“Hello…”


    “How’s it going, Auntie? Did our n work?”


    Cassandra smiled faintly. “I can’t conclude if it’s sessful or not yet. But I managed to get them toe to London next week.”


    Laughter could be heard from the other end. “I can imagine how confused Nichs must be right now.”


    Cassandra smirked. “Auntie doesn’t care if he’s confused or anything. What Auntie is thinking now is turning the game they designed into a reality. Auntie will make them both like each other.”


    “I’ll always support Auntie. If you need anything, Auntie shouldn’t hesitate to ask for my help,” the man offered.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Cassandra cleared her throat softly. “But have you investigated Kimberly’s background? Auntie doesn’t mind her social status. Just want to make sure she’s from a good family.”


    “Auntie, don’t worry. I’ve been investigating who she is, her background, which family she’s from, down to the smallest details for a long time. To reassure Auntie, I’ll send the report file to you via email right now. Auntie can read it,” the man replied at length.


    Cassandra smiled as she turned on theptop not far from where she was standing.


    “All right, send it right away. Auntie will check it now,” Cassandra instructed.


    “With pleasure, Auntie.”


    Before ending the call, Cassandra spoke again. “Kenzi, thank you so much for your help. I hope our n seeds.”


    “I hope so too. Whatever it is, I’ll always assist Auntie.”


    After ending the call, Cassandra quickly checked the file Kenzi had sent her. She carefully read the information written there.


    A smile appeared on Cassandra’s lips.


    “So, Kimberly is Arthur Rayder’s granddaughter.”


    ****


    Kimberly massaged her temples, feeling dizzy from thinking about her parents’ words fromst night. How could she go to London next week and go through with the engagement? Clearly, they were all pretending. But why was everything soplicated now?


    “Kimmy, what are you thinking about?” Keyra, who had been observing Kimberly’s behavior, finally mustered the courage to ask.


    Kimberly took a deep breath before answering Keyra’s question. “It seems like Nichs and I are going to get engaged next week.”


    “What?!” Keyra and Alex eximed simultaneously.


    Kimberly nodded slowly. “You know, it’s even better because Nichs’s parents originally asked us to get married right away.”


    Keyra stared at Kimberly in disbelief. “Oh my, I thought you two were just having a farewell dinner.”


    Kimberly shook her head. “That night, Nichs and I had dinner with his parents. It started off normal until Aunt Cassandra forced both of us into an engagement.”


    “Wait, so what’s the problem then? Didn’t you want to be Mrs. Alistair?” Alex inquired to rify.


    Kimberly sighed softly. “Yes, that was my intention. But the problem is, I’m afraid Nichs’s extended family will ask about my family background. What should I say?” Kimberly looked anxious. She couldn’t count how many times she had taken deep breaths to calm her nerves.


    “If you really don’t want to disclose who you really are, why not just say you’re an orphan? After all, that’s true, isn’t it? Just tell them you grew up without parents,” Keyra suggested.


    Kimberly remained silent for a moment, weighing Keyra’s advice. “Your suggestion makes sense. But can they believe it just like that? I’m afraid they’ll investigate my background, Key.”


    “If Nichs’s parents do investigate, you don’t have to worry, Kimmy. You’re not the child of a mafia or a criminal, are you?”


    Kimberly nodded. “But I’m still nervous. Initially, all of this was just a charade, why did it be soplicated?”


    Seeing her friend in confusion, Alex couldn’t help but scoff.


    “Which one will you choose? Engagement with Mr. Nichs or Mario?”


    Kimberly let out a frustrated sigh. “I’d better choose Mr. Edward.”


    ***


    In the evening at the apartment unit, Kimberly gathered the courage to meet Nichs, who was busy in his office. She was determined to discuss their engagement, which was scheduled for next week, in more detail. Of course, this needed rification. Engagement and marriage are not things to be yed with. So, with all her courage, she knocked on Nichs’s office door.


    “May Ie in?” Kimberly asked after knocking on the door.


    Nichs redirected his gaze towards Kimberly. “Come in, I’m not that busy.”


