Chapter 559: So, Was Your Heart Stirred?

Miles Mercer drove Nina Scott home. On the way, Nina felt like he had something he wanted to say, but in the end, he didn’t say a word.

Nina Scott pointed upstairs. “Well, I’m heading up.”

“Alright.” Miles Mercer’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

His hand was still touching the box, but he didn’t take it out.

She walked straight into the building and into the elevator. Just as the doors were closing, Nina heard a man’s voice shout, “Hold on!”

Nina quickly pressed the ‘open’ button, and at the same time, a large hand grabbed the edge of the closing doors.

Nina’s heart began to race. She thought…

“Thanks.” A man walked in, giving Nina a grateful smile.

A flicker of disappointment, one she hadn’t even noticed herself, passed through Nina’s mind. “You’re welcome.”

‘For a second there, I really thought Miles had come after me.’

She tapped her head. ‘Nina, what on earth are you thinking? Why would Miles chase after you?’

‘Just because someone is a little nice to you doesn’t mean you should get ideas. At most, it just proves Miles is a good person.’

Back in her apartment, Nina grabbed a can of soda from the fridge, flopped onto the sofa, and stared at the ceiling.

Her phone rang, and Nina snatched it up. When she saw Ivy Sherwood’s name on the screen, a strange feeling passed through her.

‘I thought it was… Miles?’

‘I’m really under his spell. I can’t think about him anymore!’

Nina answered the phone. “Hey, Ivy.”

Ivy’s voice came through the line. “Nina, I just saw what happened online. That livestream with Cameron Walker and Yara Scott—was that your doing?”

Nina admitted it freely. “It was me. But your brother was the one who footed the bill.”

Nina chatted with Ivy. “You have no idea how much of a boss your brother was today. He swiped his card without even batting an eye. I don’t even know how many billions he spent.”

“No wonder so many girls are into the whole ‘domineering CEO’ type. The way they spend money without a second thought is really enough to make your heart skip a beat.”

Ivy asked, “So, did your heart skip a beat?”

Nina shot back instantly, “Of course not! I’m not that easily moved. It’s not like we haven’t met our share of rich guys, right? Think about Quentin Blackwood and Elijah Hawthorne. They’re loaded, and I never fell for them!”

It was hard to say whether Nina was trying to convince Ivy or herself.

‘There are plenty of men richer and more exceptional than Miles. If I fell for every one of them, would I ever have a moment’s peace?’

‘Besides, I haven’t had feelings for anyone else, so there’s no way I’d have them for a narcissist like Miles.’

“So what happened between you two today?” Ivy asked.

Lying on the sofa and sipping her soda, Nina recounted the day’s events.

“I didn’t expect it, but Miles was actually pretty manly when it counted.”

“You know, Miles… he’s a hard guy to figure out. Sometimes he’s infuriating, but then other times, you realize he might not be so bad after all.”

“Anyway, Miles made Cameron Walker pay. And in the end, it looked like Miles completely ruined him. You have to admit, he definitely fits the ‘ruthless man of few words’ type.”

“And Miles…” Nina went on and on, but it was obvious that everything she said was about Miles.

Ivy said very little, simply listening to Nina talk.

“And in the end, Miles drove me home. It’s not like he had anything better to do, anyway.”

Once Nina finally finished, Ivy said, “Nina, everything you just said was about my brother!”

“Really?” Nina herself hadn’t noticed. “I don’t think so. You must be mistaken. I barely mentioned him.”

Nina thought back on it. ‘No, I really don’t think I did. I hardly mentioned him at all.’

“Of course you did! If not thirty times, then at least twenty.”

“You’re definitely imagining things!” Nina refused to admit it.

Ivy played along. “Alright, let’s just say I’m imagining it. But Nina, do you really have no feelings for my brother? Is it possible you’ve already started to like him?”

“Absolutely not! I can’t stand Miles, how could I possibly like him? You know how infuriating your brother is. We basically just argue whenever we see each other. There’s lightning between us, sure, but definitely no sparks! Don’t let your imagination run wild!”

“I’m not letting my imagination run wild.” On the contrary, Ivy thought Nina’s reaction was a little extreme.

The call ended soon after. Nina remained on the sofa, Ivy’s words replaying in her mind against her will.

‘Like Miles? That’s absolutely impossible. Not in this lifetime!’

‘There are plenty of good men in the world. Even if Miles were the last man on earth, I would never, ever like him!’

‘Right. Absolutely not!’

…

「The next morning」

Nina was jolted awake by a knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Nina peered through the peephole and was surprised to see her mother, Mrs. Scott, dressed to the nines.

‘What is she doing here? Did she come to rake me over the coals because I went after Yara yesterday?’

“Spit it out, or get lost!” Nina shouted without even opening the door.

In the past, Mrs. Scott would have already flown into a rage, calling Nina an ungrateful brat. But now, she forced down her anger and pasted on a smile.

“Nina, just open the door. Mom’s here to see you.”

Even through the door, her mother’s voice gave Nina goosebumps. ‘Is this woman possessed?’ In all of Nina’s memories, her mother had never used such a tone with her, let alone called herself ‘Mom’.

“Can you act normal?” Nina asked bluntly.

Mrs. Scott desperately wanted to lose her temper. The mere sight of Nina infuriated her. But now, she had to coax her in a soft, gentle voice.

‘After all, Nina had married such a powerful husband.’

“Nina, just open the door and we can talk. I even brought you breakfast. You have to go to work today, right? You should eat something first.”

However, Nina completely ignored her mother’s touching little performance.

Nina went straight to the bathroom to wash up, not hearing a word her mother was saying outside.

‘That Nina, she never changes. She has absolutely no respect for me, her own mother. She didn’t even tell me she married into such a good family, and instead insisted she’d married some poor guy.’

‘The Scott family never mistreated her, did we? But now? Is she trying to abandon us and hoard the Mercer family’s fortune all to herself?’

‘She can forget about it!’

“Nina Scott, you open this door! Open up!” After a moment, Mrs. Scott finally dropped the loving-mother act.

‘No matter what, Nina is her daughter. They’re family. Even in court, she’d have a solid case. Nina is obligated to support her, to give her money.’

‘And that Mercer family is so shameless! Marrying her daughter without spending a single cent on a bride price? They must be dreaming.’