《WARMING THE BILLIONAIRE COLD HEART》


 OPENING

    ¡°Nick, I¡¯m very sure that Briana is really cheating.¡±


    Nichs looked up, a look of surprise clearly evident on his handsome face. But he still tried to remain calm in response to his friend¡¯s statement.


    ¡°What nonsense is this, Ken? Did you see it yourself?¡±


    Kenzi shook his head slowly. It wasn¡¯t him who witnessed the incident directly.


    ¡°But I can prove what I just said.¡±


    Secondster, Kenzi handed over his phone, intending to show something to Nichs. Something that made him truly breathless.


    Clear in Nichs¡¯s eyes, a photo of a man and a woman passionately kissing. Unfortunately, he recognized the woman as Briana, and the man as her lover¡¯s manager.


    ¡°Briana clearly betrayed you, Nick. Are you sure you still want to marry her?¡± Kenzi asked to confirm.


    Nichs grumbled in frustration, trying to deny all the information his friend had provided. So, in order to prove everything Kenzi was saying, Nichs, who was on a business trip to Amsterdam, decided to return to London immediately.


    ****


    Nichs Alistair was indeed in a serious rtionship with Briana Rnd, who worked as a famous model. They were even engaged and were about to get married in a few weeks.


    Upon arriving at London Heathrow International Airport, Nichs immediately elerated his car at an above-average speed, cutting through the streets of London towards an upscale apartment in the city center.


    When he arrived, Nichs, in a hurry, made his way to the apartment unit Briana had been upying. cing his finger on the key sensor, the apartment door finally opened.


    Nichs was a bit confused when he found the entire room in darkness, with only the light in Briana¡¯s room still shining.


    ¡°Oh, God¡­ I love the way you satisfy me, Honey. You¡¯ve never once disappointed me.¡±


    ¡°I can even give you more than this.¡±


    From Briana¡¯s room, Nichs faintly heard the sounds of a woman and a man moaning and whispering to each other. Filled with curiosity, Nichs opened the bedroom door, which, to his surprise, was not locked from the inside. He was shocked beyond belief when he found his fianc¨¦e intimately entangled with another man,pletely unclothed.


    Realizing Nichs¡¯s presence, Briana, still panting heavily, tried to speak. ¡°Oh my God, Nick, wh-what are you doing here?¡± Briana widened her eyes in astonishment, pulling the sheets to cover her bare body.


    ¡°What am I doing? I should be the one asking, what are you doing with that man?¡± Nichs shot a piercing look at the man beside Briana.


    ¡°M-me?¡± Briana pointed at herself. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m just having some fun,¡± she replied casually.


    Nichs chose to remain silent in his position, trying to contain the emotions that were about to explode. Even the glint in his eyes and his clenched jaw indicated that he was ready to pounce on anyone, regardless of who it was.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve done this behind my back. You¡¯ve truly betrayed me,¡± Nichs shook his head in disbelief. ¡°I think we don¡¯t need to continue this engagement anymore. It¡¯s all clear to me now,¡± he continued.


    Rather than being anxious, Briana seemed calm, as if she had been prepared for this moment toe. ¡°Actually, I wanted to call off our engagement a long time ago. Besides, I don¡¯t really love you, Nick. You¡¯re too busy with your work. Even during our rtionship, you never once wanted to touch me,¡± Briana retorted.


    Nichs grumbled in frustration at what he had just heard. He couldn¡¯t believe he had been in love with the wrong woman all this time.


    ¡°You think I didn¡¯t want to touch you? I just wanted to protect you, make sure my ego didn¡¯t take away your dignity. And you see that as a mistake?¡± Nichs genuinely couldn¡¯t understand Briana¡¯s way of thinking.


    Meanwhile, Briana herself burst intoughter upon hearing Nichs¡¯s words.


    ¡°You¡¯re too naive, Nichs Alistair. I¡¯m a modern woman who also needs warmth from a partner. And you? You¡¯ve acted like an old-fashioned man all along. Not to mention, you¡¯re so busy with your job that you never gave me any extra attention. I¡¯m tired of all your antics.¡±


    Nichs nodded in understanding and then smirked sharply at Briana.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go along with your wishes. From now on, let¡¯s end this engagement. Never show up in front of me again.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll regret it? Of course not, Nick. I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.¡± Briana approached her cheating partner, leaned in, and deliberately nted a kiss on him as if she didn¡¯t care about Nichs¡¯s disgusted gaze.


    ¡°What are you still doing here?¡± Briana asked after breaking the kiss. ¡°Just so you know, you¡¯re interrupting my lovemaking time, Nick. We have no rtionship anymore, so you better leave right now,¡± Briana openly dismissed him.


    Nichs turned around immediately. Without uttering a word, he left the apartment, leaving Briana behind with a million pieces of heartache gnawing at his soul.

 FIRST MEET

    ¡°Henry Cavill, damn it!¡± cursed Kimberly. ¡°If only I didn¡¯t watch Netflix series until dawn, maybe I wouldn¡¯t bete like this.¡±


    For the umpteenth time this morning, Kimberly had to arrivete at the office for such trivial reasons. With great haste, she hurried down the corridor of the Alpha Beta Corporation building to reach her workspace.


    However, before she could make it, Kimberly identally bumped into a man walking in the opposite direction, causing both of them to end up sitting on the floor.


    ¡°Good grief! Is my body too small that you didn¡¯t see me?¡± grumbled the man in front of her.


    Wincing, Kimberly tried to get up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was in a hurry, so I didn¡¯t see you. I apologize again,¡± Kimberly replied without even looking at her interlocutor. She was too busy adjusting her zer. Then she walked away,pletely ignoring the man she had collided with, who cursed in pain.


    ¡°Damn! Why are there rude employees like that at Alpha Beta?¡±


    A sense of relief finally washed over Kimberly¡¯s heart. How could it not, as she managed to arrive at her workspace just a few minutes before Andrew, the most demanding supervisor in the office, started his rounds.


    Just as she settled in, someone called Kimberly out on her behavior. ¡°This is the second time you¡¯ve beente, Kimmy. What have you been doingtely that you can¡¯t arrive on time?¡± Keyra, Kimberly¡¯s friend, asked.


    Taking a deep breath, Kimberly began to answer. ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been too busy watching Korean dramaste into the night, so my sleep schedule is a bit messed up.¡±


    Keyra shook her head upon hearing Kimberly¡¯s response. ¡°Oh my goodness, Kimmy, you might be in the clear now. But if Mr. Andrew catches you beingte again tomorrow, I can guarantee you¡¯ll face consequences,¡± Keyra remarked.


    Kimberly shrugged dramatically. ¡°What can I do? You know my hobby of watching Netflix series. Besides, ¡®The Witcher¡¯ is just too good to miss. You should watch it too. You know what? I feel like I be Yennefer after watching that drama,¡± Kimberly exined.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re imagining Mr. Andrew as Henri Cavill? A handsome boss who¡¯s so difficult to conquer?¡± Keyra teased.


    Kimberly snorted. ¡°As if! Why should Mr. Andrew be Geralt of Rivia? He might as well be Mr. Nichs. Our CEO is better suited to y the role of the ice-cold leader.¡±


    ¡°I think Kimberly needs to be disciplined at least once,¡± Alex, the male friend sitting across from Kimberly, chimed in.


    Without hesitation, Kimberly yfully pinched Alex¡¯s arm, who had been teasing her. The three of them burst intoughter until a handsome and charismatic man, yet rather stiff in demeanor towards everyone, interrupted their fun. It was Andrew, the supervisor who was both good-looking and feared by other employees. With firm steps, he approached Kimberly¡¯s seat.


    ¡°Kimmy, starting today, you are officially assigned to the main building to rece Salsa, who is resigning next week,¡± Andrew ordered.


    Kimberly and her two friends were instantly shocked by Andrew¡¯s sudden announcement. Kimberly stared intently at Andrew.


    ¡°B-but, sir. Isn¡¯t this too abrupt? And why me to rece Salsa?¡± Kimberly stammered.


    Andrew folded his arms across his chest. ¡°The HR department asked for help in rmending a suitable recement for Salsa. I intentionally put your name forward because I believe you arepetent enough for the position,¡± Andrew replied.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Kimberly looked weakly at Andrew. ¡°Does it have to be today, sir? You do know what position Salsa has held all this time, right?¡± Kimberly asked to confirm.


    Yes, everyone knew. Salsa had been the personal secretary to the CEO of Alpha Beta Corporations, which meant Kimberly would no longer have the freedom to move around as she used to. She would have to be stationed at her desk and follow wherever their CEO went.


    Andrew chuckled cynically at Kimberly. ¡°Of course, I know, Kimmy. That¡¯s why I rmended you to rece Salsa,¡± Andrew replied, breaking the silence.


    ¡°Now, pack up your things. In thirty minutes, we¡¯ll head to the main building to meet with the boss,¡± Andrew ordered before leaving the room.


    Kimberly grumbled in frustration at Andrew¡¯s unteral decision. While she could perform the new tasks, the decision felt sudden, leaving her with no time to prepare.


    Seeing her friend¡¯s upset expression, Keyra and Alex approached and helped Kimberly tidy up her belongings one by one on her desk.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be lonely in my new office,¡± Kimberly said, pouting as if she was sad to part with her friends.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Kimberly suddenly eximed.


    Instead of sympathizing, Alex deliberately pinched Kimberly¡¯s cheek. ¡°You are a total drama queen, Kimmy. Over the top! Your new office is just over there. A five-minute walk, and you can visit us or vice versa,¡± Alex said, followed byughter from Keyra.


    ¡°You two are like cats and dogs when you meet!¡± Keyra chuckled at her two friends¡¯ behavior.


    Right after helping Kimberly organize her things, Andrew returned and asked Kimberly to follow him immediately. Clearly, Kimberly had a reluctant look on her face as she followed Andrew, who was enthusiastically heading to the main building of Alpha Beta Corporations. Upon arrival, Salsa was already waiting and invited the two of them to enter the CEO¡¯s office.


    Entering a room with a white and brown color scheme, Andrew and Kimberly found the room¡¯s owner busy with a stack of documents on his desk. The brown-haired man looked so serious that Salsa¡¯s call redirected his attention.


    ¡°Mr. Nichs, sorry for the interruption. My recement secretary has arrived with Andrew from the nning division,¡± Salsa said.


    Nichs nodded briefly, but then his gaze changed as if he had made a discovery.


    ¡°You-¡±


    Nichs fell silent for a moment, observing the woman in front of him from head to toe, then continued speaking.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who bumped into me this morning, aren¡¯t you?¡± Nichs pointed out. Kimberly looked confused upon hearing the man¡¯s words, then, a minuteter, she seemed to p her forehead.


    ¡°Oh my God, w-were you the one I bumped into this morning?¡± Kimberly asked nervously.


    Meanwhile, Nichs raised one of his eyebrows, gazing directly into Kimberly¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Oh my God. Are you stupid, Kimberly? How could you bump into the CEO of thispany? And to top it off, you just left him there without helping at all. You¡¯re really asking for trouble!


    Kimberly swallowed hard, cursing herself inwardly while ignoring the annoyed look on the man¡¯s face.


    ¡°I apologize, Mr. Nichs. I was reckless and bumped into you this morning,¡± Kimberly admitted.


    Nichs squinted. ¡°And even after bumping into me, you just left without feeling guilty?¡± His sharp gaze was fixed on Kimberly¡¯s face, prompting Andrew, who was present, to take over the conversation.


    ¡°First of all, I apologize on behalf of my partner if she made a serious mistake toward you. Regardless of that, I assure you that Kimberly won¡¯t cause any more trouble. I can guarantee that,¡± Andrew said, trying to reassure Nichs.


    Nichs nced at Andrew briefly, then nodded in agreement with what Andrew had said. ¡°Very well, I hope your partner can be relied upon, Drew. I¡¯m well aware of your performance, and I hope she performs just as well,¡± Nichs pointed directly at Kimberly.


    Salsa then asked Kimberly to follow her to her new workspace.


    ¡°Today, I¡¯ll teach you a few things you need to do. You can take notes so you don¡¯t forget, Kimmy. Also, you must remember that Mr. Nichs is a perfectionist. So, make sure everything you do is wless, without any mistakes,¡± Kimberly was once again taken aback by Salsa¡¯s exnation.


    ***


    While enjoying lunch at the office cafe, Kimberly enthusiastically shared her morning experience with her two friends. Alex and Keyra were left in awe by what Kimberly was saying. After all, her story was about the incident in the morning when she identally bumped into Nichs, who was clearly the CEO of theirpany.


    ¡°You really are pushing your luck, Kimmy! You¡¯re lucky Mr. Nichs didn¡¯t fire you on the spot,¡± Alex said while eating his meal.


    Kimberly massaged her forehead, which suddenly felt dizzy. ¡°I think I need to get my eyes checked. How could I not realize that the man I bumped into this morning was Mr. Nichs? It was so foolish of me to just leave him like that.¡± Kimberly¡¯s shoulders slumped, and she continued to berate herself for her foolishness.


    Keyra, who had beenughing at her friend all along, chimed in. ¡°By the way, you should be careful with Mr. Nichs. Everyone knows he dislikes forgetful and careless people. Two qualities that happen to be in you, right?¡± Alexughed at Keyra¡¯sment.


    ¡°But all the CEOs in ourpany are known for being perfectionists. Remember Mr. Kenzi? He¡¯s even stricter than Mr. Nichs,¡± Alex added.


    Indeed, it wasn¡¯t a secret that the top executives at Alpha Beta were perfectionists and workaholics. They devoted much of their lives to work and had no time for leisure, especially with women.


    ¡°True, both of them are the definition of perfect men. Look at Mr. Kenzi; in his life, there¡¯s only one woman, his wife. You¡¯ve probably heard the rumor that they were childhood sweethearts. Amazingly, he managed to maintain that rtionship all the way to marriage,¡± Alex agreed.


    Kimberly raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, what¡¯s the point of discussing Mr. Kenzi, who¡¯s already married? We¡¯re talking about Mr. Nichs now!¡± Keyra and Alexughed again at Kimberly¡¯sment.


    Shortly after, Keyra moved her seat closer to Kimberly¡¯s. ¡°So, do you want us to discuss Mr. Nichs? Everyone knows Mr. Nichs is the coldest man in this entire building. No woman has ever talked to him except for Mrs. Maximilian, Mr. Kenzi¡¯s wife.¡±


    Kimberly chuckled at Keyra¡¯s statement. ¡°So, should I be as beautiful and perfect as Mrs. Maximilian if I want to catch Mr. Nichs¡¯s attention? Is that it?¡±


    Alex, who was enjoying a piece of cake in front of Kimberly, shifted his position slightly closer to his two friends. ¡°Your expectations are too high, Kimmy. Clearly, Mrs. Maximilian is too perfect to emte.¡±


    Alex paused for a moment. ¡°But, just so you know, Kimmy, I¡¯ve also thought like you multiple times before. What if Mr. Nichs is actually gay?¡± he whispered to Kimberly.


    Kimberly and Keyra both cursed simultaneously upon hearing Alex¡¯s remark. ¡°No way! Why would such a handsome man be gay?¡± protested Kimberly.


    ¡°ording to the rumors, Mr. Nichs has closed his heart to women. Many say he became cold because he was betrayed by his ex-fianc¨¦e,¡± Kimberly and Alex nodded in unison as they listened to Keyra¡¯s story.


    ¡°What if I try to be Mr. Nichs¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Kimberly suggested casually.


    Hearing Kimberly¡¯s words, Keyra and Alex burst intoughter. Alex even extended his hand and yfully touched Kimberly¡¯s forehead. ¡°You¡¯re not sick, are you? Don¡¯t daydream, Kimmy. It¡¯s still daytime,¡± Alex teased with a mocking look.


    A grin appeared on Kimberly¡¯s face. ¡°You should be supporting me, you know. Who knows, maybe Mr. Nichs will actually fall in love with me someday,¡± Kimberly replied confidently.


    Alexughed at his confident friend. ¡°Just so you know, Kimmy, if Mr. Nichs ever falls in love with you, Alexius swears to obey whatever you ask for,¡± Alex challenged Kimberly, looking confident.


    Kimberly smiled and reached out her hand to shake Alex¡¯s hand. ¡°So, you¡¯re challenging me? I guarantee that in the near future, Mr. Nichs will kneel before me!¡± Kimberly¡¯s hand met Alex¡¯s in a firm handshake.


    Meanwhile, Keyra could only shake her head at the antics of her two friends.

 DAMN IT

    ¡°Kimmy, this is the agreement document requested by Mr. Nichs. Please finish it promptly because he will be checking it today,¡± Stevan said as he handed several documents to Kimberly, who was walking towards her office.


    ¡°All right, sir.¡±


    ¡°Kimmy, this is Mr. Nichs¡¯s schedule that you¡¯ll need to handle for the next few days. Please check and pay attention to it,¡± this time Nancy from the nning division handed her a meeting agenda book.


    ¡°Okay, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Kimmy, and this is the list of investors you need to contact immediately.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    Kimberly entered her office with a somewhat irritated feeling. She roughly ced the stack of documents she was carrying on her desk, causing some papers to fall onto the floor.


    The clock had just struck eight in the morning, but the man she knew as the CEO intentionally seemed to annoy her. Just bing a secretary, why did she have to endure this kind of ordeal?


    ¡°Does he think that just because he¡¯s a boss, he can order me around like this? Ugh! Isn¡¯t this too much? How am I supposed to finish this stack of documents in a single day? He¡¯s insane!¡± Kimberly muttered.


    Grumbling, Kimberly continued to work on the tasks given by Nichs. She felt that what her new boss had assigned her this morning was incredibly frustrating. How could he give her so many tasks with such tight deadlines?


    As she was working on her tasks, the inte on her desk suddenly buzzed. Kimberly hurriedly picked it up.


    ¡°Come to my office right now!¡±


    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll be there shortly,¡± Kimberly replied, and with reluctant steps, she made her way to Nichs¡¯s office.


    Inside, she saw the office owner engrossed in reading neatly organized documents on his desk.


    ¡°You¡¯re actually very handsome, Mr. Nichs. I wonder how your parents managed to have such a good-looking child like you. Especially when you¡¯re so serious like you are now. But being handsome alone isn¡¯t enough when your attitude is so irritating.¡±


    Kimberly stared intently at the man in front of her and then asked, ¡°Is there something I can help with?¡±


    ¡°After lunch, join me for a meeting outside the office,¡± Nichs said without taking his eyes off the stack of documents he was reading.


    ¡°B-but, Mr¡­¡±


    Nichs shifted his gaze and folded his arms across his chest. ¡°Why? Is there something wrong with what I said?¡±


    Kimberly shook her head gently. ¡°But, didn¡¯t you just instruct me to finish all these documents so they can be checked promptly?¡±


    Nichs raised an eyebrow. ¡°So what? What¡¯s the problem now? Are you protesting that you can¡¯t finish them today?¡±


    Kimberly merely shook her head once.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Then, Nichs checked his wristwatch, which perfectly encircled his wrist. ¡°You still have 300 minutes from now before we go to the meeting this afternoon. I believe that¡¯s enough time for you toplete your tasks.¡±


    Kimberly swallowed hard. Although her heart rebelled, she couldn¡¯t refuse the man¡¯smand. What authority did she have here? As a subordinate, her duty was to obey without question, right?


    ¡°All right, then. I¡¯ll ask for permission to leave for now. I will work on all the deadlines today.¡± Kimberly then directed her steps toward the exit.


    Crazy person!


    Does he think I¡¯m a robot who canplete all the tasks he¡¯s given me right now?


    Damn!


    ¡°KIMBERLY! Stop muttering. Do you think I didn¡¯t hear that, huh? Do you want me to add more to your workload?¡±


    Kimberly jumped in surprise when Nichs unintentionally overheard her muttering. Grimacing quickly, Kimberly left the room.


    ¡°Whew¡­¡±


    Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief while clutching her chest.


    ¡°Just wait for my revenge; someday, I¡¯ll make you crazy about me, Nick!¡± Kimberly muttered.


    ****


    Nichs had just arrived at one of the construction consulting offices to discuss an important project hispany was working on. Over the next few months, there were indeed many deadlines he had to meet. Not to mention the reevaluation of the cooperation agreements with major investors that he also had to review. That¡¯s why he needed a personal secretary to help organize all his agendas neatly and urately.


    ¡°We¡¯ve previously held a meeting with Mr. Kenzi in London. ording to him, the nning and execution of the Royal Penthouse construction project need to be reviewed by Mr. Nichs first.¡±


    Nichs listened attentively, his fingers lightly stroking his chin, and his head nodded several times. From the look in his eyes, it was clear that he was carefully analyzing everything his interlocutor was exining, as if not wanting to miss a single piece of information.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, the day after tomorrow, we¡¯ll start observing the construction project site. Please contact the development team so we can have a briefing at the office around 11 AM. Don¡¯t forget to prepare all the environmental impact analysis documents,¡± the man in front of Nichs nodded in understanding. They shook hands, and then he bid farewell, leaving Nichs still seated, enjoying his coffee.


    ¡°Have you noted everything we discussed earlier?¡± Kimberly nodded confidently. ¡°Yes, Mister, I¡¯ve neatly recorded the resume you requested. I¡¯ll send it to your desk this afternoon,¡± she replied politely.


    Then, Nichs stood up from his seat, nced at his watch briefly, and spoke, ¡°Well then, let¡¯s go.¡± Kimberly followed her boss as he walked.


    Driving at a moderate speed, this time they stopped at a restaurant on the outskirts of town. Kimberly thought that after the meeting, Nichs would immediately return to the office. Because as far as she knew, her boss was not the type of person to waste time on something unimportant. But, in reality, he brought Kimberly along for a detour.


    Still with a puzzled look, Kimberly got out of the car. Many questions were swirling in her mind, but she refrained from voicing them. ¡°Why so quiet?¡± Nichs asked after they entered a restaurant. ¡°Hurry, take a seat and order your food,¡± he instructed. However, Kimberly remained silent in her ce and after a while, she finally spoke, ¡°I thought we were going straight back to the office.¡±


    Nichs picked up a ss of orange juice that was already on the table and took a sip first. Then, he chuckled softly at his secretary. Swear to God! Kimberly had never seen Nichs smile so freely before. In her heart, she felt a surge of joy because, once again, everyone knew that Nichs was a cold man. He never even nced at passing employees, let alone smiled.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a cruel boss, letting my subordinates go hungry after working so hard? I¡¯m not that kind of boss,¡± he said.


    Kimberly nodded without responding to Nichs¡¯s statement. Then, they both ate in silence. Neither of them initiated a conversation. Until suddenly, someone¡¯s presence disrupted their peace.


    ¡°I thought fate had destined us to meet again, Kimberly Rayder. I¡¯ve been looking for you tirelessly, and it turns out we meet here.¡±


    Both Nichs and Kimberly¡¯s eyes turned toward the source of the voice, especially Kimberly, who was startled to see the figure in front of her. The figure she had been desperately avoiding.


    With a bitterugh, the man spoke again. ¡°Is he your new boyfriend?¡± he said, pointing towards Nichs.


    Nichs remained still, observing the man in front of him.


    ¡°Mario! Please don¡¯t disturb my peace!¡± Kimberly tried to maintain aposed appearance. ¡°We¡¯re done, right? So I hope you can leave me alone now!¡± She gave themand with an unhappy expression. However, the man in front of herpletely ignored her words.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think just because you have a recement, your business with me is over,¡± he said with a cynical smile. ¡°It¡¯s not that easy, Kimberly Rayder. Remember that! It¡¯s not that easy.¡± Then, when Mario¡¯s hand reached out to touch Kimberly¡¯s face unexpectedly, Nichs blocked it, pushing it away.


    With a sardonic smile, Nichs spoke. ¡°Please don¡¯t disrupt my lunch ritual, Dude. Regardless of your issues, if you want to argue, please do it outside!¡±


    Mario grumbled in frustration upon hearing Nichs¡¯s words. ¡°You should think twice before defending the woman next to you.¡±


    Nichs chuckled briefly, his shoulders lifting. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s your concern. It would be better if you left before I called the restaurant staff to kick you out disrespectfully.¡±


    Mario red at Nichs and Kimberly alternately. ¡°Just wait for your time, Kimmy. I assure you, you¡¯ll pay dearly for your actions today!¡± Then, Mario left, reaching for his phone in his pocket and appeared to be calling someone.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found him.¡±


    After making sure the man who had disturbed them was gone, Nichs resumed his lunch as if nothing had happened, behaving as though nothing was amiss. Kimberly, on the other hand, chose to remain silent while gazing at Nichs¡¯s calm face.


    Feeling observed by the woman in front of him, Nichs spoke again. ¡°I know I¡¯m handsome, so there¡¯s no need to look at me like that,¡± he said with a straight face.


    Kimberly grinned, then pursed her lips after hearing Nichs¡¯s remark. She didn¡¯t know her boss had such high self-confidence. ¡°Are you always this confident?¡±


    Nichs briefly nced at Kimberly¡¯s face, didn¡¯t answer, and chose to get up from his seat, leaving Kimberly still puzzled.


    ¡°Mr. Nichs, wait for me!¡± Kimberly eximed in frustration as she hurriedly followed Nichs into the car.

 HIS PERSONAL SECRETARY

    Nichs looked serious as he read through several neatly stacked documents on his work desk. His eyes were busy scanning, asionally nodding, and then directing the pen he held to sign a few papers he was reading.


    ¡°Am I interrupting you?¡± a man entered the room. Without waiting to be invited, the tall and burly man immediately took a seat directly in front of Nichs.


    ¡°In your opinion?¡± Nichs asked with a t expression.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Nick, I¡¯ve missed you,¡± the man said.


    ¡°Edward Martin, do you want to die?!¡± Nichs retorted.


    Edward chuckled at his friend¡¯s response. Then, a momentter, he smiled wryly and sighed.


    ¡°I came all the way from London, and you didn¡¯t even wee me? Seriously, Nick!¡±


    Nichs grumbled in annoyance and said, ¡°Nonsense, Ed!¡±


    Edward grinned. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Kenzi forcing me, I wouldn¡¯t have bothereding to Indonesia. Do you think the distance between Ennd and Indonesia is short? What project do we need to handle that I had to be involved?¡±


    Nichs closed the file he was reading and shifted his gaze to the man sitting in front of him.


    ¡°Obviously, Kenzi coerced you. Among the three of us, you¡¯re the one famous for your negotiating skills with investors. That¡¯s why your presence is required, especially since Alma, who usually handles cases like this, can¡¯t participate. So, I hope you can cooperate.¡±


    Kenzi, Nichs, and Edward had been friends since their college days in Ennd. Edward, a master¡¯s graduate in business, possessed the ability to analyze project profits and negotiate skillfully. He could convince clients just like Alma Maximilian often did. That¡¯s why Kenzi asked for Edward¡¯s help to assist Nichs in handling several Alpha Beta projects in the near future.


    Edward nodded in understanding.


    ¡°So, during my time in Indonesia, will I be your subordinate or your partner?¡±


    Nichs took a deep breath.


    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s up to you how you want to see yourself, but what¡¯s clear is that thepany will pay handsomely for what you do.¡±


    Just then, a knock on the door was heard, and Kimberly entered, holding a document in her hand.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    ¡°This is the employment agreement document from the Royal Group. Could you please check it, sir? And beneath it, there¡¯s an invitation to a dinner from Namsan Houlding,¡± Kimberly said.


    Nichs reached out to receive the document and invitation that Kimberly handed him.


    ¡°There are some documents that I¡¯ve already signed in there; you can take them directly,¡± Nichs said, pointing to the stack of documents on the guest table.


    Kimberly nodded and then started to leave the room.


    ¡°Kimberly,¡± Kimberly¡¯s steps halted when Nichs called her name. A momentter, she turned to face Nichs.


    ¡°Please make a drink for my guest.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, of course, sir.¡±


    Not long after, Kimberly returned with a tray carrying two cups of coffee, Nichs¡¯s order. With politeness, she served them on the table.


    Edward didn¡¯t take his eyes off Kimberly. He seemed captivated by what he was seeing.


    ¡°Are you Nichs¡¯s personal secretary?¡± he asked.


    Kimberly nodded softly. ¡°Yes, sir, I-¡±


    ¡°Just call me Edward. Oh, by the way, my full name is Sebastian Edwardo Martin,¡± he interrupted as he extended his hand for a handshake. ¡°But don¡¯t get me wrong; I¡¯m not the Edward Martin from the Twilight Saga movies. When ites to handsomeness, it¡¯s clear that I¡¯m the most handsome,¡± he joked without hesitation.


    Seeing his friend¡¯s behavior, Nichs quickly leaned forward and rejected Edward¡¯s extended hand, making Kimberly chuckle softly.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Nick, I just wanted to get to know your secretary!¡± protested Edward.


    Nichs sighed in frustration and waved his hand, urging Kimberly to leave his office.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother my secretary, Ed!¡±


    Edwardughed heartily at Nichs¡¯s antics. He had expected that his friend would try to prevent him from teasing his secretary.


    Unlike Nichs and Kenzi, who weren¡¯t particrly fond of ying with women, Edward was known for his ability to charm women. Thebel ¡°yboy¡± had long been attached to him. And being of Scottish nobility descent, he couldn¡¯t be underestimated.


    Edward picked up the coffee cup and took a slow sip. ¡°Your secretary is beautiful, Nick. From what I remember, she wasn¡¯t the one I saw thest time I visited.¡±


    ¡°She just became my secretary a month ago, recing Salsa, the woman you saw before,¡± Nichs exined.


    Edward nodded, still sipping his coffee. ¡°You¡¯re good at choosing secretaries. I can guarantee that you¡¯ll fall for her in no time.¡±


    Nichs shook his head repeatedly. ¡°No, that¡¯s highly unlikely. I¡¯ve never even considered getting involved with a colleague, especially not my secretary. Such a rtionship would clearly disrupt our professionalism.¡±


    Edward smirked. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s the only reason? Not because you still can¡¯t forget about Briana?¡±


    Nichs stared at Edward for a moment and then closed his eyes. He hated to admit it, but Edward was right; he still couldn¡¯tpletely forget about Briana, even though she had clearly betrayed him.


    ¡°How long are you going to keep yourself closed off, Nick? You and Kenzi are equally terrible when ites to women.¡±


    Nichs gave Edward a sharp look. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Edward smiled broadly. ¡°I mean¡­ it¡¯s a waste for both of you to be wealthy and good-looking but not put it to good use. You might as well donate it to those who need it. Don¡¯t be wasteful.¡±


    Nichs clenched his jaw. His patience had worn thin this time.

 BEING WIFE?

    The time showed 6:00 PM, but Nichs still appeared busy with the remaining documents on his desk. Kimberly hesitated as she entered after knocking on her new boss¡¯s office door.


    ¡°Mr. Nichs, I¡¯vepleted all the documents and tasks for today. Is there anything else I should do? If not, I¡¯d like to go home.¡±


    Nichs shifted his gaze.


    ¡°Please make me a cup of coffee first, then you can leave.¡±


    Kimberly nodded and walked to the pantry to brew coffee, serving it promptly on Nichs¡¯s desk.


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave, Mr. Please, you should head home soon as well. Isn¡¯t there a dinner invitation at Marigold Hotelter at 8:00 PM?¡± Kimberly reminded.


    Nichs gently tapped his forehead. He almost forgot about the dinner invitation from one of thepany¡¯s associates.


    ¡°In that case, you should go home and change. My driver will pick you up. We¡¯ll go to the dinner together.¡±


    ¡°Go with me?¡± Kimberly asked for confirmation.


    ¡°Not with Taylor Swift!¡± Nichs teased.


    ¡°Huh? So, Mr. Nichs is friends with Taylor Swift?¡±


    Nichs sighed heavily. He was getting frustrated with Kimberly¡¯s behavior, unsure whether she genuinely didn¡¯t understand or was pretending to be clueless about his instructions.


    ¡°Kimberly!¡± Nichs raised his voice.


    ¡°Yes, Mr., I mean, okay.¡±


    At her rented apartment,


    Kimberly was puzzled about what to wear to the event. She remembered that this was a business dinner, and many important people would be present. It was also her first time attending such an exclusive event.


    For over fifteen minutes, she had been going back and forth in her neatly organized wardrobe. She was unsure about her outfit choice, but eventually settled on a short-sleeved silver dress with glitter ents and a thigh-high slit. It was a perfect choice for Kimberly, given her tall and long-legged stature.


    She applied makeup, not too heavy, and left her auburn-brown hair to fall freely on her shoulders.


    Just as Kimberly finished her makeup ritual, she heard a knock on her bedroom door from one of her fellow boarders, informing her that someone was waiting to pick her up.


    Quickly, Kimberly grabbed her clutch and her most expensive pair of Jimmy Choo heels. She wasn¡¯t the type to splurge on branded items, but she had scored a great deal on these shoes during a recent online marketce¡¯s midnight sale.


    Keyra, her friend, had encouraged her to pay attention to her appearance from time to time, although Kimberly wasn¡¯t the type to spend extravagantly on morous items.


    Wearing her heels, Kimberly hurriedly made her way to the car parked perfectly in front of her apartment. Randy, Nichs¡¯s personal driver, was waiting for her.


    ¡°I thought the boss would be joining you, Ran?¡± Kimberly asked after settling into the passenger seat next to Randy.


    Randy grinned. ¡°There¡¯s no way Mr. Nichs would bother to pick you up himself. Don¡¯t act like a princess.¡±


    Kimberly sighed in frustration, hearing Randy¡¯s teasing, but she knew he was right. It was highly unlikely that the CEO of Alpha Beta Corporations would personally pick up an ordinary employee like her.


    They eventually arrived at the Marigold Hotel¡¯s lobby, where the event was being held. Nichs exited the car first, followed by Kimberly, who walked behind him.


    Entering the Marigold Hotel¡¯s ballroom, Kimberly scanned the room, clearly impressed with the event she was attending. All the business leaders from variouspanies seemed to be present and mingling. She also noticed that several pairs of eyes, especially those of women, were focused on Nichs as he began interacting with other guests.


    Under Kenzi¡¯s leadership, Alpha Beta had grown into a prominent propertypany, expanding into satellite towns, elite housing, condominiums, shopping centers, and luxury apartments. Since Kenzi¡¯s departure, thepany had continued to expand, branching into convention hall and indoor-outdoor gaming arenas, with Nichs at the helm.


    ¡°Wee, Mr. Nichs, I am honored by your presence tonight,¡± Mr. Park Yeo Joon, a middle-aged Korean man and the owner of Namsan Group, as well as the event¡¯s organizer, greeted Nichs.


    Nichs smiled at Mr. Yeo. ¡°I¡¯m the one who feels honored to be invited by someone as distinguished as you.¡±


    Mr. Yeo smiled as he sipped his wine.


    ¡°Is this your wife?¡± Mr. Yeo¡¯s gaze shifted, and he even threw a warm smile toward Kimberly, who was standing right beside Nichs.


    Nichs smiled again. ¡°She¡¯s my partner, Sir.¡±


    Mr. Yeo nodded. ¡°You two look lovely tonight. Your girlfriend is indeed beautiful.¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s face turned red. She hadn¡¯t expected the event¡¯s host to mistake her for Nichs¡¯s wife. Was she really looking that beautiful tonight that people assumed she was the wife of the CEO of Alpha Beta Corporations?


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Nichs replied politely.


    ¡°Please enjoy the party; I¡¯ll go greet other guests,¡± Mr. Yeo said before leaving.


    After Mr. Yeo departed, Nichs shifted his gaze and seemed to be carefully evaluating Kimberly¡¯s appearance. asionally, he nodded, as if assessing something.


    ¡°Your appearance is quite impressive tonight. Even middle-aged men are interested in you,¡± hemented.


    Kimberly smiled weakly. ¡°Well, even though your words sound ambiguous, I¡¯ll take it as apliment, Mr.¡±


    Nichs chuckled, and involuntarily, his shoulders rose dramatically in response to what his secretary had said.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said before resuming his rounds to greet other guests. Kimberly followed him wherever he went.


    Wearing ten-centimeter heels for nearly two hours had proven to be a poor choice for Kimberly. She was beginning to feel ufortable and chose to find a seat, leaving Nichs engaged in conversation with his colleagues.


    As time passed, the event grew increasingly tedious for Kimberly. She sighed softly in her seated position, ncing at the beautiful clock on her wrist, which showed that it was already 11:00 PM.


    What time does this ice-cold man n to go home? Doesn¡¯t he realize how tired I am? I might even miss tonight¡¯s Korean drama episode.


    Kimberly took a deep breath, feeling utterly fatigued. She had thought that attending such a grand and exclusive event with Nichs would be an exciting experience, simr to what she had seen in Korean dramas. She had briefly hoped that she might meet a wealthy and handsome businessman who would ask her out for a date someday.


    ¡°I told you, Kimberly Rayder, we¡¯re meant to be,¡± a baritone voice interrupted her thoughts.


    With a weary expression, Kimberly responded to the man standing in front of her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too confident, Mario Aditama.¡±


    Mario sneered. ¡°Remember, our business isn¡¯t finished yet.¡±


    ¡°We have no business left to discuss, so stop bothering me. Aren¡¯t you tired of causing problems for me?¡±


    Mario shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t expect me to stop until you return. Have I not been kind enough not to take you straight to Grandpa Arthur?¡±


    ¡°Who do you mean by ¡®being kind¡¯?¡±


    Suddenly, Nichs appeared amid the confrontation between Kimberly and Mario.


    Mario gave Nichs a cold smile. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know the details of our conversation, Mr. Dno.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? But I¡¯m sorry; you¡¯re bothering my woman tonight, so I have every right to interfere in anything concerning Kimberly!¡±


    Kimberly was taken aback by Nichs¡¯s words. She never expected the Ice King to speak so warmly to Mario, especially considering they were practically strangers. Simrly, Mario felt a stark difference from their previous encounter at a restaurant where Nichs had remained mostly silent, observing.


    Mario hesitated for a moment but quicklyposed himself, maintaining a neutral expression. He didn¡¯t want to show Nichs that he was taken aback.


    ¡°So now you¡¯re ying the role of her guardian angel?¡± Mario retorted, ring at Nichs.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    ¡°I could even be more than just a guardian angel, you know. And I believe there¡¯s nothing more to discuss regarding Kimberly!¡± Nichs pulled Kimberly¡¯s wrist, leading her away from the Ballroom toward the hotel lobby.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Nichs,¡± Kimberly said as they waited for the car in the hotel lobby.


    Nichs nced at Kimberly for a moment before looking away.


    ¡°No need to thank me. You shouldn¡¯t be too confident. I just don¡¯t like seeing women being mistreated by men.¡±


    Kimberly nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°I guess having a boss as annoying as you is a curse!¡±


    She pouted and muttered in annoyance.


    ¡°Just wait, Ice King.¡±

 NONSENSE

    Kimberly tidied up her auburn brown hair from behind the office restroom mirror before heading up to the fifteenth floor where her office was located. After feeling satisfied with her appearance, she stepped into the elevator. However, before the elevator doors could close, Nichs and Edward were seen entering as well.


    As usual, Nichs, who rarely exchanged greetings, remained silent, in contrast to Edward, who greeted Kimberly warmly.


    ¡°Your zer looks good, definitely a well-known brand,¡± Edward casually remarked.


    Little did Kimberly know that the Scottish-blooded man now held the position of director in the nning division. Despite beingbeled a yboy by many, he proved to be adept at handling his work. Moreover, for an expatriate in such a position, Edward was quite friendly, earning the respect and admiration of his colleagues, even though he was rtively new at Alpha Beta.


    Kimberly turned and shed a smile at Edward. ¡°It¡¯s just a regr brand zer, mister. Maybe because I¡¯m pretty, all the clothes I wear look luxurious,¡± Kimberly replied casually.


    Kimberly wasn¡¯t just talking nonsense. She was indeed beautiful, slim, tall, with auburn brown hair and slightly narrow eyes. A perfectbination that often left men staring in admiration.


    Hearing Kimberly¡¯s confident response, Edward chuckled. To him, Nichs¡¯s secretary was a unique woman, adept at socializing and a bit witty. But that was her charm. While many women outside worked hard to maintain a perfect image, Kimberly was different. She always remained true to herself.


    ¡°Yes, I admit you are a beautiful secretary. If you weren¡¯t, Nichs wouldn¡¯t have chosen you. Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Nichs?¡± Edward asked, shifting his gaze towards Nichs. The man in question remained silent and expressionless.


    ¡°By the way, how do you feel about being Nichs¡¯s secretary? Are you happy here? Because if you¡¯re not, you can join me when I return to Ennd,¡± Edward asked Kimberly without beating around the bush.


    Nichs, who had initially remained silent, stared sharply at Edward. Realizing this, Edward let out a smallugh in response.


    Kimberly smiled before finally replying, ¡°As everyone knows, Mr. Nichs is too stiff and as cold as ice, mister. But that¡¯s not a problem; I¡¯ll remain loyal as his secretary.¡± She whispered yfully, winking at him. Just as the elevator doors opened, she nodded and casually walked out, leaving Edward stillughing at Kimberly¡¯s remark, which was clearly a dig at Nichs.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Edward asked once they were in Nichs¡¯s office.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nichs replied, turning on hisptop at his desk.


    ¡°About your secretary, how do you feel about her? Not even a bit interested?¡± Edward inquired.


    Still gazing at the graphics on hisptop, Nichs replied, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, Ed, I¡¯m not interested in office romances.¡±


    Edwardughed at Nichs¡¯s response. ¡°Come on, Nick. Are you really normal? If you don¡¯t want to pursue her, then I will. It¡¯s a shame to let a woman as beautiful as Kimberly slip away.¡±


    Normal? Clearly, Nichs was a normal man. But there were some coworkers in the office who used him of being gay because he had never shown any interest in or brought a woman along. In Indonesia, the only woman he wasfortable talking to was Alma, Kenzi¡¯s wife.


    Nichs shifted his gaze to Edward. ¡°Were you called to Indonesia to work or to chase after women? Kenzi would be angry if she found out about your behavior like this.¡±


    Edward raised both hands. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll get back to work. But if I may suggest, instead of struggling to find a partner, you should pay attention to your secretary. My gut feeling tells me she¡¯s a unique woman.¡± Edward got up from his seat, leaving Nichs still focused on his work.


    Not long after, there was a knock on the door, twice. Kimberly entered, carrying some files in her hands.


    ¡°Mr. This is some docu¡ª¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Put them on the desk, and then please leave,¡± Nichs interrupted without even looking at his interlocutor.


    ¡°Alright, mister,¡± Kimberly replied, unconsciously pursing her lips in irritation at her boss¡¯s curt attitude.


    After the door closed, Nichs took a deep breath and tried to exhale slowly. Nichs was well aware that his secretary often paid attention to him or perhaps deliberately sought his attention. That¡¯s why he always maintained a cold or even rejecting attitude to anticipate further heartache apart from Briana, his ex-fianc¨¦e. Although he couldn¡¯t deny that there was still a lingering love in his heart.


    Once again, Nichs simply didn¡¯t want his feelings to fall for the wrong woman. He didn¡¯t want to ce his emotions in a situation where the woman would betray his love again. That¡¯s why he erected such a strong barrier. Unconsciously, when the owner of hearts, God, willed it, he could easily manipte human emotions.


    Getting involved with a coworker? Absolutely not.


    Nichs then closed theptop in front of him.


    No¡­ no¡­


    Unconsciously, he shook his own head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to put myself in the same hole again. Remember, Nichs, women are dangerous creatures. Do you see Kenzi? Sometimes she cries, sometimes sheughs, and sometimes she acts like a madwoman, all because of a woman. Do you want to be like that? Are you sure?¡±


    The pain he felt was so severe that it dictated to him that women were creatures to be wary of. Even now, he didn¡¯t care about people¡¯s opinions of him. In his opinion, those who mocked him had no idea what it felt like to be betrayed.

 AN ACCIDENT

    The finance division office seemed busy when Kimberly visited her friends Keyra and Alex there. Male and female employees were gathered, discussing something.


    ¡°What are they talking about? Instead of working, they¡¯re making a fuss,¡± Kimberlymented as she took a seat in front of Alex¡¯s cubicle.


    ¡°They must be discussing the hot gossip on television,¡± Keyra replied as she ate her lunch.


    ¡°How¡¯s the past two months been, Kimmy?¡± Alex, who had just arrived from who knows where, suddenly asked.


    Kimberly raised one of her eyebrows.


    ¡°How¡¯s what?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    ¡°Your progress, have you managed to win over Mr. Cool?¡±


    Unconsciously, Kimberly let out a tired sigh in front of her friends. ¡°It seems that our boss is extremely difficult to win over.¡±


    Alex smirked and started singing a line from a popr song that they had been hearing a lottely. ¡°I told you to wipe away the tears, my love disappeared leaving you. You¡¯re different now, half crazy. My life feels empty.¡±


    ¡°What the hell, Lex. Why are you singing Charlie Van Houten¡¯s song? It¡¯s not funny,¡± Kimberly protested.


    Alex and Keyra bothughed at Kimberly¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°I warned you that Mr. Nichs is a hard nut to crack. It¡¯s your own insistence to try and be his girlfriend. Your dreams are too high, Kimmy!¡± Alex teased.


    ¡°I¡¯m not dreaming, Lex. I just feel confident that I can make Mr. Iceman like me. Besides, this is just the beginning, right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so confident that you¡¯re overconfident. Be careful not to fall, it¡¯ll hurt!¡± Alex cautioned.


    ¡°If you guys don¡¯t want to see me fall, please watch over me so I don¡¯t get hurt,¡± Kimberly replied.


    While sipping her drink, Keyra chimed in, ¡°Alex and I will just be spectators, but remember not to get hurt if Mr. Nichs still rejects you in the end.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t give up, just wait and see. In the end, he¡¯ll fall in love with me. There¡¯s no way a woman as beautiful as me can¡¯t melt the heart of Mr. Iceman,¡± Kimberly grumbled.


    Keyra could only shake her head at Kimberly¡¯s insistence on trying to get closer to Nichs.


    When the owner of the name had just exited the meeting room and walked through the finance division area, the employees who had been making noise suddenly jumped in surprise as if hypnotized. They all quickly returned to their seats, pretending to be busy when their CEO passed by.


    Feeling observed, the tall man stopped in his tracks and turned to look into the room. Instantly, the employees who had initially been paying attention pretended to be engrossed in their work. At the same time, Kimberly, who was also there, turned her face, and their eyes met.


    ¡°Is there something I can help you with, Mister?¡±


    Nichs paused for a moment before answering. ¡°Your office is next door, right? So, what are you doing here?¡±


    Kimberly bit her lower lip nervously, forgetting that the lunch break was over. It was evident that Nichs was questioning why she looked like an employee wandering around.


    ¡°I¡¯m having lunch here, mister,¡± Kimberly replied, trying to maintain a nonchnt expression.


    ¡°Quickly return to your office. Don¡¯t forget that we have to go to the archive building in tower two soon,¡± Nichs ordered, and Kimberly nodded in response.


    She rose from her seat and followed her boss, who had already walked ahead to his office. While Kimberly grabbed a book and pen from her desk, Nichs entered his office briefly and then came back out. Kimberly followed his lead.


    Arriving at the archive building, which was located on the second floor, Kimberly scanned her surroundings. Many people dominated by construction workers were there, tasked with renovating the building that wouldter serve as the operational headquarters.


    Apanying Nichs as he checked the renovation process, Kimberly lost track of time, and soon it grew dark outside. She quickly reminded Nichs that it was already past six o¡¯clock.


    ¡°Mister, it¡¯s past six. We should return to the main building, especially since the lighting here is not fully operational. It could be troublesome for us to leave the buildingter.¡±


    Nichs, who had been engaged in a conversation with one of the project supervisors, nodded after hearing Kimberly¡¯s words. Shortly after, they decided to head down to the ground floor.


    On their way down to the ground floor, the electricity in the archive building suddenly went out, plunging the ce intoplete darkness. Kimberly, realizing this, screamed hysterically and clung tightly to Nichs, unintentionally hugging her boss.


    Nichs was startled by Kimberly¡¯s sudden embrace, certain that his secretary was extremely frightened at that moment. Still in the embrace, Nichs tried to reach for his phone in his pants pocket and quickly turned it on.


    ¡°Hey, Kimberly. Look at me!¡± Nichs requested, attempting to loosen Kimberly¡¯s grip.


    Kimberly kept her eyes tightly shut, ignoring Nichs¡¯s instructions. Nichs then dared to reach for Kimberly¡¯s chin and lifted her face so she wouldn¡¯t look down again.


    ¡°Kimmy, hey. Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here. I promise to get you out of here.¡± Kimberly shook her head vigorously, still not confident in what Nichs was saying.


    ¡°Open your eyes slowly, it¡¯s not as dark as you imagine,¡± Nichs coaxed.


    Kimberly slowly opened her eyes. Looking around, she realized that the room was not as dark as before, thanks to the illumination from Nichs¡¯s phone. Seeing Kimberly still fearful and hesitant to move, Nichs gazed deeply into her eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll get you out of here. Now follow my steps slowly.¡±


    Nichs held Kimberly¡¯s hand tightly, which was damp from the cold sweat that had covered her body. Yes, she was truly frightened at this moment. Nichs couldn¡¯t help but wonder if his secretary had a phobia of the dark. He couldn¡¯t draw any conclusions yet.


    Slowly but surely, Kimberly began to follow Nichs as he carefully descended the emergency stairs. One step at a time, they finally reached the ground floor.


    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived. Wait here for a moment, I¡¯ll contact security to turn on the generator,¡± Nichs told Kimberly, who was still standing stiffly beside him.


    Just as Nichs finished contacting security, Kimberly suddenly copsed unconscious. Nichs struggled to wake her up. As ast resort, he decided to take her to the doctor.


    ****


    ¡°So, how is she, doctor?¡± Nichs asked the middle-aged man in a white uniform before him.


    ¡°Is she your girlfriend?¡±


    Before Nichs could respond, the doctor continued, ¡°Your girlfriend has nyctophobia, Sir,¡± the doctor replied.


    Nichs furrowed his brow in confusion.


    ¡°Could you exin it to me in detail?¡±


    ¡°So, your girlfriend has a psychological disorder where someone has an excessive fear of darkness. People with this disorder can feel panic or anxiety when in dark ces, even in their own bedrooms. Fear of the dark is often experienced by children aged 2-8 years old. However, it¡¯s not umon for adults or teenagers to have it as well. So far, the exact cause of this fear of darkness is not known. However, some studies suggest that people with a fear of darkness may have experienced traumatic events in dark ces, leading to intense fear when they find themselves in the dark again.¡±


    ¡°Can this be cured, doctor?¡± Nichs asked again.


    While writing a prescription, the doctor responded, ¡°I rmend that your girlfriend undergo therapy as soon as possible because an excessive fear of darkness can cause the person to feel stressed and ufortable. Furthermore, the fear of darkness can even lead to insomnia and, in severe cases, affect their mental health.¡±


    Nichs was taken aback by the doctor¡¯s exnation this time. He never expected that the woman who had always seemed tough and fearless in front of him actually suffered from such a high-level fear.


    ¡°This is the prescription you need to get for your girlfriend. I hope Miss Kimberly will recover soon from her illness.¡± Nichs nodded and then took the prescription from the doctor.


    Meanwhile, on the bed, Kimberly slowly blinked her eyes, trying to gather her strength just to open them. When she managed to open her eyes fully, she looked around with a sense of confusion. Something was not right with what she was seeing.


    ¡°Where am I? This isn¡¯t my room, is it?¡±

 GOING CRAZY

    After being unconscious for several hours, Kimberly finally woke up. She looked around with a confused feeling. Something was unusual about what she was seeing right now.


    ¡°Where am I? This isn¡¯t my room, is it?¡± These were the first questions that came to her mind. When she opened her eyes, her gaze was fixed on a room dominated by a distinctive white color. Not far from where shey, she saw some medical equipment such as an oxygen panel, an IV stand, and a vacuum portable dining table. Clearly, this was part of a hospital room.


    Before her curious thoughts could be answered, a man she knew well entered and approached her.


    ¡°Are you awake? How do you feel?¡± The question was the first thing she heard. There was a sense of concern in his deep voice.


    Kimberly nodded weakly. ¡°I feel better now. I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯ve been a bother. Maybe I should go home now.¡± Kimberly tried to sit up from her lying position.


    Seeing Kimberly trying to get up, Nichs immediately moved forward, trying to thwart her intention.


    ¡°Wait! I don¡¯t think you can go anywhere just yet. You¡¯re not fully recovered.¡± Nichs restrained her.


    ¡°But I have to go home, sir. I can¡¯t stay here for long,¡± Kimberly pleaded.


    Nichs fell silent for a moment, weighing Kimberly¡¯s request to go home. He didn¡¯t really have the right to stop her. But for some reason, he felt a worry creeping into his thoughts. Afraid that the anxiety that had befallen Kimberly before might recur at home. However, once again, Nichs reminded himself that he was nobody to meddle. Besides, what he was doing right now was merely the concern of a superior for a subordinate. Yes, Nichs was certain of that.


    ¡°You can¡¯t go home now. Rest for a while. You don¡¯t need to work tomorrow; I¡¯ll give you leave until you¡¯repletely better.¡±


    Kimberly was slightly surprised to hear Nichs¡¯s words. ¡°But, sir-¡±


    ¡°Stay here for a while, or do you want me to fire you?¡±


    Hmph! Was that even a choice? In essence, it sounded the same, didn¡¯t it? If she agreed, she had to stay in the hospital for a while, and if she refused, she would lose her job. Whether she liked it or not, Kimberly followed Nichs¡¯s instructions to stay at the hospital for a while. It was her fault for fainting in the first ce, leading Nichs to bring her to this ce.


    ¡°Now continue your rest. I have to go home. If you need anything, you can call the nurse on duty or contact me.¡±


    Kimberly nodded in response. Shortly after, the hazel-eyed man left, leaving Kimberly alone in her room.


    ****


    Early in the morning, Nichs parked his Lamborghini Aventador in the hospital parking lot. Walking with a sense of urgency, he finally arrived at the room where Kimberly was resting.


    He saw the woman still sound asleep on her bed. Quietly, Nichs entered and ced a bag containing several fruits and snacks on the portable table. After making sure she was okay, Nichs turned to leave and headed for the office.


    Entering his office, Nichs was surprised by Kenzi¡¯s presence there. He was a bit puzzled because his friend hadn¡¯t informed him at all that she would be returning to Indonesia.


    ¡°Surprised to see me?¡± Kenzi greeted him as she reached for his hand and hugged Nichs tightly. Afterward, they both sat together on the guest sofa.


    ¡°Since when did you return to Indonesia? You didn¡¯t inform me at all,¡± Nichs said.


    Kenziughed upon hearing a hint of annoyance in her friend¡¯s words. ¡°I didn¡¯t n this, but Mama asked me toe back because she¡¯s celebrating her birthday this weekend. You know how my mom is, right?¡±


    Nichs shrugged. ¡°Well, I know Mrs. Luna Maximilian very well. Whenever there¡¯s a celebration, she always wants all her family members to gather.¡±


    Kenzi smiled. ¡°So, how¡¯s thepany? Any issues while I was away?¡±


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°So far, everything¡¯s been going well. Especially after you sent Edward here, we¡¯ve managed to secure almost all the major tenders. Right now, we¡¯re preparing for the construction of thergest indoor gamingplex in Southeast Asia in Singapore.¡±


    ¡°I never make mistakes in my choices, even though you know your one friend is often acting crazy. But at least, he¡¯s always dedicated to his work,¡± Kenzi said.


    Before they could continue their conversation, a knock on the door was followed by the entrance of the man they had been talking about earlier.


    ¡°I bet you guys were talking about me,¡± the man said as he promptly seated himself next to Kenzi without waiting to be invited.


    Kenzi chuckled at Edward¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re always so confident.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m a rookie and still learning. It¡¯s not about confidence; it¡¯s about learning from the best, right, Mr. Kenzi Maximilian?¡± Edward replied.


    This time, Kenzi couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter upon hearing Edward¡¯s words. Among the three of them, Edward was known for being the best at jokes and conversations. That¡¯s why many women fell for his charms. His skill also yed a role in convincing investors to work with them.


    ¡°By the way, where¡¯s Kimberly? I haven¡¯t seen her since earlier,¡± Edward asked.


    ¡°Whether Kimberly is in her room or not, it¡¯s none of your business, Ed,¡± Nichs replied with a t expression.


    Kenzi, who didn¡¯t understand, furrowed her brow. ¡°Kimberly? Who¡¯s Kimberly?¡± she asked, confused.


    ¡°The new secretary for Nichs, formerly an employee in the nning division. Unfortunately, before I moved here, Nichs had already recruited her as his secretary. Otherwise, she might be my personal assistant by now,¡± Edward replied with a meaningful smile.


    Nichs looked sharply at Edward. ¡°Stop teasing her, Ed.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Nick, I¡¯ve warned you. If you don¡¯t make a move, then I will,¡± Edward teased.


    ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± Kenzi interrupted. ¡°Are you two really fighting over a woman this time, Nick?¡±


    Nichs sighed in frustration at Kenzi¡¯s question. But before he could respond, a beautiful woman entered carrying a baby boy.


    ¡°Am I interrupting the gentlemen¡¯s conversation?¡± she asked as she approached.


    ¡°Al, oh my, I¡¯ve missed you so much,¡± Nichs rose from his seat, intending to hug the woman who was now approaching him.


    ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t missed you? I¡¯m bored in London just looking at Kaivan¡¯s face!¡± Unconsciously, Alma pouted as if she were annoyed.


    Nichs chuckled at Alma¡¯s words. Then, he reached for and picked up the baby boy, none other than Raphael, Kenzi and Alma¡¯s child.


    See? Nichs¡¯s demeanor suddenly warmed when he met Alma Maximilian. The only woman he treated with such special care. He always said Alma was different from most women out there. Nichs knew very well the sacrifices Alma had made when she first started a rtionship with Kenzi. That was the main reason why Nichs cherished Alma like a sister.


    ¡°So how long are you both staying in Indonesia?¡± Edward asked.


    ¡°Probably two weeks, considering I can¡¯t leave thepany for too long. I just can¡¯t bear to leave Briana handling everything by herself,¡± Kenzi replied.


    Edward nodded, and a momentter, Alma took out an invitation card from her bag and handed it to Kenzi.


    ¡°This is an invitation to Mrs. Maximilian¡¯s birthday celebration. I hope both of you cane. Don¡¯t forget to bring your partners,¡± Kenzi said.


    Nichs looked at Kenzi with an expression that was hard to interpret. Realizing this, Kenzi continued speaking.


    ¡°If you¡¯re really close to your secretary, Nick, you can bring her along. There¡¯s nothing wrong with introducing her to all of us.¡±


    Edward chuckled upon hearing Kenzi¡¯s words. Clearly, he was challenging Nichs to bring his secretary to his mother¡¯s birthday party. Nichs thought it would be interesting. Would Nichs ept the challenge or insist on going alone?N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    ¡°One thing¡¯s for sure, if youe alone, please let me know, Nick. Then I¡¯ll step up and take Kimberly to Aunt Luna¡¯s birthday party.¡±


    Before Nichs could respond, Kenzi took over the conversation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about your rivalry; all I want is for both of you toe. With that, my wife and I bid farewell for now. See you another time.¡±


    Edward followed Kenzi and Alma as they left the room. Meanwhile, Nichs slumped back into his chair and sighed in frustration. He couldn¡¯t believe Kenzi had challenged him to bring his secretary to his mother¡¯s birthday party.


    Speaking of Kimberly, Nichs suddenly realized it was already noon. That meant it was lunchtime. He quickly rushed to the parking lot and drove to the hospital. He just wanted to make sure if the woman had eaten her lunch or not. Somehow, he had be quite concerned about his secretary¡¯s well-being.


    It¡¯s just basic concern between a boss and an employee.


    Yes, I¡¯m sure there¡¯s no other intention.


    This is purely about being humane.


    Isn¡¯t that right, Nichs?


    On the way, Nichs kept reassuring himself until, without realizing it, he had arrived at the hospital¡¯s parking lot.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Nichs to reach the room where Kimberly was being cared for. However, upon arriving, he couldn¡¯t find Kimberly. Her room looked clean as if no one had upied it.


    Feeling puzzled, he walked to the hospital reception.


    ¡°Excuse me, may I know if the VIP patient named Kimberly Rayder is still here?¡±


    One of the nurses smiled and replied politely, ¡°The VIP patient named Kimberly Rayder left a few hours ago, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Already left? Did she get approval from the attending doctor?¡± Nichs asked, disbelief in his tone.


    The nurse nodded. ¡°The patient had been examined earlier. The doctor stated that her condition had improved, so she decided to go home.¡±


    ¡°Very well, thank you for the information.¡±


    After hearing the nurse¡¯s exnation, Nichs decided to return to his office.


    Once Nichs arrived at the office, just before he entered the executive lift, he coincidentally crossed paths with Keyra and Alex. Kimberly¡¯s friends had just returned from the cafeteria.


    ¡°Key, can youe to my office for a moment?¡± Nichs requested.


    Keyra and Alex were both taken aback at the same time. Throughout her time working at Alpha Beta, Keyra had entered the CEO¡¯s office several times to request approval signatures. However, being asked directly by the room¡¯s owner was a first.


    ¡°Sure, sir.¡±


    Keyra and Alex took a different elevator from Nichs¡¯s. After arriving on the fifteenth floor, she immediately headed to the CEO¡¯s office.


    ¡°Please have a seat,¡± Nichs said once Keyra was inside the room. She cautiously took a seat in front of Nichs.


    ¡°Do you know Kimberly¡¯s address?¡±


    Keyra raised her eyebrows, looking at Nichs with disbelief.


    ¡°Why? Is there something wrong with my question?¡± Nichs asked again.


    Keyra shook her head several times. She was actually just puzzled about why her typically cold boss would suddenly ask for her friend¡¯s address. Did they have something going on, she wondered.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. I didn¡¯t mean it that way. I do know Kimberly¡¯s address. I can provide it to you.¡±


    Nichs nodded and then asked again, ¡°What about her phone number? Do you have it?¡± This time, Keyra smiled. Nichs noticed it, which made him slightly ufortable. ¡°Don¡¯t think otherwise. There¡¯s a work matter I need to discuss with her. The phone number registered with thepany seems to be inactive. Perhaps she has another number,¡± he exined, making Keyra smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, sir. Even if there¡¯s something else, it¡¯s not a problem for me. Kimberly indeed has two phone numbers. One for work and another for personal use,¡± she exined. ¡°Just so you know, Kimberly is a good woman. Even in her previous division, many male employees liked her. If you don¡¯t act quickly, I can¡¯t guarantee that your secretary will remain avable,¡± Keyra teased.


    Keyra didn¡¯t know where she found the courage to openly tease her famously cold boss like that. In her heart, she was satisfied seeing Nichs¡¯s reaction. His facial expression showed a certain alertness.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if she¡¯s liked by many or not. That¡¯s not my concern. Right now, I just need her home address and her personal phone number.¡±


    Nichs could have asked Randy, his driver, for Kimberly¡¯s address, but Randy didn¡¯t have her personal phone number. Instead of doing double work, he decided to ask Keyra directly, as she was clearly Kimberly¡¯s friend.


    Keyra squinted her eyes, seemingly doubting what her boss had said, making Nichs feel awkward again. She wanted to burst intoughter in front of her boss. But for the sake of professionalism, she just nodded.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll write down Kimberly¡¯s address and phone number clearly for you.¡±


    After writing down the information on a piece of paper, Keyra excused herself and left the room.


    For a God sake, Nichs!


    Am I going crazy asking for a woman¡¯s address and phone number so openly?

 WORRY ABOUT YOU

    The wind blew gently through the gap in the wooden window. The once bright sunlight had now turned dim, signaling the day was transitioning into night. The fear and anxiety stemming from the previous events still asionally tormented her.


    ¡°Wind, can¡¯t you carry away all these haunting feelings with you?¡±


    As Kimberly stared at the bedroom ceiling, she was reminded of memories from over a decade ago. It was a time when she and her mother had been trapped in a room during a massive house fire.


    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s dark. Kimmy is scared. Are we both going to die?¡± Kimberly cried in fear.


    Her mother cupped her daughter¡¯s face with both hands. ¡°Look, my dear,¡± she asked, ¡°we will both be safe. Now, Kimmy, let¡¯s pray that the firefighters wille to help us soon.¡± Kimberly nodded after hearing her mother¡¯s words.


    Before long, shouts could be heard outside the window,ing from the rescue team. A sense of relief apanied the two of them. However, before they could be saved, the sturdy wall of the room suddenly copsed, burying both mother and daughter. After that, everything turned dark.


    As far as Kimberly could recall, when she opened her eyes, she was already in the hospital after being in aa for several days. Not only that, Kimberly also had to ept the fact that her mother had passed away. Serious burns from shielding Kimberly from the copsing wall were the main cause of her mother¡¯s demise.


    Kimberly wiped away tears that fell without her asking. When she remembered that incident, her chest felt tight. It had been over a decade, but it still felt the same. Painful.


    Still holding her tight chest, the sound of her phone ringing diverted her attention. She nced at the name disyed on the screen, and Keyra¡¯s name was clearly printed there.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    ¡°Kimmyaaaa!¡± a voice shouted from the other end.


    Kimberly instinctively moved the phone away from her ear.


    ¡°Key! I¡¯m not deaf. So, please don¡¯t scream. Can you do that?¡±


    Keyra¡¯s loudughter could be heard from the other end of the phone.


    ¡°Sorry, I just wanted to ask how you¡¯re doing. Are you feeling better?¡±


    Kimberly took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m much better now. I¡¯ll be back to work as usual starting tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness for that. Sorry if Alex and I haven¡¯t had a chance to visit you. By the way, I have some important information,¡± Keyra said.


    Kimberly unconsciously raised an eyebrow. ¡°What important information?¡± she asked, curious.


    ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± Keyra teased Kimberly¡¯s feelings.


    ¡°Key! I¡¯m serious.¡±


    Keyraughed again but didn¡¯t take long to speak. ¡°Mr. Cool asked me to give him your phone number.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°I gave him what he asked for. It seems like he was worried about why you weren¡¯ting to work. By the way, does Mr. Cool not know that you were sick?¡± Keyra asked.


    Ah, you don¡¯t even know that it was actually Mr. Nichs who took me to the hospital.


    Keyra and Alex had previously inquired about Kimberly noting to the office. She had only given them the excuse of feeling unwell. Neither of her two friends knew that Kimberly had been taken to the hospital by Nichs after fainting in the archives building.


    ¡°Kimmy, hello. Are you still there?¡± Keyra asked when she noticed Kimberly had been silent for quite some time.


    ¡°Yes, I can hear you. What else did you want to inform me? Is that it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I just wanted to check on you and share that information. Well, you should rest now so you can start fresh at work tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry. See you at the office tomorrow,¡± Kimberly said, ending the call with Keyra.


    Just as she was about to ce her phone on the nightstand, the t object rang again. An unnamed number forced her to pick it up promptly. Kimberly quickly touched the green icon on the screen to ept the call.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Silence, there was no response on the other end at all. Kimberly briefly felt confused, wondering if the call had been disconnected. She waited for quite a while, feeling like no one was answering. When she thought no one was there, she decided to end the call. However, just as she was about to press the red button, a distinct deep male voice was heard.


    ¡°Can youe out? I¡¯m in front of your house now.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ****


    Nichs squeezed the piece of paper with Kimberly¡¯s phone number and address written on it. His mind wandered, asionally pondering. Should he call Kimberly or just go straight to her ce?N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    No¡­ no.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be excessive if I go to see her?


    We could meet at the office tomorrow, right?


    But¡­


    I need to make sure she¡¯s truly recovered.


    Nichs ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, feeling overwhelmed by his own thoughts.


    Oh,e on, Nichs, don¡¯t be like this. Don¡¯t overthink it.


    But look at him now. After so much inner turmoil, the man had finally made up his mind to leave. So, here he was, standing right in front of a two-story minimalist building with a sign that read ¡°Amanda¡¯s Boarding House¡± on its gate. Quite indecisive, indeed.


    Nichs reached for his phone in his suit pocket. He hesitated a bit before dialing the phone number he had just saved. It took some courage, but he finally made the call. After just two rings, the call was answered on the other side.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    That was the first word he heard. Nervous and confused were two things he felt right now. Was it really that hard to just say ¡®hi¡¯ or ¡®hello¡¯? Had his courage suddenly evaporated like a fragile cracker?


    No, Nichs wasn¡¯t brave enough this time. He couldn¡¯t figure out where all his usual courage had disappeared to. Was he too timid when it came to this woman? Well, only Nichs knew the answer for sure.


    There was silence for so long that Nichs let the person on the other end wait, presumably puzzled. Finally, his courage gathered, and he spoke.


    ¡°Can youe out? I¡¯m in front of your house now.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    There was a tone of surprise on the other end. But Nichs didn¡¯t care. He chose to end the call quickly and put his phone back into the jacket pocket.


    He didn¡¯t have to wait long; the woman he wanted to see was now standing right in front of him.


    ¡°So, you live here?¡± Nichs asked, trying to dispel the awkwardness creeping over him.


    Kimberly nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been living here for a long time.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were living with your parents.¡±


    This time, Kimberly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m an orphan, sir,¡± Kimberly replied softly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I was too presumptuous.¡± A sense of guilt enveloped Nichs. He shouldn¡¯t have talked so much like this.


    Kimberly smiled faintly, then spoke again after a while. ¡°Sir, how did you know my address?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s important. I came here to ask why you left the hospital without waiting for me.¡±


    Oh my, Nick! What kind of question is this? You¡¯re asking as if you¡¯re her lover.


    Nichs cursed his own words. Meanwhile, Kimberly furrowed her brow, looking slightly puzzled by her boss¡¯s question.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I left without informing you, sir. I just didn¡¯t want to trouble you anymore,¡± Kimberly said honestly.


    ¡°At least you could have let me know so I wouldn¡¯t worry about you.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What?¡± Kimberly was taken aback by Nichs¡¯s words. She felt unsure about what she had just heard. Did Mr. Ice finally show concern for her? Should she celebrate now?


    Meanwhile, Nichs looked embarrassed, once again misspeaking. He couldn¡¯t understand what had gotten into him today. His heart and mouth weren¡¯t cooperating as they should.


    ¡°Let¡¯s forget what I said,¡± Nichs waved his hand dismissively. ¡°The important thing is that you¡¯re doing better now. So, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    Was it that quick? Coming all this way just to exchange pleasantries and words of courtesy, Kimberly couldn¡¯tprehend the thought process of her boss.


    ¡°Mister¡­¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s call stopped Nichs in his tracks just as he was about to leave.


    ¡°Thank you for all your help yesterday. I¡¯m sorry if I inconvenienced you,¡± Kimberly said sincerely.


    ¡°No problem. Isn¡¯t it a boss¡¯s duty to assist their subordinates when they need help?¡±


    Kimberly nodded in agreement with Nichs¡¯s words.


    ¡°Alright then, please continue with your rest. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±

 Jealous

    Yeah, Nichs was missing someone. Who? Briana? Well, he felt confused about what he was feeling right now. Throughout his journey to the office, suddenly a feeling of longing surged within his chest. There was a very real sense of emptiness. However, who the cause of that feeling was, he couldn¡¯t yet determine. It turns out that besides being indecisive, Nichs has be a strange man now. Is he starting to catch the Kenzi disease?


    ¡°****¡±


    The shiny ck stilettos that adorned her long legs began to tap on the tiles rhythmically. Wearing a dusty pink blouse paired with a ck knee-length pencil skirt, Kimberly looked charming today. Every time she received greetings from her fellow coworkers, she smiled warmly and responded politely.


    ¡°Good morning, Kimmy,¡± greeted the tall man as Kimberly was about to enter the executive elevator.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Morning, Mr. Edward,¡± Kimberly replied. A momentter, she checked the time on her wrist and asked, ¡°Why are you heading down so early?¡±


    The man smiled. ¡°I was asked to attend a meeting with the advertising team this morning. That¡¯s why I¡¯m heading down earlier.¡±


    Kimberly nodded. When the elevator door opened, they both walked together into the meeting room. Several department heads were already sitting in their respective chairs. Kimberly took her seat behind the main participants¡¯ chairs.


    When Nichs entered the meeting room and nced around the room, Kimberly lowered her head. Embarrassed? Definitely. The incident of sending the wrong messagest night not only embarrassed her but might have also damaged her reputation. If she could choose not to work or not to meet Nichs for a while, she might choose that option. Unfortunately, her big boss this morning reminded her again not to forget toe down earlier. How unlucky!


    ¡°So, which topic should we discuss first?¡± Nichs began the morning meeting.


    A representative from the advertising team handed a file to Nichs for him to read first. Shortly afterward, the man,ter known as Robin, began to exin.


    ¡°The purpose of creating this advertisement is to raise public awareness about the impact of air pollution and various activities that can reduce it through public service announcements and information. As an audience attraction, we can use the backdrop of the ad in the strategically located residentialplex recentlypleted by Alpha Beta.¡±


    Nichs and Edward nodded in agreement as they listened to Robin¡¯s exnation.


    ¡°Could you exin the field mechanism and execution?¡± Now it was Edward¡¯s turn to ask.


    ¡°In general, the ad video will be shown for 60 seconds. The production process for this video is expected to bepleted by next month at thetest, considering that this is an agenda that needs to be executed promptly. As for the production process, the advertisers are coborating with a third party, so we expect the production process to meet the target and deadline provided.¡±


    Edward nodded once, rubbing his chin as if pondering something. ¡°I think we should also focus on how this ad video can promote a healthy lifestyle in themunity. The existing benefits in the housingplex don¡¯t have to be forced into separate sessions but should be a part of a semiotic that is easily understood by the public. This way, the public can easilyprehend and hopefully emte the lifestyle portrayed in the ad, especially in the housingplex.¡±


    ¡°Agreed, let¡¯s execute everything tomorrow then,¡± Nichs replied. ¡°What else will we discuss after the ad?¡±


    ¡°Regarding the ad model, sir,¡± Robin answered.


    Nichs furrowed his brow. ¡°What¡¯s the issue with the model? Is there a problem?¡±


    Robin shook his head. ¡°No, sir. We need your approval first. Allow me to call the model to join us in the meeting room.¡±


    Robin seemed to reach for his phone in his suit pocket and sent a quick message to the person he referred to. Shortly after, a knock on the door was followed by the entrance of a beautiful woman in a cocktail dress who took a seat next to Robin.


    ¡°Mr. Nichs and Edward, let me introduce Kimmy. She will be the cast for the ad we¡¯re working on.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you, I¡¯m Kimberly, or you can just call me Kimmy. I¡¯ll be the model in your ad scenes.¡±


    The woman named Kimmy extended her hand toward Edward and Nichs. Meanwhile, from a distance, Kimberly watched with indifference as Nichs greeted the attractive woman. It was clear from Kimmy¡¯s expression that she was interested in Nichs.


    ¡°Please control yourself, Mr. Ice Cube! As cold as you are, I¡¯m sure you must be tempted when presented with such a beautiful woman.¡±


    The meeting, which was supposed to end in two hours, had to be extended to three hours due to the numerous requests that Kimmy had to amodate. Kimberly couldn¡¯t help but wonder why they had to use a cast and model like Kimmy, who seemed to have many demands even before the ad production had begun.


    ¡°Why all this fuss? Is she a world-famous supermodel?¡±


    Kimberly sighed in frustration as she observed Kimmy¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°Is she the only model in the world? When ites to beauty, I think I¡¯m prettier. We¡¯re just different in luck, right?¡±


    Kimberly couldn¡¯t help but pout in annoyance. Her eyes locked onto Nichs and Kimmy, who were still engrossed in their conversation at the meeting table. Suddenly, Nichs¡¯s gaze unintentionally shifted in Kimberly¡¯s direction. Their eyes met briefly. For some reason, Kimberly felt awkward again and quickly lowered her head.


    Hold it together, Kimberly. Why am I acting so awkward?


    Take a deep breath¡­ exhale¡­


    ***


    The sun rose higher, revealing its full glory, causing sweat to race out from the pores of the skin. At this hour, throats would start to feel dry, and inevitably, stomachs would begin to demand their share.


    Kimberly slouched at the cafeteria table, her head hanging low, listening to her two friends¡¯ banter. After recounting her embarrassing incident from the previous night, Keyra and Alex continued to tease her. It wasn¡¯t surprising to them that Kimberly could be careless, but they never expected her to make such a blunder by mistakenly sending a message to thepany¡¯s big boss.


    ¡°Oh my goodness, Kimmy, where are you going to hide your face?¡± Keyra asked, while Alex couldn¡¯t stopughing at Kimberly.


    Kimberly grumbled in frustration. ¡°This is all your fault, Key! I¡¯ve lost my dignity now.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness the message was just a loan request. I was imagining what if you had identally written something about a bet and made Mr. Nichs fall in love,¡± Alex said.


    Kimberly shuddered in fear and covered her face in frustration. ¡°Yeah! I would havemitted suicide right then and there, Lex! And why did both of them send messages at the same time?¡±


    Keyra shook her head, observing Kimberly¡¯s behavior. ¡°Don¡¯t me me. It¡¯s your fault for not checking the chat recipient¡¯s name beforehand.¡±


    ¡°So, what should I do now? The meeting is tomorrow. I¡¯m so embarrassed! During the meeting earlier, I kept my head down most of the time,¡± Kimberly whispered.


