I was telling him that we were in a safe spot, so he did not need to worry about Nathaniel’s sudden appearance or him abruptly realizing something amiss.
However, Anthony was determined to play safe. “If I can say things that nice to your ears, we wouldn’t be divorcing each other and fighting over the assets,” he said, cold and ruthless.
Once that was said, he hurried to the door. However, right as he was by the doorway, he skidded to a stop.
“Time can change everything, and it can ruin everything.”
Then, without sparing me another glance, he left the break room.
Although the heater in the break room was working, I found myself shaking from the cold, and I could not help but wrap my arms around myself.
Time can change everything. Does he mean it literally, or is he hinting me at something else?
I stayed in the break room for a long time, thinking about what Anthony had said last. Yet, no matter how much I mulled over his words, I could not wrap my mind around what he meant.
The door creaked open. Thinking that it was Millie—that she had come to urge me to hurry—I muttered to her, “Millie, say, what do you think it means by time can change everything?”
However, when I lifted my head, what greeted me was the sight of Nathaniel’s too-pale face under the bright light.
It was at that very moment I realized what Anthony meant.
Nathaniel had been watching us for a long time. Even if we did nothing, our time spent alone in an enclosed space was more than enough to tell him about our relationship.
After all, how could two people who abhorred each other be able to peacefully stay in the same room for long?
Nathaniel studied me from head to toe. A beat later, he said with amusement, “It seems like Anthony is more determined to not love you than to love you.”
I froze before I belatedly realized what had happened—Nathaniel had assumed that Anthony’s last words were a rejection.
He had clearly come to rub salt on my wound.
It seemed like the messages in the morning had been a shock to his system.
“That’s right. He’s good, isn’t he? He can stop loving someone right after declaring so. Yet, he can fall for another woman almost immediately after that. On the other hand, you, Nathaniel, don’t even know what it’s like to love someone,” I said with a small smile.
That was why people said not to cross a woman, especially a woman in one’s heart. Otherwise, one would only be hurting themself when one hurt her.
I had managed to make Nathaniel drop his smile and begin scowling. His head was slightly lowered, and even the lights above could not help conceal the menacing aura he was exuding. “Have you forgotten what it’s like to infuriate me right after leaving the hospital?”
Ruthless words from him, and I knew that he could do what he said. However, he had forgotten how much more annoying I could be when I put my heart to it.
“I didn’t, so are you going to shoot me again? Aim well this time,” I taunted as I pointed at my heart.
I was fearless, for the sledgehammer to my body was a sledgehammer to his heart.
At that, Nathaniel took in a deep breath to calm himself. He then muttered, “The reason that you can live is not because I didn’t want you to die but because only I can decide when you should die. Do you know this, Sienna? The grim reaper is going to knock on your door soon.”
“Really?” I put my hands down and walked toward him while refusing to believe in superstitions. Then, I walked around him in circles. Nathaniel’s eyes were subconsciously glued to me.
I stopped right behind him. “In that case, wouldn’t I die even earlier?”
While I was speaking, I reached out to touch his right hand.
The moment our skin made contact, Nathaniel’s reaction was exactly the same as Anthony’s. He pulled his hand away abruptly and turned toward me in shock.
“What are you doing?” Nathaniel queried.
“I’m just doing what lovers should do to each other. Since you’re so clueless, don’t you think I should take the lead?” I stared at him affectionately as if I had fallen for him.
However, what I really wanted was to tear him apart.
Nathaniel was still in shock. His facial expression was of a person who had just gotten taken advantage of. Something remained unchanged, though. His eyes were still filled with evil intentions, and he was like an impatient monster ready to pounce at any moment.
Fortunately, it wouldn’t work on me. After all, once the monster was all softened up, it was harmless.
While he was looking at me, I stared back with a grin. “I’m guessing that you’ve never laid a finger on a woman before?”
Nathaniel shrugged. “You guessed wrong.”
I was wondering why he was speaking with such a snobbish tone. Or perhaps, that was just how men were when they talked to the opposite sex.
I shifted my gaze away and chuckled lightly. While acting like I was a bit riled up, I said, “Oh, I’ve underestimated you then. It seems like your experience in intimate relationships is far beyond my expectations.”
With that, I looked down and fiddled with my fingers. In my head, I was thinking about what could I do to make Nathaniel feel the greatest pain in the world. But the way I acted was as if I was a grumpy and jealous woman whining about her man having affairs.
With romance and the feeling of uneasiness intertwined, the atmosphere in the private restroom was getting more and more dreadful by the minute. So bad that it could make a person gasp for air.
After a while, Nathaniel cleared his throat and said, “I’m not as sleazy as you think I am.”
Upon hearing that, my lips curved into a smile, and my eyes glistened with confidence. Why are you so eager to explain yourself, Nathaniel? Why are you so worried? Or do you want me to keep teasing you? Don’t worry, Nathaniel. Nothing is going to happen to you. Not until you are totally enchanted, at least.
A few moments later, I raised my head, looked at him with wonder in my eyes, and asked, “You said that just to make me happy, didn’t you?”
His brows furrowed. “What?”
Without giving him time to react, I looked down and mumbled, “It’s okay. It’s better this way, I guess. I understand that everyone has their own past. I have no right to ask anything of you.”
My words had just implied Nathaniel’s purity as a dark past which he couldn’t bring himself to admit. Not only that, I’d said it in a way that portrayed myself as an inferior lady who craved for nothing but his love.
But in reality, I was only luring him closer, so I could cause him the pain he had never felt before.
After all, true hunters would often present themselves as prey.
“I…” Nathaniel was about to explain, but then he changed his tone and coldly said, “It’s good that you know. I’m not a man that can be easily fooled by you.”
Still refusing to give in, are you, Mr. Hall? But too bad, it’s too late now. Once I heard he had the intention to draw a line between us, I stopped acting desperate and put on a straight face. I stood up bearishly and started walking out while saying, “Fine then. Treat it as I was overthinking.”
As I walked out of the room, I slammed the door shut behind me.
Meanwhile, Millie was surrounded by Nathaniel’s bodyguards outside the room. It was a tense situation. But when she saw me coming out, she calmed down a little. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
I nodded and gave her a look of reassurance.
Not long after, Nathaniel came out as well.
Then, I couldn’t help but tease him a little. “Since we don’t know each other well, I guess you have no reason to detain my bodyguard, right? Mr. Hall?”
Nathaniel nonchalantly took a glance at his bodyguards and gave them a signal to let Millie go.
“Thank you,” I thanked him blandly before leaving with Millie.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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