Nina Thorne was one of the company’s most popular screenwriters. The mont she arrived, a secretary greeted her with a bright smile and called on the internal line to announce her.
A mont later, the secretary hung up with a wide smile and led Nina Thorne to the president’s office.
When Nina entered, Seth Lawson rose from his desk, straightened his already impeccable suit, and ca around to greet her.
"Cole has been busy preparing for the public banquet these past couple of days. I thought you took ti off to prepare as well, Nina? What brings you back to the company?"
Seth Lawson gestured for her to sit in the sofa area. "What would you like to drink?"
"Coffee. Black."
"Alright."
Seth Lawson instructed his secretary to prepare it.
"So, Nina, what can I do for you?" Seth asked again, his smile gentle and asured.
Normally, he could be rather devil-may-care.
He even looked a bit rakish, but in front of Nina, he was uncharacteristically proper.
"There’s sothing that’s been bothering for a long ti, so I wanted to ask you about it," Nina said, getting straight to the point.
Seth’s eyebrow twitched. "What is it?"
The secretary ca in with two cups of coffee and placed one in front of each of them.
Only after the secretary had left did Nina’s gaze return to his face. "Seth, do you rember the incident ten years ago when I fell into the water?"
A flicker of sothing unreadable crossed Seth Lawson’s eyes. "I rember. I heard you almost didn’t make it. Thankfully, you were alright."
He smiled. "Why bring that up all of a sudden?"
Nina’s hands, resting on her lap, clenched involuntarily. She pressed on, "Then do you rember who saved back then?"
A subtle shift crossed Seth’s expression. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "To be honest, I don’t really know who specifically saved you."
"It’s been so many years. I really don’t have much of a recollection."
Nina’s heart sank. Refusing to give up, she said, "No recollection? Why don’t you try to think harder? Who was there at the ti?"
"Back then, Shawn and I were in the lounge area, talking with our families about future career plans. I really don’t rember the specifics of what happened."
Seth Lawson added with an air of sincerity, "I only found out later that you’d fallen in the water and that Mr. Thorne had rushed you to the hospital."
"As for who saved you, I really never asked."
Hearing this, Nina grew suspicious.
Last ti she’d asked, Seth had vaguely ntioned that a ’Kane’ had saved her.
’At the ti, he must have ant Cole Kane.’
’As for why he suddenly changed his story,’ she thought, ’it’s possible he previously thought it was Cole.’
’But now that I’ve broken off my engagent with Cole and am with Justin Kane, maybe Seth doesn’t want to bring it up.’
It seed Seth didn’t know who had saved her back then, either.
The trail had gone cold again.
But Nina’s trip wasn’t a total waste. Before leaving, she asked for a list of everyone who was present that day.
Seth Lawson walked her to the door, probing with a smile, "Nina, it’s been so long. Why are you still looking into this?"
Nina gave a faint smile. "It’s nothing, really. Just a few things I want to clear up. Goodbye, Seth."
"Take care... Oh, right. The selection for the year’s hottest IP is coming up. I’m sure you’ll be on the list."
"Okay."
Nina smiled, nodded, and left.
After she was gone, Seth Lawson took out his phone and dialed as he sat back down on the sofa. "It’s handled."
"Mm."
Justin Kane’s low hum ca through the line.
Seth clicked his tongue in confusion. "Why won’t you let her know you were the one who saved her all those years ago?"
He was exasperated. "You even called specifically to cover for you. What is there to hide!"
"Now isn’t the right ti to deal with certain things. Besides, she hates the person who saved her."
Justin’s words thoroughly confused Seth.
He drew in a sharp breath. "She hates the person who saved her? Nina’s logic is a little... unusual. Is there so kind of misunderstanding?"
Justin Kane ignored his question. "Thanks."
He hung up and casually placed his phone on the desk.
The words Cole Kane had told him after returning from visiting her in the hospital ten years ago were still unforgettable, ringing in his ears to this day.
He hadn’t believed it at first and wanted to see her to ask her directly.
