Chapter 558 Nicole, She Is Not My Lover! 2
Nicole was already at her breaking point.
"Be a good girl and call me honey, then I'll let you go," Theron murmured, his eyes locked on her delicate face.
Her hair trembled against her luminous skin, creating a breathtaking vision. She looked both innocent and alluring—absolutely stunning.
Finally, Nicole broke down in his arms, her tear-dampened lashes brushing against his shoulder as she whispered shakily, "Honey."
The moment the word left her lips, shame overwhelmed her, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck, refusing to emerge.
Theron cradled her body against his. They held each other so close, skin to skin, as if their heartbeats had synchronized, as if they were the only two souls in this vast world. He sighed her name with tender devotion.
Theron was no longer young—he'd long passed the age of romantic frivolity, and as a businessman, he'd grown pragmatic. Yet Nicole had awakened something profound in him. She wasn't just his wife; she was, above all, his beloved. He wanted to love her through every dawn and dusk, every season, every year. He wanted her for the rest of his life.
Unable to resist, Theron tilted her chin up and kissed her again, his voice soft with affection. "Still angry with me?"
Without waiting for her answer, he carried her to the bed, settling her against his chest and pulling the covers over them both.
Leaning back against the headboard, Theron gently stroked her hair, his voice low and rough. "Nicole, I'll admit I dated several women before our marriage—Ondine was one of them. But that was years ago, and it means nothing now. I'm a married man. Meeting her was simply to set things straight, nothing more."
"Not even a trace of nostalgia?" Nicole asked, her voice thick with tears.
Theron chuckled softly and playfully pinched her nose. When Nicole couldn't breathe and swatted at his hand, they wrestled playfully under the covers, her long hair tangling around them both.
Like most married couples, their quarrel dissolved as quickly as it had erupted, and the storm Ondine had brought seemed to vanish without a trace.
As night fell, Nicole lay sprawled across Theron's chest. "I'm forgiving you—for now," she declared with childlike petulance.
Theron caressed her cheek and laughed quietly.
The next morning, Theron gently woke Nicole. She burrowed deeper into his embrace, her hair tousled, eyes still closed as she whined playfully, "I don't want to get up. Just five more minutes."
By the time they sat down for breakfast, it was already nine-thirty.
Theron was in an exceptionally good mood, dressed in a fine pinstriped shirt with a cup of black coffee in hand, attentively seeing to Nicole's every need.
After two years of their on-and-off relationship, they'd found their rhythm in everything except their most intimate moments—no adjustment period needed. Such devoted attention was irresistible to any woman.
Nicole ate her breakfast elegantly while listening to Theron outline his plans for the day. He mentioned wanting to take her home to meet his parents.
Meet his parents?
Nicole looked up in surprise, about to respond when a familiar yet distant voice interrupted. "Theron, what a coincidence!"
Both Theron and Nicole looked up to see Ondine approaching with a coy smile. She wore a black silk slip dress, her long dark curls cascading over her slender waist—undeniably sensual, though the outfit seemed rather inappropriate for morning, lending her an air of impropriety.
Theron barely glanced at her, offering only a polite smile. His demeanor remained coolly distant, but Ondine wasn't deterred.
"Theron, would it be alright if I joined your table?" she asked with practiced grace.
Nicole continued nibbling her sandwich, her expression one of amused curiosity. Theron handed her a piece of ham before turning to Ondine with courteous detachment. "Of course, though we'll be leaving shortly."
Ondine settled into her seat and set down her purse, expecting Theron to serve her as he would any lady.
When he made no move to assist her, she tossed her dark curls with practiced allure. "Theron, I'm wearing heels—could you fetch me some breakfast? Surely you remember what I like."
Throughout this exchange, she deliberately ignored Nicole's presence.
Nicole wasn't naive—Ondine was clearly challenging her while attempting to seduce Theron. But Nicole remained composed, continuing to eat her sandwich.
Theron was her former lover, and he'd assured her their past meant nothing. This was his situation to handle.
Theron glanced at Nicole, then replied with measured calm, "I'm sorry, but I wouldn't want my wife to get the wrong idea."
Ondine turned to Nicole with feigned sweetness. "Surely Ms. Windsor isn't that jealous? Theron and I are simply former lovers—we're completely platonic now. You needn't project such base suspicions onto decent people."
Nicole set down her sandwich. Since Ondine had addressed her directly, she supposed she ought to respond.
She wiped her hands deliberately, speaking with casual indifference. "Actually, I am quite jealous, Ms. Lestrange. Not just you—I forbid Theron from having any contact with any of his former lovers. Oh, and I should mention—Theron and I have a prenuptial agreement. Should we ever divorce, all his assets transfer to me."
Ondine's face went ashen. She couldn't believe Theron would sign such an agreement—what would be the point of winning him back under those circumstances?
"Theron," she stammered, "surely you didn't agree to that?"
Theron leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Nicole as he addressed Ondine. "I did sign it. If Nicole and I divorce, she gets everything. I walk away with nothing."
Ondine looked as though she might faint. Rising abruptly, she abandoned all pretense of composure. "You never offered me such devotion! If you'd given me everything, promised me success, we never would have broken up. We could have been married by now, with children of our own!"
"There would never have been any children," Theron replied, his handsome features hardening with a severity Nicole had never seen before. "I never intended to marry you."
Ondine stared at him in shock, then repeated his words as if trying to comprehend them. "Theron, you never wanted to marry me? Then what did our relationship mean?"
"It was just a romance," Theron said with almost ruthless clarity. "Romance is one thing, marriage another entirely. Nicole is the first person I ever met and knew instantly I wanted to spend my life with."