"We can hold hands and head upstairs together," Suzanne shyly suggested. Her intention was to piss Sally off by appearing intimately close to Nathan."You want us to hold hands?" Nathan questioned, arching an eyebrow.Realizing he might not be on board, Suzanne awkwardly explained, "I just want Sally to see that she doesn't stand a chance and hopefully back off."To her surprise, Nathan suddenly leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Simply holding hands won't be enough."Caught off guard, Suzanne was stunned when Nathan pressed his lips softly against hers. The onlookers were astounded, inwardly questioning if that was the same serious and aloof Nathan they knew.Before anyone could collect their thoughts, Nathan lifted Suzanne off her feet. Startled, Suzanne instinctively encircled her arms around his neck and nestled her head against his chest. Although Suzanne had initiated the idea of appearing intimate to provoke Sally, she couldn't quell her fluttering heart at Nathan's une
With his arms gently resting on her sides, Nathan stared down at Suzanne intensely and swallowed hard. His breathing grew heavy with anticipation, stirring an ambiguous tension in the air."Could you please let me up?" Suzanne urged, her voice trembled with urgency."Oh, Suzy…" Nathan's deep, baritone voice caressed her ears, dripping with desire.At the sound of his intimate address, Suzanne felt her heart practically explode. Even her veins pulsed with uncontrollable excitement. At that moment, she had sensed his intentions. Before Suzanne could utter anything, Nathan pressed against her and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. A soft moan escaped Suzanne, and Nathan seized the opportunity to deepen the kiss.The kiss was so intense that Suzanne struggled to maintain her composure. She slowly succumbed to the overwhelming bliss, instinctively wrapping her arms around Nathan's neck. Nathan gently tilted her head, running his fingers through her hair as he deepened the kiss.
Nervously, Suzanne halted Nathan's hand and fumbled with the buttons on her shirt. "I don't think we should go on."Confusion filled Nathan's expression as he gazed at Suzanne. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she couldn't meet his eyes. The air was tense with uncertainty.Suzanne considered it—a regular guy might not be into someone who had dealt with a sexually transmitted infection three times.She weighed the possibilities: he either loved her intensely or was convinced she was free from any diseases. Considering the slim chance of the former, she leaned toward the latter.In a gentle tone, Suzanne asked, "Nathan, is there something you're keeping from me?"Nathan's eyes wavered, but he insisted, "No."With his capabilities and the careful oversight of his two most trusted assistants, Nathan was confident in the accuracy of the DNA results.Suzanne released a gentle sigh, her mood sinking as she averted her gaze. "I don't want to continue."A chill settled in Nath
Suzanne slammed the door shut and yelled, "Don't look for me today! I need my space!"Nathan lingered outside while pursing his lips. Seeing Suzanne upset gave him a strange feeling—part sweetness, part helplessness.Suzanne leaned on the door while sorting through her thoughts. She loved Nathan but had doubts. She wanted to depend on him, but couldn't find the words to tell him.After thinking it over, Suzanne gave in and opened the door, only to find Nathan had already left. She searched around but couldn't find him. Disheartened, she sighed and went back to her room.As time passed, Nathan didn't make any effort to find her. He skipped meals and didn't return home at night. Suzanne waited for him in his study, but eventually, she fell asleep, only to wake up and discover Nathan was still nowhere to be found.Late at night, Suzanne pouted in bed while hugging her pillow in frustration. Thoughts of Nathan's whereabouts occupied her mind but she held back from texting him. She
Suzanne had been lost in her book for quite some time when she got a craving for some fruits. She headed downstairs, and the moment she entered the living room, she caught Sally expressing her complaints to everyone around.Sally appeared sad like she had been treated unfairly and bullied. "I don't blame Nate. He must have his reasons. "She's been talking behind my back, spreading false rumors about me, and making Nate think poorly of me. That's why he doesn't like me anymore!"She knows how to control men, and Nate must have fallen for it. It's fine if I get hurt, but I worry Suzanne will hurt Nate. She's crafty and can manipulate men like it's a game. "I'm truly afraid Nate might end up getting hurt!"Florence looked concerned and said, "I don't think so. Nate isn't that easily fooled. How could he be deceived by a woman?""Why not? Don't you think he's changed?" Sally asked.Gary pondered for a moment before replying, "Yes, he has changed. He spends more time at home now,
No one knew who to trust, and suspicious glances were exchanged all around. Suzanne couldn't take it anymore. It was hard to believe that someone so shameless could exist in this world.With no proof to support her, Suzanne felt stuck. To make things worse, Sally started crying as if she was the one who got hurt the most. Just when Suzanne was figuring out what to do about Sally, she heard footsteps coming closer from behind."Nate..." Sally sobbed.All eyes turned to the door as Nathan walked in. Dressed in a sharp black suit that made him look both commanding and handsome, Nathan exuded a cool and collected presence. In his hands, he held a small bunch of zinnias.Nathan had just finished his work at the military base, but he hurried back without thinking twice. He was worried that Suzanne might be getting a hard time from Sally and the others, and he wanted to make sure she was okay.It was only at that moment that Nathan discovered Sally hadn't just committed the few wrongs
Sally felt the seriousness of the situation sank in. Anxiously, she looked at Gary and Florence. "Mr. Morrison, Mrs. Morrison, I—"But before she could say more, they just walked past her without a word, their faces cold and distant.Others in the living room also displayed indifference and disdain. They muttered just loud enough for Sally to catch their words."I can't believe this. I've been around for ages, and I still can't figure out when someone's faking being the victim.""You're not alone. I've fallen for it too."The Morrisons despised Sally. Normally, Sally could handle awkward situations, but this one was tough. The whole living room was empty, and Sally was the only one left.Frustration boiled inside her, and anger flashed in her eyes. She clenched her teeth, stormed back to her room, packed her bags, and walked out.Leaving the Morrison residence, Sally's resentment grew. She grabbed her phone and made a call. "Hello, is this Suzanne's dad? Your daughter has tied t
Nathan couldn't help but think about Sally, who was always immersed in her books. For her, books weren't just filled with facts, they were like brain food.Worried about disturbing him, Suzanne said, "E-books are easy to use now, and a lot of them are free. You should get some more sleep. I won't bother you."Nathan slowly released her hand. A mix of emotions swirled within him. Even though he cared about Suzanne, memories of Sally stuck around. Unintentionally, he found himself merging the two in his interactions with Suzanne. He set aside his thoughts and closed his eyes.Suzanne got up from the bed and grabbed a book. She eased into a chair and began to read while Nathan continued to get some rest. The tranquil ambiance in the room deepened the sense of calm.Now and then, Suzanne couldn't resist stealing glances at his peaceful sleeping face. Just looking at him made her feel warm and happy. These moments were like pure bliss, and she felt truly content.Nathan stirred after