Episode 20

Marvin flashed a smug smile, his gaze locked onto Nadine's eyes, which were uncomfortably close. "We meet again, Nadine Leonardo."

Nadine stood frozen, staring at the man shielding her from the surroundings. The world felt incredibly small for her to encounter Marvin again—someone she fervently hoped to never see again. "Why are you here? Are you following me?"

"I live in this city, so it's only natural for me to be here."

Nadine had no desire to deal with a dangerous man like Marvin; she needed to leave quickly. "Well... I'll assume our meeting is coincidence. It's late, and I need to go home."

"You're an ungrateful girl, even after I saved you back then."

Nadine sighed at his words, "I did thank you at that time."

"I've read the articles about you, Nadine Leonardo, the beloved daughter of Rama Leonardo, a successful young entrepreneur who's said to be very friendly. Is it all a facade?"

Nadine bit her lower lip; she was friendly, just not with perilous men like Marvin. "What do you want then? Should I flash a sweet smile at you?" Reluctantly, she mustered a wide grin for Marvin.

"I don't want your smile. It's insincere and quite frankly, it looks odd." Marvin pulled on Nadine's arm, "Treat me to a meal."

"But..."

Nadine tried to resist, but he kept pulling her towards his car.

...

Nadine found herself reluctantly treating Marvin to dinner at a cafe of his choosing.

Once more, she caught herself unable to avert her gaze from him, her curiosity piqued about the enigmatic Adam Alvarez—a familiar name linked to the renowned young Australian entrepreneur, owner of Alpha Group.

Nadine attempted to verify the owner of the Alpha Group online, and there appeared Marvin's handsome face, also known as Adam Alvarez, the 28-year-old proprietor.

"So you're the owner of the Alpha Group?"

Marvin nodded affirmatively, "Yes."

"Why are you here then? Aren't you Australian?"

Marvin gave Nadine a chilling look, "There's something I need to handle here."

His gaze sent her heart racing, and she swiftly sipped her drink. "Something to handle? You mean your work? Do you have clients here?"

Marvin chose silence, continuing to savor his meal instead.

Nadine inhaled deeply, confused by his contradictory behavior—familiar yet distant. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what he wanted from her.

Though Marvin was merely eating, his charm seemed inexplicable.

*Goodness\, you're getting married in a week\, Nadine.* She cautioned herself internally.

Despite her desire to flee life with a man she didn't love, especially since Damar never understood her feelings, she still longed to escape the confines of Leonardo Mansion—a place that should have been a sanctuary with her parents.

Nadine preferred to enjoy her drink, probably because she was sated after having dinner hours earlier with Damar and his family.

"I can't believe you're a businessman; you'd be better suited as a mafia boss." She chuckled as she teased.

Marvin paused, fixing a piercing glare at her. "If I were mafia, do you know what I would do?"

Yawning, Nadine covered her mouth with her hand, suddenly overtaken by drowsiness. She shook her head, "I have no idea."

"I'd keep you close and never let you go."

Nadine laughed, recalling the time Marvin jokingly warned that if they met again, he'd never release her. "I see you can joke too."

"I'm dead serious. Didn't I warn you last time?"

Nadine felt uneasy, pondering if the man before her might actually be mafia.

"Ah..." her head began to throb, succumbing to an overwhelming sleepiness. Nadine winced, clutching her head.

Marvin smirked ruefully; while Nadine had been in the restroom, he slipped a sleeping pill into her drink. Unyielding in his words, he truly intended not to let go of the young woman now slipping out of consciousness before him—the same girl related to his father, yet someone he refused to acknowledge as a sister.

"You've fallen into my trap, Nadine Leonardo. For too long, you've reveled in the happiness funded by my parent's money. Now begins your suffering!"

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