Chapter 3 Those Eyes

Corrine's mind emptied like an overturned glass, her feet becoming lead weights against the pavement.

The car blazed past her, an obsidian bullet piercing through space and time.

The violent aftermath of rushing air sent Corrine sprawling onto the unforgiving ground.

In the desolate street, logic dictated the driver would vanish into the night-no witnesses, no consequences, no trace to follow in their wake.

Yet fate had other plans. The vehicle's engine growled as it reversed course, coming to rest mere inches from where she lay.

The passenger door swung open with deliberate grace, revealing an elegant figure stepping forth. Custom black leather shoes touched the ground as their owner emerged, extending an ebony umbrella that sheltered her from the relentless downpour.

"Are you alright?" The deep timbre of Nate Hopkins' voice resonated through the rain-soaked air.

Corrine's gaze traveled upward, taking in the sight before her. His face was a study in precision-sharp angles and defined planes that spoke of nobility, while his eyes held an inexplicable magnetism that tugged at the edges of her memory.

Those eyes stirred something within her consciousness-a whisper of recognition that danced just beyond her grasp.

"I'm fine, thank you..." The words scraped past her throat in barely more than a whisper.

Her attempt to stand ended in defeat as pain lanced through her scraped legs and lacerated foot, sending her tumbling back toward the ground.

Before gravity could claim her again, a strong arm swept around her waist, drawing her up against a solid wall of strength.

The chill emanating from Nate's body enveloped her as she found herself pressed against his chest.

Her palms connected with the firm plane of his torso, and heat bloomed beneath her fingers despite his cool exterior.

The contrast of sensations overwhelmed her senses. Instinct drove her to push away, but Nate responded by gathering her more securely into his arms, lifting her with effortless grace.

"What are you doing? Put me down!" Ice crystallized in Corrine's voice, matching the sudden frost in her expression.

The intimate contact struck a discordant note-even Bruce, her companion of three years, had never ventured beyond holding hands. This stranger's bold actions stirred uncomfortable waves in her carefully ordered world.

Nate's steady gaze found hers, his voice carrying quiet authority. "You're injured. You need to go to the hospital."

"I-I can walk on my own," Corrine protested, though his proximity sent waves of tension through her body, his cold aura pressing in from all sides.

"Don't move." The command rolled from his lips like distant thunder, brooking no argument and stilling her resistance.

The car's frigid interior prompted a sneeze from Corrine's lips.

Nate's hand found the climate controls, silencing them. Noting her trembles, he draped his jacket across her shoulders with surprising gentleness. "Try not to catch a cold."

"Thank you." The garment carried his essence-both his scent and lingering warmth-sending her heart into an unexpected gallop.

A ghost of amusement flickered through Nate's eyes as he noticed the color rising in her cheeks. "I should be the one thanking you."

Confusion painted her features. "What?"

His voice remained steady as steel. "Thank you for accepting my apology and giving me a chance to make it right."

They arrived at the nearest hospital, where Corrine insisted on walking despite her injuries. Nate matched her halting pace with patience until they reached their destination.

Upon her return from treatment, she found him on the phone, his tall frame cutting a striking silhouette against the stark hospital walls. At her approach, he ended the conversation and extended a business card. "Here's my contact information. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

"I don't need anything else." Her polite refusal carried finality-this chapter needed no epilogue.

She extended his jacket toward him. "Here. I'll cover the cost of cleaning it."

Nate's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile as he glanced at the jacket in her outstretched hand. "Keep it. You need it more than I do."

His words, simple as they were, struck a chord she hadn't expected. A lump rose in her throat as she struggled to suppress the sudden wave of emotion.

She told herself it was the day's events-the shock, the exhaustion, and the heartbreak. Surely that was why she felt so moved by a stranger's fleeting kindness.

"Thank you. But I should go now," Corrine said softly, her voice tinged with vulnerability. Straightening her posture, she walked away, determined to return to the Ashton family home and handle some important matters.

Nate remained rooted in place, watching her retreating form with an inscrutable gleam in his eyes. "We'll meet again."