Nicole stared at Connor, words stuck in her throat. After a brief pause, she chose to let it go—there was no point expecting courtesy from a man with a disability who'd been shut away in a forgotten house for so long.
Noticing he hadn't taken offense over the toy gun, her shoulders loosened, and she pulled out a chair across from him. "I picked up a phone for you," she said gently. "Want to give it a try?"
Connor offered no verbal reply, yet the quiet consent in his expression was clear enough. Nicole unboxed the device and patiently walked him through the basics, her fingers moving as she showed him ways to pass the long hours.
Lifting her eyes, she asked, a faint smile touching her lips, "Do you want to set a fingerprint lock? It'll help keep your privacy safe."
Forgetting that the rain-soaked fabric clung tightly to her figure, Nicole failed to realize that from Connor's vantage point, the alluring curve of her breasts was plainly visible.
To Connor, women's bodies rarely differed much, yet paired with her lucid, unguarded eyes, the sight struck him as strangely disarming. An inexplicable feeling rose within him. Even so, telling her outright to fix her clothes was out of the question.
Turning his eyes away, he replied coolly, "Fine. Go ahead and set it up."
Without hesitation, Nicole caught his hand and swiftly finished the setup herself.
Rainwater still clung to her skin, yet her fingers were unexpectedly warm, faintly damp in a way that softened the contact—mirroring her own flushed vitality.
Around her, Connor felt an inexplicable pull, and the sensation unsettled him more than he cared to admit. Pulling his hand back, he rubbed his fingers together and said with practiced indifference, "Don't touch me again."
She froze for a second before giving a small, compliant nod. "Got it. I'll be more careful next time."
Resting in Connor's palm, the newly bought phone looked plain enough, yet it felt unusually heavy because it carried her quiet concern. His gaze lowered to the device as he queried, "Why did you bother buying this for me?"
With sincere eyes, Nicole answered softly, "There aren't many things someone who can't see can enjoy. I just wanted you to have something that might make you feel a little better."
He was no fool by sweet words and could tell that it wasn't the whole picture of her intention. "That makes sense," he replied casually, his voice laced with detachment. "After all, there was still a massive sum waiting to be settled."
Hearing those words, Nicole pursed her lips, at a loss for what to say.
...
To return Nicole's thoughtfulness, Connor arranged for dozens of outfits to be delivered, enough to fill the room and give her endless choices. Along with the clothes, he handed her a bank card.
Thinking back on the three hollow years she had thrown away, Nicole accepted the card without hesitation and said earnestly, "You don't have to worry. I know your money doesn't come easily. I won't waste a cent."
Money meant little to Connor, and he waved her words off with casual indifference. "Use it however you want."
Once settled, Nicole took her place seriously, carrying herself with the quiet diligence of a wife determined to do things right.
Most days, Connor was nowhere to be found, occupied with business affairs carried out under a different identity.
Out of caution, Connor ordered his men to thoroughly inspect the phone Nicole brought for him. The report came back clean, with nothing suspicious detected. From all appearances, Nicole truly wanted to please him.
Samuel grinned and lobbed a joke. "Mr. Reed, since you're officially playing husband now, shouldn't you do some homework? Want me to download some adult films for your studies?"
With a blank face, Connor answered coolly, "Fine—on one condition. You're starring in them."
Setting the banter aside, Samuel turned solemn and said quietly, "Ms. Perry doesn't pose a risk to you, but she's naive and lacks experience. Do you really think she can handle the Reed family's schemes?"
Nicole's background report truly looked unremarkable—too ordinary, almost dull.
Connor gave a measured snort and replied flatly, "Turning a fridge full of leftovers into a decent-looking breakfast takes more than you think. That alone tells me she's not as ordinary as she appears."
With a dry laugh, Samuel shot back, "You can't seriously expect her to cook a meal that wipes out the entire Reed family, can you?"
Connor leaned back, his expression unreadable. "Then go find me a female superhero who can blow up Reed Manor."
The comeback left Samuel staring at him in stunned silence.
Just then, the sharp ring of Connor's new phone cut through the room.
One of his subordinates, who had just wrapped up the inspection, accidentally answered the call.
Through the speaker came Nicole's soft, careful voice. "Mr. Reed, are you done for the day? I've got dinner ready. Would you like me to come get you?"
