Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 67: Be Good, Put It on My Lap

"Yeah, you found me out."

Justin Kane’s lips curved into a slight smile, his dark eyes meeting hers without a trace of evasion. "It didn’t take you too long to figure it out. You’re not that slow. There’s hope for you yet."

Nina Thorne’s heart instantly began to race.

She had almost taken him seriously.

Thankfully, she realized they were both just joking and managed to calm her racing heart.

She looked up into his deep eyes and frowned, unconvinced. "I’m not as slow as you say."

Standing by the bed, Justin Kane leaned down slightly, bringing his handsome face close to hers. "Treating a scumbag like a treasure, being so hard on yourself, constantly putting yourself down... if that’s not slow, what is?"

He lifted his hand and gave her forehead a gentle flick.

The gesture was light, as if he were just playing around with her.

The light cast shadows on his face, obscuring his expression, yet Nina Thorne could still feel a hint of tenderness from him.

Nina Thorne rubbed her forehead where he’d tapped her. "It just proves I’m a devoted person," she retorted. "Someone like you who’s never been in a relationship wouldn’t get it."

Justin Kane’s dark eyes grew somber.

’There’s a big difference between dating someone and loving someone.’

’The former means you can be with someone you don’t love—for lust, for personal gain, or just to cure loneliness.’

’But love is different.’

’When you love someone, they are the only one in your heart and in your eyes.’

’No one can ever take their place.’

Sensing the sudden shift in Justin Kane’s mood, Nina Thorne’s heart sank.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make fun of you..."

She rushed to explain, feeling her comment had been a bit out of line.

A soft chuckle escaped Justin Kane. "If you really feel that sorry, then you can make it up to me by dating me."

Nina Thorne just assumed he was joking.

Seeing that he wasn’t angry, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Justin, that whole routine would definitely work on other girls."

A sharp glint flashed in Justin Kane’s dark eyes as his brow furrowed. "No one else is worthy."

A statement like that could be easily misunderstood.

Nina Thorne’s cheeks flushed slightly, and her heart began to race again.

’If this keeps up, I’m really going to start getting the wrong idea.’

"Alright."

Nina Thorne nodded hesitantly, remembering what she needed to discuss. "Your mother called this afternoon. She wants me to go with you to Mrs. Lawson’s birthday banquet."

After that, she also told him what Felicia Yates had planned.

Nina was hesitant. "What do you think her intentions are?"

"It’s probably Father’s idea."

Justin Kane’s gaze was softer than his tone. "Don’t worry, you should go. I’ll take care of everything."

Nina Thorne nodded meekly.

His words set her mind at ease.

...

Mrs. Lawson’s birthday banquet was in three days.

The next day, Nina Thorne dragged Justin Kane along to pick out a gift.

Having heard that Mrs. Lawson was fond of jade artifacts, calligraphy, and paintings, they went straight to The Sovereign’s Jewel, the most prestigious antique gallery in Sylport.

Any random item here started at seven figures.

The Sovereign’s Jewel had an opulent, classic decor. Its display cases were filled with a dazzling array of exquisite jade, while famous paintings from various dynasties adorned the walls.

Nina Thorne stood before one particular painting, her gaze fixed and captivated.

After a long moment, she asked a salesclerk, "How much is this one?"

"An excellent choice, miss. This piece, ’Ode to the River Nymph,’ just arrived in our gallery. It’s a celebrated masterpiece by Julian Wallace from the Vyrian Dynasty. Even a high-quality replica would fetch millions..."

The clerk concluded his enthusiastic and professional introduction by stating, "This particular masterpiece is priced at thirty million."

The clerk was sharp-eyed. Although he didn’t know who Nina Thorne was, he recognized Justin Kane.

Anyone accompanying Justin Kane was a client who required his best service.

’Thirty million?’

After hearing the price, Nina Thorne was a bit hesitant.

Justin Kane could see she really liked it and raised an eyebrow. "You like it?"

