WARMING THE BILLIONAIRE COLD HEART

A few hours earlier,

“Are you sure about your decision to manage the company?”

After a lengthy conversation with Arthur, Mario and Kimberly were now sitting together on the back porch. He had to convince Kimberly once again about her decision to take over the company.

Mario knew for sure that Kimberly had never been interested in anything related to Rayder Corp. That’s why he didn’t want her to feel burdened. Managing so many companies was no easy task, especially since Kimberly had no experience at all.

Kimberly took a deep breath. Her facial expression was calm.

“I’m very sure. Even though I wasn’t interested before, the situation is different now. Grandpa really needs my help.”

Mario smiled. The woman was truly unpredictable. Who knows what other surprises Kimberly would reveal in the future.

“Whatever you need, I will help you, Kimmy. Anything at all. I also believe that you’ll become a respected leader among colleagues or rivals.” Mario spoke with confidence.

Kimberly smiled faintly. She had been deeply moved by Mario’s attitude on multiple occasions. Yet, when she looked back, she had despised him intensely since the day her grandfather forced them to get engaged.

But, look at this, despite being rejected and driven away many times, Mario never once abandoned Kimberly. He continued to watch over her from afar, ensuring her safety without interference.

“Why are you so good to me? I even hated you so much after Grandpa forced us to get engaged,” Kimberly suddenly asked.

Mario chuckled at Kimberly’s question. Then he replied with a question of his own,

“Why should I be mean to you, Kimmy?”

Kimberly sighed.

“You, this guy! Instead of answering, you’re asking again.”

Seeing Kimberly’s irritated expression, Mario laughed again. Not wanting her to get more upset, he quickly responded,

“If you’ve forgotten, after your parents passed away, I promised to take care of you until you find your life partner. Until that time comes, you’re still under my watch.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Kimberly’s heart warmed. She remembered that when she first woke up from a coma after the fire incident, Mario made sure to always look after her. And now, he was keeping his promise.

“Yes, I remember that. And it seems like you’ll have to take care of me even longer.”

“If we really get engaged, I might end up taking care of you forever,” Mario joked, but Kimberly responded with a flat expression.

“It seems like that might actually happen. Besides, who would want a woman like me who can’t give them offspring,” Kimberly replied, her face turning melancholic.

Mario hissed.

“Kimmy, stop it. I don’t like seeing you sad like this. Besides, that’s just an assumption. It may not necessarily happen. And I’ll never get tired of reminding you that if no man wants to be your partner in the future, I’m still here.”

Kimberly smiled.

“Thank you, I rely on you so much.”

While they were still engrossed in conversation, Mario’s phone rang. His secretary intentionally called him, reminding Mario to attend an exclusive dinner event with businesspeople. Kimberly, who was listening nearby, suddenly became interested.

“Are you going to an event?” Kimberly asked curiously.

Mario nodded.

“There’s an exclusive dinner event tonight. I have to attend on behalf of Adiatma Group.”

Kimberly also nodded.

“Can I come along?” she asked suddenly, making Mario look puzzled.

“You want to come? Are you sure?”

Kimberly nodded again. “Consider it the beginning of me taking over Rayder Corp,” she confidently replied. She really hoped Mario would agree to her request.

“I don’t mind if you want to come. But…” Mario paused in his sentence.

Kimberly raised an eyebrow.

“But what?” Kimberly asked curiously.

“… you might meet Nicholas there. Are you sure it’s okay to meet him?”

Kimberly sighed. She had forgotten that at an exclusive dinner event among businessmen like this, Nicholas would undoubtedly be there. But staying silent and avoiding him forever wasn’t the right choice either.

“It’s okay if I meet him there,” Kimberly confidently said.

Mario shifted his sitting position to face Kimberly directly. He gazed at her with a probing look. He had indeed installed a listening device in Kimberly’s room, but he still didn’t know the exact chronology of what had caused her sudden return.

“So, what’s really going on between you and Nicholas? I thought you two were inseparable. You even refused to come home when Grandpa was sick,” Mario inquired.

Kimberly sighed softly. She didn’t feel like talking about it, as it was sure to bring back painful memories. But Mario needed to know because Nicholas considered him Kimberly’s secret lover.

“Nicholas had someone spy on me while he went to Singapore. Unluckily, his spy took pictures of us holding hands and you hugging me.”

Instead of being sympathetic or concerned, Mario laughed.

“Let me guess, Nicholas misunderstood and accused you of cheating on him with me?”

Kimberly nodded in agreement.

“I tried to apologize and explain, but Nicholas always refused and didn’t give me a chance. The breaking point was when he kicked me out after I accidentally spilled coffee on the contract documents he was working on.” Kimberly fell silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and then continued her story. “But after thinking it over, it’s probably better for us to separate. I don’t think I deserve to be with him, and Grandpa surely wouldn’t approve of our relationship.”

Mario gently patted Kimberly’s shoulder.

“Whatever your decision, Kimmy, I’ll always support you. You know best what’s right for you.”

When the evening came, Kimberly accompanied Mario to the dinner event. Before getting out of the car, Kimberly held Mario’s arm. There was something she wanted to tell him.

“What’s up?” Mario asked, puzzled.

“If we do run into Nicholas in there, please acknowledge me as your fiancée.”

****

“Consider everything you’re thinking to be true. From now on, we don’t know each other. So, there’s no need to look for me anymore.”

During the journey back, Kimberly’s face turned red as she held back her tears. Her request to Nicholas in the hotel lobby had made her heartache. Was she sure she could act indifferent and pretend not to know the man who had once filled her heart? Only time would tell.

Mario, sitting next to Kimberly, initially remained silent and observed. He chose to let the woman compose her emotions first until they subsided. When he felt she had calmed down, Mario took the initiative to speak.

“Are you okay?” Mario asked softly.

Kimberly remained still and didn’t respond.

“If you need support, my shoulder and chest are always here for you,” he said again. The next moment, without hesitation, Kimberly leaned her head on Mario’s athletic chest. The tears she had been holding back finally flowed freely down her cheeks.

“It’s okay, Kimmy. Take your time. No one will stop you from crying,” Mario spoke while gently stroking Kimberly’s hair, trying to comfort and provide solace until her sobbing naturally subsided.

“Do you think I’m a bad person?” Kimberly whispered softly. She intentionally tilted her head to look at Mario’s face.

Mario lowered his face and smiled gently.

“No, you’re not. That guy deserved to learn a lesson. If it weren’t for your restraint, he might have ended up with a busted lip after I punched him.”

Kimberly fell silent, choosing not to respond to Mario’s words.

In a different place,

Nicholas had thrown countless objects in various directions. His emotions were still at their peak as he recalled what Kimberly had said to him.

No… No!

Nicholas shook his head repeatedly.

I’m absolutely certain that Kimberly didn’t mean what she said earlier.

I know she loves me.

How could she ask me to forget her and choose that guy over me?

Nicholas roughly rubbed his face. He looked even more disheveled and frustrated than before.

“Kimberly…” Nicholas whispered, full of sadness.

“Please come back to me.” Nicholas sat on the floor, staring at the engagement ring Kimberly had returned to him.