Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 73: Your Illicit Affair

Upon hearing this, Justin Kane coolly tossed out, "You want to try me?"

Seth Lawson immediately backed down. "Just kidding."

He said sheepishly, "But I really didn’t expect this, I really didn’t! All these years, you’ve been so virtuous, not even touching a woman’s hand, and it was all for her."

Hearing Seth Lawson’s incredulous remark, Justin Kane’s dark pupils constricted. He said in a deep voice, "Other women aren’t her. They’re not worthy of my touch."

...

Nina Thorne slept soundly until noon the next day, feeling completely satisfied.

Justin Kane had already gone to the office.

But he hadn’t forgotten to instruct Miss King to take good care of her meals.

"The President is simply wonderful. Every day, he specifically reminds me to stew nourishing soups for Madam, afraid I’ll forget," Miss King said with a smile.

As Nina Thorne finished her breakfast and drank her bird’s nest soup, listening to Miss King praise Justin Kane so highly, she felt a trace of relief.

She smiled and agreed, "Yes, he is very good."

’Although all this kindness stems from Justin Kane’s sense of responsibility and thoughtfulness.’

’But if I had to marry someone, marrying a man like Justin Kane is like winning the lottery.’

’There are plenty of men in the world.’

’But finding one as handsome, wealthy, thoughtful, and responsible as Justin Kane is as difficult as actually winning the lottery.’

...

Nina Thorne spent the morning watching short-form dramas until she heard a commotion downstairs.

She left her room and stood in the hallway by the stairs, where Miss King was leading Assistant Cheney over.

"Madam, these are the keys to the study, from the President." Assistant Cheney’s attitude was respectful, his smile amiable.

’Compared to Cole Kane’s assistant, their attitudes were like heaven and earth.’

’In the past, whenever Special Assistant Spencer saw me, his attitude was dismissive and contemptuous.’

’Even if I was upset, I was afraid of displeasing Cole Kane, so I endured it again and again.’

’Only now do I understand that Special Assistant Spencer’s attitude toward me was entirely a reflection of Cole Kane’s own disdain and indifference.’

Nina Thorne pushed the thoughts aside and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Keys to what study?"

"Madam, please follow me."

Assistant Cheney led Nina Thorne to a room on the right-hand side at the end of the second-floor hallway and prompted her to try opening the door.

Nina Thorne did as she was told.

The moment the door opened, she was pleasantly surprised.

It was a study.

From the decor, it was clear the room had been renovated. The carefully arranged desk and bookshelves made it look bright and comfortable.

There was a computer on the desk, and even a work chair had been prepared.

It was positioned directly in front of the window, offering a view of the lush green mountain scenery—especially suitable for Nina Thorne to work on her scripts.

"When was this done?" Nina Thorne couldn’t hide the surprise in her eyes; she clearly remembered this room used to be a bedroom.

Assistant Cheney smiled. "During the time Madam was on a business trip to Vistara, the President specially had someone renovate it."

"Actually, the study was ready a few days ago. But the President saw that you had just finished a big project and wanted you to rest more, so he deliberately waited a few days to tell you."

When Nina Thorne heard that last sentence, her heart stirred.

She quirked her lips, her smile unable to contain her delight. "What made him suddenly think of making a study for me?"

In truth, she had always been very casual about her screenwriting.

That was why her contract with Reagan was for only three scripts a year.

Assistant Cheney was taken aback, not expecting her to ask that. He replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "The President has always been very attentive to Madam’s affairs. A while ago, Madam was always writing scripts at a guest table on the first floor. Perhaps the President felt for you, and that’s why he specially had someone prepare this study."

Nina Thorne’s expression froze.

Assistant Cheney found it very strange. He thought Nina Thorne should have understood the President’s feelings for her.

After a moment’s thought, he deliberately reminded her, "Madam, a man will only be this attentive to someone he likes."