    Alex pulled out his wallet from his pants pocket. ¡°Here, take this money.¡±


    Kimberly frowned. ¡°Money? What¡¯s it for?¡±


    Alex shed a smile and grabbed Kimberly¡¯s wrist. He ced a money in her palm. ¡°Keep it, to buy a face mask so you won¡¯t be embarrassed.¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Kimberly cursed as she yfully punched Alex¡¯s arm, who was clearly enjoying her reaction.


    Meanwhile, in a different location, two men were enjoying their lunch at a restaurant.


    ¡°What do you think of our ad model from this morning?¡± Nichs asked, raising a ss of orange juice.


    Edward, his diningpanion, was busy chewing his food. ¡°Not bad,¡± he replied, seeming uninterested.


    Nichs raised one of his eyebrows. ¡°Not bad? Is that all?¡±


    Seeing this, Edward set down his fork and replied, ¡°What did you expect me to say?¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be enthusiastic and say she¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    Edward chuckled at Nichs¡¯s words. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s what you want to hear? If she¡¯s beautiful, I¡¯ll say she¡¯s beautiful. If she¡¯s just okay, I¡¯ll say she¡¯s just okay. And if she¡¯s ugly, I¡¯ll call her ugly right away.¡±


    ¡°But why did you call Kimberly beautiful? I thought the model was prettier than my secretary.¡±


    ¡°That means you¡¯re just judging someone based on their appearance, Nick. I¡¯ve only known Kimberly for a short time, and I can already see that she has a different aura,¡± Edward replied, continuing his meal.


    Nichs smirked. ¡°Nonsense, Ed. A yboy like you only judges women by their looks and physique, right?¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Edward nodded. ¡°For fun, I might judge based on looks and appearance only. But for a serious rtionship, I have to look at their attitude first. Your model from this morning doesn¡¯t fit the criteria for a serious partner. Don¡¯t you think she was just looking at you because you¡¯re the boss?¡±


    Nichs was momentarily taken aback, trying to process Edward¡¯s words. When it came to women, Nichs admitted that Edward was the one who understood it the most. After all, Edward had spent almost half of his life enjoying himself with various types of women. However, it didn¡¯t mean Nichs couldn¡¯t differentiate between a good woman and a bad one.


    Kimberly¡¯s name suddenly filled his mind. Since the incident when she fainted in the Archive building, Nichs had unconsciously thought about her often. But to conclude that he liked or was interested in her, that still seemed very far away.

 TREAT YOU

    The sunlight began to dim, reced by golden shimmering clouds as the day turned to evening. Kimberly hurriedly organized the scattered papers on her work desk. ncing at her phone screen on top of the printer, she saw two messages from her friends.


    Keyra: [Hurry! If you take too long, I¡¯ll leave without you.]


    Alex: [Come on, Kimberly. Keyra and I have been waiting for you in the car.]


    Kimberly took a deep breath. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s thiste, and Mr. Ice still hasn¡¯t gone home. Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s working overtime.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Not long after, the man they had been waiting for finally emerged from the room. Kimberly quickly approached him.


    ¡°Mister, are you heading home?¡± Kimberly asked eagerly.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, in that case, I¡¯m going to say goodbye and leave. See you tomorrow, Mister.¡±


    ¡°Kimmy, I¡­¡± Nichs began, but Kimberly left him hanging, quickly walking away before he could finish his sentence. The man could only shake his head at his secretary¡¯s behavior.


    In a boutique at a shopping center, Kimberly was assisted by her two friends as they busily sifted through and selected dresses she might wear tomorrow. She tried on each one with enthusiasm, all rmended by the store assistant.


    Don¡¯t think her handsome boss would be buying her a dress after yesterday¡¯s mistaken message incident. Kimberly¡¯s life wasn¡¯t as romantic as the novels you often read on online tforms, where the male lead secretly sends beautiful dresses to the woman¡¯s address.


    No, Nichs wasn¡¯t like the character you might imagine. It should also be noted that Nichs wasn¡¯t the type of man who was ¡°sensitive¡± to such trivial matters. Let¡¯s reiterate, he wasn¡¯t a ¡°sensitive¡± man.


    ¡°Kimmy, this dress looks nice,¡± Keyra said, pointing to a sleeveless Midi Dress with a ballerina model.


    ¡°This one is also nice, Kimmy.¡± Now it was Alex¡¯s turn to suggest, presenting an off-shoulder dress in a salmon color with a cocktail-style bottom.


    ¡°Why is this so difficult?¡± Kimberly sighed. ¡°If I were Mr. Nichs, I should be the one buying you a dress. Moreover, he already received your message saying you¡¯re having trouble choosing a dress,¡± Alexmented.


    ¡°A true gentleman should do that. Unfortunately, Mr. Ice seems heartless,¡± Keyra added.


    Kimberly sighed again. ¡°Stop your chatter, I¡¯ll try on all the dresses you¡¯ve picked.¡±


    Five minutes in the fitting room, Kimberly emerged wearing one of the dresses her friends had chosen. Now both of them looked confused about which dress to choose for tomorrow. Typical women.


    ¡°I think the off-shoulder dress is better,¡± Alex suggested.


    Keyra shook her head. ¡°But that exposes Kimberly¡¯s neck and shoulders too much, making her look too sexy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what should be emphasized. Kimberly shouldn¡¯t just look sexy but elegant,¡± Alex argued.


    Meanwhile, the main character herself was even more confused, especially because her two friends weren¡¯t helping; instead, they were debating and defending their respective dress choices.


    ¡°So which one should I buy?¡±


    ¡°Of course, the one you¡¯re wearing right now, youngdy.¡±


    A deep voice interrupted their discussion. Kimberly, who knew that baritone voice all too well, sighed in annoyance and deliberately chose not to respond.


    ¡°No,e on, Mario. Why are you like a devil who always follows me everywhere, huh?¡± Kimberlyined.


    A smile appeared on the man¡¯s face, though it was unclear whether it was sincere or mocking. ¡°Isn¡¯t it fated for us to always meet? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been avoiding me all this time, right? How much longer do we have to y cat and mouse like this, Kimberly Rayder?¡±


    Kimberly waved her hand as if telling Mario to leave her presence.


    ¡°Stop your nonsense. Just tell Opa. I will never, ever agree to get engaged to you. It¡¯s better for you to leave right now.¡±


    Now, the man wasn¡¯t just smiling but alsoughing. ¡°Don¡¯t let Opa Arthur find out your whereabouts directly. I can¡¯t guarantee you¡¯ll stay this free.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I said, keep your mouth shut. Stop bothering me. You¡¯re wealthy enough to find a woman prettier than me, right?¡±


    Mario shook his head dramatically. ¡°Unfortunately, I only want you to be Mrs. Wolfe.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re dreaming too high. I will never marry you, no matter what. Now, I beg you, please leave.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go. Someday, you¡¯ll look for me and ask for my help. I¡¯m sure of it.¡±


    Following Kimberly¡¯s earlier request, Mario finally chose to leave. It was countless how many times Kimberly had rejected his presence. However, there was no surrender in Mario until he could bring Kimberly back to his house. Yes, his actual home.


    ¡°I¡¯m really wondering why you won¡¯t just ept Mario¡¯s proposal. He¡¯s very handsome and Nick,¡± Keyra asked.


    Kimberly sighed. ¡°If you like him so much, you can be his girlfriend!¡±


    ¡°Of course, I would, Kimmy. You can set me up with Mario.¡± Alex shook his head at the antics of his two friends.


    ¡°So, which dress should I buy?¡± Kimberly asked again.


    ¡°Just buy both,¡± Alex suggested.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t have enough money to buy both, Lex.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll treat you today. Consider it an effort to help you get closer to Mr. Nichs.¡±


    Alex¡¯s sincere words made Kimberly¡¯s eyes widen in surprise. ¡°Are you serious about paying for the dress? No hidden agenda, right?¡±


    Alex smirked, ¡°You have no sense of gratitude. Alright, go to the cashier now. After that, we can all go out for dinner.¡±


    ¡°Alright, boss!¡±

 BE MT WIFE

    A red sports car has just parked at a luxurious house in an exclusive and highly private area. This location, long known as Beverly Hills Indonesia, is home to many important individuals, such as heavyweight entrepreneurs and famous artists.


    A tall man, standing at approximately 180 centimeters, steps out of the car and enters the house. His brown hair gleams under the scorching midday sun.


    Removing the sunsses he had been wearing, the man now stands next to the family room¡¯s sofa.


    ¡°Uncle Arthur, how are you?¡± Mario says. His bodynguage clearly shows his deep respect for the elderly man before him.


    Arthur Rayder folds the newspaper he¡¯s been reading and smiles.


    ¡°Take a seat, why are you being so formal with me?¡± hemands.


    Mario smiles and obeys Arthur¡¯s request.


    ¡°How are you, Uncle? I see you¡¯re healthier and more vibrant now.¡±


    Arthur nods.


    ¡°Yes, perhaps the healthy lifestyle I¡¯ve been leading in recent months has made me better than before. But I still can¡¯t fully manage thepany.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there Uncle Adrian who can help you run thepany?¡± Mario asks.


    This time, Arthur shakes his head.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°We can¡¯t rely on Adrian. He¡¯s very different from Afrian, Kimberly¡¯s father. Adrian prefers working in the arts rather than running a business. That¡¯s been causing me headaches all this time.¡±


    ¡°Why not ask Kimberly to continue all the businesses you¡¯ve been running?¡± Mario suggests.


    Arthur gazes at Mario intently, weighing whether to reveal what he¡¯s thinking to the young man before him.


    ¡°Do you know why I wanted to matchmake you with Kimberly?¡±


    ¡°So that the Rayder and Wolfe families could unite and dominate in all business fields,¡± Mario confidently responds.


    Arthur shakes his head.


    ¡°Not just that, Mario. You and Kimberly have been friends since childhood, and I know your personality very well. That¡¯s why I want you to be my grandson-inw and continue my efforts. I¡¯ve always known that the Wolfe lineage is renowned for its business acumen.¡±


    Mario¡¯s face looks calm.


    ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯m happy to help, Uncle. The Rayder family has always assisted the Wolfe family in any way possible. So, it¡¯s only right that I help with anything you ask.¡±


    Arthur smiles. He has always been confident in Mario¡¯s reliability. Besides having a good personality, Mario possesses skills that should not be underestimated. His business acumen is beyond doubt. However, Arthur regrets why Kimberly vehemently rejected being matched with Mario. Instead, the young woman chose to leave home. Not exactly leaving but more like running away and choosing a hard life out there. Despite her wealth that would not be exhausted for seven generations. Arthur cannot fathom his granddaughter¡¯s thought process.


    ¡°You know yourself, I¡¯m very old. I can¡¯t guarantee how much longer I¡¯ll live. That¡¯s why I¡¯m pushing you to marry Kimberly quickly so there¡¯s someone to take care of her and continue the Rayder business after I¡¯m gone.¡±


    Mario nodded in understanding.


    ¡°I already know where Kimberly is. It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t force her toe back so easily. You know Kimberly well, Uncle. She¡¯s a very strong-willed person. But I promise to bring her to you as soon as possible.¡±


    Arthur sighed softly.


    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll give you another chance. If you can¡¯t bring her back home this time, I¡¯ll bring her back in my own way.¡± Arthur reached for the tea on the table and took a slow sip.


    Mario smiled.


    ¡°I promise to bring Kimberly back and make her my wife soon.¡±

 SEE WHAT HAPPEN

    Kimberly was busy styling her long brown hair into a chignon hairstyle, elegantly exposing her slender neck and nape. Her makeup was subtle, entuating her beauty.


    Almost perfect, Kimberly.


    Now, she just had to wait for her prince toe and pick her up.


    Tonight, she had chosen to wear a salem-colored off-shoulder dress with a cocktail-style lower half. Kimberly looked stunning. She remembered Mario¡¯s words from some time ago; he had mentioned that she looked more beautiful in this dress. Ah yes, Mario. Suddenly, Kimberly thought of him ¨C her childhood friend whom she had loved but now despised because of the cursed arranged marriage orchestrated by Uncle Arthur.


    After her parents passed away a few years ago, Kimberly had been living under the care of Uncle Arthur. However, when the old man tried to matchmake her with Mariost year, Kimberly vehemently refused. How could she marry her childhood friend? Mario, on the other hand, didn¡¯t object at all; he even agreed to the crazy idea. Since then, she had considered Mario her enemy.


    Kimberly seethed and chose to leave home, along with all the luxurious amenities she had enjoyed. She opted for a simple life out there, working her way up and eventually getting a job at Alpha Beta Corporations.


    The sound of her phone¡¯s ringtone suddenly interrupted Kimberly¡¯s thoughts. She nced at her phone on the nightstand, and a new text message had juste in.


    Nichs: [Hurry out!]


    Kimberly quickly grabbed her handbag from the bed and rushed out of the house. There, someone¡¯s car that she recognized was neatly parked.


    ¡°I thought Randy would be picking me up,¡± Kimberly said once she wasfortably seated in the car.


    Usually, for formal events like dinners, business associate parties, or important celebrations, Nichs never bothered to drive himself like he was doing tonight.


    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you like me picking you up in person?¡± Nichs replied as he elerated his car.


    Kimberly smiled.


    ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s an honor for me to be picked up by the CEO of Alpha Beta.¡±


    The one known for being as cold as ice.


    The one known for being handsome but unfortunately not perceptive.


    Kimberly kept muttering in her mind, and she chuckled involuntarily. Meanwhile, Nichs refocused on the road ahead until they finally reached their destination.


    Nichs unbuckled his seatbelt, slightly puzzled because the woman next to him had already opened her door to exit.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°What are you waiting for? Don¡¯t you want to get out?¡±


    Kimberly looked at Nichs.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you interested in helping me unbuckle my seatbelt or opening the car door for me?¡±


    Nichs seemed exasperated.


    ¡°In case you¡¯ve forgotten, I¡¯m your boss. Do you dare to order your superior to do all that?¡±


    ¡°Why not? Isn¡¯t a gentleman supposed to behave like that, mister?¡±


    Nichs shook his head.


    ¡°You¡¯ve watched too many movies, Kimberly. I¡¯m getting out. If you still want to stay in the car, go ahead. I won¡¯t stop you.¡±


    Kimberly grumbled in frustration at Nichs¡¯splete indifference towards her. His attitude waspletely different from when Kimberly was sick the other day.


    Should I pretend to be sick again so that the ice-cold man will pay attention to me?


    Damn!


    I¡¯ll make you regret all your actions.


    Don¡¯t mention my name, Kimberly, unless you can make him kneel before me.


    Exiting the car, Kimberly quickly caught up with Nichs, who was already quite far ahead. Upon entering the house, Edward and Kenzi were there to greet the two of them.


    ¡°Finally, you¡¯ve arrived, Nichs Alistair,¡± Edward said, extending his hand toward Nichs.


    ¡°So, this is the woman you were talking about the other day? What¡¯s her name, Ed?¡± Kenzi chimed in.


    ¡°Her name is Kimberly, Ken. How is she? Beautiful, isn¡¯t she?¡± Edward asked without hesitation.


    Kenzi nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Beautiful, like-¡±


    ¡°Like who, darling?¡± Before Kenzi could finish, Alma suddenly appeared from behind and cut her off. She gave Kenzi a challenging look, whether she was genuinely jealous or just teasing was hard to tell.


    Kenzi smiled.


    ¡°Like my wife, of course.¡±


    Edward, Nichs, and Kimberly all burst intoughter after hearing Kenzi¡¯s response. It seemed that Kenzi, besides being smitten, had now be a husband who was genuinely afraid of his wife.


    Alma smiled at Kimberly.


    ¡°Let me introduce myself; I¡¯m Alma. You cane with me. Let the men gather.¡±


    She then promptly took Kimberly by the wrist and led her into the house. Meanwhile, Kenzi, Edward, and Nichs chose to go to the second floor.


    Upstairs, Kaivan could be seen busy ying with Raphael.


    ¡°Kai, you¡¯re here too, I see,¡± Nichs greeted.


    While carrying Raphael, Kaivan attempted to respond. ¡°Do you think the olddy would let me skip an important event like this?¡±


    Nichs chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t Kenzi mention that you¡¯re getting close to a beautiful woman? So, where¡¯s that woman? Didn¡¯t you invite her to Indonesia to meet your parents?¡±


    Kaivan shifted to a sitting position on the sofa. ¡°Who do you mean? Veronica? She¡¯s just a casual date. Not a special woman I¡¯d introduce to the Maximilian family.¡±


    ¡°Oh my. What kind of woman is suitable for you to bring to your big family?¡± Edward inquired.


    ¡°Of course, a woman who meets my criteria. I don¡¯t want to casually bring a woman to meet my parents.¡±


    ¡°yboy through and through! Aunt Luna should punish you for ying with women¡¯s hearts so much,¡± Kenzi teased.


    Kaivan immediately threw a toy that Raphael was holding directly at Edward¡¯s face.


    ¡°Shut your mouth, Ed. Do you want me to revoke your VIP ess to all my hotels?¡± Kaivan threatened.


    Edward raised both hands in surrender. His words had sessfully stirred Kaivan¡¯s emotions. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be quiet. But please don¡¯t take away my special privileges to stay in your hotels.¡±


    Kaivan let out an irritated sigh upon hearing Edward¡¯s response. ¡°To hell with you, Ed.¡±


    They allughed simultaneously, except for Kaivan.


    ¡°Speaking of Nick, do you really not have a special rtionship with your secretary?¡± Kenzi probed.


    Nichs sighed heavily. Why was his friend interrogating his rtionship with Kimberly?


    ¡°Come on, Ken. You know I never have any desire to be romantically involved with a colleague. Doesn¡¯t that make our work look unprofessional? Besides, our office rules don¡¯t allow employees to have affairs, right?¡±


    Kenzi shook her head in disagreement. ¡°Says who? If you really like her, I¡¯ll make an exception for you.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t make a move, I will,¡± Edward chimed in eagerly.


    Meanwhile, Nichs stared sharply at Edward. ¡°I won¡¯t let my secretary be your prey, Ed!¡±


    Satisfied with teasing Nichs, they all chose to head downstairs to join the other guests who were gathering. The private birthday party began with the usual cake cutting, followed by a prayer, well-wishing, and finally, the distribution of souvenirs to the invited guests.


    After the guests had gradually started to leave, it was now only Nichs and Edward who remained at Kenzi¡¯s parents¡¯ residence.


    ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll head home too, Ken. It¡¯s gettingte,¡± Nichs said.


    Kenzi furrowed his brow, finding it unusual for his friend to leave early. ¡°Why the rush? Tomorrow is Sunday, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯te here alone, Ken. I brought my secretary with me. It¡¯s not right to keep a woman outte,¡± Nichs exined.


    Edward sneered. ¡°If you want, you can go ahead, and I¡¯ll escort Kimberly home.¡±


    Nichs shook his head, rejecting Edward¡¯s offer. ¡°Not long after, Kimberly came out with Alma. The two women seemed very close, as if they had known each other for a long time.


    ¡°Hey, Nick. Are you ready to leave?¡± Alma asked, hugging Nichs.


    Kimberly was somewhat surprised to see howfortable Nichs was embracing Alma. She never expected the ice-cold man to be so at ease, even warm, while hugging her friend¡¯s wife. It was a stark contrast to the previously aloof and irritating Nichs.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s gettingte, and I have to take my female friend home,¡± Nichs replied.


    Alma released her embrace. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave Kimberly in your care. Take her home quickly. It¡¯s not good to keep a woman outte.¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head home now. Maybe we can go golfing or shooting together tomorrow? Isn¡¯t Alma very fond of those two activities?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I agree,¡± Kenzi said. ¡°I¡¯m in, but please bring Kimberly along with you,¡± Alma requested.


    Nichs nced at Kimberly for a moment, then behaved as if he were weighing something. ¡°But, Al¡ª¡±


    ¡°I can go; I¡¯d be happy to join Mr. Maximilian,¡± Kimberly quickly responded.


    Nichs thought it was a big mistake to suggest they all go shooting tomorrow. Look at them now; it seemed like all his friends were deliberately teasing him.


    Nichs took a deep breath. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bring her tomorrow. Don¡¯t worry. In that case, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±


    Kimberly and Nichs finally headed home, leaving Edward and Kenzi engrossed in a serious conversation.


    ¡°Do you think Nichs will really bring that woman tomorrow, Ed?¡±


    Edward shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens tomorrow.¡±


    Kenzi chuckled. ¡°I think Kimberly is a good woman. Do you agree if we try to matchmake Nichs with her?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to help you, Ken,¡± Edward replied. ¡°You know, I have a n that will make it impossible for Nichs to refuse Kimberly.¡±


    Edward raised an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡± he asked eagerly.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see what I¡¯m going to do soon.¡± A meaningful grin spread across Kenzi¡¯s face.

 THINKING OF YOU

    The warmth of the morning sun sessfully disrupted Nichs¡¯s peaceful sleep. The man blinked his eyes several times before his consciousness fully gathered. ncing at the clock hanging in the corner of the room, it already showed seven in the morning. He quickly got up and entered the bathroom.


    It only took him ten minutes toplete his morning routine in the bathroom. Walking to the walk-in closet, he picked a thin t-shirt andyered it with a white hoodie jacket.


    Grabbing a small bag and his phone from the nightstand, he walked somewhat leisurely towards the neatly parked car in the garage. This morning, Nichs chose to go without breakfast as usual, thinking that maybe he could have breakfast with his friendster. They often did that.


    Before the car he was driving actually left, Nichs reached for his phone, which he had previously ced on the dashboard, to send a quick message to someone.


    Nichs: [Are you awake?]


    Nichs looked at the message he had written, read it several times, and intended to delete it.


    What kind of question is this? Doesn¡¯t it seem like someone just making small talk?


    Nichs: [Get ready quickly and don¡¯t forget to have breakfast. I¡¯ll pick you up in a bit.]


    Nichs reevaluated the message he had written. It seemed that his morning had been spent thinking about the right words to send to the woman on the other side.


    Oh my.


    Why is writing a message alone so difficult?


    Come on, Nichs.


    Just be casual like usual.


    She¡¯s just your employee, right?


    ¡°Shit!¡±


    Nichs muttered under his breath. Before he could even change the previous message, Nichs¡¯s phone suddenly rang. Edward¡¯s name appeared on his phone screen. He reluctantly answered the call.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    ¡°From your tone, you seem annoyed. Is there a call you¡¯re waiting for?¡± Edward inquired.


    Nichs sighed in annoyance.


    ¡°Quickly tell me what you want, Ed. I don¡¯t have time to listen to your chitchat.¡±


    Edward chuckled on the other end of the line.


    ¡°Rx, why so angry? I just wanted to let you know that we¡¯ve all arrived at the shooting range. I have no idea where this is, but ording to Kenzi, you should know the ce.¡±


    Nichs remained silent for a moment, then replied.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head over there soon.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to pick up Kimberly. If you¡¯re busy, I¡¯d be happy to pick her up right now,¡± Edward replied teasingly.


    Nichs chose to hang up the call rather than endure Edward¡¯s chatter any longer. His mood was sure to be ruined if he continued dealing with his insensitive friend.


    The man took a deep breath, slowly exhaling. He nced at the phone screen in his hand for a moment and then began typing the short message that had been postponed.


    Nichs: [I¡¯m on my way, fifteen minutes until I arrive]


    Goodness, it took Nichs nearly thirty minutes just to write a message like that. Whether it¡¯s a mishap or a moment of pride to be appreciated, who knows? Perhaps it¡¯s not wrong for Edward to call him the world¡¯s most hopeless man.


    After feeling like someone on the other end had received the message he sent, Nichs drove his car at a moderate speed.


    Meanwhile, in a different ce, Kimberly appeared to be struggling to choose what to wear this morning. It¡¯s not like she didn¡¯t have anything to wear; it¡¯s just that this was the first time she was going to exercise with her boss and his friends.


    Nervous? Don¡¯t even ask. She had thrown countless pairs of clothes onto the bed because they didn¡¯t seem suitable. Finally, Kimberly settled for a white t-shirt and paired it with gray workout pants. Right after she finished tying her hair, Kimberly¡¯s phone vibrated. Another short message hade in.


    Nichs: [I¡¯m outside already.]


    Quickly, Kimberly grabbed her essentials and ran out of the house and into the waiting car.


    ¡°Sorry for making you wait, mister,¡± Kimberly said as she fastened her seatbelt.


    Meanwhile, the man she was talking to seemed to be staring at her intensely. Sensing something was amiss, Kimberly asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    Nichs sighed softly. ¡°Don¡¯t you notice? We¡¯re almost wearing the same outfit today.¡±


    Kimberly hastily inspected Nichs¡¯s attire from head to toe before looking at her own clothes.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Oh, God.


    How did this happen?


    Sure, the styles are different.


    But the colors? Why are they so simr?


    For heaven¡¯s sake, we look like one of those couple goals that always pop up on social media.


    ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Nichs asked when he realized Kimberly was silently giggling.


    Kimberly shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not important. Mister, should I change my clothes before we really go?¡±


    Nichs shrugged indifferently. ¡°No need, we¡¯re already runningte. Besides, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡±


    Kimberly nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Oh, by the way, Kimmy¡­¡± Nichs shifted his gaze towards Kimberly.


    ¡°Yes, mister?¡±


    ¡°¡­ since this isn¡¯t a formal event and it¡¯s outside office hours, I think you don¡¯t need to be so formal with me. Just call me Nichs. It sounds better, I think.¡±


    Kimberly smiled broadly. ¡°Of course, with pleasure.¡±


    Let alone calling him Nichs, calling him ¡°darling¡± wouldn¡¯t bother me, Mr. Iceman.


    They continued their journey until they finally arrived at the Infinity Shooting Club, a famous and highly private shooting range often frequented by influential people.


    Entering the arena, Kenzi, Edward, and Alma were already waiting, choosing which firearms to use this time.


    Realizing their friends had arrived, Edward weed them immediately. ¡°Look, Ken, who¡¯s here.¡±


    Kenzi and Alma turned their gaze towards the newly arrived couple.


    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Edward eximed. ¡°Are you two wearing matching outfits? Seriously?¡±


    Nichs looked slightly awkward, while Kimberly tried to maintain herposure. In fact, she responded to Edward¡¯sment, ¡°It¡¯s just a coincidence. Besides, it¡¯s pointless to wear the same clothes if our hearts are different, mister.¡± Kimberly¡¯s pointed reply left everyone, including Nichs, bbergasted. Was Kimberly speaking her mind or just making a randomment?


    Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Alma quickly grabbed Kimberly¡¯s wrist and forced her to follow.


    ¡°Kimmy, let¡¯s choose our weapons first,¡± Alma said.


    ¡°Nick, what are you waiting for? It seems your secretary is interested in you,¡± Edwardmented after Kimberly left.


    ¡°I feel the same way,¡± Kenzi chimed in.


    Nichs appeared nonchnt, busying himself with the firearms in front of him. However, after a while, he reluctantly responded, ¡°How many times do I have to convince both of you that I¡¯m not interested in Kimberly at all?¡±


    Kenzi sighed. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Come on, Ken, you know my taste. I could never fall for someone as feisty as Kimberly,¡± Nichs replied.


    Edward, who had been silent at first, couldn¡¯t resist speaking up. ¡°If you¡¯re not interested at all, I¡¯ll step in to win her over. I wonder, Nichs, what kind of woman meets your criteria.¡±


    ¡°Someone gentle and not feisty,¡± Nichs replied quickly.


    Just as he finished his sentence, Nichs and Edward both realized that Kimberly was standing right behind them. It was clear that she had overheard their conversation earlier. Edward hurriedly approached Kimberly and pulled her aside.


    ¡°Come with me, Nat. Let me teach you how to shoot today. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Kimberly smiled and nodded her head.


    Edward led Kimberly through some warm-up exercises, demonstrating a few small movements until she felt confident. After that, he helped Kimberly put on protective shooting sses to shield her eyes from flying projectiles.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you some examples first,¡± Edward said.


    Edward aimed the firearm he was holding at the prepared target board. Beside him, Kimberly watched how Edward held the firearm, aimed, and pulled the trigger to fire. On the count of three, Edward¡¯s shot hit the perfect score of 10 on the target board, indicating a bullseye.


    Edward couldn¡¯t stop smiling because all of his shots were perfect. Kimberly seemed impressed by Edward¡¯s skill.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn. Are you ready?¡± Edward asked.


    Kimberly nodded confidently. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    ¡°Good, I¡¯ll guide you first,¡± Edward replied.


    Edward moved forward, intentionally positioning himself behind Kimberly. He then held her wrist without hesitation, guiding her to lift the firearm she had previously held. They aligned it and aimed it at the target in front of them. Observing the closeness between her friend and her boss, Nichs could only watch with an unreadable expression. He sighed several times to neutralize his feelings.


    ¡°Focus on your target, Kimmy. Look carefully. When you feel your aim is correct, pull the trigger and release the shot,¡± Edward instructed.


    Kimberly nodded and followed Edward¡¯s instructions, slowly pulling the trigger on the firearm. She counted from one, and on three, she fired a shot that hit the number seven on the target board in front of her.


    ¡°Ah, darn it!¡± Kimberly eximed softly.


    Edward and the others justughed as they watched Kimberly get frustrated with her first shot.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Kimmy. You can try again,¡± Edward said.


    ¡°Kimberly won¡¯t get a perfect score if you teach her like that,¡± Nichs interjected, advancing towards Kimberly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you now,¡± Nichs said without waiting for Kimberly¡¯s response. He positioned himself just like Edward did before, standing right behind Kimberly. He reached for her hand without hesitation and directed it in front of the target board.


    So, how is Kimberly feeling right now?


    Nervous? More than just nervous. How could she not be, with her face just inches away from Nichs¡¯s? The scent of mint mixed with citrus emanating from Nichs¡¯s body was so vivid that Kimberly couldn¡¯t help but stare at the man beside her.


    ¡°Kimmy,¡± Nichs whispered.


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± Kimberly stammered.


    ¡°Focus on the target in front of you, not on my face continuously like this. Are you enchanted by my handsomeness?¡± Nichs teased.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Suddenly, Kimberly¡¯s face turned beet red, embarrassed that she was caught by Nichs. She quickly turned her head away, fixing her gaze on the target board in front of her.


    ¡°If you want your shots to be perfect, you need to pay attention to the basics first. First, your hand grip should be rxed, don¡¯t forget to rx your shoulder and arm. Use your right hand to hold and pull the trigger, while your left hand is used to absorb the recoil. Align your index finger with the gun barrel. Rest your right thumb on the special guard on the firearm. If you feel everything is in ce, you just count backward.¡±


    Kimberly nodded in understanding, following all of Nichs¡¯s instructions. Then she began counting silently in her mind. Right on the count of three, she released the shot, and yes, this time Kimberly¡¯s shot hit the perfect score of ten, indicating a bullseye.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Kimberly cheered with joy and, without realizing it, she hugged Nichs, who was still standing next to her. But shortly after realizing it, she quickly released her embrace.


    ¡°Sorry, mister. Uh, I mean Nichs. I guess I got a bit too excited.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Nichs replied with a t expression, then went to join Kenzi, who was standing behind them.


    Alma, who had been watching, immediately approached Kimberly. ¡°It looks like I have somepetition now,¡± she said jokingly. They allughed together.


    The shooting activity continued until 11 o¡¯clock and was followed by lunch together. After everything was done, they all decided to go their separate ways.


    ¡°Kimmy, do you want to ride with me back home?¡± Edward asked shortly after they finished lunch.


    ¡°Mom-¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to escort Kimberly!¡± Nichs cut in immediately.


    Edward sighed in frustration. ¡°Come on, Nick. Kimberly doesn¡¯t mind if I take her home, right?¡±


    Kimberly nodded, unlike Nichs, who shook his head repeatedly.


    ¡°She¡¯s going with me, so she shoulde home with me too.¡±


    ¡°Ken, Alma, I¡¯m heading home now. See you another time,¡± Nichs called out. Without any further instructions, he immediately took Kimberly¡¯s wrist and left his friends to go to where his car was parked. Unlike yesterday, this time Nichs even opened the car door and helped Kimberly fasten her seatbelt.


    ¡°Sorry, but I can fasten it myself,¡± Kimberly said when Nichs was seen trying to fasten the seatbelt for her. He chose to remain silent and didn¡¯t respond to Kimberly¡¯s words.


    The journey was quiet. Nichs chose to focus on driving, while Kimberly was busy looking out the window until they arrived at her residence not long after.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kimberly said as she unfastened her seatbelt.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee, and I¡¯m sorry if any of myments hurt your feelings.¡±


    Kimberly smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Besides, you were speaking the truth. I am a feisty woman,¡± she said with an awkwardugh.


    ¡°No! That¡¯s not what I meant. Once again, I apologize.¡± His expression showed genuine sincerity.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just forget it. In that case, I¡¯ll get out now. Take care on the road.¡±


    ****


    Nichs couldn¡¯t remember how many times he had switched TV channels in front of him. Everything he did tonight felt like a series of mistakes. ncing at his wristwatch, it was only 9 PM, too early to decide to sleep. Besides, he wasn¡¯t feeling sleepy at all.


    asionally, he thought about what had happened earlier in the afternoon. For some reason, the moment when he was teaching Kimberly to shoot kept reying in his mind. But when he remembered Edward intentionally teasing Kimberly, Nichs¡¯s feelings turned to irritation.


    I can¡¯t let Edward get too close to Kimberly. It¡¯s dangerous. That yboy could try anything to disturb Kimberly.


    Nichs took a deep breath.


    But wait a minute, why am I so worried? Kimberly isn¡¯t anyone to me, right?


    Nichs chuckled softly, mostly at himself. How could he get so annoyed at Edward when he didn¡¯t have any kind of rtionship with Kimberly?


    As Nichs got lost in his thoughts, his phone ringing broke his reverie. It was a call from someone who would potentially change Nichs¡¯s fate in theing days. Maybe.


    So, who is it?

 HONEYMOON

    Nichs nced momentarily at the cellphone screen in front of him, allowing the device to keep ringing, forcing himself to answer it soon. It wasn¡¯t due to hesitation, but rather to gather his courage. He was certain that something would happen after picking up that call, as it always seemed to be the case.


    Taking a slow breath, Nichs assured himself and swiped the green symbol on the cellphone screen to begin speaking.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Mama hasn¡¯t heard from you, Nick. Are you too busy over there?¡± There was a hint of annoyance in each word.


    Nichs took a deep breath first, then replied, ¡°Ma, how are you? I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯ve been too busytely to contact you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, honey. I¡¯ve been better. So, how about you? Have you found a prospective wife over there?¡±


    Nichs fell silent for a moment, knowing exactly where this conversation was headed. After some thought, he chose the right answer to avoid his mother dwelling on the subject of a potential wife or marriage as usual.


    ¡°Ma, I¡¯m here working, and I haven¡¯t had the time to think about that.¡±


    A frustrated sigh was heard from the other side.


    ¡°So, how long do you expect me to wait? Until I¡¯m no longer young, Nick? Do you want to get married after I¡¯m gone? Is that what you want?¡±


    ¡°Ma, it¡¯s not like that. I just haven¡¯t thought about taking the next step yet. I¡¯m only thirty years old, after all.¡±


    There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by a long sigh and words.


    ¡°Alright, it seems I need to be firm with you. Now, you choose: do you want Mama to find a prospect for you, or do you want to find one yourself? Although I¡¯m not sure, considering your previous choices have been disappointing.¡±


    ¡°Ma, can we not discuss arranged marriages or partners this time?¡± Nichs pleaded.


    ¡°I¡¯ve waited too long, Nichs Alistair,¡± the woman said.


    ¡°I will get married, Ma. Just not right now,¡± Nichs replied.


    ¡°There¡¯s no ter,¡¯ Nick! Just so you know, at the end of the month, I will apany your father to Indonesia. When I arrive there, I expect you to have at least a girlfriend. If not, don¡¯t be surprised if I suddenly arrange an engagement with a woman of my choice!¡±


    ¡°Ma!¡± Nichs eximed on the phone.


    ¡°Sorry, this time I won¡¯t ept objections! Good luck finding a girlfriend, my dear. Your deadline is two weeks from now.¡±


    The call was abruptly terminated by the woman on the other end. It was Cassandra Dno, none other than Nichs¡¯s biological mother.


    Cassandra was known for her strong-willed nature. While most billionaire wives spent their time and money socializing with their high-society friends, she was different. Instead of discussing designer bags and luxury items, she had spent nearly half her life collecting and assisting street children. Many of them were adopted and given an education, with hundreds benefiting from her support to this day.


    But what was her attitude towards her own children?


    In the past, when Nichs decided to pursue a rtionship and marry Briana, the middle-aged woman had initially refused. Her motherly intuition told her that Briana didn¡¯t truly love Nichs. Her intuition proved right when, just a week before the wedding, Briana was caught having an affair with another man.


    Cassandra had made numerous efforts to help her son recover quickly. She introduced him to almost all the eligible daughters of her friends, but none of them captured his heart. She was at a loss about what more she could do to help Nichs move on and get married.


    Nichs rubbed his frustrated face. Finding a girlfriend within two weeks? Seriously, Ma?


    ***


    Certainly, here¡¯s the provided text tranted into American English with correct grammar:


    ¡°Edward had now seen Nichs massage his forehead more than twice. From his facial expression, it was evident that he was contemting something heavy. But he was quite certain it wasn¡¯t a work-rted issue. As far as he knew, there were no major problems currently affecting thepany.


    Feeling very curious, Edward feltpelled to ask, ¡°Is there a significant issue bothering you?¡±


    Nichs took a deep breath. Adjusting his sitting position to be more upright, he leaned both of his hands on the sides of the chair he was upying.


    ¡°If you were set up on a blind date, what would you do, Ed?¡±


    Instead of answering, Edward burst intoughter upon hearing Nichs¡¯s words. Heughed for quite some time, which irritated Nichs a little.


    ¡°Are Aunty Cassandra and Uncle Robert nning to set you up?¡± Edward asked, sounding mocking.


    Nichs stared sharply at Edward. He thought it might have been a big mistake to ask this friend of his. Edward was never serious on any asion, which was quite different from Kenzi.


    Feeling that Nichs was giving him an intimidating look, Edward adjusted his sitting position and replied, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ll answer your question seriously. If I were in your position right now, I would definitely not want to be set up. Instead of being chosen, I¡¯d rather choose my own partner, Nick.¡±


    Nichs nodded, seemingly agreeing with Edward. ¡°So, if you were given two weeks to find a partner, what would you do?¡±


    ¡°What kind of question is this, Nick? It¡¯s obvious I¡¯d start looking right away. Sitting idle won¡¯t help at all.¡±


    Nichs was momentarily stunned. ¡°But where would I find a partner in such a short time?¡±


    ¡°Nick, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re being serious with these questions or joking. But if I were you, I wouldn¡¯t bother looking for women out there. I¡¯ve told you countless times that your secretary has qualities that no one else possesses. How do I prove it to you? Do I need to try being her lover first?¡±


    Nichs grumbled in frustration. ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish, Ed!¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re still adamant, then just ept the matchmaking. Let yourself experience it.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°But Kenzi has been genuinely happy after being matched with Alma.¡±


    Edwardughed. ¡°Are you being naive or pretending to be? Kenzi and Alma are clearly different cases. They¡¯ve liked each other since childhood.¡±


    ¡°So, what should I do?¡± Nichs asked, growing frustrated.


    ¡°If you really don¡¯t want to have a rtionship with Kimberly, you can look for a woman out there who fits your criteria. Once you find her, make her your girlfriend. Problem finished.¡± Edward reached for the coffee in front of him and sipped it until it was empty.


    Nichs looked at Edward puzzled. ¡°Execution in the field isn¡¯t as easy as your words, Ed!¡±


    Edward shrugged andughed. ¡°The choice is yours, Nick. The decision is all in your hands. Choose Kimberly or another woman. If you end up getting married, I promise to give you a honeymoon gift.¡±


    Nichs furrowed his brow. ¡°Oh yeah? You¡¯re too kind.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I am your best friend. That¡¯s why if you happen to marry a woman in the near future, I¡¯ll give you a gift of traveling around the world for a full month,¡± Edward bragged.


    ¡°Are you crazy, a month-long vacation? I have to work. There¡¯s no way I can honeymoon for a whole month,¡± responded Nichs.


    Edward stood up from his seated position and prepared to leave the room. Before he left, he answered Nichs¡¯s question once more, ¡°Come on, Nick, everywhere a honeymoonsts a month, right? If it¡¯s just a week, it¡¯s called a week-long honeymoon.¡±


    Nichs¡¯s patience had worn thin today. Not wanting to prolong the conversation, he ordered Edward to leave his office immediately.

 THE DEAL

    Theputer screen disyed a series of numbers that Kimberly had been working on for the past two hours. She double-checked repeatedly to ensure that everything she had done was absolutely perfect without any errors.


    After sending a copy of the document to Nichs via email, Kimberly turned off herputer and prepared to leave.


    ¡°Are you finished?¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s body straightened instantly at the sound of the deep voice. She turned to the source of the sound and realized her boss was leaning in the corner of the room with his hands sped.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s done. I¡¯ve also sent all the data to your email address,¡± Kimberly replied.


    Nichs nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s already six in the evening. If you have nothing else to do, you can go home. But before that, there¡¯s something important I want to discuss with you.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean, sir?¡± Kimberly asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Pack up your things ande to my office right now.¡±


    Kimberly reached for her work bag and followed Nichs, who had already entered his office. There, he settled himself on a leather sofa not far from the window.


    ¡°Please, have a seat,¡± Nichs instructed.


    Kimberly obeyed her boss¡¯s request and sat on the sofa.


    ¡°What important matter do you want to discuss, sir?¡± Kimberly inquired.


    Nichs took a deep breath before speaking. ¡°I don¡¯t want to beat around the bush. I just want to ask for your help.¡±


    Kimberly raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean, sir?¡±


    ¡°First, I want to ask if you¡¯re currently in a rtionship with someone? I mean, with a man.¡±


    Kimberly shook her head. She couldn¡¯t admit that she was trying to get close to her boss.


    ¡°Are you in an arranged marriage?¡± Kimberly shook her head again.


    ¡°Do you want to be my temporary girlfriend?¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Huh? W-what? Did I hear you correctly?¡± she asked, feeling a bit flustered.


    Nichs nodded.


    ¡°You heard me correctly. I want to ask for your help to be my temporary girlfriend. My parents will be visiting Indonesia, and they want to meet my partner when they arrive.¡±


    ¡°But, sir, I don¡¯t think I can help you,¡± Kimberly firmly replied.


    Nichs was taken aback. He didn¡¯t expect Kimberly to refuse his request. He was quite confident she would ept it. Now he had to think hard about how to persuade Kimberly to agree.


    ¡°It¡¯s just temporary, Kimmy, once my parents return to Ennd, you can go back to being free.¡±


    Kimberly remained silent for quite some time, lost in her thoughts.


    My main goal was to be your girlfriend.


    But not like this.


    This feels like you¡¯re treating me like a puppet.


    Damn it!


    ¡°Kimberly, what do you say? Can you help me?¡± Nichs asked.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Kimberly shook her head.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, but I can¡¯t help you.¡±


    Nichs closed his eyes for a moment, thinking about what else he could do. He had thought that his secretary would agree to his request, knowing that Kimberly had been seeking his attention for a while. But now? She had rejected him outright.


    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t force you. But don¡¯t me me if I fire you for defying your boss¡¯s orders!¡± Nichs warned.


    Kimberly grumbled in frustration. ¡°Seriously, sir? Are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not threatening you. I¡¯m just giving you a choice.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Nichs, why do you have to force me to be your temporary girlfriend? Are you running out of women?¡±


    ¡°Because all my friends chose you!¡±


    Oh my God.


    So this Mr. Iceman is choosing a girlfriend based on his friends¡¯ choices?


    Absolutely amazing.


    Should I give him a round of apuse?


    ¡°Mr. Nichs, in this world, there are millions of women. Some are beautiful, some are average. Some are annoying, sexy, obnoxious, dumb, smart, kind, and so on. But why me to be your temporary girlfriend?¡± Kimberly retorted.


    Nichs let out a soft sigh. ¡°Because you possess all the qualities and criteria you mentioned earlier.¡±


    ¡°Hah? You¡¯re truly insane!¡±


    ¡°Just average. No need to be too surprised. So, what¡¯s your choice? Do you want to be the temporary girlfriend, or do you want to lose your job and be homeless?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re cunning! Do you think that¡¯s a favorable choice for me? Please, realize you¡¯re resembling and leech right now,¡± Kimberly sneered.


    ¡°Rather than and crocodile?¡±


    Oh, damn!


    Can I pounce on this man in front of me right now?

 NEED HELP

    Alex and Keyra couldn¡¯t stopughing as they listened to what Kimberly had shared in her office earlier this afternoon. As known, almost everything she experienced, she always shared with her two friends. To her, in this world, the two of them were the ones who always faithfully listened to Kimberly¡¯sints. They were also the ones who were always there when Kimberly needed help.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just ept it right away?¡± Keyra protested.


    ¡°Even though this is beneficial, Kimmy. You won¡¯t have to make an effort to chase Mr. Nichs anymore. Moreover, if you reject it, you might get fired, right?¡± Alex chimed in.


    Kimberly sighed in frustration.


    ¡°Okay, I do want to be Mr. Ice¡¯s partner. But it¡¯s not the way to go about it. This is like he¡¯s using me as a shield to avoid his parents. I want him to be sincere and genuinely be my partner, not because there¡¯s an ulterior motive like this!¡±


    Alex smirked.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who used to treat Mr. Nichs as a bet? So now you really like him?¡±


    Kimberly was taken aback. She had indeed sought Nichs¡¯s attention often, but she wasn¡¯t sure if she genuinely liked him or if it was just an obsession from the previous bet between her and Alex.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Lex. Actually, I¡¯m more interested in Mr. Edward than Mr. Nichs. He¡¯s friendlier and more hospitable. He knows how to make people around him feelfortable.¡±


    Keyra shook her head in disagreement.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that Mr. Edward is known as a yboy, Kimmy. Do you want to be his next victim?¡±


    ¡°Well, who knows, after being with me, Mr. Edward might repent and be faithful. No one knows, right?¡±


    Before Keyra could respond, Nichs passed by the three of them. The atmosphere instantly became silent. He paused briefly in front of Kimberly¡¯s desk and then spoke.


    ¡°Alex, pleasee to my office right now.¡± Then he walked towards his office.


    Alex stared at Keyra and Kimberly, slightly puzzled because Nichs usually didn¡¯t directly ask him toe to his office.


    ¡°Is he serious about asking me to his office?¡± Alex asked in confusion.


    Keyra shrugged.


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll be interrogated like I was yesterday. It¡¯s better to go in now before Mr. Nichs gets angry for waiting too long.¡±


    Alexughed and then stepped into Nichs¡¯s office.


    He knocked once before opening the brown door in front of him.


    ¡°Excuse me, Mister,¡± Alex said.


    ¡°Have a seat!¡±


    Casually, Alex took a seat that was facing Nichs¡¯s current position.


    ¡°Could you please help me review these financial graphs before I sign them?¡±


    Alex epted the papers Nichs offered and started reviewing them one by one, making corrections and marking which ones were ready to be signed. This was actually part of Alex¡¯s job, but as Keyra had suggested, he felt there was another reason why Nichs had called him into his office.


    ¡°It seems like you and Keyra are quite close to Kimberly.¡±


    Alex, still busy with the numbers on the graphs, unintentionally smiled. Nichs¡¯s gaze shifted to Alex¡¯s face, and he continued, ¡°You could say that, Mister.¡±


    Nichs nodded.


    ¡°Does Kimberly have a boyfriend?¡± Nichs asked while sipping the tea he had been holding.


    ¡°As far as I know, Kimberly doesn¡¯t have a boyfriend. But many employees from various departments like her.¡±


    ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Nichs choked on the tea he was drinking.


    Realizing it, Alex asked, ¡°Are you okay, Mister?¡±


    Nichs raised his right hand to signal that he was fine.


    ¡°So, Kimberly has a lot of admirers?¡±


    Alex chuckled inwardly; it was quite interesting to tease the famously cold foreign boss.


    ¡°Not many anymore, Mister. Perhaps almost every man in various departments likes Kimberly. ording to the gossip, even Mr. Edward has shown an interest in Kimberly. Many employees have seen Mr. Edward send lunch to Kimberly several times.¡±


    Actually, Alex wasn¡¯t entirely joking. Many employees from various departments had indeed been trying to get Kimberly¡¯s attention. After all, who wouldn¡¯t be interested in a beautiful, independent, and friendly woman like Kimberly?


    As for Edward approaching Kimberly, that wasn¡¯t entirely a joke either. Because some time ago, the Scottish descendant had brought lunch for Kimberly. Well, even though it was only once. For this one, it seemed okay for Alex to exaggerate a bit. He was just curious to see Nichs¡¯s reaction.


    And indeed, Nichs fell for Alex¡¯s words. He clenched his jaw. It was clear he didn¡¯t like it when Alex mentioned Edward¡¯s name. Nichs knew that Edward had been openly trying to flirt with Kimberly.


    Damn! It turns out Edward has been sending Kimberly food behind my back. Haven¡¯t I warned him repeatedly?


    Nichs took a deep breath.


    Wait a minute, am I feeling jealous?


    Unconsciously, Nichs vigorously shook his head.


    No. This isn¡¯t jealousy! I just don¡¯t want my secretary to be hurt by a jerk like Edward.


    This time, Nichs nodded.


    Yes, that¡¯s right. I don¡¯t want my secretary to be Edward¡¯s next target. Never!


    ¡°Mister¡­¡±


    Alex¡¯s call snapped Nichs out of his reverie.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Everything is done on my end. Is there anything else I should do?¡±


    Nichs nced momentarily at the stack of papers that Alex hadpleted before shaking his head.


    ¡°No, you can go back to your office now.¡±


    Just as he was about to leave, Nichs called Alex back.


    ¡°Oh, Lex¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mister?¡±


    ¡°¡­ please tell Kimberly toe in and see me.¡±


    Alex nodded and then exited the room. Not even a minute after Alex¡¯s departure, it was Kimberly¡¯s turn to enter Nichs¡¯s office. Judging by her expression, she still seemed upset with Nichs.


    ¡°Have you thought about my offer?¡± Nichs asked without looking at Kimberly. He was busy checking stock market news on his tablet screen.


    Kimberly took a deep breath before answering.


    ¡°I¡¯ve said it multiple times, I don¡¯t want to get involved in your personal affairs, Mister.¡±


    Nichs¡¯s gaze shifted to Kimberly. It didn¡¯t take long for him to wear a wry smile.


    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re ready to ept the consequences I¡¯ll give you?¡±


    Kimberly stared at Nichs intently, slightly puzzled by the man¡¯s thought process. How could he threaten to fire her if she didn¡¯tply with his wishes?


    Kimberly thought she would sumb to his threat.


    Nichs was mistaken.


    Kimberly was an independent woman who didn¡¯t like being pushed around by men, especially arrogant men like Nichs, who relied on his power to carry out his ns.


    In fact, Kimberly could have helped him if Nichs had been a bit more humble and persuasive yesterday instead of issuing threats when his request was rejected.


    Kimberly nodded.


    ¡°If Mister wants to fire me, go ahead. I will ept that decision.¡±


    Nichs was momentarily stunned. He was just confused about how to make Kimberlyply with his request.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you until tomorrow. If you still refuse my offer, I will reluctantly fire you.¡±


    Kimberly scoffed.


    ¡°Why wait until tomorrow if the answer remains the same?¡±


    ¡°Who knows, maybe after this, you¡¯ll change your mind. No one knows,¡± Nichs replied with a calm expression.


    Change her mind? Of course, it¡¯s possible, as long as you know how, Mr. Ice.


    Kimberly sighed in frustration.


    Beg me, you fool! Don¡¯t leave me like this. You¡¯re so clueless.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Kimberlyzily nced at Nichs.


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else you want to discuss, I¡¯ll return to my desk.¡±


    Nichs shrugged.


    ¡°No, you can go back to your desk.¡±


    *****


    Keyra: [Kimmy, do you want to go home together?]


    Kimberly quickly replied to the message her friend sent.


    Kimberly: [You go ahead, I still have a lot of work]


    Keyra: [Okay. Alex and I will leave first. Bye]


    Kimberly then proceeded to ce each folder containing agreements into the cab not far from Nichs¡¯s office. After that, she organized all her belongings on her desk. She thought that if she were indeed fired tomorrow, she wouldn¡¯t need to bother arranging her things.


    I can¡¯t believe I might get fired over something so trivial.


    That darn Nichs!


    After organizing all the documents, Kimberly grabbed her work bag and prepared to leave. The clock had just struck 7 PM. The building was still bustling because some employees hadn¡¯t left yet or were working overtime.


    Upon reaching the lobby, Kimberly reached for her phone in her zer pocket, opened the app, and ordered a ride-sharing taxi to take her home. She didn¡¯t want to take the risk of using public transportation when it was alreadyte at night.


    She didn¡¯t have to wait long; the taxi she had booked arrived promptly. Kimberly got in quickly.


    After a journey of about twenty minutes, Kimberly was almost home. However, from a distance, she spotted several burly men loitering in front of her boarding house.


    Kimberly knew exactly who they were and what their purpose was for waiting outside her boarding house. Instead of stopping, Kimberly asked the taxi driver to turn around before the burly men noticed her and gave chase.


    Arghh!


    This must be Mario¡¯s doing.


    It seems unsafe to go back to the boarding house tonight.


    Sooner orter, Grandpa will drag me back home.


    Kimberly rubbed her face in frustration.


    It¡¯s not going back to Grandpa Arthur¡¯s house that I¡¯m truly afraid of. Since the passing of her parents, Kimberly had been living with Grandpa Arthur. But if she were to return now, she was certain that she would be forced into a marriage with Mario.


    ¡°What should I do now?¡± Kimberly wondered. Staying at Keyra¡¯s house was highly unlikely. Living in Alex¡¯s apartment? His girlfriend would definitely disapprove. Should she sleep at the office? Kimberly shuddered at the thought. She imagined ghosts haunting the ce.


    Kimberly kept racking her brain, trying to figure out where she could go tonight. Staying in a hotel wasn¡¯t the right option either. Then, a crazy idea suddenly popped into her head. Kimberly quickly grabbed her phone from her bag, found a contact, and dialed.


    After three or four rings, the call was finally answered. ¡°Hello, Randy. I need your help.¡±

 A REQUEST

    ¡°So, you threatened her?¡± Edward asked while epting a ss of wine that Nichs handed to him. Tonight, for some reason, Nichs had asked Edward toe to his apartment.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what else to do to make herply. Just so you know, she isn¡¯t afraid after I threatened her.¡±


    Edward sighed. ¡°You really are clueless, Nick! If there¡¯s a woman who refuses to help you, that doesn¡¯t mean you should threaten her. You should try persuading her, Nichs Alistair!¡±


    Edward couldn¡¯t fathom Nichs¡¯s thought process. When it came to wooing women, both Nichs and Kenzi were equally terrible. It seemed like Edward needed to give them a free course on winning women¡¯s hearts.


    ¡°So, what should I do?¡± Nichs asked, sounding genuinely lost.


    ¡°Why are you being so foolish, Nick? If Kimberly still refuses you tomorrow, you should try begging her a little,¡± Edward advised.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°B-but¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. If necessary, you should even try to charm her. When women say no, it often means they want to be wooed until they say yes. Please, learn to be a bit more sensitive.¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Then, what if Kimberly still refuses my request in the end?¡±


    Before Edward could answer, the apartment¡¯s doorbell rang. Nichs immediately directed his attention to the inte screen beside the door. He saw a woman standing outside, and she was someone he knew very well.


    What does Kimberly wanting here at this hour? Did she change her mind?


    Nichs smiled and promptly opened his apartment door.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Nichs inquired, not inviting Kimberly inside just yet. He let her stand in the doorway.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to discuss,¡± Kimberly replied.


    ¡°Take your time, go ahead and say it now.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me inside first, Nick?¡±


    Nichs shook his head. He had a reason for not inviting Kimberly inside his home. Edward was already inside, and the notorious yboy would likely cause chaos and flirt with Kimberly incessantly.


    ¡°Edward is inside, and I just don¡¯t want him causing trouble when he finds out you¡¯re here.¡±


    Kimberly nodded. ¡°Alright, I just want to let you know that I agree to your request.¡±


    Nichs grinned triumphantly. Finally, Kimberly was willing toply with his previous request. That meant Nichs didn¡¯t need to bother finding another woman to be his temporary girlfriend.


    ¡°But there¡¯s a condition,¡± Kimberly continued.


    Nichs furrowed his brow. ¡°Oh my, are you giving me conditions? What do I need to do?¡±


    Kimberly smiled slyly. ¡°I will agree to all your requests. But in return, allow me to stay in your apartment for some time in the near future.¡±


    Nichs was taken aback by the condition Kimberly proposed. ¡°You¡¯re crazy. Why would you want to stay in my apartment?¡±


    ¡°Think of it as a method acting exercise before your parents actually arrive in Indonesia.¡±


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t ept a woman staying in my apartment. Besides, aren¡¯t you worried people will think we¡¯re living together?¡±


    Kimberly sighed in annoyance. ¡°Oh,e on. It¡¯s 2020. Plus, you live in the most expensive apartment in Indonesia, and your neighbors are mostly expatriates. They don¡¯t have time to meddle in other people¡¯s lives.¡±


    Kimberly was right; Nichs had been living in the most luxurious apartment in Jakarta for a long time. Apart from its strategic location, the apartment boasted various features and amenities that catered to those with deep pockets.


    Living there also meant having neighbors who were not just ordinary folks. Most of the residents were young executives or expatriates working in Indonesia. The majority of the modern apartment dwellers neither knew nor cared about their neighbors, even though they lived right next door.


    Nichs leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. Suspicion gleamed in his eyes. ¡°Why are you so insistent on staying with me? My parents won¡¯t even arrive in Indonesia until next week.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I can¡¯t exin right now. But as I mentioned before, let¡¯s consider this as getting into character before meeting your parents,¡± Kimberly replied.


    Nichs squinted. ¡°You¡¯re not involved in a criminal case and trying to hide out in my apartment, are you?¡±


    Kimberly shot a frustrated look at Nichs. ¡°Oh my goodness, I¡¯m aw-abiding citizen. How could I possibly be involved in a criminal case?¡±


    ¡°Law-abiding citizens don¡¯t stay overnight with strangers,¡± Nichs retorted.


    ¡°I know you; you¡¯re my boss!¡± Kimberly retorted back.


    Nichs fell silent for a moment, still filled with questions about why his secretary suddenly insisted on staying in his apartment.


    Seeing Nichs¡¯s hesitation, Kimberly made her decision. ¡°Are you still refusing my request? Alright, no problem. I¡¯ll ask for help from Mr. Edward. Maybe it¡¯s better to stay at his apartment. Besides, Mr. Edward is unlikely to refuse me,¡± Kimberly threatened.


    ¡°So now you¡¯re threatening me?¡± Nichs asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not threatening; I¡¯m just offering you a little deal.¡±


    Nichs remained silent for quite a while, making Kimberly slightly impatient. ¡°You¡¯re taking too long to think!¡± Kimberly eximed. She decided to pressure Nichs by starting to call Edward, who was currently inside the apartment.


    ¡°Mr. Ed-¡±


    Before Kimberly could finish calling out, her mouth was covered by Nichs¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Alright, I agree to your request. Now go downstairs and wait for me at the restaurant on the first floor. I¡¯ll join you shortly after sending Edward home.¡±


    Kimberly smiled victoriously. ¡°Okay, honey. I¡¯ll be waiting for you downstairs.¡±

 DIGNITY

    Nichs hurriedly entered the Bengawan Restaurant on the first floor of Keraton Residence. From a distance, his eyes caught sight of a woman he knew well, enjoying the night view from behind the restaurant¡¯s window.


    Before approaching, Nichs observed the woman from afar for a moment. His mind was still full of questions. What was the reason his secretary was suddenly so insistent on staying in his apartment? Even now, Kimberly was still wearing her work clothes, indicating she hadn¡¯t returned to her ce yet. This only made Nichs wonder even more about what Kimberly was hiding or nning.


    ¡°Is the view outside so captivating that you didn¡¯t notice my presence?¡± Nichs asked as he took a seat in the restaurant.


    Kimberly suddenly realized and shifted her gaze to where Nichs was sitting. ¡°The view here is beautiful, I like it.¡±


    Nichs crossed his arms. ¡°So, exin everything to me!¡±


    Kimberly raised one of her eyebrows. ¡°Exin what? I think I¡¯ve already told you everything in front of your apartment.¡±


    Nichs sighed. ¡°But you haven¡¯t exined further why you¡¯re so insistent on staying in my apartment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you. We need to deepen our roles as a couple before your parents actually arrive here.¡±


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°What kind of reason is that? Convincing my parents doesn¡¯t require us to live together. Besides, now you seem so enthusiastic about this game, even though you rejected my request tly before. You know? I¡¯m getting more suspicious now!¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness, how many times do I have to convince you? I¡¯m a good woman. So, you don¡¯t need to worry that I¡¯ll be a bother to you in the future.¡±


    With great effort, Kimberly convinced Nichs to allow her to stay in his apartment. But now, he looked at her with a sharp gaze as if he still doubted everything she said.


    Realizing Nichs¡¯s intimidating gaze, Kimberly took a deep breath before speaking. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll tell you the reason, but not now. I¡¯m really tired, and as you can see, I haven¡¯t even changed my clothes yet,¡± Kimberly whispered.


    Kimberly didn¡¯t want to be dishonest with Nichs. However, she wasn¡¯t ready to share her personal story with anyone other than Keyra and Alex. In this world, only the two of them had Kimberly¡¯s utmost trust.


    Nichs gazed at Kimberly closely. ¡°Alright, you owe me an exnation. Nowe with me upstairs.¡± Kimberly nodded and followed Nichs to his apartment.


    Upon reaching the apartment, he immediately instructed Kimberly to enter. She scanned the entire room, examining every neatly arranged piece of furniture in its ce.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve been living here alone all this time?¡± Kimberly asked when she realized there was no one else in Nichs¡¯s apartment.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°As you know, I¡¯m a British citizen with no family in Indonesia. Unlike Kenzi, even though he¡¯s a British citizen, both of his parents live in Indonesia. Besides, some of his father¡¯s family is also from Indonesia.¡±


    Now it was Kimberly¡¯s turn to nod. She understood that it couldn¡¯t have been easy for Nichs to live alone without any family or rtives to help. He had to be self-reliant.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t there any housekeepers here?¡± Kimberly thought it highly unlikely that someone as busy as Nichs could manage an apartment this size without the help of a cleaning service or housekeeper. It was also unlikely that he always ate out.


    ¡°There are, theye from 7 AM to 6 PM,¡± Nichs answered.


    Then he directed Kimberly to the guest room inside his apartment. Despite living alone, he had chosen an apartment with four rooms. In addition to having a private elevator, the apartment had a high-security system. This was what prompted Kimberly to insist on staying with Nichs. This way, Mario or Opa Arthur¡¯s henchmen couldn¡¯t disturb her.


    ¡°You can sleep here,¡± Nichs said, pointing to the room he meant. It was a minimalist-designed room with shades of gray and a queen-sized bed. There was also a small walk-in closet. This would make it easy for Kimberly to store her clothester. However, wait a minute, speaking of clothes, she hadn¡¯t brought a single one with her when she went to Nichs¡¯s house.


    I can¡¯t possibly borrow clothes from this ice-cold.


    But,


    I can¡¯t go back now.


    Mario¡¯s henchmen are probably still waiting outside my boarding house.


    Seeing Kimberly silently staring straight at the bed, Nichs asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is this room not suitable for you? I think it¡¯s better than your room at the boarding house.¡±


    Kimberly sighed. ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m thinking about. I forgot to bring my clothes. So how am I going to change and go to work tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your n now? Do you want to go home to get your clothes? If that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking, you might as well go back. Stop insisting on staying in my apartment.¡±


    Kimberly shook her head. ¡°No, that¡¯s not a good option. I¡¯ve already emphasized that I¡¯ll stay here for a few days. As for my clothes, I can ask one of my friends to send them through a courier.¡±


    Nichs let out a long sigh. ¡°It¡¯s up to you; I¡¯m really fed up with you right now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already said I¡¯ll take care of myself and promise not to be a bother to you. You can hold me to my word,¡± Kimberly said with a sincere expression.


    However, unexpectedly, Kimberly¡¯s stomach growled in the midst of her conversation with Nichs. Kimberly reflexively grimaced in embarrassment, scratching her non-itchy neck.


    ¡°Sorry, I haven¡¯t eaten sincete afternoon. Do you have any food in stock? I¡¯m really hungry right now,¡± Kimberly asked.


    Nichs shook his head once again. ¡°Not even five minutes after you promised not to inconvenience me, and look at the reality now.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Nick. Are you really going to let me go hungry? Do I need to report you to the women¡¯s protectionmission for letting your girlfriend go hungry? Besides, if I starve to death, you¡¯ll be in trouble too, right?¡±


    ¡°Stop your nonsense,¡± Nichs said with an elevated tone. His patience had run out this time.


    ¡°You¡¯re really bothering me!¡± Nichs continued.


    You¡¯re in trouble now, Kimberly! It seems you¡¯ve awakened a sleeping lion.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll fast tonight. No need to get angry!¡± Kimberly said with a rxed expression. Shepletely ignored the now irritated Nichs.


    ¡°I¡¯ll order food for you from the restaurant on the first floor of the apartment. Now, quickly ask your friend to send your clothes, and you can take a shower or whatever you want. I¡¯ll call you when your food is ready.¡± Then Nichs left, leaving Kimberly behind.


    ¡°Such a grouch!¡± Kimberly muttered under her breath.


    ¡°Kimberly!!! Do you think I didn¡¯t hear that, huh?¡± Nichs shouted from a distance. Quickly, Kimberly closed the bedroom door and locked it.


    Damn! This time, Kimberly only dared to curse in her mind.


    ***


    After taking a shower and waiting for about thirty minutes, Nichs knocked on Kimberly¡¯s bedroom door.


    ¡°Your food has arrived; you can eat now,¡± Nichs said.


    There was a moment of silence.


    Kimberly actually heard Nichs¡¯s words, but she was currently confused.


    ¡°Kimberly¡­¡± Nichs called again. ¡°¡­ you¡¯re not asleep, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be out soon,¡± Kimberly replied.


    Nichs waited for her at the dining table.


    Kimberly was still debating whether she was confident enough to leave the room now. There was a reason that made her uncertain at the moment.


    What should I do? Should I stille out? But I¡¯m really hungry right now.


    Kimberly took a deep breath, trying to convince herself.


    Okay, rx, Kimberly. Just treat it like your own house.


    Not long after, Kimberly came out, and once again, Nichs was taken aback by Kimberly¡¯s appearance, as she was wearing only a bathrobe.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Kimberly asked as she sat down at the dining table. She tried her best to maintain aposed expression.


    ¡°Oh my God, you¡¯re only wearing a bathrobe; you¡¯re really crazy!¡± Nichs protested.


    While chewing her food, Kimberly tried to speak. ¡°The clothes I was wearing earlier identally got wet. I can¡¯t wear them, or I¡¯ll get sick. Besides, even if I wear a bathrobe, you won¡¯t be tempted, will you?¡±


    Nichs sneered. ¡°Sorry, you¡¯re not my type.¡±


    Instead of getting offended, Kimberly chuckled at Nichs¡¯s words. ¡°Really? If I were to open this bathrobe in front of you, would you still not be tempted?¡± Kimberly challenged.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, Kimberly! If you forget, I¡¯m your boss. Do you want me to fire you?¡±


    Kimberly pouted in annoyance. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m tired of hearing your threats!¡±


    ¡°Hurry up and finish your meal; do you think I¡¯m not tired of waiting for you like this?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to wait for me; you can go rest.¡±


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°No! I have to make sure that after eating, you clean up my kitchen. Just so you know, I hate things being messy.¡±


    Nichs¡¯s words seemed to be true. As far as Kimberly¡¯s eyes could see, Nichs¡¯s apartment was neat and clean for a man¡¯s standards. It was very rare for a man to maintain the tidiness of such arge space without the help of household assistants.


    After arguing with Nichs for a while, Kimberly chose to remain silent and enjoyed the food served on the table until it waspletely gone. On thest bite, Kimberly was surprised when Nichs suddenly reached for a tissue on the table and gently wiped the edges of Kimberly¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Easy, no one is going to steal your food,¡± Nichs said, still touching the corners of the woman¡¯s lips in front of him.


    Kimberly was briefly silent, enjoying the treatment Nichs was giving her.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kimberly replied softly. She didn¡¯t expect the usually cold Nichs to be this sweet.


    ¡°No problem,¡± Nichs replied shortly. Then, not long after, Kimberly¡¯s heart began to beat faster. Who would have thought that Nichs would move his face closer to Kimberly¡¯s, just a few centimeters away?


    Oh my. Is this Mr. Ice going to kiss me? Is this like a scene I often see in Korean dramas?


    Oh my God!


    What should I do?


    I¡¯m really nervous now.


    Should I close my eyes?


    Kimberly followed her instincts, closing her eyes when she felt the warmth of Nichs¡¯s breath on her skin.


    Dear God.


    I might go crazy.


    Nichs is about to kiss me.


    ¡°It seems there¡¯s a piece of spring onion stuck between your teeth,¡± Nichs whispered.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Kimberly immediately opened her eyes and found Nichsughing at her antics earlier.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Kimberly! You embarrassed yourself twice. Now you¡¯ve really lost your dignity.¡±

 LIVING TOGETHER

    Kimberly woke up from her sleep after feeling a pain in her stomach. She gently rubbed it until the pain gradually subsided. She could have gone back to sleep, but she thought it was already five in the morning, so she decided to get up and head straight to the bathroom.


    After finishing her shower and getting dressed, Kimberly tiptoed her way to the kitchen. She just didn¡¯t want to make any noise that might disturb Nichs¡¯s sleep. He had scolded her enough the night before. She couldn¡¯t bear to hear him grumble again so early in the morning.


    Kimberly paused in one corner of the kitchen ind. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± she thought, ¡°Is his supply of groceriesplete?¡± Then she reached out and began opening the drawers in the refrigerator, contemting what to cook for breakfast.


    ¡°What should I cook?¡± she pondered. ¡°I don¡¯t even know Nichs¡¯s taste in food.¡±


    Kimberly stood in front of the fridge for quite some time before finally deciding to make toast with eggs and bacon. Even though she hadn¡¯t put on any makeup after her shower, her beauty still radiated from her face. Her usual brown hair, which was usually left flowing, was now tied up in a casual bun at the top of her head. She let a few strands fall to the side of her face. As she cooked, she hummed softly, creating a soothing atmosphere for anyone who heard her.


    ¡°Finished,¡± she said to herself. ¡°Now it¡¯s time to change.¡±


    After finishing cooking breakfast, Kimberly returned to her room and quickly changed into her work clothes. She hurriedly got ready and applied makeup to her face. When everything was done, Kimberly grabbed her work bag and shoes before returning to the dining area. Just as she was about to leave, Nichs was seen opening the door to his room.


    ¡°You look all set,¡± Nichs greeted her in front of his room.


    ¡°I¡¯ve even prepared breakfast for you,¡± Kimberly replied.


    Kimberly headed to the dining room, with Nichs following closely behind.


    ¡°What did you cook?¡± Nichs asked as he adjusted his tie around his neck.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about your preferences, so I¡¯ve prepared toast with eggs and bacon,¡± Kimberly answered.


    Seeing her conversation partner still struggling with his tie, Kimberly looked at him affectionately. Then she approached Nichs with the intention of helping him.


    ¡°Do you want me to help you?¡±


    Nichs shifted his gaze toward Kimberly. ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t inconvenience you.¡±


    Without replying, Kimberly reached for the tie knot that Nichs had been struggling with. With two quick moves, she neatly fixed the tie around Nichs¡¯s neck.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Why does it take you so long for something as simple as this?¡± Kimberly teased.


    Nichs chuckled softly. ¡°Alright, starting tomorrow, your duties will increase.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Kimberly asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be in charge of tying my tie before heading to the office,¡± Nichs replied casually, then began to sit down to enjoy the meal that had been set before him.


    ¡°Unfair!¡± Kimberly muttered under her breath, but Nichs ignored her.


    During the meal, Kimberly couldn¡¯t help but continuously watch Nichs as he calmly ate in front of her. She thought that he looked quite handsome when he behaved like this.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep staring at me like that. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll fall in love with me,¡± Nichs remarked, realizing that the woman in front of him had been continuously observing him.


    Kimberly scoffed in annoyance. ¡°Overconfident!¡±


    ¡°Confidence is necessary for a leader. Besides, ¡®insecure¡¯ and ¡®pessimistic¡¯ aren¡¯t in my vocabry,¡± Nichs exined.


    ¡°Stop with your lecture and finish up so I can clean up after your meal,¡± Kimberly ordered.


    Nichs ced his fork and knife down simultaneously. ¡°No need to clean up. My house assistant will be here shortly. You better get ready; we¡¯re leaving for work now.¡±


    Kimberly furrowed her brow. ¡°Are you sure we¡¯re going to work together? Aren¡¯t you worried about what other employees might think if they see us together?¡±


    Nichs chuckled again at Kimberly¡¯s words. ¡°Everyone at Alpha Beta knows you¡¯re my personal secretary, so there¡¯s no need to hide it if we go to work together, stupid girl!¡±


    Kimberly widened her eyes. ¡°What did you just call me?¡± she asked indignantly, while the one being questioned got up and left without saying anything, leaving Kimberly still seated in the dining room.


    ¡°In three seconds, if you don¡¯te out, I¡¯ll lock you inside the apartment!¡± Nichs shouted from a distance. Unsurprisingly, Kimberly quickly followed Nichs, who was already prepared to leave.


    ***


    ¡°Kimmy, is everything okay with you?¡± Keyra asked when she noticed her friend hadn¡¯t touched her lunch and had been silent for a while.


    Kimberly shook her head weakly. ¡°My stomach hurts a lot.¡±


    Alex, who had also been observing Kimberly¡¯s pale face, finally spoke up. ¡°Are you sick? Should we take you to the health unit on the second floor?¡± Alex offered.


    Once again, Kimberly shook her head. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just my perioding soon, that¡¯s why my stomach hurts so much. Or it could be because I skipped dinnerst night.¡±


    ¡°Alright, for now, eat your lunch, and then we can head back to the office,¡± Keyra suggested.


    Kimberly finally obeyed Keyra¡¯smand and started eating. It wasn¡¯t the first time she had experienced stomach pain or cramps. Usually, every time her period was approaching, she would experience this kind of pain. But for some reason, the stomachache today was worse than usual.


    After finishing lunch, Kimberly and her two friends decided to return to the office building. However, as soon as they entered the lobby, Kimberly suddenly fainted, causing panic among the other employees present.


    Nichs and Edward, who had just returned from lunch as well, looked puzzled when they saw themotion near the lobby entrance. Curious, they approached the crowd.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Edward asked one of the passing employees.


    ¡°Kimberly fainted, sir.¡±


    Hearing Kimberly¡¯s name mentioned, Nichs immediately pushed through the crowd ahead of him.


    ¡°Why did she faint?¡± Nichs asked Keyra.


    ¡°Kimberlyined of stomach pain earlier. It might be cramps before her period, as she usually experiences,¡± Keyra exined.


    Without further dy, Nichs immediately carried Kimberly¡¯s body and then took her directly to where his car was parked. Meanwhile, Edward followed his friend¡¯s steps from behind.


    ¡°Please open my car door, Ed,¡± Nichsmanded.


    ¡°Where are you taking her? Isn¡¯t the health unit on the second floor of the building?¡± Edward asked, confused but still extending his hand to open the car door.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking her to the doctor.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll apany you,¡± Edward offered.


    ¡°No need, you have to stay at the office. There¡¯s a meeting in a little while. Help me handle it.¡±


    Edward nodded in agreement. ¡°If there¡¯s anything, you can let me know.¡±


    Nichs then drove his car quickly with Kimberly.


    ¡°How is she, doctor?¡± Nichs asked the doctor examining Kimberly.


    ¡°It seems to be just a regr stomach cramp. But if this stomach cramp continues for more than five days, you should take her to the hospital for further examination.¡±


    Nichs nodded and shortly after asked again, ¡°But this isn¡¯t serious, right?¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you to keep an eye on her symptoms. See if the pain persists or goes away in the next five days.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, thank you for your exnation, doc.¡±


    The doctor then left Nichs alone in the room. Yes, the man didn¡¯t take Kimberly to the hospital; he chose to take Kimberly back to the apartment and intentionally called a private doctor to examine her.


    Nichs couldn¡¯t help but worry. He vividly remembered when Kimberly fainted out of fear some time ago. Now, she had fainted again, but with a different issue.


    Nichs sat down on the edge of the bed, not far from where Kimberlyy. He stared intently at her pale face. His eyes kept gazing, and his hand reached out to adjust the strands of hair that had fallen on Kimberly¡¯s face.


    Nichs smiled unconsciously.


    Beautiful.


    But s, you¡¯re too tomboyish for a woman.


    Your demeanor is more like a man¡¯s.


    The man smiled again before his expression changed when the phone rang.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    ¡°How is Kimberly?¡± Edward asked.


