Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 153: Coaxing

Seeing Justin Kane again, Nina Thorne’s heart was pierced by a sudden, sharp pain.

But her expression remained cold as she stood there, unmoving.

Justin Kane wore a dark suit, almost blending into the night.

His noble air was always striking, no matter the time or place. His breathtakingly handsome face was impossible to miss.

But now, looking at that face only brought her pain.

"What are you doing here?" Nina Thorne’s tone was distant as she stared at him coldly.

Justin Kane strode up to her, the tension in his eyes clear. "Did my mother go to your company? Are you okay? She..."

"Mr. Kane."

Nina Thorne took a step back, putting some distance between them, and interrupted him coolly. "I’ll handle my own affairs. I don’t need you to meddle."

Her attitude was so distant, as if she were utterly sick of him.

Justin Kane’s eyes tightened, but he acted as if nothing was wrong. "I was worried she’d give you trouble. Cole Kane and Serena Kane are in custody right now. She’ll do anything to get them out."

"People from the Kane family are indeed capable of anything," Nina Thorne replied, her tone remaining icy.

She averted her gaze and said indifferently, "From now on, don’t come looking for me unless it’s about signing the papers."

Jay Jacobs’s heart sank.

He was deeply trusted by Master Thorne and knew about Nina Thorne and Justin Kane’s secret marriage.

Justin Kane had originally said he would announce their marriage, but he had suddenly gone back on his word the night before last.

That was what had made Master Thorne so furious he coughed up blood and was hospitalized.

He had learned about this from Butler Dawson.

’This must be why the young miss was so shaken. It’s what made her change so drastically.’

’She’s completely different from how she was in previous years.’

"Nina..."

Justin Kane tried to follow her, but Jay Jacobs raised a hand to stop him. "Mr. Kane, please stay back."

"Move." Justin Kane’s gaze was sharp and commanding.

Anyone else would have been intimidated by that look.

Though Jay Jacobs was also afraid, he stood his ground. "Mr. Kane, how much more do you plan to hurt our young miss before you’re satisfied?"

"Thanks to you, our chairman is still lying in a hospital bed. The Thorne Group is under attack from all sides. The young miss really doesn’t have time to deal with you right now."

Saying this, Jay Jacobs felt a sharp pang of sympathy for her.

Justin Kane’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and the tense atmosphere around him eased slightly.

He looked toward Nina Thorne, watching helplessly as her back disappeared into the building. His clenched fist slowly relaxed.

"Ben Cheney."

Justin Kane turned and walked away.

Ben Cheney offered a file to Jay Jacobs, but before he could take it...

Nina Thorne’s voice called out from the building’s lobby, "Jay Jacobs."

Jay Jacobs shouted back, "Coming!"

He didn’t take the file. "Even if I took this, my young miss wouldn’t look at it."

Jay Jacobs turned and left.

Ben Cheney was stunned.

’I can’t believe Mrs. Kane is so determined this time.’

’So what does he do now?’

He scurried back to the car, his voice a little weaker as he reported, "Sir, Jay Jacobs didn’t take it."

"He himself said The Thorne Group is under attack from all sides. How could he not want a file this valuable?" Justin Kane’s reaction was a bit over the top.

Assistant Cheney, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at him through the rearview mirror. "Mrs. Kane seems truly determined to break things off with you this time."

’Who wouldn’t want to break things off?’

’He promised to go public and hold a banquet at the end of the month.’

’But at this critical moment, he backed out and changed his story.’

’No matter how difficult his reasons, no one would be able to accept it.’

"Back to Silvercroft Bay."

Justin Kane leaned back, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He looked extremely agitated.

Assistant Cheney instructed the driver to go.

Justin Kane returned to the villa.

Miss King had cooked a meal, but she hadn’t seen Mrs. Kane return for two days.

That night, she had overheard them arguing about divorce.

Over the past two days, the boss had visibly lost weight, his mood was foul, and he was barely eating.

Unable to bear it, Miss King gently coaxed, "Sir, please have something to eat. I made some soup for you."

Justin Kane’s eyes were dull. He grunted in acknowledgment and went to sit down.

Miss King was overjoyed, quickly ladling a bowl of soup and placing it in front of him.

Several other dishes were on the dining table.

Among them were steamed grouper and stir-fried chicken with mushrooms, both favorites of Nina Thorne.

The soft-shelled turtle and chicken soup with bamboo fungus was also one of them.

Justin Kane expressionlessly took a few sips of soup, then a bite of fish. His brows were tightly furrowed, his movements sluggish and distracted.

Miss King sighed. "Sir, as the saying goes, ’lovers’ quarrels are soon mended.’ Why don’t you try to coax Mrs. Kane? I’m sure she’ll come back."

’Coax her?’

’She smashed the watch he gave her.’

’The ring, and even the Inherited Jade Pendant from his grandfather—she returned them all without a second thought that day.’

He knew he had broken her heart.

Even though this villa was transferred to her name, she would never live here again simply because it was a place they had shared.

Just then, a commotion came from the hall.

"Let me in! You all must have a death wish, daring to stop me!"

April Graham’s arrogant, displeased voice rang through the living room. She yelled, "Justin, it’s me! Come out! Don’t hide from me..."

"Justin! Come out and see me!"

Miss King was shocked. ’Why would a woman show up at the door?’

’Could it be that the boss...’

Suddenly, a pair of chopsticks were slammed onto the table.

Justin Kane’s tall figure rose, and he quickly walked out.

"Justin, you’re finally willing to see me..."

