Chapter 2191
Realizing there was no way out, Nicholas let his shoulders slump and brought his steps to a halt.
Without turning around, he murmured, “I’m fine.” The words sounded fragile, almost weightless, as though they might disappear before reaching her.
“Then why do you look like this?” Jocelyn asked, the question slipping out before she could stop herself.
Nicholas inhaled slowly, then turned to face her. His eyes, dark as midnight, locked onto hers. “Why ask?” he said quietly, his voice rough with something deeper than pain. “Do you pity me?”
Jocelyn shook her head so fast her earrings caught the light. “That’s not what I meant at all.”
She was still searching for softer words when hurried footsteps echoed against the stone floor. Yannick suddenly appeared.
“Jocelyn, are you done already?”
He reached them—and only then noticed Nicholas.
The easy, boyish warmth drained from his face, replaced by a cool, restrained calm.
“So,” he said evenly, his tone chilling the air, “were you meeting a friend?”
“No,” Jocelyn answered immediately. “I was picking up a necklace and happened to see him—nothing more.”
Seeing how anxious she looked, clearly afraid Yannick might misunderstand, Nicholas felt a quiet sting of disappointment.
“Pure coincidence,” he added softly, finishing the explanation she was too flustered to give.
Yannick frowned. Their words only deepened his suspicion. After all, how often did coincidences really happen?
Still, as Jocelyn’s husband in all but name, he reminded himself that their relationship was built on trust, not doubt.
“Well, fate works in mysterious ways,” he said, allowing a restrained smile.
Then, noticing Nicholas’s gaunt face, he asked, “Mr. Nicholas, you’ve lost quite a bit of weight. Are you unwell?”
Nicholas had intended to ignore him, but instead his eyes flicked briefly to Jocelyn. “I’ve always been sickly. Jocelyn knows that. Nothing serious—just a body that never quite cooperates.”
“I see. Take care,” Yannick replied, his words carrying a pointed edge. “Health matters most.”
Nicholas caught the subtext instantly and chose silence over wounded pride.
Yannick shifted his gaze away from Jocelyn, a low, noncommittal hum leaving his throat.
“So… you’ve been married for a while now. Any plans for a child?”
Most newlyweds welcomed a baby sooner rather than later.
Yet more than a year had passed since Yannick and Jocelyn exchanged vows, and there had been no hint of pregnancy. Nicholas doubted the delay had anything to do with Yannick. A family like the Hayes surely wanted heirs.
At the mention of children, both of them stiffened. Jocelyn’s cheeks flushed with quiet guilt, while a flash of irritation crossed Yannick’s eyes.
“There’s no rush,” Yannick said coolly. “Jocelyn and I are enjoying our time together. Children can wait.”
The answer unsettled Nicholas, though he didn’t show it. “Is that so? You must be very close, then. I’d considered asking Jocelyn to work for me again, but that’s clearly no longer possible.”
“Of course,” Yannick replied smoothly. “Jocelyn is Mrs. Hayes now. She doesn’t need a job. If she wanted to spend her days indulging herself, I’d be more than happy to spoil her.”
The two men spoke politely, but beneath the velvet tones, their words clashed like drawn blades—especially for Jocelyn, caught squarely between them.
“Yannick, didn’t you say you still had work?” Jocelyn cut in quickly. “Let’s go. Mr. Rainsworth, thank you. We’ll be leaving.”
She didn’t like this situation at all.
“Very well.” Nicholas inclined his head, his expression controlled and unreadable.
Jocelyn looped her fingers around Yannick’s sleeve and pulled him toward the exit.
As they walked, Yannick couldn’t help asking, “Be honest, Jocelyn. Was today really just a coincidence?”
“Of course,” she said at once. “There’s nothing I would hide from you.”
Only then did Yannick finally relax.
Without asking, he swept her up into his arms and headed for the car.
“What are you doing? Put me down—right now!”