?Chapter 597:


    His sharp eyes caught her frustration, and for a brief moment, the teasing curve of his lips faded. Lifting a hand, he tilted her chin upward with deliberate ease, forcing her to meet his gaze.


    “Not even going to let me exin?”


    His cold tone softened just slightly, thest sybles of his words drawn out in azy, almost hypnotic lilt that sent an uninvited shiver down her spine.


    Corrine huffed, turning her head to avoid his touch.


    “Then go ahead and exin,” she challenged, her voice dripping with mock patience. Her posture, the slight tilt of her head, conveyed her defiance.


    Of her chin, the defiance in her eyes—it was as if she were a princess indulging a subject’s plea.


    Before Nate could respond, footsteps sounded from the hallway. His expression shifted, his body tensing ever so slightly. Without a word, he pressed Corrine’s face into his chest with one hand while using his foot to nudge the door shut behind him. Corrine blinked in confusion, looking up at him.


    He said nothing, but the shift in his demeanor was unmistakable. Who could possibly make Nate this guarded?


    “Nate, are you hiding something from me?” Her voice was quiet but piercing, her gaze locking onto his with unnerving precision.


    At her question, he fell silent for a moment. Instead of answering, he reached up and lightly pinched her earlobe, releasing a quiet sigh.


    “Of all days, you had to show up today?”


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    Corrine arched a brow.


    “So it is my fault now?”


    A chuckle rumbled in his chest as he tilted his head down toward her, amusement flickering in his gaze. Without warning, he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss at the corner of her lips.


    She recoiled slightly, annoyance shing across her face as she pushed his chin away.


    “Why are you kissing me? Can you not see I’m still mad?”


    A sharp intake of breath sounded from the side. Matias and Saul exchanged nces, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and admiration.


    Corrine was truly one of a kind. No one else in the world would dare to treat Nate this way.


    And yet, Nate did not look the least bit offended. If anything, he seemed entertained. His fingers brushed lightly against the corner of her eye, his voice smooth yet unreadable.


    “How about meeting my family?”


    Corrine froze. Her breath hitched slightly as surprise flickered in her gaze. She had expected him to be hiding some secret lover in his office. She had not expected this.


    Her fingers curled into fists, nerves prickling beneath her skin.


    “I do not think I’m ready yet…”


    Nate reached for her hand, gently prying her fingers open. His own slid between hers, their hands interlocking with a quiet certainty.


    “I will be with you.”


    A few momentster, Corrine found herself seated in Nate’s spacious, sun-drenched office.


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