Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 69: I Really Love You

This was Nina Thorne’s weak spot.

No matter how much she loathed Cole Kane, she had to be grateful that he had saved her life all those years ago.

A bitter pain tightened in Nina Thorne’s heart.

Cole Kane knew she was hesitating and pressed on. "Just give me one last chance, Nina Thorne. I really do love you..."

Nina Thorne took a deep breath. Her expression was cold, but her voice was somewhat faint. "Fine. If you want to talk, we’ll talk after Mrs. Lawson’s birthday banquet."

"Okay," Cole Kane agreed instantly.

His voice was tinged with excitement, as if he had no idea she planned to use the occasion to announce their broken engagement.

Nina Thorne couldn’t be bothered to think about it and hung up the phone.

Mrs. Lawson’s birthday banquet was the following day.

That evening, Justin Kane came home early. As he walked into the bedroom, Nina Thorne, having just stepped out of the shower, looked up at him in surprise.

"Why are you back so early tonight? No work events?"

Nina Thorne asked, her expression natural and calm, as she walked a few steps closer while toweling her wet hair.

"I said I’d try to come home early to be with you, and I wouldn’t dare break my promise. I know you hold a grudge," Justin Kane teased, his gaze fixed on her face.

Her face was flushed from the shower, a sight beautiful enough to stir a man’s imagination.

Justin Kane’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and a strange emotion swirled in the depths of his dark eyes.

Nina Thorne didn’t notice. Still drying her hair, she took a hairdryer from the cabinet and sat on the sofa at the foot of the bed, preparing to blow-dry it.

Suddenly, a warm touch brushed against her fingertips.

Justin Kane took the hairdryer from her hand, his pleasant, magnetic voice saying, "Let me."

Nina Thorne froze and looked up at him.

The warm air from the hairdryer caressed her cheek, a comfortable gust sweeping past her face and lifting her long, damp hair.

Justin Kane stood beside her, the distinct features of his handsome face filled with doting tenderness. "Just close your eyes and enjoy it."

For some reason, Nina Thorne obediently closed her eyes.

His slender fingers moved through her hair. His actions were intimate and gentle, sending ripples through Nina Thorne’s heart, which had only just found its calm.

Despite having told herself over and over that Justin Kane was only gentle with her out of a sense of duty, because of their age difference, and because of their families’ relationship, her heart still raced.

Feeling Justin Kane continue to dry her hair, Nina Thorne couldn’t bear such an intimate act and quickly stopped him.

"That’s enough, you don’t have to blow-dry it anymore."

Nina Thorne stood up, facing him while maintaining a slight distance.

Her detached gesture made Justin Kane’s pupils constrict. "What’s wrong?"

’If he keeps going, my heart will be a complete mess.’

Nina Thorne touched her hair and gave a natural smile. "If you dry it too much, it’ll lose its nutrients."

"Mm."

Justin Kane lowered his eyes and turned to put away the hairdryer.

Nina Thorne breathed a small sigh of relief.

Justin Kane turned his head just in time to catch her expression. His pupils constricted slightly, and he said in a husky voice, "You have to attend Mrs. Lawson’s birthday banquet tomorrow night. You should get some rest early tonight."

"Okay."

Seeing that he was about to leave, Nina Thorne asked in surprise, "Where are you going?"

"The study."

Justin Kane’s expression was mild. "I have some work to take care of. You should get to sleep."

"Mm."

Nina Thorne nodded obediently. As she watched Justin Kane leave, a strange sense of disappointment washed over her.

But then she remembered how her heart pounded and how flustered she became around him, and she felt a sliver of relief.

’It’s better to keep some distance.’

’Otherwise, it’ll really...’

’Sigh!’

Nina Thorne flopped onto the bed, deciding to sleep and not think about anything else.

...

「In the study next door.」

The dim yellow spotlight cast a shadow on his face, making his features appear even more defined and three-dimensional.

A cigarette was nestled between his slender fingers. He took a drag and exhaled a ring of white smoke that swirled around his handsome face.

His aura was faint, but his brow was clouded with a layer of gloom.

After a moment, a call came in from Seth Lawson. "Want to come out for a drink?"

Justin Kane’s eyelids were lowered as he refused flatly, "No."

Seth Lawson clicked his tongue. "You’ve been back from abroad for two months, and ever since you got that little lady, I haven’t seen you once."

"What, choosing a girl over your friends, huh?"

"So what if I am?"

Justin Kane pressed his thin lips together and stubbed out the cigarette in an ashtray. His aura turned cold and unapproachable.

Even through the phone, Seth Lawson could feel the chill. He sighed. "Alright, alright. I wouldn’t dare have an opinion."

"But you don’t have any experience with relationships, so let me tell you, women don’t like clingy men."

Justin Kane’s eyebrow twitched with interest. "Is that so?"

As expected, Seth Lawson launched into a lecture as if a floodgate had opened. "Of course! Who am I? I’m the prince of romance. Would I lie to you?"

"Cut the crap," Justin Kane said, frowning impatiently.

Seth Lawson clicked his tongue. "If you don’t believe me, try giving her the cold shoulder for a few days. She’ll definitely be the one to contact you, asking what you’re doing and when you’ll be home, instead of you having the free time to answer my call in the middle of the night like now."

One was bold enough to give the advice, and the other was bold enough to take it.

Justin Kane raised an eyebrow thoughtfully, then spat out a single word: "Scram!"

After hanging up, Justin Kane placed his phone on the desk. His well-defined fingers tapped the surface a few times, his expression growing increasingly dark and inscrutable.

...

「The next afternoon.」

Nina Thorne received the wrap-up photos from the film crew on WeChat.

Then, an excited voice message came from Jessica Jenkins: "Nina Thorne, I’ll be back in Sylport soon! Are you free? We should go shopping when I’m back."

