Chapter 226
In business, the Keller family would never dare cross the Hunt family.
But privately, things were not so simple.
To the Keller family, Nick still carried a debt that could not be erased so easily.
Back when he was young and living under someone else’s roof, his position had been anything but stable. It was Michelle who first noticed how isolated he was and brought it to the attention of the elders, ensuring he was protected within the Keller circle.
There had been another time.
A severe fever, an allergic reaction that escalated dangerously fast—his condition had turned critical overnight. It was Michelle who found him first and insisted he be rushed to the hospital in time.
Without her intervention, even if Nick had survived, there might have been lasting consequences.
After that, the two families grew close. Michelle and Nick spent much of their youth together, and at one point, even talk of a marriage alliance had quietly circulated.
Even if that past arrangement no longer existed, could those years of kindness simply be erased?
Michelle lay in the hospital bed now, her wrist wrapped in thick bandages, her face pale and drained.
Nick stood before her.
His arm remained firmly around Khloe’s waist as he guided her forward, never once loosening his hold.
“Michelle,” he said evenly, “thank you for what you did today.”
His tone was calm, restrained—as always—but not cold.
Michelle’s eyes lit up faintly the moment she saw him.
That light dimmed almost instantly when she noticed Khloe standing so close to him.
“There’s no need to thank me,” she replied softly. “Khloe is my business partner. I couldn’t just stand by and watch her get hurt.”
Her words sounded proper.
But her gaze never left Nick.
The room fell into a subtle silence.
Even Michelle’s mother, standing nearby, looked like she wanted to say something but held it back.
Nick’s expression didn’t change.
“This favor,” he said after a pause, “I won’t forget. Focus on recovering. If you need anything, you can go through Khloe or me.”
Something tightened in Michelle’s chest.
He had done it again.
Even at a moment like this, he deliberately placed Khloe between them—drawing a clear line that could not be crossed.
And yet… he knew exactly who she had done this for.
“Nick…” Michelle’s voice softened further. “Could I speak with you alone? Just for a moment?”
She turned slightly, then looked toward Khloe with a fragile expression.
“Khloe… would that be alright?”
Khloe understood immediately.
She shifted slightly, ready to step away and give them space.
But before she could take a full step, Nick’s grip tightened around her waist.
Firm. Unyielding.
Khloe paused.
A faint understanding flickered in her eyes. She leaned closer to Nick and murmured near his ear, “It’s fine. I’ll wait outside.”
Her tone was calm.
Trusting.
Because there was nothing to doubt.
Whatever once existed between Nick and Michelle belonged to the past.
But Nick didn’t let go.
And he didn’t allow her to move away either.
“Nick,” Michelle’s mother finally spoke, unable to hold back, “Michelle has known you since she was a child. For all those years together, are you really not even willing to grant her a simple conversation?”
Her voice sharpened with emotion.
Michelle’s second uncle stepped forward as well, frowning.
“She was injured protecting someone today. Does that not mean anything to you? Do you really intend to treat her like a stranger now?”
The implication was heavy, aimed at guilt rather than reason.
But neither of them should have said it in front of Khloe.
And yet they did.
Because Michelle was lying there pale and wounded, and they could not accept how quickly things had changed.
How could the boy Michelle once protected—once nearly became family with—now stand here with another woman at his side, unwavering?
Nick listened in silence.
His expression remained steady, unreadable.
He did not interrupt.
But neither did he soften.
The arm around Khloe’s waist tightened slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if anchoring her in place.
Not out of hesitation.
But the decision.