LOGINBut Khloe returned without any sign of surprise.Perhaps Michelle still hadn't come to say anything."The doctor said you have inflammation. You need to take your medicine on time."Finally, Khloe hung up and returned, speaking as she busied herself with preparing his pills and a cup of warm water.Nick let out a soft cough, and she immediately rushed back. "No, maybe I should call the doctor again—have them check on you!""The doctor just left, less than two hours ago," Nick said, catching her wrist gently. "I just need to rest. The medicine is enough.""But—""Khloe, can you respect the patient's wishes once in a while?"He spoke calmly, softly, yet every word carried unmistakable seriousness."Alright."Khloe could only sigh, handing him the warm water and feeding him the pills. Watching his throat move as he swallowed each one, she tucked the blanket around his legs and reached to help him back to bed."I don't want to sleep yet," Nick murmured, holding her hand, drawing
But the moment she pushed the door open, what greeted her was a quiet, pitch-dark home.Khloe couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise.The living room's vast floor-to-ceiling windows captured the city lights, letting them spill softly across the carpet beside the sofa.The apartment seemed… empty."Nick?"For some reason, a subtle unease crept into her chest. Her voice dropped almost instinctively, as if afraid of disturbing something.Only when she reached the side of the sofa did she notice him: his figure curled in the corner, covered by a thin blanket, eyes closed, so still that it stirred an inexplicable ache in her heart."Nick."Relief washed over her. She immediately dropped her handbag and crouched beside the sofa.Gently, she called his name twice, brushing her hands over his forehead and his hands, afraid something might be wrong."You're back."As if just waking from a brief nap, Nick's voice was deep, husky. He opened his eyes; long lashes fluttered, and he
"How are you feeling today? Any pain anywhere? Does it still hurt?"Khloe's breath softened, as if her voice itself might wound him."No pain… I'm fine," Nick cleared his throat, his voice still slightly hoarse. "When do you finish? Can I come pick you up?""Don't move. Just lie down and rest, do you hear me? I'll wrap up quickly and go back myself."Khloe hurriedly stopped him—she couldn't bear the thought of him getting up.Through the phone, she heard him laugh again. It seemed he had only asked to see her flustered. He quickly reassured her, "Okay, I'll wait for you to come back."At that moment, Khloe heard footsteps near Nick. She was about to ask if he was home when Oscar pushed the door open.Seeing everyone had arrived, Khloe ended the call in a rush. Presumably, Lenny or the doctor hadn't left yet. Nick had promised to stay at home and not wander off. She trusted him.This dinner was mainly Oscar's chance to be candid with Khloe.Khloe couldn't have been without info
As for intimacy, Nick's pursuit of perfection bordered on the exacting. The two of them rarely even held hands… let alone kissed.Yet, everything he cherished so carefully meant nothing to Michelle.In that moment, Nick's heart shattered into a thousand pieces.But he had been accustomed to abandonment since childhood. Perhaps he had struggled along the way, yet when the moment finally came, he felt… nothing.He simply waited calmly until Michelle noticed him. Amid her panicked explanations, he ended things—he broke up with her.On the day of the engagement party, Michelle attended, but Nick was absent. Without a single word of explanation, he had whimsically canceled the engagement, drawing the scorn of both families.The childhood bond they once shared—their innocent, entwined past—was over.Time passed, and Michelle and Nick met again three years later.During those years, Michelle had two boyfriends, both brief affairs. She could never forget Nick. Though she had been the f
In the past, Nick had spoiled Michelle too much, and sometimes it made everything feel… tedious.Michelle was no longer the naive girl who had once felt the first stirrings of love. After leaving school and stepping into the adult world, their relationship had shifted—it was more like friendship and family than romance.No matter how good Nick treated her, the spark had long since faded. Watching her friends' boyfriends come and go while her life with Nick remained unchanged, Michelle felt as if she had already glimpsed the end of the road for their marriage.To delay their union, she went abroad to study for a few years. She was certain Nick would wait for her.He was responsible but insecure, and once he committed to someone, he never let go easily. And she needed time—time to give her heart an answer: Was her love for Nick deep enough? Could she truly marry him?Michelle made her decision. Though reluctant, Nick supported her unconditionally.But neither of them anticipated th
Michelle's account erupted in chaos, with countless people tagging her, demanding a response.Fans had been obsessing over the gossip between the two of them for days. If the rumors were baseless, why would Nick personally step in to shut them down? Why would he post such a meaningless, official announcement flaunting his affection?Michelle's fans were furious. They were convinced it was a deliberate attack against her. Perhaps it was because he had once abandoned Michelle, leaving her heartbroken—and perhaps that heartbreak had driven her near to despair before.Now that Nick had responded, Michelle's fans hoped she would courageously respond in kind. They wanted her to share her side of the story, to reclaim some justice for herself.Michelle stared at the trending news and public chatter, her chest tight with pain.Ever since returning from Felanche, she had barely slept. She had finally dozed off for a little while today, and now her sleep was gone again.Her phone lit up in







