Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man - Chapter 15: Chapter 15
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"Nothing, Lynn's just busy with work and needs to leave." Mara lowered her lashes, avoiding Cassian's probing gaze.
Lynn looked at her, clearly wanting to say more, but ultimately didn't call her out. She just shot Cassian a withering look: "Mara, call me if you need anything."
Once the door closed, Cassian approached the bed, his tone carrying a hint of apology: "There were too many people... I didn't see you..."
"It's fine." Mara calmly cut him off, reaching for the water glass on the bedside table.
As she sat up slightly, her hospital gown slipped at the collar, revealing a patch of angry burn scars below her collarbone.
Cassian's pupils contracted sharply: "How did you get hurt this badly? They said it was just minor smoke inhalation."
Mara glanced down and casually adjusted her collar: "It's nothing serious."
Cassian's brow furrowed: "I had no idea you were injured this severely... I thought you'd just passed out from the smoke."
Her lips twitched slightly.
How could he have known?
His eyes only had room for Juliette—how could he have noticed how badly she was hurt?
Mara said nothing, just took a sip of water.
"I'll take care of you these next few days," Cassian suddenly said.
"No need." Mara shook her head. "You're busy with work. Don't worry about me."
Cassian was about to say more when his phone suddenly rang.
"Cassian..." Juliette's voice came through, tearful. "My hand hurts so much... the doctor says the wound might be infected..."
Cassian's expression immediately became conflicted.
Mara watched him, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly: "Go ahead."
"I..." Cassian gripped his phone, frowning deeply. "I'm not really good at taking care of people anyway. I'll hire a nurse for you."
Mara nodded: "Okay."
After Cassian hurriedly left, the hospital room finally returned to quiet.
Mara stared at the ceiling and suddenly laughed.
He'd said he would take care of her, but one phone call from Juliette and he left without hesitation.
Just like in that fire, when he'd rushed toward Juliette without a second thought, never even looking back for her.
She slowly closed her eyes, her chest aching until she could barely breathe.
Some promises should never have been believed from the start.
On the day she was discharged, Cassian came to pick her up personally.
"There's an auction tonight. Come with me." He handed her a newly bought cashmere coat.
Mara instinctively refused: "I don't need to..."
"Still mad at me?" Cassian thought she was still upset, frowning slightly. "I really didn't see you that day. When I realized you hadn't gotten out, I immediately sent people in to search for you."
Mara opened her mouth, then silently accepted the coat.
After getting in the car, Mara discovered Juliette was also there.
"Juliette wanted to come too, so I brought her along." Cassian explained casually.
Mara said nothing, sitting quietly in the back seat.
Throughout the ride, Juliette chatted excitedly with Cassian, talking about their childhood memories and her experiences studying abroad. Though Cassian didn't say much, he responded naturally to everything.
Mara gazed out at the passing scenery, silent as an outsider.
At the auction, whatever caught Juliette's eye, Cassian would bid on and buy for her. His generous spending quickly drew attention from those around them.
"Isn't that Mr. Whitmore? He's really generous with his date."
"I heard his girlfriend took care of him for three years. He really dotes on her."
"Wait, that doesn't look like the Miss Collins from the news... isn't that the one who dumped him before..."
In the whispered conversations, some people mistook Juliette for Mara.
Cassian paused when he heard this, then seemed to remember something and turned to Mara: "Is there anything you want?"
Just then, a sapphire necklace was presented on stage, glowing with deep ocean-like light under the spotlights.
Mara's gaze lingered on it for just a second longer.
Cassian immediately raised his paddle: "Ten million!"
"This necklace has quite a history," Juliette suddenly spoke up. "It was given by a foreign king to his queen as a token of love, symbolizing loyalty and everlasting devotion."
She looked meaningfully at Mara: "Very fitting for Miss Collins."
Cassian's fingers paused.
After the necklace was won and delivered, he handed it directly to Juliette: "This suits you better."
"Is that really okay?" Juliette feigned hesitation. "Didn't Miss Collins like it?"
"I'll buy her something else." Cassian looked at Mara. "What do you want?"
Mara lowered her eyes, a self-mocking smile playing at her lips.
A gift symbolizing loyalty couldn't be given to her, but could be given to Juliette.
The difference between love and indifference was this obvious.
