The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

The Betrayed Heiress' Return to Elegance 26

Chapter 26 Brush Past His Lips

Corrine's heart leaped into her throat, her face blanching as fear gripped her. She squeezed her eyes shut and instinctively clung to the potted plant in her arms, as though it were her lifeline.

In a heartbeat, a firm, unyielding arm encircled her waist, pulling her into a secure, almost possessive embrace.

Everything unraveled so quickly that Corrine barely had time to process what was happening

But the dreaded pain never came.

Hesitantly, she opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Nate, his face so close that she could feel the warmth radiating from him.

His sharply sculpted jawline looked impossibly smooth, his Adam's apple subtly enticing as it moved. Beneath it, the crisp, buttoned collar of his shirt exuded an effortless sophistication, a quiet magnetism she couldn't

ignore.

m for escap

escape.

The closeness between them was almost suffocating, their bodies pressed together with no room Nate's cool, intoxicating scent surrounded her, leaving her feeling utterly cornered.

and Corrine caught a glimpse of herself reflected in his

began to race wildly. A

betraying her composure.

velvety voice murmured near her ear, the timbre sending

the strands of hair near her temple, an electric current jolting her senses and making her body tense

only when Nate loosened his grip slightly that Corrine seized the opportunity to step out of his arms. She straightened, her voice soft but tinged with defiance.

lips curled into a teasing smile as he noticed the lingering flush on her cheeks.

and opted for silence, crouching to retrieve the plant

fingers delicately brushed the soil from its roots, and a faint, unguarded smile softened her face. "Thankfully,

crouched beside her, his gaze steady and unusually tender, a

anyone

expression darkened when his eyes fell on Corrine's hands. Without warning, he

together in

surprise and followed his gaze to find a thin,

hadn't even realized was

cut on her sleeve as

His jaw tightened slightly before he swiftly swept her into his arms, standing with an ease that left

lips in the movement, the brief