Share

Chapter 3

Author: Tranquil Phoenix
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-12 19:06:28
While Ninian was preparing the documents Conan needed for the meeting, her stomach spasmed in pain.

If it were in the past, she would have just endured it.

But this time, without any hesitation whatsoever, she turned on an app that would help her make a reservation in a hospital.

She wanted to take leave and visit the doctor.

When Conan was in the meeting, he found himself unable to focus on it.

All he could think about was Ninian. His eyes were fixed on her, but Ninian never looked at him.

Once the meeting ended, it was time for lunch. He wanted to ask her to go out for lunch with him, only to realize that she was no longer in the office.

“Where’s Ninian?”

“Didn’t she tell you? She took leave for the afternoon.”

“Where did she go?”

She took leave? She had been working with Conan for years, but she had never taken leave before.

Even when she was sick and nearly fainted, she still continued working.

Why would she suddenly take leave and not tell him?

“I don’t know. Let me check where she went.”

At the hospital, the doctor told Ninian that her stomach had grown weaker due to her not having any proper meals.

That made sense. Over the years, she had worked hard for Conan, and she had almost forgotten how it felt like to sit down and have a proper meal.

After her visit to the doctor, Ninian did not hurry back to the company. Instead, she sat down beside a window in a cafe.

The afternoon sun was bright and warm. As she leaned against the window, she took her time sipping coffee.

It had been a long time since she had relaxed and drunk coffee while admiring the view.

She had practically drained herself working for Conan over the years.

And funnily enough, her efforts were nothing to Conan. Still, it was about time for Ninian to live for herself.

Her phone started vibrating. Ninian looked down and saw that it was a call from Conan.

She just glanced at it but did not answer.

Her lack of response seemed to have made Conan anxious because he kept calling her.

Ninian found it annoying and turned her phone off.

“You turned off your phone?! How dare you, Ninian?!”

When he realized that she had turned off her phone, Conan nearly smashed his phone.

Ninian had never turned her phone off over the past seven years she was with him. What happened this time?

Ninian ended up in the cafe for the entire afternoon. For the first time, she felt as if she was the master of her own time. When the sun went down, she turned on her phone and found that she had a bunch of missed calls and countless WhatsApp messages.

[Where are you?]

[I’m waiting for you at your place. Come back now.]

[Ninian, I’m giving you half an hour. Come back right now.]

The last message was sent at 3 p.m. It was already 6 p.m.

Ninian sneered at Conan’s message. Judging from the words alone, she could tell just how mad Conan was.

She took a stroll outside, ate some food she liked, and took her sweet time going back home.

It was dark inside. She bent down to change into her indoor slippers. Once she turned on the lights, she saw Conan on her couch.

The sight of Ninian coming back so late made Conan furious.

“Where did you go? Do you have any idea just how long I’ve been waiting for you?”

No one had ever dared to make him wait for so long, Ninian was the first person to do so. Not to mention, this was also the first time she had done something like this.

Ninian ignored him. She went to the kitchen countertop and poured herself a glass of water.

In the past, she was the one who waited for him.

So long as Conan said that he was going to visit her, no matter how long it took for him to arrive, she would always sit on the couch to wait for him.

If he said that he was going to visit at 10 p.m., then she was going to eagerly wait for him starting from 6 p.m.

If he said that he was going to visit the next day, she would change the sheets, air out the blankets, and change the covers before putting them back on the bed.

But she was exhausted and no longer wanted to wait for him.

Related chapters

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 4

    “Ninian, I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me?”He grabbed her hand, and his eyes were burning with rage.But Ninian remained calm. “I had some business to attend to. You could have gone back if you didn’t want to wait for me.”“What’s with you? You’ve been acting strange all day.”“It’s nothing.”Ninian moved past him and wanted to go upstairs.But the anger Conan had been keeping in check for so long finally exploded. “Ninian, remember your place. No one has ever made me wait for so long. Don’t you forget, you’re just my—”“Your what?” she interrupted him. “Friend with benefits?”Conan was stunned. “You heard what I told them that night?”Conan finally understood why Ninian was acting so strangely. “I was just running my mouth off. That’s not what I meant.”“Then, who am I to you?” Ninian stared at him.Conan fell silent. He found himself unable to say anything.“I’m tired. Go back.” For the first time, she rejected his advances. Ninian just went back to her room, too

    Last Updated : 2024-12-12
  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 5

