Norwan rushed to his office after reading the document that Trever had given; he was mad and wanted to hurt someone just because of what he had read. As he arrived at his office, he immediately informed his secretary to call Natalie's office and set an appointment to meet her that day. After that, he sits in his office chair facing the documents referring to the termination of the contract."What is she planning to do? Don't tell me she will terminate our business partnership just because of our past? This is ridiculous!" Norwan says to his mind and tries to calm himself, but he can't because he knows what would happen if Natalie terminates their partnership with Norwan's business. This may have caused Norwan's business to fall in sales and some investors to cancel their shares and put them in Natalie's office.Natalie's father, Grego, was known to be the most influential and powerful Alpha in town. Adding to this is that their pack was also known to be the most influential pack in th
Norwan is stunned when Natalie calls him by his full name; this is the very first time that Natalie calls him using his full name. He was also stunned while looking at Natalie; it seemed like Natalie was a very different person. From the red lipstick on her lips, short brown curly hair, and how she dressed. These things Natalie hadn’t done before. Norwan also remembered what Natalie told him about her hair.“When will you cut your hair? It’s too long.” Norwan asked, so Natalie smiled at him and put down the utensils she held.“I will only cut my hair if we break up and I move on from you,” Natalie said with a wide smile.“That’s ridiculous. Why would you even do that?” Norwan asked, so Natalie chuckled and walked in his direction.“Because I believe that my hair is the witness to how our relationship started, and all our memories resemble my hair.” She answered, which made Norwan smile secretly.Norwan swallowed after he remembered what Natalie said to him.“What can I help you? Mr. N
Natalie smirks as she looks at Norwan, who stuns in his place, while looking at Natalie with his shocked eyes. He cannot believe what Natalie wants. Norwan also realizes something that this scenario happened already when he told Natalie to kneel down to Cora because of the accident. Norwan suddenly remembers how Natalie begged him to believe her during that time, but he never did.“Is she doing a revenge right now?” Norwan asked himself. “No, I knew she can’t do that thing. She’s too soft to do that.” Norwan said to himself and smiled bitterly while looking at Natalie.“Why would I even do that?” Norwan said and scratched his head. “I didn’t do anything to be served to kneel down in front of a lowly woman like you,” Norwan added and smirked after he insulted Natalie. Natalie just smiles sweetly at him and starts to pour her glass of wine again before she looks at Norwan seriously.“Then, there’s nothing to discuss now, Mr. North. My decision is now final.” Natalie said and sipped her
Norwan went home after what happened to him in Natalie’s office; this time, he concluded something to his mind while driving home. That is, Natalie really changed, and he thinks she will be why his hard work to make his business big caused him to slowly put it back to where it all started.Before he entered his house, he took a deep breath and started to walk inside; as he went inside, he saw Cora watching a movie with his sister, Dixie. He knows the two's bond and knows that Drixie wants Cora to be his Luna.“You’re home; you are too early today, huh,” Drixie said and drank her wine. Cora looked to Norwan’s place and smiled as soon as she saw him. She stood up and went in front of Norwan.“Why are you early today, Norwan? Does something happen?” Cora asked. Norwan smiled at her, went to the couch, and removed his tie.“I just wanted to sleep early today,” Norwan said; he doesn’t like to tell them what really happened because he knows that Drixie will start to say words he doesn’t lik
“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!” Amanda’s voice echoed to Norwan’s mansion. She just sighed, and Drixie just rolled her eyes and sipped her wine glass while Cora watched the three of them while she sat next to Amanda. Cora could feel Amanda’s anger right now, so she tilted her head to look at Amanda and swallowed as she saw Amanda’s red, angry face.“This can’t be true,” Amanda said and looked severely at Norwan. “You know what will happen if you let this thing happen, Norwan,” Amanda added. After she heard about the termination of the partnership, she couldn't stop herself from shouting in anger. She’s one of those people who was given an opportunity to be popular after the collaboration of his son’s business with Natalie’s family business. If the termination of cooperation between Natalie and Norwan happened then this might affect her image to every person who recognizes her as the ‘Mother of popularity,’ and she doesn’t want to happen that.“Do something to make her sign another contract
3 DAYS AFTER NATALIE LEFT THE TOWNNorwan sighed and looked to his ceiling while thinking of something; he couldn’t understand what was happening to him lately. His patience began to shorten, and he was always mad, even at small things. In addition, he always looks for Natalie’s smell whenever he wakes up in his bed every morning. It’s been three days since Natalie left, but Norwan can still feel her presence in his mansion whenever he looks at any angle of his own house; he also accidentally calls Cora Natalie, and Cora begins to think that Norwan is looking for his ex-luna.Norwan tilts his head to the right side of the bed where Natalie always sleeps; he sighs and smiles a little as he sees their picture on the mini table beside his bed. “Why am I feeling like this?” Norwan asked himself to sit on his bed and look back at their wedding photo.“Why do I feel like I miss her?” He added.After an hour, Norwan leaves his mansion and goes to the bar where his friend Mario works. Then h
Norwan entered his office and stopped as soon as he saw his mom sitting in his own chair; Amanda looked in Norwan’s direction and smiled as soon as she saw her son. Norwan sighed, put his coffee on his table, and looked at his mom, smiling at him like she had a plan.“What do you want?” Norwan asked. Amanda stood up from his chair, and Norwan took this opportunity to sit in his own chair while his mom stood in front of his table.“I’ve come earlier to Natalie’s office,” Amanda said, so Norwan looked up to his mom after he heard her words. Amanda already saw in her son's eyes that he was concerned, and he was scared of something in his eyes because of what his mom had said. The truth is that Norwan is scared after hearing that his mom came from Natalie’s office. He’s worried that his mom might do something not nice to Natalie because he knows his mom. Amanda has hated Natalie her whole life, and he knows that something happened between the two, even though Amanda still didn’t say anyth
Chad sighed as he watched Natalie turn her back from him; he put down the plates he was holding and looked at his phone as soon as he felt its vibration. He rolls his eyes and puts it back in his pocket once he sees the messages he received and then looks up to the stairs where Natalie is heading. Chad can’t blame Natalie as he knows she is mad at him because she waited for him for about three hours last night.Chad was about to follow Natalie to her room when his phone rang, so he got it from his pocket and answered the call.“What do you want?” He asked while his head was frowning. He sighed, massaged his forehead, and then went outside the house.“Stop bugging me. I told you already to stop.” He said, looking back at the mansion’s front door before turning his back. While Natalie was in her room, she frowned as soon as she saw Chad talking on his phone from the outside. She just sighed and continued what she was doing.After a minute of preparation, Natalie went down from the front
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