Chapter 275: Moved So Easily?

Shiloh Sloan’s heart suddenly clenched tight.

She had never seen Nolan Forrester with such a sharp, bone-chilling gaze. His dark eyes churned with a possessive, scorching concern so intense it made her panic. It also made her realize that he loved her and couldn’t let her go far more than she had ever imagined.

He had confessed to her that three years ago, he left without a word to study abroad because Mrs. Forrester had used her safety to threaten him into breaking up with her and leaving.

‘He had never wanted to break up with her!’

But he knew his mother, knew her obsessive nature and her methods, and had no choice but to compromise.

He wasn’t powerful enough to guarantee her safety.

Back then, Mrs. Forrester’s people were watching him around the clock, monitoring his every move. He couldn’t even send her a single message to explain.

He couldn’t risk her safety!

But she didn’t know any of that. She had been suddenly abandoned, heartbroken, and unable to contact him. For her, that period was an endless winter.

She was trapped all alone, grieving and resentful for countless days and nights, forcing herself to let go. She tried with all her might to erase every trace of him and say a final goodbye to the past.

But someone you’ve truly loved becomes carved into your very bones; letting them go is never that easy.

In those three years, it wasn’t for lack of opportunities to start a new relationship. But though she tried dating, she could never feel the slightest ripple in her heart.

Until the class reunion, when she saw him again. In that instant, her heart, dormant for three years, roared back to life. A dense, dull ache swept through her limbs, and her pulse suddenly began to race out of control.

She knew with absolute clarity that even though three years had passed and so much had changed, she had never forgotten Nolan Forrester.

But she couldn’t forgive him for disappearing without a reason when she was at her most helpless, vulnerable, and in need of support.

Only after learning the whole truth did she finally understand that the pain and suffering he had endured over the past three years were no less than her own.

“What’s wrong?”

Nolan Forrester keenly noticed the redness at the corners of her eyes. The sharpness in his gaze instantly softened, tinged with a subtle panic.

“It’s nothing. I just thought what Mr. Forrester said just now was very moving.”

He gripped her shoulders, leaning down to gaze into her reddened eyes. His voice was low and solemn.

“So easily moved?”

“Shiloh, this time, I won’t let anyone hurt you. And no one will be able to tear us apart.”

“All the beautiful things I promised you back then… for the rest of our lives, I will make every one of them come true!”

A pang of emotion hit Shiloh Sloan, and the years of pent-up grievances and feelings instantly broke through her defenses. She threw her arms around his warm body, hugging him tightly. Her voice was thick with suppressed sobs.

“Nolan Forrester, for someone as ordinary as me… is it really worth it?”

‘She never dared to hope they could make it to the end, let alone imagine he would give up everything and leave the Forrester Family for her!’

When they fell in love in their youth, she had been keenly aware of the chasm between their family backgrounds—a world of difference. She had hesitated, even considered backing away. But her heart was too full of joy to resist. In the end, she made peace with it, asking only to cherish their time together and leave no room for regret.

“Silly girl.” Nolan Forrester tightened his arms, holding her securely in his embrace. He gently rubbed his chin against the crown of her soft hair. His actions were tender, yet his tone carried an unshakeable resolve. “Who I love is my right. No one can interfere.”

“You are wonderful. Don’t you dare sell yourself short!”

Growing up, he had always followed the rules, adhering to every arrangement Mrs. Forrester made. He was obedient in all matters, never defying her, and had become the perfect heir to the Forrester family in everyone’s eyes.

But when it came to loving her, he refused to yield a single inch.

“But she’s your mother,” Shiloh Sloan said, her voice muffled against his chest.

“So what?” Nolan Forrester’s eyes darkened. “If she won’t accept you, she doesn’t respect me.”

Shiloh Sloan sniffled, her voice thick and congested.

“Will you regret this someday? Will you wake up one day and realize I’m not good enough, just some mediocre, common person, and then get tired of me, grow cold, and leave me…?”

Before a man as brilliant and favored as Nolan Forrester, Shiloh Sloan couldn’t help but feel insecure.

‘After all, her family background was truly awful!’

“I can’t get enough of loving you, how could I ever bear to leave?” Nolan Forrester lowered his head, pressing his forehead against hers. His voice was gentle enough to melt ice, yet every word rang with conviction. “As long as you don’t let go, I, Nolan Forrester, will never leave your side. I promise you!”

That one solemn promise instantly soothed all of Shiloh Sloan’s panic and anxiety.

A warmth swept through her.

She tightened her arms around his waist, greedily soaking in the tangible warmth of his presence.

“As long as you’re always this good to me, I’m sticking with you for life!”

