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177|Unanswered Questions
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Save Him 178|Time Was Out Of Sync
Natalie asked Emily to drop her off at Safe Haven after work, and she'd either walk back to Levi's penthouse by herself or take an Uber; there was no need to wait for her."What kind of bestie would I be to let you go for your first checkup on your own?" Emily said as they pulled into the parking lot and made their way inside the single-story building."How did you know?" Natalie asked."Well, your sessions with Sam are on Thursdays," Emily pointed out.The receptionist was happy to slot Natalie in Sam's diary. But she'd have to wait at least an hour. So they sat on the plastic chairs in the waiting area. Emily drank vending machine coffee while Natalie read every poster in the room.By the time Sam called them in, Natalie was an expert on domestic violence and knew all the support centres' phone numbers off by heart."Natalie," she smiled as she showed them to her office. "I was surprised to hear from you. Our appointment is on Thursday, right?"Natalie assured her this had nothing t
Save Him 179|Void
Two hours later, Natalie fell head over heels in love with Levi again over their dinner at Skyline. As if once wasn't enough.He was the perfect date, attentive to a fault, and if she didn't know his stance on children, it would have been so easy to tell him she was expecting.But she'd already seen their ending. They were on different paths and didn't want the same things. It wasn't anyone's fault, though. It was just as Levi had said— the timing wasn't right.After their scrumptious dinner served on the rooftop in front of a roaring fire pit to keep them warm, they headed to the cinema a few blocks away, and Levi let her choose the movie. She settled on a horror flick, shocking him out of his head with her macabre taste."Are you sure? It's very dark." He tried to push her on the romance end of the scale. But she was okay with horror. It wouldn't break her already fragile heart like a rom-com would.He held her hand as soon as the movie began, even though she wasn't scared. At some
Save Him 180|The Proposal
Levi's parents had booked a table at the Spanish restaurant in the hotel's West Wing. They were already enraptured by Mark's stories when they arrived.His mom was only concerned about Natalie. She ran to her, hugged and kissed her on both cheeks. She was over Colleen now. After all, they'd spent almost every waking moment together over the last two weeks. Leviticus, too, was happy to have his little girl back."Let me look at you!" his mom gushed as she held Natalie away from her.Levi watched them with mild curiosity, noticing how uncomfortable Natalie looked. He wanted to swoop in and rescue her from his mom's coddling. But Mark stopped him before he could and handed him a glass of whiskey."She's besotted with Natalie," Mark drawled as they watched them leave the room. Apparently, she had something to show Natalie."It's the strangest thing, watching them together," Levi agreed."That must help alleviate the pressure of your decision, knowing they get along," his friend said and g
Save Him 181|Jane Doe and Jane Roe-Part 1
Levi was gone when Natalie woke up. He had a full day executive committee meeting, and she'd taken a day's leave. She and Colleen had to meet Sam's contact down at the police station to officially lay a case of assault on Paul. Sam had agreed to meet them there.She checked her phone and read the texts from Emily. She was dying to know how her evening at the Empress had gone and whether she'd told Levi yet.She didn't want to entertain Emily so early in the morning, but if she kept quiet, her friend would keep pushing.Reluctantly, she typed up a brief text, keeping the details to a bare minimum. 'His mom confronted me, I told her the truth. Levi proposed, and I said no.'Like Natalie knew she would, Emily called immediately."Oh My God! Mr Scissors proposed?" she screamed on her end of the line.Natalie held the phone away from her and snapped, "Keep your voice down. Do you want the whole company to hear you?""Sorry," Emily whispered. "And you had to take leave today! I want all the
Save Him 182|Jane Doe and Jane Roe-Part 2
"Ready to push on?" Sandra asked when they returned to the meeting room.Natalie nodded and took the bottled water from Levi, and sat down."Okay, let's talk about your sexual history before Dreams.""Do I have to?" Natalie asked."It will come up," Sandra said. "We don't want any surprises.""Fine," Natalie said. But it wasn't fine. She had no desire to talk about her past relationships with the father of her children in the room. But what else was she supposed to say?"How many past relationships?""Two.""Were they physical?""With all due respect, I don't see how this is relevant.""You are laying a charge of sexual assault. We need to show that nothing in your past suggests your behaviour may be questionable.""So if a woman is promiscuous, her claims are less credible?" Natalie demanded."As I've said, we don't want any surprises.""Both relationships were never physical," Natalie replied, at last, her cheeks burning hot with mortification."Can we contact both exes?"Natalie lo
Save Him 183|Lifeline
They met at The Empress.It was the same restaurant where Andrei Ivanov had pulled a gun on him. The same table too.Levi stood just inside the door, gritting his teeth. He hated that it had come to this. But there was no way he'd put Natalie through the trauma of a trial.The interrogation the day before was brutal on her, and he knew it would only get worse once the case went to trial."Fuck it!" he growled under his breath and crossed the room.Andrei looked up from the menu, his face splitting into a cold smile when he saw him approach."Well, well, if it isn't the mighty Van Holt," he drawled, a look of sheer glee dancing in his eyes as he stood up and shook his hand."I was very surprised when I got your call." Andrei continued as they sat down."You've been calling me like a little bitch; it was only right that I return at least one of your calls," Levi murmured as he picked up the menu and glanced over their signature drinks."So that's how you want to play this?" Andrei asked
