Chapter 6
1200words
Those words hit like a drop of water in boiling oil—the entire venue erupted!
"Dear God… she's a Constantine?!"
"No wonder! No wonder a 'scholarship student' could start her own company from scratch!"
"Did Corvis just try to buy the Constantine heir's loyalty with a few million in investment? Is this the joke of the year?"
Corvis stood frozen, his face—usually impassive even in crisis—now displaying a spectacular range of emotions.
Shock, bewilderment, self-doubt, finally settling into a blank system crash.
He stared at me, his lips moving without sound.
His proud capital, the power he'd tried to use to support and "save" me, had become meaningless scraps before the name "Constantine."
He finally understood why I'd dismissed his luxurious estate, why I'd thought of reverse-engineering the USB drive, why I'd never truly been submissive.
All along, he had been the clown.
Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, breaking the deadlock:
"Miss Nora! Um… I don't mind marrying into your family! Harvard Business School graduate, six-foot-two, and I'm not afraid to be a trophy husband!"
That shout was like flipping a switch.
"Choose me, Miss! My family may not be Constantine-level, but we're old money too. I'll take your surname!"
"Big sis! Need a bestie? I'll carry your bags—just let me intern at Constantine Group!"
"My lady, forget these losers! Look at me! I'm great at cosplay and willing to be your personal knight!"
The once-dignified elites now rushed toward the VIP section like madmen, each desperate for my attention. After all, this was a ticket into the Constantine inner circle!
"SILENCE!"
A furious roar suddenly overpowered the room.
Corvis charged forward like a territorial lion, fiercely positioning himself before me.
He glared at the Harvard graduate, looking ready to tear him apart with his gaze alone.
"Out," he ground through clenched teeth. "If I hear anyone else mention 'marrying in,' I'll buy out their entire family."
The room instantly quieted. Everyone shrank back—no one dared provoke Corvis in this state.
I stood behind him, my pleased smile growing more evident.
"Mr. Croft," I poked his back gently with my cane, tone teasing, "your current status is ex-fiancé. Isn't blocking my husband-hunting a bit presumptuous?"
Corvis's back stiffened.
He turned slowly, his arrogance completely deflated, looking hurt and defeated.
"Nora…" his voice rasped like gravel, "you played me."
"You're the one who got too deep into the role."
I shrugged, but before I could continue, my father finally cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
Father scrutinized Corvis up and down, then turned to me, his tone stern yet gossip-hungry:
"So this is the 'fiancé' from the news? Nora, while we don't oppose free choice in relationships, you've caused quite a stir—even making tabloid headlines. Don't you owe me an explanation?"
He pointed at Corvis: "And this young man's patronizing speech earlier—I didn't appreciate it. What's this about 'needing protection'? Does Alexander's daughter need someone else's shelter?"
Corvis's face turned paler than the wall. The ruthless business "tyrant" now looked like a schoolboy being scolded by the principal.
"Mr. Constantine, I…" he attempted to explain.
"Dad, stop scaring him."
I linked arms with my father, smoothing things over with a smile. "It was just a PR strategy. To help catch a thief while adding some challenge to my 'training.' Mission accomplished, show's over."
At "show's over," the light in Corvis's eyes dimmed.
"Just an act?" he stared at me, voice barely audible. "Those days at the estate… that rapport, those nights working together—all just pretend?"
Seeing him like this, something inside me softened.
To be fair, despite his arrogance, pride, and controlling nature, during those late nights when I showed unexpected abilities, he hadn't hesitated to praise me.
Those eyes that couldn't hide their admiration and respect while offering praise had been genuinely pleasing.
At critical moments, he had genuinely wanted to protect me. Even believing I was just a penniless student, he'd been willing to stand against the world for me.
But that wasn't enough.
His love was condescending—"I give you resources, you give me obedience."
That's not what I wanted.
"Corvis."
I put away my smile and looked at him seriously. "I am Nora Constantine. I don't lack money, power, or protection. If you want to be with me, learn to see me as an equal—not something to be tamed."
I pulled out the pre-prepared "breakup agreement" from my purse.
"The previous game is over."
I tucked the paper into his suit pocket and patted his chest. "Now we're even."
With that, I took my father's arm and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Corvis suddenly caught my wrist. This time, he didn't grip tightly—just held it loosely, his fingertips trembling.
"What if I don't want us to be even?"
He looked at me, eyes slightly reddened, that shell of arrogance completely shattered, revealing the vulnerable soul beneath.
"What if I want to start over… to pursue you?"
He took a deep breath and, before everyone, slowly bowed his proud head, his voice firm:
"Miss Nora Constantine, is it too late to submit my 'application to marry into your family'?"
The entire room gasped collectively.
The imperious Wall Street tyrant had actually humbled himself!
I stopped and turned to look at him.
Father whistled beside me, enjoying the drama: "Well, this boy has some spirit. Nora, since someone wants to be your trophy husband, why not give him a number?"
I looked into Corvis's determined gray eyes, fighting to suppress my smile.
"The bar for marrying into our family is extremely high."
I withdrew my hand, smoothed my dress, and left him with a graceful exit:
"First, check that arrogance at the door and fix that male chauvinism. As for getting in line…"
I reached the ballroom entrance, looked back, and gave him a wink:
"We'll see how you perform. After all, those wanting to court me were lined up all the way to Paris."
The doors slowly closed behind me, shutting out the ballroom's clamor.
But I could still hear Corvis Croft's furious roar:
"All of you back off! Only I can pursue Nora—anyone who dares compete will be bankrupt by tomorrow!!"
…
Several days later.
Aurora Company's office—now relocated to the top floor of Constantine Tower.
Amy (my partner) burst into my office with a document, looking utterly bewildered.
"No… Boss! There's a madman downstairs!"
"What's happening?" I looked up from a stack of reports.
"The Chairman of Croft Group… he's brought notarized documents of his entire fortune and a handwritten 'Rules for Marrying In' manual. He's blocking the lobby downstairs."
"He claims he's applying for 'Special Assistant to Aurora's CEO' and says if he doesn't pass the interview, he'll just keep sitting there. Reporters have completely surrounded the building!"
I was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing.
I walked to the window and looked down.
Though I couldn't make out his face clearly, I could see that familiar, upright figure standing stubbornly below, apparently holding… an extremely tacky but enormous bouquet of red roses.
"Let him wait."
I turned back, signing the document with excellent spirits.
"If he wants to enter the Constantine family's door, this is just the beginning."
(The End)