    Then, Conan turned around, along with the woman beside him.Ninian saw a woman with a face strikingly similar to hers, and she was smiling while she held Conan’s hand.At that moment, Ninian felt her blood freeze.Who was she? Conan’s crush?Ninian had been with Conan for seven years. Why did she never know that he had a crush?!Her heart spasmed in pain. She wanted to leave, but Conan called out to her. “You’ve arrived, Ninian.”“Ninian Springs? Conan Stone’s secretary?”“She looks so similar to Rose Charlemagne!”“Don’t you know? She’s just a replacement. I heard that during the years Rose wasn’t around, Conan Stone got a replacement. It must have been Ninian Springs!”Everyone stared at her while they talked about her.Those words kept pouring into her ears, and Ninian felt as if someone had seized her throat. She could not breathe.“Hello, Miss Springs.” Rose went over to Ninian and sized her up. “I’m sorry, I heard from Conan that you don’t like such banquets, but I rea

    Last Updated : 2024-12-12
  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 6

    Ninian never knew that she was just a replacement. But when she met Rose, plenty of the things that had puzzled her in the past finally made sense.Conan liked it when she wore white dresses because Rose loved white dresses.Conan liked it when she wore her hair long because Rose had long hair.Conan refused to let her dye her hair because Rose’s hair was black.Even the handbags he gave her were in the styles that Rose liked.Ninian knew very well that the handbag Rose carried tonight was the one in the same series as the handbags Conan had given her duplicates of.Ninian looked down, and she teared up.When she returned to her place, Ninian curled up on the floor while still in her ruined gown. She looked outside at the moon and let her mind wander.She remembered the first time she met Conan seven years ago. They had met in a bar.At that time, she needed money, so she worked at a bar and met him.She immediately caught his fancy and got her to work as his secretary.As t

    Last Updated : 2024-12-12
  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 7

    “Rose.”“Hello, Miss Springs.”Rose had gotten into her house and was sitting on her couch.In front of her was Ninian’s perfume.“This is my house. It’s not right for you to barge into my place like this,” Ninian said in a hostile tone as she stared at her.She hated people who dropped by unannounced.“Your house?” Rose smiled and twirled the keys in her hands. “If it’s your house, why do I have the keys?”She got up and went over to Ninian. “Are you seriously telling me that you don’t know that this house was actually meant for me? I didn’t want it, so Conan gave it to you instead.”Ninian’s breathing stuttered. As she stared at Rose, she pursed her lips and clenched her fists.Even the house was for Rose?“This perfume too.” Rose picked up the bottle on the table and spritzed it in the air.“Do you have a habit of touching other people’s stuff?” Ninian reached out to grab the bottle.Out of all his gifts, Conan had put the most effort into this one.Rose easily avoided

    Last Updated : 2024-12-12
  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 8

    “Conan, don’t be like that. We’re here to give Miss Springs a proper farewell. How about I toast to her instead? “Miss Springs, thanks for taking care of Conan and the company for all these years.”Just as Rose was about to drink, Conan stopped her.“Why are you trying to drink? You have a weak stomach. If your stomach starts hurting at night, you won’t be able to sleep, and what are you going to do then?”“That’s more than seven years ago! You still remember? My stomach is fine now,” Rose said sweetly, and Conan booped her nose. “Be good. If Ninian is not willing to drink, why are you trying to drink, then?”Conan’s words cut into Ninian’s heart like a sharp knife.He did not know that her stomach was weak, but he remembered that Rose had a weak stomach seven years ago.She did not want to look at them anymore. Ninian opened a can of beer and started drinking while sulking. She drank a few cans, and her stomach hurt, but it did not hurt as much as her heart did.Conan sne

    Last Updated : 2024-12-12
  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 9

    “No! She can’t have died! Find her! Even if you have to search through every corner of the world, find her!” Conan’s legs felt like jelly. No matter what, he could not stand on his own two feet.When he remembered Ninian’s despair and hate-filled gaze before he left, his heart clenched in unease.“Didn’t she hire those people? Why is she dead?”Conan rushed over to Crimson. Just as his assistant had said, the police had indeed locked the place down.Right when he approached the crowd, he heard a conversation.“That woman is so unlucky. I heard that she fought against those hooligans valiantly last night, and she died when one of them stabbed her with a broken beer bottle.”“What a loss of a perfectly good human being. I heard that she was covered in wounds and blood, and her clothes were in tatters. How pitiful.”“That’s right. If only someone had saved her. She must have been in such despair.”Their conversation reached his ears, and Conan walked to the room stiffly.The ro

    Last Updated : 2024-12-12
  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 10

    Conan got up and seized her wrist in a tight grip.Rose’s wrist turned red from his grip, and she teared up. “Conan, you’re hurting me!”“I’m asking you whether Ninian hired those people to kidnap you!”“Yes!” Rose flung his arm off and started crying. “You heard what those people said! Ninian is the one who hired those people to kidnap me! If I hadn’t cried out for help and if you hadn’t come to save me just in time, I might have been the one who died!”“Why would those people still hurt her, then? If she hired those people, why did they hurt her?!” Conan roared, and his eyes had a crazed look in them.“How would I know?” Rose blinked and started lying. “Perhaps Ninian orchestrated the whole thing. Then, to get your attention, she vanished. Why else would the police still be unable to find her even after so many days have passed?”Rose’s words made hope fill Conan’s dead heart bit by bit.“Are you saying that Ninian isn’t dead?”“Of course not!”When Rose saw hope return to C

