Her expression was cold and detached. “What’s up?”

He stared at her short, tousled hair for a long while before speaking slowly, “I’ll carry you to the car.”

As he bent down to pick her up, Yasmine stepped back, eyeing the sedan with its door already ajar. The wound on her waist had just healed not long ago, and getting into the car might indeed pose a risk.

She turned to look at Derek, who was standing nearby. “Derek, give me a lift, will you?”

Boyd’s eyes flickered ever so slightly.

Derek stepped forward without hesitation, carefully avoiding her wounded side, and gently lifted her into his arms. Then he bent down and placed her in the car. “Don’t move just yet.”d2

Yasmine had always been the darling of the Peck family, coddled and pampered in every possible way to the point where such treatment had become second nature for everyone around her.

Derek propped her back with his hand, reached for a cushion nearby, and placed it behind her waist for support before letting her lean back into it. He looked down at her, his voice low and gentle, “Comfortable?”

She nodded slightly, “Mhm.”

They were close, Derek’s shoulder brushing her cheek as he leaned in to adjust the cushion, his breath grazing her face as he spoke. Yet both of them seemed utterly at ease with this intimate proximity, as if it was an everyday occurrence they had grown accustomed to.

Boyd’s gaze darkened a tad.

After Derek had made sure Yasmine was settled, his eyes lingered on her face for a second longer before he withdrew from the car and stood up, casually closing the door behind him. He gave Boyd a nod and slid into the driver’s seat.

Bryson and Aliza also climbed into the vehicle.

Boyd stood there, watching the car pull away slowly. Suddenly, he realized that he had been through this scenario more times than he cared to remember.

Bryson had things well in hand at the school. It looked like Yasmine would be able to make an appearance at the graduation ceremony.

During this time, Yasmine rested at home, with Derek bringing her a few documents each day. Sometimes she’d sit in the study, video call Derek on her computer to join a company meeting or two, discuss new projects, or brainstorm potential ventures.

If something seemed promising, she’d dive in with a minor investment to test the waters, or sometimes jump into a brand-new industry feet first.

Besides reading books, taking regular walks for light exercise, surfing the net for information, and keeping up with the latest business trends, her days were fulfilling.

Sometimes Yasmine would even brag to Derek, “I think I must have missed out on a few billion. With my smarts, had I started in business earlier, I could’ve been one of the richest woman by now.”

Derek would chuckle dryly, “Yeah, you’re the smartest.”

It wasn’t about Yasmine showing off. She genuinely felt that focusing on money-making was beneficial for both mind and body. The ups and downs of the process were much more interesting.

Two months had passed, and her injuries were nearly healed.

a proper salon, and her

on her face. Though there was a touch

saw Yasmine, his eyes nearly popped out. “What…

her ear, “I’m heading to the office to

smile, though

rumors that she was Derek’s girlfriend. The pair were

awkward as hell. Especially since he’d been ordered to give her a grand tour of the company. Introducing her as a shareholder to department heads was one

experience at the

had lunch together, and in the afternoon, left the office in the same car

coming back

in the passenger seat, glanced at him, “Do you want me to

just think that you’re not fully recovered

I’ll sleep

breathed a

up with a lunchbox, making

wild, and now you’re

in front of him, “Do you despise our little rumors

If my dad finds out I’m courting his little princess,

and teasing, “You’ve

his hand, “Office romances

pushed the lunchbox closer to him, “Let’s have

find the food still warm, but as soon as he took a bite, his face contorted. It looked decent

closely, her eyes narrowing in

and she’d

with a gulp of now-lukewarm coffee. “Have… Have you had

“Aliza’s pork ribs were quite nice at

as Derek rummaged through the lunchbox, there wasn’t a trace of

“Where are they?”

this especially

cooking for lunch and

sincerity,

fork and took a deep breath, “With all this sincerity, what exactly do you want from

“To be your girlfriend?”

toppled

“What?!”

pronounced each syllable

his thoughts in a single breath, “What on earth are you trying

to him, reaching out to adjust his tie. “Is it such a crime to want you to experience what it’s like to be in

in a touch closer, “Be honest with me, have you ever

her approaching face, swallowed hard, and poked her shoulder with a tentative finger.

are you up for being

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255