Ch. 591..600

Chapter 591 What Makes You Less Suitable?

She took long strides, and she almost reached her room when her arm was suddenly grabbed.

"Hold on."

The stern voice came from behind her. It was Nathan.

Because he was holding her arm, Emily couldn't move forward. She had to stop, but she didn't turn her head.

"Mr. Powell, if I remember correctly, I've already resigned. If you want to rehire me, you should go through the proper channels, not come to my house and chase me upstairs. What are you trying to do?" There was silence behind her for a moment, then his deep voice rang out again.

"You already know what I'm trying to do, don't you?"

After saying that, he paused, then added, "Or do you want me to say it again in front of you?"

His response made Emily realize something. She quickly interrupted him before he could speak. "No need!"

Her anxious attitude made Nathan frown slightly, and he took a few steps closer.

"Why are you so resistant?"

Why was she so resistant?!

Emily forced a smile, answering helplessly, "Don't you know why I'm so resistant, Mr. Powell?"

"I don't."

"Because we are from two different worlds."

"Oh?" This statement made Nathan raise an eyebrow, "Which planet do you live on?"

Emily suddenly turned her head to look at him, but realizing she hadn't washed her face since she woke up, she quickly turned her head back.

"You know what I mean."

"What do you mean?" Nathan squinted his eyes, "Since we live on the same planet, how can we come from two different worlds?"

"Are you playing dumb or are you really dumb? I don't believe you don't understand what I mean. The people you meet in your world, and the people I meet in mine are different; how we view our jobs is different; our entire worldview is different."

After Emily said all this, Nathan fell silent for a long time.

She guessed that he must have taken her words to heart, so she didn't need to say anything else, right?

Just as she was about to leave, the man behind her suddenly spoke.

"Why can't you look at me when you talk?"

Emily didn't know what to say...

Nathan grabbed her shoulder, trying to turn her around to face him.

Realizing what he was about to do, Emily immediately tensed up and hurriedly covered her face with her hands. "Let go of me."

Nathan felt puzzled. What was she doing?

"Why are you covering your face? Even if you want to reject me, you don't have to avoid seeing my face, do you?"

Emily didn't know what to do; she only cared about covering her face, making sure he didn't see her unwashed appearance, "Who doesn't want to see your face? I don't want you to see my face; I haven't washed my face since I woke up this morning."

After her words fell, the grip on her shoulder loosened slightly, and after a while, she heard Nathan's low chuckle.

"What are you afraid of? I've seen you at your worst."

Huh? What was he talking about?

"When you used to work overtime and sometimes fell asleep in the office, didn't you still work when you woke up?" "Are we in the past? I used to see you as my boss, but now..."

Emily abruptly stopped mid-sentence.

"What about now?"

"Now you're not my boss anymore?"

Emily, who had been covering her face, suddenly calmed down. She simply put her hand down and looked at him calmly.

"You're not my boss anymore."

Their eyes finally met.

In Nathan's eyes, Emily looked exactly the same as she did when she came to work without makeup.

Indeed, as her blind date said, she looked good even without makeup.

"I suppose you heard everything I just said. No matter how many times I have to say it, it's always the same. You should go home."

"You think I'm not from the same world as you. Then who is from your world? Your blind date?"

In Emily's eyes, Nathan had always been a stern and serious boss, always serious and rarely smiling. He always had a solemn expression no matter what he did or said.

So, she subconsciously thought he was the type to always have the same expression no matter what he did or said.

But she didn't expect to hear a hint of sarcasm in his tone today.

When she looked at him, she even saw a touch of helplessness in his eyes.

"This blind date wasn't great, I admit that. But since this one won't work, I'll just try again on the next one. I can keep going until I find the right guy."

Nathan asked, "What's wrong with me?"

He pursed his thin lips, looking at her stubbornly, "What makes me less suitable than the ideal husband you envision?"

"Mr. Powell, I think you misunderstood. I never said you were bad; I just said we're not from the same world. Look, you're so rich, and my family is so poor. Even if we don't eat or drink and save money for a lifetime, the money we save will never be as much as you make with a stroke of your pen on a contract, right?"

"So?" Nathan looked indifferent, "Does that affect me being with you? What's the reason? Just because I have more money?"

For a moment, Emily didn't know how to answer him.

"I thought that was a plus," Nathan said again.

Hearing this, Emily pursed her lips, unable to refute.

Yes, having money was definitely a plus. But having too much money was not a plus for her; it was pressure, a burden.

Thinking of this, a self-deprecating smile slowly crossed her lips.

"Of course it's a plus, but this advantage is based on both parties. If I were a rich young lady, and my spending habits were the same as yours, I would definitely not refuse."

However, Nathan was indeed a self-made man.

No matter what Emily said, he always had something to refute her point of view.

"This doesn't affect me eating at a street stall with you, nor does it affect you having a candlelight dinner with me in a high-end restaurant."

Emily was left speechless yet again.

"Forgot? After getting off the plane last time, you said you wanted to eat street stall food."

How could Emily forget?

On the way to the hotel, she saw a street stall on the side of the road. She wanted the driver to drop her off, send Nathan back first, and then she would go eat street food and return after eating. Unexpectedly, Nathan actually got out of the car with her and sat with her on the roadside in a suit, without any fuss.

She was shocked for a long time, asking him why he could stay in such an environment.

But Nathan just shot back with a lukewarm response.

"Why not? Do you know what environment I experienced before establishing the company?"

Even now, Nathan was still telling her the same thing.

"I was not born rich. I've experienced everything you have. I'm older than you, and I've experienced even more. So why do you completely reject me just because I am financially better off now?"

 

Chapter 592 Long-planned

Emily's verbal skills were not as strong as his; she was caught off guard by his arguments. In the end, she could only awkwardly say, "I just want to live an ordinary life with an ordinary person." "Who says you can't live an ordinary life with me?" Nathan stared at her, "Being with me, you have more choices. If you want to live an ordinary life, you can. If you're tired of an ordinary life, you can live a lavish one. Isn't experiencing both kinds of life good?"

Emily finally understood why he had achieved so much even though he came from nothing. This man was too formidable. Not only could he counter her every move, but he also threw out temptations during the process, aiming straight for her heart.

She bit her lower lip.

Nathan continued, "Am I wrong? Your life won't change because I have money or not. It all depends on your choices and plans. How would us being together affect that?"

Emily was speechless.

She stood there, watching as Nathan moved closer to her, his masculine pheromones slowly enveloping her.

"So, are you willing to consider it?"

As he moved closer, Emily instinctively retreated. The more he advanced, the more she retreated.

Eventually, her back hit the cold, hard wall. With nowhere else to retreat, Emily stopped.

She looked at Nathan in front of her, bewildered. She couldn't understand how Nathan, her former boss, could suddenly be pursuing her.

Was this really happening?

Or had she gone crazy after resigning and was hallucinating?

After thinking it over, Emily could only awkwardly smile at Nathan, "Um... Mr. Powell, are you finding it hard to accept that you've lost me as an employee and that's why you're doing this? Maybe you should take some time to cool off?" But Nathan looked at her with a piercing gaze.

