Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 112: All This Way

Nina Thorne frowned at him in disgust.

SLAP.

She slapped him across the face without hesitation.

"Cole Kane, show me some respect." Nina Thorne’s expression was icy, her eyes filled with anger.

Cole Kane was stunned by the slap.

"What were you getting at?"

Cole Kane looked at her with a wounded expression. "I was just going to say, I want you to have dinner with me tonight."

Nina Thorne froze.

’Dinner?’

’Whether it was a misunderstanding or not...’

She didn’t regret slapping him. "If you wanted to talk, then just talk. Why did you have to get so close?"

Nina Thorne’s face remained cold. "You were the one who paused dramatically. You were asking for it."

Cole Kane didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’Before, when I spoke to her like this, she’d blush and get shy.’

’Now she just hits me.’

’That’s fine, too.’

’The fact that she’s willing to hit me means she still cares.’

’So I still have a chance.’

"Alright, my fault."

Cole Kane put on a roguish grin, which added a hint of mischief to his handsome face. "So, are you willing?"

Nina Thorne rolled her eyes at him. "No."

With that, she turned and walked into the hotel.

’Repay the favor with just one meal?’

’I’m not an idiot. I’m not falling for that nonsense.’

Cole Kane watched her walk away, his eyes narrowing as he let out a few soft laughs.

’This personality of hers... it’s becoming more and more like the days before we got together, when she was the one chasing me.’

’That was five years ago now, come to think of it.’

’During the five years we were together, Nina lost more and more of herself. Over time, I actually started to find it boring.’

’This is much better. Feisty. Exciting.’

Not far away, Serena Kane had witnessed the entire scene.

She clenched her fists, her heart seething with rage.

’So Cole didn’t even wait for his foot to heal, insisting on coming to Vistara just to chase after Nina?’

’That bitch, what gives her the right?’

’What gives her the right to have Justin protect her so much? And now even Cole is fawning all over her!’

’No, I have to find a way to stop this.’

’I absolutely cannot let Nina and Cole get back together.’

-

Nina Thorne no longer let Cole Kane affect her mood.

Back in her hotel room, she quickly put away her things, took a shower, and lay on the bed texting Macy Lynch on WeChat.

Macy was fully aware that she had come to Vistara.

"So? Have you two sorted things out?"

Macy was like a mother hen, worrying about everything.

"You went to Vistara, so what was his attitude? Wasn’t he reluctant to let you go? Didn’t he want kisses and hugs, and take the chance to properly explain that whole ’apricot’ thing to you?"

Nina had told her April Graham’s name.

But the way Macy said it, it sounded completely different.

"He said the same thing as before—that April Graham isn’t his sweetheart," Nina replied while munching on some dried fruits and vegetables she had bought earlier.

Macy’s interest was piqued. "Hmm? Do you believe him?"

Her texts kept coming.

"I think it’s believable. Given Justin Kane’s character, he probably wouldn’t stoop to lying."

"And I’d believe you if you said Cole Kane would trick you out of the Thorne Family’s assets, but Justin is a genius who founded his own finance company abroad. He’s also the head of the Kane Group."

"Even if he wanted the Thorne Group, he’d take it outright. He wouldn’t resort to using a woman to steal a fortune."

"You’re a screenwriter. You must have written plenty of plotlines like this..."

After reading Macy’s long string of messages, Nina felt she had a point.

But it was also true that April Graham had seemed intimate with Justin Kane at the hospital, right in front of her.

Nina couldn’t figure it out. "We’ll see. Maybe everything will become clear on his birthday?"

"Alright then."

Macy added a warning, "Oh, right. Don’t let Cole Kane emotionally blackmail you with that whole ’I saved your life’ thing."

"This isn’t one of your scripts. In real life, there’s no drama about repaying a debt with your body. Tell him to state his terms quickly. If you can meet them, then do it and tell him to get lost!"

After sending that, Macy said she was out of time and had to go to a photoshoot.

