Chapter 9 Erika's Invitation

The room snapped into silence, every face betraying a different reaction-thinly veiled curiosity about Connor's sudden marriage mingled with a quiet sense of relief, even approval, that their boss finally had a woman by his side.

With a calm, dismissive tone, Connor responded, "That won't be necessary. I'll head back on my own later."

After a brief pause, Nicole replied, "Alright, then I'll wait for you at the entrance."

Connor answered simply, "Sounds good."

The line went dead, leaving behind an awkward stillness that seemed to press in on everyone present.

A faint crease formed between Connor's brows, but he made no effort to ease the mood, instead grabbing his phone and striding out without another glance.

After hastily collecting his things, Samuel trailed after Connor. One of the subordinates muttered under his breath, "Samuel, that woman really seems like a lovely woman. What made you say such harsh things about her?"

Samuel flicked him a sharp, warning look and replied coolly, "You seem to have too much free time. Maybe shoulder some extra workload?"

...

In the span of only a few days, the once-deserted mansion had undergone a quiet transformation.

Every surface gleamed with care, and the newly arranged furniture softened the space, infusing it with an unexpected warmth. With Nicole moving through the rooms, the house finally carried the gentle signs of daily life, no longer cold or abandoned.

Midway through the meal, Nicole calmly went over the recent household expenses with Connor, her explanations orderly and efficient, stripped of any needless elaboration.

After hearing her out, Connor responded flatly, "You don't have to report these things to me anymore. Since I've handed the money to you, use it however you like. There's no reason to hold back on my account."

Years of scrimping and self-denial had worn Nicole down, and her mother's sudden death had left her emotionally exhausted. Connor's effortless generosity, along with the trust behind it, warmed her in a way she hadn't felt in a long time. "Thank you," she said softly, a genuine smile lifting her lips.

Connor offered no reply, leaving the table and heading straight for the bathroom once dinner ended.

What greeted him made his brow twitch-the entire space had been renovated, shelves crowded with brightly colored bottles, every towel now a glaring shade of pink.

A slow breath left him as he shut his eyes, resignation settling in. Despite her meek appearance, she revealed a startling streak of boldness.

Left without alternatives, he stepped out of the steam, wrapped in a pink towel, water still clinging to his skin.

Nicole held a robe and moved closer, hands lifting to help him change.

As if nudged by some invisible pull, Connor didn't refuse her help.

In Nicole's mind, years of immobility would have left him fragile and wasted, yet when his clothes were shed, a lean, powerful frame was revealed-firm muscle shaping his torso, his naked shoulders broader and more imposing than they ever looked beneath fabric.

Despite having never cared for men's physiques, tension crept up Nicole's spine all the same, a flutter of unease tightening her chest. Her gaze snagged on the hard bulge at his groin, blatant and impossible to miss, its sheer size making its meaning unmistakably clear.

A chill skittered through her as she told herself, almost desperately, that his condition made him harmless; had he been healthy, she doubted she would have survived the wedding night.

Oblivious to the storm racing through her thoughts, Connor raised the subject with easy indifference. "We'll be visiting my family next month. Make whatever preparations you think are necessary."

A brief pause flickered across Nicole's face before she lifted her chin and answered with quiet seriousness, "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."

Connor found himself at a loss for a reply, the words stalling somewhere between frustration and amusement.

At that moment, Nicole's phone buzzed in her hand. One glance at the screen wiped away her composure, her gaze sharpening the instant the caller's name flashed on the display.

Erika's bright, overly sweet voice rang through the line. "Nicole, you didn't forget my birthday, did you? I'm having a party next week, and you absolutely have to come."

The casual mention of a birthday dragged Nicole back to that suffocating humiliation Erika had once orchestrated for her.

Erika understood Nicole's vulnerabilities far too well and had always taken pleasure in stepping on them, using Nicole's discomfort as a pedestal to elevate herself and turn Nicole into a public spectacle.

Having waited patiently for an opportunity to return the favor, Nicole showed no hesitation and answered coolly, "Sure. I wouldn't miss it."

From the other end of the line, a man's voice drifted through, indistinct but unmistakably close.

With a soft, deliberate laugh, Erika added, "Alright, I've got to go-Jerald wants me again. He never seems satisfied, clearly backed by that relentless energy of youth..."

Nicole quickly cut the call short.

Connor caught the flicker of tension that crossed Nicole's face and didn't let it slide. Keeping his tone casual, he pressed. "You seem pretty shaken. What's going on? Is there more between you and her boyfriend than you're letting on?"