The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 204

"So, when Jacob called you out of the hospital room back then, he was telling you the truth about Tessa and Fiona?" Nora asked.

"Yes," Nathan replied. "Their village isn't geographically far from Luminport City, but it's severely underdeveloped. The roads are paved and houses renovated now, but the people have lived in isolation for so long. They lack the drive to leave and are profoundly ignorant about the outside world."

"The Carters lived on the outskirts of the village. Most locals had no idea what went on behind their closed doors. No one knew Kyle had a secret brother, and no one realized Tessa and Fiona were identical twins. The girls dressed differently, acted differently, and the villagers simply didn't pay enough attention to notice."

Nora sighed, the pieces falling into place. "No wonder our initial background checks hit a wall. Jacob turning himself in was probably his way of self-preservation once he realized 'Tessa' wasn't acting right."

Nathan let out a dark chuckle. "In that regard, Jacob really was the smartest Carter of them all."

Nora remained silent.

Nathan studied her profile. "Alright, the case is closed. Stop agonizing over it. Let's go home."

Nora shot him a look, noting how effortlessly the word 'home' rolled off his tongue. Not wanting to sound overly sensitive, she stood up with a frustrated sigh. "When are you going to explain things to everyone?"

"Explain what?"

"The marriage rumor."

Nora was dead serious about this. It wasn't that she desperately needed to defend the honor of her actual, unseen fiancé. She had never met the man; there was certainly no deep emotional attachment there. But she and Nathan worked together every single day. If they let everyone believe they were engaged, it would be a nightmare to deal with the fallout once the truth came out. People would think they were tangled in some bizarre love square.

Nora's brow furrowed in utter bewilderment. "What the hell is he doing?"

Nathan's expression darkened into something predatory. "Isn't it obvious? Your ex isn't ready to give up." He tilted his head, looking down at her. "So... need a hand?"

Nora was speechless.

One second he was demanding she clear up the rumor, and the next he was volunteering to be her shield again. She felt a twinge of guilt for using him.

Sensing her hesitation, the amusement in Nathan's eyes deepened. "It's fine. I don't mind." He offered his arm. "Let's go, fiancée. Let's see what kind of stunt he's pulling now."