me. He still looked calm, giving me a quick glance as he reached out to take one of my hands. This made me feel less alone among my greedy family members.My father still maintained a smile, looking at Edwin and me in turn. "The relationship between you two should be kept a secret immediately so as not to cause any inconvenience to Young Master, don't you think?" He looked at the man and then at me with a faint smile."You are very clever, Catherine." His gaze pierced me. "You've managed to find a wonderful future husband for our family."I
Catherine's POVI was shocked by the man's words and looked at him. I liked him, but I wasn't sure about his feelings for me after finding out I was pregnant. After all, his sweet treatment back then and our current situation are different things.I swallowed my saliva and nodded. "Yes, Duncan. This baby is your son."I shifted my gaze in another direction. The man was probably angry. We had done it that time with the same desire, sharing the warmth of an intimate activity I had never experienced before. Still, it would be to my detriment if he was like any other man.He might turn out to be selfish and not care about me anymore after sleeping with me. I've heard several times from my friends that when a woman gets pregnant during a one-night stand, she has only two options. Keep the baby with no one or abort it and experience pain for who knows how long.Neither is good, and I don't want to go through it alone.One thing's for sure: in most of the stories I've heard, the man who spen
Catherine's POVWe arrived at a nice hospital, but I felt uneasy. I didn't feel dizzy anymore and was able to walk well, but Edwin was still holding me as if he was afraid I would falter again like before we arrived at this place.I looked at the man walking next to me. "I don't need treatment, Duncan. I'm already fine.""You can't." He shook his head without looking at me. "The doctor should at least check on your sudden limp while walking. He can prescribe medicine for you later."I exhaled, feeling his hand around my shoulder getting tighter, as well as his other hand clasping mine. I felt like I was getting too much attention to the point of feeling uncomfortable, but I was still grateful that he seemed genuinely worried about me."Alright.... I'll do it." I finally said.He nodded.This was my first time in a public hospital so being here felt quite strange. There were a lot of people and most of the people waiting around us were some women who looked pregnant or with their part
Catherine's POVMy life became more enjoyable after opening up to my two friends again. We often hung out together, spending time like the days before and sometimes joined Benny's friends who were quite friendly.After the closeness between the two men, people assumed that Edwin and Benny were inseparable friends. They often walked together, joined the same activities and organizations and were both in the spotlight among other students.It was a natural thing. Not only were their attitudes and personalities polar opposites, but the two men both came from prominent families and owned businesses that they would continue as the only sons of their respective families.They also had brilliant achievements in their respective majors, as well as good looks that were loved by many female students around campus, be it seniors or juniors."I like Edwin Duncan, he's very cold and handsome...." A woman said with a soft sigh.Her friend had a different response. "I prefer Benny Thompson. He's fri
Catherine's POVI entered the lecture again but avoided Edwin and Benny, who were trying hard to get close to me. Both men seemed equally stubborn in saying hello and being nice to me, even though I was always cold to them.They invite me to lunch, but I walk past them, accompanying them to read or study in the library. Then I moved further away and only had one seat, and then I just walked alone to my class.I actually don't mind being alone for now. There were too many thoughts swirling in my head, and my father warned me not to do anything wrong if I still wanted to go to college. A few days ago, my words made me a rebellious child, not something that did me justice.I regretted it a little, but I also couldn't deny that I had managed to say most of the things I had wanted to say a long time ago. Even if they didn't care at all, the important thing was that I didn't just keep those words bottled up inside me."This is tiring," I complained in a low voice.Sarah sighed next to me. "
Catherine's POVAfter hearing my words, I could see my father's gaze become sharper. I felt a little scared, but then I emboldened myself by returning his gaze more boldly.He frowned, still looking at me with his sharp gaze. "What do you mean?""I don't want to get married, Father," I said the meaning of my words more clearly, trying not to tremble in front of him. "Do you think I live only to get married for the sake of this family? If it's not with the man of Father's choice, I'll still be passed on to another man who doesn't fully match my wishes. I don't want to."There are still many things I can do even without getting married. I wanted to determine my life, like the women who weren't bound by the Varma family's nonsensical rules.They could do whatever they wanted, have fun, study, or whatever they wanted for their own future, without worrying about finding a husband who would be helpful to their family.Even if I don't get married, it doesn't mean I can't continue my life wel