Callie sat beside Nelson, feeling a bit shy as she faced his eager and intense gaze.
“Did… did your mother give you a hard time?”
His face seemed a bit flushed.
Nelson pressed his lips together. “It doesn’t matter if she did. Don’t worry.” He reached out to tidy her hair. “She wants to meet you someday.”
Callie widened her eyes in surprise.
He chuckled, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her on the chin, making her blush even more.
Nelson’s smile grew wider as he teased, “Feeling sorry for me?”
Callie knew he was doing it on purpose. His smile was breathtaking, and she instinctively lowered her voice, “Why don’t you go inside?”
Nelson rested his face against her neck and admitted, “I’m tired and don’t feel like moving.”
Outside, there were still sounds of celebration. Callie looked at his face and fell silent. It was hard for others to imagine that Nelson could feel this way, like a child who had lost his candy, far from his usual composed self.
As she looked at him, she couldn’t help but think that another year had passed. This strong and omnipotent man would also grow old and frail one day. What would he be like then? Would he be lonely?
Callie imagined this scenario without including herself because she knew she wouldn’t be by his side then.
So… what would become of him?
“What are you looking at?” Nelson felt her gaze and touched her earlobe with his fingertip.
She said, “You’ve been working hard.”
Nelson was slightly taken aback. He wanted to say he could handle it, but feeling her concern left him unsure of how to respond.
His breathing grew heavier as he held her chin and kissed her deeply again. Callie almost couldn’t breathe and tried to push him away, but he only kissed her more intensely. Her waist was soft, while his back was like a powerful bow, holding her firmly.
At midnight, the sound of firecrackers erupted outside, clearly audible through the car window.
Farewell to the old year, welcome the new.
Throughout it all, Callie knew that Nelson was a very strong man.
If, if one day he lost all his wealth and had nothing left, what would he be like then?
Callie wanted to see it but also didn’t want to see it.
In this ambiguous conflict, she raised her hand to hug him back and kissed him.
Nelson didn’t know what Callie was thinking, but her response pleased him.
As things progressed, he pressed her against the steering wheel. They looked at each other, both knowing this wasn’t the right place for things to go further; it would be hard to stop once they started.
He pulled back, took a deep breath, and decided to stop. Nelson opened the car door and walked with Callie hand in hand into Paucaster Villa Complex. On the way, he remembered something, took out a gift box from his suit pocket, and handed it to her. “Happy New Year.”
Callie raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“A New Year’s gift, Mrs. Oconnor,” he said with a gentle smile.
She accepted it gracefully and smiled back. “Happy New Year, Mr. Oconnor.”
This was their first New Year together.
Back at Paucaster Villa Complex, Nelson kissed her forehead. His voice was hoarse from staying up late. “Go back and get some good sleep. I have some things to take care of.”
Callie tiptoed back to the master bedroom. As she closed the door, her heart pounded fiercely.
She knew that tonight, her thoughts were purer than ever before. Her mind was free from those chaotic relationships and characters.
Leaning against the door with her eyes closed, she thought that no matter what happened in the future, the emotions of this night must remain untainted.