<b>Chapter </b><b>376 </b>


    I lowered my gaze, my voice soft. “Nathan, for adults, life is more about weighing pros and cons<b>, </b>makingpromises. Do you really still believe in the power of love?”


    28


    I let out a quiet sigh. “Love is a luxury–it takes two people who truly want each other, the blessings of everyone around them, and time. It has to survive the journey from passion to something steady and calm, discovering new things with someone who’s be familiar.”


    Nathan looked at me, stunned.


    I took a deep breath. “Loving someone is easy. The hard part is sticking with it for the long haul. When my marriage with Jared settled into routine, he wanted to relive the journey of love with someone new.”


    “I’m not him, and I never will be,” Nathan said, his voice low and hoarse. “You haven’t tried with me. How do <i>you </i>know I’d end up


    like him?”


    “I don’t have time to try. I have to make a choice now,” I said, biting my lip. “Nathan, the Chancellor Family helped <i>you </i>out. You owe them, and you know it.”


    “I can repay their kindness with money,” Nathan said. “I’ve got enough now. I can pay back what I owe the Chancellor Family.”


    “The Chancellor Family doesn’t care about your money. What they want is you–the perfect catch for their daughter, because she likes you,” I said, looking at Nathan. Sometimes, I really think he’s too naive.


    Nathan’s face turned pale.


    “You’re the real prize they’re after,” I said coldly,ying the truth bare.


    Nathan gave a bitter, self–mocking smile. “Maybe if I’d never met you, never been with you, I would’ve just gone along with whatever life threw at me.”


    “You can forget about me right now,” I said, my voice cold and unfeeling.


    Nathan let out a bitterugh. “What do you think I am, a robot? You can’t just flip a switch and erase everything.”


    I was stunned. For a moment, it felt like we’d hit a dead end.


    “The more we try to untangle this, the messier it gets. Let’s just make a clean break and go back to where we belong. It’s for the best,” I said, standing up, ready to leave.


    Nathan reached out and grabbed my arm. “Fate brought us together–it’s not just a coincidence. Will you wait for me? I’ll go talk to the Chancellor Family about this right now.”


    I turned to look at him, and Nathan’s gaze was unwavering. “I won’t let you get hurt because of this.”


    “Nathan, take it easy,” I said. I could tell he wasn’t thinking straight right now, probably just talking nonsense.


    “I’m calm,” Nathan replied, his gaze growing steady. “I know exactly what I want.”


    “I don’t want to hurt your family, and don’t want to make things hard for you,” I said, shaking my head. I’m just not brave enough to go down this road with him.


    09:24 Mon, 25 Aug


    (20)


    “You don’t have to do anything. Just wait for me,” Nathan pleaded softly. “Just give me a little time. Promise me you won’t fall for anyone else while I’m gone, okay?”


    I froze for a second. Was he talking about Ryan?


    Nathan saw I was silent and murmured, “After everything we’ve shared, all the closeness and intimacy… In my heart, you’ve already been my wife. I just can’t ept us turning into strangers in the end.”


    My eyes burned. His words smashed a crack right through the walls I’d built around my heart, and I could feel something inside me


    about to break loose.


    “Nathan, why does it have to be soplicated?” I said, my voice drained.


    Nathan shook his head, his voice rough. “I wish it could be simple too, but sometimes, when everything gets mixed together, it just turns into a mess.”


    My mind went nk. Love is just between two people, but marriage drags in two whole families<i>. </i><i>You </i>can talk love through and make sense of it, but once you step into marriage, everything gets muddled and confusing.


    Nathan crushed me against his chest, almost desperate. My forehead mmed into his solid chest, making my head throb for a


    moment.


    He leaned in close, his voice low and intense by my ear. “I’d give up anything, pay any price, just to be with you.”


    “No!” I shoved him away, hard. “I’m not going to pay for your choices, and I don’t want to carry that guilt. Nathan, don’t lose your mind over me. Don’t do anything reckless.”


    Nathan stumbled back two steps, staring at me in disbelief.


    I met his gaze, my mind crystal clear. “Leaving me will hurt for a while, but your career will keep you standing tall, give you pride, and the guts to take on the world. If you can’t make the call, let me do it for you.”


    Nathan just stood there, like he was rooted to the spotpletely stunned.


    “This is me ending things. From <i>now </i><i>on</i>, focus on your own life, and don’t evere find me again,” I said, not looking back as I got


    in the car.