    ¡°Kimberly is fine.¡±


    A relieved sigh could be heard on the other end.


    ¡°Thank goodness. Which hospital is she at? I¡¯ll visit her after work,¡± Edward asked.


    ¡°No need to visit her, Kimberly is fine, Ed. She¡¯s not in the hospital.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Edward asked, sounding puzzled.


    ¡°Kimberly is at my apartment; she¡¯s staying with me for now,¡± Nichs said casually. His conversation partner on the other end was shocked and even doubted what he heard.


    ¡°You¡¯re not joking, right?¡± Edward double-checked.


    Nichszily replied, ¡°Kimberly is indeed staying at my apartment for the time being. Don¡¯t ask too many questions, Ed. I¡¯m also confused about how to exin it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll drop by your apartment after work,¡± Edward replied.


    ¡°No need to-¡± Before Nichs could finish his sentence, Edward rudely hung up, leaving Nichs cursing inwardly.


    Damn!


    He hung up without even listening to what I had to say.


    Nichs lost hisposure, even though he was usually the one to end the call before Edward finished speaking. Could it be that Edward was deliberately retaliating for Nichs¡¯s earlier behavior?


    ****

 KIMBERLY BOYFRIEND

    The first thing Kimberly felt when she woke up was a headache. She blinked her eyes several times until her consciousness fully gathered. She briefly looked around the room and concluded that she was at Nichs¡¯s house now. However, what she remembered was not the room she had slept inst night. As far as she knew, her bedroom was gray, not ck mixed with white like this. So, whose room was she in now?


    ¡°Are you awake?¡±


    A deep voice sounded clearly in Kimberly¡¯s ears. Searching for the source of the voice, Kimberly found the man sitting on the sofa, sipping coffee in his hand.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t my room, is it?¡± Kimberly asked.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Yes, this is my bedroom,¡± Nichs replied. ¡°I originally wanted to put you in your room, but it was locked. Fortunately, the spare key was inside.¡±


    Kimberly suddenly remembered that she had intentionally locked her room this morning and had put the spare key in her work bag. It wasn¡¯t surprising, as it was a habit she often did when leaving the house.


    ¡°Thank you, and I¡¯m sorry for causing you trouble,¡± Kimberly said.


    Nichs got up from his sitting position.


    ¡°No need to thank me; consider it a role-ying exercise as a lover,¡± Nichs said. Kimberly¡¯s face turned red involuntarily upon hearing Nichs¡¯s words. She didn¡¯t expect him to say such a thing.


    ¡°Can you get up now?¡± Nichs asked, and Kimberly nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling better than before.¡±


    ¡°In that case, change your clothes now, then go to the dining room. You need to eat and take your medicine.¡±


    While Nichs waited in the dining room, Kimberly quickly changed her work clothes into casual attire she usually wore at home. When she entered the dining room, Nichs had to swallow hard again. Last night, Kimberly casually had dinner wearing just a bathrobe, and now she was sitting casually in a thin cotton tank top paired with knee-length denim shorts. She didn¡¯t seem to care about Nichs¡¯s current struggle to fend off all the strange thoughts in his mind.


    Stay strong, my God¡¯s servant.


    Nichs kept repeating that sentence in his heart.


    After all, I¡¯m a normal man.


    How could she dress so minimally in front of me?


    I mustn¡¯t pounce on her.


    Realizing that the man in front of her remained silent and didn¡¯t say anything, Kimberly wondered.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating?¡±


    Nichs shook his head.


    ¡°Just finish your meal, so you can recover quickly. You¡¯re quite a hassle when you¡¯re sick.¡±


    ¡°I can take care of myself,¡± Kimberly whispered softly.


    Nichs smirked.


    ¡°Oh, really? If you forget, this is the second time you¡¯ve inconvenienced me. It turns out you can¡¯t keep your word,¡± Kimberly chose to remain silent. She acted as if she had no appetite to respond to Nichs¡¯sments as she usually would. Maybe it was because she still felt weak, so she let Nichs talk as much as he wanted.


    Realizing that Kimberly remained silent after hearing his words, Nichs was puzzled. His intention was to mock her so that she would get angry and respond as usual. He preferred Kimberly when she was always angry and protested when he told her something.


    Kimberly turned away from her food and looked at Nichs for a moment before reaching for the spoon in her bowl.


    ¡°Do you want to try it?¡± Suddenly, in the silence between the two of them, Kimberly offered Nichs the food she was eating.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°No, you go ahead and eat.¡±


    It¡¯s not that Nichs didn¡¯t want to ept Kimberly¡¯s offer. It¡¯s just that she was eating porridge right now. Nichs really disliked anything rted to porridge. He remembered when he was a child and when he was sick, his mother always forced him to eat porridge for days. That¡¯s why he hated porridge so much.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious; you should try it,¡± Kimberly seemed determined not to give up this time.


    ¡°Delicious? I feel like a baby or an elderly person with no teeth when eating porridge like this,¡± Nichs protested.


    This time, Kimberly immediately scooped up some porridge from her bowl and directed it right towards Nichs. ¡°Just try it once; I¡¯m not lying, it¡¯s delicious,¡± Kimberly coaxed.


    Nichs reluctantly responded, ¡°Alright, just one bite.¡± Kimberly immediately fed him the spoonful of porridge she had scooped earlier, observing how Nichs struggled to chew the porridge she offered.


    On the other hand, Nichs resigned himself to enjoying the taste of the food he hadn¡¯t touched in so long.


    ¡°How is it? Tasty, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kimberly asked.


    ¡°Not too bad, even though it still tastes the same. If you hadn¡¯t forced me, I might have thrown up by now,¡± Nichs said. He purposely dramatized it to get Kimberly to stop offering.


    Kimberly chuckled at Nichs¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°In that case, try thissagna instead. I¡¯ll feed you.¡± Kimberly scooped up some beefsagna from her bowl and directed it toward Nichs¡¯s mouth. However, before Nichs could ept the bite, repeated knocks on the door from outside forced the two of them to stop eating.


    ¡°Who¡¯s visiting at this time of the evening!¡± Nichs muttered. In his heart, he had already cursed and cursed anyone who was now at the front door. How could they interrupt him and Kimberly while they were enjoying their meal together?


    As the knocking at the door grew louder, Nichs walked quickly while creating thousands of curses in his mind. Just you wait; if it¡¯s not important, I swear I¡¯ll m the door shut.


    ¡°Why did it take you so long to open the door?¡± said the man who turned out to be Edward. He looked around as if searching for Kimberly.


    ¡°I told you, there¡¯s no need to visit Kimberly. She¡¯s fine; now go home. Your presence is already bothering me,¡± Nichs ordered.


    Actually, that wasn¡¯t the real reason Nichs declined Edward¡¯s visit. He just didn¡¯t want a notorious yboy like Edward to meet Kimberly in her current state of minimal clothing. The man could easily be tempted, and Nichs had to prevent that from happening. He was not willing for his friend to have impure thoughts about Kimberly.


    No.


    I won¡¯t let Edward meet Kimberly this time.


    Edward shook his head firmly. ¡°I have to see Kimberly first. I need to make sure she¡¯s okay.¡±


    Nichs raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who are you to Kimberly that you have the obligation to check on her?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡­ just consider me her friend. Or you can also consider me her boss or her secret admirer; it doesn¡¯t matter. The important thing is I want to see her right now.¡±


    Edward tried to move forward to enter Nichs¡¯s apartment. Quickly, Nichs blocked him by pushing his body. ¡°Kimberly is sleeping, Ed. You can see her at the office tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the harm in meeting her for a moment, Nick? Besides, you¡¯re not officially her boyfriend yet, right?¡± Edward protested.


    Nichs grumbled in frustration.


    ¡°In that case, consider me Kimberly¡¯s boyfriend starting from this moment. That¡¯s why I forbid anyone, especially any man, from seeing my girlfriend!¡±


    Just as Edward was about to reply to his opponent¡¯s statement, Nichs forcefully closed the apartment door.


    Damn!


    You made me think of wanting to steal Kimberly away from you, Nick.

 IN YOUR DREAM

    Nichs had just driven his car away from the Keraton Residence. This morning, he chose to drive himself without the assistance of Randy, his personal driver. Luckily, today was unlike the usual; the city streets appeared so empty that it made it easy for him to reach his destination quickly. The song ¡°Thinking out Loud¡± by Ed Sheeran yed softly throughout the journey to the office.


    Beside him, Kimberly seemed to be enjoying the song while gazing out of the window. Her eyes didn¡¯t blink as she watched the morning traffic hustle by. So engrossed was she that she didn¡¯t notice Nichs sneak nces at her several times.


    After parking their car neatly, Kimberly and Nichs hurriedly got out and walked side by side into the building¡¯s lobby. There, some employees whispered while keeping a close eye on their every move. Unlike Nichs, who appeared indifferent, Kimberly felt a bit awkward. She didn¡¯t like the fact that some employees kept staring at her.


    ¡°If you¡¯re still not feeling well, you can rest right away. Plus, there are no meetings today,¡± Nichs said as they entered the executive elevator.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you multiple times, I¡¯m fine. I promise not to bother you this time.¡±


    Nichs smiled wryly.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired of hearing your promises, Kimmy. Every time you finish making a promise, at the same time, you manage to make my life more difficult.¡±


    Kimberly looked at Nichs in annoyance.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t worry. This time, I¡¯ll keep my word,¡± Kimberly said casually.


    Just as they exited the elevator, from a distance, Nichs noticed the presence of a man he had been avoiding. The man was now sitting casually at Kimberly¡¯s desk.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Nichs inquired before fully entering his office.


    Edward stood up and approached Kimberly.


    ¡°Waiting for you and also making sure that my beautiful secretary here is doing well.¡±


    ¡°Kimberly is just fine, Ed,¡± Nichs quickly responded.


    ¡°It would be better if youe to my office now. There¡¯s important work we need toplete,¡± Edward continued.


    Seeing Edward standing his ground, Nichs quickly approached and pulled Edward¡¯s arm to get him to follow into the room. Meanwhile, Kimberly could only smile at the absurd behavior of the two adults in front of her.


    ¡°Nick, can¡¯t you let me talk to Kimberly first? I¡¯m really worried about her condition,¡± Edward looked annoyed as Nichs forcibly pulled him and now instructed him to sit.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you not to disturb Kimberly, Ed. How many times do I need to remind you?¡±


    Edward snorted.


    ¡°Well then, before we start working, please exin to me how Kimberly ended up living with you?¡±


    Nichs leaned back in his chair, momentarily silent upon hearing Edward¡¯s question. This particr friend of his wouldn¡¯t leave until he got a thorough answer. Edward was always like that, too curious about everything.


    ¡°For your information, I also don¡¯t understand why Kimberly insisted on staying in my apartment. I¡¯ve refused her multiple times and asked for an exnation, but she hasn¡¯t been willing to tell me,¡± Nichs said.


    Edward stroked his chin thoughtfully. He seemed serious while listening to Nichs¡¯s exnation.


    ¡°This is somewhat strange. So, you just epted her to live in your apartment like that?¡±


    ¡°You yourself said Kimberly is fine, right? Well, as she put it, let¡¯s consider it a deeper role y before meeting my parents,¡± Nichs replied casually.


    ¡°So, Kimberly agreed to be your temporary girlfriend?¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt, maybe it will add some chemistry between us.¡±


    Edward chuckled at Nichs¡¯s response.


    ¡°Nick, you¡¯re really something. Why don¡¯t you just make Kimberly your real girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not ready formitment, Ed. I¡¯m afraid of getting hurt again like in the past,¡± Nichs admitted honestly.


    Edward fell silent for a moment. He nced at the door when a knock was heard. Kimberly entered, bringing two cups of tea. After serving them, she politely excused herself to leave.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Edward raised his tea cup. ¡°You saw it just now, Kimberly is quite different from Briana. I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t hurt you,¡± Edward said as he sipped his tea.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see how things go in the future, Ed.¡±


    Edward smiled in silence.


    Well,


    If you¡¯re slow to realize,


    I swear I¡¯ll steal Kimberly from you, Nick.


    ***


    Kimberly spent her lunch with her two friends. For her, something was missing if she didn¡¯t share her day with them. Only Alex and Keyra knew about Kimberly being the sole heir to the Rayder business empire. So far, Arthur Rayder had kept Kimberly¡¯s existence hidden. Not many people knew that Kimberly was the sole heir to the Rayder business empire. He did it on purpose to protect his only granddaughter from rivals who wanted to bring her down. This was also the main reason Arthur wanted to marry Kimberly off quickly, so that someone would take care of and continue his business after he was gone.


    ¡°Are you sure they¡¯re Mario¡¯s men?¡± Keyra asked.


    Kimberly nodded. ¡°Who else if not Mario? I¡¯m sure this is all Opa Arthur¡¯smand,¡± Kimberly replied.


    ¡°Thinking about it, it seems like Mario has known about your whereabouts for a while. But why did he only send people to pick you up now, Kimmy?¡± Alex seemed puzzled this time.


    Kimberly shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe he¡¯s tired of ying hide and seek with me, Lex.¡±


    ¡°By the way, about your story yesterday, how do you feel about living under the same roof as Mr. Iceman?¡± Seeing her friend¡¯s expression change, Alex tried to change the subject. As usual, he was always good at handling situations like this.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m curious about what you¡¯ve been up to. Both of you are single, after all,¡± Keyra added.


    Kimberly shook her head. ¡°Nothing much. Once we got to his apartment, Mr. Ice Cube spent most of his time in his office. Just so you know, I only see him during dinner or breakfast.¡±


    Keyra and Alex looked at Kimberly in disbelief.


    ¡°I swear, by anything sacred. You both know I¡¯m a good girl,¡± Kimberly assured them.


    ¡°So, does Mr. Iceman know your reasons? Why did you insist on living in his apartment? Isn¡¯t he suspicious of you? You initially declined, and now you suddenly ept and insist on living together? A sane person would definitely be suspicious,¡± Keyra remarked.


    Alexughed upon hearing Keyra¡¯sment. ¡°I agree, if I were Mr. Nichs, I would definitely be suspicious. Who wouldn¡¯t when a sane person insists on living with their boss?¡±


    Kimberly reached for a French fry on the table and yfully stuffed it into Alex¡¯s mouth. ¡°So, you think I¡¯m not sane?¡±


    Keyra and Alexughed together. ¡°Well, what can we say, you¡¯re the weirdest and bravest woman we know, Kimmy.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Mr. Ice Cube is definitely suspicious. He even rejected me t out yesterday. Just so you know, I pulled out all the stops to persuade him, but it all failed,¡± Kimberly said.


    Keyra looked puzzled at Kimberly¡¯s words. ¡°So, what made Mr. Iceman finally agree to let you stay in his apartment?¡±


    Kimberly leaned in and whispered, ¡°I threatened him. I said if he didn¡¯t allow me to stay in his apartment, I would move into Mr. Edward¡¯s apartment.¡±


    ¡°Did Mr. Iceman agree to your request?¡± Keyra asked.


    Kimberly nodded. ¡°Now I know, if I want my requests to be followed, I might just sell Mr. Edward¡¯s name again.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Alex eximed, and they all burst intoughter.


    ¡°Oh, speaking of Mr. Iceman,¡± Keyra spoke up again. ¡°His behavior yesterday, suddenly carrying you, caused quite amotion in the entire building, Kimmy,¡± she continued.


    ¡°Yeah, in other words, you¡¯ve broken the hearts of all the female employees at Alpha Beta, Kimmy,¡± Alex added.


    Kimberlyughed. ¡°I felt that way too when I entered the building this morning. It seemed like everyone was giving me unfriendly looks. But let it be, sooner orter, I¡¯ll be Mrs. Alistair as well, right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a dreamer!¡± Keyra and Alex chimed in together, making Kimberlyugh even more.

 DINNER

    Kimberly thoroughly enjoyed the dinner that the maids had prepared for her. Among the numerous options on the menu, she chose tofu stew and shrimp dim sum to savor. It was no secret that she preferred Chinese food over Western cuisine.


    Seated across from her was Mario, equally engrossed in his dinner. He had been at Kimberly¡¯s house since this afternoon, as they always spent their weekends together. Typically, they would go out for a stroll, but for some reason, Grandpa Arthur had insisted they stay home today. There seemed to be something important he wanted to discuss.


    Amid their mealtime activities, Arthur approached them. He took a seat at the head of the table and sipped the green tea specially prepared for him.


    ¡°Finish your meals, you two. There¡¯s something I need to talk to you about.¡±


    Kimberly averted her gaze.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter that¡¯s so important, Grandpa?¡±


    Arthur nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s very important.¡±


    Meanwhile, as Kimberly continued eating, Mario decided to put down his fork and spoon on his te. He sat up straight, seemingly eager to hear what Arthur had to say.


    ¡°Kimberly, you know as well as I do. I¡¯m getting quite old, and I can¡¯t continue to manage the Rayder Group on my own. Here, I want you-¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Kimberly interrupted. She stared intently at Arthur. ¡°¡­ Grandpa, you must be wanting to discuss marriage, right?¡±


    Arthur nodded again, and this time, Kimberly stopped eating altogether.


    ¡°Grandpa wants you to get married soon,¡± Arthur continued.


    ¡°I knew it. One day, you¡¯d pressure me into marriage. So, do you already have a candidate? Because I can guess that you¡¯ve arranged a suitable match, just like other parents,¡± Kimberly said with a t expression, then reached for her drink.


    As everyone knew, wealthy tycoons usually arranged marriages for their offspring for business reasons. The aim was to protect or even expand their business power, so they often only agreed to matches with equally influential families.


    ¡°Grandpa wants you to marry Mario.¡±


    ¡°Cough¡­¡± Kimberly choked upon hearing Arthur¡¯s words. Meanwhile, Mario remained still, choosing to remain silent before he was prompted to speak.


    ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re joking, right?¡± Kimberly eximed.


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Arthur replied curtly.


    Kimberly gave Arthur a sharp look.


    ¡°How could I possibly marry Mario? He¡¯s my best friend, Grandpa. I can¡¯t marry him. Besides, Mario would never agree to this crazy n!¡± Kimberly eximed, her tone rising.


    Arthur smiled, his face still calm for the moment.


    ¡°Who said Mario wouldn¡¯t agree to this n? We haven¡¯t even asked him yet,¡± Arthur said. Then, the elderly man shifted his gaze to Mario. ¡°What about you? Would you agree if Grandpa arranged a marriage between you and Kimberly?¡±


    Mario looked intently at Kimberly¡¯s face, took a slow breath, and replied.


    ¡°If Grandpa believes it¡¯s for the best, I will ept and follow whatever Grandpamands,¡± Mario said confidently.


    Kimberly clenched her jaw in frustration.


    ¡°Mario, you¡¯re absolutely insane! We can¡¯t possibly get married. We¡¯ve been friends since childhood. I really don¡¯t want to marry you,¡± Kimberly shouted.


    ¡°Grandpa, stop this,¡± Kimberly Rayder uttered.


    ¡°Whatever you want to say, Grandpa, my decision is firm. I will never, ever be Mario¡¯s wife, period!¡±


    Arthur Rayder¡¯s expression hardened. He pressed his lips together firmly. ¡°You know I¡¯ve never epted rejection, and no matter how strongly you refuse, I will still arrange your marriage to Mario.¡±


    Kimberly pushed her chair back and rose from the dining table in annoyance.


    ¡°Kimberly, I¡¯m not finished speaking!¡± Arthur shouted. But she ignored him and chose to leave.


    Since the incident at the dining table, the next day Kimberly decided to leave discreetly, leaving behind all her possessions and wealth to avoid Arthur, who wanted to marry her off to Mario.


    ¡°Kimberly¡­¡±


    Nichs called, waving his right hand right in front of her face. He had called Kimberly¡¯s name more than twice.


    ¡°Kimberly Rayder!¡±


    ¡°Sick!¡± Kimberly eximed and, not long after, reflexively covered her mouth because she had unconsciously yelled at the man in front of her.


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t believe you daydream during work. I pay you to be a secretary, not a daydreamer like this,¡± Nichs grumbled.


    Kimberly sighed in frustration. ¡°I¡­ uh, I¡¯m sorry, Mister. Besides, this is break time, so it¡¯s not a problem if I daydream.¡±


    ¡°Okay, forget it. Please reschedule all my appointments for today; I need to leave now,¡± Nichs said.


    Kimberly looked puzzled. ¡°Where are you going? Is it really urgent? It¡¯s unusual for you to suddenly cancel all your appointments.¡±


    ¡°I have to pick up my parents right away.¡±


    Kimberly was taken aback by Nichs¡¯s response. ¡°You mean your parents have arrived in Indonesia already? Today? Weren¡¯t they supposed to arrive the day after tomorrow?¡± she asked with a worried expression.


    Nichs took a deep breath. ¡°They rescheduled their ns because they want to stay longer.¡±


    Kimberly closed her eyes for a moment and sighed in frustration. ¡°If your parents areing this soon, where am I supposed to stay? I haven¡¯t even found a recement ce to live.¡±


    Nichs chuckled softly. Truthfully, he was quite pleased to see Kimberly¡¯s worried expression. For some reason, he found it endearing.


    ¡°That¡¯s not my concern, and it¡¯s not me who asked you to stay in my apartment. So, you¡¯ll have to figure it out yourself.¡±


    Kimberly fell silent upon hearing Nichs¡¯s words. A sudden headache hit her. She had beenfortable lingering in Nichs¡¯s apartment instead of looking for a new ce to stay. If she returned to her rented ce, she was sure Mario¡¯s goons woulde and force her to go back to Grandpa Arthur¡¯s house.


    Unlucky.


    Can¡¯t they leave me in peace?


    I just want to live normally.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Tsk, you¡¯re daydreaming again, Kimberly!¡± Nichs clicked his tongue. He couldn¡¯t understand what his secretary was daydreaming about this time.


    ¡°I¡¯m just thinking about where to sleep tonight,¡± Kimberly replied weakly.


    Nichs observed Kimberly. She seemed less enthusiastic this time. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what she was hiding from him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. While my parents are in Indonesia, they¡¯re staying at a hotel, so you won¡¯t be disced,¡± Nichs assured her.


    Kimberly furrowed her brow. ¡°You¡¯re not kidding, are you?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡± Nichs replied.


    Kimberly held back a smile. ¡°So, that means I can still stay in your apartment?¡± she asked, seeking confirmation.


    ¡°I won¡¯t kick you out as long as you¡¯re willing to work with me. After this, you can go back and get ready,¡± Nichs said.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early? It¡¯s only two in the afternoon,¡± Kimberly protested.


    Nichs shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Don¡¯t women take a long time to get ready? I¡¯ve even prepared a dress for you. You can pick it up from my bed.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve even prepared clothes for me?¡± Kimberly asked in amazement.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to send the wrong message again like you did the other day. I¡¯m just being considerate.¡±


    Kimberly looked down in embarrassment. Nichs had brought up the embarrassing incident from the past, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed. After all this time, Nichs was finally bringing it up.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go now. Remember, you need to be ready by six in the evening. I¡¯ming home just to shower and then take you to meet my parents for dinner,¡± Nichs said before leaving her room.


    ***

 GET MARRIED

    Kimberly repeatedly checked her reflection in the mirror. She tried to see if there was anythingcking in her appearance this time. After careful consideration, everything seemed just right, not too much or too little.


    Yes, this is more than perfect, isn¡¯t it?


    Don¡¯t be nervous, Kimberly.


    Just think of it as a meeting with a big client.


    Yes, let¡¯s just think of it that way.


    Kimberly kept repeating these thoughts to herself until the door to her room was knocked from the outside.


    ¡°Just a moment,¡± Kimberly replied.


    Quickly, she grabbed her ck handbag from the nightstand and made her way to open the bedroom door. There stood Nichs, waiting for her.


    ¡°Are we leaving now?¡± Kimberly asked.


    For a moment, Nichs seemed taken aback by what he saw. ¡°You can be beautiful too, I see,¡± he praised.


    ¡°Of course, and I¡¯m sure one day you¡¯ll fall in love with me for real,¡± Kimberly replied sarcastically.


    Nichs chuckled at Kimberly¡¯s response. ¡°Oh, really? That means you¡¯ll have to work very hard to make ite true.¡±


    We¡¯ll see about that, Nick.


    Don¡¯t me me if you end up falling head over heels for me.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the car now,¡± Nichs said.


    During the entire journey, Kimberly chose to remain silent. Her mind was racing, filled with worries about situations she had seen in Korean dramas. Thoughts of evil inws or those who openly rejected her presence kept swirling in Kimberly¡¯s mind. Even though she was only pretending, the nervousness wouldn¡¯t just vanish.


    In contrast, Nichs appeared calm and rxed, even slightly amused. asionally, he stole nces at Kimberly sitting beside him.


    Beautiful.


    Unconsciously, Nichs smiled.


    How can someone like Kimberly look so beautiful without even going to a salon?


    She¡¯s truly an unusual woman, so different from Briana, who used to spend every day at the salon.


    Briana? Why did that woman¡¯s name suddenly cross his mind? Kimberly and Briana were clearly worlds apart. Nichs couldn¡¯t remember when he had truly forgotten the woman who had hurt him.


    Nichs shook his head vigorously.


    I don¡¯t want to fall into the same pit again.


    No!


    This time, I won¡¯t make the wrong move.


    Nichs didn¡¯t want to dwell on Briana any further. He refocused on the road ahead until they finally arrived at a five-star restaurant in the city center.


    ¡°Nick-¡± Kimberly spoke softly before they got out of the car.


    Nichs shifted his gaze. ¡°Is there something you want to say?¡±


    ¡°I feel like canceling this arrangement,¡± Kimberly replied weakly.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy! We¡¯ve already arrived. Don¡¯t y games, Kimmy,¡± Nichs threatened.


    ¡°Are you sure about this meeting? Somehow, I feel really nervous right now. I feel like I¡¯m about to meet your actual future inws,¡± Kimberly confessed.


    Nichs took a deep breath before he replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid. Just act as natural as possible. Remember not to call me ¡®Mister.¡¯ We¡¯re now a couple, not work partners. Whatever I doter is all part of the act.¡±


    Kimberly nodded in understanding. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    They both finally got out of the car. Nichs intentionally reached for Kimberly¡¯s wrist and held it tightly as they walked into the restaurant.


    ¡°Mom, Dad,¡± Nichs greeted his parents, who had arrived at the restaurant ahead of them.


    ¡°So, this is your girlfriend?¡± Cassandra asked when Nichs and Kimberly sat together at the table.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Let me introduce her. Her name is Kimberly Rayder, Mom.¡±


    Without being prompted politely, Kimberly extended her hand toward Cassandra and Robert, who were sitting right in front of them.


    ¡°I¡¯m d to meet you, Kimberly,¡± Cassandra said as she shook Kimberly¡¯s hand.


    ¡°d to meet you too, Auntie,¡± Kimberly replied.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°No! You¡¯re not my niece, so it¡¯s not appropriate for you to call me ¡®Auntie,''¡± Cassandra responded.


    Kimberly was taken aback, feeling surprised after hearing Cassandra¡¯s words. She then nced at Nichs as if seeking help, but he remained silent, as if he wanted her to handle the situation on her own.


    You¡¯re in trouble now, Kimberly.


    It seems like a scene from the dramas is about to happen to you.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to offend you,¡± Kimberly murmured.


    Cassandra smiled. ¡°You indeed shouldn¡¯t call me ¡®Auntie,¡¯ but it would be more appropriate to call me ¡®Mom¡¯ and ¡®Dad¡¯ in front of my husband. Are you really Nichs¡¯s girlfriend?¡±


    Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief. She had nearly cried from fear that Nichs¡¯s parents would turn out to be evil inws, just like in the drama series.


    ¡°Alright, I will call you as you wish,¡± Kimberly replied.


    After that, Nichs took the lead in exining to his parents about his job, business developments, and their rtionship, which naturally became a topic of conversation.


    ¡°Where did you two meet?¡±


    ¡°Is this rtionship really serious?¡±


    And othermon questions typically asked of a couple. Cassandra seemed genuinely happy to chat with Kimberly. She felt that Nichs had made the right choice this time.


    ¡°Well, Mom and Dad, I believe your choice this time is right,¡± Cassandra said confidently.


    Nichs smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint both of you. I promise.¡±


    Cassandra looked at Nichs and Kimberly in turn. Her expression seemed to suggest that she was considering something.


    ¡°In that case, when are you two getting married?¡± Cassandra suddenly asked, leaving Nichs and Kimberly thinking for a moment.


    ¡°Mom¡­ there¡¯s no way I can get married so soon,¡± Nichs muttered.


    Cassandra raised an eyebrow directly at Nichs. ¡°Why not? Are you really serious about this rtionship? She¡¯s your girlfriend, isn¡¯t she?¡± she asked to confirm.


    ¡°We¡¯re both serious about this rtionship. But it¡¯s not so fast to get married,¡± Nichs replied.


    ¡°So, how long do Mom and Dad have to wait, Nick?¡± Now it was Robert Alistair who spoke. He rarely got involved in matters like this. Usually, it was Cassandra who took care of matchmaking.


    Nichs nced briefly at Kimberly. If he misspoke, he could end up actually marrying the woman beside him.


    ¡°As soon as possible, but not right now,¡± Nichs answered.


    Just as he was about to interrupt, the restaurant¡¯s waiter arrived with the dishes they had ordered. Nichs and Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief. At least, the discussion about marriage could be postponed for a while. But it wasn¡¯t a guarantee that Cassandra wouldn¡¯t bring it up again tomorrow, the day after, or the day after that.

 CALL ME MAMA

    Early in the morning, Nichs and Edward were already engaged in a crucial discussion. Both of them were seriously discussing the expansion ofnd and the addition of buildings to the existing Resort in the Maldives, Maldives.


    The poprity of the Maldives as a romantic tourist destination has been skyrocketing, especially since photos of its natural beauty have been circting on social media. The country, located southwest of India, is often considered one of the luxury travel destinations. To explore the Maldives with its thousands of inds and dozens of coral inds worth exploring, one needs to allocate a substantial budget. That¡¯s why Nichs didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity to expand the Hotel and Resortwork under the Alpha Beta umbre.


    Countless resorts and even private inds were under his management, left behind by Kenzi when he went to Ennd. Looking at the rapid progress of thepany under his leadership, Nichs might have reason to be proud. Even foreign investors were willing to queue up to be their business partners now.


    Yes, Nichs could be described as a man full of innovation. Brilliant ideas seemed never to run out of his mind. Robert Alistair, Nichs¡¯s father, had repeatedly asked him to return to Ennd and manage their business empire on his own. But strangely, Nichs always refused. He preferred to develop the business with Kenzi.


    ¡°So, which one do you choose? Resort or Condotel?¡± Edward asked Nichs.


    Nichs¡¯s gaze was fixed on the tablet he was holding. The device disyed an analysis of profit calctions for each project that Edward had calcted. It seemed that Nichs¡¯s arch-nemesis was highly knowledgeable in this field. He even considered what risks might ur when choosing one of them.


    ¡°If the construction is indeed close to the beach, it seems like the Resort is the best choice,¡± Nichs replied.


    Edward shifted his sitting position, leaning back in his chair.


    ¡°Are you sure? ording to my analysis, Condotels can also provide significant returns to investors. The unit prices continue to rise, following the intion rate. It could even see an annual increase of up to 20%.¡±


    Nichs nodded and then redirected his gaze to the graphs disyed on his tablet screen.


    ¡°If it¡¯s profitable, why don¡¯t we build both at the same time? I¡¯m not thrilled, but if we¡¯re capable, why not?¡±


    ¡°In that case, you¡¯ll need to select high-profile investors willing to invest in thisrge project. If everything goes smoothly, it may only take a year to build.¡±


    Nichs agreed.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask Kimberly to provide a list of investors who were waiting for approval from ourpany.¡±


    Amidst the serious discussion between Nichs and Edward, the office door was knocked once, and someone appeared who slightly surprised Nichs.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Nichs eximed.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, dear. Why do you look at me like that? Do you think Mama is a demon?¡± Cassandra¡¯s remark to her son was dripping with sarcasm, causing Edward tough. He then stood up and approached Nichs¡¯s mother, who had entered the room. ¡°How are you, Auntie Cassandra?¡± Edward greeted.


    Cassandra extended her arms, intending to hug Edward, and he warmly embraced her. ¡°I¡¯m good, Ed. How¡¯s Liliana? I haven¡¯t seen her in almost a month,¡± Cassandra inquired.


    Edward released his embrace, then answered her question. ¡°Mom seems to be doing well. I¡¯ve only been able tomunicate with her by phone while I¡¯ve been in Indonesia.¡±


    Cassandra nodded and took a seat across from Nichs. Her gaze now shifted to her son.


    ¡°Why are you looking at Mama like that, Nick?¡±


    Nichs shook his head.


    ¡°I was just surprised. Why did Mamae to the office? Wasn¡¯t she supposed to go to Bali with Papa?¡±


    Cassandra sighed.


    ¡°Your father¡¯s departure has been postponed until tomorrow morning. So today, Mama ns to take you and Kimberly out for lunch.¡±


    Before Nichs could respond, the woman they were talking about entered with a tray of drinks. Cassandra looked pleased that the person she was seeking was now in front of her.


    ¡°Kimberly, is your work finished? Mama wants to take you and Nichs out for lunch,¡± Cassandra asked.


    Kimberly didn¡¯t immediately respond. She nced at Nichs, as if to ask what she should say in response to Cassandra¡¯s invitation.


    ¡°Mom, I can¡¯t go out for lunch today. I have a lot of work. If Mama wants to have lunch with Kimberly, please go ahead, I¡¯ll allow it,¡± Nichs declined politely.


    Cassandra sighed in frustration towards Nichs.


    ¡°So, you don¡¯t want to apany Mama for lunch?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really busy, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if you¡¯re unavable.¡± Then Cassandra turned her gaze to Edward. ¡°Ed, would you like to join Auntie and Kimberly for lunch?¡±


    ¡°I?¡± Edward asked, seeking confirmation.


    Cassandra nodded. ¡°Of course. Auntie feels sorry for Kimberly. She has a boyfriend, but she¡¯s too busy with her work. No wonder Briana broke up with him,¡± Cassandra pointed towards Nichs with her chin, while Edward chuckled at Cassandra¡¯s words. Nichs, on the other hand, remained silent, listening to his mother¡¯s banter. He knew his mother¡¯s nature, which wouldn¡¯t stop pressuring until her desires were fulfilled. This time, Nichs had to stand firm. He didn¡¯t want to give in and follow his mother¡¯s request.


    ¡°Kimberly, does Nichs always behave like this with you?¡± Cassandra asked again.


    Kimberly furrowed her brow. ¡°What do you mean, ma¡¯am?¡±


    ¡°Mama, Kimberly! Call me Mama!¡± Cassandra protested.


    ¡°Sorry, but we¡¯re at the office,¡± Kimberly murmured.


    ¡°No one will scold you for calling me Mama. Back to my question. Does Nichs ignore you at the office? Act like there¡¯s nothing between you two?¡± Cassandra inquired.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been keeping our rtionship a secret from the public, Ma. It wouldn¡¯t be ethical for many people to know that we¡¯re in a rtionship, especially since our status is that of boss and personal secretary,¡± Nichs cut in before Kimberly could answer her mother¡¯s question.


    Cassandra sneered. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking you, Nick. Besides, why be afraid? Should Mama contact Kenzi to allow employees to have rtionships?¡±


    ¡°Ma! Don¡¯t be like this,¡± Nichs warned.


    ¡°Up to you. If you¡¯re determined not to join Mama and Kimberly for lunch, Mama will go with Edward.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s up to Mama,¡± Nichs replied.


    Cassandra tidied her appearance before rising from her seat.


    ¡°Ed¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, Auntie,¡± Edward responded quickly.


    ¡°Do you want Auntie to match you with Kimberly?¡± Cassandra asked suddenly.


    Without hesitation, Edward replied, ¡°Of course, Auntie. In fact, Edward fell for Kimberly first.¡±


    While Edward continued to wear a victorious smile, Nichs looked at his arch-rival with a sharp gaze.


    ¡°Alright, since Auntie¡¯s son is so difficult, Auntie ns to match you with Kimberly. Don¡¯t worry, Liliana will surely agree, especially with her supportive aunt.¡±


    ¡°Ma! What is this?¡± protested Nichs, not epting it.


    Once again, Cassandra lookedzily at her son. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? Mama isn¡¯t wrong, right? Instead of wasting this beautiful Kimberly, it¡¯s better before it¡¯s toote for her to find another man who¡¯s equally handsome and, most importantly, cherishes and doesn¡¯t neglect her. Mama thinks Edward is also a good match for Kimberly,¡± Cassandra exined at length.


    ¡°But I¡¯m your son, Ma, and Kimberly is my girlfriend. How can you offer my girlfriend to someone else!¡± Nichs protested with an exasperated look. He didn¡¯t expect his mother to behave so irritatingly.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Mama doesn¡¯t care. Mama is hungry, and Mama will go with Edward and Kimberly,¡± the woman said, then rose from her seat and pulled Kimberly¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°Come on, sweetheart, let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll have lunch with Mama and Edward.¡±


    Before they could take a step, Nichs yelled in frustration from his position.


    ¡°Wait! I¡¯ll be the one to apany both of you.¡±


    Swearing to God, Nichs had to admit defeat this time, whether he liked it or not. He couldn¡¯t really fight against his mother¡¯s authority. If only his mother hadn¡¯t invited Edward, maybe he could have held out a little longer.


    Meanwhile, a triumphant smile appeared on Cassandra¡¯s lips. She knew for sure that her son never won when it came to her. Cassandra always had a way to outmaneuver Nichs.


    ¡°Mama and Kimberly will wait for you downstairs,¡± Cassandra replied.

 FIRST KISS

    Wolfgang¡¯s Steakhouse


    Now, Nichs, Kimberly, and Cassandra were at Wolfgang¡¯s Steakhouse. The upscale steakhouse from Manhattan, New York, USA, had opened its newest branch in Jakarta. This high-ss steak restaurant served dry-aged beef, giving its steaks a unique and ssy vorpared to others.


    Unlike Kimberly, who preferred Chinese food, steak was Nichs and Cassandra¡¯s favorite meal. Back in Ennd, they used to schedule a weekly steak dinner together.


    After nearly twenty minutes of waiting, the eagerly awaited food was finally served perfectly on the table. Cassandra seemed impatient and immediately reached for the appetizer, the Beverly Hills Chopped Sd. It consisted of small pieces of carrots, peas, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados, mint leaves, lettuce, red onions, and feta cheese.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Meanwhile, Nichs quickly grabbed a te with a tenderloin fillet apanied by mashed potatoes. He appeared serious as he cut the meat on his te into small pieces. After all the pieces were cut, Nichs exchanged his te with Kimberly¡¯s.


    ¡°Eat quickly; it¡¯s not good if it gets cold.¡±


    Both Kimberly and Cassandra were surprised by Nichs¡¯s sudden sweetness. Even while eating, without hesitation, Nichs reached for a napkin and gently wiped the sauce from the corner of Kimberly¡¯s lips.


    God.


    Can I jump for joy right now?


    I hope this isn¡¯t just an act in front of his mother.


    Unconsciously, Kimberly chuckled softly in her reverie.


    If this is just an act, I will try to make it a reality.


    Maybe soon I will truly be Mrs. Alistair.


    ¡°So, are you two really a couple?¡± Cassandra suddenly asked, causing Kimberly to choke.


    Nichs remained silent for a moment, his expression still calm. ¡°So, Mama doubts our rtionship, Kimberly and me?¡±


    Cassandra nodded. ¡°Just a feeling.¡±


    Nichs smiled. ¡°If Mama wants to know, Kimberly and I even live together.¡±


    Nichs¡¯s statement instantly left Kimberly stunned. How could he say that to his mother? Kimberly was worried that Cassandra wouldn¡¯t approve of them living together. It might mean that Kimberly would have to leave Nichs¡¯s apartment.


    Cassandra shifted her gaze to Kimberly. ¡°Is that true, Kimberly?¡±


    Kimberly replied hesitantly, ¡°Y-yes, Ma. I do live in Nichs¡¯s apartment. But Kimberly can exin if-¡±


    ¡°No need for an exnation; Mama is relieved to hear that.¡±


    What? Kimberly¡¯s face registered surprise. She wasn¡¯t hearing things, right? So, Cassandra didn¡¯t mind if they lived together.


    ¡°Alright, Mama trusts you. Mama was just worried that you might be using Kimberly to deceive Mama.¡±


    That¡¯s exactly what happened, ma¡¯am.


    Even your son threatened me.


    ¡°After we finish eating, I¡¯ll take Mama and Kimberly home, and then I¡¯ll have to return to the office. Edward needs me.¡±


    Kimberly looked at the man beside her. ¡°If you need help, I can go back to the office.¡±


    Nichs shook his head.


    ¡°No need. You have to apany Mama. After work, we¡¯ll both take her back to the hotel.¡±


    Kimberly nodded,plying with Nichs¡¯s request. Then they continued their meal.


    ***


    Upon arriving at the apartment, Nichs didn¡¯t immediately head back to the office. Instead, he followed Cassandra and Kimberly inside. He needed to ensure Kimberly wouldn¡¯t make any mistakes or say anything inappropriate when she was alone with his mother.


    While inside, he searched for an opportunity when his mother wasn¡¯t with Kimberly. Finding Kimberly busy in the pantry making drinks, Nichs quickly joined her without being noticed by Cassandra.


    ¡°Kimmy¡­¡± Nichs whispered as he approached Kimberly.


    She just turned around and raised one eyebrow.


    ¡°Be careful when you¡¯re alone with Mama. Don¡¯t let anything slip. Mama is very skilled at digging up someone¡¯s secrets,¡± Nichs said.


    Kimberly took a slow breath. ¡°So, what should I do?¡± Kimberly looked anxious now.


    ¡°Just go with the flow, but I beg you to be cautious when answering Mama¡¯s questions.¡±


    As they were engrossed in their hushed conversation, Nichs faintly heard the sound of someone approaching. The footsteps grew clearer and closer. Whatever was on Nichs¡¯s mind at that moment, he suddenly pushed Kimberly into one corner of the pantry.


    ¡°Nick, what are you doing?¡± Kimberly asked, confused.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do everything properly,¡± Nichs whispered.


    Before Kimberly could respond, without a word, Nichs immediately kissed her softly and gently, surprising Kimberly. She didn¡¯t even know what to do in that moment. Feeling that her kiss wasn¡¯t being reciprocated, Nichs deliberately nibbled Kimberly¡¯s lower lip gently and then kissed her lips slowly, creating a strange sensation within Kimberly. Reluctantly, Kimberly eventually responded to the kiss, following the rhythm that Nichs set.


    ¡°Oh my, you two!¡± Cassandra eximed in shock when she saw the intimate scene between her son and Kimberly.


    Nichs broke the kiss and adjusted his breathing. It was clear from Kimberly¡¯s flushed cheeks that she must be feeling embarrassed right now due to his actions.


    ¡°Just ignore Mama,¡± Nichs said casually as he left the pantry, leaving Cassandra and Kimberly behind.


    Cassandra grumbled. ¡°You could even do it in the bedroom, Nick,¡± she now followed Nichs, who was getting ready to leave.


    ¡°This is my house, Ma. I¡¯m free to do anything, anywhere,¡± Nichs replied, still with a rxed expression. Meanwhile, in another corner, there was a woman struggling to control her racing heartbeat.


    Cassandra shook her head, observing her son¡¯s behavior. ¡°That¡¯s why Mama asked you to marry Kimberly quickly.¡±


    ¡°Ssstt¡­¡± Nichs hissed. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss itter. I have to get back to the office. Take care of my girlfriend, Ma. Please don¡¯t influence her. I know very well what Mama¡¯s like. If Kimberly changes her mind and turns away from me, I¡¯ll me Mama!¡± Nichs threatened and then walked away.

 STAY WITH YOU FOR A WHILE

    Silence prevailed throughout the journey back after dropping Cassandra off at her hotel. Nichs and Kimberly chose to remain silent rather than exchange greetings. Neither of them wanted to concede and initiate the first greeting. The awkwardness was evident, stemming from the sudden kissing incident initiated by Nichs.


    While Nichs focused on the road, Kimberly opted to close her eyes briefly before reaching the apartment. As the car entered the VIP parking area, Kimberly didn¡¯t want to wake up and instead hoped that Nichs would give in and lift her, just like in the romantic novels or Korean dramas she often watched.


    ¡°Please, Nichs, carry me like they do in those Korean dramas I watch so often. Be careful not to wake me up.¡±


    As Kimberly¡¯s mind wandered elsewhere, Nichs remained silent, gazing at the sleeping woman beside him. After a while, his hand extended to gently brush aside strands of hair covering her smooth cheek. Gradually, Nichs moved his face closer. His warm breath even touched Kimberly¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s going to kiss me again.¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil, and she felt nervous at the moment. However, that feeling quickly vanished.


    ¡°Kimberly, wake up,¡± Nichs whispered softly in Kimberly¡¯s ear.


    Ah!


    I thought he was going to kiss me again like he did earlier.


    I¡¯m such a fool.


    Instead of waking up, Kimberly sought a morefortable position. Boldly, she rested her head on Nichs¡¯s shoulder, which only seemed to frustrate him even more.


    ¡°Oh God, this woman is truly a heavy sleeper,¡± Nichs muttered softly.


    Feeling like his attempts to wake Kimberly had failed, Nichs now directed his hand to gently pat Kimberly¡¯s cheek. He intended to rouse the woman he thought was still deep in slumber.


    ¡°Kimberly, wake up,¡± Nichs said while gently patting Kimberly¡¯s cheek. ¡°You¡¯re like a snake when you¡¯re asleep, extremely hard to wake up. If you don¡¯t wake up, I¡¯ll have to leave you in the car,¡± Nichs continued.


    Damn it.


    This is the trantion of the provided text into American English with correct grammar:


    This guy is truly insensitive to what I want. Why in the world are there men as annoying as him?


    Kimberly cursed Nichs¡¯s actions, which werepletely unromanticpared to other men. Annoyed, Kimberly opened her eyes.


    Nichs smiled sweetly. ¡°Finally, you¡¯re awake. I was just about to-¡±


    Before Nichs could finish his sentence, Kimberly unfastened her seatbelt and quickly got out of the car. She walked unsteadily toward her apartment unit, leaving Nichs behind.


    ¡°Kimberly, wait for me,¡± Nichs gentlymanded before entering the apartment unit.


    Kimberly furrowed her browzily, turning back. ¡°For what? I¡¯m tired; I want to rest quickly,¡± she replied with a weak tone.


    Hearing this, without saying another word, Nichs reached out, grabbed Kimberly¡¯s hand, and quickly pulled her inside. Kimberly reluctantly followed behind.


    ¡°What do you actually want?¡± Kimberly asked in an annoyed tone once they were inside the apartment.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I want to discuss with you. Please, have a seat first,¡± Nichs requested.


    Kimberlyplied half-heartedly, sitting on the living room sofa. Nichs joined her.


    ¡°I apologize for my actions earlier this afternoon. I truly didn¡¯t mean to take advantage of you,¡± Nichs exined to Kimberly.


    Kimberly shrugged indifferently. ¡°Forget it; there¡¯s no need to exin. I know it¡¯s all part of your acting.¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I just don¡¯t want any misunderstandings between us. But by the way¡­¡± Nichs looked intently at Kimberly¡¯s face. ¡°¡­ about the kiss, why was your kiss so stiff? Don¡¯t tell me that was your first kiss?¡± Nichs inquired.


    Kimberly sighedzily. ¡°Yes, it was my first kiss, and you took advantage of it,¡± she said, annoyed.


    Nichs fell silent, his hazel eyes searching for any hint of deception in Kimberly¡¯s dark gaze. He couldn¡¯t believe someone as attractive as Kimberly had never kissed anyone before.


    ¡°What are you doing, Nick?¡±


    ¡°I just want to make sure your earlier statement is believable. How can a supposedly beautiful Kimberly like you have never kissed anyone before?¡± There was a hint of mockery in Nichs¡¯s words.


    Kimberly grumbled in annoyance. ¡°It¡¯s up to you whether you believe it or not. I don¡¯t care.¡±


    Nichs leaned closer. ¡°So, was it really your first kiss?¡± The corner of Nichs¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°How was it? Was the kiss I gave you memorable?¡± Nichs asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Kimberly muttered.


    Nichs chuckled at Kimberly¡¯s expression. Then he said, ¡°Would you like me to help you?¡± He whispered with a serious expression.


    Kimberly raised her eyebrows in confusion. ¡°What do you mean? Help with what?¡±


    ¡°Teaching you how to kiss properly and naturally,¡± Nichs teased, winking with one eye.


    Kimberly sneered. ¡°You pervert!¡±


    Nichsughed again at Kimberly¡¯s expression. ¡°I just want to help you make your acting look more natural. You were really stiff yesterday. Should I also teach you other touches? I¡¯m quite skilled-¡±


    ¡°Yes! Stop your nonsense, Mr. Alistair. I¡¯m disgusted listening to you.¡±


    Kimberly covered both of her ears tightly. Then she went into her room, leaving Nichs stillughing at her expression. He thought teasing her would be fun now.


    ***


    This morning, Kimberly looked a bit weak. She had been grimacing in pain for thirty minutes now. It had crossed her mind that maybe she had a stomach ache, considering she had skipped breakfast.


    Meanwhile, in his office, Nichs and Edward were busy discussing what topics to cover in the afternoon meeting. Everything revolved around discussions regarding project expansion and investor selection.


    ¡°Have you already screened which investors will join our mega project?¡± Edward asked.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve even chosen some of the best among them. But you can check again. Who knows, you might have a different opinion.¡±


    Now it was Edward¡¯s turn to nod. ¡°Can I see the list and profiles of each investor?¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment; I¡¯ll have Kimberly bring the files here.¡±


    Shortly after, Nichs contacted Kimberly through the inte system. He asked his secretary to bring what Edward had requested earlier.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Kimberly toe in with the files Nichs had requested. However, before she could leave, Edward stopped her.


    ¡°Kimmy, are you feeling sick?¡± Edward inquired when he noticed Kimberly¡¯s slightly pale face. Nichs, who had been busy examining the files, also turned his attention.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, sir. My stomach hurts; maybe it¡¯s because I skipped breakfast this morning,¡± Kimberly replied softly.


    Nichs raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you lied to me this morning? You said you had already eaten breakfast, which is why you declined when I invited you to have breakfast together,¡± Nichs protested.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t have an appetite, really.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then. You can go back to your desk,¡± Nichs ordered.


    However, as Kimberly was about to leave the room, her body suddenly swayed as if she was about to fall. She even reflexively grabbed the door handle in front of her.


    Edward, who had been observing Kimberly¡¯s movements, quickly got up from his seat and rushed to where Kimberly stood, guiding her to sit on the sofa.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Edward asked, concerned.


    Nichs, who had initially remained silent, moved closer to Kimberly. ¡°Your face is really pale, Kimmy. Is your stomach hurting that much?¡± Nichs asked, his face showing worry.


    Kimberly nodded weakly. ¡°It really hurts.¡±


    ¡°You should go home and rest, Kimmy. I¡¯ll take you,¡± Edward offered.


    Hearing what Edward said, Nichs quickly grabbed Kimberly¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be the one to take Kimberly home.¡±


    Edward sighed in annoyance. ¡°You¡¯re crazy! The meeting will start in thirty minutes, Nick. It¡¯s impossible for you to take Kimberly home and make it back in time,¡± Edward protested.


    Nichs shook his head, already prepared to lead Kimberly away.


    ¡°You can take my ce and lead the meeting today. Besides, you¡¯re quite adept at handling big clients.¡± Then Nichs left, pulling Kimberly¡¯s hand, signaling her to follow his steps.


    ¡°Nick!¡± Edward shouted as Nichs left him alone.


    What a rude guy.


    If I had known, I would have just taken Kimberly away from here.


    Kimberly looked resigned as Nichs held her wrist. Even now, he held her fingers tightly, leading her confidently through the bustling crowd along the building.


    Don¡¯t ask about themotion that happened there. Almost all employees who saw it immediately whispered and talked about what they saw.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    It was clear that Nichs¡¯s actions had attracted a lot of attention. Considering Nichs usually acted cold, it was quite surprising to see him suddenly holding a woman¡¯s hand in public without any embarrassment.


    ¡°Do you want me to take you to the hospital?¡± Nichs asked once they were inside the car. He slowly helped Kimberly fasten her seatbelt.


    Kimberly shook her head softly. ¡°No need, just take me back to my apartment. Maybe after taking some antacid and resting, the pain will go.¡±


    Nichs let out a soft breath. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you home now.¡±


    Upon reaching the apartment parking lot, Nichs promptly opened the car door. However, Kimberly was taken by surprise shortly after. Suddenly, without asking for permission, Nichs lifted her up. Then, he casually carried Kimberly into the apartment andid her down on the bed.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be okay?¡± Nichs asked, making sure. There was a hint of concern in his every word, something that Kimberly couldn¡¯t help but notice.


    Seeing the pain so clearly reflected on Kimberly¡¯s face, Nichs¡¯s hand unconsciously moved to gently stroke Kimberly¡¯s wrist. He thought that perhaps what he was doing could help her rx a bit.


    ¡°You need to eat, Kimmy. I¡¯ll ask the maid to prepare your lunch. If your pain doesn¡¯t go away after eating and taking your medicine, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital right away.¡±


    Just as she was about to get up and fetch the food, Kimberly tugged at Nichs¡¯s hand, pulling him back to his original position.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t go. Just stay with me for a while,¡± Kimberly said while squeezing Nichs¡¯s wrist.


    Once again, Nichs¡¯s heart seemed to beat out of rhythm. There was a strange sensation he felt when Kimberly held onto his hand tightly. It was as if she didn¡¯t want Nichs to leave her.


    Hesitantly, Nichs reached out his other hand to gently stroke the top of Kimberly¡¯s head until she unconsciously drifted off to sleep.


    ¡°Sleep, I¡¯ll watch over you here, Kimmy.¡±

 TOO MUCH DAYDREAMING

    Mario sat in his office chair, observing the report files provided by Joseph, his trusted associate. For the past year, he had assigned someone to monitor and investigate Kimberly¡¯s movements while she was out there.


    ¡°Miss Rayder no longer lives in her dorm. She moved to Keraton Residence apartments about two weeks ago,¡± Joseph informed Mario.


    Mario furrowed his brow but didn¡¯t divert his gaze from the files in front of him. ¡°Are you sure she¡¯s living there now? I thought it would be harder to keep an eye on her. As far as I know, that apartment is really secure and not essible to just anyone.¡±


    Joseph nodded. ¡°But there¡¯s something important you should know, Miss Kimberly isn¡¯t living there alone.¡±


    Mario¡¯s gaze shifted, and he looked at Joseph with curiosity. ¡°What do you mean? Who is she living with?¡±


    ¡°Your fianc¨¦ is living with CEO Alpha Beta now.¡±


    Mario smirked after hearing Joseph¡¯s words. ¡°So, Kimberly is sharing a t with Nichs Alistair?¡±


    Joseph nodded. ¡°Since moving into Nichs¡¯s apartment, we¡¯ve also had difficulty gathering information and finding an opportunity to bring Miss Kimberly in. She¡¯s alwaysing and going with that man.¡±


    Mario stared at Joseph with an unsatisfied look. ¡°I¡¯m paying you a lot not to hear yourints, Josh!¡± Mario said, his face now showing frustration.


    Joseph awkwardly smiled, then handed an envelope to Mario. ¡°Our photographer recently captured some moments you might want to see.¡±


    Mario took the envelope from Joseph and removed its contents. His eyes were fixed on each photo that showed Kimberly and Nichs together.


    ¡°Can you exin all of this?¡±


    ¡°These are photos of Miss Kimberly having dinner with Nichs¡¯s parents, who recently came from Ennd. The other one shows them having lunch at a fancy restaurant.¡±


    Mario rubbed his chin slowly. His mind was still dissecting every image in front of him. He wondered what the connection was between Kimberly and Nichs. Were they just colleagues or did they have a special rtionship?


    Mario clenched his jaw firmly. ¡°Investigate them further. I don¡¯t want to hearints about not being able to gather information because she lives in an inessible ce. I don¡¯t want to hear that!¡±


    Joseph nodded in understanding. ¡°Very well, sir. We will report everything as thoroughly and detailed as possible. Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯ll keep a close eye on her.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°In that case, you can get back to work,¡± Mario said, waving his hand to dismiss Joseph from his office.


    ****


    After more than a week of visiting Indonesia, Cassandra and Robert Alistair were scheduled to return to Ennd tomorrow. That¡¯s why today, Nichs had specifically asked Kimberly to join them for a dinner event before their departure.


    ¡°So, we¡¯re having dinner together again tonight?¡± Kimberly asked as she delivered some files to Nichs¡¯s office.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Yes, get ready. After I finish my work, I¡¯ll take you shopping for a dress and to the salon.¡±


    Kimberly furrowed her brow. ¡°Buy a dress? Go to the salon? Why? Haven¡¯t I just been dressing normally these past few days? It¡¯s just a regr dinner, right? Why make it soplicated?¡±


    Nichs looked at Kimberly with indifference. ¡°No need toin. Finish your work now, in thirty minutes, we¡¯ll leave,¡± Nichs said, as if he didn¡¯t want to be contradicted.


    Kimberly pursed her lips, annoyed by Nichs¡¯s attitude. ¡°So demanding!¡± she muttered quietly before turning to leave the room.


    ¡°What did you say, Kimberly?¡± Nichs asked, realizing that his secretary was muttering something about him.


    ¡°Never mind! What I just said doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Kimberly replied and walked out without paying much attention to Nichs¡¯s curious look.


    As Nichs had mentioned earlier, Kimberly was now in a renowned boutique, which also doubled as a salon in one of the shopping centers. She had tried on more than ten dresses, but none seemed to catch Nichs¡¯s attention.


    ¡°How many more dresses do I have to try? I¡¯m exhausted, Nick!¡± Kimberlyined. Her face showed frustration.


    Nichs chuckled softly. ¡°I¡¯ve just realized how cute you look when you¡¯re upset.¡±


    Kimberly sighed in frustration upon hearing Nichs¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re so strange! This time, I¡¯ll choose the dress I¡¯ll wear myself. You just sit and be quiet. Wait for me here.¡±


    Nichsplied with Kimberly¡¯s request, sitting on a couch and ying with his phone. After almost sixty minutes of waiting, Kimberly finally approached Nichs.


    ¡°How do I look?¡±


    Nichs looked up, gazing at the woman who stood before him. For a while, he couldn¡¯t deny that Kimberly looked stunning in her choice of a morous Halter dress that emphasized her shoulders while remaining modest in the chest area.


    Her makeup perfectlyplemented her facial contours, and she let her brown hair flow freely, adding to her graceful appearance. Kimberly always looked beautiful in every outfit.


    ¡°I must admit, you look stunning right now,¡± Nichsmented honestly.


    Kimberly narrowed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not falling for your ttery. Just so you know, I¡¯ve always been beautiful. You¡¯re justte in realizing it.¡±


    Nichs chuckled, amused by Kimberly¡¯s response. ¡°You¡¯re quite confident, Mrs. Alistair.¡±


    Kimberly was taken aback by Nichs¡¯s words. Without an invitation, a sudden blush spread across her cheeks. Her heartbeats even seemed to falter.


    What did he say?


    Did I hear that correctly?


    Mrs. Alistair, he said?


    ¡°Kimmy¡­¡± Nichs softly whispered, interrupting Kimberly¡¯s reverie.


    ¡°What were you daydreaming about?¡± Nichs inquired.


    Kimberly shook her head vigorously. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go now.¡±


    ****

 SWEET

    Before getting out of the car, Kimberly once again checked and adjusted her makeup. Nichs, sitting next to her, could only shake his head at the woman¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Nichs asked to confirm.


    Kimberly nodded. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s get out.¡±


    Nichs got out of the car first and then opened the door for Kimberly. Momentster, he reached for Kimberly¡¯s hand and held it tightly as they entered the restaurant.


    ¡°Do everything as naturally as possible, Kimmy,¡± Nichs whispered as they approached one of the tables already upied by Cassandra and Robert Alistair.


    ¡°Hello, Mom and Dad. Sorry for making you wait; the traffic was quite heavy,¡± Nichs greeted, and then he and Kimberly took their seats.


    Cassandra smiled. ¡°No problem, we just arrived ten minutes ago.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Then they engaged in a lengthy conversation, discussing family matters, business developments, and even Kimberly was not exempt from their discussion.


    ¡°So, Nick, when are you two getting engaged and getting married?¡± Cassandra suddenly asked. It seemed Cassandra had not forgotten the previously postponed topic.


    Nichs picked up his ss of drink and sipped it slowly. After feeling satisfied, he ced the ss back on the table. Then, with a calm expression, he answered his mother¡¯s question. ¡°Why rush, Ma? Kimberly and I are both enjoying the peak of our careers.¡±


    This time, Robert Alistair stared sharply at Nichs. ¡°How long are you going to make Papa and Mama wait? Are you both serious about this rtionship, aren¡¯t you?¡± Robert asked with an intimidating gaze.


    Robert and Cassandra were well aware of their son¡¯s love journey, how Nichs had been disappointed and hurt by Briana, his former fianc¨¦e. They didn¡¯t want their eldest son to continue to suffer. That¡¯s why Cassandra always pushed Nichs to get married soon.


    ¡°I promise, I will officially propose to Kimberly as soon as possible,¡± Nichs assured confidently.


    ¡°At the beginning of the month, you and Kimberly are going to London,¡± Cassandra suddenly announced.


    Nichs raised both eyebrows. ¡°To London? The two of us? For what, Ma?¡± Nichs asked, puzzled.


    ¡°You both will get engaged in London. Mama will invite our entire extended family,¡± Cassandra replied.


    ¡°But, Ma-¡±


    ¡°No objections, Nick,¡± Cassandra interrupted before Nichs could finish his sentence.


    Kimberly looked at Nichs, trying to find answers to her anxiety. She was trying to win Nichs¡¯s heart, but getting engaged this quickly wasn¡¯t the right choice in her opinion. She was afraid Nichs¡¯s parents would find out they were just pretending.


    Nichs, realizing that Kimberly was confused, signaled her to remain calm and act as usual. One wrong move, and his parents could uncover the entire n they were ying.


    ¡°But how can Nichs and Kimberly go to London, Ma? Who will lead thepany when I¡¯m not around?¡±


    Cassandra shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; Mama will contact Kenzi to request permission for both of you to take a few days off for the engagement.¡±


    ¡°Ma, but this is too soon,¡± Nichs protested.


    ¡°Choose between engagement or immediate marriage,¡± Cassandra replied. Meanwhile, Robert Alistair just smiled, watching his dominant wife. Nichs couldn¡¯t even argue further.


    Nichs took a deep breath. ¡°Alright, I give in. Whatever Mama wants is fine. But Kimberly and I can only take a three-day leave, no more.¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡± Cassandra affirmed.


    Kimberly and Nichs could only sit there, feeling defeated, as Cassandra persistently pushed to unite them. Nichs briefly regretted attending the dinner event tonight. He had thought that his parents only wanted to invite them for a farewell meal before returning to their home country. However, it turned out that this dinner event was nothing more than a trap for him. Now, look at him, unable to resist. He wondered what more he could do to thwart Cassandra¡¯s n of holding an engagement party early next month.


    Throughout the ride back to their apartment, Kimberly and Nichs were lost in their own thoughts. Not a word was spoken between them until they finally reached their destination.


    ¡°Kimmy¡­¡±


    Kimberly shifted her gaze. ¡°Hmmm.¡±


    ¡°Do you still want to help me?¡± Nichs asked hesitantly before they got out of the car.


    Kimberly sighed deeply. She was equally frustrated at the moment. ¡°What else can I do? There¡¯s no other option, is there?¡±


    Nichs smiled upon hearing Kimberly¡¯s answer. He had initially been uncertain, afraid that Kimberly might refuse to help him as she had done before. If that were to happen, he didn¡¯t know where else to find a woman suitable for their coboration.


    Nichs once again closely examined Kimberly¡¯s face, studying it intently without blinking. While being scrutinized, Kimberly felt ufortable due to her actions.


    ¡°What are you doing, Nick?¡± she asked.


    Nichs raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m observing your face. After some thought, you really are beautiful.¡±


    Kimberly huffed after hearing Nichs¡¯s confession. ¡°You speak as if I¡¯ve been an ugly duckling all this time. If I¡¯m not beautiful, howe so many men in the office idolize me?¡±


    Nichs chuckled at Kimberly¡¯s words. ¡°Okay, I admit it now. You are beautiful. No wonder Edward always tries to flirt with you. But don¡¯t expect him to get close to you. I¡¯ll never allow it, especially if you truly be my fianc¨¦e.¡±


    Kimberly was once again taken aback by Nichs¡¯s statement. Unconsciously, she now found herself enjoying the beauty of Nichs¡¯s hazel eyes.


    She thought Nichs must be joking. Twice, Kimberly had been made to blush with unusual statements he had made.


    Quickly, Kimberly attempted to normalize her facial expression, which she believed had turned red due to embarrassment.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m starting to be enchanted by the blush on your face,¡± Nichs continued.


    Kimberly rolled her eyes. ¡°How do you even know my face turned red? The car¡¯s interior lights are off, so it¡¯s impossible to see what color is on my face.¡±


    Nichs leaned closer, making Kimberly slightly uneasy. Even his breath felt warm against her face.


    ¡°Who said I didn¡¯t see it?¡± Nichs said, raising one of his eyebrows.


    ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating, Nick. You hmmpphhh-before Kimberly could finish her sentence, Nichs suddenly silenced her with a kiss, gentle and tender. It continued teasingly until Kimberly unconsciously responded, savoring every sensation that arose.


    For quite some time, Nichs and Kimberly were lost in their y. Eventually, Nichs slowly released their lip lock. He rested his forehead against Kimberly¡¯s, trying to control their racing breaths.


    ¡°Even the shade of your lips is clear to me,¡± Nichs whispered, causing Kimberly¡¯s face to turn red once again.


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re unbelievable!¡± Kimberly stammered.


    Then, she pulled her face away and quickly exited the car in embarrassment.


    ¡°Kimberly, where are you going?¡± Nichs called after her.


    ¡°You embarrassed me, Nick!¡± Kimberly replied without looking back. She continued walking into their apartment unit, while Nichs could onlyugh. His hand couldn¡¯t stop brushing against his own lips.


    ¡°Your lips are sweet, Kimmy,¡± Nichs mumbled, and after that, heughed at himself again.

 HOLD YOU

    ¡°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.

 FIANCE

    ¡°Nichs had no idea how many times he had put a smile on his face. Edward, who witnessed his friend¡¯s behavior, could only sigh inwardly. He thought, there must be something making Nichs look like a madman right now.


    ¡°Such a strange guy!


    ¡°So, why did he call me here?


    ¡°Is he asking me to watch him smile like a crazy person right now?


    ¡°Such a waste of my time.¡±


    ¡°Nick!¡± Edward called out with an intentionally raised tone. He wanted to see if the man in front of him could snap out of it or remain lost in his own world.


    ¡°Sssttt¡­¡± Nichs hissed. ¡°You¡¯re just startling me, Ed!¡± he protested.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been sitting here for 15 minutes, and you haven¡¯t said a word. Do you think I¡¯m not busy, huh? What¡¯s your reason for calling me here?¡±


    Instead of feeling guilty, Nichs chuckled at Edward¡¯s annoyance. If only Edward knew that Nichs was smiling because he was thinking about Kimberly, he would definitely keep teasing him.


    ¡°This Thursday, Kimberly and I are heading to Ennd. I¡¯m asking you to handle all the core tasks during my absence, but I¡¯ll try to finish everything before I leave. So, you won¡¯t have to be too burdenedter.¡±


    ¡°How long are you going to be in Ennd? Does Kenzi know?¡± Edward inquired.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I contacted her yesterday. I¡¯ll probably be in Ennd for only three days, no more.¡±


    Edward nodded in return. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take care of my tasks. But, if I may ask, what¡¯s the reason for your trip to Ennd? Is it work-rted, bringing Kimberly along?¡± This time, he couldn¡¯t hide his curiosity. He found Nichs and Kimberly¡¯s sudden departure to Ennd quite strange.


    Nichs looked closely at Edward¡¯s inquisitive face. ¡°If I tell you, promise you won¡¯t be surprised.¡±


    Edward raised both eyebrows in confusion. Because of his curiosity, he adjusted his sitting position, as if he wanted to hear what Nichs was about to reveal clearly. ¡°Quickly tell me, Nick. Don¡¯t keep me in suspense!¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Kimberly and I are getting engaged in Ennd.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What?¡± Edward¡¯s eyes widened. From his expression, he seemed uncertain about what he had just heard.


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke, Nick,¡± Edward inquired to make sure.


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m not joking, Ed.¡±


    ¡°Are you seriously getting engaged to Kimberly? Does that mean you¡¯re going to marry her? Don¡¯t tell me this is part of some game you¡¯ve cooked up, Nick. You know Kimberly is a good woman.¡± Edward bombarded Nichs with many questions.


    Nichs took a deep breath and then spoke again, frustrated, ¡°Let me take it slow, Ed. I have to learn to love her. I need to be absolutely sure before I marry her. That¡¯s why I chose to get engaged first. I¡¯m afraid of making the same mistakes as before.¡±


    Edward fell silent, his jaw visibly clenched. His blue eyes turned sharp.


    ¡°Kimberly is very different from Briana, Nick. I just want to warn you that if you y with Kimberly¡¯s feelings, I won¡¯t hesitate to confront you!¡± Edward then stood up and left Nichs¡¯s workspace. From the sh in his eyes, it was clear that he was angry and upset. He just didn¡¯t want his friend to toy with the heart of such a clearly good woman.


    Nichs took a deep breath repeatedly. Edward¡¯s words continued to echo in his mind. For now, everything his friend had said was true. Kimberly was not Briana. So, that woman would not betray him. Now, the problem was how he would learn to love Kimberly.


    He was already in deep, the game had been yed far enough. There was no turning back. All he had to do was to finish everything without anyone getting hurt.


    For a moment, Nichs got lost in his thoughts. Then the sound of a knock on the door echoed and brought him back to reality.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Nichs asked Kimberly, who had entered his room.


    ¡°There¡¯s a dinner invitation,¡± Kimberly replied, cing a gold-colored invitation on Nichs¡¯s desk.


    Nichs picked up the invitation that Kimberly had ced on his desk. He untied the glittery ribbon that held it together and read it carefully.


    ¡°Dinner invitation with real estate representatives from Singapore.¡±


    ¡°And the event is tonight,¡± Kimberly added.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s finish our work early and head home.¡±


    ****


    Nichs entered, holding Kimberly¡¯s hand affectionately, as they headed to Hakassan Restaurant at the Al Hotel in the SCBD area of Jakarta. This Michelin five-star restaurant was the only one in Jakarta and had been chosen as the venue for an exclusive dinner for real estate leaders from Southeast Asia.


    When they entered, a waiter guided Nichs and Kimberly to a VIP table reserved for CEOs. After finding their seats, Nichs, as usual, mingled with the invited guests. Meanwhile, Kimberly sat waiting. Tonight, she chose not to follow Nichs around.


    Kimberly waited for quite some time. Feeling bored, she got up and made her way to the rooftop area of the restaurant. Leaning casually against one side of the rooftop railing, she gazed around, trying to enjoy the city lights of Jakarta at night.


    ¡°Getting tired of the party¡¯s hustle and bustle?¡± A man around his forties greeted Kimberly, diverting her attention.


    Kimberly nodded and then smiled thinly. ¡°Yes, I am. I¡¯m not really suited for parties like this.¡±


    The man next to her chuckled softly. Shortly after, they both looked straight at the row of skyscrapers disyed before them.


    ¡°I sometimes get tired of going to events like this too. Most of them are just a showcase of corporate assets. Sometimes, it¡¯s also an opportunity for wealthy tycoons to find femalepanions.¡± There was a mocking tone in the man¡¯s exnation.


    Kimberly¡¯s gaze now shifted to the man standing next to her. ¡°Oh, really? I didn¡¯t know that parties like this had a purpose other than business.¡±


    The man nodded softly. ¡°Usually, CEOs bring apanion, whether it¡¯s a secretary or another woman, to attend parties like this. Sometimes, they even exchange women to facilitate their business ns.¡±


    Kimberly was slightly taken aback by the man¡¯s exnation. She tried to deny it because during all the times she had followed Nichs to parties, she had never received any strange treatment from business partners or Nichs¡¯s colleagues.


    ¡°Did youe here with your boss?¡± the man suddenly asked, seemingly trying to tease Kimberly.


    ¡°This youngdy came with me, Mr. Julio.¡±


    Kimberly and the man,ter known as Julio, turned simultaneously in the direction of the source of the voice. There stood Nichs, holding a ss of wine in his hand.


    ¡°Mr. Nichs, how are you?¡± The man greeted Nichs warmly and extended his hand toward him.


    Nichs took a sip of his wine first until it was finished. Afterward, he reached for Julio¡¯s offered hand and quickly released it. ¡°Very well,¡± Nichs replied briefly. Then he took Kimberly¡¯s wrist, signaling her to stand beside him.


    Julio smiled at Nichs. ¡°Nice to meet you. Did youe with your secretary?¡±


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°No, I didn¡¯te with my secretary.¡±


    Nichs¡¯s response instantly puzzled his conversation partner, not excluding Kimberly. ¡°Then the woman-¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s my fianc¨¦e, Mr. Julio,¡± Nichs interrupted. ¡°She¡¯s my fianc¨¦e and future wife. You can call her Mrs. Alistair,¡± Nichs emphasized each word.


    Julio was even more surprised by Nichs¡¯s statement, while Kimberly tried to keep her expression asposed as possible. This time, she would let her boss take over the conversation. After all, she would soon officially be Nichs¡¯s fianc¨¦e, right?


    ¡°Oh, I apologize for my presumption. It¡¯s nice to meet you and get to know your future wife, Mr. Nichs. It seems she¡¯s a perfect match to apany you.¡±


    Nichs nodded firmly. ¡°No problem, as you didn¡¯t know. But I appreciate your words; they are indeed true. Everyone says we are a very harmonious and ssy couple.¡± Nichs then tightened his grip on Kimberly¡¯s hand and led her away from the restaurant.


    Meanwhile, Kimberly couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter when she saw Julio¡¯s sour expression after hearing Nichs¡¯s words. She thought her boss was deliberately being annoying in front of their conversation partner.

 TRUE GIRLFRIEND

    ¡°How could you just leave that man without permission?¡± Kimberly asked when they had arrived at the apartment.


    Nichs didn¡¯t answer, choosing instead to open the jacket that enveloped his muscr body and toss it casually onto the sofa. He then sat down and directed his gaze to Kimberly, who was still standing not far from him.


    ¡°Sit down,¡± Nichs requested with a gentle expression while tapping the surface of the sofa lightly.


    ¡°I want to go inside and rest,¡± Kimberly replied.


    ¡°I said sit down.¡±


    ¡°But I-¡±


    ¡°Sit down quickly! Do I have to call you Mrs. Alistair before you obey?¡± Nichs ordered with emphasis this time. His eyes sparkled sharply.


    Reluctantly, Kimberlyplied with Nichs¡¯smand to sit down. She took several deep breaths, squeezing her fingers to release the tension that was building up. She was quite sure that Nichs was angry now.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Kimberly spoke softly, not wanting to provoke Nichs¡¯s emotions.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t like you talking to Julio,¡± Nichs replied with a t expression. His gaze clearly showed his disapproval.


    Kimberly raised one eyebrow. ¡°Why? Is something wrong? Besides, I just had a casual conversation.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t like it!¡± he sharply retorted.


    Kimberly paused briefly, her face full of questions. ¡°Why? State your reasons, Nick!¡±


    Nichs grunted in annoyance at Kimberly¡¯s question. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to forget, Kimberly Rayder. Soon you will be engaged to me, and perhaps soon after that, you will be my wife. I don¡¯t like my woman getting close, let alone involved with other men.¡±


    What?


    Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s jealous right now?


    Just ordering me around as he pleases.


    Kimberly took a deep breath and then stared intently at Nichs¡¯s handsome face. ¡°You speak as if we are two lovers madly in love, Nick. But in reality, it seems I¡¯m the only one who likes you.¡±


    She got up from her seat, leaving Nichs still in his position.


    ¡°Kimberly, I¡¯m not finished talking,¡± Nichs followed Kimberly¡¯s steps. He even burst into her room without knocking on the door first.


    ¡°I want to rest, Nick,¡± Kimberly replied a bit irritated. She chose to sit down and focused on the dressing table in front of her, removing the makeup from her face.


    Nichs growled in frustration. ¡°Listen to me. Do I have to kiss you first for you to listen?¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s eyes widened sharply at Nichs, who was now sitting on her bed. ¡°You pervert!¡± Kimberly eximed in annoyance.


    ¡°What did you say? Pervert? I¡¯m not a pervert, Kimmy.¡± Nichs protested. ¡°You should be thankful to me.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Kimberly¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What for? Thankful for what?¡±


    ¡°Thankful because I¡¯m willing to help you get better at kissing. You were really bad and stiff when trying to match my kisses. You-¡±


    ¡°Nichs, stop!¡± Kimberly yelled. ¡°Stop this pointless conversation!¡± Kimberly covered her ears. She didn¡¯t want to hear any more of Nichs¡¯s embarrassingints.