"No need."

"I always know what I'm doing."

From a young age, Nathan had always been clear about what he wanted. When she was by his side, he was determined to have her and felt he could take his time.

But he didn't expect that she would leave one day, which naturally made him anxious.

"Although this is all a bit rushed, I need you to understand that what I've said and my feelings for you are real and genuine."

Emily stared at him blankly.

"Then, what is it?"

Could it be... he really had feelings for her?

"I've wanted you for a long time."

The man's deep voice left Emily completely stunned, looking at him in disbelief.

A long time?

It took Emily a long time to find her voice.

"But... why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would you..." Emily bit her lip and shook her head, "I don't understand; what about me is worth you wanting for a long time?"

As soon as her words fell, Emily saw the man in front of her chuckle.

"Emily, how little confidence do you have in yourself? Can't you see your own worth?"

"I... I of course know how good I am, but... don't rich people always marry for alliances? Like the business marriages on TV, where the male and female leads have powerful families supporting them. They join forces to take their companies to the next level."

In fact, having worked in the corporation for so many years, Emily had seen a lot of this.

Many people were born without control over their lives, and from a young age, they were instilled with a certain mindset. So, they could date and play around with whoever, but they couldn't fall in love.

No matter who they liked or what they did, they always had to return to a marriage alliance.

Even, Emily had seen many married men and women, each playing their own game, away from their spouses.

There was no affection between these husbands and wives, and they didn't care about loyalty.

So, she thought that Nathan would definitely end up in a marriage alliance.

But given his character of not touching any random woman, he probably wouldn't cheat. At least he would be loyal to his marriage.

At the time, she even wondered: if his marriage alliance partner was not loyal, as a man, could he accept it?

She just never expected him to pursue her.

"Strong alliances are indeed good for business development," Nathan said indifferently. "But I don't need it. I built my company from scratch and don't need any support. So, I will only marry a woman I love; I don't need a marriage alliance." Emily, who was originally lost in her thoughts, froze when she heard him say, "I will only marry a woman I love."

"You... What did you say?"

Nathan glanced at her.

"Didn't hear clearly? Shall I repeat it?"

"No, no need."

Although she was shocked, Emily felt she didn't have the courage to hear it again.

Her cheeks gradually turned pink, and soon, her ears and neck followed.

Although Nathan was usually a very reserved straight man, he quickly understood why she was blushing.

"You usually have a lot of confidence, don't you? It seems you can blush when you hear a confession."

The unexpected discovery of this side of her surprised Nathan.

In their days together, she never showed any femininity in front of him, which troubled Nathan for quite some time.

Although he was a straight man, he knew very well that if a woman had no hint of shyness in front of a man, it meant she had no inappropriate thoughts or feelings for him.

Or perhaps, she hadn't realized her feelings yet.

Thinking of this, Nathan lightly touched her forehead and said softly, "So you've realized."

"What? Who's blushing? You're the one blushing; I... I'm going to bed."

She was woken up early in the morning for a blind date, so she hadn't had enough sleep. And here she was, standing here talking for so long with dark circles under her eyes. "Okay, go to sleep. Let me know your answer when you wake up."

"What?"

"You didn't object just now; doesn't that mean you agreed to consider it?"

"I... I haven't agreed yet."

"I know, but you're going to consider it, right? Go to sleep first; we'll talk when you wake up."

His voice returned to its usual stern tone.

Upon hearing his tone and voice, Emily felt as if she had received a new work order.

Perhaps it was a habit ingrained in her body over many years that made her subconsciously nod, then turn around and stagger back to her room.

Before closing the door, she looked at Nathan.

"Then... you should go back first."

"Okay."

After confirming he would leave, Emily closed the door, and the next second, she rushed into the bathroom to carefully check herself in the mirror. After frantically checking for two minutes, Emily finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness! She had no eye boogers.

If she found out that she had been talking to Nathan for so long with eye boogers on her face, she would really wish to die on the spot.

 

Chapter 593 Misunderstanding Our Relationship

Emily washed her face before returning to bed.

Unknown to her, the anger stirred up by that ridiculous blind date had somehow disappeared during her conversation with Nathan.

This reminded Emily that Nathan was actually a person with exceptionally stable emotions.

For Emily, it was important for her partner to have stable emotions.

And having worked with Nathan for so many years, no matter what happened at work, his emotions were always incredibly stable; he never got angry. Sometimes when Emily couldn't control her own emotions, she was always calmed down by his relaxing demeanor.

Nathan was a problem solver.

Wouldn't it be nice to live with such a person?

And just like he said, she could live an ordinary life if she wanted to, and if she didn't want to live an ordinary life, she could live a luxurious one.

The more she thought about it, the more Emily felt it was a good idea.

However, she rolled over in bed and began to worry again.

With so many excellent women around a man like Nathan, even if she were with him, he might be snatched away one day...

The more she thought about it, the more Emily worried, and in the end, she couldn't sleep.

She turned over and got out of bed.

She pushed open the door and went downstairs, her steps a bit hurried, thinking that Nathan should have left by now.

Who would have guessed that as soon as she got downstairs, she would see that familiar figure being surrounded by her relatives, all chattering and asking him questions.

Nathan was sitting there with a calm expression, answering their myriad of trivial questions with a smile on his face.

Such a scene was rare.

After all, when he was at the company, Nathan was very sparing with his words when dealing with employees. Even in meetings, he rarely spoke, and when he did, it was about the company's lifeline or when a decision had to be made. He never answered so many boring questions from children like now.

For example:

"Mr. Powell, is your suit custom-made? I heard that rich people's suits are designed by designers, is that true?"

"Mr. Powell, how big is the company you run? Was Emily your secretary in the company?"

In short, all kinds of unimportant questions were thrown out one after another.

Emily herself would have rolled her eyes at these questions, but Nathan answered them seriously, one by one.

Emily's heart was actually a bit moved as she stood by and watched him.

Although this was clearly a small matter that anyone would do, Nathan was different from everyone else.

Some things were very precious to specific people, and for Nathan, his time was one of them.

Could it be that he was really serious about her?

But what did he like about her?

Emily was still very doubtful about this. Because of the gap in their wealth and status, Emily had never imagined a future with Nathan.

She had no inappropriate thoughts about him at all, and she was naturally casual and natural in front of him. Forget makeup, sometimes she didn't even care about her image. But even so, he still liked her?

"Emily, you are awake."

While Emily was lost in thought, one of her cousins called her.

At that moment, everyone in the living room looked at her, including Nathan.

Having been discovered, Emily had to walk over, "Where are my mom and aunt?"

"Your blind date today was so awkward, but we didn't want to make a scene, so they sent him away."

Thinking of the man's defensive look just now, and the way he looked at her, Emily couldn't help but roll her eyes in her heart.

With him like that, they still had to send him away?

But... she seemed to have scolded him in front of Nathan?

Would he think she was a shrew?

It was over; Emily thought she was done for.

She actually started to care about Nathan's opinion of her.

She never cared about it before.

