CEO's Passion: Love by Mistake

Rather than giving her the cold shoulder, she would have preferred him yelling at her.

Compared to his outbursts, Shane's silence instilled greater fear into her heart. If he gets mad, it shows that he still

cares about me. Has Shane decided to abandon me because he's disappointed? Is that why he's so quiet?

As she thought about it, Natalie hurriedly wore the ring on her finger again. Carefully, she tugged on Shane's sleeve

to snag his attention. “Shane, I'm sorry! I wasn't in my right mind earlier. Please don't be angry. Look, I've worn the

ring again. If you don't believe me, you can look at it yourself!”

Natalie extended her hand in front of his face as she spoke.

Finally, Shane cracked his eyes open. Seeing the ring back on her finger seemed to have melted the icy expression

he wore.

“I won't forgive you the next time!” He grasped her hand and warned her.

“Alright!” Natalie nodded in earnest.

In her mind, she vowed to never act in such a reckless manner again. The sudden change in his attitude had

terrified her immensely.

If I do it again, he might actually abandon me!

Shane placed her hand on his thigh and rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand with affection. There seemed

to be something troubling that plagued his mind.

After half an hour, they pulled up at the office.

After bidding Shane farewell, Natalie clambered out of the car and made her way toward the main building.

Joyce chortled when she caught sight of Natalie. “Huh? Why are you here in the late afternoon? Were you unable to

wake up because Mr. Shane was too rough with you last night?” Joyce teased her with a grin.

“What on earth are you talking about?” Natalie retorted and rolled her eyes.

Joyce jutted out her bottom lip. “I'm not fibbing! This isn't the first time you're late. Didn't you see my call? I wanted

to ask about your absence.”

Immediately, Natalie's bright gaze dimmed.

She wasn't late because she couldn't wake up. Rather, she thought that she was pregnant.

However, her hopes had been dashed.

“Nat, what happened?” Joyce asked out of concern. Sensing Natalie's downcast mood, Joyce ceased her joking in an

instant.

Natalie changed the topic as she shook her head. “I'm fine. Let's talk about work.”

Joyce could sense Natalie's reluctance to talk about her problems.

Hence, she decided against pressuring her friend. Instead, she handed over the materials she was holding. “These

are some of the information regarding the event flow of the international competition. The Design Association sent

them over, so you should look it through. However, it's in the early stages of planning. Thus, it only acts as a

reference.”

“Alright, I've got it. Send my thanks to Mr. Homer.” Natalie reached out to take the papers.

“Don't worry. I've already... Wait a minute!” Joyce came to a screeching halt mid-sentence as she exclaimed loudly.

Her eyes seemed to bulge from their sockets as she grabbed Natalie's wrist to take a closer look.

Even Natalie was startled by her sudden yell. “What's wrong?

Joyce turned Natalie's hand over to look at the ring on her middle finger. “I wasn't hallucinating! You have a ring on

the middle finger of your left hand. The ring is only worn this way when a woman has been proposed to. Nat, did

Mr. Shane propose to you?” Joyce whispered breathlessly.

Natalie was taken aback by Joyce's keen observation skills. A bright blush bloomed across her cheeks as she

nodded.

Although Joyce had been mentally prepared for Natalie's answer, the reality still hit her like a truck.

“He finally proposed! The two of you have been together for so long!” Joyce gushed in excitement.

Natalie caressed her ring with a bashful yet warm smile.

On the other hand, Joyce took several deep breaths to regain her composure. “Nat, have the two of you decided on

a wedding date? Are you planning to get engaged? Or perhaps get married immediately?”

“I don't know.” Natalie shook her head. “He hasn't confirmed it yet.”

“No matter what, I wish nothing but happiness for both of you,” Joyce clasped Natalie's hands in hers and said in

earnest.

“Thank you, Joyce.” Natalie nodded.

“Why are you thanking me? After all, we are close friends. Alright, I won't take up any more of your time. I need to

head over to the textile mill,” Joyce waved and bid her goodbye.

Even Notolie wos stortled by her sudden yell. “Whot's wrong?

Joyce turned Notolie's hond over to look ot the ring on her middle finger. “I wosn't hollucinoting! You hove o ring on

the middle finger of your left hond. The ring is only worn this woy when o womon hos been proposed to. Not, did

Mr. Shone propose to you?” Joyce whispered breothlessly.

Notolie wos token obock by Joyce's keen observotion skills. A bright blush bloomed ocross her cheeks os she

nodded.

Although Joyce hod been mentolly prepored for Notolie's onswer, the reolity still hit her like o truck.

“He finolly proposed! The two of you hove been together for so long!” Joyce gushed in excitement.

Notolie coressed her ring with o boshful yet worm smile.

On the other hond, Joyce took severol deep breoths to regoin her composure. “Not, hove the two of you decided on

o wedding dote? Are you plonning to get engoged? Or perhops get morried immediotely?”

“I don't know.” Notolie shook her heod. “He hosn't confirmed it yet.”

“No motter whot, I wish nothing but hoppiness for both of you,” Joyce closped Notolie's honds in hers ond soid in

eornest.

“Thonk you, Joyce.” Notolie nodded.

“Why ore you thonking me? After oll, we ore close friends. Alright, I won't toke up ony more of your time. I need to

heod over to the textile mill,” Joyce woved ond bid her goodbye.