Days passed after Don Grego’s man bit Norwan. He’s been locking himself in his room and didn’t talk to anyone. Drixie notices that, and she knows that her brother is not in a good mood because of that. She knows that it is connected to Natalie.“Is your brother awake now?” Amanda asks while she’s reading a newspaper. Drixie just sits on the chair and doesn’t answer her mother. She thinks about what help she can do to get Norwan back to himself. Well, despite the fights they have, Drixie still cares for Norwan. After all, he’s still her brother, and they used to have more good times than fights.“I heard that Natalie is awake now.” After that, Drixie looks to her mother; Amanda is now looking at Drixie and observing her reaction.“Is she?” Drixie asks. Amanda nods at her and puts the newspaper down on the mini table in front of her. “My friend, who is working as a nurse in the hospital where Natalie is confined, tell me the news,” Amanda said, so Drixie stood up from her seat.“Norwan
Natalie couldn’t stop herself from thinking of what happened after she lost consciousness. Some of her wanted to go to Norwan and ask him about what happened, but a part of him also believed that Cora had already fixed their relationship and was now having peace. It’s been two days since she woke up, and I haven’t heard anything from Norwan or seen him once after she woke up. “Natalie, why are you still awake?” She looks to the door where her father is standing as he enters her room.“Is something bothering you?” Don Grego asks, so Natalie gives him a small smile and shakes her head in answer; she doesn’t want to tell him what she’s thinking of her dad because, for sure, he would tell her no other words than ‘stop looking for that man.’“I need to go to the company to take over your place for the mean time, my guards will be here to escort you and will assist you to everything that you want or need.” Don Grego said before he kissed his daughter’s forehead. Natalie nods at him and smi
Natalie and Norwan look at each other while Don looks at them with his bad and cold aura. Natalie knows that her father is mad, as she has already seen how he has become mad about certain things. Natalie is fully aware that if her dad tells her or says something for sure, Don will make it happen, but in the situation now, she's scared, knowing that she will have to disobey her father for Norwan. “Dad, please, Norwan doesn't do something that is bad to me.” Natalie said, trying her best to make Don understand what was happening. But Natalie knows that her father never listens to her. Yes, she's spoiled by him, but when her father is mad, he will never listen to anyone except himself. “One more word from you, Natalie. I will not hesitate to make you go to another country again,” Don Grego said, and so Natalie frowned this time. She felt that her father was acting strange now, wanting her to go to another country when, in fact, all of her clan was here.“You cannot do that, Dad. I am t
The room where Don Grego, Natalie, and Norwan are is filled with silence. Norwan and Natalie are both holding hands while they look at Don Grego, who is not happy to see what's in front of him. Natalie can still sense a different aura coming from her father while she's looking at him. This way, she can tell how mad Don Grego is, especially now that Don has released some of his dark aura, showing them how angry he is.“Dad, please listen to me first before making any move against him.” Natalie said, trying to convince her father to listen to her. She believed that everything would go okay if she just talked to him, but at this moment, she could also say that Don Grego was not in the mood to listen as his guards were up.“Don't let me give you A punishment, Natalie, just because you are trying to convince me.” Don Grego warned Natalie, so Natalie stopped for a second while looking at his dad unbelievably. “You cannot make my mind change,” Don Grego said, looking at Norwan. After everyt
Natalie and Norwan are left alone in the room. Natalie is still crying even after minutes have passed since her dad said those words. She knows that even though she begs and kneels in front of her dad, his mind has already been made up. It's a decision, and that's the thing she could never change for. Stuff for her now is difficult, especially now that she heard her father's words earlier. It made her start to overthink what would happen to her in the future and what would happen to Norwan. She doesn't want to see Norwan inside of jail just because her father put him there. She can't believe Norwan will suffer because of her father's decision.“What are we gonna do now, Norwan?” Natalie asks him and looks at him. Norwan just gives her a small smile as even he doesn't know what's gonna happen between the two of them and especially to Natalie; both of them are thinking of what will happen to each other. Norwan can't stand to think that Natalie is getting married to someone.“Maybe we ca
After some hours, Don Grego decides to go directly to the station as he will start to file some cases against Norwan. He meets his Lawyer first and consults about the best cases to file for Norwan. He's with his Lawyer, and they're starting some procedures to file the case against Norwan. He's really serious about putting Norwan in jail. His blood is really boiling Norwan, and he can't stand to see him near his daughter.“The police are starting to process our request.” Don Grego's Lawyer said. He sat down in front of him and sighed as he looked at Don Grego, who was deadly serious.“Don, I am just curious about things.”He said, so Don Grego looked at him and gave him permission to ask his question.“Why are you doing this?” His Lawyer asks, so Don Grego looks away and sighs.“This is for my daughter, " he answered, which made the lawyer frown and sigh. He looked in another direction before he started to ask another set of questions.“Ms. Natalie told the circle that she and Mr. Norwa
