<b>Chapter </b><b>469 </b>


    “Are you leaving?” Nathan’s voice was hoarse, maybe from the booze or something else.


    I nodded. “Melissa’sing to get me. I just want to chat with her for a bit.”


    Nathan nced at the door. “She’s not here yet. Will you keep mepany in the lounge for a while?”


    I nced over and saw some fruitid out in the lounge, so I followed him in.


    ?7.59%


    The white leather sofa was super soft. I sank into it, and Nathan sat down heavily on the single chair next to me, looking totally wiped out.


    “Your hair…” I’d been holding back my feelings all night, but I couldn’t take it anymore. “What’s going on?”


    Nathan let out a bitterugh. “Does it look that bad?”


    My eyes stung, and I shook my head. “No, it’s not that. It’s just… why has it turned <i>so </i>white all of a sudden? You’re still so young.”


    Nathan nced at his reflection in the ss and gave a wry smile. “If you don’t think it looks bad, then I guess it’s fine.”


    “Why don’t you see a doctor? Maybe it’s something they can fix,” I said, concern clear in my voice.


    “It’s nothing. I don’t really care,” Nathan replied with aid–back shrug. “Don’t feel bad, okay? This has nothing to do with


    you. I’ve just been working too much and not getting enough sleep.”


    “Really?” I stared into his eyes, but he couldn’t meet mine, his gaze flickering away.


    Nathan’s voice softened. “Victoria, don’t dwell on it, alright?”


    I nodded. “Okay. But promise me you’ll get some rest from now on, and don’t work yourself to the bone. Work never really


    ends, you know.”


    Nathan gazed at me in silence. With no one else around, he finally let his guard down, and the raw sincerity in his eyes made my heart uneasy.


    He just kept looking at me, his eyes rimmed red, holding a broken glimmer that seemed ready to shatter.


    Seeing him like this, so close to falling apart, my heart twisted with feelings I couldn’t name. He kept saying he was fine, but deep down, I knew he’d never truly healed.


    “Nathan..“1 started, but my voice faded away.


    “I’m sorry” Nathan suddenly buried his face in his hands, his voice low and trembling as he apologized. “I’m sorry, Victoria. I tried, but I just can’t do it. I can’t let you go.”


    That apology hit me right in the heart. There’s nothing wrong with loving someone–it’s just that our timing was all wrong.


    If only we’d met at the right moment, maybe we could’ve held each other tight, without holding back.


    10:32 Sat, 30 Augu


    “You didn’t do anything wrong. You don’t have to apologize. I’m the one who failed you,” I said, feeling guilty.


    Nathan’s eyes were red as he asked, “Victoria, is it alright if I wait for you?”


    My heart thudded hard in my chest.


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    “If you say yes, I’ll wait for you, quietly. Whenever you’re ready, we can finally be together the way we should,” Nathan blurted out, the alcohol giving him courage.


    I was stunned. Nathan’s love had always been restrained and genuine, something he could truly be proud of.


    +23


    “I’m sorry, but I can’t give you any hope,” I whispered. His sincere waiting was <i>too </i>much for me to ept, so I could only


    turn him down.


    Nathan’s eyes filled with disappointment, as if my words had hit him harder than he could handle.


    “You won’t even let me wait for you?” he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion.


    “It’s not that. You really don’t have to wait for me,” I said, getting up and starting to walk out.


    Just then, Melissa came rushing into the hall, and I called out to stop her.


    She spun around, worry all over her face. “Victoria, are you alright? Did you get drunk? Did any guy mess with you? Seriously, tell me!”


    Before I could say a word, Nathan came out from the door behind me.


    Melissa’s face broke into a grin. “With Nathan around, I don’t have to worry about you at all.”


    Nathan walked over to Melissa and said, “She had a bit to drink. Can you look after her for me?”


    Melissa thumped her chest confidently. “Rx, Nathan. Victoria’s with me–nothing’s gonna happen to her.”


    Nathan’s eyes were shadowed with loneliness as he nced at me. “I’m heading upstairs. There’s a shareholders‘ meeting tomorrow, so you’ll need toe by and sign the papers.”


    “Okay, I’ll be there,” I said, then headed out with Melissa.


    Her car was parked a bit farther away, and she grumbled, “A bunch of official cars showed up earlier, and now the entrance is packed.”


    I nced over and, sure enough, there were several cars parked out front, including two really imposing sedans.


    “Wait a sec, Victoria, I think I just spotted the deputy mayor and a few other officials. I’m gonna go say hi,” Melissa said, clearly on a roll withworkingtely. She ditched me and practically jogged over to mingle and get her face known with the group.


    Melissa was a natural at this–slick and savvy, always knowing what to say. She probably really had met those officials before, because she walked up with a friendly smile and greeted each of them like an old acquaintance.


    10:32 Sat, 30 Aug