Chapter 208 Not My Fault
“Test my claim if you doubt it,” Nate said, his voice even, betraying no emotion, yet the underlying threat was unmistakable.
Tracy’s face changed dramatically, her posture tensing in disbelief.
Watching the Ashtons fume in silence, Matias smirked and said, “All talk, no action.”
This comment made the expressions of the Ashton family and their relatives change drastically.
Corrine gently tightened her grip on Nate’s hand, signaling her disapproval with a slight
shake of her head.
Nate got the message: Corrine wasn’t showing mercy to the Ashtons; she was worried about the repercussions for him.
He tenderly stroked her cheek, reassuring her, “Your concerns are always my concerns.”
“I get it,” Corrine replied.
Once Nate and Corrine had moved away, Matias and his entourage of men in black also exited, noticeably lightening the tense air.
Feeling wronged, Tracy immediately reached for her phone to call Bruce, who had left with Leah. “Son, an awful incident happened. Your sister was assaulted…”
Corrine accompanied Nate to the underground parking lot.
Settled in the car, Corrine turned to Nate. “Maybe you should rest a bit?”
She had noticed the signs of exhaustion lining his forehead.
“Are you concerned about me?” Nate quirked an eyebrow, his gaze piercing as he
looked at her.
As Corrine caught the intensity of his stare, she intuitively sensed the direction their
conversation was about to take.
Changing the conversation, she looked down. “What brought you back so unexpectedly?”
“I was concerned about you,” Nate replied, gently caressing Corrine’s hand as if it were a delicate treasure. “You’ve been holding back against the Ashton family to spare them some dignity. Though I don’t know the reasons behind your restraint. I can’t stand to watch you compromise yourself for their sake. Thankfully, you didn’t let your emotions cloud your judgment…”
Today, many labeled her as heartless and unfeeling, but Nate was the one who recognized her compassion.
Corrine’s lips curved into a slight smile as she considered his words, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “And what if I had compromised?”
“They probably wouldn’t have left the hotel so easily,” Nate responded, his tone light but carrying a veiled threat.
“How they treated you before doesn’t make it right for them to take advantage of you now,” Nate added, his voice thick with earnestness. “Your gratitude to them shouldn’t be a tool for their personal gain.”
Corrine’s smile dimmed a bit upon hearing this.
“Farris seemed different when I first met him among the Ashtons. He was kind, offering me hot milk on a rainy day, ensuring I had an umbrella, keeping the lights on for me at night, and even giving me presents at Christmas. Over those three years, he was the only one who didn’t judge me for my background. I appreciated him so much for that. Sadly, that appreciation turned out to be futile when pitted against profit.”
Maybe because her early years were marked by neglect, she deeply valued even the smallest acts of kindness and always felt compelled to reciprocate.
But when Farris exploited her gratitude for his own advantage, Corrine understood that
such sentiments had been devalued.
Taking a deep breath, she continued, “The downfall of the Ashton family is not on me.”
