The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

The Betrayed Heiress' Return to Elegance 129

Chapter 129 Very Sweet

Just as Corrine felt herself losing balance, Nate materialized beside her, his steady arm catching her around the waist.

"Are you okay?" Concern laced Nate's voice.

"I'm fine," Corrine assured him.

"Sorry, did my daughter bump into you?" The girl's father looked at Corrine apologetically.

Corrine shook her head, dismissing his worry.

The father's expression shifted as he turned to his daughter, crouching down to meet her eyes. "Didn't I tell you not to run around when we're out? If this happens again, our outings will have to stop."

"Daddy, I'm sorry." The little girl's fingers found their way to her father's sleeve, her eyes swimming with tears. "Daddy, could I have a lollipop?"

The father's stern facade crumbled at his daughter's pleading. "Promise me you won't run around anymore."

"Okay,” she whispered.

the sweet treat touched her hands, she wrapped her arms around her father's neck, planting a

deep within Corrine, casting a shadow across her

her reverie, she

finding him approaching with a lollipop in hand, his presence standing out even among the

offered, having noticed

the treat after a moment's hesitation and tasted it, its sweetness melting on her tongue

having caught both the flash of

cooling.

let them go." Nate enveloped her cold hand in his warm one. "Don't

lips, transforming her delicate features.

be so

matters more to me than assigning blame." His words rode

exhaled softly. "My mother died when I was very young. When my father remarried, I discovered I had a sister just three months younger than me. Everything seemed fine at first, but

tensed, fingers curling into tight

he brought me to live with the Fords, severing all contact with my father. Even though