Tenderness Occupies His Heart

On my 20th birthday, I confessed my feelings to Thomas, who is ten years older than me, while tipsy and full of joy.

"Thomas, I like you."

I only received a cold response, "Nina, don't joke like that."

Later, I introduced my new boyfriend to him while leaning on another man's arm.

For the first time, I saw rare panic in Thomas's eyes.

He pinned me against the door, his voice low and husky, "Break up with him. Right now."

——

Tonight was my 20th birthday, and my family had organized a grand birthday party for me.

They invited all our relatives and friends from Emeraldia, as well as various influential figures.

I decided to confess to the person I had liked for a long time tonight.

Once everything was in place, I quietly snuck into Thomas's room.

After a few drinks, the bustle downstairs gradually faded.

Soon, a sliver of light came through the door.

Thomas had seemingly drunk quite a bit. Under the influence of alcohol, his features appeared even more handsome, his well-defined abs faintly visible under his white shirt, stirring my imagination.

When he saw me, his brows furrowed slightly, "Nina?"

His deep, slow voice sent a shiver down my spine.

I bit my lip and ran over to wrap my arms tightly around his waist.

Tonight, I had deliberately chosen a thin lace-trimmed slip dress that perfectly highlighted my figure.

When our skin touched, Thomas seemed to freeze, and I slowly spoke words that stunned him even more.

"Thomas, I lobe you."

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Only the sound of our intertwined heartbeats filled the air, creating an awkward and tense atmosphere.

I don't know how long it was before Thomas pushed me away, "Nina, don't joke like that."

The indifference and indifference in his eyes stung me deeply.

"I'm not joking."

"Ask yourself honestly, don't you like me at all?"

"Nina." He interrupted me in a deep voice.

I looked at him in surprise, my fingers instinctively digging into my palms.

Thomas raised his hand to rub his forehead, seemingly contemplating how to handle this troublesome situation.

"It's late. Go back to your room and rest."

At that moment, the courage I had mustered collapsed.

Shame and resentment engulfed me.

The nearly transparent lace dress made me feel like a clown.

"I hate you, Thomas!"

After saying that, I ran out of the room, biting my lip hard.

I decided never to talk to him again.

That night, I wrapped myself tightly in my blanket.

The words echoed in my mind, accompanied by tears.

The next morning, my eyes were indeed swollen.

I couldn't face Thomas, so I skipped breakfast and hurried back to school.

Throughout the day, I was distracted, constantly checking my phone for messages.

The previously constant contact from Thomas was completely absent.

My friend, Juliette, noticed my worry and asked.

"Did things not go well last night?"

I pointed to my swollen eyes. "What do you think?"

"Did you use the tricks I taught you?"

I thought about the slip dress and Thomas's final look at me.

I felt as if I were being torn apart again. "I used them."

Juliette was puzzled. "That's strange. With your looks and figure, how could you not win over a man?"

"You always said your uncle treated you well, didn't you?"

It was pretty good.

But I couldn't tell if it was because he liked me.

Or because I was his so-called niece.

Thomas wasn't my father's biological brother and he was an orphan.

Years ago, Marcus took him in and, given the small age difference, listed Thomas as a family member.

I went from being a little girl who followed him around calling him brother.

I became his only niece.

Five years ago, my parents went to Brittonia to expand their business, entrusting me to Thomas.

In the years I spent with Thomas, I rarely called him uncle.

He also acquiesced in me not using this word to address him.

Thomas helped Grandfather manage the Garrett group.

He was busy, yet he never missed a parent-teacher meeting.

He was decisive and assertive outside, but he would lower himself to cheer me up with my favorite strawberry cake when I was upset.

For years, Thomas's care for me had been meticulous.

I hadn't even realized when I fell for him.

Thus, I always felt his care was more than just treating me as a dear junior.

But my all-or-nothing gamble resulted in this.

I wasn't willing to accept it and decided to talk to Thomas again at the family dinner this weekend.

But that night, I received another shocking piece of news.