Nina Thorne tugged on his sleeve, pulling him a little closer. "Isn’t this a bit too expensive for a gift?" she whispered.

"It doesn’t matter. What’s most important is that Mrs. Lawson is happy," Justin Kane said magnanimously, then instructed the clerk to wrap it up.

After all, Mrs. Lawson was Seth Lawson’s grandmother, and they had known the family since childhood. Giving such a fine gift was perfectly reasonable.

’Besides, it was the one Nina had her eye on.’

Nina Thorne watched his display of generosity, feeling quite satisfied.

’When it came to generosity, both of the Kane brothers were impressive.’

’But she didn’t want gifts from Cole Kane that were always meant as an apology.’

’Justin Kane was different. Whenever he gave her something, it was simply for the sake of giving.’

’It didn’t matter what his mood was or where they were.’

’There was never any uncomfortable apology attached.’

’Except for giving her that watch he hadn’t been able to give to the woman he loved, he was basically perfect.’

At this thought, Nina Thorne’s mood soured.

She remained distracted as the clerk wrapped the painting, and even after they left The Sovereign’s Jewel and got into the car.

Justin Kane noticed something was wrong. His obsidian eyes fixed on her face as he asked in a low voice, "Why the sudden bad mood?"

Nina Thorne took a deep breath, her hands twisting together in her lap.

After a long moment, she tilted her face up, blinking as she looked at him. "Do you think a love like the one my parents had really exists?"

In her memory, her parents had been deeply in love and wonderfully happy together.

Nina Thorne had grown up surrounded by love, until her mother died in a car accident when she was ten.

A few years later, her father passed away as well.

From then on, she was a child with no parents.

Fortunately, back then, she still had her grandfather and Cole Kane.

His heart aching for her, Cole Kane had held her and promised, "Nina, don’t you worry. I will always, always be with you, protecting you..."

Nina Thorne was moved to tears.

She had thought Cole Kane would be her safe harbor, but she never imagined he would be the very source of all her suffering.

Now her grandfather was old, his health declining day by day.

She truly didn’t dare to imagine what she would do if, one day, her grandfather passed away.

’Would that mean she’d be completely without family?’

A stinging sensation filled Nina Thorne’s nose, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"It does."

Justin Kane reached out, his large hand covering hers and gripping it tightly. His voice was gentle yet firm. "We’ll work at it. We’ll become the happiest, most loving couple."

Nina Thorne could no longer hold back her tears; they streamed down her face.

’She didn’t want to cry, it was just... in a few days, it would be the anniversary of her mother’s death...’

"Justin Kane,"

Nina Thorne’s voice was soft and hoarse from crying, and her cool tears dripped onto the back of Justin Kane’s hand. "I’m so scared... scared I’ll end up being a child that nobody wants."

Her shoulders hitched as she cried like a child.

Cole Kane would never know what that day—the day he didn’t show up to get their marriage license—had meant to her.

She felt like a stray puppy abandoned on the side of the road, with no mother and no father...

No one loved her.

A sudden, sharp pain pierced Justin Kane’s heart, like a blade driving through him, so intense it made him shudder.

"Nina Thorne, you still have me."

Justin Kane’s dark eyes constricted as he pulled Nina Thorne into a tight embrace. His Adam’s apple bobbed several times before he finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "I’m your husband, which means I’m your family. Your parents, watching from heaven, would definitely want me to stay by your side, to cherish and protect you."

It was the first time he had ever said so much at once, as if he were baring his heart to her.

At that moment, Nina Thorne’s emotions were intense. Especially with the memory of her deceased parents, she was as fragile as a child, letting him hold her as she cried for a long, long time.

She finally cried herself to sleep, drifting off in his arms.

Back at the villa, Justin Kane carried her to the bedroom and placed her on the soft, large bed. He knelt on one knee beside it, his deep eyes quietly gazing at her face.