    Then Kimberly entered and immediately seated herself on one of the sofas in the room. For a moment, she was captivated by the minimalist design of Nichs’s office. Thebination of silver and brown made the room look very elegant to her.


    “Is there something you want to discuss?” Nichs’s question snapped Kimberly out of her reverie.


    “About the engagement. Are we really going to London next week?”


    Nichs closed the file he had been reading, and his gaze now focused on the woman sitting in front of him. There were clear lines of concern on her face.


    “It seems like we do have to go to London,” Nichs replied.


    Kimberly sighed softly. “Why is it turning out like this? This is beyond what we agreed upon initially. If I had known it would be thisplicated, I swear I wouldn’t have agreed to your ridiculous request, Nick!”


    “If you refuse, you know the consequences, Kimberly Rayder,” Nichs retorted.


    Kimberly groaned in frustration upon hearing Nichs’s words. “I’d rather be unemployed but live a peaceful life than lie to my parents now.”


    Nichs stared sharply at Kimberly. “So, do you regret it?”


    Kimberly nodded firmly. “Of course, I regret it. What are we supposed to do now? Get engaged? Then get married?” Kimberly fired questions at him.


    Nichs rose from his seat, moving to sit beside Kimberly. “Why? Don’t you want to marry me?”


    “You’re insane!” Kimberly responded quickly.


    Nichs narrowed his eyes at Kimberly. “Why insane? Didn’t you want to be my wife? Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve been showing your affection toward me.”


    Kimberly gave Nichs a wry smile. “Oh my, you’re so confident, Nichs Alistair. Where did you get the idea that I like you?”


    Nichs smirked. “Just from your actions, it’s clear that you like me.”


    “Okay, let’s say I do like you, but I can’t marry a man who doesn’t love me. Especially not turn a marriage into a charade or a game.”


    “In that case, teach me how to love you,” Nichs suddenly replied.


    Kimberly was taken aback. “Huh? What? Did I hear you correctly?”


    Nichs shook his head. “You want to marry a man who loves you, right? So teach me how to truly love you.”


    Rather than being touched or happy, Kimberly burst intoughter upon hearing Nichs’s words. She then reached out her hand to touch Nichs’s forehead.


    “You’re not sick, are you?”


    Nichs swatted away Kimberly’s hand from his forehead. “Do you think I’m joking?”


    Kimberly shook her head. “I’m sorry; I don’t believe you. I think your jokes have gone far enough today. Carry on with your work; I’ll leave now.”


    Just as she was about to stand up, Nichs once again grabbed Kimberly’s wrist, causing her to unintentionally sit back down on hisp. When she tried to get up again, Nichs held her body to keep her still on hisp.


    “I’m serious about what I said, Kimberly,” Nichs whispered in her ear.


    Kimberly turned her head to look at Nichs’s face. “You’re really crazy!” she eximed.


    Without replying, Nichs leaned in and briefly kissed Kimberly’s lips, then whispered again, “Do you want to know? It seems it’s not that easy for me to fall in love with you.”


    Before Kimberly could respond to Nichs’s words, he once again leaned in, capturing Kimberly’s lips gently. His soft kisses made Kimberly’s eyes widen in surprise.


    Kimberly mustered all her strength to try to release their shared kiss, but her attempts were in vain as Nichs deepened the kiss. It seemed like he wanted to enchant Kimberly with his actions.


    Slowly but surely, Kimberly became entranced and responded to Nichs’s kiss. Their breaths grewbored, and inevitably, the kiss came to a halt on its own.


    Kimberly hung her head in embarrassment. This wasn’t the first time she had kissed Nichs, but she always felt nervous about it. Don’t even ask about the state of her heart right now; its rhythm might not be as steady. Not wanting to linger in this awkward situation, Kimberly tried to get up, but once again, Nichs held her back. He promptly embraced the woman who was sitting on hisp and hugged her tightly.


    “Please stay quiet for a moment. I just want to hold you this one time, please,” he whispered.


    Kimberly remained silent,plying with what Nichs had instructed.