Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 136: Like You

Nina Thorne left the surveillance room with the disk. Just then, the assistant’s phone rang.

"Excuse me, Miss Thorne. I need to take this call."

"Please, go ahead." Nina Thorne gave a slight nod.

After speaking to her respectfully, the assistant stepped aside to answer the phone.

A moment later, he returned to Nina Thorne’s side and said with a smile, "Miss Thorne, President Lockwood would like to know if you’d be willing to join him for dinner at his home tonight?"

"He also insisted that you must agree."

Nina Thorne sank into thought.

’Come to think of it, it’s been years since I’ve had dinner with Uncle and Aunt.’

’I’ve been so neglectful these past few years, but I really can’t go right now.’ "Could you please tell my uncle that I’ll definitely pay him a visit once I’m finished with things here in a few days?"

Hearing the refusal in her tone, the assistant looked troubled.

Nina Thorne added with another smile, "Tell him not to worry. I won’t break my promise." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The assistant nodded. "Of course, Miss Thorne. I’ll relay your message exactly."

Clutching the disk case, Nina Thorne turned to leave.

The assistant watched her receding figure for a long moment before turning and heading to the parking lot to report to Mark Lockwood in person.

Mark Lockwood was sitting in the back of a luxury car. After hearing his assistant’s report, he sighed in resignation. "Her personality... it’s like she’s a completely different person compared to how she used to be."

The assistant bowed his head, saying nothing.

Mark Lockwood suddenly cursed, "It’s all because of that second son of the Kane family. He’s a real piece of trash!"

"I thought he would take good care of Nina, but I never imagined they’d end up breaking off the engagement.

"Ever since Nina started dating him, her whole personality changed. What was the point of becoming so ’sensible’? Being sensible just means you get taken advantage of!"

Seeing how angry and resigned he was, the assistant tried to console him. "Miss Thorne is certainly more composed and mature now. While she might not be as lively and spirited as she used to be,

"at least she’s seen the Second Young Master Kane’s true colors. Shouldn’t that give you some peace of mind, President Lockwood?"

Mark Lockwood heaved a deep sigh. "Fine, fine. Let’s not dwell on the past. I just hope she doesn’t get stuck wallowing in her old pain."

"Just drive. Let’s head back."

-

Nina Thorne had only been waiting by the roadside for a moment when a familiar black luxury car pulled up in front of her.

Justin Kane stepped out. He stood before her, tall and long-legged, his expression as gentle as ever.

"What’s this?"

He asked, his gaze sweeping over the disk case. It looked quite old.

"A surveillance disk."

Nina Thorne answered honestly. Assistant Cheney came over and held out his hand. "Mrs. Kane, I’ll put this in the trunk for you."

"Okay."

After Nina Thorne gave him the case, Justin Kane’s lips curled into a warm smile. "You must be exhausted. It’s still early. How about we go home and I’ll cook you something delicious?"

"I’d love that," Nina Thorne said, her eyes lighting up.

Justin Kane was a good cook, and she loved his food.

"Let’s get in the car."

Justin Kane put an arm around her waist. With his other hand, he shielded the top of the doorframe to protect her head as she got in, his every move gentle and protective.

Only after she was safely inside did he get in himself.

Then, the car slowly drove away.

Just before, another luxury car had pulled out of the company’s parking lot.

Sitting in the car, Mark Lockwood spotted Nina Thorne in the distance with a man.

However, the man’s back was to him, so he couldn’t get a clear look at his face.

But from his attire and bearing, he looked exceptionally distinguished and noble.

His heart dropped. ’Could it be Cole Kane?’

’That girl... she still hasn’t given up. I’ll have to have a serious talk with her later.’

’Getting back together with Cole Kane... that’s a mistake that could choke her to death!’

-

Nina Thorne took the disk to the study. When she came back downstairs a moment later, she was shocked to find that Justin Kane had prepared a beef tallow hot pot.

The rich, fragrant scent of beef tallow filled the air.

Nina Thorne walked into the dining room, surprised. "You said you were cooking, but you made *this*?"

Justin Kane was wearing black trousers and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. An apron was tied over his chest. His handsome face looked gentle and elegant, and he exuded the warm aura of a doting husband.