    Last Updated : 2024-12-12
  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 11

    After Brent left, Helen, Dustin’s mother, called.“Dustin, since you’re back, can I get you on a blind date with that girl?”“Yeah. If she agrees to it, I’ll be available whenever.”“Well, aren’t you eager? Work hard, then. Marry her, you hear?”“Don’t worry, Mom. I will.” He hung up, and Dustin smiled. He wanted to marry Ninian more than anyone else.Ninian did not return to her place. Instead, she rented an apartment.Once she did, Yvonne called. Right after she answered, she heard Yvonne’s worked-up voice. “Ninian, how dare you not answer my calls?! You just don’t want to go on a blind date, is that it?!”She had been unconscious for a few days. That was why she did not answer the numerous calls Yvonne made.“Just so you know, that boy is back! You have to meet him, or you’re not coming back for New Year celebrations!”Before Ninian could defend herself, Yvonne had already hung up with a huff.She found herself feeling a little troubled, but she could not run from this, so

    Last Updated : 2024-12-12

Latest chapter

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 26

    “Are you saying we’ve met before?”“I met you during graduation. At that time, I lost my valedictorian speech, and you helped me find it.”As Ninian stared at Dustin, her mind returned to the time when she was still studying at university.At that time, she was one of the two valedictorians of her graduating class. While she was memorizing her speech backstage, she ran into the boy who was also preparing for his speech.He lost his speech, and Ninian spent a long time helping him search for it. In the end, they found it in a corner.Since she was really nervous at that time, she did not remember what that boy looked like.So, Dustin was that boy?“You’re that boy?”“You remember now?”Dustin smiled. “Unfortunately, we graduated. When I tried looking for you, I could no longer find any information about you. Then, a few years ago, I saw you during a gathering for a project, and I finally learned that you’d become Conan’s secretary.”“I see. So, that’s how it was.”Ninian purs

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 25

    Before Conan could answer, a few police officers suddenly showed up.“You must be Rose Charlemagne.”Rose’s heart leaped to her throat.She could not care less about everything else and wanted to run, but the police officers grabbed her and pinned her against the wall.“You’re under suspicion for subornation of bodily harm for the case at Crimson. Please come with us for an investigation.”“I didn’t do it!” Rose panicked. Why was this happening even though she had cleaned up all traces of her involvement? Did Dustin really do something?“Mr. Grant, thank you for the clues you provided. We will be sure to figure out the truth of the case!”Ninian frowned. She thought that the case had been closed with no satisfying end. Had Dustin actually been looking into this?She felt touched, and Ninian held Dustin’s hand tighter.Conan asked in puzzlement, “Subordination of bodily harm? What did you do?”“What did she do?” Ninian sneered. Even at this point, Conan still did not know what

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 24

    “C-Conan?”That man was not expecting Conan, so he was shocked.“Did you just say that Dustin and Ninian didn’t marry out of love?”“I have a friend who’s good friends with Dustin’s assistant. That’s what he heard.”Conan was delighted, and he felt much better.He was just about to head back when he remembered that this man had basically called Ninian unwanted. So, he picked up the bucket beside him and threw all the water in it at the man.“What’s with this?!”“If I ever hear you implying that Ninian is unwanted again, I won’t just be throwing dirty water at you!”Just then, Ninian came out of the female washroom.Upon seeing him, Ninian rolled her eyes in resignation.She should have waited for him to return to the room before she came out.Conan blocked her path and smiled.“Ninian, you didn’t marry Dustin out of love, did you? That means that your marriage isn’t real, is it?”Ninian was shocked. How did Conan learn about this?They should be the only ones who knew thi

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 23

    Once Dustin posted on Instagram that he was married, his best friends all asked him out for a drink and also specifically requested him to bring Ninian along.Since he knew that Ninian did not like such gatherings, Dustin did not want to bring her over, but Ninian said, “I’m going. Since we’re married, it’s only right for me to meet your friends.”More importantly, some part of her genuinely wanted to be with Dustin.So, meeting his friends to get to know him was a good plan.Blue Duke was the most luxurious entertainment club in Rivervale.Conan arrived early in the room on the second floor.When the people saw him, they started teasing him.“I thought you would never show up at the same gathering as Dustin. Why are you here today?”“Where’s Rose? Did you decide to not bring her along because you know you’ll meet Ninian today?”Conan had already downed a few shots at this point. He glared at them, and they immediately shut up.“Conan.” When Rose showed up, Conan’s expression