    Meanwhile, Nichs chuckled at Kimberly, who now had a flushed face. He felt satisfied every time he saw her unable to react, just like now.


    Nichs got up from his seat and approached Kimberly, who was still sitting in front of the dressing table. His hand reached out to caress Kimberly¡¯s long hair, which covered her slender neck.


    ¡°I just want to rify our rtionship, Kimmy.¡±


    Kimberly stared at the reflection of Nichs in the mirror. ¡°You mean? Don¡¯t speak in riddles, Nick.¡±


    Nichs lowered his body, resting his chin on Kimberly¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°From now on, right this moment, your status is my true girlfriend. There¡¯s no more pretending between us.¡± Nichs whispered in Kimberly¡¯s ear.


    Kimberly tensed up. She blinked several times while processing the words of the man behind her. ¡°Are you saying we¡¯re officially a couple? Just like that?¡± Kimberly asked to confirm.


    Nichs grinned. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Alistair.¡± In the next moment, he gave Kimberly¡¯s cheek a brief kiss. Then, he got up and left, leaving Kimberly frozen in her seat.

 YOU ARE CUTE

    ¡°Kimberly!¡±


    ¡°Kimberly Rayder!¡±


    It¡¯s been more than two times Nichs has called out and addressed Kimberly¡¯s name while gently knocking on her bedroom door. However, despite all the calls, not a single response could be heard from inside the room.


    In reality, Nichs just wanted to remind her that they had to leave for the airport to depart for Enndter in the afternoon. He wanted Kimberly to double-check what items she needed to bring before they actually left.


    Believing that something was wrong, Nichs tried turning the door handle, which, as it turned out, was unlocked. He entered slowly and found Kimberly still sound asleep. She had covered her entire body with a nket up to her neck.


    Nichs stepped forward quietly to where Kimberly was lying. His hand reached out to gently stroke her hair and then pat her shoulder softly.


    ¡°Kimmy¡­ wake up,¡± Nichsmanded.


    Kimberly slowly opened her eyes, blinking several times until her awareness gradually returned. The scent of the white musk perfume Nichs was wearing was unmistakable and made her unconsciously want to inhale it deeply.


    ¡°What are you doing in my room?¡± Kimberly asked in a husky voice typical of someone who had just woken up.


    ¡°I thought something had happened to you. That¡¯s why I came in. But it turns out you were fast asleep,¡± Nichs said, shaking his head.


    Kimberly tried to get up from her sleeping position, but when she attempted to sit up, her head suddenly started to spin. The world seemed to be spinning, and she inadvertently copsed back onto the bed.


    Seeing this, Nichs immediately approached and tried to help adjust Kimberly¡¯s sleeping position.


    ¡°Why? Are you okay?¡± Nichs asked with concern in his tone.


    Kimberly took a slow breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know; it feels like the world is spinning. My stomach also hurts now,¡± she said, using her hand to gently rub her sore abdomen.


    ¡°Oh my, is your stomachache acting up again?¡±


    Kimberly nodded. ¡°My stomach is really hurting, and it even feels like cramps now.¡±


    Unable to bear seeing Kimberly in this condition, Nichs left the room. He headed to the pantry and filled a ss with warm water. He quickly returned to the room and urged her to drink it. He remembered that when she used to have a stomachache or indigestion, Cassandra would always tell him to drink warm water to relieve the pain.


    Meanwhile, Kimberlyplied, and after drinking the water Nichs offered, shey back down and tightened her nket. The dizziness that had been guing her had notpletely disappeared.


    ¡°If you¡¯re feeling like this, we can cancel the trip to Ennd,¡± Nichs eximed. He didn¡¯t want to risk Kimberly getting sick if they insisted on going.


    Kimberly shook her head softly. ¡°No, I¡¯m sure both of your parents have prepared everything thoroughly. We should still go. I think the pain and difort I¡¯m feeling will go away soon,¡± Kimberly offered. Clearly, she was determined to proceed. She didn¡¯t want to embarrass Nichs by suddenly canceling their trip to Ennd, especially since she was the reason for it.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll have a doctore and examine you immediately.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°No buts. Choose to be examined by the doctor or I¡¯ll cancel our departure ns for this evening,¡± Nichs said firmly.


    Kimberly grumbled in frustration at Nichs¡¯s words. He was quite insistent, and it seemed that his orders were not to be questioned at all. Being aware that Nichs was the host in the ce she was staying, Kimberly reluctantlyplied.


    While waiting for the doctor to arrive, Nichs returned to the pantry. He checked the supply of food items in the refrigerator. After careful consideration, he came up with the idea to make chicken soup for Kimberly as breakfast this morning.


    Using all the skills he had, Nichs first ced the diced chicken into boiling water. While waiting, he began preparing and chopping the vegetables one by one and adding them to the pot. After the boiling process waspleted, Nichs began to taste the vor.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time he has cooked. In Ennd, ever since he started college, he got used to living on his own, away from his parents. Choosing to stay in a private apartment, Nichs got used to taking care of everything by himself. So, when ites to cooking, it¡¯s not a difficult task for him. How about that? Can he be ssified as an ideal husband already?


    Just as Nichs¡¯s soup was ready, the doctor, apanied by a nurse who would examine Kimberly, arrived at Nichs¡¯s apartment unit. He immediately led the medical personnel to Kimberly, who was still curled up under the nket.


    ¡°So, how is my fianc¨¦e, doctor?¡± Nichs asked anxiously after the doctor checked Kimberly¡¯s condition.


    Nichs admitted that he was haunted by anxiety at the moment. Several times, he had seen her in pain, even to the point of fainting. And Kimberly¡¯s phobia couldn¡¯t be underestimated either. The most important fact of all was that Kimberly was an orphan and had no family. That¡¯s why Nichs was determined to protect and take care of his future fianc¨¦e.


    ¡°I need to take a blood sample from your fianc¨¦e, Sir.¡±


    Unconsciously, Nichs¡¯s expression became even more anxious upon hearing the doctor¡¯s words. ¡°A blood sample?¡± he asked to confirm. ¡°For what purpose?¡± he continued.


    ¡°To determine what ailment your fianc¨¦e has. I will take her blood sample to theboratory, and you can expect the results in three to four days.¡±


    Nichs nodded in agreement. ¡°Do your best, doctor. Whatever it is, please give your best.¡±


    Then, the doctor asked his apanying nurse to start taking Kimberly¡¯s blood sample. After collecting several vials of blood, the doctor and nurse hurriedly left Nichs¡¯s apartment unit.


    Meanwhile, Kimberly, after the examination, still appeared weak. She chose to sit leaning against the bed¡¯s headboard while gently massaging her sore abdomen.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast first. I¡¯ve prepared food for you,¡± Nichs ordered as he brought a bowl of soup that he had ced on a portable tray. Carefully, he ced it on Kimberly¡¯s bed.


    Kimberly sighed softly, her face seeming reluctant to eat. Her appetite had disappeared, reced by the pain that was currently afflicting her body.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, Nick,¡± Kimberly replied without enthusiasm.


    Nichs moved closer to her. Shortly after, he picked up the spoon that was lying on the portable tray. Slowly, he began to scoop the soup from the bowl and brought it close to Kimberly¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°You have to eat now and then take your medicine,¡± Nichs said, a little forcefully, as he fed Kimberly a spoonful of chicken and vegetable soup. Reluctantly, she epted it and chewed slowly.


    ¡°Smart girl,¡± praised Nichs.


    Kimberly sighed quietly. ¡°You talk as if I¡¯m a cat that has just been fed.¡±


    Nichsughed at the term Kimberly had just used. He thought, how could she make fun of this romantic gesture he considered?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Kimberly asked in confusion, still chewing her food.


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°No reason. I just find you very cute.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re strange!¡± Kimberly retorted.


    After finishing the meal that was spoon-fed to her, Nichs instructed Kimberly to take her medicine and rest again. Meanwhile, he checked what items needed to be packed forter in the evening.

 GIVE ME A KISS

    ¡°Slowly.¡±


    Nichs tightly held Kimberly¡¯s fingers as if he didn¡¯t want to let go. Gently, he guided the woman into the airport towards the ne that would take them to Enndter this evening.


    After making sure Kimberly wasfortably seated, Nichs began fastening her seatbelt and didn¡¯t forget to wrap a nket around her. Nichs¡¯s simple gestures always managed to melt Kimberly¡¯s heart.


    During the flight, Kimberly chose to sleep more. Even after having dinner, it didn¡¯t take long for her to pull the nket over herself again. Perhaps it was the effect of the medication she had taken. While she slept, asionally her long, curled eyshes would flutter gracefully, making Nichs want to gently caress them.


    Once he was sure Kimberly had fallen asleep, Nichs decided to join her in resting. However, just a few hours into his sleep, turbulence within the ne made Kimberly wake up, and she reflexively clung tightly to Nichs¡¯s arm.


    Realizing that Kimberly was frightened, Nichs quickly embraced her, holding her tightly and gently stroking her arms and hair.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± Kimberly whispered softly as she woke up.


    Nichs tightened his embrace once more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here. I won¡¯t let go until we arrive. You can go back to sleep now. I¡¯ll wake you up as soon as wend.¡± Kimberly nodded in agreement and returned to her slumber.


    After more than a dozen hours in the air, the ne they were on finally arrived at London Heathrow Airport in Ennd. Seeing Kimberly still asleep, Nichs gently tried to wake her.


    ¡°Look,


    Your face looks really beautiful when you¡¯re still like this.


    Oh my, why do I feel so fond of her lips every time I see them?¡±


    Nichs chuckled to himself. He quickly dismissed any impure thoughts that crossed his mind.


    Don¡¯t be crazy, Nichs.


    Please don¡¯t be crazy.


    ¡°Kimberly, wake up.¡±


    Nichs loosened his embrace and softly whispered while gently stroking Kimberly¡¯s cheek. It took several calls of her name until she finally woke up and became aware.


    ¡°Have we arrived?¡± Kimberly asked as she rubbed her eyes.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Nichs yawned. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived in Ennd. How do you feel? Are you feeling better?¡±


    Kimberly adjusted her sitting position and raised both hands to stretch her stiff muscles.


    ¡°Much better, but my body feels a bit stiff.¡±


    Nichs smirked.


    ¡°I should be the oneining about stiffness, not you, especially since you¡¯ve been leaning on my shoulder and chest all this time.¡±


    Kimberly raised an eyebrow. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to hug me. You¡¯re the one who wanted to take advantage, right?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, you don¡¯t know how to say thank you,¡± Nichs said, then stood up from his seat and took Kimberly¡¯s wrist. He held it tightly and led her to disembark from the ne.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± eximed Kimberly. The woman couldn¡¯t stop smiling as she looked at the scenery and the hustle and bustle around her. It was her first time setting foot in Ennd. Before she had run away from Opa Arthur¡¯s house, she used to travel abroad frequently for vacations or holidays. But Ennd had never been her destination until now. Perhaps this time she should thank Nichs. Because of him, she had been able to travel this far.


    Nichs, who was secretly observing the woman next to him, could only smile faintly. Somehow, a warm feeling enveloped his heart as he watched Kimberly looking so happy beside him.


    Upon arriving outside the airport, someone Nichs knew well was waiting for him leisurely. A tall and graceful woman with curly hair, dressed casually and sporting famous brand sneakers.


    ¡°Wee Home,¡± the woman greeted as she kissed Nichs¡¯s cheek and hugged him tightly.


    Nichs let go of Kimberly¡¯s hand, then returned the hug.


    ¡°Long time no see, honey,¡± Nichs replied, loosening his embrace.


    Kimberly, who witnessed this affectionate scene, remained silent and looked away. She was starting to feel a bit annoyed. Or perhaps a hint of jealousy was creeping in.


    ¡°So, is she your fianc¨¦e?¡± the woman asked in a recognizable British ent.


    Nichs nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s my ugly fianc¨¦e,¡± Nichs said with a smirk while ncing at Kimberly.


    The woman then stepped forward and suddenly hugged Kimberly. ¡°Wee to your new home,¡± she said as she released the hug. ¡°Let me introduce myself, I¡¯m Chelsea, Nichs¡¯s little sister,¡± she said afterward.


    Oh my goodness.


    I thought this woman was Nichs¡¯s girlfriend.


    Or perhaps even an ex who had left him in the past.


    ¡°Turns out she¡¯s his sister,¡± Kimberly muttered to herself. ¡°His sister and she¡¯s this beautiful.¡± She let out a slow breath and smiled faintly at Chelsea. ¡°I¡¯m Kimberly. Thank you for the wee.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re very wee, sista,¡± Chelsea replied with a smile, then she reached for Kimberly¡¯s hand, leading her towards the car that would take them to Nichs¡¯s residence.


    The car moved at a moderate pace, and once again, Kimberly was captivated by the sights of Ennd. The neatly lined old buildings were a feast for her eyes. Not to mention the bustling yet charmingly beautiful cityscape with vehicles moving about. It was noisy but still wrapped in a certain beauty. From behind the window, Kimberly eagerly gazed until the car they were in arrived at Hyde Park Penthouse, the most luxurious apartment in the city of Ennd.


    ¡°Have we arrived?¡± Kimberly asked enthusiastically.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at my apartment.¡± He then opened the car door and extended his hand to Kimberly.


    Still feeling a bit confused, Kimberly epted Nichs¡¯s hand. Without asking too many questions, she followed Nichs and Chelsea into the apartment building. When they reached the 10th floor, they entered a unit that she assumed belonged to Nichs.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just drop you off here. I have other things to attend to. Remember, sis, your event starts at 7, so make sure you¡¯re notte this evening,¡± Nichs said as he kissed his sister¡¯s cheek briefly before leaving. Kimberly could see the affection Nichs had for his younger sister. Or was Nichs the type of man who was gentle and caring after all?


    ¡°I thought we were going to stay at your parents¡¯ house?¡± Kimberly asked, curious. She had been trying to hold back from asking, but her curiosity got the best of her.


    ¡°I just want to maintain our privacy. Besides, I¡¯m afraid you wouldn¡¯t befortable staying with them.¡±


    Kimberly nodded in response to Nichs¡¯s exnation. His words did make sense. It would probably be awkward to stay with Nichs¡¯s parents. Plus, they would likely be scrutinizing her every move.


    ¡°Where¡¯s my room then? I¡¯d like to rest for a bit,¡± Kimberly inquired.


    Nichs then directed Kimberly to enter a room not far from the balcony. The room had a golden color theme, which seemed to be intentionally designed for a woman. But wait, was this the room that Nichs¡¯s former fianc¨¦e used to upy?


    ¡°Is this my room?¡± Kimberly asked to confirm. She entered and scanned the room, examining every corner. Her eyes noticed numerous knickknacks and women¡¯s essories inside.


    ¡°If you¡¯re wondering, this used to be my former fianc¨¦e¡¯s room. That¡¯s why there are so many women¡¯s items and decorations in here,¡± Nichs exined as if he could read what Kimberly was thinking at the moment.


    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s not a problem. I think I¡¯ll befortable here. So, where¡¯s your room? We¡¯re not sharing a room, are we?¡± Kimberly suddenly asked.


    Nichs raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why?¡± he asked as he advanced towards Kimberly. ¡°Do you want to share a room with me? Is that it?¡±


    Kimberly was taken aback. She even realized that her face had turned red with embarrassment upon hearing Nichs¡¯s words. She had clearly made a mistake in asking such a question. ¡°Are you really suggesting we sleep in the same room?¡± Nichs teased once again.


    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely crazy, Nick! Get out of my room quickly; I want to rest now,¡± Kimberly said as she pulled Nichs out of the room.


    Nichs chuckled at Kimberly¡¯s reaction. In fact, he seemed even more enthusiastic about teasing the woman in front of him. ¡°Alright, but before you close the door, can¡¯t you give me a kiss?¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Kimberly immediately mmed her bedroom door shut, leaving Nichsughing heartily outside.

 BESIDE ME

    Kimberly was taken aback as she continued to gaze at her reflection behind the mirror. Her mouth kept reciting words of gratitude because God had kindly bestowed upon her a remarkably beautiful appearance.


    Kimberly wasn¡¯t overconfident, but almost everyone acknowledged that she possessed above-average beauty. At the office where she worked, countless men had dered their feelings for her. Even her friend Keyra shook her head in disbelief when Kimberly received so many gifts on Valentine¡¯s Day.


    However, out of the many men who approached her, none captured her interest. Until a foolish bet she agreed upon with Alex led her to truly fall for Nichs.


    Her encounter with Nichs Alistair could be categorized as a coincidence, but getting close to him and making him her boyfriend was one of her main goals. Who would have thought that today, in just a few hours, her status would change to being engaged to him?


    Don¡¯t be nervous, Kimberly.


    Isn¡¯t this your dream, after all, to be Nichs Alistair¡¯s girlfriend?


    You should be proud of yourself.


    Even if his feelings aren¡¯t clear to you yet, it doesn¡¯t matter. Over time, you can make him fall in love with you for real.


    Kimberly nodded at herself in the mirror, self-suggesting that she was ready to meet Nichs¡¯s family in a few minutes.


    ¡°Kimberly, are you ready?¡± Nichs called, knocking on her door.


    Kimberly straightened her dress once again and then moved to open the door. ¡°I¡¯ve been ready for a while. Let¡¯s go,¡± she invited.


    However, instead of leaving, Nichs was transfixed by Kimberly¡¯s appearance tonight. She looked stunning in the sleeveless ck evening dress she wore. The high slit in the dress exposed Kimberly¡¯s long, wless legs.


    For a moment, Nichs was mesmerized, and his eyes didn¡¯t blink as he admired the appearance of the woman who would soon be his fianc¨¦e. He had to admit that Kimberly looked exceptionally beautiful tonight.


    ¡°No need to overdo it with the stares, Nick. I¡¯m aware that I¡¯m quite beautiful,¡± Kimberly remarked.


    Nichs snapped out of it and smirked. ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re so confident. You¡¯re not my type, Kimberly.¡±


    Kimberly narrowed her eyes. ¡°Not your type, you say?¡±


    Nichs nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re not my type. I¡¯ve told you that countless times.¡±


    Kimberly smiled sarcastically, a tinge of irritation in her heart. ¡°Not your type, but you seem addicted to kissing me. Such a pervert!¡±


    ¡°Whoa, I¡¯m just helping you out, right? I did it so you wouldn¡¯t be awkwardter,¡± Nichs defended.


    Kimberly grunted in annoyance. She even felt like strangling Nichs right then and there. How could he use a kiss to tease her like that?


    ¡°Just wait, Nick. I¡¯ll definitely get back at you!¡± Kimberly threatened before leaving Nichs standing in front of her room.


    Nichs could onlyugh shortly before following Kimberly, who had already exited the apartment unit.


    ****


    Kimberly grasped Nichs¡¯s wrist before they got out of the car. Once again, she wanted to reassure herself whether this engagement really had to take ce. Until now, she had only wanted to be Nichs¡¯s girlfriend, but now she found herself engaged.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Kimberly asked while looking into Nichs¡¯s eyes.


    Nichs took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions. ¡°It¡¯s just an engagement, Kimmy. We¡¯re not getting married right away. And I¡¯ve already told you I¡¯ll learn to like you, so rx.¡±


    Kimberly sighed softly. ¡°You talk as if liking someone is as easy as flipping your hand.¡±


    ¡°Enough, just rx. Your task is to help me learn to like you,¡± Nichs replied casually.


    ¡°How can you learn to like me when I¡¯m not even your type? Not to mention, my background is a mystery to your parents. I¡¯m just an orphan-¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re definitely not a criminal, right?¡± Nichs interjected. ¡°Stop thinking negatively. My family isn¡¯t what you imagine. Leave everything to me; I know what I¡¯ll do in front of them.¡±


    At this moment, Nichs couldn¡¯t decide if he should feel happy or sad. Happy because after so long, he finally had a partner again. Sad because he was bound to a woman he didn¡¯t fully love.


    The game that was originally designed to fool his mother ended with the reality that he had to be genuinelymitted or even married to this woman. Nichs chuckled inwardly. It seemed like fate was ying with him right now.


    After convincing Kimberly that everything would be fine, Nichs held his fianc¨¦e¡¯s hand and confidently entered the Alistair family¡¯s residence. Inside, the immediate and extended families of both their parents had gathered. Even Kenzi and Alma were present at this event.


    This engagement ceremony could be considered quite simple, as it was attended only by close family members. It was Nichs¡¯s request not to make it too public. However, even for a simple event, Cassandra had spared no effort. She had prepared everything with great attention to detail. Nichs could be proud of his mother¡¯s skills.


    ¡°Wee, my dear. You¡¯ve finally arrived,¡± Cassandra greeted with enthusiasm. The middle-aged woman immediately pulled Kimberly to sit in the chair she had prepared. Shortly after, Nichs followed and took a seat beside her.


    ¡°This is our star today, Nichs¡¯s future wife,¡± Cassandra¡¯s words caught the attention of all present, and Kimberly felt a bit awkward as all eyes turned toward her.


    Kimberly timidly raised her face, smiling slightly. Her eyes began to scan each family member present.


    After a brief introduction, the event began. Nichs¡¯s parents delivered weing speeches to the attending families. Then, it was Nichs¡¯s turn to take over the proceedings and introduce Kimberly. He briefly recounted their meeting, although the story was mostly a fictionalized ount.


    ¡°We were destined to meet, it seems. Who would have thought that the love I¡¯ve been searching for would be so close to me? Yes, it turns out we work for the samepany. I even fell in love with Kimberly from the moment we identally crossed paths in the Alpha Beta building corridor.¡±


    Kenzi and Alma could only smile knowingly as they listened to their friend¡¯s story. Despite the embellishments, they appreciated her efforts to convince the whole family.


    ¡°Then, where is Kimberly¡¯s family? Why isn¡¯t anyone here at the event? Do they not approve of your rtionship?¡± one of Nichs¡¯s cousins asked.


    Nichs and Kimberly exchanged nces. With courage, Kimberly tried to address what had been worrying her earlier.


    ¡°I¡¯m an orphan and have no living rtives.¡±


    Everyone immediately turned their gaze to Kimberly. She took a deep breath, trying to continue.


    ¡°My father died in a car ident when I was six years old. My mother died in a fire four years after my father¡¯s death. I was even in aa for a few weeks during that incident.¡± Kimberly¡¯s voice trembled, and tears welled up on her cheeks without her noticing.


    A sudden silence fell over the room. All the family members present, including Nichs, felt a deep sense of sympathy. Nichs gently wiped away the tears that had fallen from Kimberly¡¯s cheeks, held her hand tightly, and kissed the back of her hand.


    ¡°You have me. No matter what happens, I won¡¯t leave you,¡± Nichs said sincerely. He wasn¡¯t joking this time.


    Not wanting to dwell on the sadness, Cassandra immediately began the main event. She handed Nichs a box containing a pair of diamond rings that had been prepared in advance. After expressing their feelings and exchanging rings, Nichs and Kimberly were officially engaged.


    Kimberly was relieved now. All her previous fears had proven to be unfounded. Nichs¡¯s family had warmly weed her, and no one had questioned her background.


    However, a new worry emerged, and it was even greater than before. She hadpletely forgotten that the biggest issue was not with Nichs¡¯s family. The people she should be concerned about were Marco and Opa Arthur. They would surely take action if they found out she was engaged to another man.


    So, did Kimberly need to bepletely honest with Nichs about who she really was? Or should she continue to hide her identity?


    ****


    Nichs settled himself on the sofa as they had just arrived at the apartment. Meanwhile, Kimberly had been rtively quiet since the journey back home. Realizing this, Nichs took the initiative to ask.


    ¡°Is something bothering you?¡± Nichs asked as he took off his suit jacket and tie.


    Kimberly shook her head softly. ¡°No, I¡¯m just tired,¡± she replied casually.


    ¡°If you¡¯re tired, change your clothes, take your medicine, and rest. You need to wake up early tomorrow. I¡¯ll take you sightseeing before we return to Indonesia.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Kimberly asked with a brightening expression.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll take you around. But for now, get some rest.¡± Nichs gestured for Kimberly to go to her room.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Kimberly followed Nichs¡¯s instructions and went into her room. However, she emerged just a few minutester and stood right next to Nichs. Sensing her confusion, Nichs asked again, ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    Instead of answering, Kimberly turned her body to face away from Nichs and began to reach for the zipper of her dress to take it off. Nichs¡¯s eyes widened in panic.


    ¡°Kimmy¡­ hey! What are you doing?¡± he eximed in a fluster, turning his face away.


    Kimberly turned to look at Nichs. ¡°I want to change my clothes,¡± she said matter-of-factly. ¡°Please help me unzip my dress.¡±


    Nichs became even more shocked. ¡°Are you crazy, Kimmy?¡±


    Kimberly frowned in disbelief. ¡°What did you say? Am I crazy?¡±


    Nichs gave Kimberly an intense look. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re crazy!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just asking for your help to unzip my dress. Why are you panicking? Even if my body is exposed, is that really a problem? Besides, I¡¯m not your type,¡± Kimberly argued.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m panicking. I¡¯m a normal guy, Kimberly. How could you ask me to unzip your dress? No cat would refuse fish if it¡¯s given to them,¡± Nichs said.


    Kimberly narrowed her eyes and intentionally sat down next to Nichs.


    ¡°So you¡¯re tempted by me, huh?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Kimberly. You¡¯ll regret it if I do get tempted!¡± Nichs threatened, sounding quite panicked.


    Kimberly chuckled sarcastically. ¡°Oh,e on, Nick. You¡¯re the one who said you would teach me how to kiss. Why not teach me some other hot stuff? This is nothing, dear. Should I take off my dress right now?¡±


    Kimberly prepared to lower the dress she was wearing. However, Nichs suddenly pulled the zipper back up.


    ¡°Stop, Kimberly! Stop what you¡¯re doing. Okay, you win,¡± Nichs said, then got up and left. He left Kimberly, who wasughing triumphantly at her sessful retaliation against his earlier actions.

 DON鈥橳 LEAVE ME

    Remembering Nichs¡¯s promise yesterday to take Kimberly around the city of London, she woke up early today with great enthusiasm. Quickly, she took a shower and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast first.


    It was already seven in the morning, but Nichs¡¯s room appeared to be tightly locked. Kimberly was certain he hadn¡¯t woken up from his slumber. After preparing breakfast, she walked to Nichs¡¯s room with the intention of waking him up.


    After knocking several times, he finally opened the door. Still wearing his pajamas, Nichszily looked at Kimberly.


    ¡°Why are you making noise so early in the morning?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Tsk, how can you even ask why? You¡¯re the one who promised today to take me around,¡± Kimberly retorted in frustration. She couldn¡¯t believe the man in front of her had forgotten his own promise.


    Nichs didn¡¯t immediately respond. He nced briefly at the wall clock in the corner of the room, squinting to confirm the time.


    ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s only 7 a. m., Kimberly. Why didn¡¯t you wake me up at 5 a. m.? Where are we going so early? Jogging?¡± Nichs shook his head in disbelief.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the air fresher for a morning walk?¡± Kimberly argued.


    ¡°I¡¯m still sleepy,¡± Nichs replied casually. He intended to close the bedroom door again, but Kimberly quickly blocked it by leaning her body against it.


    ¡°Come on, Nick, hurry up and shower. How much longer do I have to wait for you? You know I¡¯m already very hungry,¡± Kimberly whined.


    Nichs furrowed his brow. ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, why didn¡¯t you eat first? I didn¡¯t ask you to wait for me.¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s face began to show irritation, but she tried to patiently deal with Nichs. She just didn¡¯t want to start a fight with that annoying man on this bright morning.


    ¡°Don¡¯t we always have breakfast together?¡± Kimberly said. Then she stepped closer to Nichs, directed her hand, and intentionally caressed his broad chest covered with pajama fabric. Her fingers danced there, making Nichs¡¯s hair stand on end instantly. ¡°Do I need to be the one to bathe you, my future husband?¡± Kimberly asked with a deliberately sensual tone. Nichs took a deep breath, feeling unprepared to resist Kimberly¡¯s temptation this early in the morning. If he couldn¡¯t control himself, he might pounce on her right now. He even struggled to stop the wild thoughts filling his mind.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go take a shower. But it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m giving in this time; I just don¡¯t want to fool around with you, Kimmy,¡± Nichs replied.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Kimberly chuckled softly at Nichs¡¯s behavior. Hiszy demeanor was quite evident.


    ¡°Suit yourself, Mr. Alistair. I don¡¯t care. Now go shower; I¡¯ll wait for you at the dining table.¡±


    Without being asked, she left and closed Nichs¡¯s bedroom door firmly. She chose to wait patiently in the dining room while ying with her phone. Ten minutes passed, and the person she was waiting for finally arrived.


    ¡°Have you taken your medicine?¡± Nichs asked between bites of their meal. He was just concerned that Kimberly might have a rpse of her illness like before.


    Kimberly, still chewing her food, nodded. She chose to sip her drink first before speaking. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve taken it. It¡¯s even in my bag already. I¡¯m not a child, Nick. You don¡¯t need to remind me all the time.¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want your stomach to suddenly ache while we¡¯re out,¡± replied Nichs.


    Hearing his response, Kimberly stared closely at Nichs¡¯s face. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re worried about me? Oh, I feel so ttered, Nichs Alistair.¡±


    Instead of answering, Nichs, who had finished his meal, chose to stand and ignored Kimberly¡¯s question. He then picked up the sweater that had been lying on the sofa and put it on. Not long after, he left.


    If he had been gentle these past few days, today his true nature had resurfaced. The cold and indifferent demeanor that often irritated Kimberly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for five minutes downstairs; if you¡¯rete, we¡¯ll cancel our outing today,¡± the man said as he walked out of the apartment, leaving Kimberly reluctantly muttering in frustration.


    ***

 DONT LEAVE ME (2)

    Exploring London in the morning turned out to be the perfect choice for Kimberly. The still very cool air made herfortable even though she had to walk. Neat rows of old buildings lined the streets she passed by. The scenes that she had often seen in movies now felt so real.


    Making the most of their time, Kimberly asked Nichs to take her to almost all the tourist attractions in London. They visited the Tower of London, London Tower Bridge, Buckingham Pce, and even Westminster Abbey.


    Now, the remaining destination was the London Eye. A never-ending smile graced Kimberly¡¯s small lips. Nichs, who had been sneakily stealing nces at her, felt his heart warm. Without Kimberly¡¯s knowledge, he had discreetly taken several photos while she was enjoying the sights.


    ¡°Do we have to queue for this long? I might not be able to ride this giant Ferris wheel until evening,¡± Kimberly sighed as she stood in front of the entrance to the London Eye. There was a long line of tourists waiting to board the giant Ferris wheel.


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°No need. What¡¯s the use of having a wealthy fianc¨¦ if he can¡¯t provide VIP ess for his partner?¡± He said with arrogance and then pulled Kimberly¡¯s wrist to follow him.


    ¡°You¡¯re so arrogant. So should I thank you?¡± Kimberly replied while continuing to follow Nichs towards the VIP entrance, which indeed seemed less crowded than the regr entrance.


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°A simple ¡®thank you¡¯ isn¡¯t enough.¡±


    ¡°So, what should I do?¡± Kimberly asked, puzzled, as they entered the waiting area for the London Eye. She observed Nichs handing over the ess cards to the attendant.


    ¡°Just be an obedient woman and don¡¯t trouble me,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Kimberly asked to make sure.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Yes, quite easy, isn¡¯t it? Now hurry up and get on; I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡±


    Seeing Nichs rxing in the waiting chair, Kimberly became confused. She thought he would ride up with her in the capsule.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t youing up?¡±


    Nichs shook his head again.


    ¡°No, just you. I don¡¯t like heights.¡±


    Hearing Nichs not wanting to go up due to a fear of heights made Kimberlyugh unconsciously. How could a nearly perfect man like him be afraid of such small things?


    ¡°Oh my, this seems interesting, Nick. You should apany me up there.¡±


    ¡°No! You can go up alone or not at all.¡±


    ¡°You-¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you promised to obey and not bother me?¡± Nichs cut her off before she could finish her sentence.


    Kimberly sighed.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go up alone; just pray my illness doesn¡¯t re up when I¡¯m up there.¡±


    After saying that, Kimberly entered the capsule alone. But before the door was closed, Nichs suddenly followed and joined her. Kimberly was once again puzzled by her boss¡¯s unclear behavior.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why are youing up?¡± Kimberly asked with a puzzled tone.


    Nichs replied calmly, ¡°I just don¡¯t want to take the risk of something happening to you up there,¡± then took a seat inside the capsule.


    ¡°Are you sure you want toe up?¡± Kimberly tried to confirm. Now it was Nichs who made her uneasy.


    Instead of answering, Nichs pulled Kimberly¡¯s body until she sat on hisp. He held her tightly as if he didn¡¯t want to let go.


    ¡°Stay quiet and sit still. If you keep moving, don¡¯t me me for doing more than this,¡± Nichs threatened, making Kimberly reluctantly sit on hisp.


    Being inside the Ferris wheel capsule for a while left Kimberly in awe. She could perfectly enjoy the mesmerizing view of London from a height of 135 meters. From the Parliament building and Big Ben to Buckingham Pce, everything was clearly visible from inside the Ferris wheel.


    ¡°Wow, if you hadn¡¯t brought me here, I might never have experienced a ce like this,¡± Kimberly expressed her gratitude repeatedly, making Nichs smile at her delighted expression, one he had never seen before.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry, Nick. I haven¡¯t taken my medicine yet,¡± Kimberlyined as they had just disembarked from the Ferris wheel.


    ¡°Do you want something to eat?¡±


    Kimberly nodded quickly. ¡°I want seafood; I¡¯m tired of bread and meat.¡±


    Nichs took a deep breath, thinking for a moment about which restaurant to visit, considering it was gettingte, and Kimberly needed to take her medicine soon.


    ¡°I know, now get in the car quickly. I¡¯ll take you to the restaurant you want.¡±


    A 15-minute driveter, they arrived at Barner¡¯s Tavern, a luxurious restaurant known for its special dishes like squid risotto and crispy fried cmari, which were very famous in London.


    After ordering and finishing all the food they had ordered, Kimberly went to the restroom, leaving Nichs sitting alone.


    In the meantime, a woman suddenly approached Nichs. Without hesitation, she sat down in the chair right in front of him. Nichs froze for a moment. He didn¡¯t expect to meet her again after all this time.


    ¡°Is this fate that I can meet you here?¡± the woman greeted him.


    ¡°Briana¡­¡± She smiled when Nichs mentioned her name.


    ¡°I thought you had forgotten my name, Nick. How are you?¡± she asked casually.


    Nichs tried to keep his expression calm. He didn¡¯t want to appear nervous, even though there was a pain resurfacing in his chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m good, very good. How about you? Did you get married to your boyfriend from before?¡± Nichs asked without hesitation.


    The woman smiled. ¡°No, I¡¯m not married. After you ended our rtionship, not long after, I also ended things with Mario. I thought he was only fit to be a friend for fun.¡±


    Nichs nodded. His face remained calm as before. In his heart, he hoped Kimberly would return from the restroom soon.


    ¡°How about you? If I may guess, you probably haven¡¯t gotten married, right?¡±


    Right after that question escaped Briana¡¯s lips, another woman approached and walked directly to them.


    ¡°Sorry if I took long,¡± Kimberly said as she sat right next to Nichs. She was convinced that the presence of this woman was very unwee, judging by Nichs¡¯s difort.


    ¡°Is she your friend?¡± Kimberly¡¯s gaze shifted to the woman in front of her.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s my friend, Briana. Let me introduce you to her.¡±


    After hearing the name, Kimberly understood why Nichs had been ufortable.


    With confidence, Briana extended her hand toward Kimberly.


    ¡°I¡¯m Briana, Nichs¡¯s former fianc¨¦e,¡± she said, emphasizing her words and seemingly belittling Kimberly.


    Kimberly gave a polite smile and shook Briana¡¯s hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you. I¡¯m Kimberly, Nichs¡¯s current fianc¨¦e,¡± she replied.


    Before Briana could fully process the surprise of suddenly encountering a woman who then acted intimately with Nichs, she had to ept the reality that Nichs was already engaged. She had truly lost now.


    She thought he wouldn¡¯t forget her just like that, considering their longsting rtionship. But hearing the fact that Nichs had found someone else first, there was a creeping pain within Briana.


    ¡°Honey, I¡¯m really tired. Can we go home now?¡± Kimberly broke the silence. She then got up from her seat and gently pulled Nichs¡¯s arm.


    Nichs agreed. He had been hoping to leave Briana¡¯s presence for a while now.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll excuse myself. Nice to meet you, Briana. I hope you¡¯lle to our wedding early next year.¡± Nichs intentionally mentioned the wedding in front of Briana. He just wanted to see the reaction of the woman who had hurt him in the past.


    Briana remainedposed. Shortly after, she smiled faintly, although the forced appearance was evident on her lips. Both Kimberly and Nichs noticed it.


    ¡°With pleasure, I¡¯ll definitelye if you invite me.¡±


    ***


    After meeting Briana at the restaurant earlier that evening, when they returned home, Nichs went straight into his room. Until nightfall, he didn¡¯t leave his room at all. Worried that something might be wrong, Kimberly knocked on Nichs¡¯s bedroom door repeatedly.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Nichs asked when he opened the bedroom door.


    ¡°Are you okay? I¡¯m worried about you,¡± Kimberly replied honestly.


    Nichs answered with a hint of irritation, ¡°I¡¯m fine; if there¡¯s nothing important, you can leave. Please, just let me be alone.¡±


    Kimberly shook her head and entered Nichs¡¯s room, then sat casually on his bed.


    ¡°Why were you acting strangely aftering back from the restaurant? Did you start thinking about your ex-girlfriend again?¡± Kimberly asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. Now, please leave my room.¡±


    Instead of obeying what Nichs had instructed, Kimberly instead pulled the man¡¯s arm until he sat right beside her. Momentster, with boldness, Kimberly leaned forward and pressed her lips against Nichs¡¯s. She kissed him passionately, even devouring him with fervor. Nichs, who had initially been surprised, slowly began to respond and enjoy it.


    Kimberly broke their lip lock for a moment.


    ¡°Do you want to learn to love me, don¡¯t you?¡± Kimberly asked in between their kisses. ¡°From now on, there should never be anyone else between us. If you want me to love you sincerely, then do the same.¡± She continued afterward.


    While trying to catch their still racing breaths, Nichs nodded softly. Shortly after, he pulled Kimberly¡¯s nape. Deepening their kiss, asionally nibbling on her lush lips to satisfy all his desires. For a moment, they both werepletely captivated. Nichs only released their lip lock when he felt Kimberly¡¯s breath beginning to quicken.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me, Kimmy,¡± Nichs pleaded, then held Kimberly¡¯s body tightly once again.

 FORGIVE ME KIMMY

    The doorbell rang loudly as Nichs had just seated himself on the sofa. With azy expression, he dragged his feet to see who hade to visit as soon as he arrived in Indonesia. When the door opened, thest person he wanted to see stood there, wearing a smile.


    ¡°Sebastian Edward, what do you want here?¡± Nichs asked without pleasantries. When he mentioned someone¡¯s full name, it was a sure sign he was annoyed.


    The man in front of him smiled broadly. ¡°Why are you always so gruff with me? Even though I¡¯m the friend you can always rely on.¡± Edward put on a fake sad face.


    ¡°I asked, what do you want here? I¡¯m tired after a long journey. If there¡¯s nothing important, you better leave,¡± Nichs repeated.


    Edwardughed heartily. He had expected this reaction from his friend. For some reason, since their college days, Nichs had always considered Edward his eternal rival. Even though whenever Nichs needed help, it was always Edward who came to his aid.


    ¡°I¡¯ve brought some documents that you need to review tonight. I also need to inform you that you have to leave for Ku Lumpur tomorrow. There¡¯s a meeting with the Petronas Group that can¡¯t be represented by someone else.¡±


    Nichs sighed deeply. He then motioned for Edward toe in and sit on the living room sofa.


    As he sat down, Edward immediately took out several sheets of paper from a transparent folder he had brought along and handed them to Nichs, waiting for his friend to review them.


    Nichs frowned. ¡°Why is this happening so suddenly? I just got back, and I have to leave again tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°I offered to go in your ce, but the legal team at Petronas insisted that the Owner or CEO of Alpha Beta had to attend their major meeting. It wouldn¡¯t make sense to send Kenzi, considering you¡¯re in control in Indonesia. That¡¯s why-¡±


    ¡°Nick, have you seen my pillbox?¡±


    Edward¡¯s attention shifted as he unintentionally heard and saw Kimberlying out of Nichs¡¯s room. However, it wasn¡¯t that fact that made Edward¡¯s eyes widen. It was the sight of the auburn-haired womaning out of the room wearing only a bathrobe.


    ¡°Oh my!¡± Kimberly eximed in shock, crossing her hands in front of her chest.


    ¡°Dear God, Kimberly!¡± Edward eximed in equally shocked tones.


    Kimberly then hurriedly ran back into Nichs¡¯s room. Due to a broken faucet in her room, Kimberly had no choice but to use Nichs¡¯s bathroom for her shower. It wasn¡¯t her fault that she didn¡¯t know Edward was outside.


    A sharp grin was clearly visible on Nichs¡¯s face. He observed the scene with clenched fists. He felt regretful about letting the freckled-nosed guy enter his home, especially when he realized how stunned Edward was by Kimberly¡¯s body wrapped only in a bathrobe.


    ¡°If you keep looking at Kimberly with that lecherous gaze, I swear I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out!¡± Nichs threatened, deadly serious about what he said.


    Edward turned to Nichs with a probing look.


    ¡°No wonder you forbade me from visiting here. Kimberly¡¯s behavior at home is like this?¡± Not stopping there, Edward leaned in and whispered, ¡°Have you two already done it?¡±


    This time, Nichs felt his patience wearing thin. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any other topics to discuss?¡±


    Edward smiled, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°So, have you two really done it?¡±


    ¡°Enough, Ed! It¡¯s better if you leave now,¡± Nichs openly kicked his friend out.


    Edwardughed heartily this time.


    ¡°But I still want to stay here. When else can I see Kimberly looking sexy like that?¡±


    ¡°Ed! I think you should go home now,¡± Nichs swore to God; he wanted to punch the guy right now. Shortly after, he shoved all the sheets of paper he had previously read into a folder and handed them to Edward.


    ¡°I¡¯ve read and signed everything. Now, get out of my apartment!¡±


    Edward grimaced while epting the folder Nichs offered. ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re really kicking me out, Nick. Even though I¡¯m the friend who¡¯s always by your side!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still Kenzi, who¡¯s much more useful,¡± Nichs replied.


    ¡°But right now, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s helped you a lot. Tomorrow, when you¡¯re on duty in Ku Lumpur, I¡¯d be happy to help you take care of Kimberly.¡±


    Nichs clenched his jaw hard, his patience had run out this time. He then got up from his seat. He forcefully dragged Edward out of his apartment. There was nothing more to discuss.


    ¡°This is thest time you visit my apartment. Don¡¯t expect me to allow you toe in, let alone enter.¡±


    Nichs mmed the door without waiting for Edward to respond. However, just a few steps inside, he heard a knocking sound. For a moment, Nichs ignored it, but it grew louder over time. Still filled with anger, he turned back and reopened the door.


    ¡°What else do you want, Ed?¡± Nichs scolded.


    ¡°Ex-cu-se me, sir. I¡¯m from Global Water. I was asked to repair the damaged water pipe in this apartment unit.¡±


    Nichs roughly rubbed his face as he had just scolded the wrong person. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he allowed the plumber to enter and promptly fix the damaged water pipe in Kimberly¡¯s room.


    ¡°Nick, can Ie out?¡± Kimberly shouted from inside her room.


    Nichs, who was waiting in the living room, responded, ¡°Stay there. I¡¯lle in when everything¡¯s done.¡±N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    After twenty minutes of repairs, the plumber finally bid farewell. Nichs quickly locked the door and then went to Kimberly, who had been waiting in her room all this time. She must have been cold, as she hadn¡¯t put on any clothes after her shower.


    When he opened the door, Nichs found Kimberly sitting on one side of the bed,bing her hair. He approached and sat beside her.


    ¡°Has Mr. Edward left?¡±


    Nichs nodded without speaking. He then handed her a bottle of medication.


    ¡°Is there something so important that he came here?¡± Kimberly asked, changing her sitting position to face Nichs.


    ¡°Tomorrow afternoon, I have to go to Ku Lumpur. It might take two or three days.¡±


    Kimberly frowned. ¡°So sudden? Should Ie along?¡±


    Nichs shook his head and then reached for a ss of water that was previously on the nightstand, offering it to Kimberly as a signal for her to take her medication.


    ¡°Tomorrow, ask Randy to take you to the hospital. As far as I remember, yourb test results should be ready.¡±


    Kimberly nodded in agreement. She then reached for the ss of water that Nichs had offered. Choosing to drink her medicine first, she replied to Nichs¡¯s statement.


    ¡°During my break tomorrow, I¡¯ll get them. I can ask Alex to apany me,¡± Kimberly replied casually.


    Nichs should have been the one apanying her to the hospital to collect her test results. However, considering that this time, the schedule couldn¡¯t be dyed, he had no choice but to let Kimberly go on her own.


    ¡°Kimberly Rayder!¡±


    Right when Kimberly was about to get up, Nichs grabbed her wrist.


    ¡°What now?¡± Kimberly asked, trying to free her hand from Nichs¡¯s grip. However, instead of letting go, Nichs tightened his hold, causing Kimberly to be pulled andnding perfectly on top of Nichs.


    For a moment, both of them remained still in their respective positions. Their eyes locked in a silent exchange, gazing at each other. Then, the next moment, their positions changed. It was unclear who initiated it, but their lips finally met.


    It only took a short while for their lips to meld together. They were racing to kiss, to suckle, and to devour each other. Kimberly¡¯s fingertips were even dancing on Nichs¡¯s neck, slipping inside his shirt and caressing his body gently.


    A gasp escaped from Kimberly¡¯s lips when Nichs pulled away from her lips and moved to her neck. The wet and sensual kisses he nted there left Kimberly surrendering herself to the moment. She closed her eyes, enjoying how Nichs¡¯s lips pampered her.


    Kimberly¡¯s moans only fueled Nichs¡¯s desire further. He continued to caress every inch of Kimberly¡¯s body tenderly and lightly. It became more and more seductive as time passed. Kimberly could only hold her breath and try to enjoy where Nichs¡¯s fingers were ying.


    Nichs¡¯s fingers continued to move gently, as if worshiping every inch of the beautiful woman in front of him. For God¡¯s sake, Nichs had never done this to any woman before. He could even hear Kimberly softly moaning and uttering something from her lips.


    ¡°Nick¡­¡±


    Hearing her name being called, Nichs halted his activities. He released his lips, then looked deeply into the woman¡¯s face in front of him.


    Still with theirbored breaths, Kimberly could see Nichs repeatedly taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself. His gaze was even hard to decipher. After a while, he slowly spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t continue with this.¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s forehead creased. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want to touch me? Am I really not your type?¡± Kimberly asked in frustration.


    ¡°No,¡± Nichs shook his head firmly. He appeared to be taking a deep breath, his shoulders dramatically rising and falling, trying to control his mixed emotions.


    ¡°I¡¯m just not ready for it. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll disappoint you, Kimmy. You should give yourself to a man you truly love.¡±


    Kimberly swallowed hard. The next moment, she replied, ¡°I love you, Nick. So what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t.¡±


    Kimberly clenched her jaw tightly. She felt embarrassed for assuming that Nichs truly loved her. After a moment, she pushed Nichs¡¯s body away and got up.


    ¡°Please forgive me, Kimmy.¡±

 I BEG YOU

    This morning, in arge room with a minimalist gray decor, Mario sipped his coffee while keeping an eye on the world stock market news on the television. It wasn¡¯t long before his office door was knocked, and a tall, burly man in a ck shirt entered. Upon closer inspection, the man who entered could be more aptly described as a security guard or bodyguard. This man was Joseph, the one who had been assigned to watch over Kimberly.


    Without hesitation, Joseph stepped forward. He handed over a brown folder for Marco to examine. Marco epted it immediately. He then extended his hand to open the folder and began pulling out the photos it contained, one by one. For a moment, Marco scrutinized each photo he held. After a while, his forehead furrowed, and his emotions almost red up when he came across a picture that truly disturbed him.


    ¡°Josh, can you exin the meaning of all this?¡± Marco asked while holding up one of the photos towards Joseph, trying to restrain his emotions.


    Joseph approached to take a look and then stood up straight again.


    ¡°That¡¯s a photo of Miss Kimberly during a simple engagement party at Nichs¡¯s residence in London.¡±


    A sharp grin appeared on Marco¡¯s face.


    ¡°What did you say? Kimberly is engaged to Nichs? Without Opa Arthur¡¯s knowledge?¡± Marco shook his head in disbelief.


    ¡°That¡¯s the information we have, Sir. The private party took ce maybe two or three days ago,¡± Joseph exined.


    Marco leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment. His mind raced with thoughts of Kimberly.


    Allowing Kimberly to roam freely out there had clearly been a mistake. Now, he had to think quickly about how to bring her back home.


    ¡°Have you carried out my orders from yesterday, Josh?¡± Marco inquired, to which Joseph nodded in response.


    ¡°My men sessfully gained entry to Nichs¡¯s apartmentst night and installed a listening device in Miss Kimberly¡¯s room. I can assure you, no one will notice the device¡¯s cement. So, from now on, you can monitor from a distance. Additionally, as extra information, Miss Kimberly has her regr work schedule today, and during her break, she has an appointment to go to the hospital.¡±


    Marco¡¯s forehead furrowed. A big question suddenly popped into his head. ¡°To the hospital? Who¡¯s sick? What do you mean, Kimberly?¡± he pressed impatiently.


    Meanwhile, Joseph nodded once more. ¡°Miss Kimberly has an appointment with a doctor to get the results of ab test. I can¡¯t provide more detailed information about the results at the moment, but I¡¯ll update you as soon as possible.¡±


    This time, Marco nodded in acknowledgment.


    ¡°In that case, you may go. Don¡¯t forget to find Kimberly¡¯s phone number. Once you have it, provide it to the IT team so that I can easily track her exact location,¡± Marco instructed.


    ¡°Understood, Sir. I¡¯ll carry out your orders promptly,¡± Joseph replied with a nod.


    The tall man quickly left the room, leaving Marco to continue his work. Although it was a bit difficult for him to concentrate because his thoughts were focused on Kimberly. He had a concern that her phobia, which she had struggled with in the past, might resurface and jeopardize her health. Regardless, Marco cared for Kimberly like a sister and didn¡¯t want anything to happen to her.


    ***


    The bright weather today was in stark contrast to Kimberly¡¯s current mood. For evidence, during breakfast, she chose to remain silent and not say a word to the man sitting across from her. The embarrassing incident fromst night had made her unwilling to address the man who was eating his meal in front of her.


    Nichs, on the other hand, was engrossed in his own activities, focusing on reading graphs disyed on his tablet rather than apologizing or engaging in small talk with Kimberly.


    When it was time to leave, Kimberly dragged her feet to exit the apartment unit towards the lobby. She immediately approached Randy, who had parked the car there. Shortly after, Nichs followed suit and they departed in silence, just as before.


    ¡°Ran, please take Kimberly to the hospital after leaving the airport this afternoon,¡± Nichs instructed from behind the steering wheel.


    Randy nodded from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Certainly, Mister. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±


    ¡°After finishing at the hospital, directly drop Kimberly off at the apartment,¡± Nichs ordered Randy as they entered the Alpha Beta building¡¯s courtyard. Kimberly remained motionless, choosing to ignore and not respond to the man beside her. As she got out of the car, she decided to walk away without even ncing at Nichs.


    ¡°It seems like Miss Kimberly is upset,¡± Randy, who had known his boss very well, dared to speak up.


    Nichs didn¡¯t respond immediately from behind the wheel. He sighed deeply. But after a while, he spoke. After all, he often talked to the driver who had been working with him for five years. Randy was aware of the current rtionship between him and Kimberly.


    ¡°She does seem mad at me. But I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll get back to her usual self soon,¡± Nichs replied confidently.


    Unintentionally, Randy chuckled from behind the wheel.


    Heughed at Nichs, who was so sure of himself. Little did he know that women usually stay angry unless appeased. Most of them are like that, right?


    ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Nichs asked when he noticed Randy¡¯sughter.


    ¡°If I may give some advice, Mr. Nichs, it¡¯s best not to let Miss Kimberly cool down on her own.¡±


    Nichs raised an eyebrow in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What I mean is, Mr. Nichs, it¡¯s better for you to give in and apologize first. She doesn¡¯t like guys who are aloof, especially insensitive ones. If you want things to go back to normal, it might be a good idea to try the advice I¡¯m giving you,¡± Randy exined at length to Nichs.


    This time, Nichs was truly taken aback. He took several deep breaths and exhaled slowly. In his heart, he was worried that Kimberly wouldn¡¯t forgive him for what he didst night. But trying what Randy suggested wouldn¡¯t hurt. So, he resolved to apologize afterpleting all his work.


    ***


    At exactly two in the afternoon, Kimberly walked casually out of the office, apanied by Randy. Fifteen minutes of drivingter, they arrived at the hospital. However, as soon as Kimberly stepped into the hospital lobby, her steps were halted when someone deliberately pulled her arm, forcing her to stop and turn around. She felt surprised and even a bit frightened, but Kimberly tried to keep herposure.


    ¡°Kimberly Rayder, I told you we were meant to be together. Proof is that we¡¯ve met again here.¡±


    Kimberly let out a bitterugh. A momentter, she responded, ¡°Mario, what else do you need? Besides, I¡¯m sure this isn¡¯t fate as you im. You must have instructed your people to tail me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kimberly asked curtly, a clear expression of displeasure on her face.


    Now it was Marco¡¯s turn tough. He felt like he had been caught red-handed. The woman in front of him had always been adept at guessing. Even from the past.


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re smart, I¡¯ll give you that. I came here just to make sure of your status. Is it true that you¡¯re engaged to Nichs without Opa¡¯s knowledge? You hardly even know Nichs. Aren¡¯t you afraid he might hurt you in the future?¡± Marco inquired, probing.


    Kimberly shrugged indifferently. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s clearly my concern. How could you get engaged to someone else while we¡¯re also engaged? I¡¯m sure Mr. Nichs has no idea about our status, right?¡± Marco persisted.


    Kimberly shot a sharp re at Marco.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me. You have no right to interfere in my personal matters. Can¡¯t you do something nice for me?¡±


    Marco burst into heartyughter, finding Kimberly¡¯s words quite amusing.


    ¡°What did you say? Do something nice? So, you¡¯ve considered me evil all this time? If you forget, I can bring you back home at any time. I can even destroy Nichs whenever I want. You know very well that I¡¯m capable of doing all of that, Kimberly.¡± Marco¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply, and his words sent shivers down Kimberly¡¯s spine.


    ¡°You know I never wanted our engagement-¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know that,¡± Marco interrupted. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you should run away from home. Do you know that Opa Arthur is unwell right now? Have you ever cared even a bit about his condition?¡±


    Kimberly was taken aback. She didn¡¯t expect Marco to say that. She felt like an ungrateful brat, ignoring Opa Arthur, who had been taking care of her and giving her everything she asked for all these years. She had never once repaid his kindness.


    ¡°I beg you,e back. You have a home, Kimmy. Don¡¯t let yourself regret it. When youe back, Opa won¡¯t be there anymore.¡± Marco¡¯s tone softened, as he pleaded with her to consider his request.


    ¡°Marco, please. I can¡¯te back right now. I also hope you understand my situation,¡± Kimberly pleaded this time.


    In his position, Marco remained silent, listening to Kimberly¡¯s words. ¡°Alright, for the umpteenth time, I¡¯ll let you be. But once again, I beg you,e back. I¡¯m sure you remember my phone number. Contact me immediately if you change your mind.¡±


    Without waiting for Kimberly¡¯s response, Marco left her there.

 SECRET

    Kimberly waited for the doctor while continuing to think about Marco¡¯s words in the hospital lobby. As she thought more about it, she became increasingly concerned about Opa Arthur¡¯s condition, which was understandably fragile. Kimberly knew that her grandfather suffered from a heart condition that could re up at any moment.


    However, in her opinion, returning home at this moment was not the right choice. She was even determined that if the situation became urgent enough to require her to go back home, she would do her best to convince Opa Arthur to approve her rtionship with Nichs. Regardless, she had already fallen in love with him. Yes, even though Nichs¡¯s feelings towards her were still unclear to this day.


    Lost in thought, Kimberly was suddenly jolted back to reality when the doctor arrived with theb results she had been waiting for. Feeling a bit anxious, she moved closer to the doctor¡¯s practice desk.


    ¡°So, how are my blood test results from yesterday, doc?¡± Kimberly asked impatiently, or rather, with curiosity.


    The doctor opened the diagnosis folder he had brought with him and carefully read it beforeing to a conclusion.


    ¡°Here it mentions the results of Miss Kimberly¡¯s blood test, which is Ovarian Cancer.¡±


    ¡°What, doc? Cancer?¡± Kimberly was shocked to hear the doctor¡¯s words. She even almost jumped out of her seat in shock at the doctor¡¯s statement.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. Stage I Ovarian Cancer (T1-N0-M0), which means it¡¯s in the early stage. Cancer cells are only present in the ovaries or fallopian tubes and haven¡¯t spread to other organs. If treated promptly, you can be cured quickly,¡± the doctor exined cautiously.


    Kimberly took a deep breath. Even though the doctor said it could be cured because it was in the early stages, fear still enveloped her. She had never even imagined she could be afflicted with such a dangerous disease.


    ¡°W-what should I do, doctor? Do I need to undergo surgery?¡±


    The doctor nodded. ¡°A hysterectomy or tumor removal surgery must be performed. In some cases, the uterus, both fallopian tubes, or both ovaries may need to be removed.¡±


    Kimberly straightened her back. Worry coursed through her. She then asked again, ¡°What do you mean, doctor?¡±


    ¡°In some cases, both ovaries are removed. This can carry the risk of the patient being unable to have children in the future,¡± the doctor continued.


    Kimberly¡¯s world seemed to crumble after hearing the doctor¡¯s exnation. How could she be cured but lose the opportunity to have children in the future? Then, what was the purpose of her life?


    ¡°Does that mean I can¡¯t have children?¡± Kimberly asked again to confirm.


    ¡°For your case, Miss Kimberly, I can¡¯t say for certain. It requires in-depth observation. That¡¯s why I rmend that you schedule the surgery as soon as possible so that the cancer cells don¡¯t spread and endanger your life,¡± the doctor exined at length.


    Kimberly nodded in understanding. A momentter, she asked, ¡°So, when can I have the surgery?¡±


    ¡°You can make an appointment with an oncologist first, Miss Kimberly. I suggest you make the appointment as soon as possible so that this disease can be treated promptly.¡±


    She exhaled, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead. Kimberly tried to calm herself.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Should I tell Nichs about my condition?


    Or should I keep it to myself?

 ADMIRER

    Kimberly quietly enjoyed her dinner. Her mind wandered, and she had too much on her mind. It was the second day since Nichs had left for abroad, yet he hadn¡¯t taken the initiative to contact her. Was Nichs angry with her? It wasn¡¯t funny that she had to reach out to him first.


    ¡°Am I the one being victimized here? I¡¯m the one who¡¯s disappointed. Why am I the one being ignored? Ugh! So frustrating,¡± Kimberly rolled her eyes, scrutinizing herself in an attempt to find any ws within.


    ¡°Am I not pretty enough that Nichs truly sees me as not his type?¡± Kimberly sighed deeply, holding her cheeks. ¡°Gosh, how perfect do I have to be for Nichs to ept me?¡± She winced.


    But before she could finish her thoughts on Nichs, another issue crossed her mind. Now, she was thinking about the diagnosis the doctor had given her yesterday. To recover, she needed a lot of money for surgery, and at the moment, she had only two options: returning home and seeking help from Grandpa Arthur or telling everything to Nichs. Because those were the only two people who could help her.


    She had to make a decision quickly; the doctor had already warned her to take action immediately. Of course, to prevent the cancer cells from spreading to vital organs.


    Kimberly took a deep breath, her eyes closing. She tried to push away the growing fear. All the worst-case scenarios were spinning in her head.


    ¡°I have to have the surgery. Yes, I need to have it soon,¡± Kimberly convinced herself, strengthening her resolve. But it didn¡¯tst long; the doctor¡¯s words about all the risks and side effects from yesterday echoed in her mind.


    ¡°I have the risk of not having children. And which man would want a woman who can¡¯t give birth? If Nichs finds out, he might distance himself even further.¡±


    Kimberly had even lost her appetite. She struggled to swallow the food she had just put in her mouth. When she tried to chew, the doorbell rang loudly. She immediately got up to open the door.


    ¡°Good evening, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m from the tower¡¯s reception, here to deliver a flower arrangement from Amanda Florist.¡±


    ¡°Flower delivery?¡± Kimberly asked, puzzled. ¡°From whom?¡± she continued, curious.


    The receptionist tried to double-check, turning the flower bucket she held. But it seemed she couldn¡¯t find what she was looking for. ¡°There¡¯s no sender¡¯s name, only a greeting card.¡±


    Kimberly furrowed her brow, but her hand still reached out to ept the flowers from the woman in front of her. With a polite smile, Kimberly thanked her, ¡°Thank you very much.¡±


    The receptionist then bid her farewell and left, leaving Kimberly still feeling confused and curious. She went inside, then checked the greeting card that was still attached to the ribbon on the flowers she held.


    ¡°You are My Sunshine.¡±


    Kimberly flipped the greeting card back and forth, but only those words were printed on it. There was no sender¡¯s name or any other words to rify its meaning.


    Kimberly shrugged, not bothering too much. Shortly after, her phone rang. She picked up the t object lying on the dining table, feeling a bit happy when she saw Nichs¡¯s name on the screen. She answered promptly.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    Kimberly opened the conversation. However, instead of a response, there was only silence and the sound of a deep sigh on the other end. She waited for quite a while until her patience began to wane.


    ¡°Nick, are you mute? If there¡¯s nothing to talk about, I¡¯ll end the call,¡± Kimberly said seriously. She moved the phone away from her ear, intending to press the reject button and disconnect the call from Nichs.


    ¡°Wait!¡± he finally spoke. ¡°Why are you so emotional?¡±


    ¡°Me? Emotional, you say?¡± Kimberly sighed in frustration. ¡°You should know why I¡¯m acting like this. Besides, if there¡¯s nothing important, we might as well end this call.¡± Kimberly actually missed the sound of the man on the other side, but her pride was in control right now. Especially since he hadn¡¯t apologized at all after what happened a few days ago. Hadn¡¯t Nichs been taught how to apologize to a woman?


    ¡°Why rush to end the call? I still miss you. That¡¯s why I chose to remain silent, enjoying your voice from a distance.¡±


    ¡°The red blush of embarrassment was clearly etched on Kimberly¡¯s face. Nichs¡¯s words had the clear power to awaken strange desires within her. For a moment, she felt herself getting carried away until her awareness returned, not long after.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get carried away, Kimberly.


    You have to y hard to get.


    Besides, you know yourself,


    Nichs is a fickle man.¡±


    Kimberly took a deep breath, trying to keep herself from falling for Nichs¡¯s charms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not interested in your sweet words, Nick. Don¡¯t beat around the bush too much.¡±


    Nichs chuckled on the phone. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to sweet-talk you, Kimberly. I¡¯m serious. Maybe you¡¯re still angry with me. Okay, I apologize, sincerely apologize for all my actions that hurt your feelings. Will you forgive me?¡± the man genuinely pleaded.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Kimberly didn¡¯t answer, choosing to clear her throat loudly. In reality, she had forgiven him since yesterday. Again, she was just too proud to admit it. Moreover, Nichs hadn¡¯t contacted her at all since yesterday, which made Kimberly even more annoyed.


    Meanwhile, Nichs, understanding Kimberly¡¯s response, spoke up again. ¡°Oh, by the way, have you received the bouquet I sent you?¡±


    Kimberly nodded in understanding, realizing that the person who had sent her flowers a while ago was Nichs. ¡°So, you¡¯re the one who sent the flowers without a name?¡±


    ¡°Of course, who else?¡± Nichs asked.


    ¡°Who knows, maybe it was Mr. Edward who sent me the flowers,¡± Kimberly teased. She mentioned Edward¡¯s name on purpose, just to see what reaction Nichs would give.


    ¡°Uh! That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ve asked the apartment management to cklist Edward from there. Let alone sending gifts, he can¡¯t even set foot in that apartment,¡± Nichs said confidently.


    ¡°Goodness, Nichs!¡± Kimberly eximed half-shouting. ¡°How could you do that to Mr. Edward? You¡¯re going overboard.¡± Kimberly had intended to see Nichs¡¯s reaction, but instead, she was surprised by his overprotective behavior. She couldn¡¯t understand why Nichs always viewed Edward as a perpetual rival.


    ¡°Kimberly Rayder¡­¡± Nichs¡¯s calling brought Kimberly¡¯s wandering thoughts back.


    ¡°Huh? What?¡± Kimberly replied in surprise.


    ¡°How was your check-up this afternoon?¡± Nichs inquired. Of course, he needed to make sure of Kimberly¡¯s well-being. He didn¡¯t want anything bad to happen again.


    Kimberly swallowed hard, gathered herself, and replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about. The results of the examination were quite good.¡±


    Kimberly chose to keep her condition hidden from Nichs. She thought it would take the right time to tell him. Perhaps she would also reveal the hidden background she had kept for so long. But not now. Someday, Kimberly promised herself.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Nichs double-checked.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Nick,¡± Kimberly tried to assure him.¡±


    Nichs let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Alright then. Now you can rest. I have to get back to finish my work.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Kimberly replied briefly.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, Nick,¡± Kimberly suddenly said before she actually ended the phone call.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Nichs asked, puzzled.


    Kimberly remained silent for a while, but before long, her voice was heard again.


    ¡°I really miss you, Nick. I want to meet you soon.¡±


    Nichs froze. He didn¡¯t respond at all to Kimberly¡¯s expression of longing. He seemed entirely nonchnt. Could it be that he still couldn¡¯t open his heart?


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you missing me?¡± Kimberly asked when she noticed Nichs¡¯sck of reaction.


    Nichs just chuckled softly and then replied, ¡°It¡¯ste now; you should get some rest. See you the day after tomorrow.¡± The call ended abruptly, leaving Kimberly cursing loudly in her position.


    Oh God.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    What else do I have to do to make him truly love me!


    ***


    Kimberly nced at the clock on the nightstand, which showed it was already ten in the morning. She began to prepare for a shower. As she was about to step into the bathroom, the doorbell rang more than twice. Without hesitation, she rushed to the door and opened it.


    ¡°Sorry for the early disturbance, ma¡¯am. I want to deliver another bouquet,¡± the receptionist who had delivered flowersst night stood at the front of Nichs¡¯s apartment unit. Without much talk, Kimberly took the flower bouquet offered and thanked him.


    Goodness, Nichs.


    Why is he sending me so many flowers?


    Does he want to create a flower garden here?


    Moreover, instead of giving living flowers like this, it would be more useful if he gave me a deposit, wouldn¡¯t it?


    This time, Kimberly chose not to immediately transfer the flowers into a vase. She left them as they were on the nightstand and proceeded with her postponed shower routine.


    She spent almost an hour in the bathroom. Her body was so tired, and she had to rx all her stiff muscles by soaking in warm water.


    After enjoying her time in the bathroom, Kimberly rinsed off and wrapped herself in a bathrobe. As she stepped out, she nearly jumped in surprise. There was a man sitting calmly on one side of her bedroom¡¯s bed. The man turned to look at her and then grinned sharply at Kimberly.

 NOT YOUR TYPE

    ¡°Gosh!¡± Kimberly eximed in surprise when she saw the man she knew very well sitting on one side of her bed in her room.


    The man lifted his face and then turned to look at Kimberly, who was still standing quietly in front of the bathroom door. After a short while, Kimberly walked toward where the man was sitting.


    ¡°Why are you here? Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d be back the day after tomorrow?¡± Kimberly asked, giving Nichs a scrutinizing look.


    Instead of answering Kimberly¡¯s question, Nichs¡¯s gaze shifted to an object that had caught his attention earlier.


    ¡°Whose flowers are those?¡± Nichs asked, nodding toward the lily bouquet that was lying on the nightstand.


    ¡°How could you ask me that? Those are your flowers, aren¡¯t they?¡± Kimberly replied.


    Nichs blinked. ¡°My flowers?¡± He then shook his head, wearing a puzzled expression. ¡°I sent you red roses, not lilies. This isn¡¯t a gift from me, Kimberly Rayder.¡±


    Now, it was Kimberly¡¯s turn to be confused. If it wasn¡¯t Nichs, then who had sent her lilies so early in the morning? This person seemed to know that Kimberly liked white lilies.


    ¡°Who would dare to send you flowers like that?¡± Nichs pointed, looking displeased.


    Kimberly shrugged. ¡°I swear to God, I have no idea. There¡¯s no sender¡¯s name on them. That¡¯s why I thought it was from you. Besides, if it wasn¡¯t, I would have thrown them away.¡± Kimberly grabbed the flower bouquet and casually disposed of it in the nearby trash can.


    ¡°Finished. What else do you want toin about? Now answer my question. Why did youe home so early? Even this early in the morning?¡±


    Nichs sighed and then replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t you missing me? That¡¯s why I decided toe home early. So your longing could be quickly relieved.¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s face turned red.


    ¡°You¡¯re overdoing it.¡±


    Nichs¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. He then reached for Kimberly¡¯s fingers, gently squeezing them while continuing to gaze at the woman¡¯s blushing face.


    ¡°Are you deliberately teasing me?¡± he asked.


    Kimberly furrowed her brow.


    ¡°Teasing you? What do you mean by teasing?¡± Kimberly was confused. She thought she hadn¡¯t done anything since earlier.


    Nichs smiled knowingly. His hands continued to affectionately squeeze and caress Kimberly¡¯s wrist. ¡°Look at yourself, wearing only a thin towel that covers just the upper part of your body. Isn¡¯t that unintentionally teasing?¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk!¡±


    Kimberly sighed loudly and pulled her hands away from Nichs¡¯s grasp. ¡°Do you think I knew you woulde home today? You suddenly walked into my room,¡± Kimberly retorted. ¡°Besides, even if I werepletely naked, you wouldn¡¯t be tempted, would you? I¡¯m self-aware that I¡¯m not your ideal type of woman.¡± Right after Kimberly finished her sentence, she casually let go of the towel wrapped around her body. With a dismissive look at Nichs, she then turned around and walked leisurely towards the walk-in closet.


    The smile on Nichs¡¯s face faded as he listened to Kimberly¡¯s sarcastic remarks. His breath caught as he watched the woman walk past him,pletely bare.


    In the first moment, Nichs tried to keep hisposure. But when he saw Kimberly flip her wet hair from a distance, he immediately moved towards her, narrowing the gap between them. Momentster, he grasped her waist and pushed her petite body into one side of the closet.


    In an instant, Nichs¡¯s lips met Kimberly¡¯s, initiating a kiss that started gently but gradually grew more demanding. He continued to kiss her, devouring her tiny lips without breaking eye contact.


    Still kissing, Nichs¡¯s hands roamed over Kimberly¡¯s bare, innocent body. Before long, he released their lips and moved to her neck.


    ¡°Nick¡­¡± a sigh escaped Kimberly¡¯s lips.


    Nichs lifted his head, gazing at Kimberly¡¯s brown eyes, now filled with desire. It was an irresistible passion, and Kimberly was well aware of it. She pulled Nichs¡¯s body to stand parallel to hers.


    ¡°Do what you want, Nick,¡± Kimberly whispered.


    With heavy breaths, Nichs resumed kissing Kimberly fervently. However, when Kimberly tried to remove Nichs¡¯s pants, he seemed toe to his senses and withdrew. He shook his head several times.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Kimberly, stop!¡± Nichs eximed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I really can¡¯t.¡± The next moment, Nichs left, leaving Kimberly sitting in her ce.

 PLEASE FORGIVE ME

    Tears continued to flow from Kimberly¡¯s eyes. The day had turned into night, but she remained seated beside the closet, hugging her knees, releasing all the tears and disappointment that filled her heart.


    She wondered if she was so repulsive that Nichs had never wanted to touch her. Or perhaps he had never desired her.


    ¡°You¡¯re truly pathetic, Kimmy,¡± she muttered.


    At the time when the doctor had diagnosed her with a life-threatening illness.


    At that very moment, the man she referred to as her fianc¨¦ seemed to want nothing to do with her.


    ¡°You should know better.¡±


    Kimberly let out a bitterugh, mocking her fate. To this day, she realized that maybe she was the only one who loved Nichs, and it was not reciprocated.


    ¡°Damn the disease. Damn love. Why dwell on all this?¡±


    Kimberly wiped the tears from her cheeks and forced herself to stand. She steeled herself to forget the recent events. Shortly after, Kimberly decided to change her clothes, apply some light makeup, and hurriedly left her room. Her steps briefly halted when she saw Nichs¡¯s room tightly closed, but she decided to leave the apartment without saying goodbye to him.


    Walking aimlessly and using a ride-sharing service, Kimberly eventually stopped at an exclusive bar in the city center. There was no raucous noise here, only a few people quietly sipping their drinks.


    Kimberly couldn¡¯t exin what had possessed her toe to a ce she had never visited before. It was her first time in a bar. However, she didn¡¯t care. With confidence, she walked up to the bartender¡¯s table and took a seat. Her eyes scanned the row of bottles disyed on the shelf just behind the bartenders.


    ¡°Can I get you something, miss?¡± asked the bartender with cropped hair, shing a smile at Kimberly.


    ¡°Give me anything you think is good. I¡¯m a mess right now. Or if you can, give me a drink that can make me forget my sorrow in an instant.¡±


    The bartender chuckled and nodded. He began mixing a drink and ced it on the table.


    ¡°Please enjoy, this margarita seems suitable for you.¡±


    Kimberly shrugged, then without hesitation, she grabbed the ss and took a quick sip. The next moment, her face turned red. She tasted the unfamiliar drink on her tongue.


    ¡°Oh my, miss!¡± the bartender eximed. ¡°That¡¯s not how you drink a margarita.¡±


    Kimberly furrowed her brow. ¡°What kind of drink is this? And how should I be drinking it?¡± she asked, confused.


    Observing Kimberly¡¯s behavior, the bartender deduced that this was her first time drinking alcohol. He shook his head and answered her previous question.


    ¡°It¡¯s a margarita, a drink made by mixing tequ, triple sec, and lime juice in equal parts. It¡¯s also garnished with a little salt on the rim to enhance the vor. And for alcoholic drinks, you should sip them slowly, not gulp them down like you just did.¡±


    Kimberly nodded in understanding. ¡°In that case, give me a different drink. This one is too salty. It might make my hair fall out if I consume too much salt like this.¡±


    The bartender had been amused by Kimberly¡¯s antics from the start. He turned his body to observe the array of drinks behind him, contemting what drink to serve to a woman who was clearly drinking alcohol for the first time.


    ¡°How about that?¡± The bartender turned back and followed Kimberly¡¯s pointed finger. ¡°You mean the white bottle?¡±


    Kimberly nodded. ¡°Yes, give me a ss of that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s vodka. It has a very high alcohol content, miss. You might get very drunk,¡± the bartender tried to caution her.


    Kimberly was adamant. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just give me a ss. I won¡¯t die from drinking it.¡±


    But in reality, after finishing a ss of vodka, Kimberly asked the bartender to refill it. She kept drinking, asionally muttering, and sometimes crying softly. Before long, a man who had been at the bar for some time approached her.


    ¡°For God¡¯s sake, Kimberly! Why are you like this?¡± he eximed.


    ¡°Miss here has had too much to drink. She finished one margarita and four sses of vodka,¡± the bartender joked, trying to provide an exnation.


    The man took a disbelieving breath. ¡°What did you say? She had so many drinks?¡±


    The bartender nodded. ¡°Not only that, she was heard crying and thenughing to herself. She seems like someone with a broken heart. You should take her home immediately before something unwanted happens,¡± the bartender advised, considering Kimberly¡¯s current state.


    ***This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The continuous knocking echoed throughout Nichs¡¯s apartment. There was a doorbell right next to the door, but for some reason, the visitor outside chose to knock repeatedly.


    Feeling annoyed, Nichs exited his room, turned the doorknob, and opened it.


    ¡°Sorry, Mister, someone is looking for you in the lobby. She said it¡¯s an emergency.¡±


    Seeing the receptionist¡¯s serious expression, Nichs didn¡¯t say much. He immediately left his apartment, following the receptionist to the lobby.


    ¡°You scoundrel! Nick! How could you ask the apartment management to cklist my name? Do you think I¡¯m a terrorist, huh?¡± Edward eximed. ¡°You can see for yourself, because of your actions, I couldn¡¯t escort Kimberly directly to your unit!¡± he continued, irritated. But Nichs paid no attention to him. He even ignored Edward¡¯s angry rant. His gaze was locked onto the woman Edward was carrying.


    ¡°Why is Kimberly with you?¡± he asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t know that Kimberly went to a bar tonight?¡± Edward retorted.