There were no servants in sight, but the dining table was laden with fresh ingredients.

In addition to the beef tripe and other things she’d enjoyed last time, he had also prepared seafood.

Shrimp, clams, and more—even a king crab.

"You love it, so I made it. And I get to eat it with you," Justin Kane said, his dark eyes crinkling with a smile, looking at her with boundless affection.

Nina’s heart skipped a beat. "You prepared all of this yourself?"

"I said I would cook for you personally. How could I let someone else do the work?"

Justin Kane pulled out a chair, led her over, and gently pressed her shoulders to make her sit. "People online say that a man who can cook gets bonus points."

He grinned. "I’ll go get the dipping sauces, and then we can start eating."

He turned and went into the kitchen, returning a moment later with several kinds of dipping sauces, which he placed on the table one by one.

Holding a small sauce bowl, he looked up and asked, "Which one would you like?"

Nina Thorne met his gentle gaze. "The oil-based dip, please. Thank you."

"Of course."

Quickly and skillfully, Justin Kane prepared a bowl for her and placed it in front of her.

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

Nina Thorne looked up, studying him carefully.

He mixed a bowl for himself as well, his gaze slightly lowered.

The light cast shadows beneath his thick brows, making his sculpted features look even more defined.

’This man, who was normally so noble and extraordinary, was willing to cook for her again and again.’

It felt as if something had pried open Nina Thorne’s heart, allowing a warm, fervent emotion to spread rapidly through her.

Snapping out of her daze, she looked at the bubbling pot of red, spicy broth and frowned in concern. "You can’t handle spicy food. Why didn’t you make it a split pot?"

Justin Kane’s lips curled into a mysterious smile. "I have secret weapons."

With that, he stood up, went to the refrigerator, and pulled out several types of drinks.

Sour plum juice, sparkling water, sodas, and more.

Most importantly, there was milk and yogurt.

It was obvious he had come fully prepared.

He sat back down, scooped cooked ingredients from the pot, and carefully placed them in her bowl one by one.

He said matter-of-factly, "Since we’re eating together, we should eat *together*. It just wouldn’t feel right otherwise."

Nina’s breath hitched. "You don’t have to go out of your way to accommodate me."

’It’s torture for someone who can’t handle spicy food.’

’Last time, he was sweating from the spice, and his lips were red and swollen.’

’But I have to admit, even then, he didn’t look flustered at all. He was just as handsome and distinguished as ever.’

Justin Kane suddenly looked up, his dark eyes fixed on her. He said with intense focus, "Mrs. Kane, you should enjoy all of this as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. I’m your husband. Treating you well isn’t ’accommodating’ you."

"We’re a married couple. In everything, I’m willing to put you first. All you need to do is accept it and enjoy it."

Justin Kane’s voice was magnetic and gentle, patiently coaxing her.

Every word was so sincere that Nina Thorne gradually began to feel at ease.

Noticing she was wearing a white top, Justin Kane stood up, grabbed a disposable apron, and walked behind her to put it on for her.

After tying it, his large hand rested on her slender shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Mrs. Kane, this is about your sense of deservingness."

Nina Thorne was deeply moved.

After five years of being worn down and losing her confidence,

he was the first person to ever say these things to her.

He was also the one who had reached out, tirelessly pulling her from the mire, guiding her to recover her confidence, and encouraging her.

He was her husband. Her guide.

And more than that, he was Justin Kane.

The Justin Kane who had become famous at a young age, who was known for his decisive actions, his terrifying ruthlessness, his sharp tongue, and his calculating nature.

And yet, he was also the Justin Kane who, in her presence, was gentle and elegant, meticulously caring, the one who was helping her cast off her confusion and rediscover her bright, bold self.

Tears welled in Nina Thorne’s eyes, but she raised her chin and smiled confidently. "I will."

They had a wonderful dinner that night.

Just like last time, Justin Kane was soon covered in a fine sheen of sweat from the spice, his lips turning red and swollen.

But he still peeled shrimp for her and extracted the meat from the crab claws.

He was sniffling from the heat, constantly chugging soda and milk. Watching him, Nina Thorne felt a mix of heartache and amusement.