But just then, around the corner of the hallway, he overheard her telling Serena Kane, "I can’t stand people like Justin Kane. They’re so self-righteous."
After that, he stopped trying to get close to her.
As for the ssage Cole had relayed, he hoped to never think of it again for the rest of his life.
He had thought that after ten years, the incident would gradually fade from mory.
But then, he recently heard Nina Thorne say with her own lips, "I hate people who expect sothing in return for a favor..."
Justin Kane pulled himself out of his mories, his deep eyes dark and filled with forbearance. His face was etched with weariness...
His thin lips pressed into a tight line as he lowered his head and raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose.
Nina Thorne hadn’t gotten any useful information from Seth Lawson. Even the list he gave her was more or less the sa as what she rembered.
The investigation seed to have hit a dead end.
This ant that if Albert Locke also found nothing, her only option would be to go after Cole Kane.
Next, Nina Thorne attended a one-hour eting.
Aside from the producer and Director Aldridge, several of the lead actors were also in attendance.
After the eting, she had Misty Hughes co in and made a point of introducing her to the director.
After a quick look at the script, the director was pleasantly surprised. "This is actually quite good. There have been a lot of period reincarnation scripts lately. This might be worth filming."
"If you think it’s good, Director Aldridge, perhaps you could try this genre for your next project."
"I think it has potential. I’ll discuss it with my team later."
The director paused in thought for a mont. "Miss Thorne, what about your script?
I have a feeling your upcoming show is going to be another huge hit once it’s released. We’ll need to strike while the iron’s hot and capitalize on that montum."
Nina replied noncommittally, "I haven’t decided yet. We’ll see."
"Alright, we’ll see then..."
Director Aldridge slapped the rolled-up script in his hand against his forehead and looked at Misty Hughes. "And, uh, Miss Hughes, your script is also excellent. I think it has a great chance.
We’ll let you know the results after we’ve discussed it."
"Thank you, Director."
Misty Hughes was overco with excitent, gripping Nina Thorne’s hand tightly.
The others began to file out of the conference room.
Seeing how close they were, Jessica Jenkins walked out reluctantly.
Misty Hughes said excitedly, "I haven’t had a script picked up in months! Nina, if this one gets greenlit, I’ll have to thank you properly."
"I didn’t write it for you. What’s there to thank for?" Nina chuckled.
"It’s not the sa. If you hadn’t helped , I wouldn’t have even had this chance."
Misty’s face was full of sincerity. "Since we’re free now, let’s go get sothing to eat. My treat."
Nina politely declined. "No, thanks. I want to go ho and see my grandfather. Let’s make it another ti."
"Alright then, next ti..." Misty Hughes said, a little disappointed.
Nina agreed, gathered her things, and left the company.
Watching her leave, Jessica Jenkins took out her phone and sent a ssage. Then, with a cold snort, she turned and walked away.
When Nina Thorne returned to the Thorne residence, Master Thorne was just about to have lunch.
Seeing Nina, he was as happy as a child and pulled her over to eat with him.
At the dining table, Master Thorne put on a mock-stern face. "You little rascal, you’re such a big shot now. You don’t have any ti for this old man anymore."
"What’s that saying again... what is it, what is it..."
"That’s it! A ’stay-at-ho senior.’"
Master Thorne slapped his thigh, pleased with himself for rembering.
He said this, but inwardly he was happy.
’It’s good that she’s busy with her career!’
In the past, although she wrote screenplays, she always put Cole Kane first, her whole world revolving around him.
Things were better now. Even if she didn’t inherit the family business, there was nothing wrong with being a happy, successful screenwriter.
All that mattered was that his granddaughter was happy.
Nina knew he was just teasing, so she played along with a smile. "Alright then, I’ll quit everything. I’ll co back to inherit the family fortune, stop writing scripts, and spend every day with you. Just don’t complain that I’m annoying you then."
For years, her grandfather had given her a monthly allowance of a million.
She had spent it all on high-end luxury gifts for Cole Kane, not saving a single penny over the years.
