Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 91: The Perfect Husband

Albert Locke didn’t seem surprised, as if he’d expected it.

"That’s good."

He glanced at Nina Thorne, an unreadable emotion flashing across his eyes. "Justin Kane is a definite improvement over Cole Kane."

"Of course, what matters most is that you’re happy."

"Yes, it’s very good."

Nina Thorne agreed, chiming in, "He’s more than just a little better."

The corner of Albert Locke’s lip twitched, and a low laugh escaped him.

"Are you really not planning to continue developing new technology?"

Only at the end of their chat did Albert Locke get to the main point. "Also, this system is your patent. You should be the one to decide who is the most suitable partner."

"I don’t want to." Nina Thorne’s brow furrowed, her aversion to the topic clear.

Her answer, of course, was to his first question.

Albert Locke looked at her, his expression pained. "Look, Master has been gone for so many years. You should let it go..."

Albert Locke wanted to say more, but Nina Thorne evasively cut him off. "For the collaboration, just give them a permanent license. I trust your choice won’t disappoint me."

Seeing she was still so resistant, Albert Locke nodded and didn’t say any more.

-

「Half an hour later.」

Nina Thorne left the internet cafe. Before heading back, she suddenly remembered she had said she would get a gift for Justin Kane before she left.

She thought for a moment, then detoured to a nearby market to buy some ingredients.

She planned to personally cook a meal that night to thank Justin Kane for defending her time and again.

-

「Kane Group, the CEO’s Office.」

Assistant Cheney finished his phone call and came in happily to report, "Mr. Kane, Mr. Locke has agreed to partner with us."

"But his condition is that he’s only willing to give us an exclusive license for the smart driving system, not sell it outright."

"That’s fine."

Justin Kane tapped his fingers on the desk. "Schedule a time for the contract signing."

"Yes, Mr. Kane."

Assistant Cheney didn’t leave, continuing to report on the events of last night’s banquet.

Justin Kane raised a cold eyebrow. "I don’t want to hear that kind of talk again, especially anything negative about her."

"Understood. I’ll handle it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Justin Kane’s special WeChat notification sound went off.

It was the custom ringtone he had set for Nina Thorne.

Justin Kane moved quickly, picking up his phone and opening the chat window.

"Are you coming home for dinner tonight?"

"Of course I’m coming home, to spend quality time with my dear wife."

"So I can win my beauty over soon."

"..."

When Nina Thorne saw this message, she couldn’t help but read something more into it.

She replied with another message: "To think the great Mr. Kane has learned to be such a sweet-talker. Come home early tonight. I’ll be waiting for you for dinner."

After sending it, Nina Thorne put down her phone.

Justin Kane looked at her message, the corners of his lips curling slightly. "Okay."

Looking up, he saw Assistant Cheney still standing in front of his desk with a knowing grin.

"Don’t you have work to do?"

Justin Kane reverted to his usual cold and stern demeanor.

Assistant Cheney said hastily, "Right on it. Immediately."

As he reached the door, Justin Kane gave a cool command, "Postpone this afternoon’s appointments. Reschedule them."

Assistant Cheney turned his head, shocked. "But this afternoon is the shareholders’ meeting. It’s quite important."

"Reschedule it."

Justin Kane’s tone left no room for refusal. Assistant Cheney hesitated. "Also... your mother asked you to pay a visit tonight."

"Not going."

Justin Kane’s voice was deep and firm, without a hint of hesitation.

Assistant Cheney immediately nodded and left to follow his orders.

...

Nina Thorne was busy in the kitchen for over an hour.

She was about to carry the soup out when Miss King, watching anxiously, hurried over. "Ma’am, let me do that. You might hurt yourself."

"It’s alright, I can do it."

Nina Thorne wanted to do it herself to show her sincerity.

Before she was with Cole Kane, she was a pampered young lady who had never lifted a finger.

Later, to take care of Cole Kane and win his affection, she learned to cook and make soups by following online videos.

