Nathaniel sat behind his desk, staring blankly at the monitor in front of him. His jaw was tense, fingers drumming restlessly on the mahogany surface. When Nick walked in, he didn't even notice.
"You planning to drill a hole through that desk, or are you just nervous?" Nick asked, dropping into the leather chair opposite.
Nathaniel sighed. "Nick… I finally got Dorothy to say yes. She agreed to marry me."
Nick arched a brow. "That's what's got you all twisted up? Shouldn't you be celebrating?"
Nathaniel leaned back, rubbing his face with both hands. "She's…she's impossible. One moment she's this angel, soft, gentle, kind. Then the next, she's cold, sharp as a blade. It's like I'm falling for two different women."
Nick studied him in silence for a beat. "I want you to stop this madness," he said finally. "You're starting to sound just like Danmark."
Nathaniel's expression hardened. "Don't go there."
"Face it," Nick said coolly. "You're falling for her. Just like your brother did. And we both know how that ended."
Nathaniel shot up from his seat, voice low and clipped. "No. Danmark didn't see her for what she was. But I do. She can't fool me."
Nick gave him a skeptical look.
"I'm not going soft," Nathaniel added. "I'm going to make her suffer. That woman destroyed my brother. This is just the beginning."
At that moment, Nathaniel's phone buzzed. He picked up, listened briefly, then ended the call.
"There's a new buyer," he said. "A big one. They need gold in bulk, the Basiliou company."
Nick raised a brow. "Wow, but good. You hit a jack poy?"
"Too bad my brother couldn't enjoy his hard work," Nathaniel said. "All because of her."
At the Basiliou offices, Mr. Josh stood before a team of staff with enthusiasm.
"We've secured a large quantity of gold," he announced. "This is the perfect opportunity to expand into a new luxury line. A fresh jewelry collection. One that will redefine our brand."
In the hallway outside, Dorothy lingered with a folder clutched to her chest. Her brows furrowed when she overheard the mention of gold.
Later that afternoon, she sat in her office going through documents. When she connected the dots—Nathaniel's name, the source of the gold, and the connection to the mine, her heart sank.
So he owned a gold mine.
He hadn't mentioned it before. That meant he was rich and didn't come for her family, nor was he trying to marry her because of her family name.
She found Mr. Josh reviewing blueprints at his desk. "Uncle," she said softly, "I found out something today. Nathaniel owns a gold mine. So now… now you can't say he only got close to me because of our family name and even so I'm not really a Basiliou."
Mr. Josh set down the plans and looked at her, his gaze unreadable. "Even if that's true," he said, "you're still a Basiliou. And don't pretend you don't know that."
Dorothy stepped forward, voice low. "I agree, the thought crossed my mind. But… he has a good reputation. He's been good to me."
Josh's jaw clenched but said nothing. "What have I done, Uncle? What did I do for you to shut me out like this?"
"I haven't—"
"You won't even look me in the eyes anymore," she said quietly. "You used to talk to me about everything. Now, I barely feel your presence. You're slipping away."
Her lips trembled. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I never meant to… I just—" She shook her head. "I'm sorry if I disappointed you."
Josh didn't respond. His silence was louder than words.
Dorothy turned, eyes filling with tears, and rushed out of the office, her heels clicking down the corridor like the echo of a heart breaking.
The breeze was light that afternoon, rustling the trees as Dorothy walked slowly through the park. Her heels clicked softly along the gravel path, her eyes glossy with tears she refused to let fall again. She had no destination—just the ache in her chest, the feeling of being completely and suddenly alone.
She barely noticed when someone called her name until the voice came closer.
"Dorothy?"
She looked up and gasped. "Nathaniel!"
Without thinking, she rushed toward him and wrapped her arms around him. Nathaniel staggered slightly under the force of her hug, but held her tightly once he realized she was trembling.
"Hey, hey… what's wrong?" he asked, pulling back slightly to look into her face.
She was crying now, trying to hold it in but failing. "They hate me, Nat. My uncle, everyone… It's like they turned against me overnight. I don't understand what I did. I—" she paused, choking on her words, "—I don't want to lose their love. I've already lost so much."
Nathaniel gently cupped her face, his thumbs brushing away her tears. "Then you'll have to live without their love," he said softly but firmly. "Because you're mine now. All mine."
Dorothy looked up, a small smile tugging at her lips through the tears. "You sound like a very mean man," she teased.
"No," Nathaniel murmured, his eyes locking with hers. "That's not a mean man talking. That's a man in love."
She leaned into him again, more gently this time. "I'm sorry. I guess I said that because… we're getting married soon. And that means I'll be leaving home. I understand that. It's just... harder than I thought."
Nathaniel pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I know. Change is scary. But I promise you, I'll be your home now."
She nodded, then pulled back slightly and gave him a curious look. "You didn't tell me you owned a gold mine."
He blinked. "What?"
"I found out today," she said, folding her arms. "Why didn't you tell me?"
He shrugged a little, looking sheepish. "Because I didn't want it to seem like I was bragging. What difference does it make, really, whether I own a mine or not?"
Dorothy narrowed her eyes playfully. "What difference? Are you kidding me? It makes a huge difference. In fact—" she took his hand and grinned, "—I officially agree to marry you right away. Even now."
Nathaniel stared at her, clearly taken aback. "Wait, what? Why my love? That was quick."
"Nothing," she said with a wink, wiping away the last of her tears. "Let's just say I've come to my senses. Set a date and we'll talk to my uncle."
Nathaniel was silent for a moment, unsure if she was teasing or serious. But the glow in her eyes told him everything he needed to know, money changes everything afterall. That confirms he was right about her. She is only after the money.