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2025-10-16 06:23:00After catching everyone's gaze, Ethan corrected his posture to appear calm. The incense boiled inside him like a fire. With one warning glance from his mother, he was forced to silence himself and tried to look away.
Madeline's uncle Haris, who looked thrilled, came up to the Brooksville family at that moment.
“Impressive, Risha. I never expected Nathaniel to actually do it. When he did. Madeline demands that he takes it seriously.”
Risha proudly slapped her brother's hand. "I didn't anticipate it either. Nathaniel possesses the knowledge of his desires. And Madeleine, she deserves this."
Standing in front of a high mirror, Madeline looked glamorous in tulle with lace on her shoulders as she prepared for the wedding. The dress was a work of art, combining elegance and simplicity. However, Madeline did not observe a joyful bride in the mirror. She witnessed a woman desperately trying to keep her own heart steady.
The
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“All right,” said one of the board members, a middle-aged man with a cool tone. “Let’s talk about reputational risk. Sonia’s name has resurfaced in the project structure. We all know the history.”Several pairs of eyes immediately turned to Nathaniel.He did not rush to answer. His hands were neatly folded on the table, his posture upright. “I’m not blind to that,” he said at last. “Precisely because of that history, we’ve set clear boundaries. Her role is well defined, her responsibilities measurable, and all strategic decisions remain under the board’s authority.”“And if a conflict of interest arises?” another asked sharply.“We’ve prepared mitigation mechanisms,” Nathaniel replied calmly. “Independent audits, dual reporting lines, and a termination clause if standards are violated. There’s no gray area.”A brief silence
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Nathaniel held her closer, and for the first time in a long while, he knew: today with all its pressure ended in the right place.They didn’t move right away. Time seemed to soften around them, letting the fatigue of the day fall away on its own. Nathaniel felt Madeline’s steady breathing against his chest, warm and real.He realized how rarely he allowed moments like this to last without feeling the need to do something, reply to messages, open a laptop, plan the next step.Now, he simply was.Madeline eventually shifted slightly, looking up at Nathaniel’s face from close range. “You seem more present tonight,” she said softly, as if afraid to disturb the moment.Nathaniel smiled faintly. “Because I am present. Not half my mind somewhere else.”Madeline nodded, her fingers unconsciously tracing small lines along Nathaniel’s arm. “I often worry,” she admitted honestly. “
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Madeline finally released her grip and stood up slowly, as if unwilling to disturb the calm still lingering in the air. The morning light grew brighter, slipping through the gaps in the curtains and bathing the room in a soft, golden hue. Nathaniel remained lying there for a moment, watching Madeline’s back as she walked toward the small kitchen in the corner of the apartment.The aroma of coffee soon filled the space, simple, yet comforting. For Nathaniel, that scent had always marked the beginning of the day not as a reminder of work burdens, but as the rhythm of a life he could still enjoy.He got up, straightened the shirt he had left draped over a chair the night before, and walked over to Madeline. He stood behind her without immediately embracing her, simply waiting, savoring the moment as it was.“You know,” Madeline said as she poured hot water, “a few years ago I always imagined mornings like this but they felt too far out of reach.”Nathaniel smiled. “And now?”“Now,” Made
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Nathaniel nodded. “And tonight I just want to be your husband.”The words warmed Madeline’s chest. She took his hand, threading her fingers through his. “I don’t want you to lose yourself to the outside world,” she said honestly. “I want you to come home whole.”Nathaniel looked at their joined hands. “That’s why I need this,” he murmured. “Not to escape but to remember who I really am.”They fell silent again. Outside, the city sounds softened, as if the world itself was giving them space. Drowsiness slowly crept over Madeline, though her thoughts still wandered.“There’s something I’ve never asked you,” she said suddenly.Nathaniel raised an eyebrow slightly. “What is it?”“What are you most afraid of now?”He didn’t answer right away. He stared at the ceiling, then exhaled deeply. “I’m afra
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“We don’t need to rush,” he said quietly. “I want you to feel completely safe.”Madeline nodded. “I feel safe now.”They went back inside. The living room lights were dimmed, leaving only a soft, warm glow. Nathaniel placed his phone in a drawer, as if truly shutting the door on the outside world.In the bedroom, the atmosphere felt different, quieter, more intimate. Nathaniel helped Madeline take off her jacket, his movements careful and attentive. There was no wild desire, only intimacy born of trust.Madeline sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Nathaniel standing before her. “I never imagined peace could feel like this,” she said softly.Nathaniel knelt in front of her, looking up at her face. “Because this isn’t just desire,” he said. “It’s a choice. Every day.”He took Madeline’s hand and kissed it with reverence. The gesture warmed her ch
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Nathaniel gently rubbed her back. “I’ve spent too long choosing other things. I don’t want to repeat that.”They sat down on the sofa, still close. Madeline rested her head on Nathaniel’s shoulder while he stroked her hair slowly, almost by reflex. The television was on without sound, serving only as a soft background glow.“Are you afraid Sonia will become a problem?” Madeline asked quietly, without looking at him.Nathaniel took a breath. “I’m not afraid of her professionally. But I realize our past isn’t entirely neutral. And I don’t want that to make you feel unsafe.”Madeline lifted her head and looked at him seriously. “I’m not jealous of your past, Nathaniel. I just want you to be honest with me if that pressure ever comes back.”He met her gaze. “I promise. I won’t hide anything from you anymore. Even if it’s uncomfortable.”
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