Burning Passion

CHAPTER 289: A FATHER'S CONCERN

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Harry just came back after he drove Seth, Lucy, and Kristina home. The mansion was quiet now, but his father was in the study talking with a few executives, reporting some matters regarding the company. 

Before he turns the doorknob of the bedroom, Harry heaves a long sigh. In the past twenty years, he shared a room with Steven—it will be the first time that he doesn't want to stay in the same room with his twin brother. Tonight, it was like suffocating for both of them to stay in one room.

Steven was still up. He was at his desk sorting documents and placing them in a folder. He ignored when the door opens, and Harry steps inside.

At a time like this, they are supposed to talk and tease each other before they sleep. But since last night's encounter, instantly, their relationship changes. And tonight it got worse. 

Harry could feel the cold shoulder that Steven gave him. And probably he is at fault as well. Maybe he should never meddle in his brother's relationship. But he could not restrain himself just sitting around when Nina is involved in a situation. He couldn't help but cook for Nina when she was hungry, and earlier, when the chili made her uncomfortable, all in his mind is to get her cold water to ease the burn in her throat. 

He has good intentions, but Steven misunderstands this but gets jealous. But seeing his twin brother showing stubbornness, he also lost his temper.

What is happening to him? He's never been contradicting anything that Steven did in his past relationship. He never cares if Steven changes girlfriends every week or how he treated those girls.

Harry headed to the bathroom and washed his face. He stared at his reflection for a longer time. 

Why does he get annoyed when he sees that Nina is unhappy and Steven seemed to worsen it the next day? 

He tried not to care, but why could he not stop himself? Could it be that he acted this way because he loves Nina, and he wants to see her happy? And as for what he sees, she's not happy at all.

He wished to see her happy, even if she's in the arms of another man. And that man is none other than his twin brother. He doesn't want his relationship with Steven tainted, but his brother is overly jealous. 

Harry came out of the bathroom, changed his clothes, and went to bed. The next morning, Harry drove his car and left for the office with his father Nelson to have a meeting with the US Headquarters executives. 

Behind is Steven, waiting for Nina to finish having breakfast with the ladies. It took a while when the elderly were talking with Nina about random stuff. But Steven is patient, as the subject was all about their engagement. Of course, it delights him to marry Nina as soon as possible, and that is his plan. 

Once they were married, Harry could do anything when Nina became his wife. Harry could not steal Nina from him anymore. They can move out of the mansion and live in their own house. That was all he planned after he learned that Nina is coming to New Jersey. He immediately made plans, and asking the elder's support is the best backup he has. 

Later, after a long breakfast, finally, Nina could escape from the elder ladies. She has to visit Leroy Collins University and be welcomed by Dean Collins. 

After meeting Dean Collins, Steven toured Nina around the campus. 

Everyone drops their jaws seeing Steven hand in hand with a girl, leisurely walking around the university like he was on a date. And his company is not just a girl, but a beautiful woman who looks like a princess. 

No wonder this playboy stopped fooling around. They already heard about Steven having a girlfriend. Also, he was in several newspapers with this girl, and finally, they met her in person. And today, Steven's flings are watching him helplessly of how he is intimate to a woman. They once wished Steven would have taken them seriously. But just like that… They go on dates and bed, but Steven never offers them a real relationship. And they felt jealous of this girl he is with now. 

And among the very curious crowds was Rosie, Steven's last fling. Steven just suddenly stops dating her, and now she saw him with another woman. She asked, "Who is that girl?"

The woman next to her, who was eating a lollipop, replied, "I think she is Steven's fiancée, the exchange student from Cambridge, England." 

"Oh, the famous GF!" Chimed in by another girl. "I heard Steven often fly to England to see this girl." 

"TSK. Look at her clothes," said the lollipop girl.

The third girl was racking her head, if where she saw Steven's girlfriend. "Oh, right! She's a model in Val's Collection!" she finally remembered.

Rosie is shooting Nina with a stern gaze. The couple is now walking toward the next building, her chest was in fury. Steven never averted his gaze from his girlfriend but remained to gaze at her tenderly. It was what she dreamed is to get Steven's attention. When she finally started dating Steven, she did everything to please him. But he dumped him just like that, and then acted like he didn't know her!

And staring at the woman he's with now, she thinks there's no special about her. She's just super-rich, that's all. 

In the meantime, Nina endured how Steven is too intimate with her. Ever since they arrived at the school, guided her to get out of the car, he never let go of her hand. Not only that, she feels embarrassed because everyone is looking in their direction.

She finds out that Seven is famous in the school. It was possible in his character. Also, both Harry, and he is part of the Student Council. And so because of their popularity, the attention she received on her first day is overwhelming. Although, she is a kind of famous back in Cambridge. But her name was only dragged because of Albert's rumors and Sarah as her friend. 

Moving on, after visiting several buildings, Nina asked Steven curiously. "Where is the library, by the way?" 

The library is her favorite place to stay when she has no classes. Definitely, it will be the same place she will go if there is nothing she has to do in the school.

Tearing a warm smile, Steven kissed her on the lips, which Nina wasn't able to dodge or avoid. 

"I know you would say that…" said Steven. "Intentionally, it's the last place I plan to bring you over. Let's go!" 

Nina wants this day to be over, and they could go home and stay away from Steven. Entering the building, Steven has been pointing her toward some historical frames on the wall. And because it was important information for her to know, she listened eagerly. 

"Anyway, you would love it here! There are a lot of new books they added to the library each week. But if you would like to own and have a signature by these authors. I could get you hard copies of these books. " 

Nina replied, "Hmm. Yeah… It will be great to have these books as a collection," she retorted lazily. But Steven's response shocked her.

"Don't worry! I will build a huge room as our library. I will fill it with all of your favorite books," Steven's promised. His eyes flickered with delight in saying it. 

Nina did not respond, but she pushed a thin smile. Of course, that would never happen. Not in this life. However, she remained silent and keep her thoughts to herself. Nina wandered her eyes to the entire room. Finally, she could have an excuse to free her hand from Steven. 

"I'll check out those shelves!" 

~~~~~ 

Back in the mansion, Nelson requested to talk with Jerome after the latter arrived home from his meeting. In the living room, the couples are seated across from each other on the sofa; the wives kept their silence beside their husbands.

Mely and Dona, even though they weren't speaking anything about Steven and Nina since they landed in the US, but they could feel that something is not right here. It's the reason Mely wants to talk to Dona, which the latter badly wishes to talk to Mely as well. When their husband began talking, they just listened.

"Jerome, I am moved that your son is taking care of my daughter. I heard Steven wanted Nina to live here in the mansion as part of the Exchange Student program. But they were in a relationship. I guess it's not appropriate for my daughter to live with him in the same house. We could say they are engaged in a relationship. Nina is only my child. And I want my daughter to enjoy her life. My point is, I don't want her to marry at an early age. Besides, Nina wishes to focus on her study. So, as her parents, we won't allow them to live together, either Nina lives in the dormitory." 

Jerome, who listened carefully to a father's concerns, his forehead creased. He asked curiously. "What do you mean by that, Nelson?"

"We came up with an idea. I will buy a house for Nina," Nelson declared.

"Why? What is wrong if Nina lives here with me?" asked Steven with confusion written on his face.

Nina, who stands silently beside Steven, was restraining herself not to show her delight.