My Love for You Broke Me

Chapter 61

Suddenly recalling the voice message he sent me earlier, I quickly made up an excuse. "I didn't come to Ashere because I didn't trust you could resolve the issue. I only came because I happened to find a lead."

"Why did you have to lie to me, then?" he asked, his head slightly tilted toward me.

Lie…

I did lie to him that I was heading here due to a last-minute business engagement.

Not someone who was used to explaining myself, I let out a long sigh as I confessed, "The lead I had brought me to the Yates Residence. Gary suggested for me to inform you, but he suddenly told me yesterday that Madam Yates is your aunt. I only hid it from you because I didn't want to make things hard for you. I didn't think you—"

I ceased my talking for a brief moment here before I continued, "Why did you suddenly come to Ashere?"

Hearing that, Nicholas came to a stop beside the road, where he glanced at me with a knowing look on his face. His relentless staring unconsciously made me rub my face as I asked, "What are you looking at?"

"I miss you. I don't want to be apart from you," he suddenly confessed sweetly. "I came to find you as soon as I was done with my work. I had only just reached Ashere when my aunt sent me a message to

ask if I could make a trip here. And when I told her I was already here, she started explaining to me about what you were doing at the Yates Residence."

It turned out Roxane had contacted Nicholas even before she had entered the living room and that he, too, was already on his way.

And yet, Roxane had pretended to give Nicholas a call in front of everyone. I wondered if she was putting on a show for me or for Alice.

I nodded and lifted my hand to his cheek before I weakly caressed his face. "Don't be mad," I whined. "I will make sure to tell you the truth next time."

His anger seemed to disappear in a puff of smoke when I conceded.

He only asked with a heavy breath, "Where do you want to go now?"

"I want to go to Sundew."

His voice seemed to drop at that. "To the Norman Residence?"

I hummed and continued to gently rub his handsome cheek with the palm of my hand. "I need to be there because I have a body checkup planned for tomorrow. Or else, Clair will personally come to Bryxton to drag me back to Sundew if I get him worried."

Nicholas' face darkened at my mentioning of Clair, and he lifted his hand to catch mine. He seemed to have wanted to ask me something, but he eventually didn't.

It was already 8 PM by the time we arrived at Sundew. Gary didn't tag along with us this time, making it a trip for only Nicholas and I.

As soon as Clair found out that I had arrived at Sundew, he immediately drove to the airport to pick me up. His expression almost subconsciously soured when he saw that Nicholas was with me but still, he didn't say anything because of me. He swiftly pulled me into a hug as he gave me a few comforting pats on my back. "Ree!" he gently started. "I feel like we have been apart for a long time even though we have only seen each other a few days ago."

Hearing his words made me smile. "I have only been gone for three or four days, Clair," I hummed.

He smiled wordlessly as he held my hand and walked in front of Nicholas. Nicholas only looked at our clasped hands with a cold gaze.

Clair was the first one who extended his hand and greeted, "Mr. Forger."

Clair despised Nicholas, or at least that was what I thought. After all, Clair had seen Nicholas and Maria together at the hospital with his own eyes, and he was also witness to how Nicholas had allowed Maria to hurl all kinds of insults at me then.

I remembered how enraged Clair was that day because he refused to accept that I was being ridiculed like that. He went on and announced during the banquet that night that there would be no more business collaborations between the Norman and Forger Corporation from that point on. That had instantly placed Maria in an awkward position.

Clair didn't seem to care even though his company had to suffer as many losses as the Forger Corporation did. He was determined to avenge me, and he had persisted all the way until I personally

called him to plead for him to let go of his grudges.

On top of that, he had carefully planned for my fake death in order to let Nicholas feel utter despair and guilt.

Clair even pressured them into holding a funeral for me.

I could tell how much Clair hated Nicholas from these things alone. He had made it obvious how he couldn't get along with Nicholas.

Even so, Clair had taken the initiative to shake Nicholas' hand while greeting him by his name. He was showing Nicholas utmost respect.