Over time, she eventually got the hang of it.

After Nina Thorne brought the dishes out one by one, Miss King watched her bustling about and smiled warmly.

"When Mr. Kane gets back and sees you bustling about, making such a big spread of delicious food, he’ll surely eat an extra helping or two."

Nina Thorne walked back into the kitchen, smiling as she replied, "They’re all just simple, home-cooked dishes. I’m just afraid they won’t be to his taste."

"How could that be? As long as you’re the one who made it, Ma’am, Mr. Kane would find even plain boiled water sweet."

Nina Thorne didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Among the few servants at the villa, Miss King had been with Justin Kane the longest.

She was the one who knew Justin Kane best and had earned his deep trust.

Nina Thorne estimated that Justin Kane would be home soon and prepared to dish out the rice.

Just then, Justin Kane’s handsome figure appeared in the dining room. He made a hushing gesture at Miss King.

He glanced at the six dishes and one soup on the table, then at the slender figure busy in the kitchen, her back to the dining room.

The corners of his lips curved up, a deep emotion swirling in his dark eyes, and he strode into the kitchen.

He quickly came up behind Nina Thorne and suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "What’s this? You’re cooking yourself today?"

"You’re in such high spirits. Did something good happen?"

Justin Kane lowered his head, his deep voice whispering by her ear.

The pose was exceptionally intimate and suggestive.

Miss King smiled more happily than anyone, and not wanting to be a third wheel, she quickly walked away, leaving the couple undisturbed.

Nina Thorne was startled and turned her head to look at him. "You scared me to death! How can you walk so quietly?"

"It’s because you were too focused in the kitchen."

Hearing this, Nina Thorne patted his hand and said awkwardly, "Behave yourself. There are so many people watching at home."

Since the last incident, Nina Thorne had gotten very used to this kind of intimate contact.

Perhaps because she had accepted their status as a married couple, she naturally no longer resisted these affectionate actions.

It’s just that the most intimate they had ever been was just kissing.

In over two months, they still hadn’t taken the next step...

"Is there anything else that needs to be done? I’ll do it."

Justin Kane kissed her hair before finally letting go.

"There’s nothing left. Go wash your hands, we can eat now. I’ll bring the rice out."

"I’ll do it."

Nina Thorne couldn’t win against Justin Kane, so she had to let him dish out the rice.

She went outside and set the chopsticks.

Justin Kane came out with two bowls of rice, placing one on the table in front of her. "You made all this?"

Nina Thorne’s eyes curved into crescents. "I haven’t cooked in a long time. I don’t know how it tastes. You should try it."

"What happened today? You’re in such a good mood."

"You gave me a phone, so I made a special meal to thank you. That’s not too much, is it?"

Justin Kane clearly didn’t believe her. He raised an eyebrow and took a sip of the soup.

It was a wild duck soup that Nina Thorne had simmered for about an hour. She had also added winter melon and coix seeds; all the goodness had cooked down into the broth.

It was a very cooling and refreshing soup.

"It tastes great."

Justin Kane gave a positive review, and his expression didn’t seem fake.

"Really?"

"Really. Try it if you don’t believe me."

Justin Kane took a few more sips, seemingly enjoying it a lot.

Nina Thorne took a sip herself and immediately frowned.

"I forgot to add salt..."

Nina Thorne shot him a reproachful look. "And you lied to me, saying it was good."

After saying that, she went to the kitchen, got the salt, and added a suitable amount to the pot and to each of their bowls.

When she sat down again, Justin Kane watched her with adoration in his dark eyes. "You cooked for me yourself. No matter how it tastes, it’s delicious."

Nina Thorne’s heart fluttered.

She almost blurted out and asked him if he liked her.

But she held back.

She was afraid that if she was just getting ahead of herself, the result would be awkward and humiliating.

Besides, there was an almost seven-year age gap between them.

Perhaps Justin Kane’s affection for her was just that of an older brother caring for a younger sister.

