?Chapter 1478:

    His lips brushed her temple. “Let’s just sleep for now.”

    Corrine narrowed her eyes. What exactly did he mean by ‘just sleep for now’?

    Still, fatigue tugged at her, and she didn’t overthink it. Wrapped in his warmth, she finally drifted into a peaceful sleep.

    After a restful night, Corrine woke draped over Nate, her limbs sprawled across him with none of the grace or dignity she typically maintained.

    She let out a quiet sigh and began the careful process of detangling herself—limb by limb, inch by inch—hoping not to wake him.

    It didn’t work.

    Nate stirred, eyes still shut, and slipped an arm around her waist, drawing her close again. “Still early,” he mumbled. “Stay a while.”

    Pressed against his chest, Corrine stared up at his closed eyelids. Her heart melted in the hush between them, and with a small breath, she let her eyes close once more, content to remain in his arms.

    But whatever softness she read into his words, it wasn’t the kind he’d meant.

    She realized that the moment he rolled, flipping her beneath him in one swift motion. “Aren’t you going to—”

    Her words were cut short as his mouth imed hers in a fierce, unrelenting kiss. His cool, intoxicating scent surrounded her, leaving her breathless and cornered in the best possible way. There was no room left to think—only the thrill of sensation.

    By the time he finally let her go, over an hour had slipped by. Though their passion wasn’t frequent, the intensity left its mark. Her inner thighs throbbed with a subtle ache—a physical echo of his touch.

    Later, in high heels and a fitted dress, Corrine walked with a gait far less graceful than usual, fighting to maintain herposure. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to walk tall, unwilling to give anyone a reason to smirk.

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    Once inside the elevator, she sagged slightly against the mirrored wall, stealing a moment of rest. “Why the sudden urgency to gain control of the southern district?”

    It didn’t matter whether it was Nate or Moses—the Ashton family couldn’tpete either way.

    Nate, standing beside her, slid an arm around her waist, allowing her to lean into him. “That’s ude’s territory. If we leave it unchecked, it’ll rot from the inside. I’m not fond of hidden threats.” He always believed in cutting the roots before they twisted.

    Corrine tilted her head toward him. “Moses shing with ude won’t bring much in return. The fallout could outweigh the gain.”

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