As a model, Macy was already quite successful.

Not only did she walk in various runway shows, but she also had numerous invitations for endorsements from small and medium-sized brands, as well as magazine cover shoots.

Nina was happy for her friend’s success. After putting down her phone, she realized she was indeed a bit hungry.

She browsed through the food delivery options again and was just about to order.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Startled, Nina walked to the door and asked, "Who is it?"

"Hello, madam. This is hotel service. Your food order has arrived."

It was a high-end hotel, and they did indeed offer room service.

But she hadn’t ordered anything.

Dubious, Nina opened the door a crack and saw that it was, in fact, a server standing outside.

Only then did she open the door fully.

"I didn’t order anything. Was there a mistake?"

"Madam, this order came from the hotel’s system. There shouldn’t be a mistake. We deliver based on the order slips."

Just as the server finished speaking,

Nina’s phone buzzed with a text from Cole Kane: "I knew you hadn’t eaten yet. I know you love cheese-baked lobster and pasta. Have a bite, don’t let your stomach get upset."

The message was full of tender concern.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was deeply in love with her.

Nina lifted her gaze and smiled at the server.

"I’ve lost my appetite. I won’t be eating. Please take it away."

The server, just following orders, didn’t ask any questions and pushed the food cart away.

Nina closed the door again.

She composed a reply with a blank expression, "I never eat that stuff. Also, I’m allergic to cheese."

She wasn’t just saying that to be difficult—it was the truth.

They had been together for five years, yet Cole couldn’t even remember what she liked to eat. A pang of bitterness welled up inside her.

Meanwhile, when Cole saw her reply, he started to doubt himself.

’I clearly remember those were her two favorite things. There’s no way I’m mistaken.’

’But then again, my buddies’ girlfriends always say the opposite of what they mean when they’re upset.’

Cole’s confidence returned.

’So Nina is just throwing a little tantrum. Deep down, she still has feelings for me.’

’She just wants me to coax her a bit more.’

’For the sake of the branch president position, for the sake of the Thorne Family’s assets...’

’...it’s no big deal if I have to lower myself a little to indulge her little tantrum.’

’When the time comes, Nina will surely come back to me, happy as ever, just like before.’

’Besides, if all else fails, I can still use the fact that I saved her life as a trump card. There’s no way she can escape my grasp.’

-

Nina was starving.

She remembered there was a crab roe wonton shop next to the hotel.

She decided to go downstairs for a bite.

After ordering a small bowl to try, she was truly amazed by the flavor.

It was delicious.

Dusk fell, a final ray of twilight lingering over the western hills.

Nina took out her phone and snapped a picture.

On a whim, she sent it to Justin Kane on WeChat. "Thought this was beautiful, so I’m sending it to you."

After sending it, she walked to the nearby Embankment for a stroll to enjoy the breeze.

This was one of Vistara’s landmark attractions, a place that still retained its unique European-style architecture.

It was always bustling with people, no matter the time of day.

Nina hadn’t taken any pictures the last time she was here, so this time she took several with her phone. She was just about to send them to Justin Kane.

Suddenly, he sent her a photo as well.

"My picture is quite beautiful, too. Sharing it with Mrs. Kane."

Nina enlarged the photo, and her heart skipped a beat.

The photo Justin had sent was also of the sunset, and it was remarkably similar to the one she had sent him, from the shape of the clouds to the location of the high-rise buildings.

’Could he be in Vistara, too?’

’Impossible.’

Nina quickly dismissed the absurd idea. High-rise buildings like that could be found in any big city.

’It’s just a coincidence.’

Besides, Justin had never mentioned a business trip to Vistara, so it was even more unlikely that he would have come just for her.

Nina’s lips curved into a faint smile as she replied, "It’s beautiful."

’Putting aside the matter with April Graham...’

’...she felt that her interactions with him were quite warm and wonderful.’

It was too crowded here.

