The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 488

"I figured maybe things would get better after we got married, or maybe we'd just stay the same, rarely seeing each other, just like when we were dating."

"Until that day in the parking garage, when I saw him with Mia."

Nora looked up, meeting Nathan's gaze.

Seeing nothing but raw, protective ache in his dark eyes, she knew she had made the right choice in opening her heart to him.

"It hurt like hell at the time."

"But looking back, I just feel lucky."

She finally lowered her hand from his mouth and said slowly, deliberately, "Lucky that I saw the bastard for who he really was before I married him."

"Nathan, it makes me so happy that you love me so completely, that you always put my feelings first and constantly want to give me the world."

"But you and I have been different from the very beginning."

Nora locked eyes with him. "Whether you propose to me or not, whether our wedding is a massive spectacle or nothing at all, none of that matters. I'm happy because it's you."

"Otherwise, this marriage would just be a way for me to save my mother and a tool to get revenge on Leonard."

Finishing her confession, she swallowed nervously. "Are you... mad?"

"Do you think I'm completely ruining the romance?"

He had gone out of his way to offer her a grand romance; she could have just smiled and played along.

But a real relationship required honesty. She didn't want Nathan feeling like he was the only one putting in effort.

She also didn't want to be a buzzkill.

"Never."

Nathan let out a ragged breath and pulled her into his arms, holding her as delicately as if she were made of glass.

"Nora, you have no idea how happy I am."

"The fact that you're telling me this means you truly care about us."

"Mr. Peyton hasn't liked going out much in recent years. Being dragged out so often is clearly wearing him down."

Nathan frowned. "Next time he comes, refuse him directly. Tell him I'm in a rush to get married, and if he wants to attend the reception, he's welcome. Otherwise, he needs to mind his own business. Grandpa needs his rest right now. I won't tolerate any stress on him or our wedding."

The servant breathed a sigh of relief at Nathan's strict orders.

Mr. Peyton was soft-hearted and always felt guilty turning Arthur away.

With Nathan's explicit backing, the staff finally had the authority to step in and block him.

After all, the Peyton family would eventually be firmly in Nathan's hands. Arthur was just an extended relative; he had no real power in the household.

"Understood, sir."

Nathan gave a brief nod. As he started up the stairs, he spotted Nora standing at the landing. He raised an eyebrow and walked over. "You heard all that?"

Nora nodded, her eyes laced with concern. "Do you think Arthur is up to something?"

"I'm not going to guess his intentions," Nathan said, "but it's better to be cautious."