?Chapter 634:
“Get a pair of ts,” he instructed. The bystanders, who had been eavesdropping under the guise of casual conversation, stiffened in shock.
This was Nate Hopkins? The man rumored to be ruthless even toward his own kin? And yet, here he was, acting with an unexpected gentleness toward Corrine?
From the ease of their exchange, it felt as though they had known each other for years. Could there be a past between them?
Watching them leave, Carl felt an unexpected wave of irritation. Beneath the table, he kicked Quentin sharply, shooting him a look that screamed, “You fucked up again!”
Quentin awkwardly rubbed his nose, looking thoroughly aggrieved. This had been a foolproof setup. Who could have foreseen Nate swooping in and derailing everything?
Corrine and Nate reached the pavilion atop the mountain. She took a seat on a stone bench, watching as Nate—without hesitation—knelt on one knee before her.
His fingers were steady as he carefully applied a bandage to the back of her heel.
A short distance away, Saul stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded by the sight. Matias pped him on the shoulder, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Rx, man. No need to look so shocked.”
“As if you’ve seen this before!” Saul shot back, shoving Matias’ hand off his shoulder.
Matias smirked knowingly, a glint of certainty in his gaze.
“It’s not just about kneeling on one knee. If she asked for his life, he’d give it without hesitation.”
C??nt?nt hst?d ??t g??l??ov?ls.??0??
His words weren’t baseless. After that night—when Nate had personally stepped in—Matias had known. Corrine had already taken root in Nate’s heart.
“Any updates on Andromache?” Matias asked.
“She’s gone to see her mother,” Saul replied.
At this, Matias let out a cold chuckle.
“Some things never change.”
“I heard from Moses that you were noting. What made you change your mind?” Corrine arched an eyebrow, her gaze sharp as she studied Nate.
Nate met her eyes with a calm, unreadable expression.
“I just happened to be passing by.”
Corrine let out a soft scoff, skepticism flickering across her face.
“Andromache’s arrival is just a coincidence, and you are merely passing through? The Hopkins family certainly has a gift for convenient timing.” The teasing lilt in her voice did not go unnoticed, and a faint glimmer of amusement danced in Nate’s eyes.
“Andromache ys the short game,” he said smoothly.
“I y the long game.”
Of course, the real reason was far more deliberate. He had caught wind of Carl’s n to introduce Moses to Corrine. At Fatima’s wedding party, Nate had deliberately interfered, assuming Carl would abandon the idea. But Carl was proving far more persistent than he had anticipated.
Lowering his gaze, he concealed the thoughts swirling in his mind.
“Shall we? You were going to show me around, were you not?”
Corrine tapped a finger against her chin, as if deep in thought. Then, striking amanding pose with one hand on her hip, she scanned the surroundings like a queen surveying her domain.
.
.
.