Dumping My Fiancé For His Uncle

Chapter 16

Thea felt faint and weak, barely able to move. Just before losing consciousness, she saw Nicolas rushing toward her with at group of people. Nicolas scooped her into his arms, her body burning with fever and her breathing shallow and quick.

She clung to his shirt like a drowning person grasping at a lifeline, her lips moving as if she were trying to say something.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Darwin said urgently, "I'll get a car to take her to the hospital."

Nicolas shook his head. Taking her to the hospital could draw unwanted attention. Have her taken to the Hendrix family home instead.

"Understood." Darwin nodded, hurrying to make the arrangements.

Thea felt as though she were drifting into a strange dream. In it, he was lying in Nicolas's arms, but rather than feeling uneasy, she found comfort in the closeness. The dream felt incredibly vivid. She could even sense the coolness of Nicolas's body temperature.

Seeking warmth, she nestled her face against his neck, feeling soothed by the position and instinctively nuzzling closer.

Nicolas's body stiffened. He awkwardly tried to move her head away, but Thea, still half-conscious, grabbed his hand and pressed it gently against her cheek.

Meanwhile, Jake, agitated and restless after returning home, couldn't shake the image of Thea's cold, expressionless face from his mind.

He threw things in frustration, but it didn't help. Deciding to step outside for air, he walked to the balcony and saw a familiar car pull up.

Nicolas got out, carrying a woman wrapped in his coat. Her face was hidden against his chest, but Jake could see her delicate, slender limbs, looking fragile and vulnerable in his arms.

Jake narrowed his eyes, thinking, People say Uncle Nicolas is cold and avoids women. He claimed he met someone special abroad years ago and rejected all the arranged marriages. But in the end, he's just like any other man.

He flicked his cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his foot before heading back inside. Curious about who the woman might be, Jake decided to investigate.

Later, he overheard the servants mention that the woman had been placed in a guest room. Jake scoffed, thinking Nicolas was just putting on a show,

He made his way to the guest room. The door was slightly ajar, and through the gap, he could see a small figure under the blankets, long smooth hair draped over the pillow.

Slowly, he pushed the door open. Just as he was about to see the woman's face, Nicolas's voice came from behind him, cold. and sharp. "Can't mind your own business, Jake? Is my private life that interesting to you?"

Jake's hair stood on end as he heard Nicolas's voice. He quickly spun around, standing, stiff like a scolded child. "Uncle Nicolas, he stammered.

Nicolas sneered, his eyes cold and filled with contempt, "I believe I mentioned your people have been causing trouble lately. Tasked for answers over a week ago, but you've remained silent. Do you think I'm bluffing, or that I'll let it slide just because you're my nephew?" Jake broke out in a cold sweat. He hated being talked down to be had no choice other than to nod submissively. "Don't

Fall in line.

worry, Uncle Nicolas. I'll make sure my people fall in line." Suspecting

D

42%2

4204

that Nicolas had found out about Thea's involvement in the data leak, Jake felt a growing resentment toward her.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Til handle whoever leaked the company data quickly. There won't be any more issues," Jake added.

Nicolas responded with a soft, mocking laugh, his disdain cutting Jake like a slap to the face.

Jake slunk away.

Clenching his fists in humiliation, Jan unfamiliar room, feeling disoriented. For a moment, she struggled to make sense of where she was.

The next morning. Thea woke up in

Slowly, fragmented memories from the previous night came back to her. Her head was throbbing, and she winced, clutching the covers. She realized that the stress of the past few days, coupled with not eating, getting soaked in the rain, and a fever, had likely caused her to faint.

But something else nagged at her. She wondered if she had really been so bold with Nicolas or if that was just part of the feverish dream.

Anxious, she tried to brush the thought aside. 'Nicolas is known for being proper. If I'd really acted like that, he would've left me on the street instead of bringing me here, she thought.

Feeling somewhat comforted by the thought, she quickly got up and left the Hendrix family without even changing.

As she

exited, the security guards recognized her. One of them snapped a photo of her disheveled appearance and sneered, "Well, isn't it Miss Rowland? Why's she leaving here looking like that?"

"Isn't it obvious? She probably fought with Jake and came crawling back to patch things up, the other replied with a smirk. "Send that photo to Jake later. It'll give everyone a good laugh, another chimed in. "Will do." The first guard nodded, grinning-

at her hotel, Thea showered and changed, finally starting to feel more settled.

Back at her

As she was drying her hair, her phone buzzed unexpectedly. It was an unfamiliar number. After hesitating for a moment, Thea answered,

"Hello, is this Miss Rowland?" asked a woman. Her voice was hushed as though she was afraid of being overheard

The voice was familiar, but Thea couldn't place it right away. Taking a guess, she asked, "Are you with the Compton Group?" "My husband works for Compton Group. His name is Braden Spencer. You should know him," the woman said. Thea's eyes widened in shock. "Braden's wife? Why are you contacting me out of the blue? Did Braden ask you to do this?" Thea remembered Braden well. Avon Ventures had worked with Compton Group, and she and Braden had been the main

contacts.

After a successful project, Braden had brought his family to a group dinner. Thea recalled his wife, Sarah, from that night. Sarah had been cold toward Thea, clearly uncomfortable with how close she and Braden had worked. She seemed especially wary of pretty women like Thea. But now, Sarah was sobbing. "Miss Rowland, I'm asking for your help. I know that you a