Nina Thorne lowered her eyes, refusing to overthink it. "With how smooth you talk, I’m starting to wonder why you were single all those years."

She had thought the topic would end there.

Suddenly, she heard his magnetic voice say, "Because I was waiting for a certain girl."

Nina Thorne froze and raised her eyes to look at him.

Justin Kane’s deep, dark eyes were looking at her, as if he were looking through her at the person he loved.

Nina Thorne’s heart skipped a beat, and her hand holding the spoon tightened. "Is it the person you like?"

’The one he’d mentioned before... his sweetheart.’

"That’s right. A very likable girl."

Justin Kane’s eyes were fixed on her, his dark, deep eyes full of tenderness.

’It was as if I was that sweetheart.’

Nina Thorne felt she was going crazy to even have such a ridiculous thought.

"Do you want to know who it is?" Justin Kane’s profound gaze was still fixed on her, as if he was eager to share.

But Nina Thorne chickened out.

Her heart suddenly raced, and she nervously fiddled with her fingers under the table, afraid of hearing an answer she didn’t want to accept.

She blurted out coldly, "Not really interested."

After saying that, Nina Thorne continued to eat with her head down.

Seeing her indifferent attitude, Justin Kane’s pupils contracted slightly.

’You little heartless thing.’

That evening, Nina Thorne was in the study and brought this up on a call with Macy Lynch.

Her tone was gloomy. "Did I just jump from one pit into another?"

"It’s not that bad, not at all."

Macy Lynch began to analyze. "First of all, Justin Kane hasn’t messed around. Besides, everyone has a past. It’s not like he’s still entangled with an old flame, with lingering feelings, or seeing her behind your back..."

"So, strictly speaking, Justin Kane is mature and dotes on you. He could be called a one-in-a-million husband."

"But he doesn’t like me."

All evening, Nina Thorne felt a tightness in her chest. She didn’t know if it was because he didn’t like her, or because she minded that he had someone he loved.

Macy Lynch hissed through her teeth. "Actually, I don’t think so. That time at the bar, he acted like he cared so much about you. That’s how someone acts when they like you."

"Besides, I’ve always felt that, given his character, he doesn’t seem like the type to get married just for the sake of getting married to satisfy his family."

"And don’t forget your relationship with Cole Kane. For him to rush into a flash marriage with you, what kind of explanation could he give his family?"

Nina Thorne felt as if she’d had an epiphany.

’That seems to make sense.’

But on second thought, she remembered Justin Kane himself had said that the reason he chose to marry her was because Grandfather Kane liked her.

’Forget it.’

Nina Thorne didn’t want to exhaust herself by overthinking, nor did she want to ask and risk looking foolish, so she simply hung up the phone.

After hanging up, she suddenly recalled her conversation with Albert Locke that afternoon. She hesitated, then opened a software program she hadn’t used in a long time.

She stared at the familiar interface on the screen, memories of the past flooding back.

All at once, a pained expression crossed Nina Thorne’s face, and she quickly closed the program.

Immediately after, a call came in from Cole Kane.

She’d hang up, and he’d call right back.

Nina Thorne couldn’t block his numbers fast enough. She finally answered, asking irritably, "What the hell do you want?"

"If you don’t understand the meaning of a broken engagement, surely you understand what a breakup is?"

Cole Kane was stunned for a few seconds on the other end, then played his trump card. "Even if we broke up, we still have a bond that can’t be severed."

Nina Thorne frowned as she heard him say darkly, "I’m the one who saved your life. You can’t escape that."

Nina Thorne’s heart sank.

In the past, she had been grateful more than once that Cole Kane had saved her, and she even fell in love with him because of it.

’Now, hearing those words, I wish I could kick him into a lake and save him once just to call it even!’

Nina Thorne gritted her teeth and asked coldly, "What is it you really want?"

"I want to see you."

Cole Kane said bluntly, "Don’t you want to know who Justin Kane’s sweetheart is?"