Chapter 45 Chapter 45
Nicholas Wolf was standing under the shade of a tree.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, bathing his perfect face in a golden glow.
The dark suit he wore fit him as if it had been molded to his body—broad shoulders, narrow waist, impeccable posture.
His tailored pants accentuated his long legs, and with his calm and imposing air, he looked like he had stepped out of a magazine.
The girls around him were already blushing.
Some even tried to strike up a conversation, but Nicholas's cold and cutting gaze was enough to make them back off immediately. His presence sent a clear message: “Don't come near me.”
Caroline knew why.
Nicholas had what she called a “dislike of women”—a deep psychological barrier.
He rejected the touch or even the approach of any woman...
except her.
As soon as she thought that, Nicholas looked up.
And he saw her.
The moment their eyes met was like a snap.
The usual coldness in his eyes melted away, replaced by a silent and profound tenderness.
Caroline felt her heart racing, completely overwhelmed by the intensity of that gaze.
Caroline hurried down the stairs, her heart racing.
As soon as she reached him, Nicholas opened his arms and wrapped her in a firm embrace.
The gesture was so sudden that she was left speechless.
He held her so tightly that it seemed as if he wanted to merge their two bodies into one.
The stiffness of the initial embrace soon melted away, and his warmth enveloped her completely.
In a low, hoarse voice, he asked, close to her ear:
“Carol... did you miss me?”
The heat rose to her cheeks instantly.
“Nicholas...” she murmured, embarrassed, looking around. “Let me go, okay? We're in the women's dorm... there are a lot of people watching.”
She tried to pull away, but he only held her tighter against his chest.
“Honey, don't move,” he asked softly, resting his chin on top of her head. “I'm so tired... just let me hug you for a little while. Just a minute is enough.”
The tiredness in his voice disarmed her.
Caroline hesitated for a moment and finally gave in, letting herself remain silently in his arms — feeling her heart beat in time with his.
Many people around them watched the scene with confused and curious looks.
Just a few minutes ago, that man — cold and unapproachable in appearance — had ignored all the girls who tried to approach him.
Now, the same man that none of them dared to speak to was hugging Caroline with such tenderness and care.
Whispers spread:
“He's so different with her...”
“Before he seemed like ice, now he's all affectionate.”
“I'm so jealous... I'd give anything to be in Caroline's place!”
Most of the girls watched with admiration and a touch of envy, dreaming of being in the arms of that man so elegant, so handsome, and so... inaccessible.
A minute later, Nicholas finally let her go, like a satisfied lion after sating his hunger.
The exhaustion on his face had diminished; he seemed calmer, more centered.
“Have you had lunch?” he asked, his voice low, slightly hoarse.
Caroline shook her head. “Not yet.”
She was about to go downstairs for lunch when he appeared out of nowhere.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, a little confused.
Nicholas had come looking for her during school hours two days in a row.
Did he really have that much free time?
She knew he was the president of Wolf Company, with a flexible schedule, but she also knew he was extremely disciplined—the kind of man who didn't leave anything to chance.
It was hard to imagine Nicholas leaving the office in the middle of the workday just to see her.
But then he looked at her with those deep eyes and simply said,
“I wanted to see you, so I came.”
Caroline blinked, stunned.
Her heart leapt in her chest.
He wanted to see her...
It was that simple.
She stared at him, not knowing what to say. Heat rose to her cheeks.
Nicholas, however, kept a straight face and added:
“You weren't home last night. I couldn't sleep.”
Caroline stood still.
For a moment, she thought he was just joking, another one of Nicholas Wolf's provocations.
But as she looked at him more closely, she noticed that his eyes were slightly red, and there were faint shadows under his eyelids.
He wasn't lying.
He really hadn't slept well.
A knot formed in her chest. She frowned, concerned.
“Then why don't you stay home and rest today? You're the boss, you don't have to go to the office every day.”
Nicholas's lips curved into a subtle, provocative smile.
He stroked her hair tenderly.
“Does your heart yearn for me?”
Caroline was speechless.
She blinked, blushing even more. “I just... I'm worried about you.”
“You don't need to be.” He let out a light chuckle. “Anyway, I can't sleep at home.”
You'd better get to work.
She stared at him, incredulous. “Aren't you sleepy?”
Nicholas shook his head, impassive.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?” Caroline's eyes widened. “You stay up all night and still manage to work normally?”
He shrugged. “I'm used to it.”
Caroline was silent, watching him with a mixture of surprise and concern.
“What kind of person is he?” she thought.
Every day, Nicholas Wolf surprised her more—with his self-control, his power... and now, with his almost superhuman endurance.
Nicholas shook his head slightly, his gaze fixed ahead. “I get a little tired, but I don't feel sleepy.”
His tone was calm, almost impassive, as if he were talking about something trivial.
But Caroline noticed the fatigue hidden behind that serenity.
He continued, without emotion:
“Even when I manage to sleep... it doesn't last more than four hours. And it only happens if I take medication.”
Caroline was silent for a moment, absorbing his words.
“Does this always happen when you lose sleep?”
“Hmm.”
“Isn't it a terrible feeling?”
Nicholas took a few seconds to respond. His eyes wandered for a moment, as if his mind had traveled far away.
Then he sighed. “It's awful.”
“So... does this happen often?”
He nodded slowly. “Quite often.”
Caroline felt her chest tighten.
She herself felt miserable when she couldn't sleep for a night or two, and she still needed days to recover.
But he... lived like this all the time.
What a tiring and lonely life that must be.
When she looked up, Nicholas noticed the compassionate expression on her face—her soft eyes, her concerned look.
For a moment, his cold, impenetrable heart warmed up.