She looked awkwardly at Nathan, who calmly asked, "Didn't you say you were tired and wanted to sleep a bit more?"

Emily scratched her head in embarrassment.

"I did want to sleep, but there was too much going on this morning. I can't sleep now."

Moreover, after he had said so much to her, both her mind and heart were in a mess; how could she sleep?

Nathan curled his lips into a smile, "How about taking a walk nearby?"

"Huh?" A walk nearby?

Realizing how he must be feeling while being surrounded by these people asking a bunch of pointless questions, Emily thought he must be asking for her help, so she quickly nodded. "Sure."

The next second, Nathan stood up, bid farewell to the children, and left with Emily.

Before Emily left, her cousins kept winking and nudging her.

"Go for it, Emily."

"Get the big boss; who needs blind dates?"

They thought they were speaking softly, but Emily heard them clearly, not to mention Nathan who was standing right next to her.

Unless he was deaf, how could he not hear?

Emily pretended to pick up something to throw at them, and they finally left.

After they left, Emily put down the object and smiled awkwardly at Nathan, "They always like to talk nonsense; you don't need to take it to heart."

Unexpectedly, Nathan replied in a light voice, "Is that so? I think they are quite right."

Emily's cheeks turned crimson.

She had had her fill of embarrassment this morning. She was afraid that he would say something else that would make her scalp numb in the next second, so she quickly spoke up before he could continue, "Let's go. Didn't you say you wanted to take a walk nearby? Let's go."

After saying that, Emily pushed him to go; she couldn't wait there any longer, her cousins might say something even worse.

She wasn't very strong, so she shouldn't have been able to push him, but Nathan went along with it.

After getting some distance from home, Emily finally let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, she could get away from them and not be teased.

But Emily, who had just relaxed, quickly realized another problem. She was not in a big city where no one knew her, but in her hometown where everyone she met was a familiar face.

Every two steps, she would probably see someone she knew. She could already imagine her face cramping up from smiling, and, even worse, Nathan was with her.

If they really took a walk; they wouldn't even need to wait until tomorrow. By the afternoon, it would be rumored that she brought a boyfriend home and was showing off by walking around, and by the evening, it would be rumored that she and her boyfriend were already discussing marriage.

By tomorrow, people would be saying that she was already married and had brought her husband back.

Emily knew she would definitely be drowned in rumors, so she stopped walking.

"Never mind, let's not go."

"What's wrong?"

"If we go for a walk, people will definitely misunderstand our relationship."

 

Chapter 594 All the Perfection was Simply All in Vain

"What misunderstanding?" Nathan looked at her intently.

"The misunderstanding that we are in that kind of relationship. Have you ever lived in the countryside?"

What she had wanted to say was that since he hadn't lived in the countryside, he wouldn't understand how fierce rumors could be. But the words died on her lips when she remembered that he was a self-made man, who started from scratch with nothing at all.

So, she changed the question to, "Have you ever lived in the countryside?"

Indeed, Nathan nodded.

"Hmm."

"Then you should know how terrible rumors can be here, right?"

Since he had experienced life in the countryside, it made things easier to explain.

"If we go out today, by tomorrow, it might be rumored that we're already married, which could harm your reputation."

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Nathan simply looked at her with an indifferent gaze.

"If you want, I could marry you right now. Do you think I would see it as damaging my reputation?"

Emily fell silent.

His words startled her significantly, and after coming to her senses, a crimson blush quickly spread across her face.

"What are you talking about?"

"Whether I'm speaking nonsense or not, you'll find out later," Nathan said casually. "But if you're worried about the repercussions, then let's forget the walk and go back."

"But... if we go back, won't you be annoyed by my relatives' constant questions?"

"It's fine."

Thus, the two of them went out for only a short while before returning.

When they got back, Emily's relatives immediately asked why they had returned so soon, making Emily feel utterly embarrassed.

When it was almost noon, Emily's mom wanted to keep Nathan for lunch. He intended to accept, but a phone call interrupted, and he had to leave beforehand.

After he left, Emily's mom called Emily to the kitchen, and they talked while preparing lunch.

"You haven't cleared things up with him?"

After saying this, Emily's mom felt she was perhaps asking too much, considering she had just talked to her daughter about it the day before. It wasn't realistic to expect her to clear things up with that man so quickly, so she corrected herself, "If things can't develop, try to clarify things with him as soon as possible, so as not to delay his life and yours."

Emily kept her head down and didn't respond.

"I wanted to clarify things with him for you, but I felt like it would hurt his pride, so it's best if you handle it yourself. Since you've made your decision, try to talk to him clearly within the next few days; do you understand?" However, Emily still didn't respond.

Emily's mom found her silence a bit strange and looked up at her.

"Emily? I'm talking to you; did you hear me?"

Upon hearing this, Emily finally raised her head, her expression twisted with conflict, "Mom, I..."

Upon seeing her daughter's demeanor, Emily's mom slowly realized something and narrowed her eyes.

"Did he say something to you this morning when he went upstairs?"

Emily didn't want to hide anything from her mother, so she relayed what Nathan had said that morning. After listening, Emily's mom also fell silent for a while.

"No wonder you're shaken; what he said is indeed moving and can easily sway people, but you..."

As she spoke, Emily's mom frowned.

Seeing her frown, Emily quickly responded, "I'll figure it out myself, don't worry."

She lowered her gaze, "I know I'm not worthy of his love, and if I were with him, it probably wouldn't end well."

Emily's mom watched her for a long time and couldn't help but sigh.

"Emily, did what I said this morning influence you that much?"

Emily didn't respond, effectively affirming it.

"To be honest, I just wanted you to consider my thoughts on this matter; that's the direction I think is suitable for you, but it's not my intention to control your life. Do you understand what I mean?" Emily lifted her head, her eyes portraying her confusion.

Seeing her daughter like this, Emily's mom sighed again.

"What I mean is that I'm only giving you advice, but what you actually want to do is up to you. Your own choice is what matters most. Do you get that?"

Emily was taken aback and reflexively shot a question back at her, "You mean, even if I want to be with him, it's okay?"

Emily's mom raised an eyebrow.

"So, our girl has already made up her mind?"

"No, no..." Emily blushed, arguing for her own selfish thoughts, "After all, you said that, so I just wanted to ask..."

Seeing her flushed face, Emily's mom couldn't help but tease her.

"Wouldn't a mother know what her own daughter is thinking? Don't be shy; if you really like him, then give it a shot."

Emily was obviously surprised by her mother's sudden change of stance.

"Mom, how come you..."

"Are you wondering why I suddenly changed my mind? No, I had this thought before; marriage is something where what matters most is your own opinion, right? But when I talked to you about it before, you seemed so obedient that I thought you weren't interested in him at all."

Emily pursed her lips; she also felt that she wasn't interested in him.

After all these years, she hadn't entertained any inappropriate thoughts about Nathan.

"But now that I see you are interested, so I'm not going to stop you. My daughter should do whatever she wants to do."

Emily was quite touched to hear this. She had been pondering how to approach the matter and hadn't expected her mother to agree so readily.

"So, I can really try being with him? But... the age gap between us is a bit much..."