"The President cares about everything concerning you. Last time, he even specially flew to Vist—"

Assistant Cheney was cut off by the ringing of Nina Thorne’s phone.

It was Justin Kane. After Nina Thorne answered, his magnetic and gentle voice came through the phone, "Did you see the study? Do you like it?"

Nina Thorne’s lips couldn’t help but curve upwards. "You decorated it beautifully. I love it. Thank you."

"As long as you like it. If there’s anything else that needs to be changed, just tell Assistant Cheney, and he’ll arrange it." Justin Kane’s tone was doting, easily leading to misunderstandings.

His voice was especially rich and magnetic, exceptionally pleasant to the ear, like the low notes of a cello plucking at Nina Thorne’s heartstrings.

It was as if he were breathing warm air into her ear. Nina Thorne’s heart immediately sped up, and a crimson blush, invisible to him, rose on her cheeks.

"It’s already arranged perfectly. Nothing needs to be changed."

Nina Thorne quickly found an excuse to hang up. "You should get back to work. I won’t disturb you."

Without waiting for Justin Kane to reply, she hastily ended the call.

Justin Kane’s handsome face showed a flash of surprise. He furrowed his brow, then, after a moment of realization, he picked up his phone and sent a WeChat message to Assistant Cheney:

"Watch your mouth."

When Assistant Cheney saw the message, a chill ran down his spine. He subconsciously scanned the corners of the study’s ceiling.

’That’s weird. There are no cameras installed. How did the President know what I said to Madam?’

"Assistant Cheney, what were you saying just now?"

Nina Thorne, having composed herself, looked at Assistant Cheney again.

A moment ago, she had vaguely heard him say something about specially flying somewhere...

Assistant Cheney’s back tensed up. He shook his head vigorously. "It was nothing, Madam. I have to get back and report to the President. If there’s nothing else here, I’ll be going."

Nina Thorne noticed Assistant Cheney seemed to be afraid of something and said softly, "Alright, you can go."

Assistant Cheney fled.

’Nina Thorne couldn’t help but feel it was strange. Why was Assistant Cheney acting like this all of a sudden?’

’It seemed that after reading the WeChat message, he became nervous and on edge, as if afraid something bad would happen.’

However, Nina Thorne didn’t dwell on it.

She admired the study for a long while. The more she looked at it, the more she liked it, and she began to arrange things on her new desk.

She placed a number of small trinkets on the desk, all meant to attract wealth.

’After all, no one ever complains about having too much money.’

Around four in the afternoon, the call from Old Master Kane finally came.

He didn’t say much over the phone, but his tone was stern as he told Nina Thorne to come to the main residence immediately.

After Nina Thorne agreed, just before hanging up, Old Master Kane added a warning: don’t tell Justin Kane.

Nina Thorne’s heart sank.

She could almost imagine the kind of questioning she would face tonight.

But she did as she was told anyway.

After all, she believed that Mr. Kane would not do anything to hurt her.

Nina Thorne drove to the old residence herself, arriving shortly before six o’clock.

Just as she got out of the car, a WeChat message arrived from Justin Kane: [Out having fun?]

Obviously, he had returned to the villa and found her gone.

Nina Thorne thought for a few seconds and reluctantly told a lie: [Yeah, something came up.]

[Is everything okay?]

[I’m fine. Go ahead and eat, don’t wait for me. I’ll eat out.]

[Okay. Call me if you need anything.]

His words were filled with concern and worry for her.

It would be a lie for Nina Thorne to say she wasn’t moved by such meticulous gentleness.

But she reminded herself to stay clear-headed at all times and not to mistake Justin Kane’s good manners and grace for affection.

’At least, not the romantic kind of affection between a man and a woman.’

Nina Thorne felt much calmer and replied with a single word: [Okay.]

Then she turned off her phone screen and entered the main hall.