Her eyelashes were still damp from crying, her breathing was light and even, and her cheeks were faintly flushed. She looked so fragile and vulnerable it tugged at the heartstrings.

’Silly girl...’

’How could you ever be a child that nobody wants?’

’Someone has loved you for ten whole years...’

Justin Kane gazed at her for a long time before leaning down and pressing a feather-light kiss to her forehead.

It was a kiss that was both cautious and full of tender affection.

...

「The next morning.」

Nina Thorne woke to find herself curled up in Justin Kane’s broad embrace.

Her hands were tucked between their chests, like the paws of a kitten seeking security.

They were holding each other, face to face.

Nina Thorne’s leg was draped over his, her head was nestled into the crook of his neck, and their bodies were pressed together with almost no space in between.

Nina Thorne’s heart leaped in surprise, and a wave of heat washed over her cheeks.

Trying to recall what happened yesterday, she felt both embarrassed and very warm.

His words hadn’t been dramatic or poetic, but they were gentle and sincere, and they were now etched into her memory.

It was just that, at the time, Nina Thorne had been too overwrought to care about whether she was making a fool of herself.

Now that she was clear-headed, however, the awkwardness came flooding back.

Nina Thorne hurriedly pulled her leg back and peeked up at him, thinking that if he was still asleep, she could sneak away quietly.

However, the moment she raised her eyes, her expression froze.

"You’re... awake..." An awkward smile tugged at the corner of Nina Thorne’s mouth.

’Just my luck,’ she thought.

Justin Kane was looking down at her, a smile playing on his lips. "Mhm. I woke up back when your leg was still on top of mine."

He said it on purpose, just to see Nina Thorne’s reaction.

Sure enough, Nina Thorne bit her lip and buried her face...

’Oh my god! Oh my god!’

’Just kill me now! This is so embarrassing!’

Nina Thorne’s face was burning, so red it felt like blood would drip from it. Without another word, she scrambled out of bed and fled to the bathroom.

By the time she went downstairs, the burning heat on Nina Thorne’s face had faded.

Justin Kane was already sitting at the dining table waiting for her. Dressed in a bespoke suit, he exuded an air of refined elegance.

As Nina Thorne approached, the phone Justin Kane had placed on the table began to ring. Assistant Cheney’s voice came from the speaker. "Sir, it seems there’s been some trouble at the other villa these past couple of days."

The dining room was quiet, so the voice from the speaker was audible. Nina Thorne heard it as she sat down across from him and took a nonchalant sip of milk.

Justin Kane’s dark gaze flickered over her for a moment as he asked nonchalantly, "What happened?"

Assistant Cheney sounded uncertain. "It seems the Second Young Master and Ms. Serena were arguing. I haven’t been able to find out what it was about."

"There’s something else that’s off, too. Serena Kane has been in close contact with a tabloid reporter lately."

"Investigate further." His sharp, domineering tone left no room for refusal.

His long, slender fingers ended the call. Justin Kane placed the phone back on the table and looked at Nina Thorne, a smile in his eyes. "Heard all that?"

Nina Thorne grunted in acknowledgment, raising her eyes to meet his. "Their business has nothing to do with me. I don’t want to know a thing about it."

’A scumbag and a bitch!’

’Even wasting a single thought on them feels like inviting bad luck.’

The smile at the corners of Justin Kane’s lips deepened, and he seemed very pleased with her response. "I knew it. Our Nina Thorne is the strongest and has the most backbone. Looks like I’ll soon get to be your husband in every sense of the word."

Those last few words were certainly suggestive.

Nina Thorne faltered for a second. "I’m just now realizing your mind is full of nothing but dirty thoughts..."

Seeing her flushed cheeks, Justin Kane let out a low chuckle.

He was about to say he’d stop teasing her when a security guard suddenly entered, dragging someone with him. "Sir, we caught this person lurking outside, secretly taking pictures of you and the madam."