Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 135: Headshot

Misty Hughes must have done her research, booking a table at a famous local Chinese restaurant.

The atmosphere was quiet and tidy, with elegant, traditional decor.

Many people, including tourists, came, drawn by its reputation. The restaurant was bustling with a steady stream of customers.

Nina Thorne and Misty Hughes sat at a small table in the middle of the main dining hall, near the aisle.

"Nina Thorne, thank you so much for helping me out."

Noticing how noisy it was, Misty worried that Nina might be displeased and explained awkwardly:

"I’m sorry, I tried to book a private room, but the restaurant said we didn’t have enough people and refused. I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with this."

She felt that for someone of Nina Thorne’s status as a wealthy young lady, only a private room would be fitting.

Nina Thorne smiled kindly. "It’s fine. We’re just having a meal. It doesn’t matter where we sit."

Misty knew she had a gentle and calm personality but hadn’t expected her to be so down-to-earth.

"You don’t find it noisy?"

"We’re just eating. We can just focus on our food. Besides, a lively place like this has a real-world feel to it."

Nina Thorne was being sincere.

Over the past five years, she’d rarely had the chance to eat with Cole Kane. Most of the time, she ate alone, grabbing whatever was quick and filling.

Things like sandwiches or vegetable salads...

Or, if she had to, she’d just boil some spaghetti or macaroni to get a meal in.

Once, her world had revolved around one person. Now, she wanted to love herself a little more.

"Misty."

"Huh?"

Nina’s sudden call made Misty look at her in confusion.

"Let’s get hot pot together sometime." She took the initiative to invite her. ’Hot pot is always better with more people.’

"Okay!"

Misty, pleasantly surprised, readily agreed.

Nina Thorne gave her a faint smile.

At that moment, in a private room diagonally across from them.

Zane Jarvis said with disgust, "What bad luck. Why do we run into this useless woman everywhere? Young Master Kane, are you sure you want to chase after her?"

"Don’t you forget, she’s the one who got Serena kicked out of the Kane Family. Are you really going to just swallow this?"

"Young Master Kane, so what if the Thorne Family is rich? Once Master Thorne kicks the bucket, it’ll all be yours anyway. She’ll come crawling back to you then."

His friends began to disparage her one after another, just like every time before.

Cole Kane’s fists clenched, and he shot them a displeased glare. "Serena Locke being kicked out of the Kane Family was her own fault. It had nothing to do with Nina Thorne. Don’t you dare spout such nonsense again."

The group was stunned.

Zane Jarvis asked curiously, "Young Master Kane, something’s off with you. Why are you defending Nina Thorne today? Weren’t you the one who doted on Serena the most?"

"Yeah, Young Master Kane. Even though what happened with Serena last time sounds bad, she was just too young, after all."

"Exactly. Kids don’t know any better. A little punishment is enough. There’s no need to still be angry about it after all this time. It’s not fair to Serena."

One after another, they all spoke up, defending Serena Kane.

Zane Jarvis said indignantly, "I really don’t know what kind of love potion Nina Thorne fed you to make you suddenly side with her like this."

Watching them, one by one, express their disgust for Nina Thorne, Cole Kane finally understood what she had told him before.

’So, I really was such a piece of shit.’

’I actually let her suffer so much injustice in front of them.’

"If you ask me, you should just give her the cold shoulder. Wait for Master Thorne to kick the bucket, then show a little concern, and Nina Thorne will shamelessly cling to you again..."

"Then, you can ignore her again and dote on Serena. Better yet, make Nina Thorne wait on Serena, hahaha..."

A roar of laughter erupted.

Nina Thorne got up to go to the restroom and passed by the door of the private room.

The familiar voices from inside, along with the mention of her own name, made her stop instinctively.

She peered into the room through a fist-sized crack in the door and saw them.

Although Cole Kane was sitting with his back to the door, Nina Thorne recognized him in a single glance.

Her heart was calm, and a cold smile touched her thin lips.

As she lifted her foot to leave, she suddenly heard an furious voice from inside: "Did you take a shit in your mouth today? Your breath stinks!"

