Chapter 164
Nathan played it cool, pretending not to get it. “Nellie, you know my granddad’s super suspicious. If I openly help you, he’ll definitely start questioning what’s going on between us. What am I supposed to tell him then?”
Nathalie was stumped.
“Why not just pretend to be my girlfriend for a bit?” Nathan suggested with a sly grin. “That way, he’ll have to take you seriously.”
Nathalie shook her head. “No way. I’ve got a bit of a bad rep. Hanging out with me will just drag you into the gossip mill.”
She couldn’t stand the thought of Nathan getting caught up in the drama because of her.
Nathan led her to the vanity. “Aren’t you the makeup queen, Nellie? Just tweak your look a bit, and no one will recognize you.”
Caught between Nathan’s smooth talk and the urgency of the situation, Nathalie gave in. She curled her hair into big waves, put on some fancy jewelry, slipped into a red jumpsuit, threw on oversized sunglasses, and topped it off with bright red lipstick. She looked both fierce and fabulous.
“You look stunning,” Nathan said, genuinely impressed.
His compliment didn’t carry the usual cheesy flirt vibe, so to Nathalie, it felt more like a genuine pat on the back.
Yes, she was stunning. And she deserved the best.
“Let’s get moving,” Nathalie said, a bit anxious. She worried that Cameron might swoop in
first.
In the living room, Mason sat on the couch with a stern look, with Cameron nearby and Benjamin standing next to him, stirring trouble. “Grandfather, Nathan is getting out of hand. He even dared to take the prime spot from Cameron. If he ticks off Cameron, who’s going to fix that mess?”
When Nathan and Nathalie walked in, it was like a fresh breeze blew through, leaving a hint of roses in the air.
Everyone looked up instinctively. Cameron’s eyes locked onto Nathalie, his gaze intense and curious. She was familiar but had an unfamiliar vibe, carrying herself with a confidence he hadn’t seen before. He couldn’t be sure if she were the wife he had once
dismissed.
Benjamin was completely thrown off when he spotted the girl who had once caught his eye. He blurted out, stunned, “Is that you?”
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Chapter 164
Nathalie frowned, not used to being the center of attention. Benjamin’s sudden approach made her uneasy.
Nathan pulled Nathalie closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulder protectively.
Jealousy flashed in Benjamin’s eyes. He thought to himself, ‘Where did Nathan find this gem?‘
Nathan paid no mind to Benjamin, leading Nathalie toward Mason. Their fingers were interlocked, looking like they belonged together.
“Grandfather.”
Nathan and Nathalie stood together. Nathan’s calm demeanor complemented Nathalie’s fresh–faced charm, making them seem like a perfect match.
Mason was surprisingly polite to Nathalie. “Please, have a seat.”
Nathalie sat down with grace, Nathan settling next to her. His hand held hers, and even though Nathalie felt awkward and tried to pull away, Nathan held tighter, giving her a serious look. Nathalie let it slide.
In her simplicity, she figured he had his reasons and never suspected he was intentionally being intimate.