It was an offer too enthusiastic to refuse, so Nina Thorne agreed. "Okay, just let me know ahead of time when you’re back."

"Deal."

Jessica Jenkins was in high spirits. "That’s great! We can see each other again! How have you been lately? Are you writing a new script? I want to act in your next project."

She fired off a series of questions.

Nina Thorne answered them one by one. "I’m doing okay. I don’t have any ideas for a new script yet. Besides, whether or not you get to star in my work isn’t up to me."

"That’s not necessarily true."

Jessica Jenkins was full of confidence. "If this one becomes a hit, you’ll get a say in the casting. If you ask for me then, I’ll definitely choose your script above all others."

It was rare to have someone support her so much, and Nina Thorne felt very gratified.

But whether the show would actually be a hit when it aired remained to be seen.

Nina Thorne had always been very Zen about this kind of thing.

Do your best, and leave the rest to fate.

After she hung up, Assistant Cheney entered the living room with several people, approached her, and said respectfully, "Madam, the CEO has specially prepared an evening gown for you for tonight, as well as a makeup artist."

As he finished speaking, a woman in a black uniform stepped forward, holding a gift box. Inside lay a Chinese-style gown in a mix of pink and white, looking both gentle and stunning.

Nina Thorne was captivated at first sight. "It’s beautiful."

She gently stroked the stitching on the gown, marveling inwardly.

Every stitch of the dress was exquisite. It was handmade with master-level embroidery—not something that could be bought simply with money.

"Madam, please try it on," the woman said with a professional smile.

"Okay."

Nina Thorne agreed and went upstairs to change, applying some Chinese-style makeup to go with it.

A short while later, she came downstairs in the gown.

Justin Kane, who had returned ten minutes earlier, was sitting on the living room sofa. Hearing the sound of footsteps on the stairs, he looked up, and his gaze was instantly captivated.

The pink and white gown showcased her perfect figure, and her hair, done in a Chinese-style updo, gave her a gentle and dignified air.

Her skin was very fair, practically glowing.

This outfit not only highlighted her youthful gentleness but also gave her an air of nobility and grace, her features as refined as jade.

Everyone present was stunned.

All eyes were drawn to her, filled with astonishment.

’So beautiful.’

Assistant Cheney, in particular, suddenly understood why the CEO was so fond of his wife.

’She’s truly beautiful, noble without being gaudy, with the full bearing of a prestigious family’s daughter.’

Justin Kane was lost in a daze for a long time, only snapping out of it when Nina Thorne stood before him. "You’re back. What do you think? Does it look good?"

She asked as casually as ever, though having never tried this style before, she was slightly worried it didn’t suit her.

A smile bloomed in Justin Kane’s deep eyes as he praised her generously, "It looks great."

He stood up, his gaze openly admiring her face. "This style really suits you. But Nina Thorne is beautiful and tall—she’d look good in anything."

Caught off guard by his praise, Nina Thorne was taken aback, and a blush crept onto her cheeks.

A smile touched her lips as she joked, "Justin, you’ve become such a smooth talker. I almost don’t recognize you anymore."

The color in Justin Kane’s eyes deepened. He frowned slightly, concealing a surge of tenderness as he said softly, "Then let’s get to know each other again. Perhaps you’ll discover that the person I am now is the real me."

The sentence was like a tongue twister, and Nina Thorne didn’t quite understand it.

After that, they left together for the Lawson family’s old residence.

The villa and the old residence were in opposite directions, one in the south and one in the north, requiring an hour and a half drive.

On the way, Nina Thorne thought about what was going to happen that night and felt inexplicably nervous, her fingers twisting slightly.

As if sensing her mood, a large hand suddenly reached over, brushed against her palm, and then intertwined their fingers tightly.

"Don’t worry. I’ll be with you the whole time tonight."

Justin Kane’s voice was gentle, as if he had always been this kind and considerate.

Feeling the warmth of his hand, Nina Thorne stared blankly at his handsome, well-defined profile. Indeed, she wasn’t as nervous as before.

"Okay."

Nina Thorne responded softly. Looking at their clasped hands, she seemed to have grown accustomed to him protecting her like a big brother.

’At least, I’ve learned my lesson.’

’I won’t wildly speculate about whether he likes me just because of something he does.’

...

The Lawson family’s old residence was bustling with activity.

The guests tonight were all major figures in Sylport, a crowd of the rich and powerful.

Nina Thorne openly held Justin Kane’s arm as they stepped into the Lawson family’s main hall, and all eyes immediately turned toward them.

Those gazes held surprise, astonishment, and speculation.

Cole Kane and Felicia Yates were also in the crowd, surrounded by people.

When Cole Kane saw them appear together, looking so intimate, rage instantly flared in his eyes.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Seeing he was about to walk toward them, Felicia Yates grabbed his arm in time and warned in a low voice, "Don’t forget where you are. This is not the place for you to act recklessly."

Cole Kane gritted his back teeth, trying to contain his anger, but the fury in his eyes didn’t lessen. "You saw it too! What the hell is Justin Kane doing? Nina Thorne is mine! What is this? Is he trying to steal her from me?"

Felicia Yates’s eyes flickered as she reminded him, "You’ve already lost your position as the branch president. Do you really want to lose every chance you have? Even if you’re not happy about it, you need to behave yourself until tonight is over!"

Just then, Nina Thorne noticed them and glanced in their direction, but it was only a faint look. Her expression was indifferent as if she hadn’t seen them. Then her gaze shifted to Serena Kane, who was standing beside them, and her cold eyes narrowed slightly.

Serena Kane was also looking at Nina Thorne, a cold sneer forming in her heart.

’Soon, after tonight, Nina Thorne’s reputation will be in tatters!’