His chest feeling as if it were being crushed by a giant boulder, Cole Kane grabbed an empty bowl and smashed it at Zane Jarvis, his body radiating a blazing fury.

Zane Jarvis was hit so hard his head started bleeding. He clutched his forehead and let out a piercing scream.

"Cole Kane, what the hell is wrong with you? Was I wrong about Nina Thorne?"

Blood seeped through his fingers. Everyone was dumbfounded.

After a moment, someone hurried over and pressed a handkerchief to Zane Jarvis’s wound.

Nina Thorne was startled.

’Aren’t Cole Kane and Zane Jarvis best friends?’

’How did they end up fighting? And it seems to be because of me?’

’How novel.’

’Cole Kane actually fought Zane Jarvis for her.’

"No matter what you think of Nina Thorne, it’s not your place to criticize her. If you ever dare to speak about her like that in front of me again, I’ll kill you," Cole Kane warned viciously, glaring at him.

Zane Jarvis, dizzy from the blow, said angrily, "Fine! Just fine! We’ve been brothers for so many years, and you actually hit me for that piece of trash."

"Cole Kane, don’t you fucking forget who’s hated Nina Thorne all these years! Who was it that called her malicious, spoiled, and obnoxious!"

Blood streamed down Zane Jarvis’s face, dripping from his eyebrow and eyelid onto his cheek. He got up and headed out, intending to go to the hospital.

The moment he opened the door, he saw Nina Thorne standing there.

He instantly gritted his teeth in resentment. "Don’t get cocky!"

After saying that, he stormed off, accompanied by a friend.

Cole Kane cursed and kicked over a nearby chair.

The other friends, not expecting things to escalate this far, didn’t dare to speak.

By now, the door to the private room was wide open, and a few of his friends were the first to notice her.

Someone exclaimed, "Nina Thorne."

Nina Thorne met their gazes calmly.

Cole Kane froze.

Noticing the change in their expressions, he quickly looked toward the door.

Caught off guard, he met Nina Thorne’s gaze.

But her eyes were cold, looking at him as if he were a stranger, and an inexplicable fear gripped his heart.

Yet he also felt a thrill of excitement. He walked up to her in a few quick strides. "Nina Thorne, what are you doing here? Did you come looking for me?"

’Is he for real?’

’Should I say he has a rich imagination...’

’...or that he’s just an idiot?’

"Nina Thorne, you saw what just happened. I’ll protect you from now on. I won’t let anyone say a bad word about you ever again."

"I’ll really change. I realize my mistakes now, and I’ll never make them again."

"Please forgive me. Let’s get back together, okay?"

He reached out, wanting to pull Nina Thorne closer, his affectionate face filled with remorse.

If this had been three months earlier, Nina Thorne would have been moved to tears.

But in this world, there are no ’what ifs’.

Nina Thorne decisively took a step back, staring at him coldly before sweeping her gaze over the others in the room.

It reminded her of the venomous vow she had made in a private room before.

She lifted her chin slightly. "Since everyone’s here, then all of you listen up. I, Nina Thorne, am already married."

"Oh, right. My husband’s name is Jus-tin Kane."

She finished, enunciating every word, her gaze falling back on Cole Kane’s face as she scoffed,

"Why do you always think I’m just throwing a tantrum? Cole Kane, you think way too highly of yourself."

Leaving those words behind, she turned and left without hesitation.

She didn’t even bother going to the restroom anymore.

The people in the private room looked shocked and incredulous.

"What? Nina Thorne married Justin Kane?"

This was explosive news.

Cole Kane’s face was a mixture of livid and pale. He chased after her like a madman.

Nina Thorne walked quickly back to her table and said to Misty Hughes, "Let’s go."

Misty noticed her expression was off and asked as she followed, "What took you so long? Is everything okay?"

A moment ago, she’d seen an injured person leaving who looked a little familiar.

He looked a lot like the man who had bullied Nina Thorne last time, but she wasn’t sure.

"I’m fine."

After they walked out of the restaurant, Misty wanted to ask Nina to go shopping, but she was turned down.

Misty didn’t want to insist, so she prepared to hail a cab.

"Nina Thorne..."

Cole Kane rushed out after them. "You were lying to me just now, right?"

