?Chapter 1248:


    When they pulled up to the house, Nina didn’t wait for the door to open. She hopped out and tugged Jerome along by the hand, heading straight into the house.


    n and Jesse stayed behind, watching in silence, each with their own thoughts.


    For the rest of the morning, Nina and Jerome yed together like they’d known each other forever.


    n settled next to Jesse on the couch and leaned back with a smirk. “Is she always this into someone after one meeting?”


    Jesse didn’t look up. “First time.”


    Sure, Nina had begged to adopt cute cats and puppies before, but that was different. It was never this intense. And other kids? They weren’t this good-looking, so she’d never paid them much attention.


    But now?


    Jesse nced over at them again. Then he gave up and stared hard at his book, trying to tune it all out.


    n side-eyed him. “Feels like someone’s a little jealous.”


    Jesse didn’t flinch. “You’re imagining things.”


    “Really?”


    “Yeah.”


    “Then you won’t care if she hangs out with Jerome and forgets you exist.” n continued to tease him.


    “Doesn’t bother me.”


    “Right,” n said, dragging the word out like he didn’t believe it for a second.


    Jesse stayed stone-faced.


    n shrugged, ying it cool. “Alright then. I’ll say yes to Nina’s request.” That got Jesse’s full attention.


    “What request?” he asked, snapping his head up.


    “Nothing,” n said, clearly messing with him.


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    Jesse red at him, eyes wide, clearly not buying it and clearly not letting it go.


    n stretched outzily. “Seriously, it’s nothing major. She just wants to apany Jerome home tonight—and maybe sleep over at his ce.”


    “No way!” Jesse blurted out without a second thought.


    “Why not?” n asked, ying innocent.


    “Mom and Dad said we’re not allowed to stay overnight without their permission,” Jesse said quickly, pulling Freya and Ellis into the argument too.


    n shrugged. “Already talked to your mom. She gave the okay.”<fn1a78> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?ndnovel</fn1a78>


    Jesse was stunned into silence.


    n gave him a calm look and added, “Rx. I checked—Jerome’s family are good people. Nina will be just fine.”


    Jesse’s eyebrows drew together right away. n had checked Jerome’s background? That didn’t make sense.


    If memory served him well, n had been sitting there the whole time, quietly watching Nina y with Jerome since they got back. He hadn’t talked to the bodyguards. Hadn’t made a call. Hadn’t sent a single message. So when exactly did he look into Jerome’s background?


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