Cole stepped closer, and I instinctively took a step back. He smirked. “Be my girlfriend.”


    I blinked, totally caught off guard. Then I scoffed. “Not the best joke for this early in the morning.


    You


    know-


    “I’m serious,” Cole interrupted. “Only my girlfriend gets to meet my dad.”


    I froze. He was definitely using this to trap me.


    So, my twitching eyelids weren’t just a random fluke. They were warning me about this.


    “You probably don’t know this, but my dad’s always been paranoid. He doesn’t trust anyone,


    especially now with his new position,” Cole continued,unching into a whole exnation. “Too


    many people are trying to get close to him, and none of them have good intentions. So, to save his


    energy, he won’t meet with anyone who isn’t family.”


    But I knew he was just making excuses.


    Then he added, “And as for me, let’s be real. I was into you from the moment I saw you. I know I’ve


    got a rep as a yer, and yeah, I’ve been with a lot of women, but they were all just for fun.


    Bringing one of them home? No chance. My dad would never go for it.”


    He let out a self–deprecatingugh. He probably knew how shameless he sounded.


    “But you’re different. You’re the kind of woman who’s got it all together, someone who brings


    stability and good vibes. That’s why I want to take things seriously, Cole said, looking straight at


    me.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    I had to admit, he seemed genuinely sincere.


    Half an hour ago, I had some brat trying to ask me out, and now here’s a yboy doing the same.


    It’s either a total drought in my love life or a flood.


    But just


    “You’re sincere, I can tell. And I appreciate the misced affection, but I’m sorry–I have a


    boyfriend,” I replied, just as bluntly.


    Coleughed. “That’s a pretty weak excuse. Last time we yed snooker, I asked Steve, and he


    said you were single.”


    “True. I only started dating someonest night.”


    Cole gave an amused smile. “What a coincidence.”


    I just gave him a tight–lipped smile, not saying anything


    “How about this–you name your conditions, and I’ll meet them. What will it take for you to say


    yes?” he asked again.


    Yep, definitely something a rich guy would say.


    I stayed quiet, and Cole kept going. “If you agree to be my girlfriend–or better yet, my wife–you’ll be


    the


    “Have you forgotten who my ex–fiancé is?” I cut him off.


    He was trying to impress me with his family’s fortune, butpared to the Johnston family, it wasn’t


    much.


    Cole’s smile faltered for a second, then he recovered. That’s actually what I like about you–you’re


    not swayed by money


    “So, find someone else who is. I’m really not the right person for you,” I said, keeping my voice


    sincere.


    Cole lowered his gaze, staying quiet for a moment before meeting my eyes again. “You’re the first


    person to ever turn me down.”


    “It’s not that I’m rejecting you. We’re just notpatible. You made it clear–you want someone


    who’ll be by your side, helping with your life and business. But I just want a simple rtionship and


    a-” I paused as an image of Yuna’s calm, peaceful life shed in my mind.


    “I want a life where it’s just me and my partner, enjoying the little things. And with your background,


    that’s not something you can give me,” I said with a smile.


    Sometimes, a smile says more than words. Cole might not be the most tactful person, but he was


    being genuine, so I had to respond sincerely too. And I needed his help, so I couldn’t afford to make


    him angry.


    He stayed silent, which made me a little anxious.


    I exhaled and decided to be direct. “I’ve made my stance clear. If I don’t be your girlfriend


    today. can I still walk through that door?”