The Kiss that Sparked it All

“Come on, Nolan! It should be me by your side. How could you do this to me? Aren’t you being a bit cruel?” Dahlia’s hand rested on his knee, her voice a mix of accusation and desperation.

Nolan looked at her hand, feeling a bit dazed by the memories it evoked. “When we were kids, whenever one of us messed up, we’d do this… ask for forgiveness, just like that. After all these years, you’ve kept the habit.”

Dahlia’s eyes lit up as he mentioned the past. She nodded eagerly. “Yeah, do you remember how great things were between us? Does Regina even know about your little quirks? She doesn’t, right? Only I do. I’m the one who’s meant for you!”

“There’s no point in saying these things anymore, Dahlia. My heart’s made up. Besides, Regina and I are married. We’re husband and wife. You need to stop doing things that’ll hurt her. She’s generous, sure, but this kind of thing… it makes her jealous. And then I’m the one who has to deal with the fallout when I get home.”

Nolan said this with a smile that only a truly happy man could wear, a complete contrast to the tension of the moment.

Dahlia’s facade crumbled at the sight of his smile, and she stood up abruptly, her voice rising. “So, you really made up your mind to marry her, huh?”

“It’s not about making up my mind. Dahlia, we are married. You need to accept reality. We can’t go back to how things were, especially not after the choice you made back then.”

“You just can’t forgive me, can you? What kind of man holds a grudge like this?” Dahlia shot back, frustration clear in her voice.

Had Nolan not known Dahlia so well, he might have laughed at her accusation. How could he be petty for not welcoming her back with open arms after she cheated? No, Nolan was just an ordinary guy, not a saint.

Maintaining a civil relationship with her over the years was tough enough, given their history. And now Regina was the perfect reason to finally let go.

“Dahlia, you, of all people, have no right to judge me. I gave you chances. But you chose someone else over and over again. You only came back because the Harris Group is thriving, but we’ve missed our moment, and I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

Nolan remained calm, his former feelings for Dahlia long since eroded by the drama she’d caused over the years.

And when she had the paparazzi snap photos of them to boost her own profile, that was the last straw, proving she wasn’t worth another shot at forgiveness.

“Bullshit, Nolan. You’re just trying to justify your life with Regina. I met you first, and Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Regina is nothing but a homewrecker. Just wait, I’ll confront her myself and see if she has the conscience to admit it!” Dahlia stormed out, slamming the door behind her, with

Nolan hot on her heels.

Lucy, who had been waiting in the wings, sprang into action. She didn’t know the details, but she knew the drill-grab Nolan’s car keys and follow.

And sure enough, Dahlia had bolted to her car in the parking lot, speeding off towards New Blossom Press. Nolan was left stranded, but Lucy arrived just in time, elevator doors opening as she tossed him the keys.

With a thankful look, he said, “Year-end raise for you.”

Even the usually stoic Lucy couldn’t help the shy smile that spread across her face at the thought of a bonus. She’d worked hard for her position, and the end-of-year reward was always sweet.