"If you truly like him, then that doesn't matter. But if something unpredictable happens later on, don't regret it."

"I probably won't."

She was always someone who lived in the present.

If she liked someone now, she'd devote herself to the relationship; if she stopped liking them in the future, they'd part ways. If Nathan were to do something to betray her trust or wanted to break up, she believed she wouldn't cling to him. "That's fine then. You should always make your own decisions."

Emily hadn't anticipated things going so smoothly. After returning to her room, she called Eva to talk about the recent events.

Eva, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all.

"What he told you seems correct; being with him would allow you to experience two kinds of life. But Emily, no matter what kind of marriage it is, even the most beautiful and harmonious relationship can develop cracks if not properly maintained by both people."

As Eva said this, she thought of her own relationship with Adrian-a memory that had faded along with others from her past, although it was no longer in her mind.

However, she knew that there must have been cracks between the two of them before.

Adrian was now constantly trying to mend these cracks.

Many people pursued perfection in love and marriage.

But could such a perfect love or marriage truly exist in this world?

What many women thought was a perfect relationship was just their man accommodating them and vice versa. Once their partner got tired and didn't want to persist, all the perfection would simply vanish.

 

Chapter 595 Becoming Unlike Herself

After nearly half an hour of conversation, Emily asked when she would be coming back as they were about to hang up.

"I'll be back in the country in a couple of days."

Hearing the news of her return, Emily immediately said, "I'll come to pick you up then, along with Ruby and Dylan."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Emily opened her phone. She had originally planned to buy New Year's gifts for Dylan and Ruby, but she had forgotten to do so when they came back. In addition, they had gone abroad for the New Year, so she hadn't made up for it later.

Now that she heard they were coming back and she was going to pick them up, it was a good time to make up for the gifts.

However, after checking her phone, she found that many stores were not open during the New Year, and deliveries had also stopped.

She gave up the idea of buying gifts for the two children online, and Emily decided to go into town to buy them.

She had planned to go into town alone, but then she thought of Nathan.

Since she had decided to develop a relationship with him, shouldn't she integrate into his life in all aspects?

Asking him to accompany her to buy gifts for the children should be a small matter, right?

If he wasn't even willing to do this, then there was no need for her to develop a relationship with him.

After making up her mind, Emily found a time to call Nathan.

Receiving a call from her, Nathan was somewhat surprised.

"You're calling me?"

Hearing his deep voice, Emily blushed a little.

"Can't..., can't I?"

A low chuckle came from the other end.

"Of course, you can. If you agree to be with me, you can call me every day."

The way he said that...

Emily, being quite rebellious, instinctively retorted.

"So, if I'm not with you, I can't call you?"

"If you're not with me, why would you call me? Aren't you afraid I'll misunderstand?"

Emily pouted, not answering.

Suddenly, Nathan asked, "Is this your answer?"

Hearing this, Emily was taken aback, "What?"

"Calling me."

After realizing what he meant, Emily quickly denied it.

"No, I just called you. What does that have to do with my answer?"

"Okay, then why did you call me?"

After he said that, Emily, who had originally planned to ask him to go shopping with her, suddenly felt too embarrassed to speak.

She just called him, and he thought it was her answer. If she actively asked him to accompany her to shop, wouldn't that...

No, no, even though she had decided to give it a try with him, she couldn't let him have it too easy, right? Otherwise, it would seem like she was too cheap. After going through the idea completely in her head, Emily immediately denied, "Nothing, I just dialed the wrong number."

"Mis-dialed?"

"Yes, I just dialed the wrong number, sorry for the disturbance."

After saying that, Emily didn't care about his reaction and hurriedly hung up.

After hanging up, she covered her chest and took a deep breath.

Indeed, it's better to buy the gifts by herself. If he doesn't come to her, she shouldn't go to him for now.

As she was pondering, her phone began to vibrate again.

Emily glanced at the caller ID, and it was actually Nathan calling back.

Seeing his name, Emily's heart rate uncontrollably quickened. After some thought, she still answered the call. "What... what is it?"

Unexpectedly, Nathan suddenly spoke, "Should I come to pick you up now?"

Emily: "Why would you pick me up?"

He chuckled lightly on the other end, "Nothing in particular, just want to see you."

Emily: "..."

"Is that okay?"

"Well... okay then."

If he's the one coming to find her, she doesn't need to refuse, right?

"Alright, wait for me."

After hanging up, Emily realized she was still in her casual clothes. She quickly jumped out of bed to change, and then sat in front of the vanity to put on makeup. While applying lipstick, she suddenly realized that she might be too dressed up, so she quickly wiped off the bright lipstick color on her lips and replaced it with a daily light rose color. After changing her lipstick, Emily felt that her makeup didn't look too exaggerated.

About half an hour later, Nathan arrived.

Emily thought for a moment, went around to the back seat, and just as she opened the car door, she heard him say, "Do you want to treat me as a driver? Come to the front." Emily was embarrassed by his words and had to go around to the front.

As soon as she sat down, Nathan leaned over to fasten her seatbelt. His masculine scent instantly surrounded her, and Emily was so nervous she dared not breathe. Nathan calmly fastened her seatbelt for her, and when he looked up, he saw that she was so nervous that her eyes were darting around, completely avoiding his gaze. "So nervous just from fastening a seatbelt? Are you afraid I'll do something to you?"

Hearing him speak, Emily finally reacted and instinctively retorted.

"No, how could you possibly do anything to me?"

She chuckled awkwardly as she spoke.

But because she turned her head, the distance between the two of them was shortened.

In the narrow space, their breaths almost intertwined, and the atmosphere instantly became more ambiguous.

"Is that so?" Nathan, who was always upright, replied in a husky voice at this moment, "How are you so sure that I won't do anything to you?"

Emily was immediately frozen.

After a few seconds of eye contact, Emily turned her face away and said awkwardly, "You... you should start driving."

This reaction elicited a low chuckle from Nathan.

"Don't worry, before you agree to be with me, even if I want to, I will respect you."

With that, Nathan leaned back to drive.

After the car left the village, it quickly merged into the traffic.

During this short journey, Emily was lost in her thoughts because of his words.

What did he mean by, before she agreed to be with him, even if he wanted to, he would respect her?

Did he really want to do something to her?

Thinking back to when he leaned in just now, she could even see the pores on his face when he was close, and his thin lips. His lip color was a light pink, which looked very healthy, and the touch must be very soft. She was so nervous and confused at the time.

But now she couldn't help but wonder, if he had really kissed her then, would she have refused?

It seemed... she wouldn't?

Thinking of this possibility, Emily's heartbeat uncontrollably raced, her face and neck were hot, and she couldn't help but lower the car window, letting the cold wind outside rush in to dissipate the heat on her body. She was really not pure anymore.

Ever since he had said those words to her before, her mind had been filled with all sorts of thoughts, and she had become unlike herself.

The cold wind made Emily shiver a little, but it also sobered her up a lot.

However, the cold wind didn't last long, and the car window moved up again.

She turned her head to look at Nathan, only to see his handsome side profile. He was driving attentively and said softly, "It's cold outside, opening the window can easily cause a cold."