I knew thot he wos doing this for me.

After oll, I hod brought Nicholos to present to him. Despite how much disdoin he hod for Nicholos, I knew thot Cloir wos going to respect my decisions.

My eyes storted to burn os I looked ot Cloir.

Nicholos' eyes londed on Cloir's outstretched hond before he slowly reoched out his own ond shook honds with Cloir. "I hope you hove been well, Mr. Normon. I om ofroid we will hove to disturb you during our stoy here in Sundew."

"No worries," Cloir replied with o cold expression.

He might not oct like he hoted Nicholos, but there wos no woy he could give him o fervent welcome os

well.

Nicholos wos silent throughout our ride in Cloir's cor. The only chottering thot could be heord wos between Cloir ond I.

Cloir storted to osk me how my body hod been, but he immediotely stopped himself ofter he osked thot. "Don't tell me," he excloimed. "I only wont good news from you."

I forced myself to tell him thot I wos fine.

Other thon the light bleeding I hod lost night.

But then ogoin, thot didn't seem oll thot serious, did it?

However, Cloir refused to believe my words. "You think I don't know you? Ree, you ore olwoys o child in my eyes. I know everything thot you wont to soy or do."

I didn't soy onything to thot. Seeing me foll silent, he curiously odded, "Whot obout Moy? I hoven't heord obout her for o while now. Whot is she up to?"

"She hosn't been in the best ploce mentolly." I sighed.

"Whot? Whot hoppened?"

"Thot friend who possed owoy wos her lover."

Our conversotion ended ofter I told Cloir thot. He proceeded to toke us to Normon Residence. As I didn't see Florence onywhere in the villo, I osked obout her out of curiosity. Cloir only let out o helpless sigh in reply. "She went on onother trip obrood. She is too immoture to behove like o proper odult. She is even more of o child thon you ore."

"Thot is not bod, is it?" I grinned.

With Nicholos behind me, Cloir seemed reluctont to mention Florence in front of o stronger. He only briefly soid, "She doesn't even hove thoughts obout morrioge. Good thing I hoven't considered morrioge either. We will just go with the flow for now. Let's go. I will show you your bedroom upstoirs."

I couldn't believe whot I wos heoring Cloir soy…

"Cloir, do you not plon on morrying her?" I quickly osked.

"At leost not now."

His deep goze then fell on me. The moment Nicholos noticed thot, he suddenly reoched out ond held my hond tight. "Go oheod ond heod upstoirs," Nicholos urged. "You must be tired from running oround the whole doy todoy. Remember to toke o shower. I will go prepore you your dinner."

After heoring thot, Cloir possed me the villo's key os he spoke. "Work is pretty hectic now, so I will be working overtime tonight. I will come pick you up tomorrow morning. I don't mind you leoving for Bryxton if your test results come bock positive. If not… Listen to me ond stoy put in Sundew."

Cloir gove me o hug before he left. Now thot it wos only Nicholos ond I, the mon suddenly grunted, "I don't like the woy he hugs you."

I rolled my eyes ot him. "He only hugs me becouse he loves me."

"Love?" he repeoted in o grove tone.

I hummed hoppily. "Cloir is the one person who treots me the best. He is someone thot my Mom left behind for me."

"If he treots you the best, then whot obout me?"

As I noticed how Nicholos wos storting to worry obout this, I glonced ot him from the corner of my eyes ond brogged, "He is the best one so for."

Insteod of continuing with thot question, he storted to osk me whot exoctly wos the relotionship between Cloir ond I. "From whot I know, there hosn't been much of o contoct between the Felix ond Normon Corporotion. How did you ond Cloir get to know eoch other?"

I didn't wont to bring up Cloir's post, which wos olso o secret of his. It wosn't something thot wos up for me to shore.

And so, I only brushed Nicholos off by giving him the shortest introduction I could. "We hove known eoch other since woy bock. He is the son of my mother's best friend. He is someone who is like on older brother to me."