After taking her pictures, Nina prepared to head back to the hotel.

Just as she walked down the steps of the plaza, she saw a familiar figure again, standing on crutches amidst the bustling crowd, gazing at her with deep affection.

It was Cole Kane again.

Like a ghost, he was impossible to shake.

A wave of revulsion washed over Nina, and she immediately turned to walk in the opposite direction.

But Cole, despite his crutches and limp, moved faster than her. He quickly caught up and grabbed her arm from behind.

"Nina,"

The moment Cole’s hand touched her, Nina shook it off with disgust.

"Cole Kane, will you ever give up?"

Nina’s tone was flat, and the look she gave him was even colder and more distant.

The handsome Cole and the radiant Nina stood out in the crowd, naturally drawing a lot of attention.

For once, Cole was patient, coaxing her gently, "Don’t be angry. I was just worried about you being alone, so I followed you."

Nina hadn’t forgotten how he’d tried to force himself on her by drugging her, or how he’d later deliberately sent a drunkard to harass her...

Not to mention the incident where she was almost hit by a car.

Every single one of them was related to him.

Nina’s lips curled into a sneer. "Protect me?"

"I’d be eternally grateful if you just stopped trying to harm me. Besides... in your condition, you should probably worry about protecting yourself first."

Nina glanced at his injured foot, her smile dripping with sarcasm.

Cole felt his pride had been wounded and frowned in displeasure. "I know you’re still angry, but there’s a time and a place for certain things."

"I was just worried about you being alone, that’s all. Is it wrong to care about you? Do you have to be so harsh?"

In the past, words like these would have made her feel wronged and sent her spiraling.

But now, Nina’s heart was as still as water. She had no desire to argue with him.

"I’m just speaking the truth. That’s considered harsh?"

Nina calmly withdrew her gaze and let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Then again, you’re into the ’whiny crybaby’ type like Serena Kane. Sorry, but I can’t satisfy your machismo."

With that, Nina turned and left decisively, her back ramrod straight, looking radiant and composed.

Watching her walk away, Cole felt an unexpected wave of panic.

He felt a sudden fear, a fear that Nina wasn’t behaving the way he thought she was.

’This isn’t just a fit of pique. It’s not a tantrum.’

’She’s really leaving me.’

’No.’

’I can’t accept this.’

Cole hurried after Nina, needing to confirm his suspicions.

-

Nina walked quickly and was back outside her room in no time.

She had just swiped her key card and started to go inside.

Suddenly, the door was blocked from the outside with considerable force.

Nina froze, assuming Cole had followed her.

Annoyed, she threw the door open. "What the hell do you..."

The words died in her throat when she saw the figure standing in the doorway.

The man was dressed in a dark, custom-tailored suit. His handsome face had sharp, well-defined features, like a finely sculpted masterpiece.

The hallway light cast shadows on him, making him appear even more mysterious and noble. The sight made Nina’s breath catch in her throat.

It was him. Justin Kane.

"What are you doing here?" Nina’s heart raced, her expression turning to one of pleasant surprise.

So the sunset photo he’d sent on WeChat wasn’t a coincidence after all. He had really taken it here.

"Mrs. Kane came all this way by herself. I was worried."

Justin Kane’s eyes still held a gentle smile. He hooked an arm around Nina’s waist, pulling her out of the doorway and into a tight embrace.

"I came all this way for you. Don’t I deserve some kind of reward?"

Nina tilted her head up to look at him, her chin resting against his collarbone, her breath warm. "What kind of reward?"

Justin immediately lowered his head, his thin lips capturing hers as he murmured in a husky voice, "Something like this..."

Then, he deepened the kiss.

Nina couldn’t resist his passion and wrapped her arms around his waist.

The two of them embraced in the hallway, kissing passionately, crazily, as if they would never part.

Just then, Cole Kane arrived. Reaching Nina’s floor, he stepped out of the elevator on his crutches.

Step by step, he made his way down the hallway...