 

Chapter 596 No Relatives

After he said that, Emily felt too embarrassed to lower the car window again. After all, she wasn't the only one in the car. "Hot?" he asked.

"Not really..." Emily tugged at her lips, "I just wanted to open the window for some fresh air."

Even if she was really hot, she wouldn't tell him. After all, who would feel hot in this kind of weather? If she said she was hot, wouldn't it seem like she was admitting something without being asked? Nathan didn't seem to doubt her, he simply said in a calm voice, "If you feel stuffy, you can take off your coat."

Hearing this, Emily was taken aback and instinctively retorted.

"Why would I take off my coat if I feel stuffy? I'm not hot."

Nathan chuckled softly.

"I know, but you'll feel more comfortable without the coat."

...

Although he didn't contradict her verbally, Emily felt that his chuckle was deliberate, as if he knew what she was thinking and was deliberately laughing at her.

Arguing with him seemed pointless, because he wouldn't expose himself, he would just calmly watch her embarrass herself.

Forget it.

Just then, Nathan asked, "Where to?"

Emily had a place in mind, but she still replied with feigned indifference, "Didn't you come to find me? How would I know where to go?"

Nathan tugged at the corner of his lips, "True, should I make the arrangements?"

"Where to?"

"The city, shall we?"

Since she was planning to go to the city anyway, Emily agreed.

"Okay."

"Did you let your parents know when you left?"

"No..." Her parents weren't home when she left, so she didn't tell them.

"Use your phone to let them know later, so they won't worry," Nathan advised her.

"Okay," Emily agreed without any objections, and immediately sent a text to her mother. "I've sent it."

"Okay."

After putting away her phone, they fell into silence. Emily alternated between looking out the car window and down at her fingers, finally deciding to break the awkward silence. "Where are you staying since you came back?"

"I'm staying at a hotel for now, it's more convenient."

Emily thought about how he had been coming to her house almost all the time these past few days, except for the night of the Spring Festival, and couldn't help but find it strange. So she asked, "Don't you need to go home to see your relatives? Or are your relatives not here?"

"I don't have any relatives."

His words made Emily pause and turn to look at him.

No relatives?

When he said this, his tone was calm, and even when Emily looked at him, his face was expressionless, as if he was talking about something very ordinary.

Although they had been working together for a long time, and she never saw him return home every year, Emily thought it was because the corporation was too busy and he couldn't spare the time to go home for the New Year. She didn't expect that it was because he had no relatives.

Not even one?

Emily didn't dare to ask this question.

Nathan himself broke the silence, "You don't know much about my family situation, do you?"

"Um, I guess not."

"Well, let me tell you now, I'm the only one in my family, I don't have any other relatives." Even though she had suspected as much, hearing him confirm it himself left Emily stunned.

He actually had no relatives left, so he had been alone all these years?

"No wonder you never go home for the holidays, so that's why."

In her shock, Emily found herself feeling a pang of sympathy for him. Without a single relative in the country, even if he grew up there, how could he feel a sense of belonging?

With that thought, Emily blurted out, "If you don't mind, you could come to my house for the holidays in the future."

She swore that she only said this out of sympathy, without any other intentions.

However, to her surprise, Nathan hesitated for a moment, then followed her words, "So, Emily, is this your answer?" Emily paused.

Seeing her silence, Nathan asked again, "Hmm?"

Emily initially wanted to deny it, but his previous revelations made her feel so sorry for him that she didn't deny it, just lowered her head and said, "It's not exactly an answer, after all, I can't agree to you that quickly." Hearing this, Nathan chuckled softly.

"I understand."

He didn't say anything else, giving Emily just the right amount of space.

Emily felt once again that he was indeed a self-made man, his perceptiveness and intelligence were too strong, her thoughts were completely transparent in front of him.

So, after they arrived in the city, Emily decided not to pretend anymore, she planned to be brave and straightforward.

"In a couple of days, Eva and her children are coming back to the country, I plan to bring them some gifts."

As expected, Nathan didn't seem surprised by her words at all, "Where do you plan to buy them?"

After Emily mentioned a place, he turned the car around.

Emily was surprised by his familiarity with the area.

"How come you seem to know the roads here so well?"

"I worked here for a few years before, and I've been studying the map for the past few days."

So that's why, no wonder he didn't even need to look at the navigation.

"So, have you always lived alone before?"

"Um, I started living alone when I was about ten."

Ten...

That's so young. If she had to live alone at ten, she felt her will might be completely worn away by the hardships of life, let alone building such a large group from scratch.

As they talked, Emily really marveled at this man's strong willpower and deeply understood something.

If she were with him, such a man with a firm will, even if they broke up, he definitely wouldn't feel heartbroken.

He was too rational, rational to the point where he wouldn't feel lost or sad because of anyone's departure, he would definitely take it lightly.

She pursed her lips, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say next.

He dropped her off at the destination and parked the car in the parking lot. The two of them then walked side by side towards the mall.

As they walked, Emily noticed that quite a few people were constantly looking at them, due to Nathan's striking appearance.

She had become used to such scenes when she had accompanied Nathan on business trips in the past.

But she didn't know if it was a change in her mindset, she used to feel indifferent when people looked at them because she was his subordinate.

But now, she was thinking... in the eyes of others, did she not match Nathan at all in appearance? After all, he was so outstanding, and she... No, no, no.

These thoughts had not yet fully infiltrated her mind when Emily immediately denied them in her heart.

She really liked herself, she couldn't deny herself just because she liked an outstanding man, could she?

Besides, if a person as outstanding as Nathan could like her, it meant that she was also outstanding in some ways.

Self-reassurance can be a powerful tool. Emily quickly regained her confidence.

 

Chapter 597 Choose Your Return Gift

Emily spent a long time buying gifts for Eva and the others. When she was paying, Nathan wanted to pay for her. Emily refused.

"No need, after all, it's my gift to them, I can't let others pay."

Nathan thought about it and felt that she was right, so he made another decision.

"Then I will also give them a gift in my own name."

Emily: "Why? I have a reason for giving them gifts. What's your reason, and you're not even familiar with them..." Nathan looked at her steadily.

"Well, I have my own reasons too, what's your relationship with the children?"

"Sort... sort of a godmother?"

As she spoke, Emily blushed, as if she had already guessed what Nathan would say.

"Well, then I will give them gifts as a future godfather."

Emily's face turned even redder.

"I haven't agreed to you yet."

"I know, I'm just taking the initiative."

Nathan didn't give her too much time to react, he had already gone to pick out gifts, and Emily had to follow to give her opinion.

After buying, Nathan paid with his card. After paying, the staff asked him to sign. Without thinking too much, Nathan directly took out a pen from his pocket and signed his name stylishly. Seeing that his pen was a bit old, the staff couldn't help suggesting, "Sir, your pen seems to have been used for a while. We have just received a batch of new pens, do you need to take a look?" Emily, who was still looking at the gifts, couldn't help but look at Nathan's pen.

With that look, she was stunned on the spot.

