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It wasn’t anything she couldn’t talk about on her side, so Nora told her about going on a cruise with Elisa. 

Cole listened and said, “If you guys are planning on going on a cruise this weekend, Abby’s interested too, mind taking the two of us?” 

Nora froze, reacted, and said, “I’ll talk to my sister first and ask her opinion.” 

Five minutes later, she sent Cole her response: “She’s fine with it.” 

The next morning, they arrived at the dock where Cole and Abby were already waiting. 

The moment Abby spotted her, she broke into a wide grin and ran toward her. “Aunt Nora! I missed you so much!” 

Nora bent down, catching the little girl in a warm hug. “Abby, it’s been a long time,” she said, smiling. 

She introduced Eliza to them, and Cole, ever the gentleman, greeted them warmly. “Hello, guys.” He handed them small, carefully wrapped gifts. 

Eliza, flattered by the gesture, accepted her gift with a smile before shooting Nora a knowing look. 

**Is this her future husband?** 

Eliza was fifteen, and she prided herself on her ability to read between the lines. She knew that Nora was preparing to divorce Arnold, and now here was this well–mannered, good–looking man who seemed to be interested in her. 

Cole isn’t like Arnold at all, he’s noticeably more gentlemanly and attentive, especially when he looks at Nora, and 

not as cold as Arnold. 

Elisa sincerely hoped that her gentle and pretty little aunt would be happy. 

As soon as they boarded the cruise, Eliza took the initiative to take Abby for a playdate, leaving Nora and Cole alone. 

Nora settled on a side chair, opening the book she had brought. The pages were filled with complex economic theories written in a foreign language, but she flipped through them with ease. 

Cole, sitting beside her, leaned slightly to glance at the title. His brows lifted. 

“You read this?” 

Nora, not looking up, turned a page. “Yes.” 

Cole’s surprise deepened. 

He had studied economics in college, preparing himself to take over his family’s business. Even then, he had found the book dense and difficult. Yet here was Nora, effortlessly engrossed in its pages. 

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His gaze softened. 

She wasn’t just intelligent–she was exceptional. 

A gentle breeze ruffled the pages of Nora’s book, but she remained focused, unaware of the way Cole was studying 

her. 

For a long time, neither of them spoke. But in that silence, something shifted. 

Cole had always admired her strength. But now, he was beginning to see her in a different light. 

Cole hesitated for a brief moment before initiating the conversation, his voice measured but carrying an unmistakable warmth. “Is this a book you read often too?” 

Nora, who had been immersed in the text, lifted her head and met his gaze. 

Her eyes, sharp yet serene, held a quiet curiosity as she shook her head. “No, I only started reading it a few days ago. This is my first time.” 

She spoke evenly, without unnecessary elaboration, but there was a thoughtful undertone to her words. She never engaged in meaningless small talk–her mind was too occupied with things that truly mattered. 

Since joining the studio, she had taken on a considerable number of business negotiations. 

To keep up, she had to strengthen her understanding of economics, flipping through books like this whenever she 

had the time. 

But what caught her attention now was not the book itself, but the way Cole had phrased his question. 

“You said ‘also.” She tilted her head slightly, studying him. “Have you read this before?” 

Cole gave a small nod, setting his own book down on the table between them. “Yeah, I’ve gone through it a couple of times. It’s pretty insightful.” 

Nora’s interest deepened. “Would you mind if I asked you a few questions about it?” 

The corner of Cole’s lips lifted in a subtle smile. “Of course.” 

As they delved into discussion, Cole quickly realized that Nora’s understanding of the subject was more advanced than he had expected. Her questions were precise, not the kind of surface–level inquiries someone merely skimming through would ask. 

She was methodical, dissecting theories with impressive clarity, connecting them to real–world applications, and even bringing up counterpoints that hadn’t occurred to him. 

What struck him the most was her confidence. She never hesitated, never stumbled over words or doubted herself. There was something almost mesmerizing about it. 

Cole did his best to answer each question, but there were moments when he found himself momentarily distracted–watching the way Nora’s brows furrowed slightly when she was deep in thought, the way she 

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absentmindedly tapped her fingers against the edge of the book when considering his responses, 

He had met intelligent women before, but there was something different about her. 

It wasn’t just intelligence–it was the way she carried herself, as if she knew the weight of every word she spoke and the power behind every decision she made. 

Somewhere along the way, the distance between them seemed to lessen, as if an invisible thread had started to form, pulling them closer with each exchange of ideas. 

Cole felt something shift inside him–a realization, perhaps, that they might be more alike than he had initially thought. 

Then his phone rang. 

The sudden sound cut through the quiet atmosphere of their discussion. 

Cole blinked, startled out of his thoughts, and reached for his phone. His gaze flickered to the screen–Arnold. 

A strange feeling settled in his chest. 

With a slight flush of embarrassment, he excused himself and stepped to the side to take the call. 

“Hey.”