    Nichs was taken aback by Edward¡¯s words. ¡°What did you say? Kimberly went to a bar? How is that possible?¡±


    Edward sighed in frustration, convinced that his clueless friend had no idea that his fianc¨¦e had left without a word.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about thatter. Let¡¯s get Kimberly to your apartment first!¡± Edward ordered.


    Without being told, Nichs picked up Kimberly¡¯s limp body and carried her. He disregarded the curious looks of the people around them.


    Once in his apartment, Nichsid Kimberly down in his bedroom and then pulled Edward out to demand an exnation.


    ¡°Can you tell me what actually happened?¡± Edward sighed. ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe you didn¡¯t know your fianc¨¦e left your home. Is there some problem between you and Kimberly?¡±


    Nichs raised his gaze. ¡°I think whatever issues there are between Kimberly and me are none of your business,¡± he said arrogantly, remaining unfazed in front of Edward.


    ¡°Fine, it¡¯s your right not to tell me the whole story. But you should know, Kimberly drank a lot of alcohol tonight. She¡¯s a mess. She kept mentioning your name throughout the way back home. asionally, she even cried hysterically. She seemed insane tonight, Nick!¡± There was emotion in Edward¡¯s words. He felt both frustrated and pity for what Kimberly was going through.


    Nichs took a deep breath. ¡°Kimberly is indeed angry with me. She¡¯s upset because I refused to touch her at all.¡±


    ¡°Why? Because you still remember ire?¡± Edwardmented bitterly. ¡°When will you truly forget that woman? Maybe you still love her!¡±


    ¡°I swear to God, I don¡¯t love ire anymore, Ed. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m not ready yet,¡± Nichs lowered his head. He looked mncholic now.


    Edward squinted his eyes. ¡°What about Cinta? Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t truly fallen in love with Kimberly.¡±


    Nichs remained silent. He didn¡¯t answer or deny what Edward used him of. He seemed lost in his thoughts. Nichs was indeed unsure if he truly loved Kimberly or not.


    ¡°No need to answer it,¡± Edward murmured. ¡°I can draw my own conclusion. You¡¯re really a mess! Don¡¯t wait for Kimberly to leave and then regret your feelings. Don¡¯t wait until Kimberly¡¯s feelings shift to another man for you to realize your own feelings. Because when that happens, it¡¯ll truly be toote.¡± Edward patted Nichs¡¯s shoulder gently and walked away, leaving his friend standing in silence.


    After Edward left, Nichs went to Kimberly¡¯s room. He sat down beside her as shey there, slowly undoing her clothes one by one. It wasn¡¯t for any indecent purpose; he just wanted to help her put on the nightgown he had prepared.


    ¡°Nick, please¡­¡±


    Nichs¡¯s hand paused as he was about to put on Kimberly¡¯s nightgown. She was muttering his name in her sleep.


    ¡°Nick, please¡­¡± Kimberly repeated the plea multiple times in her sleep, tears staining her cheeks. Nichs wondered how she could sleep and cry like this. What kind of pain and disappointment was she feeling deep inside?


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m here. Why cry?¡± Nichs whispered into Kimberly¡¯s ear and nted a kiss on her cheek. He then cradled her in his arms.


    Forgive me,


    It seems I can only hurt you, Kimmy.

 FRUSTRATING

    This morning, Kimberly woke up with a very heavy head and a severe headache. Closing her eyes again, she remembered what she had donest night. She had consumed too much alcohol, to the point of passing out.


    ¡°My head is pounding,¡± she thought. ¡°And who brought me homest night?¡±


    Kimberly sighed softly as she held her head. When she opened her eyes, she stared at the ceiling and realized she wasn¡¯t in her own room. Turning to the side, she found Nichs peacefully asleep.


    For a moment, she was captivated and continued to gaze at Nichs¡¯s face. She wanted to caress his face but refrained from doing so. After gathering her strength, Kimberly slowly slipped out of bed and left the room.


    Meanwhile, when Nichs woke up, he realized Kimberly was no longer beside him. He chose to let it be, got up, took a shower, and prepared to leave for work.


    Entering the dining room, he found Kimberly already sitting and having breakfast. She looked much better than she did the night before. In fact, Nichs could swear he heard Kimberly humming softly while enjoying her sandwich in front of her.


    ¡°Good morning¡­ What would you like for breakfast?¡± Kimberly asked casually, leaving Nichs looking puzzled. He had expected her to be silent as usual, given what had happened between them.


    ¡°Get me a sandwich like yours,¡± Nichs replied while continuing to stare at Kimberly with surprise.


    Not long after, Kimberly ced an American sandwich on Nichs¡¯s te. Then she focused on her own meal.


    ¡°Kimmy¡­¡± Nichs called softly.


    Kimberly lifted her face. ¡°Hmmm¡­ what is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Maybe what I did yesterday was too much. But please understand-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Kimberly interrupted. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve forgiven you. Besides, I don¡¯t want to talk about anything right now,¡± she continued. Afterward, Kimberly resumed eating thest piece of her sandwich.


    Hearing that, Nichs chose to remain silent. He was afraid of saying something wrong and once again provoking Kimberly¡¯s anger or frustration. Although, he was genuinely curious about her behavior.


    ¡°I¡¯ll head downstairs first. When you¡¯re done, pleasee down soon,¡± Kimberly sipped her chamomile tea and then left, leaving Nichs to finish his breakfast in silence.


    ***


    Nichs¡¯s concentration was disrupted during the afternoon meeting. Edward, sitting across from him, even noticed that his friend hadn¡¯t been paying serious attention to the client¡¯s presentation from the start.


    Nichs, known for his professionalism, appeared disinterested throughout the meeting until it concluded. Even during the Q&A session, the usually critical and selective man remained silent, leaving Edward to handle all the questions.


    Feeling that something was amiss with Nichs, Edward decided to apany his long-time rival to the CEO¡¯s office. He believed that this situation couldn¡¯t be allowed to persist, as it might lead to neglected work.


    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you seem to be preupied with something,¡± Edward questioned as they walked through the building¡¯s corridor.


    Continuing to stride, Nichs nodded and replied, ¡°We should discuss this in my office.¡±


    Once they arrived in Nichs¡¯s office, Edward took a seat on the guest sofa. Numerous questions were racing through his mind, waiting to be asked of Nichs.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s making you so perplexed? I¡¯m even sure you weren¡¯t paying attention to our client¡¯s presentation earlier,¡± Edward continued his previous inquiry.


    Nichs, who was sitting across from Edward, took a deep breath. He acted as if he were facing a veryplex problem.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about Kimberly¡¯s behavior this morning. I know she¡¯s upset, but her actions are so strange.¡±


    Edward furrowed his brow in confusion. ¡°Strange how? What do you mean?¡±


    Nichs reached for the coffee cup that was always on the table. He took a sip and then began to answer Edward¡¯s question. ¡°Usually, when Kimberly is angry, she gives me the silent treatment. But this morning, she actedpletely normal, as if nothing had happened between us.¡±


    Edward nodded and then smiled faintly.


    ¡°Do you know what that means?¡± he asked.


    Nichs ced his coffee cup down. ¡°What? Don¡¯t beat around the bush, Ed. You¡¯re making me even more curious,¡± Nichs protested. Talking to Edward always seemed to stir his emotions.


    ¡°It means she¡¯s losing interest in you, Nick. Don¡¯t be surprised if Kimberly leaves you without a word in the near future,¡± Edward said with a serious expression.


    Hearing Edward¡¯s words, Nichs fell silent. His mind wandered. What his friend mentioned could be true, considering the many wounds Nichs had inflicted on Kimberly. But he couldn¡¯t let her leave his apartment.


    Nichs sighed in frustration. ¡°So, what should I do, Ed? I¡¯ve already apologized, but Kimberly isn¡¯t responding. She even told me not to discuss it anymore. Honestly, I feel so conflicted right now,¡± he said, his face showing genuine confusion.


    Edwardughed. ¡°Can¡¯t believe you¡¯re asking me what to do. Ask your conscience what a gentleman should do,¡± Edward said sarcastically.


    ¡°Damn, this is frustrating! It seems pointless to talk to you. You¡¯re not helping at all, Ed,¡± Nichs protested.


    Edward couldn¡¯t help butugh. He was absolutely sure that Nichs was very frustrated. Nichs had sighed countless times and rubbed his temples repeatedly.


    Edward stoppedughing and turned serious.


    ¡°I¡¯m honestly puzzled by you, Nick. If you don¡¯t love Kimberly, why are you so bothered like this? Rx, you should be happy that she¡¯s still talking to you after all the things you¡¯ve done. But it¡¯s a different story if you truly love her. Once again, ask your conscience, Nick. Unless you don¡¯t have one.¡±


    Nichs was taken aback. Edward¡¯s words felt like a p in the face. There was a bit of fear that Kimberly might actually ignore him after this. He preferred facing Kimberly¡¯s anger and tantrums to pretending like they did this morning.


    Yes, I have to do something.


    ***

 NO ONE

    Kimberly was enjoying lunch with Alex and Keyra in the cafeteria. It had been a long time since she had seen her two friends. Back then, not a day went by without her spending time with them.


    ¡°I thought after bing Mr. Alistair¡¯s fianc¨¦e, you wouldn¡¯t want to be friends with us anymore, Kimmy,¡± Alex teased. He was waiting to see how Kimberly would respond.


    Kimberly chuckled softly. ¡°I apologize for being so busytely. You both know our office has a lot of deadlines to meet.¡±


    ¡°So, how¡¯s your rtionship with Mr. Nichs? Is it getting better? You haven¡¯t talked about it at alltely,¡± Keyra now threw the question.


    Kimberly didn¡¯t respond immediately. She chose to take a sip of the green tea freeze she had ordered first. ¡°I don¡¯t know, honestly. I don¡¯t know how long this rtionship willst. I thought, after bing Mr. Ice King¡¯s fianc¨¦e, I could easily melt his heart. But it¡¯s beyond my expectations. He¡¯s really hard to thaw. I¡¯m sure that up to this moment, he still hasn¡¯t fallen in love with me,¡± Kimberly muttered in frustration.


    Keyra reached out and gently stroked Kimberly¡¯s shoulder, as if encouraging her to be patient and strong. Likewise, Alex did the same thing as Keyra.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t handle it and want to give up, just do it, Kimmy. There¡¯s no point in holding on if it makes you ufortable. You¡¯re beautiful, and it shouldn¡¯t be hard to find a man who¡¯s ten times as handsome or wealthy as Mr. Nichs,¡± Alex said at length, trying to give advice so that Kimberly wouldn¡¯t continue to be downcast like she was now.


    After years of friendship, Keyra and Alex knew very well that Kimberly¡¯s silence didn¡¯t mean nothing was happening to her. She sometimes liked to hide what she was feeling, especially her sadness and disappointment. Plus, they also knew the ups and downs of Kimberly¡¯s life.


    ¡°Alex is right, Kimmy. If this current rtionship isn¡¯t bringing happiness, it¡¯s better to end it. What¡¯s the point of being engaged when, in reality, only you love the guy,¡± Keyra added her advice.


    Kimberly took a deep breath, trying to weigh all the advice her friends were giving her. It was true that her rtionship with Nichs had started as a pretense to avoid the wrath of Nichs¡¯s parents. But when it came to her feelings, Kimberly was serious. She had started to love him when she unintentionally took care of him during a sudden onset of his phobia.


    Amidst her swirling thoughts, a man approached Kimberly¡¯s table and sat down between Keyra and Alex without hesitation.


    ¡°May I join you?¡± the man asked while cing his drink on the table.


    ¡°Please, Mike. Besides, I see that the seats in the cafeteria are full,¡± Keyra shifted her position to make room for Michael to sitfortably.


    Michael was one of the employees in the marketing division who had long held feelings for Kimberly. Everyone at Alpha Beta even knew about it. It was an open secret.


    He turned his gaze toward Kimberly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Kimmy? Is something bothering you?¡± Michael asked without beating around the bush.


    Kimberly raised her face. ¡°M-me?¡± she pointed to herself.


    Michael nodded. ¡°Yes, you. The only Kimberly here. Besides, it¡¯s pretty clear from your facial expression that something¡¯s bothering you,¡± Michael guessed.


    Kimberly grimaced. Why did everyone easily read her facial expressions? She had been trying so hard to appear normal.


    ¡°Instead of you being sad, how about joining the birthday celebration for Mr. Andrew tonight? The party is at HollyWings,¡± Michael suggested. He spoke while munching on the French fries in front of Keyra.


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Kimberly inquired.


    ¡°Yes, Kimmy. If you decide to go, we can pick you up,¡± Alex offered.


    ¡°If you need a temporary date, I¡¯m also ready to be your date tonight, Kimmy,¡± Michael teased with a yful tone, earningughter from Keyra and Alex.


    ¡°No one can take Kimberly away without my permission.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Suddenly, that baritone voice startled them all without exception.

 LOVE YOU KIMMY

    Nichs exited the room and found that Kimberly was not at her desk. He had intended to invite her to lunch, hoping to mend their rtionship, which seemed to be hanging in the bnce. However, it seemed like he was toote because the person he was looking for had disappeared, and he had no idea where she had gone.


    Curious, Nichs attempted to contact Kimberly on her phone. Unfortunately, after several tries, her number appeared to be inactive. It briefly crossed his mind that Kimberly might be in Alex and Keyra¡¯s office as usual.


    With confidence, Nichs proceeded to their office. However, even there, he couldn¡¯t find Kimberly. Eventually, he coincidentally crossed paths with Andrew, who was the finance division supervisor.


    ¡°Can I assist you, Mister?¡± Andrew asked when he noticed Nichs standing around, looking puzzled in front of the office.


    Nichs turned his face away. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Kimberly. There¡¯s an agenda I need to discuss with her urgently. I thought she was here,¡± he deliberately lied. He couldn¡¯t possibly tell Andrew the truth that he wanted to invite Kimberly to lunch.


    Andrew nodded in understanding. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Kimberly is having lunch with Alex and Keyra in the building¡¯s cafeteria. If you want, I can help you join them.¡±


    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Nichs declined. ¡°I¡¯ll go there directly. Thanks for the information.¡±


    Nichs then headed to the cafeteria. Once there, he scanned the area, searching one by one among the people who were busy having lunch. He looked around until his gaze locked onto the person he was looking for. Nichs quickly approached Kimberly, who was engrossed in conversation with her friends.


    As Nichs got closer, he faintly overheard them discussing the celebration party Andrew was hostingter that evening. However, that wasn¡¯t what bothered him. Mike, one of the employees, was teasing Kimberly. The man was deliberately inviting Kimberly to the party together. Annoyed, Nichs immediately interrupted Mike¡¯s words.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No one can take Kimberly away without my permission.¡±


    Suddenly, Nichs¡¯s baritone voice startled those who were conversing in the cafeteria. Not only that, but almost all the employees present there looked in surprise at the athletic-looking man.


    It was quite unusual because during his tenure as CEO, Nichs had never set foot in the cafeteria. Everyone was surely wondering what had prompted him toe there himself.


    ¡°Mis-ter Nichs,¡± Michael stammered. Clearly nervous because Nichs¡¯s words had struck sharply at him.


    Nichs raised an eyebrow, disying his displeasure towards Michael.


    ¡°No one can just take Kimberly away without my permission first,¡± Nichs paused for a moment, then nced around before speaking again. ¡°And for all of you here without exception, I don¡¯t want to see anyone among you teasing Kimberly anymore. You all should know that she is my fianc¨¦e.¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she gazed at Nichs. She hadn¡¯t expected him to casually announce their status to everyone present. The situation instantly became noisy, with people pointing and whispering in Kimberly¡¯s direction as she sat there.


    ¡°Come with me right now!¡± Nichs ordered. His tone left no room for argument this time. He continued to assert dominance, even though he knew Kimberly was angry with him.


    Not wanting to argue, Kimberlyplied. She got up and followed Nichs, who had already started walking.


    ¡°Wait for me!¡± Kimberly eximed, grabbing Nichs¡¯s wrist as they walked toward the elevator.


    Nichs¡¯s steps halted. ¡°What is it now?¡±


    Kimberly stepped forward, positioning herself beside him, and they entered the elevator together.


    ¡°You¡¯re really crazy!¡± Kimberly teased.


    Nichs turned to her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m crazy for you.¡±


    Kimberly sighed. ¡°Why did you announce our engagement to everyone?¡±


    Kimberly felt ufortable with everyone knowing that she was the CEO¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Other employees would likely treat her differently, and there might even be some who didn¡¯t like it.


    ¡°Why did I do it? It¡¯s simple, so that everyone knows you¡¯re my fianc¨¦e. No one will dare to bother you or tease you like earlier. I¡¯ve told you before, I don¡¯t want my fianc¨¦e to be close to any man, without exception. Besides, you should be proud that I announced it to the public. It means I acknowledge your presence,¡± Nichs exined at length.


    He waspletely insane!


    Why was he angry? His feelings toward me aren¡¯t clear yet.


    Kimberly continued to re at Nichs.


    How could he be jealous like this?


    If it¡¯s love, what¡¯s so difficult about saying it?


    Instead of being so unclear.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Nichs asked, realizing that Kimberly was still staring at him with an annoyed expression.


    Kimberly shrugged non-dramatically. ¡°You¡¯re really the strangest person, Nick. You should realize that I¡¯m angry with you right now.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯ve forgotten, I already apologized this morning. And you asked me to forget everything, right? So, where did I go wrong?¡± Nichs debated. Unbeknownst to Kimberly, he smiled faintly. He preferred arguing like this to seeing Kimberly acting strangely like she did earlier.


    ¡°I even thought about ending our ridiculous engagement. Why continue it? You always make me so angry. I¡¯d be better off in a rtionship with someone else!¡± Kimberly threatened, making Nichs beside her startle.


    When the elevator doors opened, Nichs swiftly pulled Kimberly into his office. Skillfully, he locked the door to ensure no one would disturb them while they had a serious conversation.


    ¡°What did you just say? You want to end our engagement?¡± Nichs inquired.


    Kimberly nodded in agreement. ¡°I even nned to move out of your apartment.¡±


    Nichs burst intoughter upon hearing Kimberly¡¯s words. Despite Kimberly speaking seriously, he found it amusing. ¡°That won¡¯t be possible, Kimberly Rayder. You¡¯ll have to step over my dead body if you want to cancel our engagement.¡±


    Clearly, Nichs had no intention of letting this engagement be canceled. Even though his feelings weren¡¯t clear, it wasn¡¯t easy to find a recement who understood his habits and quirks to some extent. Plus, both of his parents had already taken a liking to their current partner.


    Kimberly narrowed one eye, her frustration still evident on her beautiful face.


    ¡°Do I have to kill you first to escape from this unclear engagement?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Go ahead and kill me!¡± Nichs replied quickly. ¡°If I die, I¡¯ll haunt you forever. I¡¯ll follow you wherever you go. Even if someday you have a new lover, I¡¯ll possess his body, and you¡¯ll still be connected to me, whether you like it or not!¡± Nichs¡¯s threat this time sent shivers down Kimberly¡¯s spine.


    ¡°You¡¯re a psycho!¡± Kimberly muttered loudly.


    ****


    Nichs affectionately held Kimberly¡¯s hand as they exited the car and entered HollyWings, an exclusive cafe often used for parties, located in the city center.


    Upon entering, all eyes naturally turned toward Nichs and Kimberly. Almost everyone was impressed by how well they looked together tonight.


    ¡°Kimberly¡­¡± Keyra called out when she saw Nichs greeting business colleagues who were also in attendance. Quickly, Keyra and Alex approached.


    ¡°How does it feel to be Cindere?¡± Alex teased, earning an annoyed look from Kimberly.


    Kimberly sighed softly. ¡°I thought the iceman had rpsed into his unstable condition. I also didn¡¯t expect him to announce our engagement to everyone.¡±


    Keyraughed. ¡°You should be proud that Mr. Nichs acknowledged you as his fianc¨¦e. I don¡¯t think he likes seeing you close to other men.¡±


    Alex and Kimberly nodded in agreement. After all, no one liked to see their partner getting close to, let alone being flirted with by, someone else.


    After greeting Andrew and other guests, Nichs chose to take Kimberly home quickly. Kimberly even wondered why they had to leave in such a hurry. When they finally reached the car and began the journey, Kimberly couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity and protested.


    ¡°Why did we bother going if we¡¯reing back so soon?¡± Kimberlyined, but Nichs remained silent, focused on driving.


    Kimberly grew irritated when hepletely ignored her question. It wasn¡¯t until they arrived and entered their apartment unit that Nichs finally spoke up.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t like seeing everyone look at you the way they did earlier. The admiring gazes that seemed to hope to possess you. Let me reiterate, I¡¯m not the type of man who likes to share. That¡¯s why I¡¯ll never forgive you if one day I see you leaving with another man without my consent.¡± Nichs sat on the sofa as usual when answering Kimberly¡¯s earlier question.


    Kimberly, who had intended to go into her room, turned around and walked over, taking a seat beside Nichs.


    ¡°What do you really want, Nichs? I don¡¯t even understand everything you¡¯re doing to me. You don¡¯t love me, Nick,¡± Kimberly said.


    Nichs stared deeply into Kimberly¡¯s brown eyes. He remained silent for quite some time before speaking again. ¡°You¡¯re jumping to conclusions too quickly, Kimmy,¡± Nichs countered.


    ¡°In reality, it¡¯s like that. You¡¯re even repulsed to touch my body. Am I really so far from your preferences?¡± Kimberly retorted.


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong, Kimmy. You should be happy that I haven¡¯t touched you until now. If I were a scoundrel, I would have taken you to bed a long time ago,¡± Nichs said with tenderness.


    Kimberly scoffed. ¡°Nonsense! Isn¡¯t itmon for Westerners, especially men, to express their love through physical touch? I even suspect you¡¯re actually homosexual!¡±


    Nichsughed, finding it amusing that Kimberly considered him abnormal during such a serious conversation. In fact, he had been struggling to restrain himself from touching her all this time.


    ¡°Not all men. Maybe I¡¯m among those who prefer to have intimate rtionships only after getting married. Once again, you should be d I¡¯m not pressuring you to do all that. Do you think it¡¯s easy to resist the temptations you¡¯ve directed at me?¡± Nichs exined.


    Kimberly¡¯s face blushed with embarrassment. She cursed her own foolishness for wrongly using Nichs. She had believed that love could be measured simply by physical intimacy. And now, she saw that Nichs had been protecting her.


    ¡°I care about you, Kimberly. I care deeply about you,¡± Nichs suddenly confessed, leaving Kimberly stunned. She looked at him in disbelief.


    Nichs nodded and pulled Kimberly into his embrace. ¡°I may not be the kind of person who easily expresses my feelings. I¡¯m not like Kenzi and Edward, who can easily show romantic gestures to their partners. But what you need to know is that I care about you, and also¡­¡±


    ¡°And what else?¡± Kimberly asked quickly when Nichs intentionally paused mid-sentence.


    ¡°I love you, Kimberly Rayder.¡±

 YOU ARE SILLY

    The chill in the meeting room temperature didn¡¯t affect Kimberly in the slightest. In fact, she felt increasingly warm as time went on. It wasn¡¯t for any particr reason; she just didn¡¯t feel like dealing with clients today, especially those who seemed so intentionally seeking Nichs and Edward¡¯s attention.


    udia Rosselinni, beautiful with blue eyes and wavy brown hair, stood tall and slender, making her seem more suited for a modeling career. She was around 28-29 years old and the only child of a conglomerate with interests in gold and oil mining from Singapore. She had recently nned to invest $250 million USD, equivalent to 3 trillion Indonesian rupiahs, in a condotel and resort development project in the Maldives.


    Seeing this as a golden opportunity, Nichs and Edward did their utmost to ensure that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for coboration would proceed smoothly and quickly. That¡¯s why they had been discussing the project details since morning, aiming to reach an agreement soon.


    ¡°I believe this will be a promising mega project in the future. After hearing all the presentations and exnations that Mr. Edward provided, I¡¯m even more convinced to sign the partnership agreement promptly,¡± udia said confidently. Her beautiful face appeared radiant, touched by the sunlight streaming in through the meeting room¡¯s windows.


    Edward, sitting across from her, responded with a smile. ¡°We¡¯re truly hoping this project can start as soon as possible, maybe even next week. We¡¯ve prepared our entire team thoroughly for the development and marketing in the future.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I agree with Edward,¡± Nichs added. ¡°The sooner, the better,¡± he continued.


    udia nodded in agreement.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll sign the agreement now,¡± she said as she reached for the folder that Kimberly had handed her, which contained the agreement between both parties. After she signed it, Nichs took the document and added his signature.


    ¡°Deal, may this partnership go smoothly,¡± udia extended her hand, which Nichs immediately shook.


    udia shed a smile.


    ¡°I also hope that, the day after tomorrow, Mr. Nichs can join me in the Maldives for the groundbreaking ceremony at the new condotel site,¡± udia invited while still shaking Nichs¡¯s hand.


    Nichs returned udia¡¯s smile. ¡°Of course, with pleasure. I can¡¯t wait to visit and personally inspect the project site.¡±


    Nichs kept smiling warmly in front of udia, behaving as if they had known each other for a long time. Kimberly couldn¡¯t help but notice this.


    ¡°For the love of Zeus, what is Nichs doing?¡± she thought to herself. ¡°How can he be so sweet right now? Do I need to pay $250 million USD upfront just to keep him constantly being this nice and pleasant to me?¡±


    Kimberly sighed in frustration. She even felt like Nichs was ignoring her growing impatience. He didn¡¯t even look in her direction, not to mention udia, who was openly showing her interest in Nichs, especially at this moment.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take my leave now. It seems we¡¯ve covered everything. I hope this project proceeds smoothly as nned,¡± udia said as she got up from her seat.


    Meanwhile, Nichs nodded in agreement and rose as well. ¡°We hope so too. Until we meet in the Maldives the day after tomorrow, Miss udia.¡± Once again, Nichs shook udia¡¯s hand. But as he was about to release his grip, udia held on for a moment.


    ¡°Before I return to Singapore tomorrow morning, I intend to invite Mr. Nichs to a private dinner. It seems there are still many matters we need to discuss together,¡± udia offered. There was a note of hope in her words.


    Ugh! How shameless. What else do you want to discuss? Everything is already clear. Just admit you¡¯re trying to seduce Nichs.


    Unconsciously, Kimberly pursed her lips and muttered to herself while observing the two in front of her.


    If you weren¡¯t such a big client, I wouldn¡¯t guarantee that your brown hair could escape my grasp!


    Kimberly forced a sour smile, hoping that Nichs would politely decline udia¡¯s small talk invitation. But, to her dismay, she waspletely wrong.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Nichs replied confidently. He had no idea how many times he had shed a smile at udia, making Kimberly increasingly disgusted.


    ¡°In that case, see youter tonight.¡±


    udia and her assistant then left the meeting room, leaving Nichs, Edward, and Kimberly still sitting in their chairs.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the one heading to the Maldives the day after tomorrow?¡± Edward asked as he organized the newly reread agreement documents.


    Nichs looked directly at Edward. ¡°Yes, it seems like I¡¯ll have to go alone.¡±


    Edward leaned forward, intentionally resting hisrge frame against the chair¡¯s backrest. Leading the meeting for three hours had left him a bit tired. ¡°I thought you would bring your secretary,¡± Edward said while looking in Kimberly¡¯s direction, who seemed busy taking notes during the meeting. She chose to ignore the conversation between the two men.


    Nichs also leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. His eyes joined Edward¡¯s in looking at Kimberly. ¡°Kimberly won¡¯t be going anywhere. She has to stay here and handle all the work I leave behind for a few days. But that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re free to bother her while I¡¯m gone, Ed. I won¡¯t allow it.¡±


    ****


    Nichs looked incredibly handsome in the slim-fit ck shirt he was wearing that evening. His appearance was rxed, more like someone going on a date than attending a formal dinner with a business colleague.


    This only made Kimberly more irritated. Sitting on the sofa, watching a Korean drama on television, she couldn¡¯t help but frown and mutter curses under her breath as she watched Nichs move about in front of her.


    ¡°Do you actually want to go out for dinner, or are you going on a date?¡± Kimberly inquired, her eyes fixed on Nichs¡¯s appearance.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nichs raised an eyebrow, a look of confusion on his face.


    ¡°Your appearance, Nick. Oh, forget it,¡± Kimberly trailed off. Shortly after, she turned off the TV and got up to leave, but to her surprise, Nichs followed her into the room.


    ¡°What else is there?¡± Kimberly asked, looking puzzled.


    Nichs moved closer to where Kimberly was standing, cupping her face with both hands and giving her a brief kiss on the lips. ¡°I should be asking, what¡¯s wrong? I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve had a sour expression all day. Is something bothering you?¡±


    Kimberly sighed softly, a sentiment clearly visible in her eyes. ¡°I just don¡¯t like how that client this morning was openly showing interest in you. Just so you know, if that woman steps out of line, I won¡¯t hesitate to kick her out of the room.¡±


    Nichs chuckled at Kimberly¡¯s confession. Feeling affectionate, he kissed Kimberly¡¯s lips and cheek lightly. ¡°So, are you jealous, Mrs. Alistair?¡±


    ¡°M-me?¡± Kimberly pointed at herself. ¡°I¡¯m not jealous, I just can¡¯t stand her behavior,¡± Kimberly deflected.


    Nichs raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really? You¡¯re not jealous?¡±


    Kimberly nodded confidently. ¡°Why should I be jealous? Besides, she¡¯s no match for me,¡± she said with a hint of pride.


    Once again, Nichs chuckled. He was convinced that the woman in front of him was indeed jealous but too proud to admit it. This made Nichs even more fond of her, and he yfully pinched Kimberly¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Yes, udia may not be a match for you, but she¡¯s not unattractive either. Any normal man would acknowledge her beauty ande close to perfection. I feel that way too,¡± Nichs admitted candidly.


    ¡°Ugh! So, you¡¯re interested in her?¡±


    Nichs shrugged. ¡°Who knows? I might be able to answer your question after returning from the Maldives.¡±


    Irritated, Kimberly pushed Nichs¡¯s body away from her. ¡°You better go now. Aren¡¯t you supposed to have dinner with that almost perfect woman?¡± Kimberly openly teased.


    Instead of obeying, Nichs pulled Kimberly closer and hugged her tightly. ¡°You¡¯re so hot-tempered!¡± Nichs teased. While Kimberly tried to break free from Nichs¡¯s embrace, she found herself held even tighter.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been ready for a while, but your dinner partner looks so rxed, even nonchnt,¡± Nichs said.


    Kimberly nced up at Nichs, her forehead creasing as she listened to his words.


    ¡°What do you mean? If udia iste, why don¡¯t you just call her?¡±


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°udia isn¡¯t my dinner partner. It¡¯s you, Kimberly Rayder.¡± He said it casually while lifting Kimberly¡¯s chin with his hand, looking deeply into her eyes, and kissing both her cheeks before continuing.


    ¡°Yes, Kimberly Rayder Alistair. I want to take you out for dinner tonight. Will you apany me?¡± Nichs asked sincerely.


    ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Kimberly eximed.


    ¡°Goodness, Kimberly, you actually called me insane. I even made an effort to be romantic in front of you.¡± Nichs grumbled. He thought Kimberly would melt or respond with equally sweet words, but here she was, calling him insane.


    Kimberly sighed. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re insane. Why didn¡¯t you just say you wanted to take me out earlier instead of teasing me with all those annoying remarks?¡±


    Nichs smiled. ¡°I¡¯m just happy to see you jealous. I thought I was the only one who didn¡¯t like seeing you approached by other men.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re silly!¡± Kimberly scolded once again. ¡°I¡¯m a normal woman. No woman would want her fianc¨¦ to be bothered by someone else. It¡¯s just that you¡¯ve been oblivious all this time. But speaking of which, if you go out with me, who will apany udia for dinner?¡±


    ¡°Edward, of course. Who else? He¡¯s even thrilled that I asked him to stand in for me tonight. Besides, it¡¯s a waste of time attending those obligatory dinners.¡± Not wanting to waste any more time, Nichs pushed Kimberly into the walk-in closet, signaling her to get ready quickly for their dinner.

 SECRET MISSION

    In the early morning, Kimberly was already busy arranging all of Nichs¡¯s belongings into his suitcase. Today, the man had a schedule to depart for the Maldives to inspect the construction project site.


    While Kimberly continued to tidy up the contents of the suitcase, Nichs himself seemed busy preparing. He had been sorting through and selecting which clothes he should wear.


    ¡°Do you think I look good in which outfit?¡± Nichs asked, still wearing his bathrobe. His eyes were busy scanning the neatly hung pile of clothes inside the closet.


    Kimberly nced briefly in Nichs¡¯s direction. Then, after a while, she got up and approached him.


    ¡°Hmm, do you need to wear a suit?¡± she asked.


    Nichs shook his head gently.


    ¡°No need. Besides, once I arrive, I¡¯ll head straight to the hotel. I¡¯ll only inspect the site the next day.¡±


    Kimberly nodded in understanding. She then shifted her gaze to the closet. Her hand reached out to open Nichs¡¯s hanging clothes one by one. After a short while, she found what she was looking for.


    ¡°I think this ck shirt would be suitable for you to wear this morning,¡± Kimberly said, pulling out a in ck slim-fit shirt and handing it to Nichs.


    Nichs looked at her with a questioning expression.


    ¡°But didn¡¯t I wear a shirt with a simr color and stylest night?¡±


    Kimberly did nothing but nod again. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± she replied quickly. ¡°And¡­ I don¡¯t know why, but I seem to be enchanted by you wearing a ck shirt likest night. If I may be honest, you look even more handsome.¡± The next moment after saying that, Kimberly¡¯s face blushed in embarrassment.


    Nichs narrowed his eyes. ¡°So, are you saying that I wasn¡¯t handsome before? Is that it?¡±


    Kimberly raised her face again. ¡°N-no, that¡¯s not it. You¡¯ve always been handsome, but for some reason,st night you looked different than usual. But, no matter how you are, I still love you,¡± she said honestly, then blushed again.


    Nichs smiled. Hearing Kimberly¡¯s sincere and honest words made his feelings surge. Being called handsome wasn¡¯t something new to him. It wasn¡¯t arrogance; everyone knew that about him. But this was different. These words came from a woman he now considered special.


    Then, Nichs reached for Kimberly¡¯s chin, directing her gaze to focus on him. Their eyes met as if trying to delve into each other¡¯s thoughts, and the next moment, it was easy to guess what happened.


    Nichs¡¯s lips brushed against Kimberly¡¯s with tenderness, filled with emotion but also passionate. He gently parted her lips, engaging in a slow, sensual kiss, tenderly massaging, even tasting Kimberly¡¯s tongue, causing her to involuntarily moan.


    Meanwhile, the woman in front of him could only keep her eyes closed, savoring every kiss that Nichs bestowed upon her. asionally, she reciprocated, nibbling and tasting as she pleased, enjoying every kiss that left her intoxicated.


    Feeling satisfied, Nichs reluctantly broke their lip-lock. However, the next moment, he directed his lips to kiss Kimberly¡¯s forehead for quite some time before embracing her even tighter than before.


    ¡°I love you. How about we get married soon?¡± Nichs¡¯s sudden question caught Kimberly off guard as he released his embrace.


    Kimberly was startled. She should have been happy when Nichs asked her to marry him soon. But the problem was, she remembered her family¡¯s situation now. It wasn¡¯t certain whether Opa Arthur would approve of their marriage. Besides, up until this moment, Nichs only knew that she was an orphan.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It crossed her mind to tell Nichs. She thought that he should know now. After that, she could work on winning Opa Arthur¡¯s heart. Because she was sure that getting the old man¡¯s approval wouldn¡¯t be easy. Recing Mario with Nichs was no simple matter.


    ¡°Kimberly,¡± Nichs¡¯s call snapped Kimberly out of her thoughts.


    ¡°Oh, yes. What is it?¡± she replied.


    ¡°Did you not hear what I just said?¡± Nichs inquired.


    ¡°N-no, I heard you. It¡¯s just that I was quite surprised to hear it. Do you really want to marry me soon?¡± Kimberly tried to confirm, just in case Nichs was joking.


    Nichs smiled faintly. ¡°Of course, my dear. I¡¯m serious. Let¡¯s discuss it all after I return from the Maldives.¡±


    Nichs moved away from Kimberly, grabbing the previously chosen shirt and putting it on quickly.


    ¡°Nick¡­¡± Kimberly attempted to interrupt Nichs, who was now almost done preparing.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nichs asked.


    Kimberly took a slow breath.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to talk to you about,¡± she said hesitantly.


    Nichs nced at the clock hanging in the corner of the room. Believing there was little time left, he said, ¡°How about we talk about it after I return from the Maldives? I think it¡¯s almost time to head to the airport.¡±


    Kimberly tightly sealed her lips, swallowing back the words she had prepared. Following Nichs¡¯s advice, she decided to tell him about her family when he returned from his business trip.


    ¡°Alright, we can talk about itter. I¡¯ll change my clothes first. After that, we¡¯ll go to the airport together.¡±


    ****


    Kimberly cuddled affectionately beside Nichs during the journey to the airport. Somehow, this time, she felt it was hard to let him go. There was something bothering her.


    Meanwhile, Nichs felt something was unusual about Kimberly¡¯s behavior. She wasn¡¯t usually this affectionate. Curious, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Kimberly lifted her face.


    ¡°Nothing, I just want to be content before you really leave me,¡± she replied.


    Nichs smiled affectionately and pinched Kimberly¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°I¡¯m only gone for three days, dear. After that, I promise, no matter where I go, I¡¯ll take you with me.¡± A momentter, he reached for Kimberly¡¯s lips, giving her a brief kiss before they finally got out of the car.


    When Nichs exited the car, Kimberly smiled and weed his extended hand. Together, they headed toward the airport lobby before truly parting.


    ¡°I can only apany you this far. Let me know when you arrive there,¡± Kimberly requested. Without being asked, she immediately hugged Nichs for quite some time.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely keep in touch. Remember, don¡¯t do anything reckless while I¡¯m away. Take care of yourself from Edward¡¯s harassment. After this, Randy will escort you straight to the office.¡±


    Nichs released his embrace, walked away, waved once, and then disappeared into the airport building. Kimberly continued to watch until the silhouette of the man vanished from her sight.

 CATCH YOU

    Kimberly had checked her phone screen more than ten times. Nichs had promised to keep in touch since less than 24 hours ago. But look at it now. It was already 9 PM, and he hadn¡¯t sent a single message, making her feel uneasy.


    He promised to always keep in touch.


    Look at it now.


    He even broke his promise.


    Kimberly let out a frustrated sigh. Her mood soured instantly.


    Typical man.


    They were all the same.


    Liars!


    Right after Kimberly finished cursing under her breath, her phone rang loudly. She quickly grabbed it and answered the call.


    ¡°Hello,¡± she said with irritation in her tone.


    ¡°Why are you only calling me now!¡± Kimberly asked in an annoyed tone. She was already upset because she had been waiting for news from him for a while.


    Nichsughed on the other end of the line.


    ¡°Oh my God. I¡¯m sorry, Kimberly. As soon as I arrived in the Maldives, udia and the other business associates took me straight to the construction site. It seems they couldn¡¯t wait to inspect it.¡±


    In silence, Kimberly chose not to respond. Even though Nichs had exined, she couldn¡¯t help feeling angry. She wondered why it was so difficult to send a short message just to give an update. Was she that unimportant to Nichs that he forgot about her?


    There was no response from the other side, prompting Nichs to speak up again. ¡°Are you angry with me? What can I do to make you forgive me?¡±


    Kimberly took a deep breath. ¡°Just think about it yourself!¡± she replied curtly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kimberly. I promise I won¡¯t forget to update you again,¡± Nichs pleaded. He seemed frustrated now.


    ¡°Hmmm, I forgive you this time. But if tomorrow you forget me again, there will be no forgiveness,¡± Kimberly threatened. She was serious about her words.


    Kimberly talked with Nichs for quite a while on the phone. They sounded like a couple deeply in love, exchanging jokes andughter. Finally, Kimberly decided to end the call.


    ¡°You should rest. I¡¯m sure your schedule for tomorrow is quite hectic,¡± Kimberly said. She was also aware of Nichs¡¯s agenda for the following day. Lack of rest could affect his stamina.


    ¡°Yeah, after this, I¡¯ll rest immediately. You should rest too. Take care of yourself there,¡± Nichs replied.


    ¡°Okay, but before that, I want to hear a goodnight wish from you,¡± Kimberly requested. Her voice was soft and tender, enough to melt anyone who heard it.


    ¡°Goodnight,¡± Nichs said simply.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Kimberly asked.


    Nichs blinked. ¡°Do I need to say anything else?¡±


    This time, Kimberly sighed in annoyance, seeing that Nichs didn¡¯t understand what she meant.


    ¡°You¡¯re hopeless!¡± she scoffed. ¡°Never mind then.¡±


    But as Kimberly was about to hang up, Nichs suddenly called her again.


    ¡°Kimmy¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Kimberly asked.


    ¡°Goodnight, my beloved. I hope you dream of me tonight.¡±


    Kimberly immediately smiled. Butterflies fluttered in her chest at the sweet words from the man she loved. Not wanting to miss the moment, she replied, ¡°Goodnight, my future husband.¡±


    Kimberly believed that Nichs was probably smiling on the other end after hearing her words.


    ¡°I love you, Mrs. Alistair.¡±N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°I love you more,¡± Kimberly replied. Then the call ended.


    Shortly after, Kimberly jumped for joy. She felt so happy about what Nichs had just done. It was simple, but it left a strong impression on her. However, her phone rang again not long after. ncing briefly, she saw an unknown number calling. Hesitantly, she answered.


    ¡°Kimberly¡­¡±


    A voice she recognized well called her name.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, her tone t.


    ¡°Meet me in the lobby of your apartment. There¡¯s something important we need to talk about. I beg you. It¡¯s very important.¡±


    Before she could respond, the call was cut off. Feeling curious, she made her way to the lobby, scanning her surroundings until her eyes caught the figure she was looking for.


    ¡°Why are you looking for me tonight?¡± Kimberly asked as she took a seat on one of the lobby sofas.


    ¡°Opa¡¯s condition is deteriorating, Kimmy,¡± Mario, the man who had called her, provided the information. It was clear that he was speaking the truth.


    ¡°Opa¡¯s heart is acting up again?¡±


    Mario nodded. ¡°If his condition continues to worsen in the next week, I¡¯ll take him to Singapore. He¡¯s been asking for you since yesterday.¡±


    Kimberly closed her eyes, weighing Mario¡¯s request. She was very certain that by choosing to go, it meant she might not see Nichs again.


    ¡°I can¡¯t go with you. Please understand my situation,¡± Kimberly pleaded.


    ¡°Is it Nichs who¡¯s preventing you from meeting your family?¡± Mario used. His eyes suddenly turned sharp.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m not ready yet. Give me a little more time. I promise I¡¯lle home and see Opa soon,¡± Kimberly whispered, pleading.


    Mario reached for Kimberly¡¯s hand, holding it gently for a while.


    ¡°I hope you change your mind soon. Opa deserves it. Whenever you¡¯re ready, I¡¯lle to pick you up.¡±


    Kimberly nodded in agreement. Soon after, Mario left her sitting there, lost in thought.


    Meanwhile, from a distance, someone had been observing and photographing every move Kimberly made.

 LOVE THE WAY KISS YOU

    It¡¯s almost two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, and Kimberly¡¯s work still isn¡¯t finished. Since Nichs left, for some reason, her tasks have piled up so much. Perhaps she¡¯s massaged her throbbing temples more than three times by now.


    What can she do? If she doesn¡¯t finish it now, it might pile up even more. Of course, she¡¯ll be the one in troubleter. Not to mention Nichs, who will surelyin if the deadline he gave isn¡¯t met on time. He¡¯s very professional when ites to work. Despite being engaged, Kimberly is still treated like any other employee.


    As she¡¯s analyzing the graphs on theputer screen, Kimberly¡¯s activities suddenlye to a halt upon the appearance of someone she should have avoided.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your lunch. It seems like you haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡± A handsome man approaches and hands Kimberly two lunch boxes. After confirming that the food is epted, he doesn¡¯t leave right away. He chooses to sit and watch Kimberly, who is still busy working.


    ¡°You should eat first. It¡¯s already past lunchtime. You might get sickter,¡± he says while ncing at the watch on his wrist.


    Kimberly shifts her focus, looking at the man who has been sitting in front of her.


    ¡°Just a little more, mister. After that, I¡¯ll be free from this exhausting work. By the way, isn¡¯t Mr. Edward afraid to visit me here?¡±


    Edwardughs.


    ¡°Afraid of who? You mean Nichs?¡±


    Kimberly nods.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen Mr. Nichs often looking annoyed with you. What exactly has been going on between the two of you all this time?¡± Kimberly asks curiously. Nichs and Edward always seem like cat and dog. They get along only at certain times, especially since Nichs always shows his displeasure.


    Edward grins. He¡¯s sitting more rxed now.


    ¡°Do you want to know why Nichs dislikes me so much?¡± Now, Edward intentionally leans forward and whispers, as if he doesn¡¯t want anyone else to hear.


    Kimberly leans in, feeling curious about what the foreign man is about to say.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Back then, Nichs hated me because I openly wanted topete with him. It reached its peak in our final semester at college. The woman he liked chose me over Nichs,¡± Edward whispers.


    The next moment,ughter bursts from Kimberly¡¯s lips. After all this time, her curiosity is finally satisfied. It turns out that the initial conflict between these two friends was often about women.


    ¡°Back then, I did intentionally get close to the woman Nichs liked. I don¡¯t know why, but I enjoyed making him angry. It was his fault too; he and Kenzi were equally slow in taking action. Even now, it¡¯s the same,¡± he continues.


    This time, Kimberly agrees. Nichs is the type of guy who is rigid, insensitive, andcking in romance. Kimberly often feels annoyed and frustrated because he often acts cold and indifferent.


    ¡°You really are a true yboy, Mr. Edward.¡± Kimberlyughs again. ¡°So, what happened to the woman he liked?¡± Kimberly asks while holding her aching cheeks.


    Edward shrugs dramatically.


    ¡°She disappeared a long time ago. Besides, after that, Nichs met ire and had a long-term rtionship before getting engaged. You must have heard about ire, right?¡±


    Kimberly nods slowly. ¡°Nichs¡¯s ex-fianc¨¦e, right? I met her when I was in London a while ago. She¡¯s really beautiful,¡± Kimberly murmurs softly.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right, she¡¯s beautiful. But unfortunately, she dared to bring another man into Nichs¡¯s apartment. That¡¯s what traumatized Nichs and made him decide not to have a rtionship with women anymore after that.¡± After saying that, Edward¡¯s phone rings, and he stands up, signaling that he has to leave Kimberly.


    After finallypleting all her tasks, it¡¯s already 4 o¡¯clock in the afternoon when Kimberly finally eats the meal Edward gave her. While chewing her food, she keeps checking her phone, worried that Nichs might call. But to her surprise, he hasn¡¯t contacted her by the time she finishes eating.


    Not wanting to make a big deal out of it like yesterday, she decides to tidy up all the documents she¡¯s worked on and heads home. However, as soon as she reaches the lobby, she¡¯s surprised by Mario¡¯s unexpected arrival without prior notice. He looks anxious, sitting not far from the reception desk.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kimberly asked as she stood before Mario.


    He rose from his seat. ¡°Kimmy, you have toe with me right now. Grandpa is in the hospital,¡± Mario said, filled with hope.


    Kimberly hesitated for a moment, unsure of what decision to make. If she went with Mario, there was no guarantee she could return to Nichs¡¯s ce. But if she refused, she might not get another chance to see Grandpa Arthur.


    ¡°Kimmy, please¡­¡± Mario continued to insist. ¡°Just visit Grandpa for a while. I promise, after the visit, I¡¯ll take you back. I¡¯ll personally escort you.¡±


    Kimberly gazed into Mario¡¯s dark eyes, searching for any sign of deception. Eventually, she became convinced that he was sincere in his words.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    The next few minutes, Kimberly followed Mario to the parking lot and got into the car.


    Arriving at the hospital, Kimberly saw with her own eyes the man who had cared for her with love and tenderness now lying weakly in a hospital bed. So many medical devices were attached to the middle-aged man¡¯s body. Kimberly¡¯s heart ached, and she rushed to hug him.


    ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± she whispered softly.


    The middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Kimberly¡­ where have you been, dear?¡± he whispered so softly it was almost inaudible.


    After hugging him, Kimberly kissed Arthur¡¯s hand repeatedly, as if trying to make up for all the time she had been away.


    ¡°Why are you so sick like this? Grandpa must have forgotten to take his medicine,¡± Kimberly protested.


    Arthur smiled. ¡°How could I forget when you¡¯re not here to remind me? All this time, you¡¯ve been the one preparing all the medicine I take.¡±


    Unnoticed, tears welled up in Kimberly¡¯s eyes. She felt guilty for leaving Arthur for so long, knowing that no one else had been looking after him. Adrian, her uncle, had chosen not to get involved in Arthur¡¯s affairs after he wasn¡¯t designated as the heir. Since Kimberly left, it was Mario who took care of everything, even though he was just a friend of Kimberly¡¯s.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave again, dear. Don¡¯t you love your old grandpa? My time is running out,¡± Arthur said.


    ¡°Shh¡­¡± Kimberly whispered softly. ¡°Grandpa won¡¯t go anywhere. Grandpa will definitely get better.¡± Kimberly cried even more. Mario, standing behind her, could only gently pat her shoulder, trying tofort her.


    ¡°Now, Grandpa needs to rest. Kimberly won¡¯t go anywhere,¡± Mario reassured Arthur.


    While Kimberly was feeling sad about Arthur¡¯s condition, her phone rang. It was Nichs calling at an inopportune time. She asked Mario for some distance and found a ce to answer the call.


    ¡°Hello, darling,¡± Nichs greeted.


    ¡°Hi¡­¡± Kimberly struggled to make her voice sound normal.


    ¡°I really miss you. I¡¯m sorry I was so busy this afternoon, but everything¡¯s done now. I might arrive in Indonesia tomorrow evening,¡± he exined.


    Kimberly took a deep breath. ¡°I miss you too. I feel like hugging you right now.¡± Kimberly spoke honestly. She really needed someone to lean on, to let out all the tears that had been weighing on her chest.


    ¡°We¡¯ll meet tomorrow, Kimmy. Oh, by the way, where are you right now?¡± Nichs asked suddenly.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m in the apartment lobby. I just got back from the office,¡± Kimberly replied hesitantly. She was clearly lying, and she hoped Nichs wouldn¡¯t be suspicious.


    ¡°Alright, after you arrive, take a quick shower and don¡¯t forget to have dinner. Get some rest too. We¡¯ll meet soon. Oh, do you want me to bring something home for you? Anything you want, I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± Nichs offered.


    From behind her phone, Kimberly smiled. For a moment, she forgot her sadness because of Nichs¡¯s sweet gesture.


    ¡°No need. I just hope you¡¯lle home soon and hug me tightly.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯ll be satisfied with my hug tomorrow. See you tomorrow, Kimmy.¡±


    Knowing that Kimberly had finished her phone call, Mario, who had been watching, approached. The man kept his promise to escort Kimberly home. They reached the apartment lobby, and Mario apanied her down.


    ¡°Thank you so much, Kimmy. I hope your grandpa gets better soon,¡± Mario said. They were both standing in the apartment lobby.


    ¡°I should be the one thanking you. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be there to help you take care of grandpa. Please let me know if anything urgentes up. I really rely on you.¡± Kimberly¡¯s face turned sad again, thinking about Arthur lying weak in bed.


    Mario, seeing the change in Kimberly¡¯s expression, pulled her close to him. Sure enough, Kimberly burst into tears once more. Mario tried tofort her for quite some time.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, no need to cry. I¡¯ll be taking care of your grandpa. You don¡¯t have to worry. And if anything happens, I¡¯ll contact you immediately.¡± Mario released his embrace and then left Kimberly.


    For the umpteenth time, someone from a distance had managed to capture the moment when Kimberly was embracing Mario.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ***


    Nichs kept his promise and came home on time today. When Kimberly returned from work, he was already sittingfortably on the living room sofa, watching TV.


    Upon seeing Kimberly, he stood up and pulled her into his embrace. He held her for quite some time, expressing the longing that had built up over the past few days due to their separation.


    ¡°Gosh, I haven¡¯t showered yet, Nick. Aren¡¯t you grossed out hugging me?¡± Kimberly protested, puckering her lips. But Nichs paid no attention to Kimberly¡¯s words.


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°No, why would I be grossed out? You still smell good.¡± The next moment, Nichs pressed his nose against Kimberly¡¯s neck, inhaling her scent deeply. ¡°Your lips even taste like strawberries today,¡± he said with a grin, clearly noticing it was because of the lip balm Kimberly was wearing.


    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely crazy!¡± Kimberly eximed. ¡°Come on, I need to shower. I feel all sticky. We can continue thister,¡± Kimberly requested.


    ¡°Give me one kiss, and then you can go shower,¡± Nichs teased.


    Not wanting to argue, Kimberlyplied with Nichs¡¯s request. She gave him a brief kiss on the lips before heading off to shower.


    After quicklypleting their shower and dinner rituals, it seemed that Nichs was getting back at Kimberly for their three-day separation. He confined Kimberly in his room. Not only that, he even locked her body in his embrace.


    ¡°Nick, I might suffocate if you hug me this tightly,¡± Kimberly protested.


    Nichs chuckled and loosened his embrace. ¡°It¡¯s your fault for making me miss you,¡± he said, nting a quick kiss on Kimberly¡¯s lips.


    ¡°OH, Nick. How many times have you kissed me already? You act as if there¡¯s no tomorrow,¡± Kimberly eximed.


    Nichs grinned, and instead of stopping, he pulled Kimberly¡¯s neck closer and greedily kissed her lips. He didn¡¯t allow Kimberly to resist even a little. So, after that, they spent the night releasing their longing, kissing and embracing each other with satisfaction, as if they might not be able to do it again tomorrow.


    Yes, it could really happen.

 FORGIVE HER

    ¡°Darling¡­ wake up,¡± Nichs whispered as he gently kissed Kimberly¡¯s cheek.


    It was countless times now that Nichs had tried to wake Kimberly. Since locking her in his room, their activities had consisted of nothing more than longing embraces and sharing stories. Nichs himself didn¡¯t know what time they had gone to sleep the previous night. All he remembered was Kimberly suddenly dozing off while holding onto him. That might be the reason why she was finding it hard to wake up now, even though they had to go to work as usual today.


    Feeling at a loss, Nichs kissed Kimberly¡¯s lips, savoring them before giving them a gentle nip. He had to do this deliberately to make her wake up.


    Kimberly squirmed irritably. ¡°You cheater! You had the audacity to wake me up like that,¡± she grumbled while sitting up and stretching her stiff muscles. A momentter, she scooted down from the bed.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Nichs pulled Kimberly back to the edge of the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower, Mr. Alistair. You told me to wake up so I could get ready quickly, right?¡±


    Nichs shook his head.


    ¡°¡±Don¡¯t even think about leaving without hugging me first, Mrs. Alistair. From now on, every time you wake up or go to sleep, you must do that. Or if necessary, starting tonight, you can move to my room,¡± Nichs ordered.


    Kimberly¡¯s cheeks turned red upon hearing Nichs¡¯s request. She didn¡¯t really need to be surprised; the man was known for his whims. But asking her to hug him regrly made Kimberly feel both embarrassed and happy. She believed that Nichs truly loved her now.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not trying to tease me? You¡¯re not ying with me, are you? I¡¯m just afraid you won¡¯t be able to control yourselfter,¡± Kimberly teased.


    Nichs lifted his chin high. ¡°Are you the one challenging me now? If I wanted to, I could have done it a long time ago. No need to wait all this time.¡± They bothughed.


    After getting ready and having breakfast, Kimberly and Nichs finally left for work together. Kimberly was surprised once again when the CEO, unashamedly, held her hand as they exited the car and entered the Alpha Beta building.


    Embarrassed, Kimberly tried to release their interlocked hands. However, the more she struggled to let go, the tighter Nichs held her hand. She had no choice but to resign herself to being the center of attention for all the employees passing by.


    Meanwhile, Nichs couldn¡¯t help but keep smiling as he noticed Kimberly¡¯s frustration clearly disyed on her face. Along the hallway, Kimberly didn¡¯t stop voicing her protests until they reached Nichs¡¯s office.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have to hold my hand like this, Nick. I¡¯m not that old!¡± Kimberly eximed, her lips pouting in irritation.


    ¡°You¡¯re not old, Kimmy. You¡¯re my future wife,¡± Nichs confidently replied, unfazed by Kimberly¡¯s apparent annoyance.


    ¡°Tsk! You¡¯re going overboard,¡± Kimberly protested again.


    Nichs squinted his eyes at Kimberly. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want to be my wife?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to. It¡¯s just-¡±


    ¡°Enough! The point is, you want to, right?¡± Nichs cut her off, leaving Kimberly momentarily dumbfounded.


    ¡°Why do you always act so whimsically with me?¡± Kimberly grumbled.


    Nichs chuckled again, observing Kimberly bing even more exasperated with him. For the umpteenth time, he pulled Kimberly into his embrace.


    ¡°So, when can I marry you?¡± Before Kimberly could respond, Nichs captured her lips once more, kissing her deeply. He pushed his future bride¡¯s body against the edge of his desk. However, their intimate moment was abruptly interrupted by a loud clearing of the throat.


    ¡°Ahem!¡± A loud cough sounded as a man stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest.


    ¡°This is the office; if you want to be intimate, you should just go home,¡± teased the man, who happened to be Edward. He had entered without knocking. When the door swung open, he discovered the two lovers in their intimate embrace.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even ask about Nichs¡¯s reaction; if Kimberly hadn¡¯t restrained him, he might have kicked Edward right then and there,¡±


    ¡°Edward Martin, how dare you barge into my office without permission? Where¡¯s your aristocratic manners?¡± Nichs said sarcastically.


    Edwardughed in his position. ¡°Oh,e on, I¡¯m just stating the truth. If you want to be intimate, you should do it at home. It¡¯s like you¡¯re running out of ces,¡± he retorted, not willing to back down.


    Not wanting the two men to argue any longer, Kimberly tried to mediate. She then pulled Nichs¡¯s arm and urged him to sit down. She knew there must be something important that made Edward suddenlye to Nichs¡¯s office.


    ¡°It seems like there¡¯s something you both need to work on. Instead of arguing, please finish it quickly. I¡¯ll prepare coffee for both of you.¡±


    Edward nodded. ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t havee here if it wasn¡¯t important. I need you to check and review the business proposal between Alpha Beta and Omega Group. They¡¯re facing a potential failure right now. It¡¯s very risky to continue the partnership.¡±


    After saying that, Kimberly prepared two cups of coffee for her two friends and then left them to focus on their work.


    ***


    Kimberly was getting ready for lunch. Seeing that Nichs¡¯s office door was still closed, she assumed he was still busy. Not wanting to disturb him, Kimberly decided to go join Alex and Keyra in their office.


    Just as she stood up, her phone began to ring. When she checked it, she saw Mario¡¯s name on the screen. Without hesitation, she picked up the call.


    ¡°Kimmy,e to the hospital immediately. Grandpa has lost consciousness.¡±


    Without a second thought, Kimberly grabbed her work bag and hurried to the hospital. When she arrived, she found Arthur in a weakened state. His heart condition had red up again. The doctor rmended immediate heart bypass surgery to save his life.


    ¡°Grandpa, please hold on. Kimmy is here. I beg you, wake up,¡± Kimberly couldn¡¯t hold back her tears as she looked at him through the ss. The elderly man was being fitted with various medical devices before the surgery.


    Mario, who was always there, could only providefort. He hugged Kimberly tightly to help her stay strong in the face of the ordeal.


    ¡°Kimberly, please don¡¯t cry like this. Let¡¯s just pray that Grandpa¡¯s surgery will be sessful,¡± Mario said, never letting go of his embrace.


    Elsewhere, after working with Edward for about four hours, Nichs decided to invite Kimberly to have lunch together. However, when he stepped out of the office, he couldn¡¯t find her at her desk. Puzzled, he tried calling her, but her phone was off.


    Nichs thought that Kimberly might have already gone to lunch with her friends. He decided to return to his office. Just as he sat down, there was a knock on the door. Someone entered and handed him a folder to review.


    Without hesitation, he epted it. However, the atmosphere turned tense as he began to open and flip through the pages of photos inside the brown folder.


    ***


    ¡°Where have you been, Kimberly?¡± Nichs asked as Kimberly had just entered the apartment unit. He had been waiting in the living room.


    After sessfully undergoing a four-hour surgery, Arthur was immediately moved to the ICCU room. ording to the doctor, his condition would gradually improve, and they were just waiting for him to regain consciousness.


    Seeing Kimberly looking exhausted, Mario suggested that she should go home and assured her that he would take care of everything and provide updates as usual. However, when she arrived home, she was surprised to find Nichs waiting for her with a difficult-to-read expression on his face.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t inform you. There was something important I had to take care of,¡± Kimberly replied hesitantly.


    Nichs smiled sarcastically, his gaze sharp. ¡°What kind of business kept you away without giving me any notice?¡±


    Kimberly lowered her head, feeling guilty for not notifying him and not realizing her phone had been off all day. It was clear that Nichs was angry now.


    ¡°I apologize, Nick. I genuinely didn¡¯t realize that my phone¡¯s battery had run out. I-¡±


    ¡°Just answer me, Kimberly. What were you doing out there that made you forget to contact me?¡±


    Nichs interrupted her, and his voice was starting to rise. He even got up from his seat.


    ¡°This afternoon, I suddenly had to meet-¡±


    ¡°Meet who? Your lover? Your secret boyfriend? Who?¡±


    His jaw visibly clenched, and his fists were ready to strike. Kimberly was taken aback, not expecting Nichs to use her like this. She shook her head repeatedly, denying what he had just used her of.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Nick. How could I-¡±


    Before Kimberly could finish her sentence, Nichs abruptly threw a stack of photos directly at her face, and they scattered on the floor.


    Kimberly gasped, surprised when she picked up the photos that Nichs had thrown at her. The pictures showed her holding hands and even tightly embracing another man, clearly not Nichs.


    ¡°Is this what you were doing out there? Even when I wasn¡¯t here?¡± Nichsughed bitterly.


    Kimberly shook her head repeatedly. ¡°Nick, it¡¯s not what you think. I can exin everything.¡±


    Nichs stared nkly, uninterested in what Kimberly had to say.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for exnations, Kimberly. I¡¯ve warned you multiple times. Never go anywhere with another man without my permission. Is my request that difficult for you?¡±


    Kimberly bit her lower lip, trying to hold back tears and taking deep breaths to respond to Nichs¡¯s question.


    ¡°Please, listen to me,¡± Kimberly bravely approached Nichs, trying to reach for his wrist. But Nichs quickly pulled away.


    ¡°No need.¡± Nichs¡¯s voice softened, but disappointment was evident on his face. ¡°Those pictures exin everything. I thought you were different, Kimmy. But apparently, you¡¯re the same.¡±


    Next, Nichs immediately left, leaving Kimberly behind. He mmed the door, and soon, from inside the room, the sound of objects crashing to the floor could be heard.


    Kimberly could only sit down. She struggled to hold back tears, but eventually, they flowed freely down her cheeks. She med herself for not revealing the problem earlier, which led to this misunderstanding. She also regretted breaking Nichs¡¯s request not to get close to any other man, including Mario.


    Now, what should she do? Everything had happened. Was there still a chance for her to fix this? Or the worst-case scenario: would Nichs refuse to forgive her?

 WHAT HAPPENING

    Three days ago, Nichs was sitting in an executive lounge inside the airport. His flight to the Maldives would take off in just one more hour. While waiting, he chose to read stock market news on his handheld tablet.


    Before long, Nichs¡¯s phone rang. He had just received a new message from the woman he loved.


    Kimberly: [I¡¯ve arrived at the office. It hasn¡¯t been long since we parted, but I already miss you.]


    Unconsciously, Nichs smiled as he read the message. Kimberly was indeed different from most other women. She was carefree, somewhat assertive, and never shy about expressing her feelings.


    That¡¯s why, if asked what was making Nichs happy right now, his answer would be just one word, ¡®Kimberly.¡¯ Only she could currently bring color back into his life.


    Nichs: [I must miss you too. Now, get to work quickly. Complete all the tasks I assigned to you. I won¡¯t hesitate to cut your sry if that deadline isn¡¯t met soon.]


    Kimberly: [You¡¯re scolding me at a time like this?]


    Nichs: [I¡¯m just reminding you not to forget. I never get tired of reminding you not to misbehave behind my back, especially when I¡¯m far away.]


    Kimberly: [Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Alistair. Besides, who would dare to disturb the fianc¨¦e of a ¡®Lion¡¯ like you?]


    Nichsughed; he didn¡¯t expect her topare him to a lion. Had he really seemed that intimidating all this time?


    Somehow, after finishing sending a brief message to Kimberly, Nichs suddenly returned his gaze to his phone screen. He scrolled through the list of contacts there and decided to call someone.


    ¡°Hello, Sir¡­¡± responded a man on the other end.


    ¡°Ran, while I¡¯m away, I entrust Kimberly to you. Please watch her movements. I¡¯m just worried that Edward might bother her during my absence,¡± Nichs instructed Randy, his private driver.


    ¡°Understood, Mister. I¡¯ll provide you with reports on Miss Kimberly¡¯s activities while you¡¯re away,¡± Randy replied confidently.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always trusted you. Oh, and if any other employees dare to disturb her after I¡¯m gone, don¡¯t hesitate to take photos as documentation. I¡¯ll check when I return to home.¡±


    When Nichs wasn¡¯t around, Randy carried out his assigned tasks. Somehow, the man managed to take pictures when Edward apanied Kimberly for lunch. Whether by chance or not, when Mario visited Kimberly at the office and at her apartment, both moments did not escape Randy¡¯s watchful eye. It seemed that he was quite skilled at executing his assigned tasks.


    When Nichs returned, precisely during the lunch break, Randy immediately visited his boss¡¯s office. He appeared ready to submit a report on what he had been tasked with over the past few days.


    ¡°Is there something you want to give me?¡± Nichs asked as Randy stood upright in front of him.


    Randy nodded and took a step forward. His hand extended to hand over a brown folder to Nichs.


    ¡°Mr. Alistair can review it. I intentionally printed it to make it clearer.¡±


    Nichs took the folder that was offered.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ll check it. You can leave now.¡± Randy saluted and then left Nichs¡¯s office.


    In his seat, Nichs carefully removed each photo from the folder. Initially, everything seemed ordinary because there were photos of Kimberly conversing with Edward on the top stack.


    However, the situation took a 180-degree turn when Nichs found a photo that triggered his emotions. There was an image where Kimberly was holding hands and even hugging another man tightly.


    For a while, Nichs stared at the photo in his hand, trying to remember who the man with Kimberly was. It didn¡¯t take him long to recall.


    So, the man who had met Kimberly several times was her boyfriend?


    ***


    In the morning, when she opened the bedroom door, Kimberly found the apartment empty. She then headed to Nichs¡¯s room, intending to ask for some time to exin and rify all the misunderstandings from the previous night.


    However, when she knocked, there was no response. When she checked, the door to his room was also unlocked, indicating that the room¡¯s owner was no longer inside. Not wanting to waste time, Kimberly chose to go down to the lobby. There, as usual, Randy was waiting to escort her.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Nichs?¡± Kimberly asked as she got into the car.


    While driving, Randy replied, ¡°Mr. Nichs left a while ago. He took his private car.¡±


    Kimberly nodded. She believed that Nichs intentionally avoided and chose not to meet her. Anger still enveloped him.


    I need to resolve all of this quickly.


    This problem can¡¯t drag on.


    Nichs could misunderstand even more.


    Upon arriving at the office, it was clear that Nichs was very busy. There was a work deadline that had to be met today. Edward and several other department heads took turns entering his office.


    Not wanting to disturb, Kimberly chose toplete her own work. However, before she started, she took the initiative to make drinks for Nichs and the other colleagues.


    Walking to the pantry, Kimberly prepared several cups of coffee. Momentster, with determined steps, she carried a tray of drinks to Nichs¡¯s office. She knocked on the door twice and then entered. From a distance, she could see that Nichs was deeply engrossed in discussions with his colleagues, racing against the clock toplete their work on time.


    Not wanting to waste any time, Kimberly hurriedly approached to serve the drinks she had brought. Just a few steps away from the guest table, her high-heeled shoe identally got caught in the carpet, causing her to lose her bnce. Unfortunately, the drink she was carrying spilled, identally wetting the stack of papers on the table.


    Nichs immediately stood up, his eyes locking sharply onto Kimberly. The next moment, something Kimberly never imagined happened.


    ¡°Oh my God, Kimberly!¡± Nichs eximed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± His voice tone grew louder.


    ¡°S-sorry, it was an ident,¡± Kimberly stammered. She looked genuinely scared as she cleaned up the spilled coffee from the carpet.


    Nichs clenched his jaw tightly. ¡°What did you say? Sorry? Do you realize that you just destroyed important documents that need to be delivered this afternoon? And who told you to bring drinks?¡± Nichs was clearly overwhelmed by his emotions, and the veins on his neck were visible.


    ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. I-I¡¯ll take responsibility,¡± Kimberly¡¯s voice quivered. She struggled to hold back tears in front of Nichs.


    Edward, who had been observing the situation, also rose and approached. ¡°Nick! Stop. That¡¯s not how you treat a woman,¡± Edward protested. He pulled Kimberly behind him.


    Nichs took a deep, harsh breath. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see what she did? She had the audacity to ruin our work-¡±


    ¡°Nick, please forgive me,¡± Kimberly interrupted. She continued to plead for forgiveness.


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t stand to look at you. Leave my office immediately and never show your face in front of me again,¡± he ordered abruptly.


    Not wanting to escte the situation further, Edward escorted Kimberly to the door. ¡°You should leave now. Nichs is not in a good mood. I hope you won¡¯t take his words to heart.¡±


    Kimberly simply nodded. There was nothing she could exin in such a heated moment.


    At her desk, Kimberly couldn¡¯t hold back her tears any longer. While wiping her tears away, she organized her belongings and then left. Using a ride-sharing service, she headed straight for Nichs¡¯s apartment.


    There, Kimberly quickly grabbed her suitcase and packed all of her belongings. After ensuring that nothing was left behind, her gaze fell on the engagement ring she was wearing. Still teary-eyed, she reluctantly took it off and ced it in a drawer. She slipped a small note next to it.


    Maybe we won¡¯t see each other again after this, Nick.


    Before leaving for good, Kimberly grabbed her phone and called Mario toe pick her up. It didn¡¯t take long for him to arrive. While continuously scanning the entire apartment, Kimberly steeled herself to leave a ce that held so many beautiful memories for her.


    ¡°Are you sure about your decision to go back home now?¡± Mario inquired again. He was quite surprised when Kimberly suddenly contacted him and said she wanted to return home immediately.


    Kimberly nodded wearily. Her eyes looked so sad.


    ¡°I¡¯m very sure,¡± she whispered softly. ¡°But first, can you take me to the hospital? I need to visit Opa.¡±


    Mario agreed to Kimberly¡¯s request and drove to the hospital. Once they arrived in the hospital courtyard, Kimberly, with weary steps, went to visit Arthur, who was lying in a room. After making sure Arthur was okay, she left the room.


    Believing that something was bothering Kimberly, Mario pulled her to sit down in the waiting area just outside Arthur¡¯s room. Kimberly remained silent for a long time. Then, without saying anything, she burst into tears, releasing all the sadness she felt. Mario, who was beside her, looked at her with concern.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying like this?¡± Instead of stopping, Kimberly became more hysterical, leaving Mario even more puzzled.


    ¡°Oh, Kimberly, please stop. I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t cry like this,¡± he said as he pulled Kimberly closer to lean on his chest, giving her a ce to shed her tears.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, whatever it is that¡¯s happening to you, let me apologize for it.¡± Mario tightened his embrace until Kimberly gradually calmed down.


    ¡°If there¡¯s something on your mind, you can talk about it, Kimmy. Remember, you have me.¡± Mario said while gently stroking Kimberly¡¯s hair, which was disheveled.


    Kimberly took a deep breath. ¡°I want to go home, please take me now,¡± she said with determination.


    Mario agreed, and he helped Kimberly stand up. However, just as they took a step forward, for no apparent reason, Kimberly suddenly copsed and lost consciousness. Without hesitation, Mario lifted her body and rushed her to the emergency room.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening to you, Kimberly?¡±

 ALWAYS LOVE YOU

    ¡°Nick, we need to talk seriously!¡± Edward stood up and approached the spot where Nichs was sitting. Afterpleting the impromptu meeting in Nichs¡¯s office with several division heads, Edward chose to stay. There was something that, in his opinion, needed to be resolved promptly.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Nichs, who was still busy signing some important documents, only responded briefly to Edward¡¯s statement. ¡°Get to the point. You know I¡¯m not the type of person who likes to beat around the bush,¡± Nichs said without shifting his gaze.


    ¡°It¡¯s about Kimberly. You really went too far earlier. Why did you have to shout at her and drive her away like that?¡± Edward interrogated. His eye expression indicated his displeasure.


    ¡°I did what was appropriate, Ed. You know that if she spills drinks all over important documents on the table, I might have fired any other employee on the spot,¡± Nichs replied casually. There was not a hint of guilt on his face.


    Edward grunted in frustration. He had begun to think something was amiss with his friend. Nichs was known for being strict, but this was the first time he had been so rough with a woman. Edward had been surprised when Kimberly became the target of his anger that morning. What was really going on with Nichs?


    ¡°You¡¯ve gone way too far, Nick!¡± Edward eximed. ¡°Even if the documents got wet, they could easily be reprinted as many times as you want. But the heart of a woman you hurt, it may not heal as easily after what you did.¡±


    Nichs stopped what he was doing, opened one of the drawers on the side of the desk, and pulled something out, offering it to Edward. ¡°See for yourself.¡±


    Edward took what Nichs handed him. His eyebrows furrowed as he examined each photo that showed Kimberly¡¯s intimacy with another man. He finally understood what had made Nichs so angry with Kimberly.


    ¡°Oh my God, even my handsome face got caught by your spy. If I had known it would be captured like this, I should have dressed up as handsomely as possible that afternoon. My pose here is really ugly.¡±


    Just as the man finished his sentence, Nichs intentionally threw his pen at Edward. ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Nichs scoffed.


    ¡°You¡¯re the crazy one, Nick,¡± Edward retorted, unwilling to back down. ¡°Moreover, how could you have someone tail your own girlfriend? How do you even know that this guy has a romantic rtionship with her? For all you know, it could be just a sibling rtionship.¡±


    ¡°You know it yourself, Ed. I¡¯m not a guy who likes to share. I¡¯ve even warned her repeatedly not to have any rtions with other men. But the reality?¡± Nichs paused. He took a deep breath. ¡°You can draw your own conclusions. I don¡¯t want to discuss this further now,¡± he continued.


    Edwardughed mockingly. ¡°Are you stupid or what? Or are you some kind of irvoyant? How do you even know she has a rtionship with that guy? Who knows, maybe it¡¯s just a sibling rtionship.¡±


    Hearing those words, it was Nichs¡¯s turn to sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve met this guy a few times; it¡¯s impossible that he¡¯s her brother, Ed.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just ask Kimberly for an exnation directly?¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Nichs asked.


    ¡°For what do you think?¡± Edward replied, growing increasingly frustrated with his friend¡¯s behavior. ¡°Clearly, so that you don¡¯t make assumptions and jump to conclusions on your own.¡±


    ¡°Enough, Ed, stop discussing this. I really don¡¯t want to talk about it now,¡± Nichs pleaded slightly this time. It was pointless to argue with Edward; the man always had clever answers.


    Edward nodded in agreement. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll leave. Besides, talking to you for too long might make me as foolish as you,¡± he teased. ¡°Oh yeah, one more thing before I go. Don¡¯t let me hear you regretting thister. If that happens, I¡¯ll be the first one to mock you.¡± With that, Edward got up from his seat and gave Nichs some time to think. Maybe he woulde to his senses after this.

 ALWAYS LOVE YOU (2)

    For more than thirty minutes, Mario waited anxiously outside the emergency unit room. Finding Kimberly suddenly fainting had clearly panicked him. What had actually happened to his friend? Was she ill? Was she under too much pressure? What burdens was she carrying? All these questions filled Mario¡¯s mind. Kimberly¡¯s pale face, swollen eyes ¨C her condition was chaotic. Did all of this have something to do with Nichs? If I find out that Nichs caused all of this, he won¡¯t escape from me!


    Mario sighed deeply, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the emergency room door. Nearly losing his patience and contemting breaking in, he finally saw the doctor he had been waiting for emerge and approach.


    ¡°How is she, doctor?¡± Mario asked, unable to conceal his anxiety.


    ¡°Is the youngdy inside your sister?¡±


    Mario chose to nod. ¡°Yes, doc. How is she?¡±


    ¡°Her condition is unstable. Her blood pressure is very low. And, I apologize if this is forward, but are you aware if your sister is currently suffering from any illness?¡±


    Mario furrowed his brow, trying to process the doctor¡¯s meaning behind the question. ¡°What do you mean, doctor?¡±


    The doctor took a slow breath before exining further. ¡°When I examined Miss Kimberly earlier, one of my colleagues happened to see her medical history. He admitted to having examined your sister before. He mentioned that your sister is currently suffering from early-stage ovarian cancer.¡±


    Mario was shocked. The doctor¡¯s statement nearly took his breath away. His heart felt like it was being squeezed upon hearing the news that Kimberly was battling cancer. How could she hide this from him?