That pen... wasn't it the one she gave him?

The reason Emily recognized it all at once was nothing else, because she bought the pen at a discount at the time, and she didn't have any other thoughts when she bought discounted goods. She couldn't afford the designs by the master designer, and she thought that expensive goods might not be appreciated by Nathan.

Since he wouldn't appreciate it or use it, she might as well buy discounted goods, so she could save money.

So that pen, Emily always thought he must have thrown it away without even looking at it, but she didn't expect him to use it until now, and he was still using it even though the pen's exterior had worn out. For a while, Emily felt her throat blocked and couldn't speak.

It's been many years since she gave this pen.

If she was still guessing that Nathan came to her house to propose was a bit impulsive and crazy, she doesn't think so now.

Because the age of this pen can represent a lot of things.

He had already been interested in her at that time...

Noticing her gaze, Nathan, who was originally calm, also realized something, and put the pen away without changing his expression, "No need, I have no plans to change pens for now." Seeing his determined look, the staff didn't know what else to say.

Emily bit her lower lip and suggested proactively, "Or let's change it, the pen is worn out like this, it's a bit ugly."

Hearing this, Nathan looked at her.

"Not ugly, I like it."

Emily's face turned a bit redder at his words, "Let's buy a new one anyway, you keep using it, I'm embarrassed." "Why?"

"No reason." Emily turned her head away, "I'll buy you a new one, don't use this one."

This time she will pick an expensive one for him, not a discounted one.

The staff who was a little confused by their conversation finally reacted to why the tall and handsome man in front of her would use a pen that does not match his status.

She was very smart and immediately smiled and said, "So the pen of the gentleman is a gift from his beloved, no wonder you cherish it so much."

Her idea was that today these two people bought so many things here, even if they finally didn't buy a pen, she didn't mind flattering them a bit, maybe she could even help foster their budding relationship? Sure enough, Nathan looked at her, and this look was much kinder than before.

The staff continued to work hard and looked at Emily, "This lady is really lucky, it seems that this gentleman really likes you."

Emily, who was already thin-skinned, was even more embarrassed by her instigation, and said awkwardly, "It's not what you think."

She turned to look at Nathan, "Anyway, I'll buy you a new one, don't use this one."

After speaking, Emily looked at the staff, "Where are the pens? Can you take me to see?"

"Of course."

The staff immediately nodded in agreement and took her to check.

She immediately followed, leaving Nathan where he was.

The staff showed Emily all the new pen models that had just arrived. As Emily was choosing, Nathan also came over.

"Don't pick something too fancy," he whispered in her ear. As he spoke, his warm breath tickled her ear canal.

Emily's body involuntarily shrank back a bit.

"Who... who said I was going to pick a good one for you? I just saw that yours was worn out, so I wanted to buy you a new one," she said. Nathan curled his lips.

"Um, thank you."

Emily finally chose a pen that looked good and was several times more expensive than the previous one. When she was paying, Nathan didn't offer to pay. He just quietly watched her pay, then took the pen box from her. "Here, a new one. Don't use the old one anymore, it doesn't suit your status."

She simply couldn't imagine a man like Nathan signing everywhere with that worn-out pen in various situations.

It was too contradictory to his elite image. No wonder the staff at the counter suggested he buy a new one.

Nathan took the pen.

"Thank you."

"No, no need to be polite, it's just a pen after all."

"As a return gift, I'll also give you a present."

Emily quickly waved her hands.

"No need, I gave you the pen, not to get a return gift."

"Um, but I want to give one back. Let's go."

"Where to?"

"To pick your return gift."

In the end, Emily was taken to a jewelry store.

Nathan picked out a diamond necklace for her. When he paid, the many zeros in the price left Emily astounded.

She finally understood why Nathan said that if she were with him, she could choose the life she wanted at will.

He really was rich, and so generous to her...

The price of the gift he gave her was almost catching up to the salary she had earned over the years.

When Nathan handed her the necklace, she refused to accept it.

"No, I can't take it..."

She frowned and refused him.

"Why?" Nathan's expression was calm, "This is just a token of my pursuit of you. Even if you don't agree with me in the future, you don't need to return it."

Emily shook her head, "That's not what I mean. I just think it's too valuable."

"Valuable, huh?" Nathan looked at her steadily, "Then you should start getting used to it now. After all, if you really end up with me in the future, gifts like this might be quite common."

 

Chapter 598 How Should I Respond?

"Because when I see something beautiful, I can't help but buy it for you."

In the past, there was no reason, but now that he had confessed his feelings, there was nothing to hide. Naturally, he wanted to give her everything he thought of giving her and to give it to her sincerely.

Ever since he had made his feelings clear, he had been very straightforward, often catching Emily off guard.

Just like now, before she could react, he had taken the necklace around her back and put it on her.

As he performed these actions, his hand occasionally brushed against the skin of her neck. Every touch felt like an electric shock, making Emily shiver.

After putting on the necklace, Nathan held her shoulders and turned her to face him, "Beautiful."

"Is... is it?" Emily blushed a little.

She originally didn't want to accept it, but now that it was on her neck, should she accept it?

Even so, she thanked him bashfully, "Thank you."

"You don't have to be so polite; after all, it's a gift."

"Your gift is really valuable."

What she gave him and what he gave her were really incomparable in price.

As she thought about the expensive necklace adorning her neck, Emily began to regret ever buying him that discounted pen.

It made her seem so poor...

"Let's go."

After buying the gift, Nathan intended to take her home.

Perhaps because she was softened by the gift, Emily felt it was a bit sad for him to be alone in the hotel.

So, when she left, she said to him, "If you feel lonely in the hotel, you can come to our house. My parents would welcome you." Nathan stared at her.

"Okay."

"Then... I'm leaving..."

"Mm."

As Emily turned to leave, a cold voice came from behind her.

"Emily."

Hearing this, Emily paused and looked back at him.

"What's up?"

"Can I hug you?"

This sudden request left Emily stunned. She didn't expect Nathan to suddenly want to hug her.

Just a hug, it seemed... okay?

But why did she feel like things were moving too fast?

Perhaps she hesitated for too long. By the time she reacted, Nathan had already said, "I was presumptuous. You go home."

So, before Emily could hesitantly give him an 'okay,' she had to swallow back the words that had reached her lips. She nodded, picked up the gift, and slowly walked back.

Nathan stood still, watching her petite figure disappear, before he finally drove away.

-

After staying abroad for several days, Eva and the others finally decided to return home.

As they were leaving, Mr. Hansen looked at his daughter and two great-grandchildren with reluctance. "When will you come to visit next?" He asked.

Eva raised an eyebrow. "The children will have to go back to school after we return. Even if we want to visit, it'll probably have to wait until the holidays."

After hearing this, Mr. Hansen realized that it wouldn't be easy to see them in the short term unless he flew to their country himself. "Then I'll visit you in your country when I have time." Upon hearing this, Eva immediately seized the opportunity. "Dad, you must keep your word. If you don't come, I'll hold you accountable."

"Alright." Mr. Hansen gently patted his daughter's head. "Once I finish up some business at the company, I'll come and stay with you for a while."

