Ashley was clearly not having it. "Who said I'm single? I'm the prized daughter of the Stewart family, blessed with looks and a degree from a top-notch university. There are plenty of men out there who fancy me. All I need to do is pick one outstanding guy, say yes to marrying him, and that's that."
Then, with a sly grin, she added, "Ms. Nathalie, ever heard of secret marriages? You know what that means, right?"
The hint was clear: she was already hitched. And the guy who gave her the Forget-Me-Not wedding ring? He was her secret husband.
But wait a minute—Nathan had told Nathalie that the Forget-Me-Not ring was one of a kind, a family heirloom meant for his future wife.
A chill ran down Nathalie's spine, and she stumbled a bit.
Ashley gave her arm a little pat, mixing mockery with a touch of pity. "Ms. Nathalie, don't long for what's not yours. Otherwise, when it's gone, you'll know just how much it hurts."
"Ashley, we're leaving," Dustin called over, and Ashley bounced off happily.
Nathalie, though, stood there, stuck in a daze, until Nathan came over, gently taking her hand. "Let's head home."
Feeling like she'd been bitten by a snake, Nathalie jerked her hand away.
Nathan's face fell, looking so forlorn. "What's up?"
Seeing the depth and sincerity on his face left Nathalie feeling muddled. What if she'd gotten it all wrong? He had always been so genuine with her.
She softened her stance, took his hand again, and said gently, "It's nothing, let's just go home."
Nathan let her lead him, still a bit dazed, as they walked out together.
Outside, a few guests lingered at the entrance. The Stewart family patriarch and Ashley were chatting with Mason. But as soon as they spotted Nathan, they clammed up and quickly made their exits in separate cars.
Nathalie frowned. "They act like they've seen a ghost when they see you. You're a decent guy. Why are they so scared of you?"
Nathan replied, "In business, it's all about the bottom line. I just happened to take what they cherished most. That's why they can't stand me."
His words carried a hint of loneliness.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Reborn From Oblivion (Nellie and Cameron)
Can you please convey this to the person who owns this website? Update “find me in your labyrinth” novel please...author is MIA for several weeks......AND VERY INCONSISTENT...