?Chapter 1167:


    His thumb hovered over the file Leif had sent, his jaw tightening. With a steadying breath, he opened it, scrolling through the details.


    A sharp scrape shattered the room’s quiet as Norton shoved his chair back, the sound jarring in the sterile space.


    Yvonne’s head snapped up, confusion knitting her brows.


    His eyes locked on hers, raw and unguarded. He had read countless reports in his life—contracts, crises, corporate betrayals—always with a cool head. But this? This was different. The words on the screen burned: debt collectors, relentless and cruel, hounding Yvonne through years of struggle. Anguish wed at him, sharp and unfamiliar, stealing his breath.


    Forcing calm into his voice, he softened his gaze and leaned closer. “How about we get out of here? A trip abroad, just you and me. To clear your mind.”


    Her lips parted, surprise flickering before a faint smile bloomed. “Sounds good.”


    Norton moved fast, arranging everything with the precision of a man who thrived on control. Soon, they were airborne, bound for an ind, the ne slicing through clouds.


    Yvonne pressed her forehead against the window, the endless blue sky stretching beyond the ss. Beside her, Norton sat quietly, his presence steady yet electric. He had dropped everything for this. The realization settled in her chest, warm and heavy. Work was his life, and yet here he was, whisking her away. Gratitude swelled, mingling with something she dared not name.


    On the beaches, the sea breeze carried the salt of freedom, and the azure sky seemed to wash away the weight Yvonne had carried for so long.


    “Thank you,” she said softly, ncing at Norton.


    He turned, his eyes catching hers with a tenderness that made her heart stutter. With a yful grin, he reached out, ruffling her hair again. “No need to thank me, you goof. Just be you.”


    Norton’s care was meticulous—guiding Yvonne through bustling markets, sharing quiet moments by the shore, ensuring she never felt alone. Bit by bit, the shadows in her heart began to fray, reced by a flicker of her old spark.


    One evening, as the sun dipped low, painting the horizon in fiery hues, Yvonne surprised Norton. With a burst of energy, she grabbed his hand, pulling him toward a hidden cove she had spotted earlier. They wandered, exploring the ind’s secrets, soaking in the paradise that felt like theirs alone.


    As dusk settled, she stopped, her gaze softening as she faced him. “Let us head back home.”


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    Norton raised an eyebrow, his smile warm but searching. “Had your fill of fun?”


    Seeing her vibrant again, the weight of her past momentarily forgotten, filled him with a quiet joy.


    Once, he had judged her—thought her too wild, too unpolished for the world he knew. Now, all he wanted was this: Yvonne, unapologetically herself.


    “More than enough,” she replied, her grin wide.


    She felt she had almost recovered. Part of her itched to return to work, to reim her routine. Another part, quieter but insistent, hated the thought of Norton sacrificing more of his time for her.


    He nodded, understanding her unspoken wishes, and they began the journey home.


    Back in their familiar house, reality crashed down like a rogue wave.


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