Eva smiled and agreed. Then she turned to Grace. "Aunt, you should come too."

Grace was both surprised and pleased. "Okay, I'll definitely come."

"You don't have much time before boarding. You should go through security check now. The airport is large, so it's better to be early."

"Safe travels." Grace quickly added.

Eva hugged her father as her eyes welled up with tears. "Dad, you promised to come."

Mr. Hansen was already feeling reluctant to part, but hearing the sadness in his daughter's voice made him feel even worse. "Eva, you... I'll definitely come; why are you crying?" After saying this, Mr. Hansen turned to Adrian. "Quick, comfort her."

Adrian smiled and pulled Eva into his arms, wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes. "Alright, don't cry. If you really miss them, I can bring you here anytime. With how good transportation is nowadays, we can see them whenever we want."

Eva finally stopped crying and glared at Adrian. "I don't need you to bring me. I can come by myself."

"Dad, we're leaving now. You and aunt take care."

After father and daughter finished speaking, it was the elders' turn to say goodbye. After a long farewell, they finally parted.

On the way back, Eva leaned against Adrian. "I'm so tired from all the fun."

She leaned all her weight against him, and Adrian stood there letting her lean with one hand around her waist. "Take a good rest when we get back."

"Hmm." Eva hummed softly. "Emily is coming to pick us up at the airport."

Reminded of her best friend, Adrian quirked a lip. "You told her when we're returning?"

"Yes, I did. She's been holding a grudge against me because I didn't see her during the New Year. If I didn't tell her when I'd be back, she'd definitely be angry."

"She's so clingy." Adrian became a little jealous when he remembered how Eva had run off to sleep with Emily the night she came over. "She's not going to sleep with you again when she picks us up, is she?"

Hearing this, Eva looked at him incredulously. "What are you talking about? Even if she really wanted to sleep with me, so what? She's a girl. You're not jealous of a girl, are you? You're too possessive." "I'm not happy." Adrian admitted frankly.

Seeing his expression, Eva could only mutter a few complaints under her breath before saying, "Don't worry, she probably won't have the chance to spend all her time on me." "Why?"

"I think she's about to start a new relationship."

Adrian didn't care about other people's love affairs, even if it was his wife's best friend. So, after Eva said this, he didn't ask any more questions, but if she wanted to talk about it, he would listen. Sure enough, Eva didn't care whether he asked or not and simply described Emily's recent situation. "Her boss is pursuing her, and he even went to her house to propose."

Adrian recalled and subconsciously said a name, "Nathan?"

Hearing this, Eva was stunned. "Yes, how did you know?"

Adrian pursed his thin lips. "I've met him before."

"I see. Since you've met him before, do you think he had feelings for Emily before?"

This question made Adrian somewhat helpless. "Eva, how would I even answer that question?"

 

Chapter 599 Watch As Long As You Want

Eva didn't think there was anything wrong with her question.

"What's so hard to answer?" She asked.

"Do you think I pay attention to anyone else besides you?"

Upon hearing this, Eva looked up at him from his embrace, blinking gently.

"But she's not just anyone; she's my best friend. You don't have to observe too closely, just a little insight would do."

"So? Do you know something that might indicate that he likes her?"

Perhaps she was too persistent, so Adrian reluctantly admitted, "Yes."

"Really?" Eva's eyes lit up. "So, he really does like Emily?"

Adrian couldn't help but pinch her nose, his tone indulgent, "When did you become so gossipy?"

"Wasn't I always?"

"Hmm. So let's not talk about this, let's talk about us."

"No way, I only bring it up once."

Afraid he would go back on his word, Eva persisted, "Didn't you just say that you knew something? What is it?"

Adrian was silent for a moment before he softly said, "Once when you were in danger abroad, Emily wanted to come find you. But her boss was worried about her safety and accompanied her." Hearing this, Eva's eyes widened.

"He really did that?"

Eva understood why Adrian would think this showed that Nathan liked Emily. How many bosses would accompany an employee across countries out of concern for their safety? This could really prove a lot.

"Hmm, for someone in his position, time is money. If he didn't have feelings for her, he wouldn't do such a boring thing."

Eva had heard from Emily before but didn't know anything. She didn't expect to learn such information from someone else.

She was a bit surprised, but she was also happy for Emily.

"That's great. It seems her boss really cares about her; it's not just lip service."

"Hmm, he seems decent, and I've worked with him before. He's a self-made man."

Eva was very happy that her best friend was marrying a good man, "But I haven't met him yet. I'll see him when I go back and vet him for Emily." Adrian, who had been agreeing with her, frowned at this, "Why do you seem so excited?"

"Why not?"

Adrian squinted his eyes, the hand on her waist tightening.

"You're not allowed to look at that man."

Huh?

"If I don't look at him, how can I vet him for Emily? I definitely need to take a good look, maybe even arrange a meal."

Before Adrian could refuse, Eva added, "You should come too, to help me vet him for Emily."

Adrian, who originally thought she wanted to go alone, was surprised when she invited him. After a while, he finally agreed, "Fine."

With him there, she would feel much safer.

"Alright, it's settled then. We'll go together."

Airport

The weather was quite cold.

Emily sat in the warm car, huddled under Nathan's coat that he had taken off for her.

Fearful of missing out and considering that Emily's home was very far from hers, they arrived early.

When they arrived, there was still over an hour before Eva's flight would land.

There were no shops near the airport, and even if there were, they would have been closed at this hour, so the two could only stay in the car.

At first, Emily felt a bit awkward and said to Nathan, "We might have to wait a long time; why don't... you go back first?"

As soon as she said this, Nathan gave her a lukewarm look.

"Am I supposed to go back and leave you here alone?"

He then spoke a bit helplessly, "Emily, do you have any awareness that you are being pursued?"

Emily pursed her lips and did not respond.

"Shouldn't you take this time to observe how the other person behaves?"

"I suppose that's true... But... having you bring me here in the middle of the night, and then waiting with me seems like a waste of your time." "I don't think it's a waste of time."

With that, Nathan took off his coat and handed it to her.

Emily held his coat, a little dumbfounded.

"What... what's wrong?"

"Put it on." Nathan said casually, "There's still over an hour to go; you can sleep in the car."

"I'm not sleepy..."

"Then close your eyes and rest."

He took care of her so attentively.

Emily subconsciously thought that his upbringing must have shaped his character differently from those who grew up pampered by their parents. However, his way of caring for others was quite assertive.

Emily didn't say anything else; she blushed as she slowly draped his coat over herself, then leaned back in her seat to rest her eyes.

Just as she closed her eyes, Emily thought of something and opened her eyes again, "You gave me your coat but what about you? Aren't you cold?" "I am in good health." He said lightly.

"Oh."

When Emily closed her eyes again, she started to wonder what he meant.

What was he saying? Did he mean that she was in poor health?

In her drowsiness, she actually fell asleep.

When she woke up again, the night was darker, and Emily's body was still curled up. She felt a bit cold when she woke up, so she instinctively burrowed into Nathan's coat.

