Billionaire's Match (by Tangy Candy) novel Chapter 121

Chapter 121

Khloe froze. “Grandma…”

“I saw that after we mentioned Nick during dinnertime, you couldn’t eat a thing,” Loretta said softly. “You don’t need to pretend when you’re with me. Worrying about Nick is perfectly normal. After all, you two will soon be husband and wife. A wife caring about her husband-that’s only natural, isn’t it?”

Hearing that, Khloe’s face flushed a deep red at being called “wife.”

She immediately sat up and turned her head away. “Please, don’t tease me like that. I’m just worried Nick is pushing himself too hard and it’ll affect his health.”

“All right, all right, no more teasing. I’ll call him now,” Loretta said, taking out her phone without waiting for a response and dialing Nick’s video line.

The ringtone sounded, and Khloe instinctively straightened her clothes.

After what felt like an eternity, the video finally connected, and his deep, low voice came through the screen.

“Grandma… it’s late. Is something wrong?”

Something about Nick’s voice was off. Before, when he spoke on the phone, he was brief, and it was hard to detect anything-but now it was unmistakable. His tone was not only hoarse but heavy with congestion.

“Nick, are you sick? You don’t look well at all,” Loretta said, immediately noticing something was wrong. Khloe, too, dropped all pretense and hurried closer to her side.

On the screen, Nick leaned against his chair, his face unusually pale. One hand covered the base of his nose as he coughed a few times.

When he saw Khloe, his pupils flickered, and his body stiffened. Startled, he coughed even harder.

“Nick, are you all right?” Khloe’s voice trembled. She had never seen him look so frail and weak; her heart ached for him.

Loretta quickly explained, “Khloe came over for dinner today. When she heard about what happened on your side, she was very worried. And you, when you get busy, never say a word. You’re already engaged-Khloe is your fiancée. Don’t let her worry, okay?” 1

Though she was scolding him, there was clear affection in her voice.

“What are you doing… cough…” Nick began, annoyed at first by Loretta’s meddling. But seeing Khloe there, eyes fixed on the screen, glistening with concern, all his irritation melted. His heart twisted in a thousand ways, and his pride completely vanished.

He lowered his gaze, speechless, a faint flush creeping across his pale cheeks.

Nick had always feared being cared for. As a child, he thought concern was a sign of weakness, so no matter the hardships or illnesses he endured, he never let anyone know. Growing up, with the weight of the family on his shoulders, he had even more reason to never show vulnerability.

But Khloe’s direct concern hit him differently, like a wave of childhood loneliness crashing back. It felt like wound exposed for everyone to see.

Khloe studied him carefully. “Nick… do you have a fever? Your face is really red…”

“…I’m fine. Just a small cold,” he said quickly, forcing his voice to sound normal, though he avoided meeting her

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