N cut him off. “Buddy is my child. I won’t let anyone take him from me.”


    Her gaze was firm, showing no trace of lingering feelings for Damon.


    Seeing her resolve, Oliver finally rxed.


    “Yeah, and if he tries to take Buddy, I’ll help you,” Oliver said.


    “Thanks, Oliver,” N replied.


    After a moment of silence, Oliver voiced his concern. “But now that Damon is in Capitarnia, it might be hard to keep your secret hidden much longer.


    N wasn’t surprised. She had already sensed this when she ran into Erin at the restaurant. Despite Damon’s memory loss, it wasn’t N who needed to worry–it was Erin. After all, Erin was Damon’s


    fiancée now.


    Even though he had lost his memory, Erin must fear that one day he might remember and call off their engagement. The more someone had, the more they feared losing it.


    I know,” N answered.


    Seeing how calm she was, Oliver realized she had thought this through and decided not to push the topic further. Regardless of what happened, he could protect her now.


    When they arrived at Oliver’s vi, he didn’t get out of the car immediately. Instead, he turned to look at


    N.


    “N, I wasn’t nning on saying this so soon, but after seeing Damon today, I couldn’t shake this feeling of crisis… like if I don’t say it now, I might not get another chance,” he said, his voice serious, betraying his.


    nerves.


    “N, would <b>you </b>consider giving me a chance to take care of you and Buddy? I promise I’d treat Buddy as if he were my own.”


    Seeing the sincerity in Oliver’s eyes, N gripped the seatbelt tightly, her knuckles turning white.


    She bit her lower lip. She <b>had </b>thought about whether to give things with Oliver a try but hadn’t made up her mind. Entering a new rtionship now meant thinking not just about herself, but about Mason as well. answered. “Oliver, can you give me some time to think about it? I really need to consider it carefully,” N


    Oliver had braced himself for rejection, so when N asked for time to think, his eyes lit up with hope. If she needed time, it meant she wasn’tpletely against the idea of being with him.


    “Of course. Take all the time you need–I’m in no <b>rush</b>,‘ he replied.


    “Thank you,” N said again.


    They both got out of the car and walked toward the vi. Oliver was beaming, his gaze so soft as it followed her that it felt almost tangible.


    Once inside, Oliver asked a maid to show N to a guest room so she could rest.


    1.2


    “Don’t


    w about Buddy. If he wakes up, I’ll keep him entertained. Just get some rest,” Oliver assured her.


    Oliver had spent a lot of time with Buddy before, so N nodded. “<i>Ok</i>”


    “Go rest,” Oliver urged.


    thank you.<b>” </b>


    N slept until noon.


    After freshening up, she walked into the living room and found Oliver ying chess with Mason. She quickly made her way over to join them.. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Hearing her approach, Oliver looked up and smiled. “I asked the kitchen to warm up some chicken soup for you. Have some in a bit.”


    As he spoke, a maid went into the kitchen and soon returned with the soup.


    “Okay,” N replied.


    As she stood watching them y <b>chess</b><b>, </b>the maid set up a small table and ced the soup and side dishes on it.


    “Ms. Kinsey, please enjoy,” the maid said.


    “Thank you,” N replied as she sat down.


    She took a sip of soup and couldn’t help but squint in satisfaction. “This is really good.”


    The taste… It felt oddly familiar, <b>as </b>if she had tasted it somewhere before.


    The maid smiled and exined, “Mr. Raynor made it himself. He spent over a week learning from the chef to get it just right.”


    Oliver shot the maid a nce. “That’s enough. You can go now.”