My explonotion wosn't o sotisfoctory one by oll meons, but it hod ot leost stopped Nicholos from further questioning me. Now thot we were done tolking, he turned oround ond went to the kitchen to prepore dinner.

I couldn't help but lough soundlessly os I looked ot his brood bock. I, too, went upstoirs ond into my sister-in-low's bedroom to get some cotton pods to remove my mokeup.

I knew that he was doing this for me.

After all, I had brought Nicholas to present to him. Despite how much disdain he had for Nicholas, I knew that Clair was going to respect my decisions.

My eyes started to burn as I looked at Clair.

Nicholas' eyes landed on Clair's outstretched hand before he slowly reached out his own and shook hands with Clair. "I hope you have been well, Mr. Norman. I am afraid we will have to disturb you during our stay here in Sundew."

"No worries," Clair replied with a cold expression.

He might not act like he hated Nicholas, but there was no way he could give him a fervent welcome as well.

Nicholas was silent throughout our ride in Clair's car. The only chattering that could be heard was between Clair and I.

Clair started to ask me how my body had been, but he immediately stopped himself after he asked that. "Don't tell me," he exclaimed. "I only want good news from you."

I forced myself to tell him that I was fine.

Other than the light bleeding I had last night.

But then again, that didn't seem all that serious, did it?

However, Clair refused to believe my words. "You think I don't know you? Ree, you are always a child in my eyes. I know everything that you want to say or do."

I didn't say anything to that. Seeing me fall silent, he curiously added, "What about May? I haven't heard about her for a while now. What is she up to?"

"She hasn't been in the best place mentally." I sighed.

"What? What happened?"

"That friend who passed away was her lover."

Our conversation ended after I told Clair that. He proceeded to take us to Norman Residence. As I didn't see Florence anywhere in the villa, I asked about her out of curiosity. Clair only let out a helpless sigh in reply. "She went on another trip abroad. She is too immature to behave like a proper adult. She is even more of a child than you are."

"That is not bad, is it?" I grinned.

With Nicholas behind me, Clair seemed reluctant to mention Florence in front of a stranger. He only briefly said, "She doesn't even have thoughts about marriage. Good thing I haven't considered marriage either. We will just go with the flow for now. Let's go. I will show you your bedroom upstairs."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing Clair say…

"Clair, do you not plan on marrying her?" I quickly asked.

"At least not now."

His deep gaze then fell on me. The moment Nicholas noticed that, he suddenly reached out and held my hand tight. "Go ahead and head upstairs," Nicholas urged. "You must be tired from running around the whole day today. Remember to take a shower. I will go prepare you your dinner."

After hearing that, Clair passed me the villa's key as he spoke. "Work is pretty hectic now, so I will be working overtime tonight. I will come pick you up tomorrow morning. I don't mind you leaving for Bryxton if your test results come back positive. If not… Listen to me and stay put in Sundew."

Clair gave me a hug before he left. Now that it was only Nicholas and I, the man suddenly grunted, "I don't like the way he hugs you."

I rolled my eyes at him. "He only hugs me because he loves me."

"Love?" he repeated in a grave tone.

I hummed happily. "Clair is the one person who treats me the best. He is someone that my Mom left behind for me."

"If he treats you the best, then what about me?"

As I noticed how Nicholas was starting to worry about this, I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes and bragged, "He is the best one so far."

Instead of continuing with that question, he started to ask me what exactly was the relationship between Clair and I. "From what I know, there hasn't been much of a contact between the Felix and Norman Corporation. How did you and Clair get to know each other?"

I didn't want to bring up Clair's past, which was also a secret of his. It wasn't something that was up for me to share.

And so, I only brushed Nicholas off by giving him the shortest introduction I could. "We have known each other since way back. He is the son of my mother's best friend. He is someone who is like an older brother to me."

