Chapter 559 Planned Passion
Ondine couldn't accept it.
Theron took Nicole's hand. "I'm sorry, but we need to leave now."
"Theron!" Ondine hurried after them, abandoning all dignity as she grabbed his arm. "Please, let me explain. I was desperate back then—completely out of options. When that opportunity presented itself, all I had to do was accompany..." Her voice trembled as she looked at him, begging for just one chance.
Theron gently removed her fingers from his arm. "Ondine, that was your choice, and I don't blame you for it. But we had to end things then, and we can't be together now."
Ondine began to sob. "Theron, did you ever love me?"
It was utterly inappropriate—Nicole, his wife, was standing right there—yet she asked such a direct, painful question.
People around them began to stare. Under the crystal chandelier, Theron's handsome features remained composed as he regarded his former lover.
If he were being honest, he should feel angry. He'd been so proud back then, and Ondine's betrayal had devastated him. He'd spent nights drowning his sorrows, had brief, meaningless relationships afterward—but all of that felt like a lifetime ago.
Later, he'd achieved success at a young age. Young women threw themselves at him, socialites pursued him, and through all those years of romantic entanglements and that fateful first glimpse of Nicole, Ondine had become insignificant in his life. Seeing her name on his phone had simply caught him off guard, nothing more. That was all.
Just then, Theron's phone rang—his mother, Delphine Voss.
"Mom, I'll bring Nicole over shortly."
Though Delphine was a university professor, she was also a typical mother who couldn't help nagging. "You never stay at home when you visit! And you've been secretly married for two years without giving that poor girl a proper explanation. When you get here, I'm having your father give you a talking-to."
Theron chuckled softly. "We'll be there soon."
After hanging up, he wrapped his arm around Nicole's shoulders. "Come on, my mother's getting impatient."
He then nodded curtly at Ondine.
Ondine's hand remained suspended in mid-air as she watched Theron leave with Nicole. A man of his stature was beyond petty emotions, yet he held Nicole's hand constantly, unwilling to let go for even a moment. He clearly adored her.
A single tear slipped down Ondine's cheek as she realized there was no going back.
In the parking lot, Theron fastened his seatbelt and turned to Nicole with a gentle smile. "My parents are very open-minded—you don't need to worry about anything."
Nicole nodded.
Finding her adorable, Theron leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Time for the ugly duckling to meet her in-laws."
"I'm not ugly!" Nicole protested.
Theron stepped on the gas. "You're adorable when you cry, and I love it. I love everything about you—especially in bed."
What a rogue!
Nicole's face turned crimson as she complained softly, "You were such a perfect gentleman in Sovelan—I never would have guessed you could be so shameless. You were just pretending all along, weren't you?"
"Probably," Theron admitted without denial.
As he drove, he continued cheerfully, "Remember last Christmas when we spent it together at the Sovelan estate? You had two glasses of champagne and got tipsy, so I carried you to bed. Do you remember?"
Of course Nicole remembered. The next morning, she'd woken up in Theron's bed while he remained fully clothed. He'd claimed he was drunk too.
Nicole had believed him completely, wrapping herself in the bedsheet to return to her room. Even though there were suspicious red marks on her shoulder that she'd attributed to an allergic reaction, she now realized they were clearly from Theron's kisses. Even as a legal husband, he shouldn't have taken advantage of her vulnerability.
Nicole's face burned as she bit her lip and glanced at Theron, wanting to ask but too embarrassed to voice the question.
Theron focused on driving until they reached a red light, then turned to her with deliberate slowness. "Nothing actually happened, but I held you for a very long time."
Nicole refused to hear any more.
Theron reached over to stroke her hair, his voice tender. "Nicole, from the day we married, I never planned to let you go. That night wasn't an accident—it was premeditated."
Nicole's heart raced. After a moment, she murmured defensively, "I had no idea you were such a pervert."
He hadn't told her everything, but she could imagine how scandalous that night must have been. Her face was still flushed when they got out of the car.
Theron wrapped his arm around her as they entered, carrying gifts Eulalia had prepared—all items his parents would appreciate. Eulalia was thorough that way.
Delphine immediately rushed to greet them, ignoring Theron entirely to pull Nicole close. "Come sit down! What kind of fruit do you like? I'll cut some for you. You've been married for two years now—just call me Mom."
The title made Nicole blush.
Delphine beamed with obvious delight in her beautiful daughter-in-law. "We're having lunch at home, and this afternoon I'll take you shopping. Theron's probably been too busy with work to spoil you properly—look how simply you're dressed. He deserves a scolding."
Theron meekly pulled out his wallet and handed it to Nicole. "I changed all the PIN numbers to your birthday."
Nicole hesitated to accept it.
"Mrs. Voss?" Theron prompted.
Finally taking the wallet and slipping it into her purse, Nicole whispered, "Mom and I are definitely going to spend a fortune this afternoon."
Theron gazed down at her with loving eyes.
His father Donny exchanged glances with Delphine, both delighted. They'd assumed their 35-year-old son's marriage was merely checking off a life milestone, never expecting genuine affection. The way they doted on each other was heartwarming—they'd never seen Theron like this.
This made Delphine adore Nicole even more. She brought Nicole to help cut fruit while the household staff prepared lunch in the kitchen. Hearing Nicole speak, one of the maids commented in the local Harmony City dialect, "Mrs. Nicole Voss is so beautiful! She looks so young—hasn't even graduated college yet, has she?"
Nicole felt a pang of anxiety, worried that Donny and Delphine would be disappointed to learn she'd never attended university, especially since the Voss family came from academic backgrounds.
Actually, Delphine already knew—Theron had told her beforehand. Initially, Delphine had been concerned, but seeing this lovely young woman and the way Theron looked at her like she was his most precious treasure put her at ease.
A mother knew her son, and she could see that Theron was truly happy.
As Delphine cut fruit, she leaned conspiratorially toward the maid. "She's only six years younger than Theron, and she's an artist. Sebastian brought one of her paintings the other day—a piece that size could easily sell for more than Donny and I make in three years combined! Isn't she amazing?"
The maid gasped in amazement. "That's incredible!"
Delphine offered Nicole a piece of honeydew melon and continued boasting. "Of course! Only a man as handsome and capable as our Theron could win someone so talented. She's quite sought after, you know."
The maid nodded. "Mr. Theron Voss certainly has excellent taste."
Delphine carried the fruit platter back to the living room with Nicole. Eulalia had arrived with urgent documents, and Theron sat on the sofa reviewing them, every inch the successful executive.
Delphine complained to Nicole, "This is what he's like every time he comes home. If he ever neglects you, just tell us and we'll set him straight."
Before Nicole could respond, the busy executive looked up at her with obvious amusement. "Nicole, have I been neglecting you?"
Nicole's cheeks flushed pink.
Far from neglecting her, he'd been passionately attentive! Their playful exchange didn't escape Donny and Delphine's notice. Donny marveled silently—their workaholic son, who used to be so serious and couldn't even smile during blind dates, apparently knew how to smile after all. Now he not only smiled—he flirted shamelessly!