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 22

    “He seems to be truly regretting letting you go.”Dustin saw the dejection in Ninian’s eyes and thought that she still longed for Conan. He asked, “Are you okay?”Ninian looked away and checked the corner of his lips.When she saw that he was no longer bleeding, she felt at ease.“I’m fine.”At the sight of Ninian worrying about him, Dustin was delighted. “Are you worried about me?”“You’re my husband. Who else am I supposed to worry about if not you?” Ninian then frowned and said in displeasure, “Conan must have really gone mad. How could he hit you?”“He really does want you back.”Dustin wanted to know Ninian’s thoughts about this. He was worried that she might regret marrying him.“I won’t go back,” Ninian stated without hesitation. “My love for him died a long time ago.”“Okay.” Dustin ducked his head to hide the barely noticeable smile on his lips. But Ninian still noticed it. “How could you smile when you were just hit?”“If I can get you to worry about me after bei

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 21

    Dustin did not manage to avoid it in time and took the punch square to the face. He staggered a few steps backward.At the sight of him getting hit, Ninian panicked and ran over. “Are you okay, Dustin?”Conan had used practically all of his strength in that punch.Dustin’s mouth was bloody. In a frenzy, Ninian took out some tissue from her pocket to wipe off the blood at the corner of his mouth.“Does it hurt?”“I’m okay. It doesn’t hurt.”Dustin grabbed the tissue from her hand and smiled at her.At that moment, the final defense in Ninian’s heart crumbled.She turned around and glared at Conan.“Have you lost your mind? Do you even know what you just did?”“Do you really care about him that much?”At the sight of Ninian caring about Dustin so greatly, Conan’s heart hurt.In the past, she would only show such concern to him. When had she started worrying about another man?“Yes. I care about him because he’s not my boyfriend; he’s my husband!” Ninian held Dustin’s hand ti

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 20

    Dustin wanted to help her put on the socks, but Ninian was so shocked that she waved him off.“You don’t have to. I can do it myself.”Dustin relented and handed the coffee to her.“Do you want some coffee? I made it myself.”Ninian grabbed the cup and took a sip. “It’s good.”She seldom drank such good coffee. In truth, she loved coffee, but over the years, she only brewed it for Conan, and no one made it for her.“If you like it, I’ll brew some for you every day.”Dustin smiled. As Ninian stared at the outstanding man, she found her heart racing for him.“Are you looking for work?”When he saw the job search page on the screen, Dustin sat down beside her.Since they were so close to each other, the atmosphere between them immediately gained a romantic air.“Yeah. No matter what, I have to provide for myself.”“I can take care of you.”Dustin turned his head, and their noses bumped with each other.Ninian pulled back as if she had been shocked by lightning. Her face and

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 19

    “Dustin, after years of dreaming about it, you’ve finally managed to marry Ninian! You must be so happy!”“What on earth are you saying?” Dustin glared at Kiara Grant, his sister, and his face turned red.Ninian thought that she meant that Dustin had been thinking about getting married for years, so she did not read too much into what Kiara said. She just followed his family into their house.Dustin’s family treated Ninian well. They only had a meal together, but Ninian felt connected to them, like a family, which was something she had not felt with anyone else for a long time.After dinner, Helen, Dustin’s mother, immediately saw the bracelet around Ninian’s wrist.She was delighted. She had thought that Dustin was a blockhead, but he was smart and had already given their family heirloom to Ninian.“Dustin’s grandmother gave me the bracelet, and now, you’re wearing it. Ninian, Dustin is a bit of a blockhead. If he makes you sad, tell me, and I’ll teach him a lesson!”“What?” Ni

  • Out Of Luck In Love   Chapter 18

    When Rose came over, Conan had returned to the couch.The entire couch and the carpet were covered in blood. His face and lips were bloody as well.Rose was shocked and thought that someone had robbed the place.“What happened, Conan? Who hit you?”“Get lost.” His tone was cold, and he hung his head.Rose thought that she had misheard him. “What did you say?”“I told you to get lost!” He looked up, and the detachment in his eyes made Rose’s heart tremble.“Why?”“What’s that in your hand?” When he saw the luggage bag in Rose’s hands, Conan grabbed the ashtray from the table and threw it against the wall.The loud clang that came from it terrified Rose so much that she did not even dare to breathe.“It’s my stuff. Since Ninian moved out, shouldn’t I move back in?”“I never said you could stay here.” Conan grabbed her luggage bag and threw it out, and Rose was scared.“Conan, what’s wrong with you? What’re you doing? This is my home! I didn’t want it, and you gave it to Ninia

DMCA.com Protection Status