The Billionaire's Runaway Nurse

Whimsical Whispers of Romance and Rivalry

“Ronan, this place already resembles a mausoleum. If you have more peace than you already have, you will be a corpse. And it's an up and down." Oliver said it with a sigh.

“But I believe you will reach the middle soon.”

"Perfect." Oliver squeezed his cousin's broad shoulders. “I'm a devoted cousin; I've done some research on your behalf. If you want, make some observations and ask some questions, and I've decided that Eliza Thornton and Catherine Prescott would be a good fit for you. Catherine is in danger of inheriting her grandmother's fortune, you know. This is not a small amount of money, if rumors are to be believed.

Ronan pretended to be excited. "You don't say? Well, poor me. I think I should ask this woman for help immediately.

"What? OH. Yes, Catherine's inheritance will be just cash for you. But perhaps you can make up your mind to marry her and give me her grandmother's money? It's hard to live on the money I make as an investor.”

Ronan picked up the glass of cognac, took a sip, and looked at Oliver over the rim. Most men could live quite comfortably on the money Oliver made from his various investments, all of which Ronan had advised him to make. Of course, most men don't share the same passion for such a lavish lifestyle. But Ronan understood that it was not greed that was behind his cousin's insatiable passion for money and luxury goods. Rather, it is an unforgettable memory of a deprived childhood.

“Do you need money, Oliver?”

Oliver felt a deep emotion welling up within him. If it weren't for Ronan, he would still be at Mallencroft, plowing the fields like his father, living in the same dilapidated house where he was born, and wondering day after day whether there was enough food on the table to satisfy his hunger.

But Ronan intervened, and Oliver loved his cousin like a brother. Indeed, there was nothing he wouldn't do or wouldn't dare to do to help him find happiness, an emotion that became more and more foreign to Ronan with each passing year.

“What I need,” Oliver began gently, “is for you to find the true satisfaction you deserve, but which eludes you.”

Moving with difficulty, Ronan lowered his head and looked at the raspberry-colored carpet. He never knew how to respond to Oliver's feelings.

He also doesn't know how to express his opinion. “May I remind you that you have not found marital bliss either?

Olivere shrugged. “I'm not in your position. I have no important titles to pass on to my heirs."

“Borrow mine for a moment.”

“Can I do that?”

Ronan smiled. Oliver has dreamed of a title for as long as he can remember. Alas, the title is the one thing Ronan can't give him.

“We're off topic, Ronan. Where was I?"

Ronan sighed. “Catherine's Legacy.”

"Ah yes. Very well, cousin; you don't need Catherine's inheritance. But what do you personally think of her?"

“She owns a python. This is the oddest pet choice I've ever heard of."

Oliver glanced at Pharaoh. “A python is a much safer pet than that evil ball of fur you own. I'll never forget the time he jumped out of the fireplace in your office, landed on my chest, and tried to bite my apple. He would have ripped my throat out if I hadn't thrown that pitcher of water at him. The cocky beast was more interested in its wet fur than eating my neck; thank goodness for that. However, a cat is a normal pet.”

“You once had a lizard."

"I don't keep lizards as pets, but only because my teacher made me study the eating habits of this creature and..."

“I love that lizard.”

“You can't love a reptile.”

"Why not?"

“And not only does Catherine have a silly pet,” Ronan added, declining to discuss the possibility of being romantically linked to a lizard, “but she also loves horseback riding.”

Oliver clutched his chest, as if the shock had almost stopped his heart. "Riding a horse? My God, she should be beheaded for committing such a heinous crime!"

“I don't object to her riding a horse, but I once heard her say that she had long wanted to know what it would be like to perform acrobatic horseback riding in a circus. Such an aspiration is completely unorthodox.”

“One fact I'm sure she understands She's just wondering about riding in the circus, don't you understand? I've always wanted to fight an alligator, but that doesn't mean I'm going to jump into a swamp to satisfy my lust."

“Fighting a crocodile, Oliver? Why, in the name of God?"

"Of course it's to see if I have enough strength to win the match."

"Naturally." Ronan rolled his eyes.

“Perhaps you should resume your courtship with Marygold Tyler?" Oliver suggested, patting his chin. “She was a beautiful woman, and to my knowledge, she did not have pets and had never mentioned the circus. Every time I see her, she asks me about you. It's obvious that she thinks there's more to your relationship with her than you think. Did you know that her father said she turned down all the other suitors, including Lord Reginald Chatterton?

“Reginald.” Ronan frowned, frowning almost as he thought of his only rival, the Duke of Fairhaven, a greedy and ruthless man who had done everything he could to complete the destruction of the Ironhearts, his fathers legacy, his legacy, his family.

TO BE CONTINUES...