“Nathan ” I breathe, my voice barely audible.“I’ve missed you so much all these years. More than you can imagine.”His hand reaches across the table, capturing mine. Our fingers intertwine, sending shivers to cover my body. The intensity of the moment holds us, the outside world fading.As our gazes lock, his thumb caressing my knuckles, as the air crackles with an unspoken desire. The silence speaks volumes, conveying emotions that words cannot express.And then, with a barely audible whisper, he utters the words that make my heart soar.“Natalia ,let’s enjoy this moment. Tonight, it’s just us.”Tears well up in my eyes, blurring the soft glow of the candles. The weight of the years lifts off my shoulders as I lean closer to Nathan .“Just us,” I whisper in response.Surprisingly, the weather isn’t as chilly as I anticipated. I find myself captivated by Nathan’s presence; gazing at him feels endlessly satisfying. Suddenly, a man in uniform approaches our table with a cart. I don’t r
Nathan chuckles a hint of nostalgia in his voice.“I also remember how you got back at the housekeeper, too. You thought it would be funny to switch the sugar and saltshakers during dinner. You gave everyone a tough time.”I burst into laughter at the memory, the weight of the years melting away as if we were transported back in that time.“I had completely forgotten about that!” I say.Nathan chuckles when he hears this.“You were always full of surprises,” he remarks, his eyes dancing with amusement.“I wasn’t that mischievous,” I grin.“Oh, we both know you were,” he says before we burst into laughter while sharing a knowing look. I can’t remember the last time I went down memory lane like this. It feels so natural with Nathan . It feels as if the lost years never happened.“We can go on and on about those times, but we better eat before it gets cold,” he suggest.“Sure,” I grin before we dive into our meal. Throughout the dinner, I find it hard to take my eyes off. Eventually, our
“Good afternoon, dear,” she replies, wiping her hands on her apron.“How are you doing?” I ask.“I’m fine. Just tending to my babies,” she says, pointing to the mini flower bed in the back.“Have you seen Nathan ? I need to talk to him but can’t find him nowhere.”“Oh, Mr. Rowland is very much around somewhere. My best bet is that he is in his workshop,” she says. How did I not think of that? His workshop is his sanctuary.“Thank you,” I say, turning to head back inside.Just as I am about to open the door to the beach house, Mrs. Brown’s voice stops me once again.“You know, dear, I’m glad Mr. Rowland has found happiness with you. He deserves it.”I turned to face her, surprise evident on my face.“Mrs. Brown, I don’t think you—”“Ah, don’t be modest,” she chuckles, interrupting me.“I’ve known him for years. And I can tell you, I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time. He’s changed, for the better, ever since you’ve arrived.”I bite my lip, unsure of how to respond. It feels sur
As I gaze at the painting, a mixture of emotions engulfs me. I feel a wave of nostalgia, transporting me back to the girl I used to be and the boy who held such significance in my life. Yet, here I am, years later, in his house, the physical proximity contrasting with emotional distance between us.I take a deep breath, I struggle to contain the overwhelming flood of emotion. The painting serves as a stark reminder that our shared history can’t be completely erased, and it is time to face our past, no matter how daunting it may be. But as I stand there, the thought of seeing Nathan and potentially disrupting the peace we have found makes me hesitate.I turn away from the painting, leaving the showroom and retreating to the solitude of my room. The weight of my secret feels heavier than ever. I wonder if I hold any place in Nathan s heart.Nathan Opening my eyes, I am greeted by a comforting warmth. Without even glancing down, I know it’s Natalia beside me. taking in the softly lit ro
“First of all, you thought wrong. Secondly, did I ever give you the impression that I don’t keep my word?”“You can’t say that. I love you,” she says, and I scoff. I know Mildred too well. If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that she doesn’t love me.“Mildred, please just stop this. We were fine when you stopped reaching out, so let’s not change that,” I calmly explain. I’m already tired of this conversation.She huffs on the other end, her anger Evident “Well, I’m not going to let you get away with this. I won’t be humiliated.”I sigh, feeling exasperated.“There’s no need for drama, Mildred. Let’s just move on from this.”She abruptly ends the call, leaving me standing on the balcony, a mix of relief and frustration washing over me. I turn to head back inside, only to find Natalia standing there, her expression unreadable. It’s as if she appeared out of nowhere, and it dawns on me that she may have overheard some or all my conversation with Mildred. I’m filled with mixed feeling
I let out a sigh, feeling a mix of sympathy and irritation.“Mildred, we can’t keep going in circles like this. It’s time to move forward. I don’t do love. We both know this.”She wipes her tears and attempts a watery smile.“You’re right, Nathan . Does it mean you don’t love her, too?”“Does it mean when you’re tired of her, you will leave her too?” She asks excitedly. I gape at her, wondering what has gotten into her.“Are you serious right now?” I respond, shocked by her question.“What? That bitch, Natalia , ruined us,” Mildred says, her tone bitter.“Watch your tongue. Besides, there was no us to begin with.” I glare at her.“Good thing is when you’re tired of her, you will come back to me,” she says with a smile. I glance at her and, raising an eyebrow. She clearly has no clue what she’s talking about. I’ve tried to clear my mind of Natalia , but all my attempts have failed. Speaking of which, I need to act quickly before my emotions gets out of control. Besides, I have no inten
The air is crackles with tension, laden with unspoken words. I feel her eyes on me as I weigh the option of retreating to my room for dinner, but I’m not ready to take the coward’s way out.Squaring my shoulders, I take a seat at the table. I sense her eyes on me as I serve my plate.“You thought you’d won? Well guess what. I’m here to reclaim what belongs to me.”My heart clenches, and I struggle to maintain a neutral expression.“What is it that you’re insinuating?”She raises an eyebrow, her gaze locking onto mine.“Nathan , of course. He’s mine.”My fingers tremble slightly, and I take a deep breath to regain my composure.“Nathan is his own person, Mildred. Besides, I don’t understand why you’re telling me this,”I say with a casual shrug. Her laughter grates against my nerves like nails on a chalkboard.“Oh, I understand that you have no business meddling in our affairs, which means you should leave.”My heart pounds in my chest, as I struggle to maintain my composure.“What exa
Mildred smirks, her gaze shifting from Nathan to me.“Oh, I was just having a chat with Natalia ,” she says.I manage a tight smile, trying to hide my discomfort.Mildred’s eyes gleam with satisfaction as she takes a step closer to Nathan .“Well, darling, I hope you haven’t forgotten what you promised me.”Nathan’s ’s jaw tenses, and he avoids making eye contact with her.“Mildred, can we please have dinner now?” he interjects.Mildred tilts her head, her tone falsely sweet.“Sure. Let’s have dinner and save dessert for later,” she says, her wards carrying a hidden sting. Nathan doesn’t reject her suggestion.Unable to bear their interaction any longer, the pain in my chest intensifies. The room feels suffocating, and I desperately need to escape this uncomfortable situation. Taking a shaky breath, I try to steady myself. I glare at Jeffrey, questioning why I ever believed we could rekindle our love.*Relief washesover me as I enter the dining room the next morning. I had made a poi