Chapter 245 Chapter 245
She didn't believe that he wasn't even a little curious about what Olivia had shouted in the courtyard. Even though he trusted her blindly, he was still human and would probably like to know the context of such a commotion.
Nicholas looked at her with surprising gentleness and asked, “What exactly happened to make your former roommate say those things?”
Afraid that the question would sound like an accusation and hurt her, he quickly added in a velvety voice, “I don't want to doubt you in any way, Caroline. I just want to know what's going on on that page of your college forum. Who is trying to defame you?”
Caroline knew that he wasn't the kind of man who easily believed rumors.
And she knew he had unshakable confidence in her. So deep down, she wasn't really worried that he would take Olivia's poisonous words seriously. And as it turned out, she wasn't disappointed.
His protective stance comforted Caroline's heart. It was a wonderful feeling to have the unconditional trust of someone so powerful.
Still, she wanted to test him. “Are you so sure they're just baseless rumors?” Caroline looked at him with feigned apprehension, biting her lip. “What if... everything she said is true?”
Nicholas froze for a split second, but soon a charming and dangerous smile curved his lips.
“If I don't trust the woman I've chosen, I'm not worthy of being her husband. Besides, Miss Ford, I'm still in my trial period of courting you. I need to try a little harder to earn your absolute trust, not the opposite. And even if the rumors were true... they only represent your past. I like you in the present and want you in my future.” Therefore, nothing you did before you met me would change my obsession with you.
Caroline knew Nicholas was a smooth talker. He always found the exact words to disarm her. And he had the frightening gift of making phrases that would sound extremely corny and sappy in the mouths of other men sound like blood oaths in his.
Just like now.
Caroline felt that he had managed to break down all her defenses. Even if they were just sweet words, they had already had an effect. She couldn't help but smile radiantly. “Mr. Wolf, you're getting better and better with words. Has anyone ever told you that you're dangerously good at flirting?”
Flirting was not an exact science. If not done correctly, it would be awkward. If overdone, it would sound like a superficial cad. Nicholas's flirting was measured with devotion.
“No.” Nicholas smiled, his eyes shining with sincerity as he held her gaze. “You're the first.”
Caroline raised an eyebrow, doubtful. “I'm the first? You're joking. With that face, I bet you've flirted with half of high society.”
“I never joke about that.” Nicholas looked deep into her dark eyes, his voice dropping to a whisper that made the interior of the car feel too small. “I've only flirted with you.”
So she was the first. And she would be the only one.
Caroline's heart began to race erratically against her ribs.
The red light turned green. Nicholas turned his face away and returned his attention to driving through the traffic of Araraquara.
But he hadn't forgotten the main point. “You still haven't answered me. What exactly is written on that forum?”
“Oh, that.” Caroline shook her head, snapping out of her romantic trance, and summarized the long story. “Someone posted an anonymous text saying that I have a very ‘complicated’ private life. The post claims that I had several boyfriends in high school, all billionaires, and that I even had a secret abortion from one of them.”
She thought for a moment and added, gesturing in the air: “And that I stole my classmates' boyfriends, that my innocent image is a sham, and that my only goal in life is to seduce rich heirs. Apparently, you come right after Edward, being my newest ‘premium target.’”
She said this very calmly, almost with boredom, as if she were narrating the gossip of a distant celebrity's life. After all, her initial anger had passed, giving way to cynicism.
But Nicholas's expression darkened instantly. The air in the car grew cold. His grip on the steering wheel made his knuckles turn white. “Send me the link to that post now.”
“You want to find out who posted this?”
“Yes. I'll trace the IP, find out the name, the address, and have Wolf Corporation's lawyers destroy that person's life by the end of the day.”
“Nicholas, you don't have to.” Caroline laughed softly, placing her hand on his tense arm. She didn't want to bother him with college drama.
After all, she thought she had already caused him enough problems in their very short marriage. Although he was an impenetrable shield and always did his best to defend her, she was independent.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow, annoyed. “Huh?”
“I can handle this myself.” I already sent the link to Sara this morning. She's a computer genius, she'll hack into the server and find the IP address and the author's name for me by the end of the day.
Caroline smiled, proud of her plan. She really didn't feel the need to bother him.
But Nicholas didn't seem at all pleased with her thoughtful decision. He frowned heavily, paused for a long moment, and then said with an unmistakable tone of wounded jealousy, “So... when something this serious happened, your first instinct wasn't to call me and ask for my help, but to text your teenage little sister?”
Caroline blinked. “Uh...”
Why did Nicholas seem genuinely upset about this?
“I didn't think there was any need to bother you with school gossip!” she tried to justify. “You're already the CEO of an empire, you're super busy with million-dollar meetings, and this isn't a matter of life and death...”
“So, in your mind, you didn't even need to tell me?”
“...Yes?” She confirmed, hesitantly. She really did think practically.
Nicholas tapped the brakes lightly, stopping the car smoothly, and turned his whole body to face her. His eyes were dark and intense. “Caroline, engrave what I'm about to say in your mind: anything related to you is of utmost importance to me.” A rumor about you is infinitely more important than any international contract on my desk.
Caroline looked at him, her lips parted, and her heart began to beat so fast that she was afraid she would have a heart attack.
“Furthermore, your problems will never, under any circumstances, be a nuisance to me,” he continued, his deep voice vibrating in the space between them.
Her heartbeat increased to a dangerous pace. Caroline literally had to place her hand flat on her chest, just to be on the safe side, to try to keep her heart inside her body.
Ahhh. Why did he have to be so good at making her feel this way?!