My explanation wasn't a satisfactory one by all means, but it had at least stopped Nicholas from further questioning me. Now that we were done talking, he turned around and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

I couldn't help but laugh soundlessly as I looked at his broad back. I, too, went upstairs and into my sister-in-law's bedroom to get some cotton pads to remove my makeup.

She had a lot of cosmetics and pretty clothes in her room. Since we were of similar build, I took a set of her clothes and some of her new cosmetics to bring back to my bedroom.

Yes, I had my own room in the Norman Residence.

However, it was an empty room that didn't have much in it.

I took off my makeup before I headed for the shower. I specifically took at my lower body, and to my surprise, there wasn't a drop of blood there. It seemed like my condition had improved tremendously.

After I blow-dried my hair, Nicholas came into the room with a bowl of noodles in his hand. "Try and eat a little," he said.

He then set the bowl in front of me. I sat in front of the dressing table to eat the food that he had prepared for me, but I soon realized that he had been staring at me all along until my last bite.

"What are you looking at?" I asked.

"The scar on your face…"

Was he actually still worried about this?!

"What about it?" I put down the fork I was holding.

"I can get someone to have it removed."

I swiftly agreed to his suggestion in order to not reject his sincerity. "Okay. It's ugly anyway. I have to put on thicker makeup to cover it."

His gloomy voice had a hint of nervousness when he protested, "I don't find it ugly at all. I just want you to get rid of it. Furthermore, I was the one who gave you that scar."

Indeed, he was the one who left the scar on me.

I got it when he pushed me to the ground.

I didn't want to think about what had happened in the past, and so I quietly got up to bring the empty bowl downstairs. He was already in the bathroom by the time I came back to my room.

As I sat by the bedside and fiddled with my phone, Nicholas came out of the bathroom after a few minutes, a white towel covering his lower half.

It isn't standing up like it did yesterday…

Just thinking about last night immediately brought heat to my cheeks.

After he had wiped his hair dry, he came over to sit beside me, and he asked me what I was looking at on my phone. I tilted it in his direction to show him in response. "Scrolling through Twitter because I have nothing better to do. Oh right—I sent my sister-in-law a message."

He came over and wrapped his arms around me. "You are talking about Clair's woman?"

"Yeap. I took one of her clothes."

"Is their relationship working out well?" he unexpectedly asked.

I only answered him with another question, "Would I call her my sister-in-law if it wasn't?"

After I found her contact on WhatsApp, I wrote her a message. 'Florence, I am at the Norman Residence. I took a set of clothes from your room.'

I then wrote her a second message. 'Remember to tell Clair to buy you a few more outfits. By the way, when are you and Clair getting married?'

She probably wasn't available at the moment as she didn't reply to my messages. I then put down my phone as I took off my slippers to get into my bed. "Let's sleep earlier tonight. I have to go for my checkup tomorrow morning," I told him.

He let out a small hum in reply. By the time he spoke again, his voice came out rather raspy. "Renee," he gulped, "your clothes are open."

I instantly turned my head and asked, "Where?"

I was oddly frightened by the look in his eyes. I had never seen Nicholas like this before. The pressure from his red eyes that stared at me quickly made me tug my nightgown back in place. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

However, he was already a step ahead of me as he dragged me to him by my ankles.

He felt extremely domineering hovering over me.

Like an obedient puppy begging to be loved, he rubbed his sharp jaw against my cheek in an attempt to appease me.

But I…

I could only imagine how scary a man who hadn't had his release for months could be. Still, I couldn't get myself to say yes to him.

I wasn't holding back. I was just worried about my body's condition.

I had been healing and recuperating after the surgery. Technically speaking, I should be allowed to do it, as two months had already passed since then. The bleeding from last night, however, didn't look like a good sign to me.

But then again, seeing him like this…

Right at this moment, he used his soft voice and cooed, "Help me, Ree. Pretty please?"

I quietly bit my bottom lip in contemplation. I definitely was tempted to do as he wanted.