Natalie is staring at nowhere while Norwan is buying some tickets for them. They're already at the airport. After they are away from the hospital, Norwan and Natalie go directly to buy some things for them disguised. She even cuts her hair so no one can know and see her. The same goes for Norwan, who cuts off his whole hair. As soon as he gets the ticket, Norwan goes to Natalie's side and kisses her on her cheeks, which causes her to look at him. “I got our ticket,” Norwan said, so Natalie smiled at him and sighed. She was nervous, and even though she wouldn't tell Norwan, he could still feel and smell it from her.“I'm nervous,” Natalie said, so Norwan held her hands, which made her comfortable at some point while she looked out the airport window and watched some people pass by.“Just think about us having our freedom after this,” Norwan said, and Natalie turned to look at him. I know it sounds selfish, but we're doing this for us, right?” Norwan added, and Natalie nodded at him a
The flight took some hours before it finally landed at the airport. Norwan and Natalie got out of the Plane together while they were holding some of their things. The wind blew from their faces, and as soon as Norwan felt that wind, he smiled and looked at Natalie, who was also smiling.“We could finally get the freedom that we're looking for,” Norwan said to Natalie, who embraced him and looked at him in his eyes.“We should forget things and our problems for now; we're here now to start a new life again,” Natalie said, which made Norwan smile. He can't help but smile while looking at Natalie because, finally, they can have freedom together, far from the people who want them to be separated.Norwan and Natalie start walking inside the airport and planning things for them. They're new to this country and need to adjust very much to the place and the people near them. For now, Norwan booked a cab so they could go to the nearest hotel, which they had also booked online. The language of
The fire had nearly gone out. Just embers now, glowing faintly in the hearth like distant stars. Natalie stirred, curling closer to Norwan’s chest, her breath warm against his collarbone. Outside, the wind had quieted. The whole estate, the world even, seemed to be holding its breath.Norwan looked down at her, heart full.He thought about everything—the pain they’d walked through, the sharp words, the silences, the impossible distance that had once stretched between them. And he thought about how they had come back. Not the same, but stronger. Truer. Real.His fingers gently brushed a curl away from her cheek. She sighed in her sleep, and something in him stirred with a quiet, steady certainty.Now.He reached into his coat pocket—he’d been carrying it for weeks. Waiting. Wondering. But tonight… there was no wondering. Only clarity.He shifted carefully, reaching for the small velvet pouch. Natalie stirred as he moved, blinking herself awake with a sleepy murmur. “What time is it?”“
The old vineyard estate looked different in the spring.The ivy on the walls had crept higher, full and green, curling over the window frames like nature had decided to reclaim the stone in the softest of ways. Blossoms bloomed along the edges of the courtyard, painting the corners with blush pink and cream. Lanterns swung gently from the carved wooden posts near the entrance, catching the warm afternoon light.Norwan held Natalie’s hand as they approached the heavy oak doors. She squeezed his fingers once—not nervous, but… aware. Of what this meant. Of how far they'd come.They were here together.As one.And that wasn’t just a step forward—it was a declaration.The door swung open before they could knock.Don Grego stood there in his crisp tunic, white hair swept back, and a look in his eyes that turned immediately to warmth the second he saw them.“Natalie,” he greeted first, voice rich with pride. “You came.”“And I brought this one with me,” she said, nudging Norwan’s shoulder pl
AFTER Five months.That’s how long it had been since Norwan first stood beneath the garden’s twisted archway again, with Natalie only a few paces away but heartbreaks apart.He hadn’t expected her to forgive him right away—hadn’t even dared hope. But he came back every week, sometimes with tea, sometimes with silence, sometimes with stories from the outpost or awkward attempts at old jokes she used to laugh at. Sometimes she walked away. Sometimes she listened. But slowly, something had changed.She stopped flinching when he touched her hand.She started asking him questions again—nothing deep at first, just idle curiosities. But over time, her words sharpened. So did her gaze. She stopped waiting to see if he’d break her again, and started watching to see if he’d stay.And he had. He stayed through her guarded silences, through her sharp comments and long absences. He stayed when she didn’t answer his letters. When she didn’t come to the solstice feast. When she didn’t say his name f
