Burning Passion

CHAPTER 244: NINA'S HEARTBREAK

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A clatter of dropped knives echoed on Nina's plate. She was gradually slicing her steak when Steven replied to her. The guy lifted his head upon hearing the clatter on her plate. 

"Is the meat not well cooked?" Steven asked her worriedly. 

"No. It's fine. I… I didn't grip the knife," she reasoned out. 

"Give me your plate. Let me cut it for you." 

Before Nina could refuse, Steven already took her plate and started cutting the lamb steak into thin sizes. She'd be honest Steven's gesture touched her. 

"There you go!" Steven placed back Nina's plate, and he continued eating his food. 

Nina, who was still in shock, stuttered her gratitude. "Thank you."

It flushes her cheeks, not only from the weather, but she believes what Steven did invites other's attention to look at their table. 

And she is right. A couple seated behind her, the wife commenting on her husband and Nina was shy to glance to check if how old they are. 

"I remembered one time our date, and you showed me that gesture. Instantly, you won my heart." 

Nina blushed upon hearing the lady's speech. Steven pretends he didn't hear it. But he was only concealing his mouth from tearing a wide smile. Casually, he praises the food endlessly.

Nina smiled shyly. She finally recovered after lighting and thunderstruck her. She continued eating slowly, waiting for the right moment to bring up the pause topic. 

The moment she hears Steven's reply, she fights hard to stop her tears from falling. She remains to stare at the table to hide her emotion. And when she thinks she is ready, she clears her throat. 

"So… Harry has a girlfriend." 

She tried her best not to stammer this time. Nina was afraid that Steven noticed the sudden changes in her emotion, which would affect her voice. 

"Yes! Kristina is gorgeous! They were like matches made in heaven!" 

"Match…" Nina paused and changed her response. "I see..." 

She said plainly. She stuffs her mouth with food to distract herself from the pain lingering in her chest at the moment. It feels like her heart is going to explode. Silently, she breathed deep to calm herself. Gratefully, Steven immersed in all the food in front of him. 

They were now halfway up when Steven opened up another topic. Nina was grateful for it. However, she couldn't take how heavy her heart was at the moment. All she wanted now is to go home and lock herself inside her bedroom. 

Finally, Steven finished his food while Nina wasn't able to eat what she ordered. Gladly, Steven didn't tease her or say anything about it. Instead, he acts as if it's normal for women not to finish their food. 

After Steven paid their bills, he led her to the door, and again he was threatening her romantically. Like, opening the door for her and reminding her to take careful steps on the stairs, might be slippery from the snow. 

However, Nina's mind is filled with many things; she could merely respond and smile as her tongue-tied inside her mouth as she doesn't have the heart to speak when her chest, squeezing tightly due to the shock from the news she heard from Steven. 

"So, I will pick you and Jessica later," Steven said to Nina when they were on the doorsteps. 

"Okay…" Nina replied timidly. Her eyes remain on the floor, staring blankly as the snow gathers on her apartment's doorsteps. She tried her best to pay attention to Steven's stories. But how could she be cheerful when pain ate up her slowly? "Thank you for the meal! See you later!" 

Nina immediately enters the apartment after bidding farewell to Steven. As for him, he hails a taxi to take him back to the hotel he'll stay for an entire week. 

~ ~ ~

Steven steps inside his suite, he hurries toward the telephone, and dial Grant's Residential phone number. 

On the fifth ring, a female voice answered the telephone. Instantly, Steven recognizes that it was Annie Li Grant. 

"Hello?" 

"Aunt Annie!" 

Annie thinks for a moment. She recognized the voice. But she wanted to make sure if the person in her mind is the one in the other line. 

"Steven? Is that you?" Annie was somewhat certain that it was Steven. Because that guy who is the one talking cheerfully than Harry. 

Harry is too polite and formal every time he speaks to the elders. 

"Yes, Auntie! Is Greg home?" Steven asked afterward. 

"Ah, yes. He's home. When did you arrive? Are you alone?" 

"Yes, Auntie. I arrived at midnight." 

