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?"

The room abruptly went still, curiosity and quiet relief flickering across every face at the thought of Connor's marriage. Even as gossip simmered beneath the surface, there was unmistakable satisfaction in knowing their aloof boss no longer stood alone.

Hearing Nicole's words through the line, Connor responded evenly, "No need. I'll head back later."

Nicole replied, "Then I'll see you near the entrance."

"That works," he said simply.

Once the call disconnected, the silence in the room deepened instead of easing.

A faint crease appeared between Connor's brows, yet he made no effort to address the awkward tension. Sliding the Braille phone into his pocket, he turned and left without another word.

Samuel gathered his belongings and trailed after Connor, only to hear a colleague chuckle behind him. "Ms. Perry seems like a genuinely nice woman. Samuel, why did you reduce her to someone ordinary?"

With a sideways glare sharp enough to cut, Samuel snapped back, "Shut up."

...

Within days, the long-neglected house shed its hollow silence and took on a new life, as if someone had finally breathed warmth into its bones.

Every surface gleamed, fresh furniture softened the space, and under the mellow glow of the lights, Nicole drifted from room to room, quietly stitching the house into something that felt unmistakably like home.

At dinner, she calmly went over their recent expenses, her tone measured and efficient, offering only what mattered and leaving out every unnecessary flourish.

After hearing her report, Connor replied evenly, "There's no need to account for every expense. Use the money however you like."

Recent years of scraping by had shaped Nicole's habits, especially after her mother's sudden death left her worn down and cautious, so Connor's effortless trust settled over her like an unexpected warmth. "Thank you," she said softly.

Connor offered no reply and headed to the bathroom once dinner was finished.

Stepping inside, he halted in mild surprise at the remodeled space—brightly colored bottles lining the counter, the air faintly scented, and every towel swapped out for an unmistakable shade of pink.

A quiet sigh escaped him as his eyes drifted shut, resignation written plainly across his face. It seemed Nicole could be timid to the point of yielding at times, yet she'd flip into a startling, reckless boldness when she shouldn't be.

Left with no real alternative, he emerged from the shower wrapped in a soft pink towel, only to find that she had already laid out a robe and stepped close to help him slip into it.

For reasons he couldn't quite explain, he didn't stop her hands or refuse her quiet attentiveness.

Nicole had assumed that his years of disability would have left him with a withered physique, yet the figure exposed beneath the loose towel told another story—solid muscle defined his chest, and his shoulders looked broad and powerful in a way his clothes had never revealed.

Despite never having cared much for men, a faint tension curled in her stomach all the same. That unease sharpened when her gaze betrayed her, catching the unmistakable outline at his crotch area, vivid enough to leave far too much to the imagination.

A chill skittered down Nicole's spine as she thought that it was a good thing he was supposedly impotent; otherwise, she honestly suspected she might not have survived their wedding night without collapsing from sheer exhaustion.

Completely unaware of the wild direction her thoughts had taken, Connor shifted topics with effortless calm. "Next month, we'll be paying a visit to my family. Make sure you're ready."

Her hands stilled mid-movement before she straightened and answered with unexpected gravity, "Okay. You don't have to worry—I'll make sure no one touches you."

Connor had no response.

Right then, Nicole's phone vibrated, and when she saw Erika's name flash across the screen, the faint warmth on her face vanished, replaced by a guarded, serious look.

Erika's tone was bright and sugary as she said, "Nicole, you didn't forget my birthday, did you? I'm hosting a party next week—you have to be there."

The casual mention of the birthday celebration dragged up old memories, and Nicole felt the familiar sting of past humiliation tightening in her chest.

Fully aware of where Nicole's nerves lay exposed, Erika had always used such gatherings to flaunt herself, turning Nicole into quiet entertainment for the crowd.

Having waited far too long for a chance to retaliate, Nicole didn't hesitate when the invitation landed; lifting her chin, she replied evenly, "Of course. I'll be there."

A man's voice drifted faintly through the receiver, low and impatient in the background. With an affected laugh, Erika drawled, "I've got to go—Jerald's calling again. He's been insatiable lately, acting without restraint just because he's young."

Without a word, Nicole ended the call, her fingers tightening as the screen went dark.

Connor caught every flicker of her reaction and let out a soft, mocking scoff. "That strong of a response?" he asked coldly. "What is it—do you and her boyfriend share some kind of past?"

Nicole drew in a steady breath before answering quietly, "No." She then wheeled Connor toward the bed. "It's late—you should get some rest. If you need anything during the night, just call out."

Although they shared the same roof, they didn't share the same room, with Nicole taking the guest room next door.

Once her footsteps faded, Connor calmly ordered someone to forward Erika's background report. After skimming only a few pages, he shut the file with a faint curl of disdain—a good-for-nothing woman and a complete waste of time.

...

Nicole poured herself into designing her dress for Erika's birthday party, adjusting every seam until it finally felt right just two days before the event.