The cliffs were quieter now. The wind had lost its bite, and the sky hung in a heavy kind of hush, thick with the weight of words unspoken.Norwan walked beside Drixie, his shoulders hunched, hands shoved into his coat pockets. They hadn’t spoken since leaving the garden—just the crunch of gravel underfoot and the low murmur of distant waves.He didn’t know what to say.Or maybe, he was just afraid of what would come out if he tried.Drixie glanced at him sideways, her steps slowing to match his. “So… we just gonna keep walking until the sun explodes or do you want to talk about it?”Norwan exhaled through his nose. “I don’t know what to say.”“That’s funny. You used to have so much to say when you were telling me I was overreacting about Natalie.”He winced. “Drix…”“I’m not trying to rub salt,” she said, holding up a hand. “I’m trying to remind you that you weren’t exactly a saint either.”His mouth opened, then closed.Drixie stopped walking and leaned against a lichen-covered boul
The morning breeze was cool, laced with the scent of sea salt and honeyed flowers. Natalie sat on the stone ledge just outside the estate garden, barefoot, her wrap slipping from one shoulder. The sky was still pale with morning light, the world slow to wake—except for Norwan.He stood behind her, arms loose around her waist, chin resting lightly on her shoulder. They weren’t speaking, not really. Just… being.There was something sacred in that quiet. A peace she hadn’t expected to find so soon.“I forgot what this felt like,” he murmured, breath warm against her skin. “Just… existing with you.”“You never really existed with me,” she said, not cruelly—just honest. “You stood beside me. But you were always somewhere else.”Norwan tensed slightly, then nodded. “You’re right.”She reached up, her fingers brushing the side of his hand. “You’re here now.”“I am.”He pressed a kiss to the curve of her neck. It was soft. Unhurried. She didn’t move away.Natalie leaned back against him, and
The wind had quieted by the time they walked back toward the estate. The path curved gently through wild grass and dune flowers, and though they walked close, their hands didn’t touch. Not yet.Natalie had always been the one who forgave too easily. Who filled the silence between heartbreak and healing with hope. But this time, she needed more than words. More than promises spoken through the haze of guilt and longing.This time, she would test him.They reached the guest suite just as the sun began casting golden light across the windows. Natalie stopped at the threshold and turned to face Norwan, studying the lines of his face.“I’m not inviting you in,” she said evenly. “Not yet.”“I wasn’t expecting you to,” Norwan replied, voice calm but rough.She nodded, her gaze searching. “I want to believe you. But belief isn’t trust. And trust…” She exhaled. “Trust is earned.”“I understand,” he said.Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Then prove it.”Norwan lifted his chin. “How?”She considered
The wind pressed soft against them, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Natalie stayed wrapped in Norwan’s arms a moment longer, grounding herself in the truth of his presence. The weight of him. The warmth. The subtle, quiet tremble in his chest.When she finally pulled back, it was not with anger or accusation, but with a kind of clarity that only came after everything else had burned away.“I need to ask you something,” she said.Norwan nodded, gaze steady.Natalie’s voice was low, but firm. “Do you really love me? Or was Cora right?”The name hit like a stone between them. Norwan’s jaw tightened, and he exhaled, ragged and slow.“She told me you never did,” Natalie continued, heart thudding. “That I was just… a choice. Strategic. Convenient. That you only wanted me for what I represented.”His eyes didn’t leave hers. “She lied.”“You’re sure?”“I’m sure.” He stepped back just enough to frame her face gently with his hands, thumbs brushing her cheekbones. “Natalie, Cora
The morning after the wedding was softer than the one before. The sun rose gently through sheer curtains, birdsong drifting in through the open window of Natalie’s guest suite. The scent of saltwater hung faint in the air, and for the first time in days, Lisanne was quiet.Natalie stood in the middle of the room, staring at the small suitcase she’d packed with practiced precision. Folded dresses, her journal, the shell necklace Lynn had given her years ago, and the lavender wrap she wore to the ceremony—all tucked away with a sense of finality.She wasn’t running. At least, not in the way she once had. This time, she was simply… leaving. Ready to return home. Or something close to it.But even as she zipped the bag closed, her chest ached.He didn’t come.That thought had rooted itself in her bones, playing on a loop since last night. She hadn’t expected a grand apology. Not a scene or a speech. But part of her, the part that still dreamed, had hoped Norwan might appear. That he’d wal
Lisanne’s gardens were bursting with color—sun-drenched and vibrant beneath the clear spring sky. Wild roses danced on trellises, and soft ribbons fluttered in the breeze, tied with care around every chair and bouquet. It was the kind of day stories were written about, with sunlight painting the world gold and laughter hanging in the air like music.Natalie stood among the crowd, smiling as the guests turned toward the aisle. She wasn’t dressed to stand out—simple, elegant, quiet in lavender silk—but something about her presence still drew eyes. Maybe it was the way she carried herself: not like someone trying to blend in, but like someone who had learned how to exist, even with ghosts whispering at her heels.When the music swelled, and everyone rose to their feet, Natalie’s breath caught.There, at the end of the aisle, stood Chad.His suit was a sharp slate gray, tailored to perfection, but his composure was anything but. His shoulders trembled. His lips parted like he couldn’t bel