Save Him 184|No Justice
A week after they met with Detective Sandra, Natalie woke up to the news of a famous plastic surgeon in Rock Union indicted on several counts of sexual assault and grievous bodily harm playing out on all the major networks.Natalie sat in front of the TV in the living room with Colleen on the floor, at her feet, while Levi and Mark hovered in the background.Watching the police raid Paul's clinic just a few blocks away made their case all the more real and left Natalie absolutely terrified.Emily called and announced Aunty Viv was arrested at the crack of dawn for money laundering and racketeering. The police had seized several laptops and electronic devices when they raided her properties all over the country.Aunty Viv's bail hearing was scheduled for next week sometime, but Emily didn't expect it to be anything less than half a million Rands."She wants to meet you as soon as she makes bail, Nat. She thinks you can make this mess go away."Natalie declined the meeting.Now that the
Save Him 185|Like An Addict-Part 1
The following afternoon, Natalie rushed home to prep for Colleen's surprise party. Emily and Seth were there in no time with four pizza boxes, and Mark showed up almost an hour later with an assortment of coolers and spirits."So much?" Natalie teased as she watched him chill a few coolers in the fridge."We have enough reason to celebrate, don't we?" he winked at her, leaving her wondering if he knew.No, she mentally shook herself. There was no way he knew. Colleen wouldn't tell him before she told Levi first. Her secret was still safe."How are you holding up?" she asked as she helped him hang a massive 'welcome home' banner on the wall.Emily followed it up with colourful string lights, squealing like a little kid when she turned them on and off."I don't know," Mark smiled. "Sometimes I have to pinch myself, you know, to make sure it's not a dream, and she's truly back."Natalie nodded. She understood. It was all she'd done since she moved in with Levi. Every time she was in his
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Save Him 214|Follow The Sun
"Something's different," Natalie murmured as she flicked her gaze through the room.Levi gave her a back hug and kissed the top of her head. "I installed shutters.""Why?""This is our second home, Nat, and I wanted you to feel safe and comfortable.""Thank you," she turned around and hugged him, resting her head on his chest. "The windows don't look as scary and frightening as they did when I first stayed over.""That was the plan. To make them look less frightening." He tapped her nose and asked, "are you hungry?""For something else.""I was hoping you'd say that!" he replied and promptly threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes as he carried her to their bedroom."You sexy brute!" Natalie scolded him. "Put me down. The housekeepers will see us!"But he paid her no mind and only set her down once they were in their room."Say it again," he commanded as he moved over her on the bed and nibbled her lower lip. "Tell me all the filthy things you want me to do to you."Natalie
Save Him 213|Precious Love
Natalie had to blink a few times at the picturesque scene before her. It was hard to believe this place, decorated splendidly in ivory and silver motifs, was the same town hall used by Sparrow Beach's residence association to host their weekly meetings."This is amazing," she whispered as she swept her gaze through the room, at all the tiny details, the little things she would never have thought of if she was left to her own devices. Cynthia and the wedding planners had done an incredible job transforming it into a venue fit for a grand wedding reception. Natalie couldn't pry her eyes away from string fairy lights draping the ceiling. But the smell of white lilies permeating the room transported her back to her balcony at The Empress the night Levi proposed to her, and she turned him down. It felt like a lifetime ago, and as she gave him a sidelong glance and caught him looking at her, she couldn't help but be glad he never gave up on her, and she had the sense to say yes on his sixth
Save Him 212|Runaway Bride
At the altar, Seth and Mark seemed to be way more nervous than Levi."Are you sure about this?" Mark asked for the hundredth time, and Levi gritted his teeth for the hundredth time."How many times should I tell you? I love Nat, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.""Well, I'm just saying marriage is forever, you know." Mark dabbed his forehead with his handkerchief."Why are you sweating? It's not even your wedding," Seth said as he pulled out his own handkerchief and patted his face."Can I have some water?" Liam asked. "God, I need some water. What did that crazy Russian do to me last night?""You fell for his dare again," Mark tried to fill in the blanks for him. "He made you a Russian fuck bomb—that's what he called it. Still don't know what was in it. But you were a goner after you drank that shit, and we had to help Eden carry you back to your room at the B&B.""No wonder she's mad as fuck at me," Liam whispered. "Is she looking at me right now? Guys, I can feel he
Save Him 211|Heart Is At Ease