She grabbed a napkin to wipe the sweat from his brow, her smile sweet and captivating. "Next time, I’ll eat something non-spicy with you."

Justin Kane frowned and tapped the back of her hand. "Mrs. Kane, you’ve forgotten again. Your sense of deservingness."

Nina didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, I’ll listen to you. Sense of deservingness."

Satisfied, Justin Kane’s lips curved into a smile. "Besides, spicy seafood has its own unique flavor. I actually quite like it."

Looking at his handsome face, Nina Thorne’s eyes crinkled into a smile. "It is good. The spicier it gets, the more you want to eat."

Justin Kane continued to eat.

He would occasionally suck in a sharp breath from the spice, wipe away sweat, or chug his soda...

But through it all, he continued to serve her food, peel her shrimp, and pour her drinks.

Each of these moments was etched deeply into Nina Thorne’s mind, storming into her heart when she least expected it.

At that moment, she suddenly realized that it didn’t seem to matter anymore whether he had someone he loved, or who that person was.

’All I know is that Justin Kane is my husband.’

’He’s so good and gentle to me. Why should I keep dwelling on his past?’

After dinner, Nina Thorne asked Justin Kane to watch a horror movie with her.

She had expected him to refuse, but he agreed readily. "You really want to watch one? Then let’s watch. I’ll watch with you."

Nina Thorne froze for a second, then her face broke into a radiant smile. "Okay!"

A horror movie flickered to life on the large screen in the living room.

Nina Thorne and Justin Kane sat close together on the sofa. Her slender frame was curled up, pressed tightly against his side.

Suddenly, the suspenseful music swelled.

She was so scared she covered her face, unable to watch, yet she couldn’t resist peeking through the gaps between her fingers.

Her timid-yet-curious expression was so adorable that Justin Kane couldn’t help but chuckle. "You’re such a scaredy-cat, and you still want to watch horror movies?"

Huddled against him, Nina Thorne frowned and retorted, "Being scared is one thing. Wanting to watch is another."

’In the past, she had wanted to watch them, but she never had anyone to watch with.’

’When she had asked Cole Kane, he had just sneered at her: "Those movies are all fake. What’s so fun about them? I don’t understand why you can’t like normal things."’

’After that, Nina Thorne never brought it up again.’

’Looking back, she realized she had spent five years slowly accumulating disappointments,’

’...which is why she had been able to break up with him so decisively when he stood her up at the marriage registry.’

That night, Nina Thorne felt an unprecedented sense of lightheartedness and joy. She thought that this was how life should be: peaceful and warm.

Before falling asleep, Nina Thorne took the initiative to hug Justin Kane, resting her head on his arm. She tilted her small face up to look at the clean line of his jaw.

"Mr. Kane, I had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you for being with me."

Justin Kane looked down at her, his dark eyes full of affection. "I had a wonderful time too. Shouldn’t I be the one thanking you for spending time with me?"

Nina thought that made sense and gave a sweet, happy smile. "Then let’s live like this from now on. Happy, and together."

The soft light from the bedside lamp illuminated her face, making her look gentle and animated. The gloom in her eyes was gone, replaced by a clear, bright gaze.

A low, contented chuckle escaped Justin Kane. "As long as Mrs. Kane is happy. Your satisfaction is my honor."

Then, he gently patted her shoulder and coaxed softly, "It’s late. Go to sleep. I’m right here with you."

Nina was indeed exhausted. She snuggled against him in his arms. "Okay."

’She was so happy today.’

’Not only had she gotten the disk, meaning she would soon know who her savior was, but she also felt her relationship with Justin Kane was growing closer and closer.’

A sweet feeling bloomed in her heart as she gradually drifted into a deep sleep in Justin Kane’s arms.

Justin Kane watched her peaceful, sleeping face, a soft tenderness swirling in his deep, dark eyes.

He lowered his head and placed a gentle peck on her forehead.

Suddenly, he heard Nina mutter in her sleep, "Justin Kane, it’s so good to have you... I... I really like you."

Justin Kane froze. His eyes widened, and a look of stunned joy quickly spread across his face.