Nolan Forrester let out a low chuckle, his chest vibrating slightly. “If I weren’t the president of Forrester Corporation, if I were just an ordinary guy, would you still want to be with me?”

Shiloh Sloan immediately looked up, her eyes bright and frank. “I’ve never been one to chase after wealth. Besides, I fell for Nolan Forrester, not Mr. Forrester.”

“Even if you didn’t work, I could support you with my current savings. You’d just have to put up with not being able to throw money around like you used to!”

A gentle smile spread across Nolan Forrester’s eyes. He leaned down and softly ruffled the top of her head.

“That’s fine by me. I’d be perfectly happy eating scraps with you!”

…

Nolan Forrester hadn’t been to the office in nearly a month, completely ignoring all his duties. The Forrester Group’s operations had descended into utter chaos.

Core business divisions were making repeated errors, cooperative projects were collapsing, and major partners were sending termination notices one after another. The financial losses were mounting by the day.

The senior executives were at their wits’ end. Unable to contact Nolan Forrester, they had no choice but to turn to Mrs. Forrester for help.

“Mrs. Forrester! Please, persuade Mr. Forrester to return to the office! If this continues, the Group’s losses will be incalculable!”

“There’s no conflict between a mother and son that can’t be resolved! Mr. Forrester personally secured all the Group’s core partnerships. The partners only trust him; no one else can manage those relationships!”

“This morning, two more of our long-standing partners came to terminate their contracts. If this drags on, the very foundations of the Group will be shaken!”

The cacophony of their anxious urging made Mrs. Forrester’s temples throb painfully, and she felt immensely irritated.

She pressed a hand hard against her aching forehead. Her expression was cold as she sharply cut them off.

“Enough! Can the Forrester Group really not function without him? The company was running steadily for years before he took over, wasn’t it?”

“Mrs. Forrester, things are different now! The Group’s current market value and revenue are several times what they were in previous years. If we revert to the old model, we’ll be left behind by the market, and the company is sure to go into a steep decline!”

Mrs. Forrester’s face turned livid, her tone hardening with stubborn resolve.

“Starting tomorrow, I will go to the office and take charge myself! I’d like to see whether Forrester Corporation can survive without him!”

She waved her hand impatiently, ordering for all the executives to be sent away.

The butler bowed and stepped forward. “Ma’am, are you truly going to the office yourself? Perhaps we should have the Master return to the Group to preside temporarily?”

“Absolutely not,” Mrs. Forrester immediately vetoed. “I went to great lengths to persuade him to relinquish his authority completely and let Nolan take over all operations. If he goes back and gets a taste of that power again, he might start meddling in the Group’s affairs, and all my effort will have been for nothing.”

“The Master has only one son, the Young Master. Why would he fight his own son for power? You’re worrying unnecessarily, Ma’am.”

“I’m not on guard against him; I’m on guard against those people at the company.” Mrs. Forrester frowned, then suddenly recalled something. Her tone turned suspicious. “I haven’t seen him today, either. What exactly has he been up to these past couple of days?”

The butler looked hesitant, as if he wanted to say something but thought better of it.

“The Master… went to visit Miss Shepherd.”

“Is Clara unwell again?” Mrs. Forrester’s tone softened, tinged with concern.

“The Master specially arranged for two full-time caretakers to look after Miss Shepherd’s daily needs around the clock.”

“I can rest easy knowing she has dedicated people looking after her,” Mrs. Forrester said with a slight nod.

The butler remained silent for a long moment. Finally, unable to suppress his unease, he offered a quiet reminder.

“Ma’am, forgive me for overstepping, but the Master’s interactions with Miss Shepherd have become a bit too intimate. I believe you should pay closer attention.”

Before he could finish, Mrs. Forrester cut him off sharply.

“Absurd! One is my husband, and the other is my own sister. How could they possibly do anything improper?”

Seeing her display of blind trust, the butler could only fall silent.

…

Just as dawn was breaking, Shiloh Sloan went out with Magnus to purchase catering ingredients.

After paying for the food, she watched Magnus load the fresh ingredients into the car’s trunk. As she casually glanced up, her peripheral vision caught sight of two figures huddled close together in the distance.

Their silhouettes looked somewhat familiar, and she instinctively paused.

The woman wore a loose cotton dress, her belly swollen and high—she looked to be about eight months pregnant, and her gait was slow and heavy. The man beside her was tall and upright, holding her hand the whole time and carefully shielding her. They murmured and laughed together, their posture intimate and affectionate.

The tender scene instantly made her think of Vesper, who was overseas. ‘I wonder how her honeymoon with President Hawthorne is going, and if my godson is behaving himself.’

Just then, the man turned his head, and Shiloh Sloan got a clear look at his face.