To her surprise, not only was Old Master Kane sitting in the main seat on the sofa, but the couple, Ethan Kane and Felicia Yates, were seated in a row on the sofa to his left.

In addition, Serena Kane and Cole Kane stood before Old Master Kane with their heads lowered, a distance between them, looking both obedient and aggrieved.

When they saw her arrive, all eyes turned to her in unison.

"Nina Thorne." Cole Kane looked at her with deep affection, his eyes seemingly full of things he wanted to say.

But Nina Thorne merely gave him a cool glance before indifferently looking away, pretending she hadn’t heard him.

’What was that saying again?’

’Belated affection is cheaper than dirt.’

’His wasn’t just cheap, it was laughable.’

Seeing her ignore him, Cole Kane’s eyes filled with disappointment. He furrowed his brow deeply, his heart wracked with regret and pain.

Among them, Serena Kane and Felicia Yates stared at Nina Thorne with undisguised resentment in their eyes.

Seeing this formation, Nina Thorne suddenly understood Old Master Kane’s intention.

’Mr. Kane was truly good to me.’

’The reason he didn’t want Justin Kane to come was clearly because he didn’t want our marriage to be discovered at this critical juncture.’

"Lady Thorne is here. Come, sit here." Old Master Kane’s stern expression softened into a kind and amiable one upon seeing her.

Nina Thorne came back to her senses and walked over, obedient and well-behaved, greeting them one by one.

"Mr. Kane, Uncle, Aunt."

"Sit down, Lady Thorne. I hope calling you over so suddenly didn’t disturb you," Old Master Kane said with a doting, benevolent smile.

After sitting down, Nina Thorne gently shook her head. "Mr. Kane, you’re being too formal. How could it be a disturbance when you’ve asked for me?"

Seeing how sensible and docile she was made Old Master Kane like her even more. He immediately turned to Serena Kane and reprimanded her, "Look at the things you’ve done! How dare you hurt Lady Thorne."

Serena Kane’s face turned shades of green and purple. She tried her best to argue, "Grandpa, I really didn’t do those things! Those videos are all fake, AI-generated! Grandpa, you have to believe me."

"Someone must have it in for me and deliberately tried to frame me and my second brother. Maybe, just maybe, someone did this on purpose to play the victim."

Her words, both explicitly and implicitly, were aimed directly at Nina Thorne.

Nina Thorne wasn’t going to indulge her. Her cool gaze swept over Serena. "Are you saying I framed you? Then tell me, the video was broadcast from your phone. How could I have put a ’forged’ AI video on your phone to frame you?"

"And on top of that, I also somehow guessed that you would show it to everyone at Madam Lawson’s banquet, is that it?"

"Following that logic, I must be incredible. A mind reader, perhaps, to have known exactly what you were going to do?"

Nina Thorne’s every word was a gem, showing no weakness.

’Before, I had loved Cole Kane and feared he would call me shrewish and willful, so I had repeatedly held back.’

’Now, hah.’

’I have nothing to fear.’

Serena Kane’s eyes were bloodshot. She pointed angrily at Nina Thorne. "Stop trying to twist things! The truth is, you knew I was going to expose your affair with my eldest brother last night, so you did all this on purpose!"

"I don’t know how you pulled it off, but Nina Thorne, do you dare to swear that you’re not with my eldest brother!"

"Swear on your dead parents! Do you dare?"

Serena Kane was aggressive, clearly having come prepared.

Hearing this, Nina Thorne’s heart trembled. Her face paled slightly, making her look rather guilty.

Seeing this, the butler, Mr. Jones, quickly and quietly called Justin Kane to tell him to come over at once.

When Justin Kane got the call, his eyes darkened. He immediately stood up, grabbing his suit jacket and putting it on as he went downstairs.

His long legs moved with swift speed. He quickly got into his car and drove to the old residence himself.

He sped the entire way.

Terrified that she would suffer even the slightest grievance.

He would not permit it. He absolutely would not allow it!