Chapter 623

Nathan walked in, and I buzzed my assistant to get him some coffee.

“How long are you going for?” Nathan asked.

“About three months,” I replied.

Nathan drummed his fingers on the table. “Alright, I’ll come see you if I’m free.”

I was surprised. “You’re always so busy—how do you even find time to run around like that?”

Nathan shot me a playful look. “I go abroad all the time for work. You seriously didn’t know?”

Honestly, I had no idea what his work schedule was like.

Nathan suddenly pulled out his phone and sent me a photo of his friend. “I’ve got a buddy over there. If you need anything, just reach out to him. I’ll give him a heads-up for you.”

I looked at Nathan, feeling a bit undeserving of his thoughtfulness.

“Nathan, thank you for caring about me, but I’m just heading out for a few months to study. Nothing’s going to happen, so you really don’t need to make special arrangements for me,” I said softly.

Nathan looked up at me. “Are you getting all formal with me now?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s just… I keep accepting your kindness, and I can’t ever give anything back. It doesn’t feel right.”

Nathan sat up straighter, his face going tense. “Victoria, why would you say that? Is it my concern that’s making you uncomfortable?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “It’s not bothering me, I just feel like it’s not fair to you. People are gossiping, saying I’m stringing you along.”

Nathan looked relieved and replied in a low voice, “I couldn’t care less what people say anymore. As long as you don’t ignore me, that’s all that matters.”

“Nathan, I… I really don’t want a boyfriend right now,” I said—I had to make things clear; it wouldn’t be fair to keep things ambiguous.

‘I know,’ Nathan replied, his eyes dark and serious. “If you don’t want a boyfriend, then I’ll just be your friend. Just don’t take away my chance to be your friend, alright?”

I stared at Nathan in surprise—why was he acting so self-effacing?

“Nathan, everything between us is already settled. The shares and all those dividends you gave me—after I got them, you really don’t owe me anything,” I reminded him softly.

Nathan lowered his gaze to the table, giving a wry, self-mocking smile. “Do you really have to be so calculative about all this? If I don’t owe you anything, then I have no excuse to keep hanging around you. Victoria, don’t be so cold, okay? I’m not asking for anything more, and you know I’d never force you.”

Nathan looked up at me with those loyal puppy eyes, so eager to please—it honestly made my heart ache and left me feeling helpless.

“I mean… you should live your own life. Maybe you should meet other women. There are so many amazing girls out there, and there’s bound to be someone who’s a better match for you than me,” I said softly, trying to persuade him.

When Nathan glanced up again, his eyes were rimmed with red. “If that’s what you want, I’ll give it a shot. But I’m just not the type who moves on easily. Instead of trying to fit with someone new, I’d rather wait for the one I already care about to come back into my life.”

My heart trembled—was Nathan really the kind of guy who wouldn’t leave, even if I chased him away with a stick?

“Victoria, why are we suddenly talking about this?” Nathan asked, his voice tinged with grievance.

I pressed my hand to my forehead and closed my eyes. “I just feel like stringing you along like this makes me a really lousy person.”

“Who says you’re stringing me along? I’m the one being clingy and refusing to take a hint. This isn’t on you,” Nathan said with a wry, self-deprecating chuckle.

If that’s how he sees it, maybe I should just stop stressing about it.

If someone wants to stay, they’ll stick around no matter what. If they don’t, even if I got down on my knees, they’d still walk away.