Chapter 120 Respond With
Actions
Corrine spun around sharply, her wide eyes meeting Nate’s gaze. His dark irises seemed endless, drawing her in. “Nate…” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s me,” he replied, his tone low, steady, and laced with an emotion she couldn’t quite decipher.
“Why… why didn’t you leave with your team just now?” she asked, her voice wavering despite her best effort to stay composed.
“I’ll always stand by you,” he said, each word deliberate and firm. “You can ask me a hundred times, and my answer won’t change.”
His calm tone carried an undeniable sense of authority, one that left no room for doubt.
Corrine’s lashes fluttered, and she tightened her grip on the coffee cup, the ceramic cool against her trembling fingers.
He wasn’t just answering her; he was promising her something far deeper.
Turning her head, she murmured softly, “Don’t make such promises. I’m not sure I’m capable of living up to them.”
“Not capable?” Nate repeated, his voice soft but probing.
Before she could step back, he reached out, gently taking her wrist. He lifted the coffee cup she held and sipped from the exact spot her lipstick had marked.
The faint red stain transferred to his lips, and with a quick flick of his tongue, he wiped it away as if it had been his intention all along.
“This is…” she started, her words faltering.
It was her cup.
He noticed her flustered expression and arched a brow, feigning innocence. “What?”
Corrine stared, heat creeping up her cheeks as she struggled to ignore the way her
pulse quickened. “I still have work to finish. I might be late leaving tonight.”
She turned to walk away, but before she could take a single step, his hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her firmly into his arms.
His lips brushed against her ear, his breath warm and his voice a deep murmur that sent shivers down her spine. “Corrine, if you just believe in yourself, you’ll see–you can
live up to anything.”
Live up to anything…
How could she?
Corrine lowered her gaze, concealing the storm of emotions swirling in her eyes.
Nate stood still, his posture steady, his gaze unwavering. Like a hunter assessing his prey, he gave her time to decide, his patience infinite. Slowly, he loosened his hold around her waist. “It’s fine. I can wait,” he said, his tone calm but heavy with unspoken meaning.
As his warmth began to fade, Corrine felt an ache, as if something essential was slipping away from her grasp.
Before her thoughts could catch up, her hand shot out, grabbing his.
Nate froze at the unexpected touch, his expression shifting–surprise flickered briefly in his eyes before being replaced by something unreadable.
And then she kissed him. Her lips brushed against his, cool and impossibly soft, leaving behind a sensation that was both fleeting and unforgettable.
The delicate touch was like a spark landing on dry kindling, igniting something uncontrollable within him. For a brief moment, his mind emptied, consumed by the fire
she had lit.
Though the kiss lasted only seconds, it left Nate breathless.
His gaze burned as he looked at Corrine, his eyes now darkened with an unmistakable intensity.
Corrine pulled back slowly, determination shining in her eyes–a resolve he hadn’t seen before. “Nate, if you stay by my side, I will never leave you!”
Her words hung in the air, a challenge and a promise intertwined.
Nate’s gaze deepened, his expression unreadable. The silence that followed felt endless,
stretching taut with tension.
Corrine searched his face desperately, hoping to find some crack in his calm exterior. Yet, the longer he remained impassive, the more the weight of vulnerability pressed against her.
Her smile wavered, the strength in her grip faltering as self–doubt crept in. She began to let go, retreating into the familiar walls she had built.
But before she could pull away, Nate’s hand tightened around hers. In one fluid motion, he drew her back against him, his arm wrapping firmly around her waist.
With his free hand, he tilted her chin up, his thumb grazing her skin with surprising gentleness. His lips curled into a smirk, and a deep, rich laugh rumbled from his chest. “Darling, some things should always be said by a man,” he murmured, his voice a low caress, each word steeped in quiet authority.
Corrine had no choice but to meet his gaze, her breath hitching as her heart thundered
in her chest. His nearness, his intensity, made her pulse race uncontrollably.
“Then… how should I respond?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly, each word carrying a mix of apprehension and hope.
Nate’s smirk deepened. His answer came swift and unyielding, leaving no room for
doubt.
“With actions,” he replied, his voice as resolute as the promise his eyes held.
