?Chapter 506:


    A dangerous light kindled in Leah’s eyes as she bit her lower lip.


    She needed to outmaneuver Corrine for once—before Bruce realized his mistake of abandoning her, or everything would crumble.


    Arriving at the hotel, Corrine slipped into the bathroom with fresh clothes.


    The warm water enveloped her like liquid silk, melting away the day’s umted strain.


    She reclined in the tub, absently creating ripples in the water as her mind wandered.


    Chelsea’s warning echoed unexpectedly through her thoughts.


    “Corrine, I’m not against you seeing a guy. But listen to me—he is not the one for you.”


    “Are you aware of the Independent Continent’s strict rules against marrying outsiders?”


    Despite her unwavering faith in Nate, this mysterious rule had nted seeds of curiosity about his homnd.


    Her contemtion was interrupted by a gentle knock at the bathroom door.


    Corrine jerked upright with a start, sending water cascading over the bathtub’s edge. A fit of coughing seized her throat.


    Outside, Nate’s protective instincts red, and he moved to burst through the door.


    “Don’te in!” Corrine called out between coughs.


    “Are you alright?”


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    The strain in Nate’s voice betrayed his contained worry.


    “I’m fine…”


    Corrine drew her knees to her chest, eyes fixed anxiously on the door as rivulets of water traced down her skin.


    “Did you need something?”


    “Your phone’s ringing,” Nate exined, his voice steady now.


    Heat crept into Corrine’s cheeks.


    “I’m not exactly in a position to answer…”


    “I can take the call, if you’d like,” Nate offered.


    “Alright.”


    Corrine released a quiet breath as Nate’s footsteps retreated.


    He answered the call with a measured,


    “Who’s this?”


    A heavy silence stretched across the connection.


    Though no words came, Nate sensed the caller’s identity.


    He waited, unhurried, until the silence finally broke.


    “Put Corrine on the phone.”


    A cold smile yed across Nate’s lips, his voice carrying an edge of dark amusement.


    “She’s bathing at the moment. Unavable.”


    Bruce’s grip on his phone tightened until his knuckles nched, veins rising beneath his skin.


    The reality of Corrine and Nate’s apparent intimacy struck him like a physical blow.


    Three years.


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