April Graham, who had been blocked at the entrance by the maids, looked thrilled to see Justin Kane emerge.

"Justin, I know you’re angry. You can yell at me, even hit me, but please don’t refuse to see me."

Justin Kane gave a look, and the maids all withdrew.

He stared at April Graham, a chill rising in his eyes. "How did you find this place?"

April Graham looked guilty, her eyes darting away.

In truth, she hadn’t been able to find out where Justin Kane lived at all.

But he had been avoiding her for the past two days.

She was going crazy, so she had followed his car here.

"Justin, please don’t ignore me, okay? I admit I was wrong about that incident, but I only did it because I love you and care about you so much."

April Graham’s expression was one of deep affection. Her face, usually glamorous and confident, was now filled with panic.

Justin Kane stepped closer, looking at her as if she were an enemy. "Do you know who the last person I want to see right now is? You."

April Graham looked as if she had been struck by lightning.

A wave of heartache washed over her. "I’ve loved you for so many years, and you’re treating me like this for a woman who’s been around for less than six months?"

"Justin, she’s not worthy of you! A lowly woman who just writes short-form dramas! Why do you care about her so much!"

When April Graham mentioned Nina Thorne, her words were dripping with contempt.

Justin Kane’s expression was indifferent. He stared at her for a moment before retorting sarcastically, "If she’s as incompetent as you say, then what are you so afraid of?"

April Graham froze.

A vein throbbed on Justin Kane’s temple as he ground out, "I should have just died back then instead of letting you save me."

Panic filled April Graham’s face. "Justin!"

Justin Kane shot her a cold glare, his eyes filled with disgust and hatred.

He turned and walked back inside.

April Graham tried to follow him but was grabbed by the arm by security guards, who escorted her out.

The large iron gate slammed shut with a THUD.

She stood outside the gate, pounding on it and shouting.

In the night, her voice sounded resentful and pleading, but no one answered.

Nina Thorne grabbed a quick bite to eat and then started reviewing documents.

She sat cross-legged on the rug, a tall stack of files placed on the coffee table.

Macy Lynch, worried she would exhaust herself, tried to persuade her. "How long are you going to be looking at all these files? You’ve been at it since dinner. Take a break."

"I just took over the company. There are a lot of projects I’m not familiar with, so I need to get up to speed quickly."

Nina Thorne took a moment to look up at her and smiled. "I know you’re worried about me, but this is urgent. I have to get a handle on things as soon as possible."

"How about you help me?"

Macy Lynch was so startled she quickly waved her hands. "All I know how to do is walk a runway. I don’t know anything else. But next time you want to beat someone up, you can call me. I’ll help you slap those bitches."

Nina Thorne didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Assault is illegal. Would I really get you into trouble like that?"

Macy Lynch leaned over, hugged her, and planted a kiss on her cheek. "That’s my baby! You’re too good to me."

"Then we won’t slap them. We’ll just let them rot and stink on their own!"

Nina Thorne smiled and patted her hand. "The supermodel Lynch is right. Okay, go to bed. I’ll sleep in a bit too."

Macy Lynch was indeed tired. She said, "Don’t stay up too late then. Get some sleep, you hear?"

"Okay."

Nina Thorne agreed readily but had no intention of doing so.

There were too many files. She had to work overtime to finish them.

Otherwise, if she couldn’t solve the problem within a week, she would have to watch as her grandfather’s life’s work was handed over to someone else.

Around two in the morning, Nina Thorne suddenly paused.

It was an old file that had somehow gotten mixed in.

It was about a new energy partnership from five years ago.

The partner company was called Apex, and the name signed on the contract was Joy Chase.

Nina Thorne had a vague memory of this partnership.

Her father had been scammed back then, and it seemed to be related to this company, Apex.

After that incident, her father had suddenly fallen ill and never recovered, passing away in just three short months.

Nina Thorne’s heart trembled as if it had been struck by something.

She had a faint feeling that her father’s death was connected to this matter.

「The next morning」

Jay Jacobs came to pick her up for work.

On the way, Nina Thorne remembered something and asked, "Do you remember Joy Chase from Apex?"

Jay Jacobs’s eyebrows shot up. "Young Miss, why are you asking about that? I know of her, yes, but no one has mentioned it for years."

Even the chairman forbids anyone from bringing it up.

It had become a taboo topic at the company.

"Why?"

Nina Thorne pressed for details, and Jay Jacobs gave her a rough explanation.

The main reason was the embarrassment. A company as large as The Thorne Group had been deceived by a small partner, so they didn’t want it mentioned.

Nina Thorne nodded in understanding.

But for some reason, she felt a faint sense of unease.

She felt that there must have been something else about that year she didn’t know.

BANG!

Just as she was lost in thought, the car was hit by a violent jolt.

Nina Thorne’s body lurched forward, but thankfully, her seatbelt kept her from getting hurt.

The driver apologized, "I’m sorry, Young Miss. We’ve been in an accident."

Nina Thorne steadied herself and looked toward the front of the car.

Their car had rear-ended the one in front of them, and by the looks of it, it was an expensive luxury car.

"You stay here and handle this. Jay Jacobs and I will take a cab to the office."

Nina Thorne was in a hurry. After getting out of the car, she and Jay Jacobs walked to the side of the road.

Just as they were about to hail a cab, a luxury car pulled up in front of them.

The window rolled down, and the person inside looked at her with an amused expression, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Get in."

The moment she saw him, Nina Thorne couldn’t help but frown.

’Why is he everywhere?’