    ¡°Moreover, Miss Kimberly should undergo surgery immediately to prevent the cancer cells from spreading further,¡± the doctor added.


    Mario sighed in frustration. At a time when Arthur was not yet fully recovered, their family had to face a new, equally worrisome problem.


    ¡°What should I do? Is her condition treatable?¡± Mario asked with hope. He certainly didn¡¯t want anything bad to happen to Kimberly.


    The doctor looked at him seriously. ¡°Convince your sister to undergo surgery as soon as possible. If it¡¯s dyed, it could have fatal consequences and even threaten her life.¡± The doctor then allowed Mario to enter and visit Kimberly.


    Inside the all-white room, Mario saw Kimberly lying weakly. Her eyes were still tightly shut. He decided to sit right next to her, took Kimberly¡¯s hand, and held it tightly.


    Mario waited patiently by Kimberly¡¯s side for quite some time until she began to awaken. She blinked several times until her consciousness fully returned. At that moment, she forced herself to sit up from her lying position. Clearly, Mario immediately stopped her and asked Kimberly to lie back down.


    ¡°Your condition hasn¡¯tpletely improved, Kimmy. It¡¯s better for you to rest here for a while longer,¡± Mario requested.


    Kimberly sighed softly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s no need to overdo it.¡±


    ¡°Why did you keep this from me?¡± Mario suddenly asked, his gaze turning mncholic.


    ¡°What do you mean? I really don¡¯t understand,¡± Kimberly replied, looking puzzled. The man next to her remained silent and seemed to have something heavy on his chest.


    ¡°Come on, Mario. Don¡¯t keep me in suspense like this,¡± Kimberly urged.


    ¡°You¡¯re sick, aren¡¯t you? Since when?¡±


    Mario¡¯s question made Kimberly suddenly fall silent. She was confused about where to start in telling him about her recent illness. Kimberly just didn¡¯t want people to pity her.


    Seeing the woman in front of him bow her head with a sad face, Mario gently cupped Kimberly¡¯s face with both of his hands, locking her gaze onto his.


    ¡°Answer my question, Kimberly Rayder.¡±


    Kimberly finally met Mario¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°I found out just a few weeks ago.¡±


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you seek treatment immediately? What were you thinking, Kimberly? Don¡¯t mention that you couldn¡¯t afford it,¡± he said. Of course, financial concerns weren¡¯t valid, considering Kimberly was the only granddaughter of a wealthy tycoon like Arthur Rayder, a well-known figure in the construction and shipping industry.


    Meanwhile, Kimberly remained silent and chose not to answer Mario¡¯s questions until he pressed further.


    ¡°How long are you going to stay quiet, Kimberly? Don¡¯t you care about Opa if-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡± Kimberly cut in quickly. ¡°Money isn¡¯t the issue. I just hesitated to undergo surgery,¡± she continued.


    Mario sighed deeply again. Talking to Kimberly always required extra patience.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the problem? Don¡¯t beat around the bush like this, Kimmy. Please, get treated quickly. I just don¡¯t want anything bad to happen to you!¡± Mario said, his tone emphasizing that this was more of an order than a request.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Kimberly¡¯s voice wavered, and a tear rolled down her cheek.


    ¡°What are you afraid of? I¡¯m here.¡± Mario gently wiped away Kimberly¡¯s tears. He then took her wrist and held it firmly, signaling that he would never leave her.


    Kimberly took a deep breath, gathering the strength to tell Mario everything. When she felt ready, she finally spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid because the doctor assumes that after the surgery and recovery, there¡¯s a possibility I might have difficulty having children in the future.¡±


    Mario was taken aback. He was quite surprised by the revtion from Kimberly¡¯s lips.


    ¡°That¡¯s just an assumption; the doctor could be wrong,¡± Mario tried to be wise.


    ¡°But if that does happen, what then? Who in this world would want to marry a woman who can¡¯t give birth? That¡¯s why I chose death over life-¡±


    ¡°Ssshh¡­¡± Mario ced his index finger right on Kimberly¡¯s lips. ¡°Stop. You¡¯re not the Kimberly I know. If no man wants to ept you, Kimberly, there¡¯s still me. I¡¯ll marry you, take care of you, and look after you for the rest of my life.¡±


    Kimberly shook her head repeatedly. ¡°You know I don¡¯t like to be pitied.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not pitying you. I¡¯ve loved you for a long time, and that will never change. So, stop thinking that no one will ept you in the future.¡± The next moment, Mario embraced Kimberly tightly.


    ¡°I will marry you.¡±


    ****


    Nichs entered his apartment unit in a state of utter chaos. Throughout the journey back, he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about everything Edward had said about Kimberly.


    What if the man with Kimberly has no romantic involvement at all?


    But why were they so intimate?


    Nichs closed his eyes dramatically. His head suddenly felt heavy from thinking about the ongoing issues between him and Kimberly all day.


    Maybe I should listen to Kimberly¡¯s exnation first? Besides, I did go overboard this morning. I shouldn¡¯t have shouted at her like that.


    Nichs opened his eyes, took several deep breaths to clear the tightness in his chest.


    I have to see her. Yes, I need to talk to her.


    A momentter, with some hesitation, Nichs made his way to Kimberly¡¯s room. He knocked on the door several times, but there was no response, not even a reply.


    Nichs thought that maybe she was still angry with him. So he took the initiative to call out.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°Kimberly¡­ open the door. We need to talk.¡±


    Nichs waited for a while, but the bedroom door remained closed. Feeling impatient, he turned the doorknob and found that it wasn¡¯t locked.


    Entering the room, Nichs didn¡¯t find Kimberly anywhere. He checked the bathroom, but she wasn¡¯t there either. What¡¯s more, her belongings were no longer in the room.


    Sensing something amiss, Nichs sat down on one side of the bed. His eyes scanned in every direction until he feltpelled to open the bedside table drawer.


    As expected, Nichs found their engagement ring ced inside. Next to it, there was a piece of paper that Kimberly had presumably written for him.


    Quickly, Nichs grabbed the paper and read it carefully.


    Hi,


    I don¡¯t know where to start. But one thing¡¯s for sure, thank you for your kindness all this time, for taking care of me, and for giving me your best.


    I¡¯m sorry,


    For everything I did that made you angry.


    Honestly, I never meant to betray you.


    I should have told you from the beginning who I really am.


    But, I think it¡¯s all futile now.


    I thought that God destined us to be together, but it turns out I¡¯m not worthy to stand by your side.


    Once again, I apologize.


    So, I return the engagement ring to you.


    Perhaps after this, we will never meet again.


    Thank you for the beautiful days you¡¯ve given me.


    I will always love you,


    Kimberly Rayder.

 PROMISE ME

    Nichs fell silent as he gazed at a series of photos of Kimberly on his phone. These were the pictures he had taken secretly during their recent trip to London. He had captured quite a few moments, from her smiling to pouting and evenughing freely. The woman looked beautiful in every pose she struck.


    Delving into each image stored on his phone, Nichs unconsciously smiled. He had to admit that she had brought significant changes to his life, injecting color and freshness when his heart was barren due to the deep wounds ire had inflicted before.


    Nichs closed his eyes for quite a while, trying to recall the memory of when they first met. Well, it all started with that idental encounter when Kimberly inadvertently bumped into him, causing both of them to tumble to the floor. Then, his memory shifted to the first time Kimberly had hugged him. She had been frightened when trapped in the archive building during a power outage.


    Perhaps out of all those memories, what stood out the most was the memory of stealing Kimberly¡¯s first kiss. Ah, it seemed that there were more than just that, considering the many sweet memories Nichs had shared with the brown-haired woman.


    ¡°You are the most special to me, even though you¡¯re not my type. But I can¡¯t deny that you¡¯ve stolen my heart, Kimmy.¡±


    As Nichs was lost in thought, the door to his office was knocked several times. What he remembered when his awareness returned was Kimberly. Could it be her knocking on the door? To make sure who was outside, he quickly responded and instructed them toe in.


    However, his hopes were dashed. It was actually Keyra who had been knocking on his office door all this time. She entered gracefully, carrying some folders to be handed over.


    ¡°Here are some financial reports that Mr. Nichs requested. You can check and sign them right away,¡± Keyra handed over the folders she had brought to Nichs.


    ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s also a resignation letter that Kimberly asked me to pass on to you,¡± she added.


    Nichs¡¯s forehead furrowed. He had toe to terms with the fact that Kimberly had indeed left him. So, what should he do now?


    Seeing his boss sitting in silence, not epting the folders she had given him, Keyra spoke up softly, ¡°Sir¡­¡±


    Nichs was taken aback, then reached for what Keyra had handed him. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll check itter.¡±


    Without saying much, Keyra chose to quickly leave. However, as she was about to turn around, Nichs called out to her.


    ¡°Key¡­¡±


    Keyra turned back and responded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Do you need something?¡±


    Nichs remained silent for a moment, then sighed before answering, ¡°Do you know where Kimberly lives now?¡±


    Keyra smiled knowingly. ¡°I used to know her address when she lived in the dormitory. But since she moved somewhere else, I haven¡¯t been to her new ce.¡±


    In truth, Keyra had known all along that since Kimberly left her dorm, she had been living with Nichs. After her departure yesterday, Kimberly hadn¡¯t mentioned where she was going. It was possible she had returned to herrge family home. But Keyra chose to keep quiet. She believed her friend needed privacy now.


    After hearing Keyra¡¯s response, Nichs took a deep breath. It seemed he would have to find out Kimberly¡¯s whereabouts on his own.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°Thank you then.¡±


    Not long after Keyra left, the person Nichs least wanted to encounter approached him. Without being invited, the man sat down right in front of Nichs.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Kimberly? I don¡¯t see her at her desk. Is my suspicion correct?¡± Edward asked with an investigative gaze.


    ¡°Kimberly resigned,¡± Nichs replied disinterestedly.


    The next moment,ughter rang out loudly from Edward¡¯s mouth. He even wore a mocking expression towards Nichs.


    ¡°I guess you must be regretting it now,¡±ughter still lingered on Edward¡¯s lips.


    Nichs sighed in exasperation. ¡°Ed, I¡¯m not in the mood for your antics. My mind is a mess right now.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Nichs Junior Alistair. What¡¯s so hard about admitting it? That¡¯s why, if a seasoned professional like me offers advice, please listen.¡±


    ¡°Overbearing as always!¡± Nichs grumbled. ¡°I beg you, Ed. It would be best if you left my presence,¡± Nichs requested, then.


    Edward continued to smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯tply with your request, Young Master. I came here to pick you up for a meeting outside the office.¡±


    Nichs grumbled in frustration and then chose to stand up. Momentster, without a word, he left the room, leaving Edward sitting there in silence.


    ***


    Mario and Kimberly were currently in a car on their way from home to the hospital. After Kimberly¡¯s condition improved yesterday, she decided to return to her home. A home she had abandoned for years since her turbulent rtionship with Arthur a few years ago.


    This afternoon, the doctor had scheduled Arthur¡¯s return. That¡¯s why Kimberly and Mario rushed to pick him up. Along the way to the hospital, they discussed many things. There was no longer any awkwardness, anger, or hostility between them. They talked like old friends who had just reunited.


    ¡°So, up to this moment, Nichs still doesn¡¯t know who you really are?¡± Mario asked while driving.


    Kimberly shook her head.


    ¡°Not at all. But even if he eventually learns about my family background, it doesn¡¯t matter now,¡± Kimberly replied casually.


    ¡°And he doesn¡¯t know about your current health condition either?¡±


    Kimberly shook her head again.


    ¡°Not just him, almost everyone doesn¡¯t know about my condition now.¡±


    Mario nodded in understanding.


    ¡°I thought you loved him so much, Kimmy. I heard you even got engaged in Ennd, right?¡± Mario bombarded her with questions once again.


    This time, Kimberly took a deep breath. Hearing Nichs¡¯s name somehow made her heart ache. What he did in his office yesterday had left a painful throb in Kimberly¡¯s heart.


    ¡°We better not talk about Nichs,¡± Kimberly¡¯s gaze turned mncholy, a change that Mario noticed. He reached for Kimberly¡¯s fingers with his free left hand and gently squeezed them.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kimmy. I promise I won¡¯t bring up that guy again.¡±


    They then chose to remain silent until they reached the hospital.


    In his room, Arthur looked healthier. The elderly man sat on the sofa, reading a magazine that had been provided for him. Soon, Kimberly and Mario entered and greeted him.


    ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Kimberly greeted, then rushed into Arthur¡¯s embrace. The middle-aged man stood up and weed his granddaughter¡¯s hug, a granddaughter he had missed so much.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kimmy, Grandpa.¡± Kimberly then let go of the hug.


    ¡°Never mind. What¡¯s important now is that you¡¯re back and promise not to leave Grandpa again.¡±


    Kimberly nodded.


    ¡°Kimmy promises not to leave Grandpa again,¡± she said earnestly. Her adventures outside had been enough for her. Besides, there was no other ce for her to take shelter.


    Mario, who had been observing, smiled. It had been a long time since he had seen a scene like this. He was genuinely happy and hoped this happiness wouldn¡¯t fade away too quickly.


    However, at the same time, Mario remembered Kimberly¡¯s illness. He was unsure how to tell Arthur, considering the old man¡¯s health was not yet stable. But on the other hand, Kimberly needed immediate treatment and care for her illness to be addressed promptly.


    Mario took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He pondered when the right time would be to inform Arthur about Kimberly¡¯s condition. Certainly not now.

 ILNESS

    ¡°So, Mr. Yamamoto, when did you start investing in ourpany?¡± Edward asked one of their clients in this afternoon¡¯s meeting.


    The client seemed to ponder. He kept rubbing his chin several times. His forehead even creased as if he was deep in thought.


    ¡°Mr. Nichs, I want to invest a significant amount in yourpany. But can you build a shopping center in the Central Park area?¡± The client threw out a question.


    Edward¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°But that¡¯s a risky area. How can we take the risk of building-¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Nichs cut in. ¡°We are ready to build it there. Mr. Edward will consider all possibilities. We will provide reports on various possibilities.¡±


    Nichs spoke with such confidence. Meanwhile, Edward looked at him in disbelief.


    ¡°Ah, I like doing business with you, Mr. Nichs. You¡¯re so optimistic. Not like your colleague next to you,¡± Yamamoto intentionally taunted Edward.


    Nichs smiled broadly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; we will make it happen as long as the investment you provide matches.¡±


    Yamamoto nodded and then extended his right hand for a handshake. ¡°Deal. I¡¯ll sign it right now.¡±


    Nichs smiled satisfactorily because this meeting had yielded results. Although it was a bit challenging to convince the client initially, in the end, the client gave in and agreed to coborate.


    ¡°You¡¯re truly insane, Nick!¡± Edwardmented when Yamamoto had left, leaving the two of them still sitting and sipping caramel mhiatos at the restaurant table.


    ¡°Why is that crazy? Shouldn¡¯t you be grateful that the Japanese guy is investing his wealth?¡±


    Edward grumbled in frustration.


    ¡°Yes, but that means you¡¯re making me work overtime on this. Besides, Central Park is a disputed area. How are we going to build a mall in a problematic ce like that?¡±


    Nichs shrugged nonchntly. ¡°That¡¯s your problem. I¡¯m sure you can handle it. What¡¯s the point of being smart if you can¡¯t handle tasks like this?¡±


    He then resumed sipping his drink. As they enjoyed their beverages, suddenly, a familiar person passed by and greeted them. Someone Nichs knew quite well.


    ¡°Mr. Nichs¡­¡± the man greeted.


    Nichs raised his face. ¡°Doctor¡­¡± he then stood up and reciprocated the greeting from the man who had been his personal doctor for a long time.


    ¡°Having lunch outside?¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Yes, I just finished a meeting and decided to have lunch outside.¡±


    ¡°How is Miss Kimberly?¡± the doctor suddenly brought up Kimberly.


    Nichs smiled awkwardly. ¡°Kimberly is fine, doc.¡±


    This time, the doctor nodded in understanding. ¡°Thank goodness. Has Miss Kimberly made an appointment with the oncologist, as I suggested yesterday?¡±


    Nichs looked puzzled. ¡°What do you mean, doctor?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I rmended your fianc¨¦e to have surgery immediately. For that, she needs to make an appointment with the oncologist soon. Remember, she must undergo the operation quickly.¡±


    Nichs was taken aback. He was confused by the doctor¡¯s words.


    Surgery?


    Oncologist?


    What was Kimberly¡¯s illness?


    ¡°If I may ask, what kind of surgery is Kimberly going to have?¡± Nichs asked, slightly bewildered.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t your fianc¨¦e tell you?¡± the doctor inquired.


    Nichs could only shake his head faintly. He was feeling uneasy now.


    ¡°Your fianc¨¦e needs to undergo surgery to address the ovarian cancer she has,¡± the doctor stated.


    Nichs was startled and even doubted what the doctor had just said. Kimberly had cancer? And she hadn¡¯t told him a word about it.


    Oh God, Kimberly.


    You¡¯re making me feel even more sinful.


    Am I not significant enough to you that you hide all of this from me?


    ¡°Can Kimberly¡¯s illness be cured?¡± Nichs asked hesitantly.


    The doctor nodded. ¡°Yes, Miss Kimberly¡¯s disease is still in its very early stages. That¡¯s why she needs to undergo surgery immediately to prevent the cancer cells from spreading to other vital organs. I hope you remind Miss Kimberly to schedule the surgery before it¡¯s toote, considering that all risks may ur.¡±


    After exining at length, the doctor excused himself and left Nichs frozen in thought, contemting all the mistakes he had made.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

 DETECTIVE

    Arthur Rayder stared intently at Kimberly, who was sitting beside him. He struggled to restrain himself, but it was evident that it was difficult. A single tear rolled down his cheek, moistening the wrinkled skin that showed the signs of age.


    Whose heart wouldn¡¯t ache upon hearing that the person they loved was suffering from a serious illness? Yes, Kimberly had just informed Arthur about the illness she had recently been diagnosed with.


    After Kimberly¡¯s parents had passed away, it was Arthur who took care of her all by himself, providing her with the best. He always fulfilled Kimberly¡¯s wishes, making her a smart, graceful, yet humble woman.


    Arthur felt deeply guilty, considering himself a failure for not being able to protect his only grandchild. He couldn¡¯t find the right words, so he could only hold Kimberly tightly.


    ¡°Forgive me, Kimmy,¡± the old man whispered. ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve failed to protect you,¡± he continued, his face reflecting profound sadness.


    Kimberly offered a smile, signaling that she was okay.


    ¡°Grandpa, why be sad? It¡¯s not your fault that Kimmy is sick like this. Kimmy should be the one apologizing to you. I¡¯ve been selfish, leaving you alone here.¡±


    Arthur loosened his embrace and shook his head before responding to Kimberly¡¯s words.


    ¡°I¡¯ve forgiven you a long time ago. Besides, there¡¯s Mario who has been taking care of me.¡±


    Kimberly smiled back.


    ¡°Kimmy is also very grateful to Mario. If he wasn¡¯t here, I don¡¯t know who else I could rely on.¡±


    Arthur took a deep breath and returned Kimberly¡¯s smile. ¡°That¡¯s why I arranged for you to be with Mario. He¡¯s the right man to take care of you when I¡¯m gone.¡±


    ¡°Kimmy¡­¡± Arthur¡¯s gaze shifted to Mario, who had been silently present throughout Kimberly¡¯s exnation of her illness.


    ¡°Mario, I¡¯m asking you to take care of Kimberly¡¯s medical treatment. Find the best hospital and doctor for my granddaughter,¡± Arthur instructed.


    Mario obediently nodded. ¡°Certainly, sir.¡±


    ¡°Well, grandpa. What Kimmy wants to say is¡­¡± Kimberly¡¯s forehead creased in slight worry, anticipating Arthur¡¯s request.


    ¡°What does grandpa want?¡± Arthur let out a deep sigh.


    ¡°I want, after you¡¯re healthy, for you to assist Mario in managing thepany. I can¡¯t handle everything on my own anymore.¡±


    Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief. In the past, she had no interest in dealing with anything rted to Rayder Corp. However, considering Arthur¡¯s condition and the fact that she was the sole heir of the Rayder family, she saw no harm in agreeing this time to help Arthur manage and develop the family business. After all, she waspetent in this field.


    ¡°Of course, grandpa. This time, Kimmy won¡¯t refuse. I¡¯ll do my best to help you with thepany.¡±


    Arthur smiled in relief. There would be no more refusals like before, and the worried look faded from his face. He could finally feel at ease.


    ¡°Mario, I also want you to teach and oversee Kimberly in handling thepany. I entrust Kimberly and Rayder Corp to you,¡± Arthur issued anothermand.


    ***


    Nichs entered his office and saw that Edward was already seated.


    ¡°Why are you here? Isn¡¯t there work to discuss?¡± Nichs said calmly, taking off his jacket and draping it over the back of his chair.


    ¡°Do I need a reason to meet with you? It¡¯s not always about work when I want to see you, Nick,¡± Edward replied sarcastically.


    Nichs didn¡¯t respond. He began to review the documents arranged in front of him one by one. Nichs¡¯s face remained neutral, but his expression was icy. However, his eyes couldn¡¯t hide the sadness. Edward had seen this look before, a few years ago when Nichs was going through a tough time. It felt like d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    Edward didn¡¯t divert his gaze from Nichs. He kept observing his friend¡¯s every move. Nichs tried to appear strong, but it was evident that he was fragile. Edward thought, why was Nichs so stubborn about admitting it? Edward was always there to listen if Nichs wanted to talk.


    ¡°You¡¯re not doing okay, Nick. I¡¯m sure of it,¡± Edward finally spoke, unable to bear the silence.


    Nichs remained silent, choosing to ignore what Edward had said. He really didn¡¯t want to argue with him right now, as their conversations often ended in arguments.


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you, Nick. You know I care about you the most. It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t want to talk to me, but I just want to make sure that if you need Kimberly, you find her. Not just sit here in silence. How long will you keep mourning? Remember, your mistake was significant in her life.¡±


    Nichs let out a deep, frustrated breath.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to find her!¡± Nichs finally responded to Edward¡¯s words. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve just been sitting around these past few days? I¡¯ve been trying to locate her. I¡¯ve lost track of her, Ed,¡± he said with visible frustration.


    Edward, who had initially been sitting casually, now straightened up. ¡°Are you foolish or what? That¡¯s why they say a broken heart often leads to the loss of reason, and the brain doesn¡¯t function properly, making one appear foolish.¡±


    Nichs looked puzzled. ¡°Oh my, where did you get that saying from?¡±


    Of course, Nichs had never heard it before; Edward had just made it up.


    ¡°Let¡¯s forget about the saying. You¡¯re wealthy; what¡¯s the use of your wealth? Why not hire a detective to find Kimberly? If you¡¯re feeling overwhelmed, just contact Kenzi. Ask him to send Hans to investigate Kimberly.¡±


    Nichs was momentarily stunned. Why had he been so foolish not to think of hiring a detective to locate Kimberly? Where had his genius mind been all this time? Maybe Edward was right; heartbreak had clouded his judgment.


    A faint smile appeared on Nichs¡¯s lips. He seemed to have found a glimmer of hope in Edward¡¯s suggestion. Apparently, Edward had his uses after all. No, Edward was always useful; it was Nichs who was reluctant to admit it.


    ¡°This time, I¡¯ll follow your advice,¡± Nichs said suddenly.


    ¡°Which advice?¡± Edward asked.


    ¡°About the detective. I¡¯ll hire a detective right away to find Kimberly. I have to resolve all of this. I don¡¯t want to lose her.¡±


    Edward smiled. ¡°Well, I prefer seeing you optimistic like this rather than being so mopey as before.¡±


    Nichs red sharply. ¡°Who are you calling mopey?¡±


    Edward shrugged nonchntly. He then got up from his seat, intending to leave.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who¡¯s mopey. I¡¯m going back to my room. Don¡¯t forget that there¡¯s a dinner reception at Pacific ce tonight. I¡¯ll pick you up. We¡¯ll go together.¡± Edward then walked away, leaving Nichs¡¯s office.

 KEEP YOUR FUCKING MOUTH

    Edward and Nichs had just stepped out of the car and entered the Ritz Carlton hotel. Tonight, there was a dinner reception with all the executive businessmen from various industries in Asia, including construction, automotive, telmunications, shipping, and oil.


    Upon entering the ballroom, they saw many guests bustling about. Nichs recognized almost everyone in the room, and he and Edward greeted anyone they met.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Edward suddenly locked eyes with someone he seemed to know well. To make sure he wasn¡¯t mistaken, he moved closer, trying to get a better look. It turned out to be Kimberly. He wondered why Kimberly would attend an event like this.


    Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Edward approached Nichs, who had been engrossed in conversation. Without asking for permission, he forcefully pulled his friend¡¯s arm, making him follow.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why are you pulling me like this, Ed? You startled me!¡±


    ¡°Hush, keep quiet!¡± Edward replied. ¡°Don¡¯t talk too much. I want to show you something.¡±


    Edward pointed his index finger in the direction where Kimberly was standing. When Nichs followed his friend¡¯s finger to where it stopped, he was taken aback by what he saw.


    ¡°Kimberly,¡± Nichs murmured softly.


    ¡°Hurry, follow her before she disappears!¡± Edward eximed, urging Nichs to move quickly.


    Without hesitation, Nichs approached Kimberly, who was standing not far from the staircase. When he was close enough, he greeted her.


    ¡°Kimberly¡­¡±


    Kimberly turned towards the voice but didn¡¯t respond to Nichs¡¯s greeting. She simply stared at him expressionlessly, as if she didn¡¯t recognize the man in front of her.


    ¡°Kimberly, we need to talk,¡± Nichs spoke gently, with a pleading tone in his voice.


    However, Kimberly remained motionless, not uttering a word. Instead, another man suddenly approached her, wrapped his arm around her waist affectionately, and greeted her.


    ¡°Darling¡­¡± the next moment, Mario nted a kiss on Kimberly¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte. Let¡¯s go now.¡± Mario spoke as if Nichs wasn¡¯t even there.


    Kimberly obediently followed Mario¡¯smand to leave, not even sparing a nce at Nichs. She walked straight towards the exit of the ballroom.


    Edward, who had been observing from a distance, approached.


    ¡°Why are you being so silent?¡± Edward asked.


    ¡°You saw it yourself; Kimberly came with the man from the photo. They do seem to have a special rtionship, as I suspected,¡± Nichs said in frustration.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a fool!¡± Edward sighed in exasperation. ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily her boyfriend. It¡¯s better if you chase after her. Opportunities like this don¡¯te twice, Nick.¡±


    Nichs turned his gaze towards Edward. ¡°So you think I should chase after Kimberly? Are you sure?¡±


    Edward, who was already annoyed, chose to leave and said casually, ¡°It¡¯s up to you, Nick. If you don¡¯t want to chase her, I¡¯ll do it. Don¡¯t me me if Kimberly ends uping home with me.¡±


    The moment after hearing Edward¡¯s words, Nichs immediately ran to catch up. In the lobby, his eyes scanned every corner of the room.


    Luckily, it seemed like fate was on his side. Kimberly was still in the hotel lobby, seemingly waiting for her ride. Nichs didn¡¯t want to waste this opportunity and hurriedly approached.


    ¡°Kimberly, please, we need to talk,¡± Nichs implored, not caring about Mario¡¯s sharp gaze as he stood beside Kimberly, holding her hand.


    Kimberly didn¡¯t respond but simply turned her head without interest, choosing to ignore Nichs¡¯s presence.


    Losing his patience, Nichs attempted to pull Kimberly¡¯s arm, but Mario quickly blocked him.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you ashamed? You can see for yourself that Kimberly doesn¡¯t want to talk to you!¡±


    Nichs¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply. ¡°I have no business with you!¡±


    ¡°Clearly, you do. I¡¯m her fianc¨¦. I have every right to intervene.¡±


    Nichs felt choked upon hearing Mario¡¯s confession. In his heart, he wondered if what he had believed all along, that Kimberly had a rtionship with another man, was true.


    Nichs let out a bitterugh. ¡°So, it¡¯s true that you have a rtionship with another man behind my back, Kimberly? You¡¯re just like the rest, inferior woman!¡±


    Right after Nichs finished his sentence, a punchnded squarely on his face. Mario, with darkened eyes, pummeled Nichs until he stumbled and fell to the floor. Fresh blood trickled from the man¡¯s lip. Instead of helping the fallen Nichs, Kimberly pulled Mario¡¯s body away. Everyone there watched the three of them in astonishment.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t keep your fucking mouth, I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s not just your lips that get torn, Mr. Alistair,¡± Mario threatened, his fists still clenched tightly. He wasn¡¯t joking with his words.


    Kimberly continued to restrain Mario to keep him in ce. When she was sure the man¡¯s anger was subsiding, Kimberly spoke up.


    ¡°Consider everything you thought to be true. From this moment on, we are strangers. So, there¡¯s no need to waste time trying to find me again.¡± Kimberly simply walked away and got into her car.

 PLEASE COMEBACK TO ME

    A few hours earlier,


    ¡°Are you sure about your decision to manage thepany?¡±


    After a lengthy conversation with Arthur, Mario and Kimberly were now sitting together on the back porch. He had to convince Kimberly once again about her decision to take over thepany.


    Mario knew for sure that Kimberly had never been interested in anything rted to Rayder Corp. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t want her to feel burdened. Managing so manypanies was no easy task, especially since Kimberly had no experience at all.


    Kimberly took a deep breath. Her facial expression was calm.


    ¡°I¡¯m very sure. Even though I wasn¡¯t interested before, the situation is different now. Grandpa really needs my help.¡±


    Mario smiled. The woman was truly unpredictable. Who knows what other surprises Kimberly would reveal in the future.


    ¡°Whatever you need, I will help you, Kimmy. Anything at all. I also believe that you¡¯ll be a respected leader among colleagues or rivals.¡± Mario spoke with confidence.


    Kimberly smiled faintly. She had been deeply moved by Mario¡¯s attitude on multiple asions. Yet, when she looked back, she had despised him intensely since the day her grandfather forced them to get engaged.


    But, look at this, despite being rejected and driven away many times, Mario never once abandoned Kimberly. He continued to watch over her from afar, ensuring her safety without interference.


    ¡°Why are you so good to me? I even hated you so much after Grandpa forced us to get engaged,¡± Kimberly suddenly asked.


    Mario chuckled at Kimberly¡¯s question. Then he replied with a question of his own,


    ¡°Why should I be mean to you, Kimmy?¡±


    Kimberly sighed.


    ¡°You, this guy! Instead of answering, you¡¯re asking again.¡±Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing Kimberly¡¯s irritated expression, Marioughed again. Not wanting her to get more upset, he quickly responded,


    ¡°If you¡¯ve forgotten, after your parents passed away, I promised to take care of you until you find your life partner. Until that timees, you¡¯re still under my watch.¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s heart warmed. She remembered that when she first woke up from aa after the fire incident, Mario made sure to always look after her. And now, he was keeping his promise.


    ¡°Yes, I remember that. And it seems like you¡¯ll have to take care of me even longer.¡±


    ¡°If we really get engaged, I might end up taking care of you forever,¡± Mario joked, but Kimberly responded with a t expression.


    ¡°It seems like that might actually happen. Besides, who would want a woman like me who can¡¯t give them offspring,¡± Kimberly replied, her face turning mncholic.


    Mario hissed.


    ¡°Kimmy, stop it. I don¡¯t like seeing you sad like this. Besides, that¡¯s just an assumption. It may not necessarily happen. And I¡¯ll never get tired of reminding you that if no man wants to be your partner in the future, I¡¯m still here.¡±


    Kimberly smiled.


    ¡°Thank you, I rely on you so much.¡±


    While they were still engrossed in conversation, Mario¡¯s phone rang. His secretary intentionally called him, reminding Mario to attend an exclusive dinner event with businesspeople. Kimberly, who was listening nearby, suddenly became interested.


    ¡°Are you going to an event?¡± Kimberly asked curiously.


    Mario nodded.


    ¡°There¡¯s an exclusive dinner event tonight. I have to attend on behalf of Adiatma Group.¡±


    Kimberly also nodded.


    ¡°Can Ie along?¡± she asked suddenly, making Mario look puzzled.


    ¡°You want toe? Are you sure?¡±


    Kimberly nodded again. ¡°Consider it the beginning of me taking over Rayder Corp,¡± she confidently replied. She really hoped Mario would agree to her request.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you want toe. But¡­¡± Mario paused in his sentence.


    Kimberly raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°But what?¡± Kimberly asked curiously.


    ¡°¡­ you might meet Nichs there. Are you sure it¡¯s okay to meet him?¡±


    Kimberly sighed. She had forgotten that at an exclusive dinner event among businessmen like this, Nichs would undoubtedly be there. But staying silent and avoiding him forever wasn¡¯t the right choice either.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay if I meet him there,¡± Kimberly confidently said.


    Mario shifted his sitting position to face Kimberly directly. He gazed at her with a probing look. He had indeed installed a listening device in Kimberly¡¯s room, but he still didn¡¯t know the exact chronology of what had caused her sudden return.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s really going on between you and Nichs? I thought you two were inseparable. You even refused toe home when Grandpa was sick,¡± Mario inquired.


    Kimberly sighed softly. She didn¡¯t feel like talking about it, as it was sure to bring back painful memories. But Mario needed to know because Nichs considered him Kimberly¡¯s secret lover.


    ¡°Nichs had someone spy on me while he went to Singapore. Unluckily, his spy took pictures of us holding hands and you hugging me.¡±


    Instead of being sympathetic or concerned, Marioughed.


    ¡°Let me guess, Nichs misunderstood and used you of cheating on him with me?¡±


    Kimberly nodded in agreement.


    ¡°I tried to apologize and exin, but Nichs always refused and didn¡¯t give me a chance. The breaking point was when he kicked me out after I identally spilled coffee on the contract documents he was working on.¡± Kimberly fell silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and then continued her story. ¡°But after thinking it over, it¡¯s probably better for us to separate. I don¡¯t think I deserve to be with him, and Grandpa surely wouldn¡¯t approve of our rtionship.¡±


    Mario gently patted Kimberly¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Whatever your decision, Kimmy, I¡¯ll always support you. You know best what¡¯s right for you.¡±


    When the evening came, Kimberly apanied Mario to the dinner event. Before getting out of the car, Kimberly held Mario¡¯s arm. There was something she wanted to tell him.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Mario asked, puzzled.


    ¡°If we do run into Nichs in there, please acknowledge me as your fianc¨¦e.¡±


    ****


    ¡°Consider everything you¡¯re thinking to be true. From now on, we don¡¯t know each other. So, there¡¯s no need to look for me anymore.¡±


    During the journey back, Kimberly¡¯s face turned red as she held back her tears. Her request to Nichs in the hotel lobby had made her heartache. Was she sure she could act indifferent and pretend not to know the man who had once filled her heart? Only time would tell.


    Mario, sitting next to Kimberly, initially remained silent and observed. He chose to let the womanpose her emotions first until they subsided. When he felt she had calmed down, Mario took the initiative to speak.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Mario asked softly.


    Kimberly remained still and didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°If you need support, my shoulder and chest are always here for you,¡± he said again. The next moment, without hesitation, Kimberly leaned her head on Mario¡¯s athletic chest. The tears she had been holding back finally flowed freely down her cheeks.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Kimmy. Take your time. No one will stop you from crying,¡± Mario spoke while gently stroking Kimberly¡¯s hair, trying tofort and provide sce until her sobbing naturally subsided.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a bad person?¡± Kimberly whispered softly. She intentionally tilted her head to look at Mario¡¯s face.


    Mario lowered his face and smiled gently.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not. That guy deserved to learn a lesson. If it weren¡¯t for your restraint, he might have ended up with a busted lip after I punched him.¡±


    Kimberly fell silent, choosing not to respond to Mario¡¯s words.


    In a different ce,


    Nichs had thrown countless objects in various directions. His emotions were still at their peak as he recalled what Kimberly had said to him.


    No¡­ No!


    Nichs shook his head repeatedly.


    I¡¯m absolutely certain that Kimberly didn¡¯t mean what she said earlier.


    I know she loves me.


    How could she ask me to forget her and choose that guy over me?


    Nichs roughly rubbed his face. He looked even more disheveled and frustrated than before.


    ¡°Kimberly¡­¡± Nichs whispered, full of sadness.


    ¡°Pleasee back to me.¡± Nichs sat on the floor, staring at the engagement ring Kimberly had returned to him.

 KEEP MANY SECRET

    Instead of feeling sad, Edward, who had been in Nichs¡¯s office since earlier, wore a smirk. He had been smiling non-stop. He wanted tough, but he knew better than to do it openly.


    ¡°Stop making fun of me, Ed. I hope one day you¡¯ll feel what I¡¯m feeling right now.¡±


    Edward couldn¡¯t hold back hisughter anymore. He burst intoughter, making Nichs even more irritated.


    ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone so foolish, Nick. You¡¯re truly pathetic.¡±


    Nichs grumbled in frustration. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far, Ed. Aren¡¯t you sympathetic to what¡¯s happening to me? Evenst night, when that guy attacked me, you didn¡¯t help at all!¡± Nichs protested.


    ¡°Why should I help?¡± Edward teased. ¡°You needed a wake-up call. I might have punched you myself if that guy hadn¡¯t punched you in the facest night. Instead of apologizing, you called Kimberly cheap. What a moron! Where did you leave your brain, Mr. Alistair?¡± Edward sneered, venting all his frustration on Nichs.


    As they continued arguing, without a knock or warning, the office door suddenly swung open. Simultaneously, Nichs and Edward turned to see a man strolling in casually and carefree. He promptly seated himself right next to Edward.


    ¡°Oh my, Kenzi Maximilian. Where¡¯s your etiquette? You just walked into a room without knocking,¡± Edwardined. Besides his habit ofmenting on people¡¯s lives, Edward was also fond of making protests.


    Kenzi looked at him sardonically. ¡°Why should I knock on the door of my own office? If I want to, I could even kick you out!¡±


    Once his interlocutor had finished his sentence, Edward, without hesitation, lightly punched Kenzi¡¯s arm until the man winced in pain. Then, a momentter, he hugged his friend tightly.


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t kick me out. Remember, yourpany still needs my expertise,¡± Edward teased as he released his embrace.


    Kenzi¡¯s gaze now shifted to Nichs, who had been silently observing.


    ¡°Are you okay, Nick?¡± Kenzi asked, puzzled. It was usually Nichs who eagerly weed his arrival.


    ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s heartbroken, Ken,¡± Edward interjected, making Nichs re at him.


    Kenzi furrowed his brow. ¡°Heartbroken? What do you mean?¡±


    Nichs began to speak, intending to exin, ¡°Kimmy-¡±


    ¡°Kimberly recently left him. It¡¯s his own fault; he was so foolish. He used Kimberly of cheating and even called her cheap. Just look at Kimberly¡¯s friend, her lips were swollen from being hit by the guy Nichs thought was Kimberly¡¯s lover,¡± Edward cut in again.


    Oh God, Nichs was absolutely fuming. He felt like Edward was talking way too much. This was the second time his words had been interrupted by the cheeky yboy.


    ¡°Ed, can you please be quiet for a moment? You¡¯re acting as if you¡¯re my spokesperson!¡±


    Edward chuckled and raised both his hands. ¡°Alright¡­ alright. I¡¯ll be quiet. But no promises about not speakingter.¡±


    This time, Kenziughed, then asked again, ¡°So, what¡¯s really going on with you?¡±


    Nichs sighed deeply. He was unsure where to start. The issue was soplicated, in his opinion.


    ¡°As you¡¯ve heard from Edward, some of what he said is true. Kimberly left me because of the foolish things I did to her. I used her of having a rtionship with another man. Andst night, that guy even imed to be Kimberly¡¯s fianc¨¦. That¡¯s what made me lose my temper and call Kimberly cheap.¡±


    ¡°Oh God, Nichs,¡± Kenzi said incredulously. ¡°Why have you changed so much now? Where¡¯s the wise Nichs that Alya was always proud of? I thought among the three of us, I was the worst when it came to women. Turns out there¡¯s someone even worse, and it¡¯s you, Nick.¡±


    Nichs grunted in frustration. ¡°Ken, please, take my side. Don¡¯t be like Edward, who always calls me stupid.¡±


    ¡°Alright, forget what I said earlier. Now, answer my question. Do you know the guy who imed to be Kimberly¡¯s fianc¨¦st night?¡± Kenzi asked, curious.


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°Not specifically. I¡¯ve met him and crossed paths with him a few times. I¡¯ve also seen him talking to Kimberly on several asions. I even thought about asking Hans to investigate anything rted to Kimberly.¡±


    Kenzi furrowed his brow. He looked puzzled. ¡°Hans? You want Hans to investigate Kimberly?¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve lost track, Ken. Up to this point, I don¡¯t know where Kimberly lives. I¡¯ve tried searching and gathering information from her friends and acquaintances, but the results have been futile.¡± Nichs sounded utterly desperate.


    Kenzi leaned back in his chair, adjusting his position to be more rxed. ¡°I actually wanted to tell you a long time ago. But I held back because I thought it would be better for Kimberly to tell you herself. But after hearing your story, it seems you really don¡¯t know anything.¡±


    Now it was Nichs¡¯s turn to be confused by Kenzi. What did his friend¡¯s words mean?


    ¡°Ken, please don¡¯t be like Edward. Get straight to the point, don¡¯t beat around the bush,¡± Nichs protested, his tone filled with frustration.


    Kenzi took a deep breath and then continued speaking. ¡°I¡¯ve been investigating who Kimberly is for a while now. If you want to know, Kimberly is the only granddaughter of Arthur Rayder, the owner of Rayder Corp.¡±


    Nichs stared at Kenzi in disbelief. ¡°You must be joking, Ken?¡±


    Kenzi shrugged dramatically. ¡°Believe it or not. If you want to find Kimberly, maybe she¡¯s at her real residence.¡±


    Nichs rubbed his throbbing temples. He couldn¡¯t believe how many secrets she had kept from him.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You said you loved me, Kimberly. But why did you keep so many secrets from me?¡±

 POSSIBLE

    ¡°So, how did you know that Kimberly is the granddaughter of someone named Arthur Rayder?¡± Nichs asked, curious.


    This evening, after returning from work, Nichs and Kenzi decided to stop by a coffee shop for a chat. Oh, and let¡¯s not forget Edward. As the life of the party and the ¡®hype man,¡¯ he was also present. There was no way he would miss a moment like this.


    Kenzi had her own agenda foring to Indonesia. There was an important meeting she had to attend. In fact, the day after tomorrow, once the event was over, she had to rush back to London. There was no one to fill her shoes there.


    Kenzi took a sip of her coffee, which she had been holding, and then answered, ¡°Actually, when I found out you were getting close to your secretary, I asked Hans to investigate Kimberly¡¯s background. The woman you thought was ordinary turned out to be the granddaughter of a Singaporean conglomerate. However, in recent years, after being left by his son and wife, Arthur chose to live in Indonesia and continue his business here. But due to his deteriorating health, Arthur entrusted Mario to handle all of his businesses.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± Nichs interjected, raising one hand to stop Kenzi from speaking. ¡°Who did you mention just now?¡±


    Kenzi furrowed her brow. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Yes, the name you mentioned, the person handling Rayder Corp¡¯s business now.¡±


    ¡°Mario?¡± Kenzi confirmed.


    ¡°Yes, his name sounds very familiar to me,¡± Nichs replied.


    Kenzi then took out her phone from her pocket, searched for something, and showed it to Nichs.


    ¡°This is Mario.¡±


    Nichs grabbed the phone that Kenzi handed him and carefully examined the photo on the screen. The next moment, his eyes widened.


    ¡°Oh my! This is the guy I¡¯ve crossed paths with several times. He¡¯s the one who imed to be Kimberly¡¯s fianc¨¦ the other night-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, he¡¯s also the one who attacked you,¡± Edward interjected, speaking with a deliberately mocking tone.


    Nichs took a deep breath. ¡°Yes, I know I was wrong. Anyway, I let my emotions get the best of me that night and called Kimberly a cheap woman.¡±


    Edward was taken aback. He didn¡¯t expect Mr. Arrogant up there to admit his own mistake. That was a very rare urrence.


    ¡°You¡¯re not drunk, are you?¡± Edward joked.


    Nichs looked at Edward disinterestedly. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning behind your words, Ed?¡±N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Edward chuckled. ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect you to apologize. After all, your pride has always been paramount,¡± he taunted openly.


    Nichs nced at Edward with indifference. ¡°Enough, Ed. I don¡¯t want to argue right now. I¡¯m just thinking about who this guy with Kimberly really is,¡± Nichs said, full of curiosity.


    Kenzi took over the conversation.


    ¡°Mario is the eldest son and owner of the Adiatma Group. He¡¯s been friends with Kimberly since childhood. ording to the report that Hans provided, he was supposed to be engaged to Kimberly. However, the n fell through because Kimberly refused and suddenly left home,¡± Kenzi exined at length.


    Finally, Nichs knew the identity of the person who had crossed paths with him and Kimberly several times. He also realized that the man¡¯s im to be Kimberly¡¯s fianc¨¦ wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. Knowing this, Nichs felt that his hopes of reconciling with Kimberly were dwindling.


    ¡°Ken¡­¡± Nichs, who had initially bowed his head, now raised his gaze and looked intently at Kenzi.


    ¡°Do you also know where the Rayder family lives?¡± Nichs needed to know where Kimberly lived. He was determined to meet her soon and resolve all the issues between them, apologizing for all the foolishness he had done.


    Kenzi nodded. ¡°Of course, I know where Kimberly lives. I¡¯ll send you the location. Maybe when you have a day off, you can go there directly. But¡­ there¡¯s one problem.¡±


    ¡°What other problem?¡± Nichs asked, puzzled.


    ¡°One, I¡¯m not sure if Kimberly will be willing to ept your presence in her home. Two, Arthur Rayder is known to be a very private and hard-to-approach person. Even if Kimberly forgives you and wants to be with you again, I¡¯m not sure Arthur will immediately approve. Not to mention Mario¡¯s dominant position in the Rayder family.¡±


    Nichs slumped after listening to all the possibilities Kenzi outlined for him. What he predicted might indeed happen. Especially if Mario reported to Arthur what Nichs had done to Kimberly.


    Nichs massaged his suddenly throbbing temple. His mind felt stuck. There were so many ns he had to make regarding Kimberly.


    First, I have to apologize.


    Second, I have to convince Kimberly.


    Third, I have to persuade Kimberly toe back to me.


    And finally, I have to convince Kimberly¡¯s grandfather to ept our rtionship.


    Nichs let out a frustrated sigh. His self-confidence, which he had always possessed, seemed to have disappeared. What remained now was a sense of despair.


    ¡°Ken¡­¡± Nichs mumbled again. ¡°What should I do? I feel pessimistic about facing Kimberly.¡± Nichs¡¯s face looked downcast, as if he had no chance left.


    ¡°Goodness, Nichs Alistair. You¡¯re already waving the white g before the battle even begins. Are you a man or a mouse? Why are you so spineless?¡± Edward taunted Nichs without holding back. Kenzi could onlyugh, listening to his teasing.


    Nichs grumbled. ¡°Instead of mocking me, why don¡¯t you help me think of how to meet Kimberly as soon as possible.¡±


    Edward got up from his seat. ¡°You enjoy making things difficult for yourself, Nick. Instead of worrying about all the possibilities that may not even happen, you better expedite your intention to meet Kimberly at her family¡¯s house. Dealing with any rejection cer.¡±


    After delivering his lengthy speech, Edward swaggered off, leaving Nichs and Kenzi sitting in silence, watching his antics.

 PROVE EVERYTHING YOU SAID

    Saturday morning, Nichs finally mustered the courage to go to Kimberly¡¯s actual home. Armed with the address provided by Kenzi, he drove straight to an elite and private area in the middle of Jakarta.


    After twenty minutes of driving, Nichs finally arrived at a luxurious house surrounded by many security personnel. He hesitated to get out of the car, but he quickly realized it was unnecessary. He thought, ¡°What¡¯s the point of bringing Edward if he¡¯s not reliable?¡±


    Nichs intentionally brought Edward along, for some reason, he was very sure that Edward¡¯s presence was needed this time. For example, just like now. Edward reluctantly stepped out of the car to approach the group of security personnel stationed in front of Arthur Rayder¡¯s house.


    Edward grumbled irritably. ¡°You only consider me a friend when ites to dirty work like this. What a cheek!¡± A momentter, Edward confidently got out of the car and approached the security checkpoint.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Edward greeted one of the guards standing watch at the checkpoint.


    The guard turned, scrutinizing Edward¡¯s appearance from head to toe before responding, ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    Edward nodded. ¡°Is this really Miss Kimberly¡¯s residence? I¡¯d like to meet her; we happen to be old friends,¡± Edward said, trying to maintain a calm and convincing demeanor.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Kimberly isn¡¯t at home,¡± the security guard replied with a t expression.


    ¡°Is she out? Does it usually take her a long time or just a short while when she goes out?¡±


    After uttering that sentence, Edward felt like cursing himself. As a result of the question, the security guard¡¯s face immediately turned suspicious. Edward could sense it.


    What kind of question was that, Edward?


    Why are you being as foolish as Nichs now?


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the duration. As far as I know, Miss Kimberly was picked up by Mr. Mario to go to the airport,¡± the guard answered.


    Edward raised an eyebrow. ¡°The airport? Is Kimberly leaving the city? With Mario?¡±


    The guard once again stared at Edward sharply. ¡°Who are you exactly? Why so many questions?¡±


    If only you knew that I¡¯m a descendant of the most respected Scottish nobility, perhaps you wouldn¡¯t treat me so lightly. You¡¯re looking at me as if I were a terrorist. Besides, how could anyone as handsome as me be a bad person?


    ¡°M-Me?¡± Edward stammered while pointing at himself. ¡°I¡¯m a friend of Kimberly¡¯s. We haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here,¡± Edward babbled. ¡°But sorry, let me ask again, has Kimberly been gone for long?¡±


    The guard didn¡¯t answer immediately. He continued to scrutinize Edward. However, after a while, he provided an answer.


    ¡°She left about ten minutes ago. If you don¡¯t have any other business here, it¡¯s better if you leave. Your arrival is quite suspicious.¡±


    Without being told twice, Edward bowed respectfully and quickly headed back to the car. Nichs, who had been waiting impatiently, bombarded him with questions.


    ¡°How is it? Can we go in? Is Kimberly inside?¡±


    Edward sighed.


    ¡°Step on it and head to the airport.¡±


    Nichs furrowed his brow. Clearly, he was confused. Instead of entering, why were they going to the airport?


    ¡°Why are we going to the airport?¡±


    ¡°Kimberly went to the airport with Mario,¡± Edward replied quickly.


    ¡°Where are they going?¡± Nichs asked as he drove in the direction Edward had indicated.


    ¡°They might be going swimming!¡± Edward replied offhandedly. ¡°They could be traveling out of town, out of the country, or even out of this world, for all I know. The guard didn¡¯t provide any details. So, you better hurry up and follow them before it¡¯s toote!¡± Edward seemed to be getting irritated. The longer he thought, the more convinced he became that Nichs was incapable of clear thinking. Was it just Nichs, or was it all people who acted foolish when they were heartbroken?


    Driving at an above-average speed, Nichs¡¯s car finally entered the area of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Now, they both didn¡¯t know where to look for Kimberly. Should they go to the domestic or international departure terminal, given the limited information Edward had obtained?


    ¡°Where should we look, Ed?¡± Nichs asked, puzzled.


    Edward grumbled while grumbling.


    ¡°How would I know, Nichs Alistair? You¡¯re Kimberly¡¯s lover, not me. Take a moment to think about where she might be going with Mario.¡±


    Nichs fell silent, trying to think hard from behind the wheel, guessing where Kimberly might be heading. Suddenly, he had a strong feeling that Kimberly was going abroad. Without hesitation, he directed his car toward the international departure terminal.


    ¡°Are you sure we should look here?¡± Edward asked when their car had stopped in the parking area.


    Nichs nodded confidently. ¡°For some reason, my gut feeling tells me Kimberly is going to Singapore. You heard Kenzi¡¯s story yesterday; Kimberly is originally from there, and theirpany is headquartered there. It¡¯s just a hunch.¡±


    Edward nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Smart! I thought your brain had frozen.¡± Edward joked. He found the time to mock Nichs even in such a critical situation.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s hurry and find her before it¡¯s toote,¡± Nichs urged.


    Edward and Nichs half-ran into the departure terminal. They were initially stopped by airport staff, considering them to be without any business, but Edward quickly purchased two international departure tickets through an online application to gain ess. Their efforts were not in vain; the airport staff eventually allowed them in.


    Nichs¡¯s gaze started to scan in every direction, searching every corner, entering one executive lounge after another to find Kimberly.


    I hope I¡¯m not toote.


    For some reason, my intuition tells me this is myst chance to meet her.


    While walking aimlessly, Nichs rubbed his face roughly.


    I beg you, God, show me where Kimberly is.


    Just after uttering that prayer, it seemed like Nichs¡¯s prayer had been answered by God. His eyes caught sight of the woman sitting in a lounge, sipping her drink while waiting for her flight.


    Nichs hurried over like lightning. When they were very close, he halted his steps and gazed intently at the woman sipping her drink. When she turned to look, their eyes met.


    Nichs remembered and was quite certain that Kimberly had smiled at him. But as he was about to approach, a man beside Kimberly blocked his path.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± the man, none other than Mario, asked.


    Kimberly immediately rose from her seat and quickly pulled Mario¡¯s body aside.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make a scene here. Let me talk to him for thest time.¡±


    Mario nodded and then looked sharply at Nichs. ¡°Just ten minutes, no more!¡±


    Kimberly then pulled Nichs to sit in an empty lounge chair.


    ¡°What do you want to talk about? Hurry up; I don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    Nichs took a deep breath.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± were the first words that came out of Nichs¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already forgiven you,¡± Kimberly replied tly, her facial expression difficult to read.


    Nichs grasped both of Kimberly¡¯s wrists and squeezed them gently.


    ¡°I beg you,e back. I apologize for all my actions that may have hurt your feelings. I¡¯m truly sorry, Kimmy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already said I¡¯ve forgiven you,¡± Kimberly repeated.


    ¡°In that case, let¡¯s go home. Don¡¯t leave me again, Kimberly.¡±


    Right after that, Kimberly immediately pulled her hands away. She shook her head repeatedly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t be with you anymore, Nick. You really don¡¯t love me.¡±


    ¡°I love you, Kimberly, I love you so much,¡± Nichs interjected quickly.


    Kimberly shook her head again.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t love me. If you did, why did you spy on me when I leftst time? Didn¡¯t you have the slightest trust in me?¡±


    Nichs sighed in frustration.


    ¡°Once again, I apologize. I never meant not to trust you. It was all my foolishness. Pleasee back. How else can I convince you to return to me?¡±


    During their conversation, Mario called out to Kimberly from a distance, signaling that their flight was about to depart.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t go back to you, Nick. Nothing can convince me to return to you. I did love you very much before, but you wasted my love. You were too preupied and immersed in the pain from your past,¡± Kimberly stated firmly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Kimmy¡­¡± Nichs seemed to run out of words to respond or refute.


    ¡°You¡¯re too trapped in your past, Nick. You¡¯re haunted by past heartaches to the point where you can¡¯t fully trust me. How can I live with a man who¡¯s been suspicious of me his whole life? Instead of begging me toe back, you¡¯d better mend your heart,¡± Kimberly then got up from her seat, ready to follow Mario, who had already headed towards the ne.


    ¡°I have to leave now. We may never meet again. I hope that after I¡¯m gone, your life will be much better.¡±


    Kimberly then walked away, leaving Nichs still sitting there in silence.


    ¡°Kimberly¡­¡± Nichs suddenly called out, causing her to turn back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll prove everything I said to you.¡±


    Kimberly just smiled and continued walking, paying no attention to the distraught Nichs behind her.

 CRITICAL

    Nichs sat in Kimberly¡¯s room in his apartment, lost in thought. Since the woman had left, Nichs had often spent his time here, reminiscing while looking at photos of her. It wasn¡¯t umon for him to fall asleep here. Even after holding back for so long, today, Nichs couldn¡¯t hold back his tears any longer.


    Tears had fallen many times, wetting his cheeks. In reality, the pain he felt now was sharper than when he had found out ire had cheated on him.


    Nichs remembered the first time he had asked Kimberly to be his fake girlfriend. He recalled how stubborn she had been initially, but without any clear reason, she had suddenly agreed.


    Nichs had initially thought of Kimberly as an annoying woman. He had even openly stated that she wasn¡¯t his type. But as time went on, he couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly when, Nichs felt that Kimberly¡¯s presence brought a unique color to his life.


    Living next door to Kimberly didn¡¯t immediately make him dere his love. How foolish he had been; he knew Kimberly had feelings for him, so why did he still doubt her sincerity?


    Now, look at him. He had to bear the consequences of his actions. So, how could he convince Kimberly toe back to him? Was there any assurance that she wouldn¡¯t be taken by Mario?


    Two days after hisst meeting with Kimberly at the airport, on Edward¡¯s advice, he had finally hired a detective to find out about Kimberly. Where she had gone, her intentions, where she lived, and even other important information. He had resolved in his heart to win Kimberly¡¯s heart back.


    ¡°I miss you, Kimberly. I miss you so much,¡± Nichs said to himself repeatedly.


    Whatever it takes, I will do it to get you back.


    Anything.


    I will do everything for you.


    After reciting these words in his heart, Nichs¡¯s apartment buzzer rang. A bit reluctantly, he got up and dragged his feet to open the door. He already knew who hade to his apartment this time.


    ¡°Why did it take so long? I was about to break down your apartment door,¡±ined Edward, who else could it be? He didn¡¯t even wait to be invited in; he just walked right in and settled himself on the sofa.


    Nichs sighed deeply. He actually didn¡¯t want to deal with Edward. But considering that Edward had been helping himtely, whether he liked it or not, he had to be courteous from now on.


    ¡°Have you had dinner?¡± Edward asked.


    Nichs shook his head slowly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have an appetite, Ed. Besides, what brings you here? Do you have some work-rted matters to discuss with me?¡± Edward, in turn, shook his head.


    ¡°Does there have to be a work-rted reason for me to visit your apartment?¡± asked Edward.


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Nichs replied quickly.


    ¡°Then what?¡± Edward inquired. ¡°If you want to know why I came, I¡¯m just worried about your well-being.¡±


    Hearing that, Nichs, who had previously worn a sad expression, suddenly chuckled, leaving Edward puzzled. He raised an eyebrow in curiosity.


    ¡°Why are youughing? Is there something funny?¡± Edward sneered.


    Nichs shed a smile now.


    ¡°I just find it amusing. You¡¯re acting like my lover.¡±


    Edward scoffed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, I¡¯m your best friend, not Kenzi. Look at who cares about your well-being now, other than me.¡±


    Nichs nodded slowly.


    ¡°Okay. This time, I admit what you¡¯re saying. You are dependable. Even though sometimes your words make me sick.¡±


    Of course, Nichs felt annoyed. Although Edward often spoke nonsense, almost one hundred percent of what he said about him was always true. Nichs sometimes wondered what had happened to him.


    ¡°Are you still thinking about Kimberly?¡± Edward suddenly asked.


    Nichs took a deep breath.


    ¡°How can I not think about her? I¡¯m confused about what else I can do to make Kimberly forgive me ande back to me.¡± Nichs¡¯s expression turned mncholic again.


    Edward sighed heavily and pondered for a moment, wondering why his friend was always so inept and unlucky in matters of love. Was he cursed to never be happy? Who knows? Only God can answer that.


    ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you just follow her? Chase after Kimberly wherever she goes,¡± Edward suggested.


    Nichs shook his head weakly.


    ¡°Follow her where? I don¡¯t even know where Kimberly is right now. We both know their ne departed for Singapore yesterday. But the question is whether that was their final destination or just ayover. The detective I hired hasn¡¯t found Kimberly¡¯s exact location yet.¡± Nichs sounded almost hopeless.


    Not wanting to see his friend sink further into sadness, Edward got up from his seat and immediately pulled Nichs¡¯s arm towards the apartment¡¯s exit.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Nichs asked, confused.


    ¡°Just put your sadness aside. We¡¯re going to have dinner at the restaurant on the ground floor,¡± Edward ordered. He continued to drag Nichs out of the apartment.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, Ed,¡± Nichs protested, but Edward didn¡¯t respond at all. He kept on insisting.


    ¡°You have to eat to stay strong through your tough life, Nick. There¡¯s no room for refusal this time.¡±


    Finally, Nichs resigned himself to follow wherever Edward was taking him.


    ¡ª


    Mario never once diverted his gaze and attention from Kimberly. She was currently undergoing observation and a final examination before entering the operating room.


    Today marked exactly two days since they had arrived in Singapore. Mario had intentionally chosen Mount Elizabeth Hospital as the ce for Kimberly to undergo ovarian cancer surgery.


    Kimberly appeared remarkably calm, and it was Mario who was overwhelmed with worry. All sorts of negative thoughts crossed his mind. He feared the surgery might fail.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this operation will be sessful,¡± Kimberly tried to reassure Mario. She knew he was anxious.


    After checking her blood pressure, the nurses gave Mario some time to speak with Kimberly before she was transferred to the operating room.


    Mario held Kimberly¡¯s wrist tightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I¡¯m the one feeling nervous now. But I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll recover, Kimmy.¡±


    Kimberly nodded.


    ¡°I have to recover. There are still many tasks I need toplete. And you must remember your promise to teach me how to manage thepany.¡±


    Mario tightened his grip on her hand. ¡°After all this is over and you¡¯ve fully recovered, I promise I¡¯ll do whatever you ask,¡± Mario said sincerely.


    During their conversation, a nurse came back and asked for permission to take Kimberly to the operating room.


    ¡°You¡¯ll definitely recover. I¡¯ll be waiting for you out here. Don¡¯t give up, Kimmy, fight in there for Opa. Remember, no matter what happens to you in the future, I will always be by your side.¡±


    Kimberly smiled with emotion. From the beginning until now, it had always been Mario who stood by her. He never left her. Kimberly felt indebted to him.


    ¡°I will definitelye back. I will also recover for the sake of both of you.¡±


    Afterward, Kimberly¡¯s body was promptly lifted and taken to the operating room. Mario followed and chose to wait outside.


    While he continued to wait for Kimberly, Mario¡¯s concentration was diverted when Arthur suddenly appeared at the hospital. He had followed them there without prior notice.


    Mario got up immediately and approached Arthur. Shortly afterward, he guided the middle-aged man to sit in one of the avable waiting chairs. Mario was well aware that Arthur hadn¡¯t fully recovered his health. That¡¯s why he had to make sure Arthur didn¡¯t overexert himself while being outside.


    ¡°How is Kimberly? Has she been in surgery for a long time?¡± Arthur asked with deep concern. Honestly, he was very afraid that something dangerous might happen to his granddaughter. No, he didn¡¯t want to lose his only descendant and the sole heir to the Rayder family.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Mario tried to maintain a calm demeanor, although he was equally anxious now.


    ¡°It¡¯s been around an hour or so. The doctor informed me that the surgery will take three to five hours toplete,¡± Mario exined at length.


    Arthur took a slow breath. He smiled as he saw how faithfully Mario was waiting by his granddaughter¡¯s side. His decision to match Kimberly with him hadn¡¯t been wrong. Besides being responsible, Mario could protect and care for Kimberly in the future.


    ¡°Day by day, Opa bes more impatient to marry you and Kimberly,¡± Arthur suddenly said, causing Mario to turn towards him.


    ¡°Let Kimberly choose her partner herself. I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll run away again if you keep insisting she marries me,¡± Mario wisely remarked. The reason he gave was indeed true. He didn¡¯t want her to run away again as she had done in the past.


    Arthur smiled.


    ¡°Kimberly won¡¯t run away. This time, she won¡¯t refuse Opa¡¯s request either,¡± Arthur confidently stated. For him, what he hadmanded would easilye to pass.


    Mario returned Arthur¡¯s smile.


    ¡°I won¡¯t oppose what Opamands. If, in the end, we must marry, I will do it.¡±


    Arthur and Mario talked for quite some time, and before they knew it, three hours had passed. What made them anxious, however, was that not a single medical staff member hade out of Kimberly¡¯s operating room. Was something happening to her inside?


    Anxiously, Mario and Arthur continued to wait until not long after, the doctor they had been waiting for finally emerged. Both of them immediately got up and approached the doctor.


    ¡°How was the surgery, doctor?¡± Mario asked anxiously.


    ¡°On a positive note, Miss Kimberly¡¯s surgery was sessful. However, we had to remove one of her ovaries to ensure that no cancerous tissue remained. After this, Miss Kimberly will have to undergo chemotherapy to ensureplete healing. Now, the bad news¡­¡± The doctor paused for a moment as if deliberately hanging her sentence.


    ¡°What¡¯s the bad news, doctor?¡± Mario looked the most curious. He was afraid something dangerous had happened to Kimberly.


    ¡°Because one of Miss Kimberly¡¯s ovaries had to be removed, the process of conceiving in the future won¡¯t be optimal. This may make it slightly difficult for her to have children. However, the possibility is still there, but it¡¯s very slim.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Mario could only heave a deep sigh. This had been Kimberly¡¯s fear all along. She was afraid she wouldn¡¯t be able to give children to her future husband. This was also the reason Kimberly had decided to leave Nichs.


    As Mario got lost in his thoughts, a nurse was seen running from inside the room, calling for the doctor who was outside. Still panting, the nurse spoke.


    ¡°Doctor, the patient¡¯s condition is critical.¡±

 HAPPY

    ¡°How¡¯s it going, Nick? Any news about Kimberly?¡± Edward asked as he and Nichs sat in a restaurant this afternoon. After a meeting with one of their clients outside the office, they decided to grab lunch together first.


    Nichs, who had just finished ordering his food, leaned back against the chair. He took a deep breath and then shook his head slightly as a response to Edward¡¯s question.


    ¡°I¡¯m having trouble locating Kimberly. I don¡¯t know if she went to a hard-to-reach ce on her own or if Mario has tightened security,¡± Nichs replied. His frustration was evident from his facial expression.


    ¡°You know, Ed, I¡¯ve never been this hopeless. I feel like I just want to die,¡± Nichs said, taking a quick sip of the coffee in front of him.


    ¡°Oh,e on, you idiot!¡± Edward eximed in frustration. ¡°If you die, who¡¯s going to fight for Kimberly? Your ghost in hell, is that it?¡± Edward grumbled. ¡°Are you willing to just let the woman you love marry someone else? Is that what you want?¡± Edward fired off a barrage of questions while Nichs chose to remain silent, staring nkly out the window.


    Edward folded his arms in front of his chest, pondering what else he could do to help his friend. Nichs had been in a rough spot a few years ago, and Edward knew how deep his pain and disappointment had been. But seeing Nichs so lost and desperate, Edward admitted that this was the first time he¡¯d seen him like this.


    Edward tried to understand. There must be so much on Nichs¡¯s mind. Fortunately, during the earlier client meeting, he had managed to stay focused and prevent any unwanted incidents.


    He also realized that Nichs had been so foolish to doubt a woman as good as Kimberly. Despite warning his friend repeatedly to take care of her feelings, Nichs had still failed. After knowing each other for so long and living next door, why had it taken Nichs until thest moment to realize just how much he loved Kimberly?


    Edward sighed softly, trying toprehend Nichs¡¯s current chaotic state.


    ¡°It seems like you really need to ask Hans for help,¡± Edward suggested.


    Nichs shifted his gaze toward Edward.


    ¡°I¡¯ll consider itter. You heard it yourself yesterday, Hans is currently assisting Kiano in London. Hopefully, after this, the detective I hired will bring us some good news.¡±Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope so,¡± Edward replied briefly.


    Afterward, the two of them chose to finish their lunch in silence.


    After lunch, Nichs decided to head back to his apartment. His mind felt extremely chaotic, and he needed some time to rest. Thinking about Kimberly was taking a toll on him.


    Driving at a leisurely pace, Nichs finally arrived and entered his apartment unit. However, as soon as he stepped in, he was suddenly ambushed by several burly men. He couldn¡¯t fathom how they had managed to enter so freely.


    ¡°Who are you guys?¡± Nichs eximed. His hands were tightly restrained by the burly men.


    Initially, Nichs had tried to resist with all his might, but because of the numerical disadvantage, he eventually chose to surrender andply with whatever the men ordered him to do.


    ***


    This morning, Mario and Arthur¡¯s entire focus was on Kimberly. After her condition was reported as critical, the medical team promptly examined and treated her. ording to the information, Kimberly¡¯s blood pressure and heart rate had momentarily weakened. Fortunately, after medical intervention, Kimberly¡¯s condition began to stabilize. The attending doctor had even left the operating room.


    ¡°How¡¯s Kimberly doing, doctor?¡± Arthur asked anxiously.


    The doctor first removed the mask covering his face. ¡°Miss Kimberly¡¯s condition is now stable. Her blood pressure and heart rate have returned to normal,¡± the doctor exined.


    ¡°Thank goodness¡­¡± Arthur and Mario breathed sighs of relief simultaneously.


    ¡°But¡­¡± the doctor continued.


    ¡°But what, doctor?¡± Now it was Mario¡¯s turn to inquire.


    ¡°Miss Kimberly kept mentioning the name ¡®Nichs¡¯ repeatedly before falling unconscious again. Is he a family member or a close friend?¡± The doctor furrowed his brow.


    Arthur¡¯s forehead creased in thought. ¡°Nichs? Who¡¯s Nichs?¡± he asked Mario.


    Mario sighed softly. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Opater.¡±


    ¡°So, what should we do, doctor?¡± Mario asked the doctor.


    ¡°My suggestion is that you try to bring the person she mentioned, Nichs, here. Who knows, his presence might aid in Kimberly¡¯s recovery process.¡±


    Mario nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Very well, doctor. Thank you for the information.¡±


    After the doctor left, Arthur returned to the waiting room. His gaze towards Mario indicated that he was waiting for an exnation of some sort. Understanding this, Mario took a seat right beside the elderly man.


    ¡°This is Nichs, to be precise, Nichs Alistair,¡± Mario handed over his phone, intending to show a photo to Arthur. He had intentionally kept a photo of the man since learning that Kimberly lived at Nichs¡¯s house.


    Arthur took Mario¡¯s phone and examined the disyed photo.


    ¡°Who is he exactly?¡± Arthur asked. His curiosity was immense now.


    ¡°ording to an informant I assigned some time ago, Nichs is the son of Robert Alistair, a British conglomerate. He currently holds the position of CEO at Alpha Beta, recing Kenzi Maximilian, who is overseeing their subsidiary in London.¡±


    Arthur nodded, then asked again, ¡°So, what¡¯s the connection between Nichs and Kimberly?¡± he inquired, confused.


    Mario sighed briefly before answering, ¡°Kimberly is Nichs¡¯s personal secretary. Not only that, but they recently had a very serious rtionship. They even got engaged in London,¡± Mario exined in detail.


    Arthur was taken aback. He turned to look at Mario¡¯s face. He never expected his granddaughter to be engaged to someone he didn¡¯t know at all. In his eyes, in this world, only Mario was worthy of apanying Kimberly. Only he truly understood and could protect Kimberly from all kinds of dangers.


    ¡°What about Kimberly, then?¡± Arthur asked, growing more curious.


    ¡°Kimberly seems to love him, Opa. But they recently had a falling out. It made Kimberly sad, and she decided she didn¡¯t want to see him anymore. In short, Nichs hurt Kimberly quite deeply.¡±


    Arthur growled in frustration. He didn¡¯t want to see his beloved granddaughter being yed with by someone, anyone.


    ¡°So, in your opinion, do we need to call that stubborn brat here?¡± Arthur asked. It seemed like he needed Mario¡¯s advice.


    Mario thought for a moment, weighing all the possibilities that might arise if he ordered Nichs toe to Singapore.


    Do I need to bring him?


    But Kimberly had said she didn¡¯t want to see Nichs again.


    ¡°Mario, what do you think?¡± Arthur asked again. They needed to make a decision quickly for Kimberly¡¯s sake.


    This time, Mario took a deep breath.


    ¡°Let me handle everything. Opa, just sit here and pray for Kimberly¡¯s speedy recovery.¡±

 GO AWAY

    Arthur sat on a sofa in one corner of the VIP room at the hospital. He continued to wait patiently for Kimberly, who had yet to regain consciousness after her surgery. While waiting, he noticed a man walking slowly but confidently toward him from a distance. In a short while, the man sat right next to Arthur, looking somewhat perplexed.


    Arthur gave the man a cold smile.


    ¡°Are you Nichs Alistair?¡± Arthur scanned Nichs¡¯s appearance from head to toe, trying to assess his character.


    Nichs nodded nervously. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Nichs Alistair. Who are you, and what¡¯s the reason for bringing me here?¡±


    Nichs was naturally bewildered. He had just returned home and was suddenly ambushed by unknown individuals. They forced him onto a private jet and flew to an unfamiliar location. Only after disembarking from the ne did he realize he was in Singapore.


    But what puzzled him even more was why he had been brought to a hospital and was now meeting an elderly man he had never seen before.


    This time, Arthur didn¡¯t smile. His expression remained stern.


    ¡°I¡¯m Arthur Rayder, Kimberly Rayder¡¯s grandfather.¡±


    Nichs was startled. He had often heard that name. But meeting, let alone face-to-face, was a first for him. Nichs¡¯s heart raced instantly. He never expected to meet Kimberly¡¯s grandfather in this situation. That meant Arthur had ordered severalrge men to pick up Nichs. But for what?


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, sir Arthur? Do you want to meet me?¡± Nichs asked, feeling extremely nervous.


    Arthur Rayder snorted.


    ¡°Sir? Since when did I marry your grandmother? Just because my granddaughter likes you doesn¡¯t give you the right to call me ¡®sir¡¯,¡± Arthur replied sharply. He had truly caught Nichs off guard.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Arthur. I didn¡¯t mean to offend you,¡± Nichs stammered. He was genuinely embarrassed by the old man¡¯s rebuke.


    Arthur Rayder pped Nichs¡¯s shoulder hard, causing him to cough in pain. He then chuckled softly before speaking.


    ¡°No need to worry. I¡¯m quite generous. Although, I must admit I¡¯m very angry that you had the audacity to hurt my granddaughter.¡±


    Nichs felt even more ufortable. It was clear that he was in the wrong here. It was entirely justified for the old man to scold him.


    ¡°I apologize. I never meant to hurt, let alone make Kimberly upset,¡± Nichs pleaded sincerely.


    ¡°Do you know that I have already arranged a marriage for Kimberly with my chosen man?¡±


    Nichs simply shook his head weakly. He really didn¡¯t know anything about Kimberly. She had so many secrets, including the illness she had. Foolishly, Nichs had even acted harshly, leading Kimberly to decide to leave him.


    ¡°Do you also know that Kimberly just underwent surgery, and her condition was critical a few hours ago?¡±


    Once again, Nichs was taken aback. Finally, he understood why he had been brought to the hospital suddenly.


    ¡°So, how is Kimberly now? Did the surgery go well? Is she awake now?¡± Nichs asked, genuinely concerned.


    ¡°Why should you care about Kimberly¡¯s condition? If I weren¡¯t pushed, I wouldn¡¯t even bother to introduce you to my granddaughter,¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes gleamed with anger. Clearly, he was still upset that Kimberly had been hurt by the man sitting next to him.


    Nichs stood up from his seat, and unexpectedly, he knelt right in front of Arthur.


    ¡°I beg you, please forgive me. Allow me to meet Kimberly, just once,¡± Nichs pleaded earnestly.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Arthur sighed in frustration. On one hand, he was still annoyed, but on the other, he knew he had to reunite Kimberly with the man before him. Reluctantly, he epted Nichs¡¯s apology.


    ¡°Get up!¡± Arthurmanded. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll allow you to meet Kimberly. Once my granddaughter is awake, you must promise not to see her again.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°No ¡®buts¡¯!¡± Arthur quickly interrupted. ¡°Your choice is a simple ¡®yes¡¯ or ¡®no¡¯.¡±


    Initially, Nichs wanted to protest, but after reconsidering, he couldn¡¯t refuse Arthur¡¯s order. He was nobody here, so he chose to agree with what the old man instructed.


    ¡°Fine, I agree. Now, please allow me to see Kimberly.¡±


    After that request was spoken, a nurse approached Nichs and guided him into the room where Kimberlyy.


    Entering the room, Nichs¡¯s brown eyes immediately fell on Kimberly, whoy weakly on the bed. Without hesitation, he hurried over.


    Nichs reached for Kimberly¡¯s wrist, holding it tightly and asionally kissing the back of her hand. He hoped that through his touch, she would feel it and wake up from her temporary slumber.


    ¡°Kimberly¡­¡± Nichs whispered gently and lovingly. ¡°Wake up, my love. I¡¯m here.¡± Afterward, Nichs tenderly kissed Kimberly¡¯s right and left cheeks. However, it seemed that she remained motionless, showing no signs of change.


    Nichs let out a long sigh. He almost felt hopeless as he tried to wake Kimberly, but she showed no response.


