LOGINCharlotte’s voice turned icy. “Mr. Paterson, get in the car. We’re leaving.”Nick immediately nodded at her and got in. Charlotte did not give Lucy even a second to react. She stepped on the gas and pulled away from St. Ritz.Lucy stormed home, furious, only to find her mother holding Callum. The sight made the anger in her chest flare even hotter.Mrs. Chancer took one look at her expression and frowned. “What happened to you? Didn’t your brother say you were going on a date with that man from Harbour City?”“Don’t even mention it,” Lucy snapped. “Mom, that bitch tried to ruin me again. She and my brother haven’t even been divorced that long, and she’s already latched onto Nick!”Mrs. Chancer had not caught everything at first, but after Lucy angrily retold the entire day, her face hardened.“I could tell that woman was shameless from the start,” Mrs. Chancer said bitterly. “But that Nick from Harbour City, is he really that outstanding?”“He is,” Lucy said, her voice turning t
Lucy forced down the anger boiling in her chest. Her teeth ached from how hard she was clenching them, but she still balled her fists and made herself breathe.Nick was right there. She did not want to leave him with a bad impression.“It’s okay,” she said, sounding gracious even though every word tasted like poison. “If you have something urgent, go handle it. Don’t let me hold you up.”What she really wanted, deep down, was to tear Charlotte apart.After they left St. Ritz, Nick walked toward a car parked by the curb.Charlotte was in the driver’s seat.“She saw?” Charlotte asked.Nick nodded like it did not matter as he slid into the passenger seat. “Yeah. Be careful. She might start targeting you.”Charlotte gave a cold laugh. “I’m only worried she still won’t even notice me.”“Wait a minute,” Nick said calmly. “She will.”There were more than a dozen luxury cars lined up outside St. Ritz, but Charlotte’s stood out even among them.When Lucy walked out, she spotted it im
Nick frowned and reached a hand toward Lucy. “Grab my hand.”Lucy looked at him in pure terror. Her hand trembled as she stretched it out. “Nick!”Her soft, pale fingers landed in his palm.In the next second, Nick yanked her toward him and pulled her onto his horse in one clean motion. The saddle was tight for two people. Lucy ended up sitting at an angle, her back pressed against his chest.Everyone nearby gasped. Some were amazed by Nick’s control. Others just exhaled in relief that Lucy had been saved.Lucy clung to him, one hand over her chest like she was still shaken. “Nick, thank you. That was terrifying. I really thought…”Nick slowed the horse and helped her down. Only then did the stable staff rush over, anxious to check her over.Lucy refused. She had finally gotten closer to Nick. There was no way she was leaving now.Once the crowd dispersed, she walked back to his side. “Nick, you saved me. I have to thank you properly. St. Ritz is one of the most famous restaura
Lucy rode alongside Nick, the two of them chatting on and off.The vibe was painfully normal. Polite. Distant. Like two people who technically knew each other, but did not belong in the same world.She had worked so hard just to figure out where he would be today. Her hope had been burning bright. There was no way she was letting it end like this.“Miss Chancer,” Nick asked suddenly, “is something on your mind?”Lucy jumped, worried she had accidentally let something slip. “N-no. I’m fine.”Nick smiled, his voice gentle. “You don’t have to rush. If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t force you. You’ve just looked a little distracted since earlier, so I was worried.”“You said… you were worried about me?” Lucy turned to him, eyes bright, desperate to hear him say it again.Nick chuckled, amused by her reaction. “You’re my business partner’s sister. A little concern isn’t anything special.”How could he say that?The smile on Lucy’s face faded so fast it was almost visible,
The stable attendant politely gestured for Lucy to follow. “Miss Chancer, the women’s changing room is this way. Please come with me.”Lucy was not in any hurry to change. She walked straight toward the turf arena, her gaze sweeping the field as she searched for the figure she had already etched into her heart.People who are truly different shine wherever they go. It really was true.Even with other riders around him, she spotted Nick immediately.And he was not even doing anything. He sat on his horse, reins loose, barely moving, and somehow still managed to monopolize the entire place.The attendant leaned in and asked softly, “Miss Chancer… are you still changing?”Lucy smiled and nodded. She turned, lifted her chin, and said with practiced pride, “Let’s go.”Nick noticed her. He looked surprised, though his face did not show much.He turned to say a few words to his friend, then nudged his horse into a slow trot toward her.Lucy sat on her own horse, staring as he drew cl
Lucy darted to the other side of the desk and grabbed James by the arm, shaking him nonstop. “Bro, can you really stand by and watch your own sister suffer day and night from lovesickness?”The moment she said it, half of James’s face went dark. He pointed at her, furious in that disappointed, fed-up way. “You’re a girl. Can you have even a little self-respect? If people hear about this, do you know how embarrassing it is?”Lucy huffed and flung his arm away, throwing a tantrum on purpose. “I don’t care. You’re my brother, and Nick is your business partner. You have to help me.”Before James could respond, she muttered in a sarcastic undertone, “Also, what century are you living in? You’re out here preaching that trad wife ‘women don’t leave the house’ nonsense. Tell me who’s embarrassing.”James actually laughed from sheer disbelief. He pointed at her for a long moment and could not even find words.He finally just waved his hand, signaling for her to get out.Lucy immediately p