She was the definition of soone who spent everything she earned.
Fortunately, she had since co to her senses.
After marrying Justin Kane, not even counting what he had given her,
the dozen or so comrcial properties Old Master Kane had given her generated a staggering monthly revenue.
Now, she was secretly quite wealthy.
"Fine, then co on back. In any case, when I’m gone soday, The Thorne Group will be yours anyway."
Master Thorne said nonchalantly, "The Thorne Group will have to be handed over to you sooner or later. It’s a good thing for you to learn how to manage it in advance."
He was used to Nina’s refusals and didn’t hold out any real hope.
She used to always say she wasn’t interested, that she didn’t know how to run a company, and that after she married Cole Kane, she would let him manage it.
’How ridiculous.’
’Did she think he didn’t know what ulterior motives that boy Cole had?’
All these years, he had turned a blind eye simply because he wanted Nina to be happy.
As long as Cole treated her well, handing The Thorne Group over to him in the future wasn’t entirely out of the question...
"Alright."
Nina agreed without hesitation. She smiled and said, "The day after tomorrow is Justin Kane’s birthday. We plan to announce our marriage on that day and hold the wedding at the end of the month."
"After you’ve witnessed all that, we can discuss managing the company. What do you think, Grandpa?"
Master Thorne thought his old age was making him hear things. "Are you serious?"
"Of course I’m serious. The Thorne Group has its hands in so many industries, and technology R&D is its main area of developnt. I want to give it a try."
Nina finished speaking seriously, her hand holding her chopsticks tightening slightly, as if she had summoned all her courage.
’After running from it for so many years, it’s ti for to face it.’
Master Thorne was overwheld with emotion, his eyes instantly welling with tears. "Good, good! You girl, you’ve finally figured it out."
"Don’t you worry. Grandpa will definitely be at Justin Kane’s birthday banquet to support you. Grandpa and the Thorne Family will always be your rock."
He spoke with a deep, powerful voice, his authority undiminished.
Nina was deeply moved. Afraid she might start crying, she smiled and tilted her head back slightly, forcing the tears to recede.
Just before two o’clock, Nina got a call from Justin Kane, telling her to go to the bridal shop for a photoshoot.
She could also pick out her wedding dress while she was there.
Nina noticed Master Thorne coughing a little. Before she left, she reminded him, "Rember to get more rest. And no staying up all night binge-watching those short dramas."
"Staying up late is the worst thing you can do at your age, along with eating all that unhealthy food. I’m going to have Mr. Dawson keep a close eye on you to make sure you behave."
Master Thorne let out a kind, hearty laugh. "Alright, alright. My little girl really has grown up. Grandpa will listen to you, happy now?"
Nina smiled, satisfied. "That’s more like it."
"Nina..."
Suddenly, a familiar voice cut in, and Cole Kane’s figure appeared swiftly before her.
Seeing who it was, Nina furrowed her brow.
’What is Cole Kane doing here?’
’How could he be so shaless as to track down here?’
When Master Thorne saw him, his face filled with displeasure. "Who let you in? Get out. You are not welco in the Thorne ho."
"Grandpa, Nina, I ca here specifically to apologize to you both."
With a THUD, Cole Kane dropped to his knees before them, his posture ramrod straight and sincere. "I’m sorry. Everything before was my fault. It was my mistake. I failed to take good care of Nina, and I disappointed you, Grandpa.
I will kneel here today and let you beat or curse as you wish. I only hope that you can forgive ."
Nina understood imdiately.
’Cole knows I care about Grandpa. He’s trying to use this kneeling act to move him, to get Grandpa to accept him again and persuade to get back together with him.’
’But he has no idea that Grandpa never liked him in the first place.’
Sure enough.
A mont later, Nina heard her grandfather’s furious voice. "You wretched thing! If you want to kneel, go ho and do it! Soone, throw him out!"
Master Thorne’s expression was stern and seething with anger, as if he wanted nothing more than to throw Cole Kane out with his own two hands.
’That bastard!’
’The absolute nerve!’
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