    Two tears rolled down Nichs¡¯s cheeks, wetting them. Seeing Kimberly¡¯s current condition was painful for him. There were so many things Kimberly had hidden from him, including her illness. Foolishly, Nichs had even acted rudely, causing Kimberly to choose to leave him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kimberly. Forgive me,¡± Nichs kept repeating those words while kissing the back of Kimberly¡¯s hand. Desperate, he then moved closer to her, gently kissing her forehead and lips. He continued to do so for a while, and after some time, he believed he saw Kimberly¡¯s eyshes flutter, indicating that she was starting to regain consciousness.


    Quickly, Nichs ran to find a nurse to check on Kimberly. While he waited, Arthur, who had previously sat calmly, approached him and spoke.


    ¡°Your time is up; you can leave now.¡±


    ¡°But Kimberly just-¡±


    ¡°Take this man away!¡± Arthur ordered the guards who had previously brought Nichs to the hospital.


    ¡°Give me just a little more time; I want to see Kimberly wake up,¡± Nichs pleaded.


    Arthur didn¡¯t care. He waved his right hand, signaling the guards to quickly remove Nichs from his presence.

 LONG TIME NO SEE

    Kimberly blinked her eyes slowly. When they opened fully, the first thing she saw was Mario. With a worried expression, he immediately rushed into a hug. He held her tightly, and even crystal-clear tears flowed from his eyes andnded on Kimberly¡¯s smooth cheek.


    ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Kimberly asked in a hoarse, almost whispering voice.


    Mario released his embrace, wiped the tears from his cheeks, and smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I was just touched that you finally woke up. You know, both Opa and I were worried because your condition was critical earlier.¡±


    Kimberly tried to return the smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine now. See, I can open my eyes. By the way, where¡¯s Opa?¡± Kimberly didn¡¯t see the old man in the room.


    ¡°Opa is talking to the doctor who was taking care of you outside. He mighte in soon.¡±


    Seeing Mario sitting beside her, Kimberly bombarded him with questions. There was something bothering her since earlier.


    ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Kimberly whispered.


    Mario shifted his gaze and looked deeply into her brown eyes.


    ¡°What do you want to ask? If I know the answer, I¡¯ll definitely tell you.¡±


    Kimberly sighed softly.


    ¡°When I was unconscious, for some reason, I felt like there was someone whispering in my ear. And I felt like it was Nichs¡¯s voice. It seems that the effect of the anesthesia they injected into me was so strong that I hallucinated.¡± Kimberlyughed bitterly. Why did she miss Nichs so much at a time like this? Perhaps that¡¯s why she started hallucinating.


    But Mario remained silent, not immediately responding to Kimberly¡¯s words. Instead, he reached for Kimberly¡¯s wrist and gently squeezed it.


    ¡°You¡¯re not hallucinating, Kimmy.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kimberly asked, confused.


    ¡°When you were in critical condition, Nichs was actually here,¡± Mario said with an expression that was hard to interpret.


    Hearing Mario¡¯s words, Kimberly shook her head in disbelief. ¡°It can¡¯t be. You must be lying. Besides, how did he even know I was here?¡±


    Once again, Mario remained silent. He seemed to be thinking carefully before answering all of Kimberly¡¯s questions. And what he did now was to take several deep breaths.


    ¡°Mario! Can you hear my questions?¡± Kimberly urged. She seemed impatient to wait for answers from the man beside her.


    Mario exhaled deeply and finally replied, ¡°When you were critical, the doctor mentioned that you had been calling Nichs¡¯s name several times. The doctor also suggested that the person you kept mentioning should be called to see you. Of course, Opa was confused, so he asked me who Nichs was. Reluctantly, I had to tell him everything, without leaving out any details. You can imagine how he reacted afterward.¡±


    Kimberly closed her eyes. She knew how her grandpa was. He was very stern and extremely protective of his family. She could guess what happened next after hearing Mario¡¯s story.


    ¡°So, Nichs really is here?¡± Kimberly tried to confirm again.


    Mario nodded. ¡°Opa asked me to bring Nichs to this hospital to see you. When you started regaining consciousness, Opa hurriedly brought Nichs back to Indonesia. He didn¡¯t even get to see you open your eyes.¡±


    Kimberly sighed weakly.


    That means Nichs was calling my name when I was unconscious.


    Kimberly then brought her index finger to gently touch her lips.


    ¡°Did Nichs also kiss my lips?¡±


    ¡®I felt it. I¡¯m sure I wasn¡¯t hallucinating.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, it couldn¡¯t have been Mario.¡±


    Kimberly took a deep breath this time. She acted as if the oxygen supply in her chest was running low.


    ¡°But it¡¯s better if I don¡¯t meet him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid my decision will waver,¡± Kimberly thought.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Mario asked to make sure when Kimberly remained silent.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. No need to worry,¡± she replied.


    Not long after, Arthur entered the room, apanied by the doctor who had been treating Kimberly. After exining the results of the surgery, Mario chose to escort the doctor out, leaving Kimberly and Arthur alone in the room.


    ¡°How are you feeling, Kimmy?¡± Arthur, now sitting in the chair previously upied by Mario, asked.


    Kimberly turned to face Arthur.


    ¡°I¡¯m quite well. Grandpa heard for himself that my surgery went smoothly. I can¡¯t wait to go home-¡±


    ¡°And meet your disrespectful boyfriend, right?¡± Arthur interrupted.


    ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Kimberly sighed.


    ¡°Grandpa spoke the truth, didn¡¯t he? How could you have a rtionship, even an engagement, with some random guy without Grandpa¡¯s knowledge?¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes sparkled sharply as he tried to control his emotions.


    Kimberly sighed softly.


    ¡°Forgive me, Grandpa. But Nichs isn¡¯t the man you think he is. He¡¯s a good man, and-¡±


    ¡°Even because he¡¯s so good, he hurt you? Called you a cheap woman? Dared to call a Rayder descendant a cheap woman!¡± This time, Arthur¡¯s emotions couldn¡¯t be restrained any longer. He absolutely refused to let his beloved granddaughter be hurt by anyone.


    ¡°You should remember, Kimberly Rayder, I will not allow you to have any further contact with that man. Never! You must also realize that in this world, it¡¯s only Mario who is suitable to be your partner.¡±


    Right after saying that, Mario reentered Kimberly¡¯s room. Hearing Arthur speak with such emotion, he quickly approached and tried to calm things down.


    ¡°Grandpa, you should rest. Remember, your heart condition isn¡¯tpletely stable. Kimberly is the same; she needs to rest a lot. It¡¯s better if we discuss matters like this another time.¡±


    Kimberly felt relieved by Mario¡¯s presence. Arthurplied and chose to follow Mario out of the hospital room. An unpleasant feeling lingered in Kimberly¡¯s heart. She felt indebted to the man she had despised not too long ago. After all, Mario had also reluctantly epted the engagement proposal from Arthur.


    *****


    Edward had lost count of how many times he heard Nichs muttering from his seat. It wasn¡¯t without reason; they had been waiting for nearly two hours, and Nichs was nowhere to be seen. Where was he? In all their years of working together, this was the first time Nichs waste to work.


    While waiting in boredom, not long after, the door to Nichs¡¯s office opened. The person they had been waiting for had finally arrived and seated himself at his desk.


    ¡°Where were you, and why did your face only show up now? Do you know I¡¯ve been waiting for you to death?¡± Edward grumbled. He was genuinely annoyed now.


    ¡°I was even nning not toe to work today,¡± Nichs replied casually. He chose to open the documents on his desk one by one.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Nick!¡± Edward eximed. ¡°You didn¡¯t show up for work yesterday. You didn¡¯t even give any notice. Don¡¯t let it happen again today. You know we have an important meeting this afternoon.¡±


    Nichs nodded casually. He continued to read the documents in his hand.


    ¡°I remember, that¡¯s why I came to work today.¡±N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°By the way¡­¡± Edward leaned forward in his seat. ¡°What¡¯s your excuse for not being reachable for two days? I even thought you were silentlymitting suicide in your apartment,¡± Edward joked, making Nichs re at him.


    ¡°Do you really think I would go that far?¡± Nichs squinted one eye.


    Edward nodded confidently. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s possible. Seeing your behavior in the past few days, you¡¯ve been like a person who is reluctant to live, scared of death.¡±


    ¡°Oh my god, what other terms are you going to use, Ed? Besides, even though I¡¯m desperate, I would nevermit suicide. I¡¯m still sane enough for that kind of craziness.¡±


    ¡°Who says?¡± Edward doubted. ¡°If you¡¯ve forgotten, not too long ago, you mentioned wanting to die if you couldn¡¯t see Kimberly. Weak man!¡±


    Nichs sighed in frustration, once again irritated by Edward¡¯s teasing. ¡°Can¡¯t you go one day without making fun of me?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, Nick, I can¡¯t. You deserve to be ridiculed after what you¡¯ve done in recent days.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Nichs repliedzily.


    Edward chuckled as he saw Nichs running out of words. Shortly after, he leaned back in his chair, sping his hands in front of his chest.


    ¡°So, what about Kimberly? Have you gotten any information about her?¡±


    Nichs lifted his gaze, putting down the pen he had been holding, and began to speak.


    ¡°Do you know, a few days ago, after we had lunch together, as I entered my apartment, several big guys ambushed me inside. They threatened me and told me to follow them. At first, I didn¡¯t know where they were taking me, but I remember them injecting something into me when I got into a car, and shortly after, I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was already in one of the hospitals in Singapore. Do you want to know who I met there?¡±


    Edward was taken aback by what Nichs was telling him.


    ¡°What did that man do to you next?¡±


    Nichs let out a short sigh.


    ¡°He talked about how I hurt Kimberly¡¯s feelings. He also gave reasons why he had to bring me to Singapore. Kimberly was in surgery, and when she was critical, she called my name several times. That¡¯s why Arthur had no choice but to order his men to fetch me.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean you met Kimberly?¡± Edward asked.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I did meet her, even hugged and kissed her.¡±


    Edward shook his head in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re crazy! Does that mean Kimberly forgave you? Have you reconciled?¡±


    This time, Nichs shook his head. ¡°Unfortunately, no. Kimberly was unconscious when I came and hugged her. At first, I was quite desperate. Then it urred to me to kiss her. Right after that, whether it was a miracle or something else, I was sure Kimberly woke up. But before I could make sure she opened her eyes, Arthur ordered his men to take me back to Indonesia.¡±


    Edward was even more surprised. What Nichs was telling him left him shaking his head in disbelief.


    ¡°Is Arthur Rayder some Italian conglomerate or mafia boss? Why is he so cruel, picking you up and then returning you to Indonesia like trash? Well, even though you kind of deserve that treatment,¡± Edward added with augh.


    Nichs shrugged. ¡°Who knows? Maybe he was just too angry with me, to the point of not allowing Kimberly to see me even for a moment. But it doesn¡¯t matter; at least I know how she¡¯s doing over there.¡±


    As they were engrossed in their conversation, suddenly there was a knock on Nichs¡¯s office door from the outside. When it opened, Nichs saw his secretary enter. But what surprised him was the woman standing behind the secretary.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since we met, honey.¡±


    Nichs and Edward both stood up upon hearing that sentence.

 IN TROUBLE

    ¡°A woman in a ck zer suit gracefully walks along the corridor of the Alpha Beta Corporation building. Everyone even bows in respect as they identally cross paths with her.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    She glides freely towards a room located on the 15th floor. Upon arrival, a secretary waiting outside politely guides her to enter the CEO¡¯s office.


    Inside, two men are deeply engrossed in a serious discussion. They initially don¡¯t even notice the arrival of another figure in the room until the woman speaks up.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since we met, honey,¡± she greets the men with a smile.


    Nichs and Edward, who were engrossed in their conversation, suddenly turn and disy equally surprised expressions. Momentster, they both stand up to greet her.


    ¡°Mama¡­¡± Nichs addresses the woman, who turns out to be Cassandra, his own mother.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, Mama. Why are you always surprised when Mama visits?¡± Cassandra chuckles and takes a step to sit on the guest sofa on the left side of the room. Nichs and Edward follow suit and take their seats.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m surprised, Mama alwayses without prior notice,¡± Nichs replies. ¡°Besides, why are you in Indonesia?¡± he continues.


    Cassandra looks at Nichs.


    ¡°Your father is on a business trip to Thand for a few days. That¡¯s why Mama thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt toe and see you for a while. Especially since Kenzie informed me that there¡¯s a problem. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t provide clear details about the issue you¡¯re facing now.¡±


    Nichs takes a deep breath. He¡¯s unsure how to exin the current situation. It¡¯s predictable that Cassandra would be angry if she found out he and Kimberly were no longer together.


    ¡°Nick, why are you silent?¡± Cassandra asks. ¡°Oh, by the way, where¡¯s Kimberly? I haven¡¯t seen her at all. Even the secretary outside your office seems to be new.¡±


    Oh my.


    What should I say to Mama this time?


    I¡¯m sure there will be World War III if Mama finds out Kimberly and I have broken up.


    Nichs takes a deep breath. He prepares himself for whatever maye. Sooner orter, he¡¯ll have to tell Cassandra everything.


    ¡°Kimberly and I are over, Aunt. She left a few weeks ago. That fool caused so much trouble that Kimberly couldn¡¯t take it anymore,¡± Edward, who had been silent until now, suddenly responds casually and seemingly without guilt. Meanwhile, Nichs gives him a sharp look. You¡¯re in trouble now, Nick.


    Cassandra res angrily at Nichs. She¡¯s ready to ask her son a barrage of questions but refrains, as Nichs speaks up first to exin.


    ¡°I can exin everything, Ma.¡± Nichs exhales slowly and tries to calm Cassandra to prevent her from getting too emotional.


    ¡°As you heard from Edward, Kimberly has indeed left me. She even returned her engagement ring. It¡¯s all my fault. If only I hadn¡¯t used her of things, maybe she wouldn¡¯t have left,¡± Nichs then exins the chronology of him sending someone to follow Kimberly, her illness, and the Arthur Rayder issue.


    Cassandra massages her throbbing temples after hearing her son¡¯s exnation. She tries to contain her emotions by taking several deep breaths. She continues to strive to remain asposed as possible, even though she could have easily scolded Nichs to vent her frustration.


    ¡°Does this mean your engagement has failed again?¡± Cassandra narrows her eyes.


    Nichs nods resignedly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ma. I¡¯m sorry if I disappointed you again.¡± Nichs hangs his head.


    ¡°Oh, my goodness!¡± Cassandra shakes her head in disbelief at what she hears. ¡°You truly embarrass your father and me, Nick. What will our extended family say if you fail again this time?¡± Cassandra¡¯s voice rises, echoing throughout the room.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to find and meet Kimberly, Ma. But Arthur Rayder is so strict in guarding her. I¡¯m really at a loss for what to do,¡± Nichs looks hopeless.


    After meeting Kimberly for thest time at the hospital, Nichs continued to ask the detective he had hired for more information on Kimberly¡¯s health and condition at the hospital. However, expectations sometimes don¡¯t match reality in the field. Nichs¡¯s emissary couldn¡¯t prate the defenses that Arthur had built around Kimberly. In this situation, what else can he do to meet and talk to Kimberly?


    Cassandra sighs deeply once again.


    ¡°Mama knows who Arthur Rayder is. That old man is indeed arrogant and notoriously difficult to work with. But Mama is sure there must be a way to melt his heart. And that¡¯s what you have to do,¡± she says firmly.


    Nichs falls silent. Who else can he ask for help now? Who can help him melt Arthur¡¯s heart and apologize to Kimberly? Who?


    ¡°Mama doesn¡¯t care, Nick. You must marry Kimberly. Mama will give you one month to win back that woman¡¯s heart. If you can¡¯t convince Kimberly to be your wife within that time frame, Mama will make sure you go back to London and marry the woman Mama chooses. Don¡¯t expect to return to Indonesia after that.¡± This time, Cassandra¡¯s words sound firm and not to be taken lightly.


    ¡°But, Ma-¡±


    Cassandra immediately raised her hand, signaling that she didn¡¯t want to talk anymore. She chose to get up and leave Nichs¡¯s office without saying a word.


    You¡¯re in trouble now, Nick. Your fate is hanging by a thread.

 MEET YOU

    Kimberly stared vacantly out of the window of the room she upied. It was the seventh day since she had undergone cancer surgery. Now, she was in Indonesia, at the Rayder family residence.


    Despite having to undergo chemotherapy several more times, she had to remain positive. Kimberly was determined to recover quickly so that she could assist Arthur in managing thepany as soon as possible. She didn¡¯t want to disappoint his expectations and trust this time.


    ¡°Kimmy, can we start learning now?¡±


    Kimberly immediately turned toward the open bedroom door. Mario was standing there, shing a smile.


    Kimberly nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been ready for a while. So, where are we going to study?¡± she asked.


    ¡°In Opa¡¯s office. There, we¡¯ll have more space.¡±


    Then Kimberly followed Mario to Arthur¡¯s office on the first floor. Today, he nned to teach Kimberly about managing thepany. This was done so that she could take Arthur¡¯s ce as soon as possible.


    ¡°You can sit down first; I¡¯ll fetch some documents for you to study,¡± Mario instructed once they had arrived in the office.


    Mario handed Kimberly quite a few documents to study, ranging from generalpany profiles to shareholder lists, tender documents, and files rted to thepany¡¯s internal issues.


    ¡°I¡¯ll exin each one to you.¡±


    Teaching Kimberly about business was not a difficult task. She was quitepetent. She had studied business abroad and graduated with top honors. Moreover, her experience as Nichs¡¯s personal secretary had given her some insight into the intricacies of the business world.


    While working at Alpha Beta, Kimberly had often observed how Nichs maintained good rtionships with clients, how to win them over, and even how to secure major contracts that benefited thepany. It seemed she should be thankful to him now.


    Mario felt the same way. He didn¡¯t have trouble exining all the material to Kimberly. She easily understood what Mario had been exining so far.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to go into too much detail with you, Kimmy. You already have a strong foundation in business,¡± Mario praised.


    Kimberly smiled in response.


    ¡°Yes, there were definitely benefits to working at argepany like Alpha Beta. I learned a lot there.¡±


    Mario nodded in agreement.


    ¡°I know that. Your boss has unquestionable credibility and business acumen. I know Nichs is a genius. Almost all major contracts are won by Alpha Beta.¡±


    Kimberly continued to smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right; when ites to business, Nichs is beyond doubt. He even dedicated half of his life to advancing thepany. I wonder when I can be a leader like him.¡±


    There was silence for a moment. Mario chose to busy himself with organizing the documents that Kimberly had finished reading. Meanwhile, the woman in front of him appeared lost in thought. Mario was aware of this.


    ¡°Kimmy, may I ask you something?¡± Mario spoke up as he calmly returned to his seat.


    Kimberly raised her eyebrows in curiosity.


    ¡°Please, I¡¯ll answer as best I can.¡±


    ¡°Do you still love Nichs?¡± The question slipped out of Mario¡¯s mouth unintentionally. There was no ulterior motive; he simply wanted to know how she felt now.


    Kimberly fell silent. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t answer; she was just uncertain about her feelings at the moment.


    ¡°If my question bothers you, Kimmy, it¡¯s better to forget it,¡± Mario said.


    Kimberly took a deep breath and finally answered.


    ¡°If you ask whether I love him or not, of course, I still love him,¡± Kimberly replied without hesitation.


    Mario got up and moved to sit beside Kimberly.


    ¡°If you still love Nichs like that, you should fight for your love, Kimmy.¡±


    Kimberly looked at Mario with doubt.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why are you asking me to fight for Nichs? Whether you like it or not, you¡¯ll be my fianc¨¦ soon. You should separate us like what Opa did to prevent us from being together.¡±


    Upon hearing Kimberly¡¯s question, Mario chuckled softly.


    ¡°You¡¯re funny,¡± he said.


    ¡°How so?¡± Kimberly asked, puzzled.


    ¡°I know about Opa¡¯s insistence on matchmaking us. But I still have a heart. I want you to be genuinely happy with your own choice,¡± Mario said sincerely, making Kimberly feel ufortable. After all, he had always done everything to make her happy.


    ¡°Even though I love Nichs, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean we can be together,¡± Kimberly suddenly said.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Now Mario was puzzled.


    Kimberly took a deep breath. Discussing the issue of Nichs only made her chest feel tight.


    ¡°I doubt his feelings for me. I feel like he doesn¡¯t truly love me,¡± Kimberly¡¯s gaze turned mncholic, indicating that there was pain there.


    ¡°How do you know that? Don¡¯t make assumptions about matters of the heart, Kimmy,¡± Mario advised.


    Kimberly shook her head.


    ¡°If he truly loved me, he wouldn¡¯t doubt me to the point of having someone spy on me. And let¡¯s not forget about Opa. Do you think he would just ept my rtionship with Nichs?¡±


    Mario reached for both of Kimberly¡¯s wrists and held them tightly.


    ¡°Who knows, maybe Nichs hase to his senses now. The fact that he looked so frustrated at the airport, as if he was afraid of losing you. It was the same at the hospital. He even apologized to Opa repeatedly.¡±


    Kimberly gave a bitterugh.


    ¡°Besides, Nichs doesn¡¯t know about my health condition after the surgery. If I forget, it will be difficult for me to have children in the future. Nichs is the only son of a British conglomerate. I doubt he and his family will still choose me when they find out I can¡¯t give him children.¡±


    ¡°Oh God, Kimberly,¡± Mario eximed with a slight shout. Then he pulled Kimberly¡¯s body closer to hug her. ¡°I don¡¯t like to see you so hopeless like this. Even if that man rejects you for reasons of having children, I won¡¯t forgive him. Moreover, I¡¯ve reminded you many times that I¡¯m ready to marry you anytime.¡±


    Kimberly remained silent without responding. Instead, she tightened her embrace around Mario and cried. Unbeknownst to them, outside the room, Arthur had been silently watching them both.


    ***


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Mario asked Kimberly, who still appeared busy at the vanity table.


    ¡°Very ready. I¡¯ll be down for breakfast in a moment. After that, we¡¯ll leave.¡± Mario nodded and closed the door to Kimberly¡¯s room.


    Today, Mario wanted to take Kimberly with him to an important meeting with a major investor. There would be many business associates there, and he wanted Kimberly to present theirpany in front of clients and rivals from otherpanies.


    ¡°Are you sure Kimberly can do it? The bid amount today is no joke, nearly reaching 25 trillion,¡± Arthur asked Mario once they were seated in the dining room.


    Mario nodded confidently.


    ¡°Of course. Kimberly has great potential. That¡¯s why I¡¯m very confident we can win this bid.¡±


    Arthur chose to sip his green tea first before continuing to speak.


    ¡°Other bigpanies will be present there. I¡¯m just worried that-¡±


    ¡°Opa¡­¡± Mario held Arthur¡¯s hand. ¡°Please, don¡¯t doubt Kimberly¡¯s abilities. Your granddaughter can do it.¡± Mario continued to reassure, trying to dispel all the doubt on Arthur¡¯s face.


    Arthur took a deep breath.


    ¡°I¡¯m just afraid, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Mario smiled.


    ¡°Leave everything to me. I will apany Kimberly and never leave her side.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve always trusted you. That¡¯s why I chose you to be Kimberly¡¯s husband.¡±


    Mario just smiled and went back to his breakfast. Not long after, Kimberly joined them, sitting down to have breakfast.


    ¡°Opa, I¡¯m leaving this morning. Please pray for your beloved granddaughter¡¯s sess.¡± Kimberly got up from her seat and briefly hugged Arthur before leaving for good.


    Arthur smiled.


    ¡°Of course, I always pray for your sess.¡±


    After saying their goodbyes, Mario and Kimberly headed to the capital building in the city center. As Mario mentioned earlier, they were having an important meeting with an American investor today. They nned to invest 25 trillion rupiahs in building a satellite city at the end of Java Ind.


    It wasn¡¯t just Kimberly¡¯spany participating; this meeting involved many construction and property developmentpanies. They would allpete against each other to win this major tender.


    ¡°You can sit over there.¡± Mario guided Kimberly to sit in one of the avable chairs in the meeting room. Representatives from variouspanies were already present, shaking hands with each other. Then, the arrival of a man caught Kimberly¡¯s attention. Someone she had missed for a long time. Now, he was standing right in front of her.


    The man smiled and extended his hand toward Kimberly.


    ¡°How are you, Kimmy? It¡¯s been a long time.¡±


    Kimberly epted the handshake.


    ¡°Nick¡­¡±

 GIVE ME A CHANCE

    ¡°Nick, did you bring all the files?¡± Edward asked as he and Nichs walked towards the lobby of the Alpha Beta building.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve brought everything. Nothing¡¯s left behind.¡±


    Upon reaching the lobby, Nichs handed over the keys to his car to Edward.


    ¡°You be the driver. I want to go over our presentation material for the American investors again,¡± he said.


    Edward agreed to Nichs¡¯s request and reached for the car keys handed to him.


    ¡°We need to hurry. You know how bad the traffic in Jakarta can be at this hour.¡±


    During the journey to the Capital building, Nichs appeared busy reading through the presentation material one by one. His expression was so serious as if he didn¡¯t want to be disturbed. Edward, who understood, chose to concentrate on driving rather than bothering him as usual.


    ¡°I¡¯ve read and mastered our material. I¡¯m confident we can secure the 25 trillion tender,¡± Nichs said with conviction.


    From behind the wheel, Edward smiled faintly. ¡°As usual, your abilities are beyond doubt, Nick. If you weren¡¯t a genius, Kenzie wouldn¡¯t have chosen you as CEO to rece him.¡± Edward praised sincerely.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Thanks, God, I do excel in this field. But without your help, I wouldn¡¯t be anyone either,¡± Nichsplimented. ¡°It seems I have to admit that we make a solid team. You¡¯re skilled at negotiating and convincing clients to choose ourpany.¡±


    Edward grinned. ¡°No need forpliments, the definition of perfection is embodied in me. Handsome, wealthy, adored by women, andstly, smart in business-¡±


    ¡°But unfortunately, you don¡¯t have a girlfriend,¡± Nichs quickly teased.


    Although known as a yboy who frequently changed his dating partners, Nichs had never seen Edward in a serious rtionship with anyone. He was a free spirit.


    Edward was just like Kiano. He yed around with women too much. For now, Kiano had gotten into trouble when a woman imed to be pregnant with his child. Who knew it might be Edward¡¯s turn next? Who could tell?


    Edward chuckled from behind the wheel. ¡°Please emphasize that. Many women are waiting in line to be my girlfriend. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m too selective when ites to partners, especially a wife. And don¡¯t pretend to forget, Nick. You¡¯re handsome yourself, but winning a woman¡¯s heart is something you can¡¯t do with just one try,¡± Edward replied. He was quite pleased with himself for mocking Nichs, who couldn¡¯te up with aeback.


    Nichs lightly punched Edward¡¯s left arm. ¡°You¡¯ll see, I¡¯ll definitely win Kimberly back.¡±


    Edward nced briefly at Nichs andughed. ¡°We¡¯ll see, Nick.¡±


    It took them about thirty minutes, and they finally arrived at the courtyard of the Capital building. After handing the car keys to the valet parking attendant, Nichs and Edward hurriedly entered the main building and made their way to the meeting room.


    There, many other business associates had already gathered. Some were busy chatting, while others were preparing themselves before the presentation began.


    However, amidst it all, there was one thing that captivated Nichs. As he greeted each person in the room, there was a woman sitting not far from the window, lost in her own world. At first, she was engrossed in conversation, but after a while, their eyes identally met.


    Nichs gazed in silence for a while, making sure that what he was seeing was real and not a hallucination. Once he was certain, Nichs approached the spot where the woman was sitting.


    ¡°How are you, Kimmy? It¡¯s been a while,¡± Nichs said confidently, extending his hand.


    Kimberly was surprised, but she tried to maintain a calm expression and shook Nichs¡¯s hand. ¡°Nick¡­ it¡¯s nice to see you. As you can see, I¡¯m doing very well.¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I¡¯m very d to hear that.¡± Truthfully, even though he missed Kimberly terribly, Nichs chose to sit down immediately because the investors hosting the event had arrived in the room.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Wee, business participants, and thank you for your time with ourpany. To save time, we, from Capital, invite each participant to present theirpany one by one,¡± the Capital spokesperson weed to kick off the event.

 NEVER SEE ME AGAIN

    Taking almost three hours, the presentations gradually came to an end, and it was Kimberly¡¯s turn to shine. From his seat, Nichs didn¡¯t blink an eye. His gaze was fixed on Kimberly, who presented herpany¡¯s material with great confidence.


    Listening from start to finish, Nichs finally drew a conclusion. Kimberly was quite skilled and had a strongmand of the material she presented. She demonstrated her ability by answering all of Capital¡¯s questions effectively and thoughtfully.


    ¡°It turns out Kimberly is quite outstanding, Nick,¡± Edward quipped between presentations.


    Nichs turned to him, furrowing his brow in confusion. ¡°Outstanding in what way, Ed?¡±


    Edward chuckled softly, leaned closer, and whispered, ¡°She¡¯s beautiful, the granddaughter of a conglomerate, and intelligent to boot. I¡¯m sure many are vying to be her partner. I¡¯m also very certain that when Kimberly falls for you, she¡¯ll be in a moment of weakness.¡±


    ¡°Weakness, how?¡± Nichs asked.


    Edward whispered again, ¡°Because, my friend, normal women wouldn¡¯t want to be with a man as hopeless as you.¡± Edward took the opportunity to tease Nichs.


    Nichs sighed in frustration. ¡°Don¡¯t tempt me to beat you up, Ed!¡±


    Edwardughed and rolled his eyes, returning his attention to the final presenter.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Thank you to all participants for your participation. We from Capital have discussed among ourselves. Therefore, we would like to announce whichpanies will move on to the next selection stage. After careful consideration, we have chosen twopanies to proceed to the next stage: Alpha Beta and Rayder Group. The final decision will be announced via email in the next two days. Thank you for your participation and cooperation.¡±


    All participants stood up and began to leave the room. Upon hearing the name Alpha Beta, once they were outside the room, Edward couldn¡¯t stop smiling at Nichs. He even hugged his friend.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait for the next two days. I¡¯m sure ourpany will be chosen,¡± Edward eximed.


    Nichs nodded silently but didn¡¯t reply. They were almost victorious, but why did he have a bad feeling? He couldn¡¯t help but think of Kimberly. Herpany, which she led, had also made it to the next selection stage. That meant they would bepeting against each other.


    Realizing his friend¡¯s silence, Edward drew a conclusion and spoke.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to let Kimberly win, Nick,¡± Edward said. ¡°Don¡¯t be crazy!¡± he added.


    Instead of responding to Edward¡¯s usation, Nichs made his way towards Kimberly, who had just left the room with Mario. Without hesitation, Nichs approached the woman.


    ¡°Kimmy, can we talk for a moment?¡± There was a pleading tone in his words.


    Kimberly offered a faint smile, then shook her head gently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there¡¯s nothing we need to discuss. I¡¯ve told you to forget about me.¡±


    After saying that, Kimberly immediately pulled Mario¡¯s hand, urging them to leave. She left Nichs standing there without a nce. However, before they reached the car, Kimberly asked Mario for permission to go to the restroom.


    ¡°I need to freshen up a bit.¡±


    Mario nodded. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll head to the car first. You can join me once you¡¯re done.¡±


    They parted ways, and Kimberly continued towards the restroom. She fixed her hair and makeup and, feeling satisfied, decided to leave. But just as she was about to pass through the door, someone forcibly pulled Kimberly towards the emergency exit staircase. She tried to release their grip, but Kimberly was overpowered.


    ¡°What do you want by bringing me here, Nick?¡± Kimberly asked, looking visibly annoyed.


    Nichs let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°In what other way should I meet you and talk to you?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing else we need to discuss, Nick. We¡¯re done. Oh, I¡¯m sorry; we didn¡¯t even have a rtionship,¡± Kimberly corrected herself, letting out a bitterugh.


    ¡°Kimberly, please, just give me a chance, even if it¡¯s just one. Don¡¯t you miss me?¡± Nichs pleaded.


    Kimberly gritted her teeth.


    ¡°Why should I miss someone who has repeatedly hurt me? What¡¯s the point of missing someone who doesn¡¯t trust me at all? It¡¯s like a waste of my time,¡± Kimberly said angrily.


    Kimberly didn¡¯t expect it, but Nichs suddenly pulled her close and pushed her against the wall. Without warning, he pressed his lips onto hers, kissing her passionately. He tasted the strawberry vor on her lips.


    As time passed, Nichs¡¯s kiss grew deeper, filled with passion and dominance. It seemed as if this kiss was an outlet for the longing he had been suppressing.


    Kimberly could pretend that she didn¡¯t miss him, but her body¡¯s response contradicted her earlier words. She seemed to enjoy it and eventually responded in kind.


    They remained lost in their intimate kiss for quite a while. When Kimberly¡¯s breath becamebored, Nichs reluctantly pulled away.


    Nichs rested his forehead against Kimberly¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, Kimberly Alistair. Missed you terribly,¡± he said, still catching his breath.


    Kimberly took several deep breaths. She chose to savor their intimacy rather than respond to Nichs¡¯s words.


    ¡°Say something to me, Kimberly! Tell me you miss me. Tell me you love me,¡± Nichs urged when he didn¡¯t hear a word from the woman in front of him.


    Kimberly took another deep breath.


    ¡°Yes, I miss you. My feelings for you haven¡¯t changed one bit. I¡¯m still the same, still in love with you.¡±


    Hearing that, a smile appeared on Nichs¡¯s lips. He immediately pulled Kimberly close again and hugged her.


    ¡°I love you too, Kimberly. I love you deeply,¡± Nichs kept repeating the words.


    ¡°But we can¡¯t be together, Nick,¡± Kimberly replied.


    Nichs released his embrace and created some distance to look into Kimberly¡¯s eyes. He even held her chin to make sure their gazes met.


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± he asked, confused.


    Kimberly closed her eyes briefly, trying to gather the courage to reveal the fact that Nichs needed to hear. She prepared herself for the worst, fearing that he would leave her after hearing what she had to say.


    ¡°Kimberly, answer my question,¡± Nichs pressed.


    ¡°You know that I just had surgery because of the cancer I had a while ago,¡± Kimberly said.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Yes, I know about that. So, what¡¯s the problem?¡±


    Once again, Kimberly took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.


    ¡°One of my ovaries was removed by the medical team. That means I¡¯ll have difficulty having children or, worst-case scenario, I won¡¯t be able to have children in the future.¡±


    Nichs was quite surprised by the revtion Kimberly made. He knew she had cancer, and the doctors she saw earlier had exined that it could be treated. However, he had no idea that Kimberly was diagnosed with infertility. Now, he was left wondering what he should do.


    ¡°Do you want to be with a woman who can¡¯t have children? Just tell me if you ept me as I am, but will your wealthy family ept me? Are they willing to marry their only son to a woman who can¡¯t give them grandchildren?¡±


    Bombarded with so many questions, Nichs could only remain silent, lost in his own thoughts.


    Please, reassure me, Nick.


    Answer if you¡¯re willing to ept me as I am.


    ¡°It seems like I can guess your answer,¡± Kimberly said bitterly.


    ¡°Kimberly, listen to me-¡±


    ¡°Enough, Nick! I don¡¯t think we need to have any further contact,¡± Kimberly said angrily.


    ¡°Kimberly Rayder, please listen to me,¡± Nichs begged. He tried to reach for Kimberly¡¯s wrist, but she quickly pulled it away.


    ¡°Never see me again!¡± With a grimace, Kimberly left Nichs behind.


    As Nichs attempted to chase after her, Kimberly¡¯s steps couldn¡¯t be caught up to. She had already entered her car. In his position, all Nichs could do was mutter to himself.


    You should have given me a chance to talk, Kimmy.


    Back at her home, Kimberly chose to go straight to her room, ignoring Arthur, who had been waiting for her in the living room.


    Seeing Arthur¡¯s bewilderment over his granddaughter¡¯s behavior, Mario, who had juste in, immediately approached Arthur.


    ¡°Why, Kimberly? Did you not seed in securing the tender today? Is that why she seems upset now?¡± Mario took a seat first and then shook his head towards Arthur.


    ¡°It¡¯s not because of the tender. Kimberly might just be tired. If you want to know, Rayder Corp made it to the final selection. The final announcement is the day after tomorrow. And more importantly, Rayder Corp will bepeting fiercely with Alpha Beta Corporation.¡±


    Arthur was taken aback by Mario¡¯s exnation. On one hand, he felt happy because Kimberly¡¯s first presentation had yielded remarkable results. But on the other hand, he started to think that Kimberly might look sad and upset because she had encountered Nichs there.


    ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m proud of you. It¡¯s not wrong for Kimberly to deepen her business knowledge with you,¡± Arthur praised.


    ¡°All of this is because of Kimberly¡¯s exceptional abilities, Grandpa. I just guided her to make sure she doesn¡¯t make any wrong moves,¡± Mario agreed.


    Arthur nodded in approval. ¡°Well then, do your best. Make sure ourpany wins this big tender.¡±


    Mario nodded in agreement with Arthur¡¯smand.

 CELEBRATE

    ¡°Never meet me again, no matter the reason!¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s words kept echoing in Nichs¡¯s head. Before he could respond yesterday, the woman had already drawn her own conclusions. Always like that.


    Actually, Nichs and Kimberly were apatible couple. Nichs, as a man, took too long to make decisions, while Kimberly, as a woman, jumped to conclusions too quickly. That¡¯s what caused them to constantly misunderstand each other.


    If only you had listened to my exnation.


    If only you had given me a little time.


    Nichs closed his eyes dramatically.


    Why is it so difficult to convince you?


    Nichs¡¯s reverie was interrupted when his office door was knocked. A woman entered shortly after, and her presence always made his heart and mind uneasy.


    ¡°Is Mom bothering you with your work?¡± Cassandra walked in and sat down in a chair right in front of Nichs.


    Nichs shook his head.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not busy. Is Dad¡¯s work in Thand finished?¡± Nichs asked in return.


    Cassandra nodded.


    ¡°Yes, and now your dad is working on a project in Bali. I just stopped by briefly because I¡¯ll be joining him this afternoon. So, how are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doing fine, Mom,¡± Nichs replied.


    Cassandra sighed in relief.


    ¡°Thank goodness. I heard yourpany is participating in the selection process organized by the Capital Group.¡±


    Nichs nodded in agreement.


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. Alpha Beta is in the running. In fact, today we¡¯re waiting for the final announcement of who made it through.¡±


    ¡°I hope yourpany wins the tender. Capital doesn¡¯t y around when ites to investments. They have substantial capital,¡± Cassandra exined at length.


    ¡°I hope so too, Mom. The 25 trillion value is quite fantastic. During my time at Alpha Beta, we¡¯ve nevernded a project that big. Edward and I spent quite a long time researching to ensure our presentation is well-received.¡±


    Cassandra chuckled.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never doubted your and Edward¡¯s abilities from the start. I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll get it. But, by the way, who¡¯s yourpetition in the final selection?¡±


    Nichs sighed softly.


    ¡°Rayder Corp, Mom. Owned by Arthur Rayder. And the one who managed to convince Capital recently was Kimberly.¡±


    In her position, Cassandra was quite surprised. She fell silent for a moment before speaking again. ¡°Kimberly? So, has Kimberly officially taken over Arthur Rayder¡¯s position?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Mom. There hasn¡¯t been an official announcement yet regarding Kimberly recing Arthur Rayder. It seems like the public doesn¡¯t know that Kimberly is Arthur Rayder¡¯s granddaughter,¡± Nichs replied.


    ¡°But, out of all this, have you managed to speak with Kimberly?¡± Cassandra inquired. She needed to know about the progress of her son¡¯s rtionship.


    Nichs sighed softly.


    ¡°After the presentation to Capital, I had a brief face-to-face conversation with Kimberly. But she didn¡¯t give me much time.¡±


    Cassandra sighed in her position.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Nick. Move quickly, time is running out. Do you think I was joking with my ultimatum the other day? If you can¡¯t convince Kimberly by the deadline I gave you¡­¡±


    ¡°Be ready to go back to London and never dream of returning to Indonesia again.¡± Nichs cut in and continued Cassandra¡¯s sentence. ¡°I know, Mom. Do you think I¡¯ve just been sitting here doing nothing? Everyone even thinks I haven¡¯t done anything. But I¡¯ve done a lot without your knowledge. It¡¯s just that all of you, as spectators, draw too many conclusions on your own.¡±


    Cassandra fell silent, hearing Nichs¡¯s sharp words.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s your next n?¡± Cassandra asked, curious.


    ¡°Just watch me from afar, Mom. This time, I promise not to disappoint you.¡± Nichs had prepared a final n that he believed would bring Kimberly back into his arms.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Nichs looked into Cassandra¡¯s eyes as she continued to observe him.


    ¡°Mom, I want to ask something. Please answer honestly.¡±


    In her position, Cassandra raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Go ahead, Nick. Don¡¯t keep me in suspense.¡±


    Nichs took another breath, mustering all his courage to ask something he considered crucial.


    ¡°Kimberly recently had surgery for her illness¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know that. Edward told me,¡± Cassandra interrupted.


    ¡°Listen to me, Mom.¡± Nichs pleaded.


    ¡°Alright, go on.¡±


    ¡°One of her ovaries had to be removed during the surgery yesterday. The doctor said it might be difficult or even impossible for her to have children in the future.¡±


    Nichs then fell silent. He didn¡¯t continue his sentence. Anxiously waiting for Cassandra¡¯s response.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Cassandra asked, puzzled when she noticed that Nichs didn¡¯t continue speaking. It turned out he chose to remain silent, expecting Cassandra to address all his concerns.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for your answer, Mom,¡± Nichs replied softly.


    Cassandra smiled.


    ¡°Do you need my answer for something?¡±


    Nichs was even more puzzled by Cassandra¡¯s response.


    ¡°Does Mom still approve of our rtionship even if, someday, Kimberly can¡¯t give you a grandchild?¡±


    A chuckle escaped Cassandra.


    ¡°Oh, Nichs. Do you think I don¡¯t have a heart? That¡¯s just a doctor¡¯s prediction. There¡¯s still a chance Kimberly can get pregnant in the future. Besides, destiny, children, and death are in God¡¯s hands, not in humans¡¯. So why worry?¡±


    Cassandra answered at length.


    A smile appeared on Nichs¡¯s lips.


    ¡°So, Mom, do you still approve of our rtionship?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Cassandra replied quickly. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m waiting for good news from you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be together sooner orter.¡±


    Nichs couldn¡¯t hide his happiness. He reached for Cassandra¡¯s hand and held it.


    ¡°Thank you, Mom. I promise I¡¯ll fight for Kimberly.¡±


    Cassandra nodded and then smiled.


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to your promise. In that case, I¡¯ll take my leave now. There¡¯s someone else I need to meet after this.¡±


    Thirty minutes after Cassandra left, it was Edward¡¯s turn to enter Nichs¡¯s room. With slightly hurried steps, he approached Nichs and handed him a piece of paper.


    ¡°You need to see this.¡±


    Nichs took the piece of paper from Edward and started reading it carefully. After a short while, he looked back at Edward with a broad smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re not joking, are you?¡±


    Edward shook his head.


    ¡°We won the tender this time, Nick. Ourpany got chosen.¡±


    Nichs stood up from his seat and joyfully embraced Edward, who was standing beside him.


    ¡°Oh my, I was optimistic that we would win, but knowing it firsthand still makes me so happy,¡± Nichs said after unraveling his embrace.


    ¡°We should celebrate this, Nick. This is a significant achievement.¡±


    Nichs nodded in agreement.


    ¡°You arrange it, however you see fit. I want to contact Kenzie first.¡±


    ***

 GONE CRAZY

    Arthur Rayder sipped his chamomile tea specially prepared for him. He was sitting on his terrace, enjoying the evening. His feeling was peaceful, and not long after, Mario arrived and joined him.


    ¡°Have you bothe back from work?¡± Arthur asked.


    Mario nodded. ¡°Yes, Opa. Just arrived five minutes ago. There¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡±


    Arthur put down the teacup he was holding and spoke again.


    ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡±


    Mario took something from his work bag. After finding what he was looking for, he handed it over to Arthur. Without hesitation, the old man epted what Mario gave him.


    ¡°It¡¯s the result of Capital¡¯s decision,¡± Mario said after handing the paper to Arthur.


    Arthur put on his reading sses and carefully read what was written on the paper.


    ¡°So, Alpha Beta was chosen this time?¡± His voice sounded displeased.


    Mario nodded again.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Opa. Alpha Beta got chosen. I think they deserve it.¡±


    ¡°If Alpha Beta can do it, why can¡¯t we? Has Kimberly found out about this?¡±


    Once again, Mario nodded.


    ¡°She has, and she seemed indifferent about it.¡±


    Arthur chuckled sourly upon hearing Mario¡¯s words.


    ¡°Poor, unfortunate granddaughter of mine. The first time she gets into business, she has to be defeated by that insolent brat who had already hurt her heart.¡±


    ¡°Opa¡­¡± Mario murmured softly. ¡°Kimberly is fine. There may be other opportunities in the future that are just as significant as this one. Isn¡¯t there always a winner and a loser in everypetition? Maybe ourpany just wasn¡¯t lucky this time. But at another time, it might be us who have a chance to get it.¡±


    Arthur responded to Mario¡¯s words with a deep sigh. He was thinking about something right now. Something that might affect the rtionship between Kimberly and Nichs in the future.


    Later that night, in a different ce, Nichs was already dressed and ready to go out. Tonight, he was determined to visit Kimberly¡¯s house. Whatever happened, he had to meet her.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Confidently, Nichs set off. Driving his car, he finally arrived in front of Arthur Rayder¡¯s luxurious home. There, a guard intercepted his arrival.


    ¡°I want to meet Miss Kimberly,¡± Nichs requested to the guard on duty.


    The guard nodded but didn¡¯t immediately allow Nichs to enter. He first reported to Arthur, who happened to be inside the house.


    ¡°Sir, there¡¯s a man who wants to meet Miss Kimberly. May we let him in?¡± the guard asked through the inte.


    Arthur furrowed his brow in question.


    ¡°Ask the man¡¯s name.¡±


    The guard obeyed and approached Nichs to inquire about his name. After receiving the answer, the guard reported back to Arthur.


    ¡°His name is Nichs Alistair, Sir.¡±


    Arthur fell silent in his position.


    Quite daring, this young man.


    What could he wanting here at this hour?


    Ah, but it doesn¡¯t matter. It seems I have a n that could benefit both of them.


    From his position, Arthur could be seenughing cunningly. He was nning something now.


    ¡°Tell him toe in,¡± Arthur instructed the guard.


    Meanwhile, Nichs waited anxiously behind the wheel. He waited patiently and hopefully, praying that his visit would be epted by either Kimberly or Arthur Rayder. He waited for quite some time until the guard returned to him and knocked on the car window.


    ¡°You may enter.¡±


    With a feeling of great relief mixed with joy, Nichs directed his car into Arthur Rayder¡¯s driveway. After parking it neatly, he quickly got out. The guard who had allowed him in was waiting not far from the door. He approached Nichs and escorted him to where he needed to go.


    ¡°Please have a seat. Just wait here,¡± the guard said as he led Nichs into the living room.


    Nichs nodded and took a seat on the sofa. Believe it or not, he felt nervous now, afraid that Kimberly might suddenly chase him away. But after waiting for a few minutes, it was not Kimberly who approached him, but Arthur Rayder who came and sat down with him on the sofa, facing him directly.


    ¡°It seems you still have the courage to meet my granddaughter,¡± Arthur chuckled bitterly at Nichs.


    Nichs just lowered his head. He didn¡¯t have the courage to look at the old man¡¯s face.


    ¡°Anyway, I need to put an end to the misunderstandings between Kimberly and me.¡±


    Arthur chuckled again.


    ¡°What else do you have to exin? My granddaughter truly loves you, but you¡¯ve used her of all sorts of things. I¡¯m amazed how Kimberly could fall in love with a guy like you.¡±


    ¡°For that, I have to meet with her, Mr. Arthur. I have to apologize and exin that I truly love her.¡±


    Arthur nced dismissively at Nichs.


    ¡°Love, you say? After repeatedly disappointing her? Even yourpany¡¯s victory in the Capital tender could make Kimberly even more heartbroken.¡±


    Nichs shook his head.


    ¡°Please, let¡¯s keep it professional. Don¡¯t connect work issues with our personal matters. They arepletely different.¡±


    Hearing Nichs¡¯s words made Arthur burst into loudughter.


    ¡°What do you young people know? Moreover, even if Kimberly forgives you and epts your love, do you think I would readily approve of your rtionship?¡± Once again, Arthurughed from his position. ¡°Don¡¯t dream that I will just hand over my beloved granddaughter to you!¡±


    Nichs lifted his head and looked at Arthur with a pleading gaze.


    ¡°I beg you, forgive me. How can I convince Mr. Arthur that I truly love Kimberly?¡±


    Arthur narrowed his eyes at Nichs.


    ¡°You¡¯re asking me how to convince me?¡±


    Nichs nodded quickly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do anything to prove that I genuinely love your granddaughter.¡±


    From the expression on his face, Nichs spoke sincerely. He didn¡¯t want to lose Kimberly this time. He was determined to do whatever it took to prove his feelings. There was no more doubt like before.


    ¡°Very well, can I trust your words?¡±


    Nichs nodded confidently.


    ¡°Of course. A true man is judged by his words.¡±


    Arthur smiled with a meaningful look.


    ¡°In that case, prove it to me. Cancel the coboration between Alpha Beta and Capital. If you can do that, I promise to approve of your rtionship with Kimberly. But if you can¡¯t do it, don¡¯t expect to see Kimberly again. I¡¯ll make sure she marries Mario as soon as possible.¡±


    Upon hearing this statement, Nichs froze in his position.


    Canceling a project worth 25 trillion,


    or losing Kimberly?


    Has this old man gone crazy?

 LOVE YOU TOO

    ¡°Arghh, damn!¡±


    Nichs had cursed loudly more than ten times. He was feeling increasingly frustrated. When Edward entered the room and handed over some work documents, Nichs was even toozy to respond.


    ¡°Is there another problem? You look really upset right now,¡± Edward, aware that something was happening with his friend, chose to ask.


    Nichs ran his fingers through his hair haphazardly. He sighed in frustration and then replied.


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m going crazy, Ed!¡±


    Edward, not understanding Nichs¡¯s statement, asked again.


    ¡°What¡¯s actually going on? Can you tell me?¡±


    He pulled up a chair and sat right in front of Nichs.


    ¡°Last night, I daringly visited Kimberly at her house. I was even quite pleased when my presence was epted. Do you know what happened afterward?¡±


    Edward shook his head slightly.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Nichs grimaced.


    ¡°Instead of meeting Kimberly, I was driven crazy by the presence of Arthur Rayderst night.¡±


    Edward looked even more confused.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Nick. You visited Arthur Rayder¡¯s residencest night, knowing you would meet him there? What made you go crazy?¡±


    Nichs rubbed his face roughly. Then, he began to tell Edward about what Arthur Rayder had asked of himst night.


    ¡°So, Nichs Junior Alistair, do you agree to my request?¡±


    In his position, Nichs was quite surprised that the old man knew his full name. What made him even more irritated was Arthur¡¯s ridiculous request to cancel the contract with Capital Group for the sake of a business deal. Was he out of his mind to trade his grandson for business matters?


    ¡°But why should I cancel the contract with Capital? There¡¯s no connection between my rtionship with Kimberly and this.¡±


    Arthur shook his head.


    ¡°No¡­ no¡­ no! There is a connection, young man. You know yourself that Alpha Beta and RayderCorp are the final candidates. If the first candidate cancels the contract or withdraws, the second candidate will automatically take their ce. Don¡¯t you want to see Kimberly¡¯s gship project chosen? Don¡¯t you want to see the person you love seed? You im to love my granddaughter.¡±


    This time, Nichs shook his head in disbelief. It seemed that Arthur Rayder was not only arrogant but also cunning.


    ¡°I truly love your granddaughter. I will support anything that is best for her. But not through dishonest means like this!¡±


    Arthur Rayderughed.


    ¡°Oh, young man, you are truly pathetic. In business, dishonesty ismonce. If you don¡¯t want to do it, be prepared to receive an invitation to Kimberly and Mario¡¯s wedding. Remember, my blessing in this world is only for Mario. He¡¯s the only one who genuinely cares for Kimberly. If you can prove your love for my granddaughter, just follow my orders.¡±


    ¡°B-but, sir-¡±


    Arthur waved his hand in the air.


    ¡°Sorry, no negotiations. My decision is final. It¡¯s your choice that will determine your future, young man. Oh, yes. Because I¡¯m kind, while you wait, I will allow you to meet Kimberly. Only three days. After that, give me your answer to my decision.¡±


    Arthur then got up from his seat.


    ¡°Now, you can go home. No need to meet Kimberly tonight. Just wait for my news tomorrow. I¡¯ll arrange a meeting for you two. I¡¯m quite kind, right?¡±


    Nichs could only shake his head. He was too amazed by the cunning thoughts of the old man before him.


    ¡°Kimberly will definitely be angry when she finds out about this,¡± Nichs threatened.


    Arthur curled the corners of his lips into a smile.


    ¡°Please tell Kimberly. Even if she gets angry in the end, she chose me. Not a stranger she just met.¡± Arthur then squinted his eyes. ¡°Do you want to bet with me?¡±


    Once again, Nichs was rendered speechless. Of course, Kimberly would choose Arthur, especially since he was now her only family. Why was this old man so skilled at manipting his fate? Damn!


    ¡°Crazy!¡± Edward eximed after hearing what his friend had narrated. ¡°It turns out that besides behaving like an Italian mafia, Arthur Rayder is also a cunning opportunist. I didn¡¯t know, Nick, that Kimberly is valued at 25 trillion by that old man.¡±


    Nichs sighed in frustration once more.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t see how he ridiculed mest night. Damn, I felt like punching him in the face right then and there!¡±


    Edward chuckled upon hearing Nichs¡¯s frustrated words. ¡°So, what¡¯s it going to be? What do you think you¡¯ll choose? Please, don¡¯t make a hasty decision, Nick.¡±


    Nichs sighed heavily. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I can¡¯t think right now. Both of them mean a lot to me, Ed.¡±


    Edward understood what Nichs was feeling. There was no way he could make a difficult decision like this quickly. Whatever he chose would impact his future.


    ¡°I hope you think it through carefully. Both options are risky. Isn¡¯t there a choice to give poison to the old man? I feel irritated. He¡¯s old, shouldn¡¯t he be preparing himself to enter heaven instead of sowing sins?¡± Edward shook his head in his chair.


    Shortly thereafter, in the midst of their conversation, a text message came in on Nichs¡¯s phone. It was a message sent by Arthur specifically for him.


    ¡°You can meet Kimberly tonight at her house. Besides, I¡¯ll be going out with Mario. Act like nothing has happened between us.¡±


    Nichs clenched his phone after reading Arthur¡¯s message.


    This old man is really ying with my fate now.


    Damn!


    ****


    Nichs had already arrived and was sitting patiently in the living room of Arthur Rayder¡¯s residence. He had been waiting anxiously for Kimberly¡¯s arrival. Once again, he was just afraid that she would reject him.


    Whatever happens,


    I must get forgiveness from Kimberly this time.


    After waiting for about ten minutes, the person he had been waiting for was finally standing right in front of him. From her facial expression, it was clear that she was very surprised.


    ¡°Nick, what are you doing here?¡± were the first words toe out of Kimberly¡¯s mouth.


    Nichs stood up from his seat and approached where Kimberly was standing.


    ¡°We need to talk. Everything has to be settled tonight.¡±


    Kimberly shook her head. ¡°What else is there to talk about? Everything is clear!¡±


    Nichs reached for Kimberly¡¯s hand and held it tightly.


    ¡°Please, give me a moment. After hearing all my exnations, you can send me away.¡±


    Kimberly agreed, then pulled the man¡¯s arm to follow her steps. Nichs, on the other hand, just surrendered to wherever Kimberly was taking him.


    It turned out that she was leading him to sit on the back terrace, right in front of the swimming pool.


    ¡°Hurry up and say what you want to say. Your time is limited, and Grandpa could get angry if he sees you hereter.¡± Kimberly was the only one here who had no idea what was going on.


    Nichs nodded and began to speak.


    ¡°First, I want to apologize for all my actions that have hurt you so much. I truly apologize.¡±


    Kimberly sighed. ¡°Nick, you don¡¯t have much time. No need for pleasantries.¡±


    Be patient, Nick¡­ Be patient¡­


    Nichs reached for both of Kimberly¡¯s hands again.


    ¡°I love you, Kimberly. Regardless of what happens to you, the less and more of you, I still love you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying. I don¡¯t need your pity. Even if you ept me, your parents haven¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°Shhh¡­¡± Nichs ced his index finger right on Kimberly¡¯s lips. ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions, Kimmy. Just so you know, my parents already know about your health. They don¡¯t mind and still approve of our rtionship. So, what¡¯s the problem now? What else are you afraid of?¡±


    Kimberlyughed bitterly. Clearly, she couldn¡¯t easily believe Nichs¡¯s words.


    ¡°How can I trust you? I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll do something foolish like before. Even though it¡¯s clear that I only love you, you had the audacity to have someone tail me. Is that what you call love?¡±


    Nichs sighed in frustration. He had to figure out how to make Kimberly believe everything he was saying. Nichs then got up and knelt right in front of Kimberly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve begged you countless times. I am truly sorry, Kimberly Rayder. Please, this time, believe my words.¡±


    Kimberly looked into Nichs¡¯s eyes. It was clear that he was sincere in his words. What harm was there in forgiving? After all, even God often gave a second chance to His servants, right?


    Kimberly took a deep breath.


    ¡°Get up!¡± Kimberly ordered. But Nichs remained kneeling at Kimberly¡¯s feet.


    ¡°I have forgiven you; you can stand up now.¡±


    Hearing those words, Nichs immediately stood up and shed a smile at Kimberly.


    ¡°Did you really forgive me?¡± Nichs asked to make sure.


    Kimberly nodded. The next moment, Nichs took a step forward, intending to embrace her. However, to his surprise, Kimberly stepped back, avoiding the hug that Nichs was about to give.


    ¡°I forgive you, but that doesn¡¯t mean we can go back to how things were before. It¡¯s not that easy, Nick,¡± Kimberly said firmly.


    Nichs let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°Oh my goodness, Kimberly. I¡¯ve even exined that my parents approve of our rtionship. I¡¯ve told you multiple times that I love you, and I don¡¯t care if you can or cannot give me children in the future. What else do I need to do to make you believe me?¡±


    Kimberly shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Honestly, I love you too, Nick. But resuming our rtionship as it was before doesn¡¯t seem possible so quickly.¡±


    ¡°But, Kimmy-¡±


    ¡°Your time is up!¡± Kimberly interrupted. ¡°You should leave before Grandpa and Marioe back. Besides, I need some rest.¡±


    Oh God,


    Why is the Rayder family so keen on testing my patience and sanity this time?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 SLOW

    ¡°So, which files do I need to read and sign?¡±


    Currently, Kimberly is in the CEO¡¯s office at the RayderCorp building. Alongside Mario, she is studying various types of partnership agreements from differentpanies.


    If all goes as nned and there are no obstacles, Kimberly will officially take over control of thepany from Arthur Rayder next month. That means Mario will also return to his ownpany.


    ¡°Let me check first.¡± Mario reached for the stack of files that was previously in front of Kimberly. He began reading and examining them one by one.


    Afterward, Mario nodded.


    ¡°Everything looks good, Kimmy. It just needs to be handed over to the legal department for validation.¡±


    Kimberly smiled.


    ¡°It turns out being a leader like this is easier said than done. I thought a CEO¡¯s job was just signing papers, attending meetings, and making decisions. In reality, there are so manyplex procedures to consider.¡±


    Mario reached for a cup of tea that was avable on the table and sipped it slowly. After finishing, he smiled.


    ¡°But I¡¯m d you¡¯re quick to learn everything. I don¡¯t have to bother with basic lessons. You¡¯re ready to take the reins now.¡±


    Kimberly blushed.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s all thanks to you. I owe you a lot,¡± Kimberly said sincerely.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Kimberly¡¯s words made Mario smile again.


    ¡°You¡¯re too kind, no need to thank me. You¡¯re naturally smart, Kimmy. Always have been.¡±


    Kimberly shook her head.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s all because of your hard work and patience in guiding me. No wonder grandpa is so obsessed with making you my fianc¨¦.¡± Kimberly¡¯s expression turned mncholic.


    Mario looked at Kimberly, carefully observing her face. Golden brown hair, a slender nose, thin pinkish lips, and sharp eyes. Kimberly was indeed a beautiful woman who fit the criteria of an ideal wife.


    ¡°You have the right to refuse, Kimmy. Why force yourself if you won¡¯t be happy in the future?¡±


    Kimberly took a deep breath. What Mario said was true. How could she marry a man who had been her friend and older brother figure all this time? But the problem was, would her grandfather listen to her? Thest time she refused, it led to her leaving home.


    ¡°Do you think I have a chance to refuse?¡± Kimberlyughed bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m even afraid that if I refuse grandpa¡¯s order, his heart condition will worsen. I¡¯m truly trapped right now.¡±


    Mario was taken aback.


    ¡°I think if you talk to grandpa about it properly, he will consider it. Grandpa cares about you a lot, Kimmy. He surely wants what¡¯s best for you.¡±


    Kimberly grinned upon hearing Mario¡¯s words. Arthur indeed wanted the best, which was why he chose Mario to guide her. Anyone would be impressed by Mario¡¯s character. Handsome, wealthy, responsible, a family man, and always reliable.


    ¡°But what about you? Why did you agree to grandpa¡¯s request? Have you never had a girlfriend all this time?¡± Kimberly inquired. She had just realized that Mario had never mentioned having a girlfriend during their friendship. Could it be that he loved Kimberly?


    Mario sighed.


    ¡°That¡¯s not important to discuss, Kimmy-¡± Before he could finish, their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of a phone. Mario quickly answered, and after a short while, he got up from his seat.


    ¡°I need to return to my office now. I might not be able to give you a ride hometer this afternoon. But don¡¯t worry, you can go home with the driver.¡±


    Kimberly nodded as she watched Mario¡¯s departure until his figure disappeared from her view.


    ***


    Nichs had just arrived in his office after finishing lunch. Just a few steps in, there was a knock on the door. As he turned around, he saw Kenzi standing at the threshold. Without waiting to be invited in, Kenzi walked over to the sofa on the left side of the room.


    ¡°Since when did you arrive in Indonesia? Why are you so eager toe back now?¡± Nichs asked, puzzled. He followed suit and took a seat.


    Kenzi took a slow breath. ¡°Alya¡¯s parents are sick, and she invited me to return to Indonesia. Besides, I heard you recently won the tender held by Capital Group. That¡¯s why I came here to congratte you in person.¡±


    Nichs smiled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure you heard the news from Edward. Thank you for your wishes. Ourpany seeded because we have such a solid team. They are all excellent at putting together presentation materials for Capital.¡±


    Kenzi also smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t make a mistake in choosing you,¡± he praised. ¡°Oh, by the way, how is your rtionship with Kimberly? Have you reconciled?¡±


    Nichs sighed and looked despondently out the window, thinking about the uncertain state of his rtionship with Kimberly, all because of Arthur Rayder.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m even confused about what to do. I¡¯m sure Edward has already told you about my current problems. That guy is known for being talkative, isn¡¯t he?¡± Nichs remarked.


    This time, Kenziughed. What Nichs used Edward of was indeed true. Edward had contacted Kenzi a few days ago and shared all the problems Nichs was facing.


    ¡°You¡¯re torn between Kimberly and Alpha Beta, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Ken. Do you think it¡¯s easy to make a decision?¡±


    Kenzi nodded, feeling empathetic towards his friend¡¯s dilemma. ¡°If you choose Alpha Beta, it means you¡¯ll have to mentally prepare yourself to see Kimberly with someone else. But if you choose Kimberly, you¡¯ll have to let go of Capital.¡±


    Nichs grumbled in frustration, feeling like everything was going wrongtely. ¡°Can I be greedy and choose both? I really don¡¯t want to lose Alpha Beta, let alone Kimberly.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Nick, with your feelings. But you also have to remember that if we unterally cancel the partnership agreement, Alpha Beta will have to pay a 10% penalty of the total investment value.¡±


    Nichs closed his eyes briefly. He truly didn¡¯t expect things to get thisplicated now.


    ¡°What if I choose to save Alpha Beta? Are you willing to lose a woman who means so much to you again?¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, Ken. I feel like I¡¯m going crazy right now,¡± Nichs sighed in frustration.


    Kenzi patted Nichs¡¯s shoulder several times, trying to offer support and ease his frustration. ¡°Ask your heart, Nick. In this world, the heart never lies. I¡¯m sure you can make a good choice. Even though I own Alpha Beta, I can¡¯t force you to choose thepany.¡±


    Nichs remained silent, choosing silence over responding to Kenzi¡¯s words.


    ¡°Well, I have to go now. Alya has asked to be picked up soon. I hope your problems are resolved quickly.¡±


    As soon as Kenzi left the room, Nichs¡¯s phone rang, signaling an important call that required his immediate attention.


    ¡ª


    Kimberly had just finished organizing her desk, putting away stacks of documents. After neatly arranging all the papers into folders, she nced at her watch, which showed that it was already six in the evening. She walked over to the coat stand not far from the sofa to retrieve her ck zer. After putting it on, she grabbed her work bag and headed out of the room toward the lobby.


    Downstairs, there was a car waiting specifically to pick her up and take her home. Due to Marco having some unexpected business, she had to go home by herself today.


    During the journey home, Kimberly was engrossed in her phone, browsing through social media or shopping on a well-known online marketce. After a while, she realized that the car she was in was not heading towards her usual route home but to an unfamiliar ce.


    ¡°Sir, where are we going?¡± Kimberly asked, slightly panicked, as the car entered the basement of an apartment building and soon came to a stop.


    ¡°Please exit the vehicle.¡±


    Hearing that voice, Kimberly became more aware of who was with her now.


    ¡°Oh my God, Nichs!¡± Kimberly eximed.


    The man turned and smiled. ¡°Yes, honey. It¡¯s me.¡±


    Nichs then got out of the car and opened the door for Kimberly, inviting her to get out.


    ¡°What do you want by bringing me here?¡± Kimberly asked, confused, after stepping out of the car.


    Instead of answering, Nichs immediately scooped up Kimberly¡¯s body without a word and swiftly carried her to his apartment unit. At first, Kimberly resisted and even protested. But since Nichs paid no attention to her protests, Kimberly eventually resigned herself to being carried, and they reached and entered his apartment unit.


    ¡°Nick, why did you bring me here?¡± Kimberly asked again when Nichs seated her on the sofa.


    ¡°Do I need a reason to bring you here? If I do, just consider that I missed you, Kimmy. That¡¯s why I daringly brought you here.¡±


    Hearing these words, Kimberly fell silent. What more could she do? In truth, she missed him too. But if they were to rekindle their rtionship as it was before, she was afraid of experiencing the heartache she had felt previously.


    ¡°Kimberly, I really miss you,¡± Nichs said with a husky voice. This time, Nichs didn¡¯t want to hide his true feelings anymore.


    Kimberly blinked several times, observing the man beside her who was looking at her sadly.


    I miss you too, Nick.


    Do you know that I think of you almost every night?


    Kimberly took a deep breath and chose to keep these words to herself.


    Seeing Kimberly remaining silent, Nichs pulled her into his embrace. He held her close and kissed the top of her head repeatedly. Somehow, without warning, Nichs brushed his lips against Kimberly¡¯s, tasting and kissing her with tenderness and affection. He had never been this gentle before. Meanwhile, Kimberly could only close her eyes, savoring every sensual touch Nichs gave her. It was a lie if she said she didn¡¯t miss his touch.


    So, in the next moment, their kiss deepened, and their bodies that were initially apart were now pressed closely together without any gap. No one knew when Kimberly shifted her position to sit on Nichs¡¯sp.


    Their kiss continued as if it were a form of revenge for the longing they had held back for so long. Until not long after, Nichs pulled his face away, ending the kiss between them.


    ¡°I love you, Kimberly,¡±

 CHOOSE ALPHABETA

    Arthur was sitting casually in his office, looking at the neatly arranged photos of Kimberly in an album. Mario was there, apanying the old man. He had been asked toe early in the morning, even though it was a holiday. Arthur wondered what he wanted to talk to Mario about.


    Arthur smiled as hemented, ¡°Kimberly is such a cheerful girl. Look, in almost all these neatly arranged photos, she¡¯s alwaysughing or smiling.¡± Arthur showed a specific photo to Mario.


    Mario looked at each photo that Arthur disyed. Kimberly appeared in various poses in the pictures. Mario nodded in agreement.


    ¡°In all the time I¡¯ve known her, I¡¯ve only seen Kimberly cry twice. First, when she found out her mother had passed away. Second, when she decided to leave Nichs Alistair¡¯s apartment.¡±


    Arthur leaned back in his chair. Hearing Mario¡¯sst sentence made his blood boil.


    ¡°That brat had the audacity to make my granddaughter cry. Who is he, daring to do such a thing?¡±


    ¡°They just had a misunderstanding, Opa,¡± Mario tried to calm him down.


    Arthur chuckled bitterly. ¡°Regardless, he has no right to hurt Kimberly. How could that young Alistair doubt my granddaughter like that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, it¡¯s just a misunderstanding, Opa.¡±


    Arthur gave Mario a puzzled look. ¡°Why do you keep defending him? Even though you know that I prefer you as Kimberly¡¯spanion. No one understands and can take care of my granddaughter like you do.¡±


    Mario smiled thinly at Arthur. The old man had always liked him. Growing up together, Mario understood Kimberly¡¯s character, desires, and habits. Especially since Kimberly¡¯s parents had passed away, Mario had always been there for her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not defending him, Opa. I¡¯m just stating the truth. Don¡¯t you feel sorry for separating Kimberly from the man she loves?¡±


    Arthur Rayderughed again. ¡°Nonsense about love. I¡¯m trying to give Kimberly the best. That¡¯s why I arranged for her to be with you.¡±


    Mario took a deep breath quietly. He confirmed what Kimberly had said ¨C it wasn¡¯t easy to change Arthur Rayder¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Give her a chance to choose her own path, Opa. Kimberly is no longer a child.¡±


    Arthur got up from his seat and walked towards the window, looking outside and observing Kimberly watering the flowers in their yard.


    ¡°I know what¡¯s best for Kimberly. It¡¯s better if you take her out now. I intentionally asked you toe here to take her out. I think it¡¯s been a while since she went out.¡±


    Mario nodded and also stood up from his chair. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do that. I¡¯ll take Kimberly out.¡±


    After leaving Arthur Rayder¡¯s office, Mario took his cellphone out of his pants pocket. He contacted someone before approaching Kimberly, who was in the yard.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ****


    Kimberly couldn¡¯t stop smiling this morning. Her heart was filled with joy as she recalled yesterday¡¯s events between her and Nichs.


    ¡°If you love me, never leave me, Nick,¡± Kimberly pleaded.


    Nichs smiled and affectionately pinched Kimberly¡¯s cheek. ¡°Did you forget? It was you who left me yesterday, Kimberly. Not me. And you¡¯re the one who always avoids me when I make an effort to meet you.¡±


    Kimberly blushed, acknowledging the truth in his words. She was the one who chose to leave Nichs¡¯s life. She was also the one who had been avoiding him whenever they identally met or crossed paths.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for all my behavior. You should understand that I was just afraid of being disappointed and heartbroken.¡±


    Nichs gently kissed Kimberly¡¯s lips. ¡°Whatever you do to me, it¡¯s all deserved. I should be the one apologizing for hurting your feelings. I will never get tired of asking for your forgiveness.¡±


    Seeing the sincerity in Nichs¡¯s eyes, Kimberly reached out and cupped Nichs¡¯s face with both of her hands. ¡°I love you, and I will keep loving you no matter what.¡±


    Nichs held Kimberly¡¯s hands against his cheek. ¡°Will you promise me something?¡±


    ¡°What promise?¡± Kimberly asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Promise me that no matter what happens after this, you¡¯ll believe that I truly love you.¡±


    Kimberly nodded and leaned forward, giving Nichs a brief kiss on the lips before hugging him tightly.


    ¡°Are you busy?¡± Mario greeted, snapping Kimberly out of her reverie.


    Kimberly turned and replied, ¡°No, just watering the flowers. Why? Is there something you want to talk about?¡±


    Mario just smiled in response.


    ¡°Hurry and change your clothes. I want to take you out for a while.¡±


    Kimberly stopped her activity and looked at Mario with surprise. It was unusual for Mario to take her out on a holiday, especially when it wasn¡¯t work-rted.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask too many questions, just follow my instructions.¡±


    Kimberly sighed in resignation, pursing her lips tightly, and then went off to follow Mario¡¯smand. She quickly changed into casual attire and applied a lightyer of makeup to her face. When she was ready, she returned to the family room where Mario was waiting.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Kimberly said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. But it¡¯s better to say goodbye to Opa first so he won¡¯t look for you.¡±


    Kimberly nodded and made her way to Arthur¡¯s office. After bidding farewell, she joined Mario, who had already entered the car.


    ¡°Actually, where are you taking me?¡± Kimberly asked as they started their journey.


    From behind the wheel, Mario replied, ¡°Maybe to Pasific ce.¡±


    Once again, Kimberly was puzzled by the man beside her. It was only ten in the morning; why were they going to the mall so early?


    ¡°Are you sure you want to go to Pasific ce?¡± Kimberly asked to confirm.


    While driving, Mario nodded. His gaze remained fixed on the road ahead.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m sure. You haven¡¯t had breakfast, have you? We can have breakfast there first. We can decide what to do afterward.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Kimberly replied, then fell silent, choosing to watch the road outside. Shortly afterward, they entered the Sudirman Central Business District in the Senayan area and stopped at the Pacific ce shopping center.


    Kimberly followed Mario¡¯s steps until they finally stopped at a Japanese restaurant. She was a bit surprised when he brought her here. As far as Kimberly knew, Mario wasn¡¯t fond of Japanese cuisine; he usually preferred Chinese food.


    After they entered, a waitress approached and guided them to empty seats.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the yakiniku and tempura,¡± Kimberly said, looking at the menu disyed in the book.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll have the same,¡± Mario replied.


    Once they had chosen their food, they engaged in conversation, discussing work and Arthur¡¯s improving health.


    During their conversation, Mario nced at his phone, which had suddenly received a message from an unknown sender. He rose from his seat shortly after.


    ¡°Wait for me here; I need to go to the restroom,¡± he said to Kimberly.


    Kimberly nodded and allowed Mario to leave. While she waited for their food to arrive, she had an unexpected visitor. A confident man approached and pulled out a chair to sit in front of her.


    ¡°Nick¡­¡± Kimberly¡¯s eyes widened in surprise when Nichs sat down in front of her. ¡°How did you get here?¡± she asked, bewildered.


    ¡°Because I wanted to join you for breakfast, my dear,¡± Nichs replied casually.


    ¡°Breakfast?¡± Kimberly furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. ¡°But I came here with Mario. If he sees us together-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Nichs interrupted. ¡°In fact, Mario asked me toe here and join you.¡±


    Kimberly was startled by Nichs¡¯s confession. So, Mario deliberately arranged for her and Nichs to meet? But for what purpose?


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me when he picked me up yesterday, you and Mario were working together too?¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, Mario orchestrated it all.¡±


    ¡°But for what? And where is Mario now?¡± Kimberly inquired.


    Nichs shrugged. ¡°The reason why doesn¡¯t matter, Kimberly. Mario has his own business to attend to right now. What¡¯s important is that you enjoy today; consider it a date between us.¡±


    Kimberly smiled and began to eat the food that had just been served by the waitstaff.


    ¡°I did find it strange when Mario suddenly invited me for breakfast. And he chose a Japanese restaurant. I remember that Mario doesn¡¯t like this kind of food,¡± Kimberly began the conversation.


    While chewing his food, Nichs smiled faintly. ¡°So, who do you think likes Japanese cuisine then?¡±


    Kimberly looked into Nichs¡¯s eyes. ¡°Of course, Mr. Nichs Alistair is the one who enjoys this type of food.¡±


    Nichsughed upon hearing Kimberly¡¯s response. ¡°Well, I did ask Mario to take you to this restaurant. It¡¯s been a while since we had breakfast together like this.¡±


    The two of them continued their conversation while enjoying the meal they had ordered. Kimberly couldn¡¯t stop smiling, unable to believe that she was able to meet Nichs again today, all thanks to Mario. She even promised herself that she would thank him for helping her meet the man she loved.


    ¡°After this, where do you want to go?¡± Kimberly asked after they finished their breakfast.


    Nichs appeared to think for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go watch a movie. I want to spend the day with you.¡±


    Following his suggestion, Nichs took Kimberly to one of the cinemas in Pasific ce. After spending about two hours there, they decided to head to the game center. They yed games for hours until Kimberly suddenly realized that it waste in the afternoon.


    ¡°I think I should head home now. I¡¯m afraid Grandpa will look for me if I¡¯mte,¡± Kimberly said.


    Nichs stopped his game. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    Kimberly shook her head gently. ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid Grandpa will see you if you¡¯re the one who takes me home.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your grandpa won¡¯t see me. Mario told me earlier that Arthur has an event to attend outside this afternoon. So, it¡¯s okay if I take you home.¡±


    Feeling reassured and confident, Kimberly agreed to Nichs¡¯s offer to take her home. Fortunately, the streets weren¡¯t as congested as usual this afternoon, so Kimberly arrived home promptly at six in the evening.