For a long while, her gained weight had kept her from dressing up at all, the old habit of shrinking inward leaving her shoulders rounded and her gaze lowered. This time, she was determined to stand tall, spine straight.

Once she slipped into the dress, she slowly turned before the mirror, studying the reflection from every angle. It still felt lacking.

Right then, Samuel stepped in carrying a sleek black box and spoke with practiced courtesy. "Ms. Perry, this is a gift from Mr. Reed. He asked that you open it yourself."

Nicole froze for a split second, genuinely surprised. A gift—from Connor?

Shock melted quickly into a quiet thrill as she lifted the lid and found a sapphire necklace gleaming inside, its deep blue facets catching the light.

Against her black dress, the necklace sharpened her presence instantly, lending her a poise.

Even so, beneath the flicker of joy, unease stirred—something this exquisite had to carry a price tag she wasn't sure she was comfortable accepting. Given that the money for their arranged marriage had come from the Reed family—and that Connor himself likely didn't have much disposable cash—she couldn't help but worry about the cost.

"Renting this necklace for just one day has to be outrageously expensive, doesn't it?" she asked, frowning faintly. "Emily's birthday is the day after tomorrow. Wouldn't it make more sense to book it only for that day? Otherwise, we're just throwing away two days' rent."

A barely perceptible twitch tugged at Samuel's lips. Rent? What utter nonsense. Connor had never fretted about money. A necklace priced at a million barely registered for him, as insignificant to him as spare change.

Still, knowing Connor had to keep up his act of the unwelcome member of the Reed family with little money in his pocket, Samuel played along with the story. "The store offered a special arrangement—rent it for a day, and they throw in two more for free. You can wear it without a second thought."

Delight flickered across Nicole's face as she lifted one brow. "Wait, a deal like that actually exists?"

With a straight face that barely concealed the playfulness, Samuel added, "Mostly because Mr. Reed is devastatingly good-looking. The store decided to grant him exclusive privileges."

After fastening the necklace around her neck and admiring how it caught the light, Nicole approached Connor and thanked him sincerely, her voice warm with genuine appreciation.

Connor watched her waddle closer without the slightest flicker of interest crossing his composed features.

Despite her knowledge of his blindness, heat still crept up her cheeks, and she murmured, a little flustered, "Thank you for being so considerate. The necklace was lovely—I'll take good care of it."

Resting a finger against the raised dots of the braille-engraved book in his hand, Connor answered coldly, "Spare me such talk. I just didn't want you to go out looking sloppy and affect my image."

The words came out blunt, but they carried no real bite.

Nicole shrugged it off with an easy laugh, her mood untouched, and turned back to her chores with a light step.

Soon after Nicole departed, Samuel drifted over and asked with a teasing smile, "Funny coincidence, Mr. Reed—we have an engagement on the same day, same hotel. Want to steer clear of Ms. Perry?"

Curiosity flickered through Connor at the thought of how her uncle's family would handle her, so he answered evenly, "No need. Just move it to another hall."

...

Days later, Erika's birthday celebration arrived. Right on cue, Nicole showed up.

At the entrance, Erika latched onto Jerald's arm as they welcomed guests, the two of them polished and dazzling, an eye-catching pair framed by smiles and spotlight.

Upon spotting Nicole, Erika hurried over and clasped her hand with practiced warmth, smiling brightly as she said, "I'm really relieved you showed up. I was worried you were still angry with me and wouldn't even come to wish me well."

At those words, nearby guests shifted their focus, murmurs rippling through the room as curious glances slid toward Nicole.

For years, Erika had perfected the art of painting herself decent, spinning half-truths in a few soft sentences that always left Nicole cast as the heartless cousin.

Seeing through Erika's tricks, Nicole met her gaze calmly and replied, "Why do you always phrase things in a way that invites misunderstanding? Or is it simply because you don't like me?"

Caught off guard, Erika froze, the sweetness on her face cracking for a brief, awkward second.

Accustomed to trampling over Nicole without resistance, Erika had never imagined she'd be challenged. When the question was flung back at her, panic flickered in her eyes, and she instinctively fell back on old tricks—lowering her lashes, letting moisture gather until she looked fragile and aggrieved.

Unable to stand the sight of Erika's distress, Jerald pulled her into his arms at once, his brow knitting as he turned on Nicole. "After all this time apart, I honestly thought you'd reflect, maybe even change," he said coldly. "Yet, you are still the same. What did Erika ever do to earn this kind of hostility from you?"

Nicole lifted her gaze to him. He'd already become just as bad as Erika, and with every last attachment already severed, a quiet boldness rose in her chest. "After all this time apart?" she replied evenly. "By my count, it's been barely half a month. I assumed you couldn't stand me at all and wouldn't register my absence—but clearly, you've been marking the days a lot more carefully than I thought."