Luckily, he had given her his coat; otherwise, she might have really felt cold while sleeping.

But soon, a thought sprang into her mind. She was warm under his coat, so what about him?

Emily immediately opened her eyes and saw Nathan resting on the steering wheel at a glance.

His eyes were closed, and his long eyelashes cast shadows around his eyes, even while leaning there, he was very restrained, his movements graceful.

And from this angle, he still looked very handsome.

Although Emily knew from the first time she met Nathan that he was handsome, she had no feelings when she looked at him before because she thought that no matter how handsome this man was, he could never be hers, so she only needed to occasionally appreciate him during work.

But now it was different...

This man could possibly be hers in the future.

As she gazed at him with this thought, her heart fluttered with feeling she had never had before.

He was even more handsome than she had imagined.

Emily stared at him without blinking. She couldn't look away.

"Do I look good?"

Suddenly, Nathan opened his dreamy-like eyes and parted his thin lips.

Caught red-handed, Emily's face turned red instantly.

"Yes, you look good."

"No... I didn't mean to spy on you; I was just watching you sleep, so..."

"It's okay."

Nathan lifted the corner of his lips, "After all, if you're willing, I'll be yours in the future; you can look at me as long as you want."

His response made Emily's ears turn so red that they looked like they were almost bleeding.

It seemed that since he expressed his feelings, he became more and more provocative in his speech.

 

Chapter 600 How to Keep Her Warm

Faced with his straightforward attitude, Emily felt overwhelmed and could only look away, asking, "What time is it now? Are Eva and the others arriving soon?"

Her attempt to change the subject wasn't very subtle, but Nathan didn't press the issue. Instead, he glanced at his wristwatch. "Ten more minutes."

"Ten minutes?" Emily propped up her chin, annoyed. She hadn't expected to sleep for so long.

However, since it had already happened, all she could do was take off the coat and return it to Nathan. "Here's your coat back, thank you..."

"No need." Nathan's expression was indifferent. "Keep the coat on."

"But you'll be cold when we get out of the car."

"Didn't I tell you that I am in good health?"

"But I am also in good health. Besides, I have my own coat. Wearing yours on top of it looks odd."

Emily tossed the coat back to him.

Since it seemed that she really didn't want his coat and that she was now awake, Nathan took it back and put it on.

With ten minutes left until the flight arrived plus the time needed for them to disembark and collect their luggage, Nathan and Emily waited in the car for a while longer before getting out. While they were waiting at the exit, Emily was shivering from the cold, causing Nathan to frown.

"Didn't you say you were in good health? Why are you shivering?"

"Who said I was shivering?"

After she stubbornly retorted and saw Nathan about to take off his coat again, she quickly stopped him.

"Don't you dare take it off. If you do, I'll be angry with you."

Nathan paused and looked at her. Emily seemed really serious.

"Don't take it off!"

"Aren't you cold?"

"Anyway, you're not allowed to take it off. If you do, I really will be angry."

Nathan stared at her for a while, then suddenly chuckled. He opened his coat and said, "Fine, I won't take it off. Why don't you come in here and hide?" Emily was stunned. She hadn't expected Nathan to pull such a move.

"You..."

He said calmly, "You can come in here and hide, or I can take it off and give it to you. Choose one."

After pondering for a while, Emily slowly moved her feet. She knew that if she didn't go over, Nathan would really take off his coat and give it to her.

It wasn't that cold in the car, but outside, the wind was strong. If he really gave her his coat, he might end up catching a cold.

So, she had to choose the other option.

But she was a bit shy, so she moved slowly. When she was only a few steps away, Nathan suddenly reached out and pulled her over.

Emily slightly stumbled and fell directly into his arms. She then instinctively grabbed his coat to prevent herself from falling.

Just this one action made the atmosphere between them instantly become ambiguous. Emily bit her lip, looking up at him nervously. Nathan calmly wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "You won't be cold this way."

Emily stood by his side with a blushing face, not rejecting him.

She had to admit that it was a lot warmer to be in his embrace while under his coat.

Because she was hiding in his coat, Emily was no longer exposed to the cold wind, and his body temperature was high too.

So, it was not cold at all, but rather warm.

After standing for a while, Emily whispered, "We should stand separately later, otherwise... Eva and the others will see us." "Do you mind if they see us?"

"Or are you suggesting that I'm not presentable?"

"No, that's not it." Emily shook her head.

"Then what are you worried about?"

Emily pursed her lips. It seemed like there was nothing to worry about, but she hadn't officially agreed to be with him yet. If they were seen... Thinking about this, she still shook her head.

"Let's forget it. Before we officially get together, we shouldn't let them see us like this."

Having said that, Emily tried to move away.

Unexpectedly, the hand on her waist tightened suddenly, "It's too late; they've already seen us."

"What?"

Emily was taken aback, and it took her a while to understand what Nathan meant.

Then she slowly turned her head, following Nathan's gaze, and sure enough, she saw Eva not far away with Adrian beside her.

Naturally, her children and the elders were also close by.

When Eva saw her, she even waved at her.

Emily subconsciously bit her lower lip and quickly ran out of Nathan's embrace.

"Why didn't you tell me in advance?"

"There wasn't enough time. As soon as I finished speaking to you and looked up, I saw them."

"You're lying; did you do it on purpose?"

Nathan curled his lips, "Although I would have liked to do it on purpose; unfortunately, when I pulled you over earlier, my attention was all on you, so I really didn't notice them coming. But the outcome doesn't make a difference." Emily wanted to say something else to him, but Eva and the others were already within earshot. She had to close her mouth to prevent Nathan from saying something shocking.

Although she didn't think Nathan was that kind of person, he had been very straightforward these past few days, which made her a bit worried.

-

From a distance, Eva saw her best friend hiding in a man's coat.

Initially, she didn't recognize who it was.

Because of her memory loss, she didn't know what Nathan looked like. Her impression of him was limited to Emily's description.

In the end, it was Adrian beside her who noticed Nathan and told her.

Only then did Eva understand why her best friend would be in that man's coat.

If she had asked about it a bit later, Emily would probably have jumped out.

When they were on the phone two days ago, Emily was saying it was impossible for them to be together and acting very reserved. But now, they seemed so close. Eva felt she was in for a good show.

"Why are you so happy?"

Adrian saw the corners of her eyes lift and asked.

"Shouldn't I be happy for my best friend now that she found a partner?"

As they got closer, Eva's gaze couldn't help but land on the man's face and body, but it was just a polite glance. After a few looks, she moved her gaze away.

She only took a few restrained glances, but she could tell that this man was a catch. She thought her best friend had good taste in men.

She didn't expect that, after only a few restrained glances, someone would get jealous, pinch her waist, and whisper, "One look is enough." After saying that, he deliberately pinched her waist lightly again to draw her attention.

Eva had no choice but to turn her attention back to him.

"I just took one look."

"That was more than one look; you looked several times."

After a moment of speechlessness, she murmured disdainfully, "Childish!"

"What's wrong with being childish? Anyway, you're not allowed to look at anyone else but me."

"How am I supposed to vet him for Emily?"

"I'll vet him for you."