Chapter 11: Because I love you

“Don't you dislike it?” Caroline paused as Nicholas draped a coat over her shoulders, covering her upper body with the oversized jacket.

"I like it very much. It's just that when I think about all the men's eyes on you tonight, I really want to keep you hidden at home," Nicholas chuckled and gently pinched Caroline's slightly blushing face as she zipped up her coat.

"..." Caroline didn't expect that Nicholas's unhappy reason would be this. She was speechless for a moment and raised her hand to lightly push away Nicholas's hand on her face.

"Has the stylist arrived?" Nicholas didn't pay attention to it either. He only saw Caroline looking slightly shy and felt in a good mood. After pausing for a while, he hugged Caroline and turned around to ask, his tone returning to its usual coldness.

Caroline lowered her gaze and stared blankly at the floor beside them. She knew that Nicholas treated her with unique tenderness and care, especially when it came to anything related to herself like today.

"Mr. Nicholas, he has arrived! He is already preparing in the dressing room!" The makeup artist had been waiting in the dressing room for quite some time now since he heard that he was going to do makeup for Mr. Nicholas’s female companion tonight at dinner party or ballroom dance event; everyone knows that Mr. Nicholas usually declines such invitations or attends alone.

When his assistant told him about this matter today, he was shocked enough to spill his cup of tea; who wouldn’t want see what kind of stunning beauty could make their CEO so doting?

The manager opened the door for both of them while they entered together followed by makeup artist who stood up abruptly upon hearing their footsteps approaching towards him; even though Caroline usually appeared without any makeup but still managed impress them.

The makeup artist was under tremendous psychological pressure when doing makeup for Caroline. Nicholas had been staring at him all the time, causing his hand holding the makeup tools to tremble slightly and making it difficult for him to proceed.

Caroline saw how nervous the makeup artist was and noticed Nicholas's cold gaze from the side.

"Um... I think I left my bag downstairs. Can you help me get it?" Caroline turned around and asked Nicholas.

"Sure, wait for me a moment."

After Nicholas left the room, the atmosphere in the dressing room relaxed, and the makeup artist looked gratefully at Caroline.

While following the movements of the makeup artist and adjusting them slightly, Caroline thought about Nicholas. Since their first meeting, he had not been as cruel to her as rumored. She had not only survived but also received his meticulous care by her side.

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. She decided to ask Nicholas herself.

"Can I ask you a question?" After packing up her things and leaving, Nicholas was tidying up some loose hair beside her ear.

"Of course." Knowing that Caroline didn't like wearing make-up on ordinary days but appeared stunningly today in such attire surprised him. His gentle gaze fell on her face.

"Why are you so good to me?" Taking a deep breath, Caroline finally asked what was on her mind while sweating profusely in her palms already

"I told you before because I love you." With a light laugh, if he remembered correctly they were words he said to her on their first night together.

“Love?" Caroline couldn't help but laugh at herself. John, who had been with her for so many years, always said he loved her. But as soon as he turned around, he got entangled with his own sister. This word was such a ridiculous term in her heart.

"When we first met, you said you loved me...but I don't understand and I don't believe in love at first sight. I know that I have no value to offer..." Caroline didn't know what she was saying for a moment and felt confused.

"Just relax and don't think too much about it. You will understand later on. Everything I say to you is true, and you need to believe that." Nicholas's injured expression made Caroline's heart ache slightly as he pulled up her small face and kissed between her eyebrows.

He would tell her everything eventually; just not right now.

Nicholas's voice gently passed through the depths of Caroline's heart like a sedative, calming down the restless emotions quickly.

On the other side of the mansion belonging to the Collins family, someone who had been asking about Nicholas's schedule called Avery on the phone.

"Mr. Nicholas will attend a ball tonight," they reported truthfully over the phone line.

"Are you sure? Is Mr. Nicholas going alone?" Avery asked excitedly while pounding on the table after hearing this news.

News travels fast among high society circles; they naturally knew that there was a commercial ball being held tonight by several top families in town - though their own family wasn’t qualified enough to attend yet.

"I haven’t heard anything about Mr. Nicholas bringing along any female companionship so far," replied his informant cautiously knowing how tight-lipped people from the Johnson family usually were when it came to their affairs. It took him quite some effort today just trying to find out where exactly Nicholas would be heading off too, let alone whether or not he’d bring anyone else along with him. He could only rely on past experience when making assumptions like these.

“No matter how much money it takes, get me a ticket to the banquet that Mr. Nicholas attended!" "Great! Stella, your chance has come!" Avery hung up the phone and excitedly told her daughter about it. "It seems that Mr. Nicholas doesn't like that woman Caroline so much. As long as I appear by Mr. Nicholas's side tonight and become his companion, tomorrow all major newspapers will speculate that I am Mr. Nicholas's rightful fiancée." Stella chuckled lightly and clapped her hands.

"Mr. Nicholas is just temporarily interested in Caroline, today you must dress beautifully. With our family's beauty, Mr. Nicholas will definitely fall for you." Avery seemed to have already imagined what her daughter would look like at the banquet tonight.

Avery and Stella had already started preparing for tonight's banquet, hastily sending servants to buy dresses and jewelry while also hiring an expensive stylist.

Outside a top hotel in Los Angeles was filled with luxury cars; bodyguards helped Nicholas and Caroline out of their car doors, while Nicholas gentlemanly took hold of Caroline’s hand on the way around.

Nicholas wore a black suit with a silver-white tie while Caroline wore a long silver-white gown with a black shawl; together they were very eye-catching when they appeared at the entrance which attracted many people’s attention.

"Oh my god, isn't he Mr. Nicholas? Doesn't he never attend these kinds of banquets?" whispered one girl wearing an elegant dress next to them.

CEO of Johnson Corporation -Nicholas- hated this kind of business socializing which was almost no secret among upper-class circles but because he had power nobody dared say anything even if he didn’t participate.

"Yes, and he never brings companions either!" said another girl beside him as women looked over in surprise.