"I don't need anything," she said softly.
Lynn looked at her, clearly wanting to say more, but ultimately didn't call her out. She just shot Cassian a withering look: "Mara, call me if you need anything."
Once the door closed, Cassian approached the bed, his tone carrying a hint of apology: "There were too many people... I didn't see you..."
"It's fine." Mara calmly cut him off, reaching for the water glass on the bedside table.
As she sat up slightly, her hospital gown slipped at the collar, revealing a patch of angry burn scars below her collarbone.
Cassian's pupils contracted sharply: "How did you get hurt this badly? They said it was just minor smoke inhalation."
Mara glanced down and casually adjusted her collar: "It's nothing serious."
Cassian's brow furrowed: "I had no idea you were injured this severely... I thought you'd just passed out from the smoke."
Her lips twitched slightly.
How could he have known?
His eyes only had room for Juliette—how could he have noticed how badly she was hurt?
Mara said nothing, just took a sip of water.
"I'll take care of you these next few days," Cassian suddenly said.
"No need." Mara shook her head. "You're busy with work. Don't worry about me."
Cassian was about to say more when his phone suddenly rang.
"Cassian..." Juliette's voice came through, tearful. "My hand hurts so much... the doctor says the wound might be infected..."
Cassian's expression immediately became conflicted.
Mara watched him, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly: "Go ahead."
"I..." Cassian gripped his phone, frowning deeply. "I'm not really good at taking care of people anyway. I'll hire a nurse for you."
Mara nodded: "Okay."
After Cassian hurriedly left, the hospital room finally returned to quiet.
Mara stared at the ceiling and suddenly laughed.
He'd said he would take care of her, but one phone call from Juliette and he left without hesitation.
Just like in that fire, when he'd rushed toward Juliette without a second thought, never even looking back for her.
She slowly closed her eyes, her chest aching until she could barely breathe.
Some promises should never have been believed from the start.
On the day she was discharged, Cassian came to pick her up personally.
"There's an auction tonight. Come with me." He handed her a newly bought cashmere coat.
Mara instinctively refused: "I don't need to..."
"Still mad at me?" Cassian thought she was still upset, frowning slightly. "I really didn't see you that day. When I realized you hadn't gotten out, I immediately sent people in to search for you."
Mara opened her mouth, then silently accepted the coat.
After getting in the car, Mara discovered Juliette was also there.
"Juliette wanted to come too, so I brought her along." Cassian explained casually.
Mara said nothing, sitting quietly in the back seat.
Throughout the ride, Juliette chatted excitedly with Cassian, talking about their childhood memories and her experiences studying abroad. Though Cassian didn't say much, he responded naturally to everything.
Mara gazed out at the passing scenery, silent as an outsider.
At the auction, whatever caught Juliette's eye, Cassian would bid on and buy for her. His generous spending quickly drew attention from those around them.
"Isn't that Mr. Whitmore? He's really generous with his date."
"I heard his girlfriend took care of him for three years. He really dotes on her."
"Wait, that doesn't look like the Miss Collins from the news... isn't that the one who dumped him before..."
In the whispered conversations, some people mistook Juliette for Mara.
Cassian paused when he heard this, then seemed to remember something and turned to Mara: "Is there anything you want?"
Just then, a sapphire necklace was presented on stage, glowing with deep ocean-like light under the spotlights.
Mara's gaze lingered on it for just a second longer.
Cassian immediately raised his paddle: "Ten million!"
"This necklace has quite a history," Juliette suddenly spoke up. "It was given by a foreign king to his queen as a token of love, symbolizing loyalty and everlasting devotion."
She looked meaningfully at Mara: "Very fitting for Miss Collins."
Cassian's fingers paused.
After the necklace was won and delivered, he handed it directly to Juliette: "This suits you better."
"Is that really okay?" Juliette feigned hesitation. "Didn't Miss Collins like it?"
"I'll buy her something else." Cassian looked at Mara. "What do you want?"
Mara lowered her eyes, a self-mocking smile playing at her lips.
A gift symbolizing loyalty couldn't be given to her, but could be given to Juliette.
The difference between love and indifference was this obvious.
"I don't need anything," she said softly.
End of Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man Chapter 15. Continue reading Chapter 16 or return to Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man book page.