The weatherman had predicted strong winds and heavy rain. But Natalie's big day dawned bright and sunny. The sky was as blue as the ocean behind her house, with no cloud in sight. Amber and Colleen thought it was a good omen, and Emily, not a believer of anything really, agreed with them."You are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen," Amber said for what felt like the hundredth time since Natalie had stepped into her wedding dress.They were in one of the smaller administration rooms on the chapel's grounds, and the stylists had turned it into a makeshift dressing room."What are you talking about? I'm the only bride you've ever seen!" Natalie teased, but she really was overwhelmed by all the love her sister and friends had shown her, and she was trying so hard not to cry and ruin her makeup."Just accept the compliment already," Colleen scolded her as she fussed over the hem of Natalie's dress."Yeah, Nat, you need to learn to work on accepting compliments graciously," Emily agre
Save Him 210|Cold Feet
"Is everything okay with you two?" Colleen approached him. "I'm sensing a weird vibe. Are you guys getting cold feet?""I don't know about Nat, but I'm not," Levi replied and pushed his hands in his pockets. "How was she today? I don't know…These last two weeks, she's been so calm.""And how is that a bad thing?""Because I know Nat. A wedding is a huge, life-altering event, and she doesn't do life-altering events well. Her knee-jerk reaction is to run. I'm just scared that—Never mind.""No," Colleen refused to let him leave her with half the info. "You're scared of what?""She's too calm, Leeny. The last time she was this way was when she threw you the welcome party. The very next day, she made a run for it without telling me about the twins.""That was months ago!" Colleen reminded him. "You're overthinking this. I've seen the way Nat looks at you. She's crazy about you and your babies. She won't leave you in the lurch! Besides, where would she run to? This is her home town."Right,
Save Him 209|Midnight Rendezvous
Julian and Andrei took it upon themselves to throw Levi the biggest and craziest bachelor party Sparrow Beach had ever seen.And Levi was only happy to blame Mark for everything."What did I do? I followed your 'no bachelor party' rule to the T." His best friend held up his hands as they watched Liam, Jaxon and Matthew try to outdrink each other over a beer pong game."That's exactly why it's your fault. You didn't enforce the rule hard enough," Levi replied, his attention stolen away briefly by Julian and Andrei sipping champagne from the navel of one of the three models-slash-strippers they'd flown in for the occasion.The said model was laid out on the pool table, her half-naked body out on display for everyone to see, and Levi wondered just how Joe had allowed this debauchery to carry on at his family-friendly establishment."Seriously, Mark, as my best man, how do you think Natalie will feel about all this crap?"Ten—maybe even two years ago—this was totally his scene. But now, a
Save Him 208|One Thing Right At Least
In theory, the idea of having twins had sounded fun and appealing. But the reality was far from it, as Natalie and Levi soon learned over the next few weeks.Indeed, it was double the blessing, double the fun, and double the joy. But it was also double the work, and it didn't help that the first week after they brought them home, Juno and Mars decided to go on different sleep schedules.If she and Levi didn't have a strong support system to rely on, Natalie knew they would have lost their minds in those first few weeks.Mrs Ackerman semi-moved in with them, splitting her time between the Blue Mountains and Green Point. It was nice having her around; she was a pro at the never-ending laundry of tiny-sized human clothes and the general upkeep of the house.Levi suggested hiring a nanny full time, but Natalie wasn't sold on the idea. She wanted to be hands-on and involved in the twins' upbringing."Love, it's not working," he said after one particularly difficult night. They were running
Save Him 207|Life's Little Moments
Natalie received a clean bill of health five days after the twins' arrival, and two days later, they were all finally allowed to leave the hospital.After months of being cooped up in bed and eating terrible hospital food, she couldn't get home fast enough.She couldn't stop raving about all the stuff she'd do when they got home, like taking an actual shower and sleeping in her own bed—all the things she used to take for granted before her bed rest.Zachary and Carlos picked them up, and they spent a few minutes gazing at the twins in their double infant stroller, trying to decide who they resembled the most."I really can't tell who they look like," Carlos admitted at last."Neither can we," Levi said with a smile as he covered the twins with a light blanket and turned to Natalie. "Ready to go?"She took one last look around the ward, ensuring they had all their stuff. Satisfied everything was packed away, she nodded. "Yep, let's go home."She hooked her arm around Levi's, and he pus
Save Him 206|Juno and Mars
Levi called his assistant on his way back to the hospital and cancelled all his meetings for the week."Sir," Angela said before they could hang up. "We are all thinking of you. Norah and Natalie's team are beside themselves with worry. But she's a fighter. She'll be out of the hospital in no time.""Thank you," he smiled into the phone, praying with all his heart she was right. He'd lose his mind if anything had to happen to Natalie and their twins. They'd come too far for him to lose her now, especially after everything they'd been through.After he hung up from Angela, he called Amber. She was hysterical, and it took him a long time to calm her down and assure her Natalie, and their babies were fine, and there was no need for them to drive down to Rock Union.He was immensely relieved when he found Natalie sitting up, chatting with his folks and her bestie.Now that he was back, his parents and Emily excused themselves, promising to return later to relieve him."See, I told you I'l
