The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 214

Nathan remained silent for a long moment.

"I've already spoken with the designers," he finally said, ignoring the question. "We don't need a massive structural overhaul. The main focus is making sure the soft decor and the overall layout blend seamlessly."

"I get it, I get it. You young people love that mix-and-match aesthetic. As long as you have it handled, I won't interfere."

"Then I'm hanging up."

"Wait a minute!" Harold yelled through the receiver. "You still haven't told me what you were doing in her bedroom! Are you two—"

Before the old man could finish his sentence, the line went dead. Nathan had hung up.

"Ha! That little brat!" Harold muttered, shaking his head in fond exasperation. Trying to pry information out of his grandson was harder than pulling teeth.

"Mr. Peyton?"

The butler knocked gently on the study door. Harold sighed, his energy deflating, and called out for him to enter. The butler walked in, holding an elegant gold-foiled envelope.

"The Devereaux family is hosting a charity gala. The invitation just arrived for you."

"Another charity gala? Boring. These people throw these flashy, pointless parties every other week. Decline it."

Harold was currently obsessed with his grandson's love life and the impending wedding. He had zero interest in rubbing shoulders with local socialites.

The butler looked conflicted. "But, sir... the young master has already confirmed his attendance."

Harold nearly leaped out of his leather armchair. "What? Nathan is going?"

Seeing his employer so joyful brought a rare smile to the butler's face as he hurried out to contact Harold's personal tailor.

...

Early the next morning, Nora was brutally awakened by a call from Paul. Mourning the loss of her rare chance to sleep in, she sat blindly in a chair while the styling team fussed over her face and hair.

By 9:30 AM, she was finally ready to leave.

As she stepped out of her apartment, she instinctively glanced at Nathan's door. She half-expected him to poke his head out like he usually did, but the door remained firmly shut. She didn't know if he was out or still asleep.

Pulling her gaze away, Nora took the elevator down and slipped into the backseat of Leonard Hayes's luxury sedan.

Leonard looked her up and down, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face. "You look wonderful today, Nora. Just listen to me tonight. A father would never steer his daughter wrong."