As soon as the door closed, Nathan was about to embrace Lucinda, but she pinched his face hard.
“Ouch! Please don’t…” Nathan pleaded for her to stop.
Despite the pain, he didn’t dodge and just winced instead.
Lucinda was irritated and loosened her grasp on him, accusing him, “You’re a manipulative man. You want me to play the bad cop while you act like the good one?”
“That’s not what I was thinking. I’m just grateful to see you defend me,” he clarified.
With that, she released him from her grip and soothingly caressed his reddened cheek with her thumb.
Nathan relished in her affection with contentment.
Thinking of Ronan, he adopted a serious expression and said, “I’ll drive you back home later. You don’t have to accompany me to the ancestral temple.”
“Why not?” Lucinda inquired, sounding indifferent.
“I’m your fiancee, and everyone in this city knows that. Besides, I did what I did to Ronan last night. I can’t be absent. The Payne family can’t do anything to me. I’ll go and see what they’re planning,” she explained.
Nathan playfully touched her nose and replied, “Alright then, let’s go together since you want to.”
After Nathan’s treatment, Lucinda helped him put on his shirt and suit.
His body was covered in obvious hickeys, particularly on his neck, which was difficult to conceal. It was just too obvious.
Lucinda was filled with regret.
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Lucinda realized she should have controlled herself and been more gentle with Nathan.
After that, she looked for a scarf to put around his neck.
Nathan couldn’t believe it and asked, “It’s nearly summer. Why do you want me to wear a scarf?”
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“Just wear it. You just had an operation and should be resting in bed for a few days. Instead, you have to deal with the issues that Ronan caused. I don’t want you to catch a cold, so I’ll keep you warm,” she explained.
“Okay,” he agreed.
Giving in, he allowed her to wrap the scarf around him, ensuring he was well covered.
Hand in hand, they made their way to the Payne estate together.
In the ancestral temple, Nathan’s uncles Mylo and Jeff, along with other members of the Payne family, sat silently in their designated seats. Notably absent were his aunt Agate and Ronan.
The room fell into silence, with no one daring to speak until Nathan arrived.
The candles decorating their ancestors’ memorial tablets flickered in the cold wind, casting an eerie atmosphere over the room.