Unlike all the other times, Nina Thorne had spoken with such seriousness that it didn’t seem like a lie.

’At first, he had just thought they were only seeing each other.’

’How long has it been?’

’Not even three months, and they’re already married.’

’No, I don’t believe it!’

Nina Thorne frowned, looking at him with impatience.

Before she could speak, Misty Hughes, who was about to get in a car, saw what was happening and rushed back to stand in front of her.

"What are you trying to do now? Are you going to bully Nina Thorne again?"

"Get lost!" Cole Kane roared, his face red with anger.

Misty’s body trembled violently.

But she still stood protectively in front of Nina Thorne, not backing down.

Nina Thorne was taken aback, a warmth spreading through her heart.

Cole Kane forcefully pushed Misty aside and gripped Nina’s shoulders tightly, demanding uncontrollably, "Tell me it’s not true! You two aren’t married, right!"

Nina Thorne struggled to no avail. Her temper flared, and she viciously stomped on his instep.

She followed it up with another kick, aiming for a vital spot.

Instantly, Cole Kane bent over in pain, his face turning beet red.

Nina Thorne said coldly, "I’ve told you countless times, but you refused to believe me.

Cole Kane, you deceived me for ten years. I haven’t even settled that score with you yet. What right do you have to question me here?"

With that, Nina Thorne didn’t spare him another glance and pulled Misty Hughes away.

Cole Kane could barely stand and couldn’t even speak. He wanted to chase after them but had no strength, so angry he felt like killing someone.

’Damn it!’

’How did she become so fiery again, just like she used to be!’

In the car, Misty said, still shaken, "Nina Thorne, has he been pestering you nonstop? Maybe we should call the police."

Nina Thorne had considered it, but it was impossible because of their two families’ relationship.

"It’s fine, don’t worry." She patted Misty’s hand.

Nina Thorne had the car drop her off directly at the branch office. After saying goodbye to Misty, she received a call from Justin Kane.

Hearing the sound of wind on her end, he asked in surprise, "You’re outside?"

"Mhm, I came to see my uncle," Nina Thorne replied as she walked toward the building’s entrance.

"Alright. Let me know when you’re done, and I’ll come pick you up," Justin Kane said gently, not pressing for details.

Nina Thorne didn’t object and softly agreed, "Okay."

After hanging up, she entered the company building.

Once upstairs, she headed straight for the CEO’s office.

Corinne Kerr was coming out of the secretarial area with a stack of files when she recognized Nina’s figure. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she immediately called Serena Kane.

After hearing what Corinne said, Serena Kane asked in shock, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I saw her go in with my own two eyes. She’s not coming back to take over the company, is she?"

Serena Kane was suspicious. She felt that Nina Thorne’s sudden visit to The Thorne Group’s branch couldn’t be simple.

’That’s it!’

Something suddenly occurred to her, and she immediately instructed Corinne Kerr, "Do something for me. Once it’s done, I’ll be sure to reward you generously."

Nina Thorne entered the CEO’s office and saw her uncle, who was as refined and gentle as ever despite the years that had passed. She greeted him politely.

"Uncle."

"Nina..."

Mark Lockwood, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, had a look of pleasant surprise in his eyes. "Come, let your uncle get a good look at you."

He walked quickly to Nina Thorne, studied her carefully, and smiled with gratification. "You’ve really grown up. You look more and more like your mother."

The curve of Nina Thorne’s lips stiffened.

Mark Lockwood paused, then quickly said, "The things you were looking for on the phone—I’ve already had someone find a batch. I’ll have them brought up to you now."

"There’s no need."

Nina Thorne said, "I’ll go down. It’ll be easier to search in the security room anyway."

Mark Lockwood nodded. "Alright, then. I’ll have my assistant take you there."

"Thank you, Uncle."

Nina Thorne’s meek and obedient appearance made Mark Lockwood’s heart ache, and he let out a long sigh.

Nina Thorne then followed the assistant to the security room.

Several hard drives were neatly arranged in a small box, labeled with a date from ten years ago.

Nina Thorne picked one up and examined it closely, a smile lifting the corners of her mouth. "That’s right. This is it."