Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man - Chapter 33: Chapter 33
You are reading Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man, Chapter 33: Chapter 33. Read more chapters of Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man.
"Mara, happy birthday."
Cassian's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She forced a smile, lowering her eyes to hide her emotions, and softly said, "Thank you."
While she'd been lost in thought, a piece of cake was placed in front of her. Looking up, she saw Cassian's smiling face.
"Mara, you and I don't need to be so formal. This time everything was too rushed, but next year I'll definitely throw you a more suitable, grander birthday party. How does that sound?"
Mara didn't respond. She took a bite of the cake - the expensive cream was smooth and sweet without being cloying, but it tasted bland to her.
She unconsciously tightened her grip on the bracelet, the purple crystals clinking together.
She didn't actually like any of these gifts. What she really wanted was to leave this place and return to Noah's side.
If only Noah were here.
She missed him. She wondered if he'd figured out where she was, if he was still frantically searching for her.
When she got home, she'd definitely stay put and drag him along wherever she went.
This was probably the first birthday since meeting Noah that held no anticipation for her.
After eating cake and returning to her room, she looked at the star decorations on her vanity and couldn't help feeling wronged.
They'd clearly agreed on signals to use if they couldn't find each other. It had been days now - why hadn't he come for her yet?
But as soon as she thought this, Mara sighed again. Never mind. The Hartwell family's focus had been abroad these past years. In terms of influence, they definitely couldn't compete with Whitmore Group, which had always been the leading force domestically.
She'd wait a bit longer. But if he delayed past the wedding date, she'd definitely settle accounts with him when she got back.
Mara had thought the most Cassian could do was keep her imprisoned here, trying to wear down her resolve until she softened. She hadn't expected his goals to go much further.
With only one week left until the wedding, she was suddenly blindfolded and taken somewhere by Cassian.
When the cloth covering her eyes was removed, she found herself surrounded by elaborate decorations.
Countless white roses formed heart shapes, while orchids in the distance spelled out "marry me."
In front of her, Cassian wore a perfectly tailored black suit, every strand of his hair meticulously styled, showing just how much care he'd put into this.
Marcus and the others stood around them, wearing stiff smiles that carried guilt when they met her eyes.
Like Mara, Cassian was also surrounded by flowers. He knelt on one knee, looking up at her with barely concealed nervousness, his heart pounding as if it might burst from his chest.
"Mara, I love you. Can you give me a chance to take care of you and spend the rest of our lives together?"
Time seemed to stop in that moment. Cassian wished this instant could last longer while desperately hoping for her answer to come quickly.
The two conflicting thoughts battled in his mind until the atmosphere was shattered by sudden commotion.
He frowned in displeasure, standing up to ask what was happening, when he saw Noah leading a group of police officers, breaking through the servants' blockade and charging in.
"Nobody move! Police!"
"Mara!"
After being imprisoned for a full week, Mara finally heard the voice she'd been waiting for. Almost the instant the words fell, she turned around, instinctively moving toward Noah, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
"Mara! Can you... please don't go..."
From the moment he saw Noah, Cassian knew his stolen time was finally coming to an end. But seeing Mara rise without hesitation to leave, his heart still couldn't avoid a sharp pang of pain.
His slightly hoarse voice sounded in her ear. She looked back at the hand gripping her wrist - elegant fingers wearing a ring.
It matched the one he'd given her when she first arrived at the villa.
During her silence, both sides tensed, fearing she wouldn't choose them. Besides Cassian, Noah was also afraid - afraid she'd ultimately choose the man who'd occupied her entire adolescent awakening.
Fortunately, she only paused for a moment before reaching out to pry his fingers away one by one.
"No, Cassian. I already have my own new life, and you should go live yours." She paused again. "Cassian, people need to look forward. Don't stay trapped in the past - you'll only miss out on more."
Cassian's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She forced a smile, lowering her eyes to hide her emotions, and softly said, "Thank you."
While she'd been lost in thought, a piece of cake was placed in front of her. Looking up, she saw Cassian's smiling face.
"Mara, you and I don't need to be so formal. This time everything was too rushed, but next year I'll definitely throw you a more suitable, grander birthday party. How does that sound?"
Mara didn't respond. She took a bite of the cake - the expensive cream was smooth and sweet without being cloying, but it tasted bland to her.
She unconsciously tightened her grip on the bracelet, the purple crystals clinking together.
She didn't actually like any of these gifts. What she really wanted was to leave this place and return to Noah's side.
If only Noah were here.
She missed him. She wondered if he'd figured out where she was, if he was still frantically searching for her.
When she got home, she'd definitely stay put and drag him along wherever she went.
This was probably the first birthday since meeting Noah that held no anticipation for her.
After eating cake and returning to her room, she looked at the star decorations on her vanity and couldn't help feeling wronged.
They'd clearly agreed on signals to use if they couldn't find each other. It had been days now - why hadn't he come for her yet?
But as soon as she thought this, Mara sighed again. Never mind. The Hartwell family's focus had been abroad these past years. In terms of influence, they definitely couldn't compete with Whitmore Group, which had always been the leading force domestically.
She'd wait a bit longer. But if he delayed past the wedding date, she'd definitely settle accounts with him when she got back.
Mara had thought the most Cassian could do was keep her imprisoned here, trying to wear down her resolve until she softened. She hadn't expected his goals to go much further.
With only one week left until the wedding, she was suddenly blindfolded and taken somewhere by Cassian.
When the cloth covering her eyes was removed, she found herself surrounded by elaborate decorations.
Countless white roses formed heart shapes, while orchids in the distance spelled out "marry me."
In front of her, Cassian wore a perfectly tailored black suit, every strand of his hair meticulously styled, showing just how much care he'd put into this.
Marcus and the others stood around them, wearing stiff smiles that carried guilt when they met her eyes.
Like Mara, Cassian was also surrounded by flowers. He knelt on one knee, looking up at her with barely concealed nervousness, his heart pounding as if it might burst from his chest.
"Mara, I love you. Can you give me a chance to take care of you and spend the rest of our lives together?"
Time seemed to stop in that moment. Cassian wished this instant could last longer while desperately hoping for her answer to come quickly.
The two conflicting thoughts battled in his mind until the atmosphere was shattered by sudden commotion.
He frowned in displeasure, standing up to ask what was happening, when he saw Noah leading a group of police officers, breaking through the servants' blockade and charging in.
"Nobody move! Police!"
"Mara!"
After being imprisoned for a full week, Mara finally heard the voice she'd been waiting for. Almost the instant the words fell, she turned around, instinctively moving toward Noah, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
"Mara! Can you... please don't go..."
From the moment he saw Noah, Cassian knew his stolen time was finally coming to an end. But seeing Mara rise without hesitation to leave, his heart still couldn't avoid a sharp pang of pain.
His slightly hoarse voice sounded in her ear. She looked back at the hand gripping her wrist - elegant fingers wearing a ring.
It matched the one he'd given her when she first arrived at the villa.
During her silence, both sides tensed, fearing she wouldn't choose them. Besides Cassian, Noah was also afraid - afraid she'd ultimately choose the man who'd occupied her entire adolescent awakening.
Fortunately, she only paused for a moment before reaching out to pry his fingers away one by one.
"No, Cassian. I already have my own new life, and you should go live yours." She paused again. "Cassian, people need to look forward. Don't stay trapped in the past - you'll only miss out on more."
End of Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man Chapter 33. Continue reading Chapter 34 or return to Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man book page.