"Oh. I see… Hold on. I will call Greg." 

"Thank you, Auntie!" 

"You're welcome," Annie said. She put down the receiver beside the telephone on the console table. She walked toward the stairwell, looking up at the third floor of their house. "Greg?" 

Greg, who is in the middle of writing a letter, he sat up after he heard his mother calling his name. From the third floor, he leaned over the railings and looked below down. 

"Ma? What is it? Do you have an errand for me?" Greg asked his mother. He already used to do some errands to help his mother doing house chores. 

"No. But come down. Steven is on the phone." 

"Oh. Are he and Harry here?" 

"No. It seems he is alone to visit Nina." 

"Ah..." Greg is now reaching the first floor. He walked toward the telephone, seated to the accent chair next to the console table. 

"Hello, Steven?" 

"Hey, man!" 

"Hey. When did you arrive?" asked Greg. 

"It was past midnight when my plane landed." 

"Where are you staying? Why didn't you notify us, so I could pick you up?" 

"Nah. It's alright! I'm no longer lost in England anymore. And I checked into a hotel. Want to come over?" 

"Sure! Tell me which hotel you are staying in." 

After Steven told him the hotel's name, which he is very familiar with. Greg puts down the phone, and he goes to his mother to inform her about Steven's invitation. Greg rushed to his bedroom to change his clothes. He has a huge smile on his face. 

Of course, he would love hanging out with Steven. In this way, he could casually ask about Korin. He wants to be close to Korin's cousins. Greg is serious about his feelings for Korin. Even though it was clear to him that her family would only shrug a shoulder because her mother is an outcast from Li Household and his father is only a low-rank Royal Soldier. But he is determined to pursue Korin at the right time. 

Getting close to Steven and Harry is a good way to get their side for his future battle. 

Meanwhile, Nina is locking herself inside her bedroom. Silently, she was crying from heartbreak. 

Now she realized why Harry only ignores her confessions. It was because he already has a girlfriend. But why didn't he reject her? Why didn't he reply to her letters? 

Harry is a heartless man! She thought Harry is different and a gentleman. 

But he is a two-timer! 

Nina couldn't accept the fact that she assumed that both Harry, and she has a mutual understanding because of the kisses they shared. She was just like a fool! 

Spending every single day thinking of him and wasting her energy to worry about him! 

'Why Harry?' 

Now it was clear to her why Harry did not react or get jealous when Seven kissed her at the airport. He doesn't feel the same way. 

How foolish is she to think that after they kiss, she can consider that she and Harry will be in a relationship.

Nina cried all over her heart, wishing her tears flush away the pain she felt. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

SHANG MANOR, New Jersey

Harry just woke up. He is lazy to glance at his bedside table to see the time. He was alone and did nothing he needed to do, and then he could sleep back. 

However, he was fully awake now from a wonderful dream. 

Last night, he drank alone at home. He didn't call the boys to come over, as they will only make a lot of noise. He prefers silence to think peacefully. However, nothing he came up with but got drunk. 

Anyway, alcohol helped him to have a pleasant dream. And he dreams of Nina. In his dream, he is kissing her, touching her… 

Touching her? What the heck!? 

Harry grunts. He felt weird. He got up from lying in his bed. However, he seemed even weirder. Instantly, he took the comforter just to find out he has a hard-on. 

'What the hell!?' 

And he took all of his clothes. He may always be asleep wearing a boxer. But rare for him to be completely naked because he is sharing a room with Steven, and his twin brother is the shameless among them who sleep bare all over.

Harry immediately went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. He quivered from the cold water that landed on his body. He forgot to turn on the heater! 

"Dammit!" he cussed over again, but later, he just let the cold water calm himself. 

He is grateful Steven wasn't here. If his twin brother were here and learned about this? An endless tease he will get. 

Harry steps out of the bathroom. He was cold, but he felt better. Heaving a sigh. He sat on his bed after putting on some clothes. He let his back feel the mattress, staring in the ceiling for a moment. 

A smile tore on his lips, and his eyes glimmered. Thinking about his dream? 

He loves it!