?Chapter 1357:


    “I know I’ve angered you by keeping secrets,” he admitted. “You cansh out or scold me, but please don’t hold it inside, and don’t say anything hurtful.”


    Unbeknownst to anyone, Corrine’sposed words struck him like daggers to the heart, bleeding pain and turmoil.


    Nate’s voice carried a hint of vulnerability that unintentionally evoked sympathy.


    Corrine’s lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.


    “No, it’s actually your secrecy that made me realize the disparity between us…” she began, alluding to the difference in status and capability that made her feel inadequate beside him.


    Before she could finish, Nate’s hand mped onto the back of her neck, and his lips crashed against hers in a forceful kiss that stifled her words.


    The kiss was fervent andmanding,ced with frustration. Corrine was unresponsive, as if disconnected from her senses, her body limp.


    Yet Nate refused to let go, desperately searching for any sign of reciprocation.


    Their lips mingled, and soon, a trace of blood tinged the kiss.


    Nate’s body tensed, and he suddenly released her.


    His eyes widened at the sight of her swollen lips and the smear of blood. He quickly wiped her lips, his fingers trembling.


    “I never meant to keep you in the dark. Please, can’t you see that?” he pleaded, pressing his forehead to hers, his voice a mix of despair and entreaty.


    In that moment, Corrine felt like fine sand slipping through his grasp—the harder Nate tried to hold on, the quicker she slipped away. Despite this, he held her tightly, his arms possessively enveloping her. His distinct, cool, woody scent was faintly tinged with the smell of blood.


    The scent likely came from the physical struggle that had aggravated an earlier wound.


    Corrine sighed, resigning herself to his embrace, still unresponsive. She longed to voice her frustrations, to argue fiercely, but was it her ce?


    Stay tuned for more g??lnoνe??s.c?m


    No.


    By keeping her in the dark, Nate had excluded her from his world, stripping away her right to confront him.


    It wasn’t so much that she had lost the privilege—it was a privilege he had never granted her.


    After sensing Nate’s grip loosen, Corrine pulled away without hesitation.


    “Take care of your injuries,” she said softly, lifting her head to meet his eyes. “I’m leaving now.”


    Deep down, she cared for him and couldn’t bring herself to say the most hurtful words.


    Nate imed he didn’t mean to keep her in the dark, but Corrine suspected his actions had been deliberate from the start.


    Why else would he have changed the venue and schedule of the industry summit to catch her off guard?


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