    Before getting out of the car, Kimberly hugged Nichs tightly.


    ¡°Thank you so much for today. I will never forget it.¡±


    Nichs gently stroked the top of Kimberly¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯m d to see you happy.¡±


    ¡°Nick¡­¡± Kimberly called.


    ¡°Yes, is there something you want to say?¡± Nichs asked.


    ¡°Can we meet again tomorrow afternoon? Go out for lunch, for example?¡±


    Nichs exhaled softly and smiled. ¡°I hope I can apany you tomorrow.¡±


    Kimberly returned Nichs¡¯s smile and was about to get out of the car. However, before she could open the car door, Nichs pulled her into his embrace.


    ¡°I love you, Kimberly Rayder. Really¡­ really love you. Please, no matter what happens after today, remember that I love you so much.¡± Nichs then lifted Kimberly¡¯s chin and gave her a long kiss.


    ¡°Of course, I love you very much too,¡± Kimberly replied after Nichs released their lips.


    ¡°See you tomorrow, Nick.¡± Kimberly then got out of the car and waved goodbye.


    Convinced that Kimberly had entered her house, Nichs drove his car at a moderate speed to a specific location. Someone was already waiting for him there. It took about fifteen minutes, and he finally arrived at a Chinese restaurant in the city center.


    He quickly entered the restaurant and looked for the person who was already seated, waiting for him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Arthur, I¡¯mte,¡± Nichs said politely.


    Arthur sighed in annoyance. ¡°Young people these days have a hard time respecting time. How can you be sessful if you can¡¯t make the most of your time?¡± he scolded. ¡°Now sit down! I don¡¯t have much time,¡± he ordered afterward.


    Nichsplied with Arthur¡¯smand to sit. He felt a sense of nervousness because in the next few minutes, he would give a significant answer to the request made by the elderly man in front of him.


    ¡°So, have you made a decision?¡± Arthur asked.


    Nichs took a deep breath, firming his resolve about the choice he had made. Then he nodded decisively.


    ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it very carefully.¡±


    Arthur raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, what¡¯s your decision, young man?¡±


    ¡°I choose Alpha Beta,¡± Nichs replied firmly and confidently.

 APOLOGIZE

    ¡°I choose Alpha Beta,¡± Arthur Rayder stared at Nichs with an expression that was difficult to interpret after hearing what the man had chosen. He remained silent for quite some time before finally smiling and asking, ¡°Are you sure you chose Alpha Beta over my granddaughter?¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sure. Very sure. Congrattions, in this game, you¡¯re the winner.¡±


    Arthur squinted at Nichs. There were many things he wanted to ask the man.


    ¡°As I suspected. You never really loved my granddaughter. It was quite evident when you chose money over-¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions,¡± Nichs interrupted. Arthur red at him. He didn¡¯t appreciate it when someone deliberately cut him off mid-sentence.


    Arthur sighed in his position. ¡°Then what¡¯s your reason for not choosing Kimberly?¡±


    Nichs took a slow breath. It wasn¡¯t easy making a decision like this.


    ¡°I love Kimberly. There¡¯s no other woman I love besides your granddaughter. However, I can¡¯t be selfish. I thought that if I canceled the partnership agreement with Capital, Alpha Beta would suffer significant losses. This could affect the livelihoods of the workers who depend on it. I¡¯m not a heartless man,¡± Nichs exined at length.


    Arthur smirked dismissively. ¡°Nonsense. Why are you thinking about others when they might not even be thinking about you? Meanwhile, Kimberly is eager to rekindle her rtionship with you, but you¡¯re the one who chose to leave her.¡±


    In his position, Nichs tried to smile. He wasn¡¯t lying about his feelings. He loved Kimberly deeply, but greed was not his nature.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t be happy at the expense of others¡¯ suffering. I¡¯ve always been taught to prioritize the greater good over my own interests.¡±


    Upon hearing those words, Arthur spontaneously apuded in front of Nichs.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite skilled at crafting words. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not impressed by your words,¡± Arthur straightened his sitting position, preparing to leave. ¡°Because you¡¯ve made your choice, it means you¡¯re also prepared to face the consequences of no longer being involved with my granddaughter,¡± he added.


    Nichs took a deep breath. He tried to steady himself so he wouldn¡¯t waver in his decision. Leaving Kimberly was undoubtedly a difficult choice. But what else could he do? He had already made his decision.


    Arthur nodded. ¡°Very well then. Be prepared to hear news of Kimberly¡¯s wedding soon. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll be sure to invite you. I hope you won¡¯t shed tears of blood when you receive the invitation.¡± Arthur then rose and walked away, leaving Nichs still sitting there, motionless.


    ****


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve decided to leave today. I might arrive in London by tonight.¡±


    After informing Cassandra that he would be heading to London, Nichs directed his car towards the Alpha Beta building. But before arriving there, he went somewhere else first to meet someone.


    Upon reaching the Alpha Beta building, Edward and Kenzi were already sitting casually on the CEO¡¯s office sofa. It seemed like they had deliberately waited for Nichs¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Are you really going today?¡± Edward, who had been waiting for a long time, finally asked.


    As he organized important documents inside the desk drawer, Nichs nodded. ¡°Yes, my flight takes off at noon. While waiting, I¡¯ll tidy up which important files you need to review and keep.¡±


    Kenzi, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just choose Kimberly, Nick? I know you love her deeply.¡±Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Nichs approached Edward and Kenzi, who were sitting on the sofa. He then sat down beside them.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let yourpany suffer the consequences, Ken. Paying a fine of 2. 5 trillion can disrupt Alpha Beta¡¯s finances. The workers will be affected. I know both of my parents are conglomerates, and if I asked them for help, they would surely provide it. However, it wouldn¡¯t be fair for them to pay for the damages caused by my actions. A responsible man wouldn¡¯t behave that way, right?¡±


    Kenzi smiled. This was one of Nichs¡¯s qualities that he liked the most. Nichs never mixed personal matters with work, and he always prioritized the greater good over his own desires.


    ¡°I can¡¯t force you, Nick. You know what¡¯s best for you. But if you ever need anything, I¡¯m here to help,¡± Kenzi said, then put an arm around Nichs.


    ¡°Oh my, why has the atmosphere suddenly turned so sad? We¡¯re men, why are we acting so sentimental?¡± Edward, who was sitting next to Kenzi, grumbled when he saw his two friends hugging each other.


    Nichs and Kenzi bothughed at Edward¡¯s remark. He had a knack for ruining the mood.


    ¡°I think there¡¯s nothing more to wait for or hand over. So, I bid farewell to both of you. Hopefully, we¡¯ll meet again someday.¡±


    Nichs stood up from his seat, followed by Kenzi and Edward.


    ¡°Have you said your goodbyes to Kimberly?¡± Edward suddenly asked.


    Nichs shook his head. ¡°No. I promised Arthur Rayder that I wouldn¡¯t see or contact Kimberly again.¡±


    ¡°Good Lord!¡± Edward eximed. ¡°I feel like poisoning that old man. Why are there people as wicked and cunning as him in this world?¡± Edward scoffed, cing his hands on his hips.


    Nichs gave a faint smile. ¡°If we¡¯re meant to be, we¡¯ll meet again someday. I believe in that.¡±


    Kenzi nodded in agreement. Afterward, the three of them walked out of the room in unison until they reached the lobby of the building.


    ¡°Once again, I bid farewell. Thank you for the opportunities you¡¯ve given me, Ken. Without both of you, I might not have been able to lead Alpha Beta effectively,¡± Nichs sincerely said as he prepared to get into his car.


    Kenzi and Edward embraced Nichs for onest time.


    ¡°Thank you for your dedication, Nick. You¡¯re the most responsible CEO. Whenever you want toe back, Alpha Beta is always open for you. Hopefully, we can meet in London soon,¡± Kenzi said after releasing her embrace and allowing Nichs to get into his car.


    ****


    Kimberly nced at her phone, and it showed 1 PM. She quickly grabbed her work bag and headed out of the room towards the lobby. A driver was waiting there to take her away.


    After a ten-minute drive, Kimberly arrived at a restaurant. It was a ce she and Nichs had frequented for lunch together.


    While ordering her food, Kimberly reached for her phone andposed a brief message.


    [I¡¯m at our regr restaurant. Hurry here. I¡¯m waiting for you.]


    Confidently, she sent the message to Nichs, hoping he would read it and join her.


    [Nick, you¡¯reing to have lunch with me, right?]


    [Nick, where are you?]


    Ten minutes passed. Fifteen minutes passed. And then, an entire hour went by. Nichs didn¡¯t show up. There was no response to her messages. Kimberly tried calling, but his phone couldn¡¯t be reached.


    Kimberly started to panic, wondering where he could be since he hadn¡¯t replied to any of her messages. Frustrated from waiting for so long, she decided to return to the office.


    Throughout the journey back home in the evening, Mario could tell that Kimberly wasn¡¯t herself. She sat quietly, and even when Mario tried to engage her in conversation, her responses were brief andcked enthusiasm.


    ¡°If there¡¯s a problem, you can talk to me, Kimmy,¡± Mario offered.


    Kimberly turned to Mario, who was busy driving the car they were in.


    ¡°I¡¯m just thinking about something,¡± Kimberly replied weakly.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Kimberly took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. ¡°Nichs, I¡¯m thinking about him. Oh, I almost forgot. Thank you for helping both of us meet yesterday. I didn¡¯t expect you to do that.¡±


    Mario nodded. ¡°No need to thank me, Kimmy. I did what I could.¡±


    ¡°You know¡­¡± Kimberly began. ¡°¡­ I feel like something is off with Nichs. Even today, I had trouble reaching him. None of my texts or calls were answered. I¡¯m really worried.¡±


    Mario remained silent, not responding to Kimberly¡¯s concerns.


    Choosing to stay focused, they soon arrived in front of Kimberly¡¯s house.


    ¡°Kimmy¡­¡± Mario called before they got out of the car.


    Kimberly turned to Mario. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Mario reached into the car¡¯s dashboard and retrieved an envelope with Kimberly¡¯s name on it.


    Curious, Kimberly opened and read it right away.


    Dear Mrs. Alistair,


    By the time you read this letter, I won¡¯t be near you anymore. Perhaps, I¡¯ve flown far away.


    I apologize for not being able to say goodbye to you in person. This separation is heavy for both of us, trust me. But it seems like this is the best choice for both of us.


    My departure doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t love you. Believe me, you¡¯re the only woman I love.


    Let me love you silently this time. Without meeting face to face. Just know that your name is tucked away in every prayer.


    Maybe this is how God teaches us that not all feelings can end up together.


    We¡¯ve been through so many problems, and we¡¯ve also experienced so much happiness. I hope that someday we can meet again.


    Love,


    Nichs Alistair


    Kimberly stared nkly at the letter she had just read.


    ¡°Did Nichs deliver this letter to you personally?¡± she asked, not believing what she had just read.


    Mario nodded without saying a word. Kimberly couldn¡¯t believe it.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t even give it to me directly. What¡¯s really going on?¡± After saying that, a tear escaped her eye without any restraint. Mario, who was sitting beside Kimberly,forted her, pulling her closer to lean on his shoulder. The next moment, the sobs were audible, and they were painful.


    ¡°Am I not allowed to feel happy?¡± Kimberly asked between sobs.


    Mario loosened his hug, wiped the tears from Kimberly¡¯s cheeks, and said, ¡°You deserve happiness, Kimberly. I¡¯m sure happiness wille to you soon. You just need to wait for the right time.¡±

 ARRANGE MARRIAGE

    For the tranted text in American English with correct grammar, please see below:


    ¡°For the past two days, Arthur had been observing Kimberly, who seemed so gloomy. The woman went to work listlessly and returned home in silence. Usually, Kimberly always had something to share with him, whether it was work-rted issues or just casual conversations about her daily life.


    Curious, that evening, Arthur finally asked Mario when the two of them had just returned from the office. He was convinced that Mario knew what was happening with his granddaughtertely.


    ¡°Is there something you want to talk to me about?¡± Mario asked while they were in Arthur¡¯s office.


    Arthur, who was engrossed in reading a book, paused. He first took off his sses and then ced the book he had been holding aside.


    ¡°Have a seat,¡± Arthur instructed. ¡°There¡¯s something I want to ask you.¡±


    Marioplied with Arthur¡¯s request, taking a seat right next to the elderly man.


    ¡°What does grandpa want to ask about?¡±


    ¡°About Kimberly,¡± Arthur replied quickly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know something about Kimberly. These past few days, I¡¯ve noticed she¡¯s been very down.¡±


    Mario sighed softly.


    ¡°Grandpa must know what¡¯s been making Kimberly so sad.¡±


    Arthur raised his eyebrows. ¡°Do you mean because of Alistair Junior?¡±


    Mario nodded. ¡°Before Nichs left for London, he entrusted me with a letter to give to Kimberly. It might have been a farewell letter because after reading it, Kimberly burst into hysterical tears in front of me.¡±


    ¡°That insolent brat!¡± Arthur muttered angrily. ¡°How dare that spoiled kid send a letter to Kimberly? Didn¡¯t he promise not to contact her again?¡±


    Mario sighed deeply. He was growing tired of hearing Arthur¡¯sints like this. The old man was the one creating too much drama in his granddaughter¡¯s life.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to tell Kimberly everything? About the issue between you and Nichs? I feel sorry seeing her so sad all the time,¡± Mario pleaded earnestly.


    Arthur sighedzily. For a moment, he appeared to be stroking his chin several times while weighing the decision of when to tell Kimberly about the recent issues between him and Nichs.


    ¡°I will tell her, but not right now. Maybe after your engagement party.¡±


    Mario slumped down. It seemed it wasn¡¯t easy to persuade Arthur Rayder. Instead of resolving Kimberly¡¯s problems, the old man was now discussing the engagement.


    ¡°Have you sent out the invitations?¡± Arthur asked to confirm.


    Mario nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s nearly done. All preparations, from the venue and everything else, are already 99%plete,¡± Mario replied briefly. ¡°So, who will tell Kimberly about this engagement?¡±


    Arthur chuckled. He thought Mario must be getting a headache from all the games he had set up.


    ¡°For engagement matters, it¡¯s better if you tell Kimberly. I trust you with it.¡±


    ****


    It was the third day since Nichs had been in London after his decision to return to his homnd. Opting to stay temporarily at his parents¡¯ second residence, Cassandra looked delighted because Nichs had chosen to live in his own apartment since his college days. It was a rare urrence for him to decide to live separately, even for a short while.


    That evening, Nichs was seen sitting casually on his porch, reading a book while enjoying the sunset. Cassandra, who had been observing from the kitchen, decided to approach while carrying some snacks.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Cassandra asked as she sat down next to Nichs.


    Nichs turned and shed a smile.


    ¡°Me?¡± Nichs pointed at his own face with his finger. ¡°What about me, Ma?¡±


    Cassandra returned Nichs¡¯s smile.


    ¡°You seem more mncholic than usual. Where¡¯s the Nichs who used toin and be talkative all the time? I haven¡¯t seen that in you these past few days.¡±


    This time, Nichs chuckled with amusement.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just Mama¡¯s feeling,¡± Nichs replied.


    ¡°You must be thinking about Kimberly,¡± Cassandra probed. Actually, there was no need to ask because Cassandra was sure her son was thinking about Kimberly, who was far away. Nichs was the kind of guy who didn¡¯t easily forget someone, especially someone who had once upied his heart.


    Nichs nodded weakly. ¡°A little. I can¡¯t lie by saying I¡¯m not thinking about her. But from now on, I¡¯ll learn to forget her, Ma.¡±


    Cassandra reached for one of Nichs¡¯s wrists and held it firmly.


    ¡°Why did you choose to leave when you love her so much?¡±


    ¡°I had to choose Alpha Beta, Ma,¡± Nichs replied quickly. ¡°There are thousands of employees there. Cancelling the contract with Capital would mean damaging thepany¡¯s reputation and financial system significantly. The consequences are not trivial. It would affect the workers. I¡¯m sane enough not to be ambitious enough to jeopardize the fate of many people just for one woman.¡±


    ¡°But, Nick-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Ma,¡± Nichs interrupted Cassandra. ¡°We may have been destined to meet, but we weren¡¯t destined to be together.¡± Nichs spoke with a hint of sadness. He then averted his gaze, staring straight at the slowly fading sunset.


    Cassandra tightened her grip.


    ¡°Nick¡­ If you choose Kimberly, Papa and I are ready topensate for all the losses incurred. Alpha Beta will be fine. That much money is not worth your happiness, Son.¡±


    Nichs looked back at Cassandra.


    ¡°Ma, I beg you. There¡¯s no need to discuss this further. I¡¯m sure Kimberly is happy there too.¡±


    Cassandra took a deep breath. Nichs was indeed a very stubborn man.


    ¡°How can she be happy when she¡¯s separated from the one she loves?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s Mario. I heard they will have their engagement soon. So, Mama shouldn¡¯t worry. Mario will be there to take care of her and love her,¡± Nichs said with a wistful smile. Now it was his turn to take a deep breath. Imagining Kimberly getting engaged to another man instantly made his chest tight. But he had to let it go. After all, Mario had promised to always protect Kimberly.


    ¡°I¡¯m entrusting this letter to you to give to Kimberly,¡± Nichs said when he decided to meet with Mario.


    Nichs shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that if I give it to her directly, my resolve will waver. I also don¡¯t have much time since my flight will take off in a few hours.¡±


    Mario reached for the letter handed over by Nichs.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure Kimberly reads it. But once again, I ask, are you sure about your decision?¡±


    Nichs nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m very sure. I also promised Mr. Arthur Rayder that I would never see Kimberly again.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re willing to see Kimberly get engaged to me? Because sooner orter, that will happen.¡±


    Nichs fell silent.


    In this world, who would willingly watch their loved one be with someone else? It was a very human feeling. But again, what could Nichs do now? He had already promised Arthur to stay away from Kimberly.


    ¡°Nick¡­¡± Mario called his name again.


    Nichs snapped out of his thoughts and replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you eventually get engaged. I know you¡¯re capable of taking care of and protecting Kimberly.¡±


    Mario finally nodded.


    ¡°I promise I will always look after Kimberly.¡±


    Nichs was very confident that Mario would keep his promise. All this time, Mario had been the one who stood behind Kimberly. So Nichs had no doubts.


    Seeing Nichs lost in thought for a long time, Cassandra gently patted Nichs¡¯s shoulder until his attention shifted to her.


    ¡°Do you remember what Mama said earlier?¡±


    Nichs furrowed his brow, trying to understand his mother¡¯s meaning. ¡°Which statement, Ma?¡±


    ¡°The statement that when you return to London, Mama will find a prospective wife for you.¡±


    Nichs sighed deeply and nodded.


    ¡°Yes, I remember. Why? Has Mama found a prospective wife for me?¡±


    Cassandra smiled.


    ¡°Of course. Mama has been preparing a prospective wife for you for a long time. Perhaps soon you two can meet.¡± Cassandra was confident that her choice this time would not disappoint her son. She just needed the right time to introduce them to each other.


    Nichs sighed wearily.


    ¡°Just arrange it however Mama thinks best,¡± Nichs could only surrender now to the arranged marriage that Cassandra had set up.


    ****


    Mario had knocked on Kimberly¡¯s bedroom door countless times. Waiting for over ten minutes in front of the door, he received no response from inside the woman¡¯s room. Curious, Mario knocked again, this time harder. Fortunately, this time Kimberly immediately opened it.


    ¡°Am I disturbing you?¡± Mario asked as Kimberly stood before him.


    Kimberly shook her head weakly.


    ¡°No. Do you need something?¡±


    Mario nodded.


    ¡°I need to talk to you about something. Can I have a moment of your time?¡±


    Kimberly stepped back and gestured for Mario to enter her room. He promptly took a seat in a chair not far from the room¡¯s balcony.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Mario asked once they were both seated.


    Kimberly gave a faint smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Fine? I can see your eyes are swollen, Kimberly Rayder. You say you¡¯re fine? What are you thinking?¡±


    Anyone who saw Kimberly¡¯s condition would hardly believe that she was fine. Her appearance was in disarray: puffy and red eyes, swollen lips as if she had cried excessively. Of course, Mario was suspicious.


    ¡°Even if something is happening to me, there¡¯s no one who can help me. So, it¡¯s better if we don¡¯t discuss this anymore,¡± Kimberly requested, her voice sounding weak.


    Mario sighed deeply. He felt pity seeing Kimberly so broken right now. But there was nothing he could do at the moment. Arthur heldplete control over her.


    ¡°If you ever need someone to talk to, I¡¯m here to listen.¡±


    Kimberly smiled again.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯ve told you, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s better if you exin what you wanted to talk about now.¡±N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Once again, Mario studied Kimberly¡¯s face, thinking about the right words to convey to her. If only Arthur hadn¡¯t involved him in this matter, things might not have be soplicated now.


    ¡°I want to talk about the engagement.¡±


    Kimberly immediately flinched. Her previously downcast face lifted, and she stared at Mario with a questioning look. She knew that Grandpa Arthur would eventually unite her with Mario, but she didn¡¯t expect it to happen so soon.


    ¡°So, Grandpa is really going to arrange a marriage between us?¡±

 FLASHBACK (1)

    Mario never seemed tired of smiling at all the guests who attended. His face was radiant after formally getting engaged just a few hours ago.


    Arthur was also delighted. The old man was even busy socializing with the business colleagues who were present at the party.


    Among the many happy people, only Kimberly seemed ordinary. She even appeared distant from the crowd, choosing to sit alone in one corner of the event room while continuously gazing at Mario from a distance.


    She should have felt relieved because she wasn¡¯t the one apanying Mario tonight. Yes, a few days ago, Kimberly almost couldn¡¯t breathe when he suddenly brought up the topic of engagement. She thought that her grandfather, Arthur, was really going to arrange a match between them. However, Mario revealed that he would be engaged to another woman.


    ¡°So, is Grandpa really going to arrange a match between us?¡± Mario didn¡¯t immediately answer. He remained silent for quite a while, which only made Kimberly¡¯s thoughts wander.


    ¡°Come on, answer my question. Why are you staying silent?¡± Kimberly urged. She was impatient to get rity from Mario about this engagement.


    In his position, Mario took a deep breath, preparing himself to deliver this news to Kimberly. ¡°The engagement party will be held the day after tomorrow. I hope you can attend.¡±


    ¡°Whose engagement party? Ours?¡± Kimberly was truly puzzled by Mario¡¯s statement.


    Mario shook his head quickly. ¡°Not our engagement.¡±


    ¡°What? What do you mean?¡± Kimberly became even more confused. ¡°Oh,e on, Mario. Don¡¯t be vague like this. Please exin clearly,¡± Kimberly insisted.


    Mario sighed briefly and then provided an answer to Kimberly¡¯s earlier question. ¡°Please pay attention and listen to me carefully,¡± Mariomanded. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve had a girlfriend for a while now.¡±


    Kimberly widened her eyes, ready to protest, but Mario gave her a signal not to interrupt him.


    ¡°It hasn¡¯t been long, maybe just around six months recently. At first, I kept all of this hidden from Grandpa Arthur because I didn¡¯t want to disappoint him. As you know, Grandpa wants the two of us to be together. But after being sure that the only person you love in this world is Nichs, I recently gathered the courage to tell Grandpa everything. Fortunately, he finally understood and supported me in proposing to the woman I chose.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re really going to be engaged to your chosen woman?¡± Kimberly shook her head in disbelief. Of course, she was surprised, considering that Mario had spent more time recently taking care of Kimberly and Arthur Rayder.


    Mario nodded.


    ¡°Yes, as I mentioned before, I¡¯m getting engaged the day after tomorrow. I hope you can attend the engagement party. If you have some free time, I¡¯ll tell you more details about my fianc¨¦e,¡± Mario said.


    Kimberly approached Mario, closing the distance between them and then hugged him.


    ¡°Congrattions. I¡¯m genuinely happy to hear this news. I¡¯ll definitely be there at your engagement party,¡± Kimberly said sincerely. To her, Mario deserved to have this happiness.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be happy too, Kimberly,¡± Mario said as Kimberly released her hug.


    Although Arthur Rayder was very stern and arrogant, Mario believed that the old man loved his granddaughter deeply. He always tried to provide the best for Kimberly. It just required more patience to deal with all his behavior.


    ¡°If only I could. But it seems unlikely,¡± Kimberly¡¯s face turned sad.


    Mario frowned. ¡°Why is it unlikely?¡±


    ¡°You know for yourself that Grandpa doesn¡¯t approve of my rtionship with Nichs,¡± Kimberly smiled sadly. She was aware that her love story was not going as smoothly as she had hoped.


    Mario gently cupped Kimberly¡¯s downcast face. ¡°Talk to Grandpa. I believe you can change his mind. You both just need to have a heart-to-heart conversation. You have to fight for your love.¡±


    Kimberly nodded and then smiled. ¡°I will try.¡±


    Recalling her conversation with Mario a few days ago, Kimberly chuckled. Could she really convince Arthur to approve of her rtionship with Nichs?


    So, when they arrived home after attending Mario¡¯s engagement party, Arthur suddenly called Kimberly, who was about to go to her room. He asked her to sit in the family room with him.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to ask you,¡± Arthur said.


    Kimberly sighed softly. She was sure that Arthur was going to ask why she had been looking downcast for the past few days.


    ¡°What does Grandpa want to ask?¡± Kimberly asked. Her face appeared rxed.


    Arthur leaned his old, frail body against the armrest of the chair, adjusting his sitting position to be morefortable. Then he spoke again.


    ¡°What have you been thinking about for the past few days? You seem upset, Kimberly. Even though I¡¯m not forcing you to get engaged to Mario.¡±


    Kimberly raised her face, mustering the courage to look Arthur in the eye.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you know what I¡¯ve been thinking, Grandpa.¡±


    Arthur sighed heavily. ¡°Why is young Alistair driving you so crazy? He¡¯s hurt you multiple times. He even left you now, hasn¡¯t he?¡±Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°And I¡¯m sure Nichs left me because of you!¡± Kimberly responded with a hint of emotion.


    ¡°Nichs left you because of his own choice,¡± Arthur replied calmly.


    Kimberly shook her head repeatedly. ¡°It can¡¯t be. There must be a reason why Nichs suddenly left me. I know who Nichs is. He¡¯s a man who always tries to get what he wants, except when it inconveniences a lot of people,¡± Kimberly argued. ¡°Please, tell me everything, Grandpa. Aren¡¯t you even a little bit sorry for me?¡± Kimberly¡¯s voice trembled. She was on the verge of tears.


    Arthur took a deep breath. He realized that Kimberly looked deeply hurt this time.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you everything. But you need to remember that my decision won¡¯t change a bit after you hear all of this.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Kimberly whispered. ¡°Just tell me everything.¡±


    Arthur looked straight out the window and began to recount everything. The initial chronology of why he made a ridiculous request to Nichs.


    That afternoon, on the day Capital was going to announce their business partner, Arthur received an unexpected guest while he was engrossed in reading a book.


    ¡°Sir, there¡¯s someone who wants to meet you,¡± a maid informed Arthur, who was rxing in his office.


    Arthur removed his reading sses and asked, ¡°Who wants to meet me at this time of day?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her before either. She said there¡¯s something important she wants to discuss with you, sir,¡± the maid replied politely.


    ¡°Tell her toe in and meet me here,¡± Arthur instructed, and the maid nodded respectfully.


    Before long, the maid brought someone into Arthur Rayder¡¯s office. Someone whose face looked familiar to the old man.


    ¡°What brings Cassandra Harrison all the way to my house?¡± Arthur greeted when Cassandra had seated herself in front of him.


    Cassandra smiled. ¡°My name is Cassandra Alistair now, Mr. Arthur. Have you forgotten?¡±


    Arthur chuckled.


    ¡°Ah, of course, I remember. How could I forget about you, the wife of a British conglomerate? I also remember because your husband donated a significant amount to our charity project a few years ago. That¡¯s what caused you to move from Singapore to London, right?¡± Cassandra nodded. ¡°As a good wife, I have to apany my husband wherever he goes.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only right for a wife to follow her husband wherever he goes. But in charity work, you¡¯re still active, aren¡¯t you?¡± Cassandra nodded again. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m still active. I promised Aunt Veronica that I would continue her work in helping the less fortunate.¡±

 FLASHBACK (2)

    Arthur remembered well that Veronica, his wife, had been very active in charity work. Then, at some point, she identally met Cassandra, a young woman who had dedicated half of her life to helping street children and orphans. They both worked together to provide assistance until the time when Cassandra, by chance, met Robert Alistair, who was working in Singapore at that time. He also became thergest donor for the charity event organized by Veronica.


    Somehow, at some point, Cassandra developed a rtionship with Robert Alistair and decided to get married. After bing husband and wife, Robert brought Cassandra with him to Ennd. Since then, Veronica and Arthur rarely met Cassandra. It was only asionally when she was traveling to Singapore.


    Arthur reached for the teacup already ced on his table. He took a sip and continued speaking. ¡°So, what brings you all the way here to meet me?¡±


    Cassandra took her own drink, sipped it slowly, and then ced her cup back on the table. Once again, she smiled before answering. ¡°I want to discuss the matter between my son and your granddaughter.¡±


    Arthur raised an eyebrow. ¡°My son? My granddaughter? What connection do they have?¡±


    ¡°My son and your granddaughter are in love with each other. They-¡±


    ¡°Hold on¡­ hold on¡­¡± Arthur interrupted. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t understand where this conversation is going. Do my granddaughter and your son have a rtionship? If I may ask, who is your son?¡±


    Cassandra reached into her bag, opened her photo gallery, and showed it to Arthur. ¡°His name is Nichs Junior Alistair.¡±


    Upon hearing the name Nichs, Arthur burst intoughter. ¡°Oh my goodness. Why is that troublemaker here again? Is this how God is punishing me?¡± Arthur couldn¡¯t stopughing, leaving Cassandra puzzled.


    ¡°Do you know my son? I mean, have you met him in person?¡± Cassandra inquired.


    Arthur nodded. ¡°Of course, this troublemaker has made my granddaughter cry several times. Do you know he even dared to call Kimberly a cheap woman? From the way he spoke, he seemed a bit emotional.¡±


    Cassandra closed her eyes briefly. She was not lying when she said she was nervous right now.


    ¡°Oh God. Whatever my son did, I apologize to you. I¡¯m sure they both misunderstood each other. Nichs loves Kimberly deeply.¡±


    Arthurughed again upon hearing Cassandra¡¯s defense. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect Nichs to be your son. I know my granddaughter loves your son deeply. She even secretly got engaged to him behind my back,¡± Arthur smirked.


    Cassandra was almost at a loss for words. Arthur was not the forgiving type, especially when it came to family. As a tough family man, he never allowed any harm toe to his family members, especially his beloved granddaughter.


    ¡°I sincerely apologize for any wrongdoings Nichs has done. I can swear that he¡¯s a good man,¡± Cassandra said earnestly.


    Arthur stared closely at Cassandra¡¯s pleading face. ¡°So, what do you want?¡±


    ¡°Approve of Kimberly and Nichs¡¯s rtionship. We don¡¯t even mind the issue of Kimberly¡¯s illness. I personally believe that Nichs can take care of and protect Kimberly in the future.¡±


    Arthur fell silent, maintaining hisposure. He was trying to weigh the request presented by Cassandra.


    ¡°I need proof. How can I believe that Nichs is a responsible man?¡±


    Now it was Cassandra¡¯s turn to be puzzled. How else could she convince the elderly man in front of her? Then, not long after, a crazy idea crossed her mind.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Nichs and Kimberly¡¯spanies are currently in the selection process for a partnership with Capital Group. And I just heard the news recently that Alpha Beta was chosen. You can use that opportunity to test Nichs.¡±


    Arthur, who had been listening attentively, furrowed his brows. ¡°What do you mean? Please don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m confident that Nichs will meet Kimberly in the near future. They¡¯re in a misunderstanding, right? Nichs will surely try to meet Kimberly and exin things. You meet Nichs. Just ask him to choose.¡±


    Arthur nodded in understanding. ¡°Ah, I get it now. So, you want me to ask Nichs to choose between letting go to be with Kimberly or continuing the tender but losing Kimberly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Cassandra answered confidently. ¡°From his choice, you can determine what kind of person Nichs truly is.¡±


    Arthur smiled and said, ¡°Turns out, you¡¯re quite a cunning mother too. I thought you were staying silent in this matter.¡±


    ¡°What else could I do? That was the only way to convince Arthur,¡± Cassandra replied. ording to her, both options that Nichs would choose were equally beneficial. Imagine if Nichs chose to continue the tender, which meant leaving Kimberly; it would show that Nichs was a responsible man who prioritized the greater good over his personal desires. That would be a plus for him. If, by chance, Nichs chose to be selfish and pick Kimberly, Cassandra and Robert were ready topensate for the loss to make their son happy.


    ¡°But I beg you, whatever he chooses, please approve of their rtionship. I know my son loves your granddaughter deeply.¡±


    Arthur chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ll see how it ends. What¡¯s for sure is that I will consider all your suggestions.¡±


    Kimberly shook her head in disbelief after hearing what Arthur had just exined to her. So, all this time, she and Nichs had been used as pawns by her own grandfather.


    ¡°Why is Grandpa this heartless?¡±


    Arthur maintained a calm expression. ¡°I only want the best for you-¡±


    ¡°Nichs is the best for me, Grandpa.¡±


    Arthur remained silent, not responding further to Kimberly¡¯s words. However, unexpectedly, his beloved granddaughter stood up and knelt right in front of him.


    ¡°I beg you, allow me to choose Nichs. Approve of our rtionship. Only Nichs can make me happy now.¡± Tears flowed as Kimberly spoke.


    ¡°I implore you, Grandpa. Please let me be with Nichs this time.¡± With a sob, Kimberly pleaded earnestly.


    Arthur took multiple deep breaths. It was clear that letting go of Kimberly was not easy for him. He weighed the options for quite some time before finally giving his answer.


    ¡°Just so you know, in a few days, Nichs will be engaged to a woman chosen by his mother.¡±


    Hearing this, Kimberly shook her head vigorously. ¡°Please allow me to follow Nichs to London, Grandpa. I beg you, just this once.¡±


    After thinking for a while, Arthur¡¯s defenses finally crumbled as he saw the tears streaming down Kimberly¡¯s cheeks.


    ¡°But you must promise not to be sad if things don¡¯t go as you hope,¡± he said.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Kimberly nodded confidently, then rose and hugged Arthur tightly.


    ¡°Thank you, I promise not to disappoint you this time, Grandpa.¡±

 BIG SURPRISE

    Since morning, Kimberly has been busy packing her belongings to put them in her suitcase. After hearing Arthur Rayder¡¯s exnation about Nichsst night, she decided to join the man in London as soon as possible.


    Enjoying the packing process, Kimberly suddenly remembered that she didn¡¯t remember Nichs¡¯s address or his parents¡¯ addresses. After thinking for a while, she realized who had helped her gather the information.


    Quickly, Kimberly grabbed her cellphone, searched for someone¡¯s number in her contacts list, and dialed it promptly. After three rings, the call was finally answered.


    ¡°Hello,¡± a voice on the other side replied.


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Edward. It¡¯s me, Kimberly. Can I ask for your help?¡± Kimberly inquired.


    ¡°Oh my goodness, Kimberly,¡± Edward eximed in surprise. ¡°What¡¯s the reason for calling me so early in the morning?¡±


    ¡°Can I¡­ Can I ask about Nichs¡¯s address in London?¡± Kimberly hesitantly asked.


    ¡°Of course, you can. But, I¡¯m sorry in advance, why are you asking for Nichs¡¯s address? Are you nning to attend his engagement party?¡± Edward inquired.


    Kimberly fell silent for a moment. Hearing about Nichs¡¯s engagement to another woman suddenly made her chest tighten.


    ¡°Kimberly, are you still there?¡± Edward asked.


    Kimberly snapped back to attention and cleared her throat. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I want to attend his engagement party. But unfortunately, I can¡¯t remember his address at all.¡±


    Edward chuckled over the phone. ¡°I was nning to attend Nichs¡¯s engagement party too. That¡¯s why I¡¯m heading to London this afternoon. If you¡¯d like, we can go together.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve already booked my ticket, and my departure is in a few hours. Please just send me the address,¡± Kimberly requested.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send it to you via text message. Don¡¯t forget, Nichs¡¯s engagement party is tomorrow at 5 in the evening.¡±


    Kimberly took a deep breath and replied, ¡°Thank you for the information. I won¡¯t forget your help today.¡±


    After ending the call, Kimberly¡¯s phone rang again. A text message from Edward had just arrived, containing theplete address of Nichs¡¯s parents¡¯ home, where the party would take ce.


    Still organizing her belongings, a man suddenly entered Kimberly¡¯s room, which was left open. He sat down on one side of the bed and continued to watch Kimberly.


    ¡°Are you leaving today?¡± Mario asked.


    Kimberly nodded. ¡°I have to go quickly; I don¡¯t want to be even a secondte,¡± Kimberly replied without turning to look at Mario.


    ¡°In that case, let¡¯s go,¡± Mario said, getting up from his seat and grabbing Kimberly¡¯s suitcase handle.


    They both went downstairs and headed straight for the car. As soon as she got in, Kimberly was surprised by Arthur¡¯s presence, who was sittingfortably in the car, reading a newspaper.


    ¡°Grandpa, why are you here?¡± Kimberly asked, puzzled.


    Still reading the newspaper he held, Arthur replied, ¡°Do you think I¡¯d let you go alone to a distant country you¡¯ve never visited?¡±


    Kimberly sighed softly. ¡°I¡¯ve been to London before, Grandpa. So, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    Arthur raised his gaze and looked at Kimberly. ¡°Choose to go with me and Mario or not go at all.¡±


    Kimberly widened her eyes.


    ¡°Oh my, even Mario has toe along?¡±


    Arthur nodded firmly.


    ¡°Of course. Mario goes wherever I go.¡±


    Kimberly sighed in frustration. She could never win any argument with Arthur. The old man was known for never backing down from anyone. So, after a heated debate, the three of them finally went together to London.


    ***


    Cassandra and Robert Alistair¡¯s residence appeared busier than in previous days. This was, of course, because in a few hours, Nichs¡¯s engagement party with Cassandra¡¯s chosen woman would take ce.


    Back when he was with Kimberly, they had only hosted a private party. This time, Cassandra was throwing avish and extravagant party. She even adopted a garden party theme for Nichs¡¯s engagement event. Not only were family members invited, but also some business colleagues were included in the guest list.


    Meanwhile, Nichs appeared reluctant to wear the suit that Cassandra had prepared for him. He chose to sit in silence while gazing at the London skyline through his bedroom window.


    If only it were you I was engaged to, maybe I wouldn¡¯t be this sad, Kimmy.


    Nichs closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his emotions.


    Forgive me, Kimberly.


    Forgive me.


    It¡¯s better for you to be with Mario than with me.


    Nichs repeated his apologies to Kimberly in his heart several times. Realizing he had been lost in thought for too long, Nichs stood up and headed to the walk-in closet. He took the prepared clothes and quickly put them on.


    Nichs observed himself in the mirror for quite some time until he heard Cassandra enter and approach him.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Cassandra asked, examining Nichs¡¯s appearance from head to toe.


    Nichs nodded weakly.


    ¡°I am. I¡¯m ready, Mom.¡±


    Cassandra smiled warmly at Nichs.


    ¡°You look so handsome today. Mama is sure everyone will be amazed by your appearance.¡±


    Nichs pulled the corner of his lips and replied.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been handsome, Mom. So don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°You, here,¡± Cassandra giggled. She was aware that Nichs¡¯s feelings weren¡¯t in a good ce, but he was always good at hiding his emotions.


    ¡°After this, you¡¯ll be happy, dear. Mama promises she won¡¯t make a mistake in choosing your future wife. Shees from a good family with a clear background and strong character. You¡¯ll surely fall in love with her easily.¡±


    Cassandra looked enthusiastic, while Nichs merely nodded without interest.


    ¡°Why, Nick?¡± Cassandra asked again when she noticed Nichs didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Are you still thinking about Kimberly?¡± she added.


    Nichs took a deep breath, his anxiety clear in Cassandra¡¯s ears.


    ¡°No, Mom. I¡¯m not thinking about Kimberly. I¡¯m just nervous because I¡¯ll be meeting my future wife soon,¡± Nichs chatted. He didn¡¯t want to see Cassandra disappointed.


    ¡°Well, then, let¡¯s go down quickly. Perhaps the guests have already gathered,¡± Cassandra said, extending her hand, which Nichs quickly epted. They both went downstairs to join the other guests.


    ***


    Kimberly was busy getting ready now. She didn¡¯t really want to do this, but a few hours ago, Mario had pressured her to get dressed as beautifully as possible.


    ¡°How can you go to someone else¡¯s engagement party with in attire? Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± Mario protested.


    ¡°I even want to see Nichs before the event starts. If possible, I want to disrupt his engagement party right then and there. Do you think I¡¯m okay with seeing the man I love engaged to another woman?¡± Kimberly retorted.


    Mario shook his head in disbelief at his friend¡¯s current line of thinking.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be crazy, Kimberly. Behave properly in other people¡¯s ces. You can talk to Nichs after the event is over. Not by ruining and embarrassing his family.¡±


    ¡°So, you think I should just ept that Nichs is officially engaged first? Is that what you mean? You¡¯re crazy!¡± Kimberly eximed.


    Mario sighed in frustration. It was challenging to convince Kimberly not to act recklessly.


    ¡°Kimmy, they¡¯re just engaged. They¡¯re not married yet. Engagements can be canceled or fail. So, you don¡¯t need to be afraid. Besides, if Nichs is truly meant for you, no matter how far apart you are, no matter how much you refuse, he will surelye back to you.¡±


    Kimberly took a deep breath, trying to think rationally and follow all the advice Mario gave her.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow all your advice. I¡¯ll get dressed as beautifully and gracefully as possible to avoid embarrassing myself.¡±N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    ¡°Good, you¡¯re a good girl.¡±


    After finishing her makeup, Kimberly checked her appearance again. Feeling satisfied, she quickly approached Mario and Arthur, who were sitting in the hotel room¡¯s living area. Both men looked ready in their suits.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready; let¡¯s go now.¡±


    Both men got up simultaneously. Kimberly immediately took Arthur¡¯s arm and led the old man to the car.


    After entering Nichs¡¯s parents¡¯ address into the car¡¯s GPS, Mario steered the car in the direction indicated on the map. Fortunately, the streets of London were rtively empty this afternoon, making it easier for them to reach their destination quickly.


    As they exited the car, it was clear to Kimberly that Nichs¡¯s parents¡¯ residence was quite lively. Many luxury cars were parked in front of the house, and many guests had already arrived.


    Kimberly hesitated to enter, but Mario immediately reached for her wrist and led her inside.


    ¡°No need to be scared or doubtful. Remember your purpose foring all this way.¡±


    Kimberly took a deep breath, steadying herself to follow Mario and Arthur inside.


    Once inside, Cassandra, who was chatting with one of the guests, noticed Kimberly¡¯s arrival. She hurriedly approached Kimberly and embraced her.


    ¡°Oh my God, Kimberly. How have you been? Mama missed you so much.¡±


    Feeling ufortable with the sudden embrace, Kimberly could only surrender and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mama. Please forgive everything that happened.¡±


    Cassandra let go of her hug.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, dear. Let it go. Mama also apologizes for not being able to do much. Now, let¡¯s go inside; Nichs¡¯s engagement event will start shortly.¡±


    Hearing Cassandra¡¯s casual remark made Kimberly¡¯s heart feel heavy. She couldn¡¯t bear the thought that, in just a short while, the man she loved would be engaged right in front of her.


    ¡°Ma¡­¡± Kimberly called out, causing Cassandra to turn her way.


    ¡°What is it, dear?¡± Cassandra asked casually.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Nichs¡¯s fianc¨¦e? May I introduce myself to her?¡± Kimberly struggled to utter those words, but she was curious about the woman who would be engaged to the man she loved. Was she beautiful? Was she more attractive than Kimberly? So many questions raced through Kimberly¡¯s mind.


    Seeing the worry on Kimberly¡¯s face, Cassandra smiled thinly.


    ¡°You¡¯ll meet Nichs and his fianc¨¦e in person shortly. While you wait, Mama will go fetch Nichs from his room.¡±


    Kimberly nodded and took a seat not far from the row of chairs provided for the guests. It wasn¡¯t long before the person she was eager to meet arrived with Cassandra.


    Nichs looked incredibly handsome in his shiny ck suit. Kimberly even believed that he must have been quite surprised when he realized her presence. Nichs didn¡¯t divert his gaze from Kimberly for even a moment. Clearly, there was an overwhelming sense of longing in his eyes.


    Meanwhile, Kimberly chose to remain in her position, waiting anxiously for the appearance of the woman who would be engaged to the man she loved.


    I should be standing next to you, Nick.


    Kimberly continued to observe, asionally stealing nces at Nichs. Their eyes met a few times, exchanging unspoken greetings.


    In Kimberly¡¯s ears, she could hear Cassandra¡¯s voice as she began greeting the guests in attendance. As the event moved into its main phase, the MC took over.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, because our esteemed guests have arrived, allow me to begin this event.¡± The MC¡¯s opening words were met with apuse from the audience. Shortly after, the MC called out the two couples.


    ¡°Because we don¡¯t want to waste any time, let¡¯s wee the two couples who will be engaged today. Please give a warm round of apuse to Nichs Alistair and Kimberly Rayder.¡±


    All the guests, including Arthur Rayder, suddenly stood up and apuded enthusiastically. Meanwhile, Nichs and Kimberly, in their respective ces, were equally stunned by what they heard.


    Huh?


    Nichs and I are engaged?

 DAMN POOL

    All the invited guests never ceased to congratte Nichs and Kimberly. Everyone seemed lost in the euphoria of this luxurious engagement party.


    While all the guests were busy enjoying their meals, Nichs, who was watching Cassandra rxing, went straight to her and pulled her to the garden¡¯s edge.


    ¡°Mom owes me an exnation,¡± Nichs whispered.


    Cassandra chuckled softly, keeping herposure. ¡°Oh,e on, dear. Just enjoy your party for now. I promise to exin everything once everything¡¯s over.¡±


    Nichs shook his head in disbelief, observing his mother¡¯s behavior. Meanwhile, in a different location, Kimberly also looked puzzled. She chose to remain silent but kept her facial expression looking joyful. Yes, even though she was genuinely surprised and, of course, happy. However, amidst all this, she hadn¡¯t even exchanged a word with Nichs. The two of them mostly just stared at each other without speaking.


    After the guests left one by one, Cassandra kept her promise. She invited Kimberly and Nichs to have a serious conversation. Let¡¯s not forget Arthur and Mario. They were there too. Did you think those old folks would just let it be? Of course not.


    ¡°So, who wants to exin all of this?¡± Nichs impatiently asked. He was sitting next to Kimberly in the Alistair family room.


    Cassandra smiled at everyone in the room and then spoke.


    ¡°Actually, Mama doesn¡¯t know where to start either. In essence, the decision between Alpha Beta and Kimberly is an agreement between Mama and Mr. Arthur,¡± Cassandra casually exined.


    ¡°My goodness, Mom,¡± Nichs eximed in disbelief. ¡°So, you and Dad orchestrated our separation?¡± Nichs shook his head in disbelief. ¡°Why did you y with us like that?¡±


    Arthur, who had been silent before, felt irritated and sneered.


    ¡°You spoiled brat. You should be grateful to your mother. If she hadn¡¯t begged me, do you think I would have approved of your rtionship with my granddaughter?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa!¡± Kimberly eximed. Now it was her turn to speak. ¡°Grandpa also yed a big part in our separation,¡± Kimberly protested.


    Arthur grumbled in his position.


    ¡°Grandpa was just doing what he should have done. Who else would take care of you if not grandpa?¡±


    ¡°B-but I truly love Kimberly, grandpa,¡± Nichs interjected, making Arthur re sharply at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not officially your grandpa yet, no need to be overly familiar with me. Moreover, if it¡¯s genuine, how could you ask someone else to spy on my granddaughter? using Mario of being Kimberly¡¯s secret lover and calling her a cheap woman. Haven¡¯t your parents taught you manners?¡± Arthur¡¯s eyes sparkled sharply. His tone carried emotion. Mario, who was sitting next to him, even patted the old man¡¯s back gently to calm his anger.


    Seeing Arthur getting emotional, Nichs quickly spoke again.


    ¡°I apologize. This may be the umpteenth time I¡¯ve apologized. I was indeed foolish for doubting Kimberly. I sincerely apologize again and seek your blessing for you, Mr. Arthur, to approve of my rtionship with Kimberly.¡±


    Arthur looked down on Nichs. Although he knew Nichs was a good man, he still wanted to give his prospective grandson-inw a lesson first.


    ¡°What can you do to convince me to approve of your rtionship?¡± Arthur asked.


    Nichs took a deep breath. As Kimberly and Mario had rightly said, this old man wasn¡¯t someone who was easily convinced.


    ¡°I can¡¯t promise many things. All I can do is continue to try and make Kimberly happy, so she has no room for sadness. Even if someday she cries, I¡¯ll make sure those tears are tears of joy.¡±


    Arthur scoffed. He still had doubts about the promises Nichs made.


    ¡°If you ever hurt Kimberly, what punishment should I give you?¡±


    Rather than being scared or offended, Nichs smiled upon hearing Arthur¡¯s question. He understood that the old man cherished his granddaughter greatly, which was why he had so many concerns.


    ¡°If I ever hurt Kimberly, you can take her away from me. But I assure you, that will never happen.¡±


    Arthur smiled. For the first time, he smiled sincerely at Nichs. Maybe it was time to let Kimberly go to the man who was sitting right in front of him. Now, there was no more doubt in his heart. He was confident that Nichs would make Kimberly happy.


    ¡°Very well, I approve of your rtionship,¡± Arthur mumbled. Suddenly, everyone in the family room smiled, including Nichs and Kimberly.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Arthur continued his sentence. Everyone anxiously awaited what else the old man would say.


    ¡°¡­ promise me that you won¡¯t take Kimberly too far. You know, I¡¯m all alone now. When I¡¯m gone, you can take my granddaughter wherever you want. But for now, I¡¯m begging you.¡±


    Nichs smiled with relief.


    ¡°Goodness, what was I thinking? Of course not. I won¡¯t take Kimberly too far. Besides, I n to return to take care of Alpha Beta.¡±


    Hearing that, Arthur shook his head vigorously.


    ¡°No need to go to Alpha Beta. When you officially be Kimberly¡¯s husband, I¡¯m asking you directly to continue the Rayder family business.¡±


    Nichs was taken aback by Arthur¡¯s statement.


    ¡°Kimberly¡¯s husband?¡± He looked surprised.


    Seeing this, Arthur narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want to marry Kimberly?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that, it¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t expect the response you gave, Mr. Arthur.¡±


    ¡°If you want to know, your parents and I have already nned your wedding,¡± Arthur replied smugly.


    Nichs was left stunned again. First, there was the sudden engagement, and now everyone was talking about marriage. Were they out of their minds?


    ¡°Marriage?¡±


    Arthur nodded.


    ¡°Yes, your wedding will take ce in Indonesia. One week from now.¡±


    ¡°WHAT!¡± Nichs and Kimberly both eximed in disbelief.


    ¡°Goodness, what kind of n did you all prepare behind our backs? Look, the two of us are like clueless children not knowing what to do now,¡± Kimberly said this time.


    Once again, it was Arthur who responded. After sipping his warm tea, he replied.


    ¡°Enough of the surprises. You both wanted this, didn¡¯t you? To unite? That¡¯s why we¡¯re bringing you together in a more sacred bond.¡± Arthur got up from his seat, followed by Mario. ¡°Now, get ready. Tomorrow morning, we¡¯re heading back to Indonesia to prepare for everything. Besides, you should both be happy. You¡¯re ungrateful, that¡¯s what you are.¡± After finishing that sentence, Arthur walked away, followed by Cassandra and her husband.


    ***


    Nichs took Kimberly¡¯s wrist and led her to the bedroom. There, he asked Kimberly to sit in a balcony chair facing the distant view of the London Tower.


    For quite some time, they sat in silence, seemingly awkward because of their previous separation. After a while, Nichs took the initiative to start a conversation.


    ¡°You look beautiful today.¡± This was the first meaninglesspliment that came out of Nichs¡¯s mouth. He truly was a clueless man, as Edward had once said.


    Kimberly nodded gently.


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ve always been beautiful from the beginning,¡± she replied yfully, making Nichs smile.


    ¡°I missed you. Missed you so much,¡± Nichs said honestly.


    ¡°If you missed me, why didn¡¯t you contact me? If you love me, why didn¡¯t you fight for me?¡±


    Nichs smiled. Kimberly must have been upset about the decision he had made. It was the same for everyone. They must have been irritated by Nichs¡¯s seemingck of effort. But behind it all, he had a strong reason that he couldn¡¯t break.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard for yourself the reasons that forced me to leave,¡± Nichs whispered softly.


    Kimberly shook her head.


    ¡°Consider me unaware and wanting to hear it directly from you.¡±


    Nichs reached for Kimberly¡¯s wrist and held it tightly.


    ¡°I love you, Kimberly. And I¡¯ll never tire of saying it. I¡¯m sorry if my decision caused you pain. I was just trying to be realistic. I thought that if I didn¡¯t choose you, you would be fine. You¡¯d still have plenty of material wealth and a peaceful sleep. It¡¯s a different story when I chose you, thousands of people¡¯s fate was at stake because of my love story. I couldn¡¯t be that selfish.¡±


    Kimberly looked at Nichs in amazement. Hearing the man¡¯s confession directly from his mouth made Kimberly even more convinced of her choice. That Nichs was the right man to be her partner. Not only did he protect Kimberly, but he also cared about the fate of many.


    ¡°I believe in you. Whateveres out of your mouth.¡±


    Hearing that sentence, Nichs smiled along.


    ¡°I can go crazy if I really lose you,¡± Nichs whispered.


    Kimberly raised her face, gazing into Nichs¡¯s brown eyes.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m not going crazy thinking about you being engaged to another woman? I even nned to kidnap you or ruin the party your parents arranged. Fortunately, Mario always reminded me not to do anything crazy.¡±


    Nichsughed upon hearing Kimberly¡¯s story. He then gently stroked her cheek and kissed her softly. They shared a deep and passionate kiss. Itsted for a while until someone¡¯s sudden arrival interrupted them.


    ¡°Oh my, Nichs, Kimberly!¡± someone eximed, forcing them to release their previously locked lips.


    With a re of anger, Nichs responded.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Nichs cursed loudly. ¡°Why do you always disturb me, Edward Martin?¡±Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Rather than feeling remorseful, the man burst intoughter.


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault for not locking the door. I¡¯ve knocked and called your name more than five times. You didn¡¯t respond at all, Nick. That¡¯s what made me curious ande in. Turns out you two were busy being lovey-dovey in here.¡±


    Kimberly, feeling embarrassed, could only lower her head and bury her face in Nichs¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Besides, hold on for a bit. Soon, you two will be husband and wife. Do as you please when it¡¯s official,¡± Edward smirked again.


    Still seething with anger, Nichs asked again, ¡°Why did youe looking for me all the way to the room?¡±


    ¡°You both are requested toe downstairs immediately. It seems there will be a serious discussion about your wedding.¡±


    Nichs released his embrace and stood up, gently taking Kimberly¡¯s wrist. He simply led her away, ignoring Edward¡¯s presence in the room.


    That Nichs, the damn fool!

 MINE

    After returning from London, Kimberly and Nichs were busy with various wedding preparations. From fitting wedding attire to pre-wedding photos, everything had to be done quickly due to their limited time. Cassandra and Arthur didn¡¯t hold back; they even chose BVLGARI RESORT BALI as the venue for the celebration.


    BVLGARI is a luxurious five-star resort perched on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. Its location is not far from Pura Luhur Uluwatu and the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park.


    Embracing a beachfront wedding theme, all preparations had reached 95%. Nichs and Kimberly couldn¡¯t believe how meticulously and perfectly Cassandra had arranged everything. She even hired a top-tier wedding organizer like ¡®Belvedere¡¯ to handle Nichs and Kimberly¡¯s wedding.


    ¡°Mama is truly amazing,¡± Nichs said proudly. He was amazed by what his mother had done.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Cassandra sped her hands to her chest, a smile on her lips as she heard her son¡¯s praise.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do anything for you, my dear. Everything¡¯s the best for you and Kimberly.¡±


    Nichs leaned in and hugged Cassandra tightly. ¡°I love you, Mom. You¡¯re the best woman I have.¡±


    Cassandra returned Nichs¡¯s hug just as tightly. Perhaps this was thest time she could embrace him freely, as tomorrow, he would be someone else¡¯s husband.


    ¡°You¡¯re also the best child I have. I pray your wedding goes smoothly, and you both live happily ever after, even until you be grandparents.¡±


    In a different ce.


    Kimberly was sitting on the hotel room balcony, enjoying the sunset with Arthur Rayder. They had been talking for a while, from light topics to serious ones. It seemed that Arthur was taking this moment to reflect before his granddaughter became another man¡¯s.


    ¡°Grandpa, I can¡¯t believe we¡¯ve reached the point where I¡¯m being proposed to by another man. It feels like just yesterday I was born, and now I¡¯m getting ready to be someone else¡¯s wife.¡± Arthur smiled while gazing out at the vast expanse of the sea along the coastline.


    Kimberly turned to look at Arthur. The old man appeared serene.


    ¡°Kimmy didn¡¯t even think she would be at this point, where Grandpa finally approves of Kimmy and Nichs¡¯s rtionship.¡±


    Arthur turned his face toward Kimberly. He then smiled warmly and gently patted his granddaughter¡¯s head.


    ¡°Kimmy, in this world, you¡¯re the only one Grandpa has. Grandpa acted tough because he didn¡¯t want you to get hurt, let alone by someone else. That¡¯s why Grandpa couldn¡¯t just let you go easily.¡±


    ¡°But Nichs has proven everything, Grandpa. So please don¡¯t hesitate anymore. Kimmy is sure she can be happy living with him.¡±


    Arthur nodded in agreement. After everything Nichs had done, he should now feel relieved and start letting Kimberly go.


    ¡°Even though Grandpa finds it hard, for your happiness, Grandpa will let that cheeky kid have you.¡±


    Kimberlyughed.


    ¡°Grandpa¡­ his name is Nichs Junior Alistair, not a cheeky kid as you often call him,¡± Kimberly protested.


    Arthur shrugged his shoulders indifferently. ¡°It¡¯s up to you; I prefer calling him that way. Besides, his behavior is indeed childish. Quite troublesome.¡±


    ¡°But I love him very much,¡± Kimberly countered, not wanting to back down.


    Arthur got up from his seat, preparing to go inside. ¡°When someone is in love, they can be blind and irrational. Let¡¯s end this conversation. It¡¯s gettingte, and you should rest. Remember, you¡¯ll be getting married tomorrow.¡±


    Kimberly nodded and then stood up, walking inside together with Arthur.


    *****


    Keyra had lost count of how many times she had praised Kimberly. Her friend looked truly elegant in her off-shoulder white gown. Her brown hair was styled in a way that made her look perfect on this historic day.


    ¡°Kimmy, you truly look like a fairy tale princess,¡± Keyra endlesslyplimented.


    Kimberly chuckled at her friend¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. I feel like my appearance is just ordinary. I even asked the makeup artist not to make my makeup too conspicuous. I wanted to have a natural look today.¡±


    ¡°Nevertheless, you look so beautiful. And you know what?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Kimberly asked, puzzled.


    ¡°I never thought you¡¯d actually be Mrs. Alistair in a few minutes. You surely remember our silly bet a few months ago. In the end, you won, Kimberly. You even won Nichs¡¯s heart.¡± Keyra spoke with admiration. She never expected her friend to marry the CEO of theirpany.


    With a smile, Kimberly replied, ¡°I believe this is destiny that God has prepared for me. You know yourself that our love journey wasn¡¯t smooth. We even doubted each other. But who would have thought that we could reunite because of Grandpa and Nichs¡¯s parents.¡±


    Keyraughed upon hearing Kimberly¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m so happy that you can be together with the man you love. I even hope you two stay together until old age. Don¡¯t forget to give me lots of nieces and nephews.¡±


    For some reason, after hearing that sentence, Kimberly¡¯s face suddenly turned mncholic. She was reminded of the issue of offspring. The thought of disappointing Nichs by not being able to give him children crossed her mind.


    Keyra, realizing her mistake, immediately pulled Kimberly close and hugged her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry; I didn¡¯t mean to upset you. I¡¯m sure you and Nichs will have many cute children. So, don¡¯t ever be sad, Kimmy.¡±


    Kimberly pulled away and smiled. She believed that what Keyra said was true. She shouldn¡¯t be sad. She should have faith that she would eventually be able to give Nichs many children.


    As the two of them were still engrossed in their conversation, Mario and Arthur entered Kimberly¡¯s room, informing them toe downstairs for the wedding party, which was about to begin.


    Arthur took Kimberly¡¯s hand and led her downstairs to the venue, filled with wedding guests.


    Meanwhile, Nichs, who had been waiting at the venue for some time, couldn¡¯t hide his nervousness. He still couldn¡¯t believe that in a few minutes, he would officially be Kimberly¡¯s husband, the woman he had once vehemently rejected, the woman he had always said was not his type. Who would have thought she would be his future wife?


    If only Edward hadn¡¯t bothered and teased him so often, maybe Nichs would have never realized how much he loved Kimberly. So, should he be thankful to him now? While the man stood not far from him, Edward noticed Nichs¡¯s silent gaze and immediately addressed him.


    ¡°Why are you staring at me like that? I know you¡¯re feeling insecure because of my good looks.¡±


    Nichs made a disgusted expression after hearing Edward¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. I¡¯m just wondering why you always disrupt my life.¡±


    Feeling offended, Edward moved closer, narrowing the distance between them. ¡°In case you¡¯ve forgotten, I¡¯m the one who has done the most for you in your life. If I weren¡¯t around, you might havemitted suicide due to a broken heart. You should also remember that I was the one you confided in when you were going through all those problems in the past. You¡¯re ungrateful!¡±


    Not pleased with Edward¡¯s words, Nichs lightly punched his friend¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You talk too much, Ed. But because I¡¯m happy today, I¡¯ll thank you. Sometimes, you can be reliable.¡±


    ¡°Not sometimes, but always reliable. Remember that!¡± Edward protested.


    While they were engrossed in their argument, suddenly, all the guests rose from their seats to wee Kimberly and Arthur. Nichs, realizing it, turned his gaze. He looked in awe at his future wife, who was walking slowly but confidently towards him.


    ¡°You look stunning, Kimmy. Truly beautiful today,¡± Nichs whispered as Kimberly stood perfectly beside him.


    When the two of them stood side by side, the MC began to open the event. From the speeches to the prayer and the main ceremony, everything proceeded solemnly. Finally, Kimberly and Nichs were officially dered husband and wife. Cheers and apuse resounded throughout.


    ¡°Congrattions, you two are now officially husband and wife.¡± Cassandra couldn¡¯t hide her joy and emotion as she hugged Nichs and Kimberly one after the other.


    Arthur, too, for the first time, shed tears after giving Kimberly away to Nichs.


    ¡°Please take care of my beloved granddaughter. If you ever dare to hurt her, I won¡¯t hesitate to kill you!¡± Arthur threatened. He managed to issue such a warning even on this joyous day. However, Nichs responded withughter.


    ¡°Can I start calling you ¡®Opa¡¯ from now on?¡± Nichs asked amid hisughter.


    Arthur didn¡¯t answer immediately; he seemed to be thinking. Until Kimberly prompted him.


    ¡°Come on, Opa, how long will Nichs address you as ¡®tuan¡¯?¡± Kimberly pleaded.


    Arthur sighedzily and then replied, ¡°Alright, because my granddaughter insists, from now on, you can call me Opa.¡±


    Everyoneughed upon hearing Arthur Rayder¡¯s words.


    *****


    Kimberly chose to enter the room first to rest, while Nichs continued chatting with Edward, Kenzi, and Kiano outside. Feeling a bit ufortable, Kimberly decided to freshen up.


    She spent quite some time in the bathroom. And when she came out, she was surprised to find Nichs standing right in front of the bathroom door.


    ¡°Oh my, you startled me,¡± Kimberly said.


    Nichs rolled his eyes from his position. ¡°Do I look like a ghost that you got so startled?¡±


    Seeing Nichs¡¯s annoyed expression, Kimberly couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly. ¡°There¡¯s no ghost in this world as handsome as you, darling.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a flirt!¡± Nichs retorted, making Kimberlyugh even harder.


    ¡°You should go shower and freshen up, Nick. After that, we can rest.¡± This time, Nichsplied and immediately did what Kimberly instructed.


    After finishing freshening up, Nichs found Kimberly sitting on the bed, massaging her feet. He was sure that his newlywed wife must be tired now. Standing for hours during the party and greeting so many guests could make the body feel exhausted. Nichs felt the same way.


    Feeling sorry for her, Nichs walked over and sat down on one side of the bed.


    ¡°Can I help?¡± Without waiting for Kimberly¡¯s response, Nichs reached out and gently massaged Kimberly¡¯s feet.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kimberly said sincerely.


    ¡°Why thank me? It¡¯s only right for a husband to take care of his wife,¡± Nichs replied without shifting his gaze. He continued massaging Kimberly¡¯s feet.


    ¡°I¡¯m thankful because you agreed to be my husband. Didn¡¯t I used to not be your ideal type?¡± Kimberly pouted.


    Nichs raised his head andughed upon hearing Kimberly¡¯s words. ¡°Actually, I lied when I said that. Besides, which sane man wouldn¡¯t be attracted to such a beautiful woman as you?¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve been lying all this time?¡± Kimberly pouted her lips.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°Forgive me. I was too proud to admit it back then. But now, I¡¯ll never get tired of admitting that you¡¯re the only woman I adore.¡±


    ¡°I feel the same way. I¡¯ll never get tired of proiming to the world that you¡¯re the only man I love.¡±


    Without warning, Nichs pulled Kimberly closer until their bodies pressed tightly together. Then, hended his lips on Kimberly¡¯s soft lips.


    Nichs¡¯s lips relentlessly pressed against Kimberly¡¯s, demanding and passionate. He kissed her fervently, even devouring her until Kimberly felt overwhelmed. But Nichs didn¡¯t stop; he deepened their kiss, his hand reaching to pull her neck closer.


    Unable to resist any longer, Nichs gently pushed Kimberly¡¯s body until shey down. He then moved his lips to kiss and suck the skin along Kimberly¡¯s slender neck. Meanwhile, his hands began to explore every curve of the woman who had just be his wife.


    Facing Nichs¡¯s increasingly heated advances, Kimberly could do nothing but close her eyes, asionally letting out soft moans. She tried to respond and enjoy every touch given by her husband.


    Nichs¡¯s hands continued to explore and eventually stopped at Kimberly¡¯s thighs. He caressed them gently and lightly, gradually increasing the intensity, causing Kimberly to feel strange sensations.


    ¡°Nick¡­¡±


    Nichs¡¯s eyes locked onto Kimberly¡¯s hazy gaze, filled with uncontroble desire.


    ¡°This is what you¡¯ve wanted all along, right?¡± Nichs whispered with a heavy voice, while Kimberly¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. She had always been the one teasing Nichs to make love to her.


    ¡°After this, you¡¯ll bepletely mine, Kimberly Alistair,¡± Nichs said again.


    Then, Nichs once again fervently kissed Kimberly¡¯s lips, nibbling gently on her lower lip, causing the woman to moan in pleasure. Kimberly¡¯s face turned red as she savored the continuous kisses.


    Until the moment of union arrived, Kimberly surrendered once more, willingly following every move Nichs made. She allowed himplete control over her, letting him do whatever he desired, as they both immersed themselves in the wave of passion they had held back for so long.

 END

    The next two months.


    ¡°Nick, I think you shoulde home soon. Your face looks really pale now,¡± Edward suggested. They had just returned from a meeting outside the office.


    Nichs sighed deeply while continuing to massage his temples. For some reason, since yesterday, he had been feeling unwell. Now, it even felt worse than before.


    ¡°I can¡¯t, Ed. I need to finish my tasks soon. I have only a week left before I really move from Alpha Beta and take care of Rayder Corp,¡± Nichs replied, still holding his forehead.


    Edward shook his head vigorously. He was very certain that his friend¡¯s condition was not okay at the moment. He was just afraid that something bad might happen to Nichs.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll get you some hot tea.¡± Edward then got up and walked quickly to the pantry. He grabbed a cup of tea and brought it immediately to Nichs¡¯s room, handing it over.


    ¡°Drink it quickly. After this, I¡¯ll help you finish all your tasks so you can go home early.¡±


    Nichs nodded and reached for the cup Edward offered, quickly taking a sip. Afterward, they both got busy catching up on pending tasks.


    While they were engrossed in analyzing marketing graphs, suddenly, Nichs stood up from his chair and rushed to the bathroom. Edward heard clearly that his friend was vomiting multiple times. Even when he returned to his seat, his condition seemed to be getting worse.


    ¡°I think I caught a cold,¡± thought Nichs while wiping his face with a tissue. He then sipped the warm tea in front of him.


    ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± said Edward. ¡°¡­ you and Kimberly have been married for two months now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve had marital rtions several times, right? Could it be that Kimberly is pregnant now, that¡¯s why your body condition is like this?¡±


    ¡°Uhuk ¡­¡±


    Hearing Edward¡¯s words, Nichs immediately choked on the tea he was drinking. It didn¡¯t take long for him to respond. ¡°What does Kimberly being pregnant have to do with my current condition, Ed?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it does, Nick. You¡¯re her husband, she might be pregnant, but you¡¯re the one craving for something,¡± Edward quipped with a serious expression.


    Nichs raised his eyebrows, looking confused now.


    ¡°What¡¯s true is, why do I have to be the one craving?¡±


    Edward sighed in annoyance. It turns out that even after getting married, his friend was still clueless.


    ¡°Well, because you¡¯re her husband, Nick. You¡¯re the one who nted the seed in Kimberly¡¯s body. Just consider it as sharing responsibilities. Besides, it¡¯s a normal thing that happens quite often. What¡¯s unusual would be if Kimberly is pregnant, but I¡¯m the one craving.¡±


    Upon hearing Edward¡¯sst sentence, Nichs immediately threw the pen that was on the table. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. I can¡¯t imagine Kimberly being pregnant with a yboy like you!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mistaken, Kimberly would probably be proud to have a child with a wealthy nobleman like me.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Nichs replied angrily. ¡°I think I should go home. If I stay here listening to your nonsense for too long, I might go crazy,¡± Nichs concluded, greeted by Edward¡¯s heartyughter.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home. It¡¯s not safe to drive in your current condition,¡± Edward suggested.


    Nichs sighed and nodded in agreement. His condition was not good at all right now.


    Once they arrived home, they found Arthur sitting on the porch, reading a book. After marrying Kimberly, they had decided to live together in Arthur¡¯s residence, considering the older man¡¯s often unstable condition.


    Exiting the car, from his seated position, Arthur greeted both Nichs and Edward in turn. Don¡¯t be surprised; he had be a much more pleasant and less annoying man than before.


    ¡°Why are you back so soon?¡± Arthur asked when he saw Nichs and Edward arrive at home.


    ¡°It seems Nichs is not feeling well, Mr. Arthur. That¡¯s why he asked me to take him home,¡± Edward exined.


    Arthur nodded and then resumed his book. While Nichs went inside, Edward thought about bidding farewell to Arthur before actually leaving.


    ¡°Mr. Arthur¡­¡± Edward called, making the old man shift his focus to him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±


    ¡°Why the rush? Come inside; let¡¯s have lunch together. It¡¯s already lunchtime, isn¡¯t it?¡± Arthur offered. He had already risen from his seat. ¡°No need to be shy.¡±


    Ufortable with declining, Edward eventually agreed and followed Arthur as he made his way to the dining room. There, Nichs and Kimberly were already getting ready for lunch.


    ¡°Why are you back so soon?¡± Nichs asked in surprise.


    ¡°Grandpa invited him to have lunch with us,¡± Arthur replied, immediately receiving a nod of agreement from Nichs.


    The four of them eventually got lost in conversation while enjoying their lunch. Edward, known for being talkative, dominated the conversation.


    ¡°Back then, I even thought you were so evil, Mr. Arthur. You acted like an Italian mafia, back then,¡± Edward confessed.


    Arthurughed heartily. He couldn¡¯t count how many times he hadughed hearing Edward¡¯sints.


    ¡°You were too sensitive. Everyone who didn¡¯t know me probably thought I was arrogant and even cunning. But I was just being myself.¡±


    While taking bites of his food, Edward nodded in agreement. ¡°I even thought about giving you poison because I was frustrated with your relentless efforts to keep Nichs and Kimberly apart. As their true friend, I felt sorry for them.¡±


    Hearing Edward¡¯s confession, Arthur was surprised and choked on his food. But instead of getting angry, the old man burst intoughter once again. And so it continued until they finished their meal.


    ****


    ¡°Nick¡­¡±


    Kimberly¡¯s sigh echoed in Nichs¡¯s ears. He always loved hearing her say his name with such passion, just like now.


    ¡°Yes, darling. What else do you want?¡± Nichs asked, while continuing to tease her with sensual kisses on her neck and other parts of Kimberly¡¯s body.


    Nichs¡¯s hands were already exploring every inch. Touching all the sensitive spots, rendering Kimberly powerless.


    ¡°Nick¡­¡± Kimberly swallowed hard, trying to stay focused as Nichs continued to seduce her.


    ¡°Tell me, Kimberly. What do you want?¡± Nichs asked in a husky voice.


    Struggling to contain her desire, Kimberly tried to answer, ¡°I want you, please.¡±


    Nichs grinned, then resumed nting kisses on every inch of his wife¡¯s body. Meanwhile, Kimberly could only close her eyes and enjoy the intoxicating touches he was giving her.


    Kimberly continued to revel in how her husband slowly united their bodies. Embracing tightly. Allowing sweat to drench their bodies. Teasing each other until the climax finally arrived.


    For a few moments, the two of them remained locked in each other¡¯s arms. Then, after a while, Nichs slowly slid down from Kimberly¡¯s body. Hey down next to her.


    In a yful manner, Kimberly once again turned her body, hugging her husband tightly while using one hand to gently caress his chest.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I love you, Nick. I will love you forever,¡± Kimberly dered.


    Happiness radiated clearly on Nichs¡¯s face, causing him to smile incessantly and gently kiss the forehead of the woman beside him.


    ¡°I could even die if I had to live without you. I¡¯ll make you happy, Kimmy, you and our future children.¡±


    Upon hearing these words, Kimberly, who had been hugging Nichs, suddenly unwrapped her embrace and scooted down from the bed. Still in her natural state, she hurried to the bathroom and returned with something to show Nichs.


    While Nichs, initially puzzled and just observing, adjusted his position. He then reached for the pink ribbon-wrapped box that Kimberly offered.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Nichs asked, confused.


    ¡°You have to see it.¡±


    Nichs then opened the box in his hands, discovering a long white object that he recognized as a pregnancy test. As his eyes focused on the screen at the end of the device disying two red lines, Nichs was taken aback.


    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant? Are you really pregnant, Kimberly?¡± Nichs asked in disbelief.


    Kimberly nodded, and momentster, Nichs immediately embraced Kimberly tightly, hugging her with all his might.


    ¡°Oh God, I truly love you, sweetheart.¡±


    Tears of joy apanied both of them. Who would have thought that Kimberly, who was initially diagnosed with fertility issues, could be pregnant in the early stages of their marriage? When God¡¯s hand is at work, who can resist His power?


    ¡°No wonder I¡¯ve been feeling like I¡¯m drunk these past few days. Edward kept saying that I was going through a craving phase. I just didn¡¯t believe him,¡± Nichs confided about his recent experiences.


    ¡°Is that so? I only mustered the courage to check this morning. I¡¯m happy, Nick. Very happy.¡± Kimberly then hugged Nichs again.


    Nichs and Kimberly knew for sure that there were many ups and downs and obstacles they had to face to unite their love story. It all started by ident, and the seeds of love eventually sprouted.


    Nichs never even remotely thought of having a romantic rtionship with his own secretary. Likewise, Kimberly had the same idea. The foolish bet she made with her two friends ended up dragging her feelings far away. Until she truly fell in love with the CEO who had been known for his coldness.


    When love between them began to grow, they couldn¡¯t immediately live together. Misunderstandings temporarily separated Nichs and Kimberly. The tests of their love weren¡¯t just that; Kimberly¡¯s illness became the main reason she contemted distancing herself from Nichs¡¯s life. Arthur¡¯s interference, intentionally trying to keep them apart, made everything even moreplicated and tangled.


    But who would have thought that behind all the major tests that hit their rtionship, Nichs managed to prove himself worthy of being by Kimberly¡¯s side? For him, choosing Kimberly wasn¡¯t just a matter of love; it was about keeping his promise to make her as happy as possible and to stand by her as long as possible.


    And so they continued to live their lives, supporting each other, filling each other¡¯s lives, working together to create happiness. They never allowed sadness to creep into their lives, not even for a moment. (END)


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!