?Chapter 664:


    The firmness in his tone left no room for argument. If anything, his strictmand only confirmed what she had suspected—Nate knew exactly what had transpired between her and Hodge.


    And that flicker of ruthlessness in his gaze? She did not miss it.


    A warning bell rang in her mind. If she ever truly crossed a line with Hodge, Nate would not hesitate to eliminate the problem. He did not care about the Seymour family’s reputation, nor did he y by rules that did not suit him.


    Corrine met his gaze, unshaken, and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her face into his shoulder. A quiet sigh escaped her lips.


    “You are Nate Hopkins,” she murmured, her voice a soft caress.


    “How could you let another man rattle you like this?”


    To her, Nate was always the calm, calcting mastermind—someone who controlled situations with effortless precision, never breaking a sweat.


    Yet here he was, tense, on edge, his jealousy raw and unfiltered. His grip tightened on her chin, forcing her to look at him. His gaze was dark, piercing, unwavering.


    “Promise me,” he demanded.


    Corrine did not flinch. Instead, her eyes softened, a quiet warmth settling within them.


    “I am in a rtionship, and I know how to avoid misunderstandings. I know how to keep my distance from other men.” Her voice was steady, reassuring.


    “But you need to understand, Hodge’s family and mine have been connected for generations. It is inevitable for us to cross paths. Still, I promise, I will keep you informed about every meeting.”


    ???????????? с???ρ???????? ??α??????ν??????﹒?????


    As Corrine exined, the Seymour and Ford families had longstanding ties. It was inevitable for them to cross paths.


    The words should have eased his mind, but they only fueled the jealousy simmering beneath his exterior. The thought of her childhood connection with Hodge—the memories they shared—tightened something in Nate’s chest, a feeling he refused to name. His jaw clenched.


    “Do you like him?”


    Corrine blinked beforeughter bubbled up, light and effortless.


    “How could I?” she teased, shaking her head.


    “He’s just a childhood friend. And Jules was always there whenever we hung out.”


    If Nate doubted her, she would call Jules right now to prove it.


    The storm in his gaze slowly faded, his rigid stance softening. A quiet exhale left his lips as he brushed his fingers through her hair, the tension easing.


    “I believe you,” he said finally.


    Satisfied, Nate straightened. Corrine pushed herself up on her elbows, watching him closely.


    “You’re not mad anymore?”


    “No,” he muttered, though his expression remained unreadable. Then, his gaze flickered to her hand, his frown barely perceptible.


    “When you return home, put the ring back on.”


    She froze. The ring.


    It wasn’t the right time to make their rtionship public yet, and her grandfather had insisted she remove the ring since they hadn’t held an official ceremony.


    But to Corrine, a ring did not define her choice. With or without it, Nate was the man she had chosen, now and forever. She had not expected him to care so much about it.


    .


    .


    .