When Her "Death" Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel)

Chapter 2048

"Keep it," Nicholas repeated, steel edging his tone-no room for refusal.

Yet Jocelyn remained motionless, stubborn as stone, her hands folded in her lap.

Nicholas exhaled in quiet frustration. "Can't you listen to me, just this once?"

Eyes lowered, she said, "I haven't done anything for you. When I resigned, you already paid me extra. I can't take more."

The words settled between them, a silence that stretched and deepened until even the clock dared not tick.

Nicholas lifted his cup again, then, almost against his will, asked, "And if something happened to me?"

"Huh?" Jocelyn's head snapped up. "Nicholas, what are you talking about?"

"Don't panic," he said, choosing each word carefully. "I mean hypothetically. If I'm gone, I'll have no real friends-only you. Can't I leave a portion of my money to you?"

Fear pricked the edges of her composure. "Don't say that, Mr. Nicholas. Nothing will happen to you. You've got family, and you'll have plenty of friends in time."

He shook his head faintly. "No... People think I'm easygoing, but I know most of them don't care for me at all," he confessed, disappointment clouding his voice. Seeing him like that only deepened her worry; a quiet, protective ache filled her chest.

Jocelyn's courage faltered the moment their gazes collided. Her fingers knotted together beneath the edge of the linen tablecloth, and when she finally spoke, her voice was scarcely louder than the rustle of candle flame. "Mr. Nicholas..."

and-aware the air between them had grown too solemn-offered an easy laugh that never quite reached his eyes. "All right, that was just me joking. Let's call it

in gentleness, yet the weight of his trust left Jocelyn no room to refuse, and she felt her last

resolute nod-trying, and half- failing, to mask the

release curls of fragrant steam that drifted upward like slow choreography,

speaking with a gentleness so casual it almost felt practiced. "Come on, eat while it's hot. I

had served her with such deliberate care. Startled and shy, Jocelyn's cheeks warmed. "I'm fine with

another chopstick-full, Nicholas changed the subject, his tone casual but

gave a quick,

she had spent

the question

asked that morning whether het heart still leaned

Yes, it does.

prayed the feeling would fade; it had

own will, it

dinner, I'll head home. You should talk to your

light on water. "So you're not planning to come back as

she answered. "I'm sorry. Right now, I'm focused on marrying Yannick and building a quiet life.

told herself the delay was practical, but in truth, the

job she found, it would not place her beside

was kinder-to him, to Yannick, and to the fragile balance of her

sting tightened