The instant I spotted him, the peace that had suffused me crumbled into nothingness, and my expression darkened in a flash.
He walked over to me, his steps were slow and unsteady. Every single step he took probably tugged at his wound, for his brows creased slightly.
“I’m back,” he announced.
He stood half a meter away from me, and his voice was calm and indifferent.
“You’ve never visited me once during the whole two weeks.” He gave a bark of self-derisive laughter.
So, he’s here to reprimand me?
I had nothing to say to him; hence, I stood up and headed out the door.
Nathaniel reached out and grabbed my arms, a hint of weariness staining his eyes. “Do you really detest seeing me that much?”
Slap! I swung my hand and struck him across the face.
Stunned, Nathaniel froze for a long moment. A flash of murder flitted across his face, but he promptly suppressed it and coaxed me patiently, “Okay, you’ve vented your anger, so please stop throwing a tantrum.”
Slap! I slapped him in the same spot but even harder this time.
In the next instant, I snapped and lost all control. I struck him across the face again and again with both hands.
Swaying slightly, Nathaniel tried to stop me. “All right, that’s enough, Sienna. Don’t challenge my bottom line.”
I ignored him, baling my hands into fists and raining blows upon him desperately with all my might. “You’re a devil! A murderer, in fact! You killed a mother, she had such a beautiful life! Just go and die!”
“Stop! That’s enough! Sienna!” He finally blew his top and clutched at my arms, keeping me immobile. Then, he forced me to look into his eyes. “Why? Why must you treat me in such a manner? Sienna, I risked my life to save you, yet you’re blaming me instead?”
“It was Mr. Jensen who sent someone to kill Rose!” I roared, glaring at him with eyes brimming with sheer hatred. “I recognized the gun in the boy’s hand! Do you think that I would be in the dark just because you don’t say anything?”
Nathaniel stiffened, making it clear as day that he didn’t expect me to have guessed the truth. He remained rooted to the spot, at a loss for words.
Sneering, I started struggling once more. “Let go of me! Don’t touch me with your hands that are stained with the blood of countless innocent lives! I find it revolting!”
Nathaniel merely stood there motionlessly like a statue, neither allowing me to leave nor uttering a single word.
A long while later, he sighed as though exhausted to the core. “What would you have me do for you to forget all that?”
“I’ll never forget about it!” I blurted.
“The matter has to be resolved sooner or later. You can never leave me, and it doesn’t benefit either of us for you to hold a grudge within you. Just say the word. As long as it’s something within my capability, I’ll do it without the slightest hesitation,” Nathaniel offered placidly.
Hah! My grudge isn’t just because of Rose alone. How forgetful of him! Anthony said we’ll avenge her, and she died at Mr. Jensen’s order. Fine, then. I’m also going to push him into the line of fire!
“Well, unless you break away from Mr. Jensen and no longer commit all those heinous deeds henceforth. I know it’s within your capability. You’ve got legal businesses.” I narrowed my eyes as I probed at his bottom line.
Mr. Jensen almost took his life just because he wanted to keep me by his side. What would the consequences be if he were to leave that criminal organization?
Nathaniel’s expression went cold, and his grip on me loosened considerably. His gaze turned unfocused for a moment, and he didn’t reply immediately.
He knew full well the price he would have to pay if he were to do so.
“Why, are you reluctant to do so? Sure enough, money earned through reprehensible means and days spent killing people are more important to you compared to me!” I drawled mockingly.
Then, I added, “That’s fine. This is a game, after all. The fact that you can’t do it only proves that you’re as outstanding as Anthony and will never lose your sensibility because of love. The only difference is he once did it for my sake. That’s why I can’t forget him until this very day. You, on the other hand, are smarter. You don’t sacrifice anything; thus, you won’t lose anything. When you’re sick of me, you won’t be harassed by me either. You’re the smartest!”
“All right, let’s just end the discussion here. I never expect much from you anyway.”
After saying that, I broke free from Nathaniel while he was still in a trance. I sprinted into the adjacent guest room and slammed the door shut.
I didn’t lock it since he could either get the key or kick the door open, rendering that futile.
However, I just wanted to be alone right then, even if it were only for a few seconds.
To my surprise, he didn’t come and pester me. By the time I exited the room at noon, there was no longer any sign of him in the house. Even his men who had been stationed in the house were gone.
I was rather astonished, and I thought that he had given up the idea of keeping me under lock and key. It wasn’t until I went downstairs did I realize that they had merely moved out of the house.
Ah, I was too naive!
Nonetheless, I rejoiced that I at least didn’t have to face him again that day.
Late at night, I spaced out as I stared at the female anchor chattering away on television, wondering how much longer it would take Anthony before he finally busted Nathaniel’s operation.
Without warning, Nathaniel stumbled in just then. He had just reached the door when the reek of alcohol hit me hard.
I pinched my nose in disdain, watching as he plopped onto the couch. Only then did I notice the bruises marring his face and the swelling at the corner of his mouth.
Hmm? Was he beaten up outside after imbibing too much?
Despite my curiosity, I didn’t voice that question as the narcissistic man would interpret any question from me as being concerned about him.
He leaned his head back against the sofa. After a moment, he lifted his heavy eyelids and wanly unknotted the tie at his neck.
After slipping it off, he tossed it to the side casually. With his elbows propped against his knees, he placed his hands on his face and rubbed it to ease the discomfort from the alcohol. In the end, he kept his hand over his mouth and nose, only baring his eyes as he slowly murmured, “Are you not the least bit concerned about why I ended up in such a state?”
Why should I be concerned?
I said nothing, but I still curiously cast him a glance.
Compared to his gentlemanly appearance in the past, he’s indeed a tad sloppy today. As far as I remember, this is the first time he’s ever been this unseemly.
“I talked to Mr. Jensen.” Suddenly, Nathaniel seemed to no longer give a whit about anything. After saying that, he dropped his hands and leaned back against the couch. He stared at me tipsily as he awaited my reaction.
Verily, I was surprised by his statement. With my eyes pinned on him, I quirked an eyebrow as I did not expect him to do that for real.
“Then?” In reality, the injuries on him and the fact that he returned relatively unscathed had given me the answer. I only wanted to know how Garrett crushed him.
“Hah! He naturally turned me down. Then, he beat me up, almost shattering my ribs.” Nathaniel gave a bark of self-derisive laughter and stared right ahead blankly as though he was talking about someone’s matter.
“Oh, really? Since he didn’t shatter them in the end, it proves that he has some affection for you that he didn’t consign you to death,” I intentionally commented sarcastically.
Hearing that, Nathaniel shook his head. “He gave me two choices. It was either to die with you or to continue being his outstanding lackey, and he won’t touch you anymore.”
“So, you dragged a battered and bruised body back to tell me that not only did you anger Mr. Jensen because of me, but you’re even willing to be his dog for my sake?” I questioned in a scornful tone.
Judging from his attitude before Mr. Jensen previously, he probably has quite a lot of dignity in that organization. But if he wants to secure our safety, he can only obey the man to the letter from now on, going and doing whatever is asked of him.
Nathaniel didn’t deny it, but he changed the subject with a grim smile. “You’ll hate me if I stay by Mr. Jensen’s side, but we’ll both die if I don’t do so. From the look of things, there’s nothing too bad about maintaining the current situation. At least, I can keep you by my side.”
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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