"Are you that eager to be exiled to the branch office in the middle of nowhere?" Nicholas asked, a smirk playing on his lips, his expression unreadable. His voice was dangerously low and smooth.
"No! I don't want to!"
Riley whipped around and snapped to attention like a soldier.
He kept his eyes squeezed shut, hoping this was all just a bad dream. His body trembled uncontrollably.
Nicholas chuckled.
Riley trembled even more violently.
"Is that so?" Nicholas said with a lazy smile, his tone casual. "Because I think you are."
A threat!
A blatant threat!
Riley's eyes flew open, wanting to scream at Nicholas that he didn't want to! He would absolutely not go to Hartville!
But the moment he opened them, he met the man's cool, emotionless dark eyes.
Nicholas stood with one hand in his pocket, the brilliant chandelier light outlining his tall, elegant frame.
He had a lazy, roguish smile on his lips.
But when his deep, dark eyes, devoid of emotion, fell upon Riley, they were so still, so terrifying.
They were a bottomless abyss.
It felt like if he kept looking, he would drown from the lack of air.
Even though Nicholas wasn't angry, not even showing a hint of emotional fluctuation, it was precisely this calm that filled Riley with ever-growing terror and unease.
He could barely hold it together anymore and wailed, "Nicholas, I was wrong! I was so wrong! I was just talking nonsense, I made it all up!"
With a mournful expression, he pressed his hands together and begged for his life. "I was just jealous of you, Nicholas! I was just being a petty jerk and making up lies about you! It was foolish of me to even try!"
"I swear, from now on, I'll stay away from my... uh, Serena. No, I'll stay five meters away! Ten meters! I'll take a detour whenever I see her!"
What was love compared to Nicholas? Compared to being sent to Hartville to mine coal? Nothing!
Love is great, but freedom is better!
He would rather give up on love!
But even so, Nicholas's eyes curved into a wicked smile, his voice lazy "Really? Because from what I heard, your analysis was quite compelling and logical."
Riley nearly felt to his knees. "No logic! There was no logic at all! It was all garbage! Nicholas, you're a legend, a total icon! You and Serena a power couple for the ages written in the stars and destined
Poro
greatness!"
Forgive the poor guy; he'd already exhausted his entire vocabulary of flattery.
He had already exhausted his entire vocabulary.
Seeing Nicholas remain silent, Riley immediately turned his gaze to Serena. "Serena! Serena, save me! Save me..."
Standing in front of Riley, Serena had the clearest view of every expression that crossed his face.
From his initial nonstop chatter, to the sheer terror and despair after Nicholas appeared, to his current groveling.
Yes, it was just as amusing as she had imagined.
This Riley... he really didn't disappoint.
He was a complete riot.
Sending him to Hartville did seem a bit harsh.
Serena chuckled softly. "You should keep begging Nicholas."
It was a
You'reng blow for Riley.
future wife! Begging you is effective than begging Nicholds!"
"Serena! You're my dear
Serena shrugged, an expression of helplessness on her face.
But Serena's reaction sent Nicholas's heart soaring. She... hadn't denied Riley's use of the title 'brother's future wife.' She wasn't offended by it at all.