Chapter 8 Nowhere to Go

• After a long, bumpy ride, Nikita finally arrived at the Golden Residence. The place was far more majestic than she had imagined. No wonder Darcy's eyes lit up when she heard about this place.
• To Nikita, though, this was just a temporary stop. She was aware that she would eventually leave once she repaid the debt.
• The harshness of reality quickly erased the bitterness in her heart.
• She stopped outside the building.
• This luxurious high-end neighborhood was different, with one security checkpoint after another. She had already registered at the front gate, but at the entrance to the building, she needed to scan either a card or her face to get in.
• Despite presenting her marriage certificate, she failed to gain entry.
• With no other choice, she sat on the edge of the flower bed, clutching her suitcase, and called Dorothy.
• At that moment, Dorothy was undergoing a pre-surgery checkup. A group of specialists surrounded her. All her personal items, including her phone and jewelry, were outside with the butler, Ben Field.
• Despite her age, Dorothy had a peculiar habit she'd developed over the years.
• Her contact list was filled with symbols instead of names, and no one but herself could understand them.
• Naturally, Ben didn't dare answer any unfamiliar calls. He let the phone ring three times before it finally went silent.
• Nikita had nowhere to go. She couldn't go back home, and the flower shop didn't have a place for her to stay. Her only option was to drag her suitcase to the property management office.
• When his phone rang again, Theo had just hung up on a medical team's lead expert. Not recognizing the number, he answered absentmindedly.
• "Hello, Sir. I'm the property manager of Golden Residence. Are you the owner of Unit 608, Building 20? There's a woman here claiming to be your wife, holding a marriage certificate. Can you come and verify?"
• ...
• With video call verification, a recorded confirmation, and a replacement key card issued, Nikita finally left the property management office.
• The entire staff had barely contained their smirks, their eyes filled with gossip, as she awkwardly shuffled out, almost tripping over her own feet in embarrassment.
• If it weren't for the sound of a boarding announcement in the background during the video call, Nikita would have suspected Theo had done this on purpose.
• After all the hassle, she finally made it into the apartment.
• Standing inside, she was at a loss, unsure of where to even begin. The place was filled with high-end furniture, things she had never seen before. Everything looked so expensive, and she was genuinely scared of breaking something.
• The cold, impersonal decor made it clear that this was not a home filled with warmth. Nikita remembered that the property manager had mentioned that Theo had bought this apartment over a year ago.
• Had he never lived here after decorating it?
• She stood in a daze at the entrance when her phone rang.
• When she saw the unfamiliar number, Nikita worried it might be a customer, and she quickly answered.
• "Hello, this is Dreamy Flower Shop; how may I help you?"
• "It's Theo."
• His deep, magnetic voice resonated through the phone, sending a strange tingle through her ears.
• Suddenly, she felt as if he was checking on her. Nikita's grip tightened around the handle of her suitcase in nervousness.
• "Mr ... Mr. Morris, hello. What can I do for you?"
• "Did you get inside?"
• "Yes, I did. I'm sorry for the trouble today."
• Her voice was soft, cautious, and polite.
• Theo paused mid-step. His assistant, Leo, who was walking behind him, had also stopped. Leo was eyeing his boss suspiciously.
• "It was my oversight. I apologize."
• Leo nearly dropped his jaw in shock.
• Mr. Morris? Apologizing? And with such a gentle tone?
• God, am I imagining things?
• Nikita let out a small breath of relief. It seemed like Theo wasn't as difficult to talk to as she had feared.
• "It's alright. It's just the first day we've met. A bit of adjustment is normal."
• Her voice had become noticeably lighter.
• Theo raised an eyebrow. He recalled the video footage from the property office. In the brief moment the camera had panned across, he'd caught a glimpse of the girl in the white woolen coat, clutching her oversized suitcase.
• She looked like a homeless puppy; her nose and eyes were red from the cold. Pitiful, yet oddly cute.
• The comparison seemed strikingly accurate, and a slight smile tugged at his lips. Just then, a loud snort followed by violent coughing erupted behind him.
• He turned in surprise to see Leo. His face turned red as he struggled to suppress his laughter.
• Theo asked, "Do you need something?"
• "No ... no, I'm fine!" Leo stammered in panic, suddenly feeling a chill down his spine.
• What kind of day is this? The devil himself had smiled and even asked if I need anything.
• Nikita, on the other end of the call, thought Theo was still speaking to her. After a moment's thought, she asked, "I noticed the kitchen hasn't been used. Is it okay if I cook there?"
• Since they were married and living together, she figured eating out every day wasn't a long-term solution.
• Plus, since Theo was providing the place to stay, it was only fair for her to contribute by sharing the household costs.
• "That's your home. Do as you please."
• Home? I can do as I please?
• Nikita's heart trembled at the word. She felt a strange warmth spread through her chest. Her parents were determined to kick her out of their house, yet here was this man, someone she barely knew, telling her this was her home.