《Loving You Too Long》


 Chap 1

    Loving you is not a sin, but why must I bear so much pain?


    If I could choose and turn back time, then I wouldn¡¯t try not to fall in love with you. I would go back to the point in time when I didn¡¯t fall in love with you.


    But I know none of this is in my control because all this is the path of my destiny.


    So, may I ask instead?


    If you can¡¯t love me, then stop hurting me.


    Because really, I don¡¯t want this love to turn into hate.


    If you can¡¯t love me, then stop torturing my feelings.


    Because really, I want to remember all the sweet things between us, even if it¡¯s just a matter of fingers.


    If you can¡¯t love me, then let me forget you.


    ______


    The little girl wearing a ballerina dress bowed her body as a sign that the dance was over. The sound of apuse that rang out in the fifteen by-twenty-meter room relieved her fatigue. Finally, Haisley could show off her ballet skills to someone she liked.


    She straightened up. Seeing where her family should be sitting. Seeing their adoring faces. Her eyes looked around, but the person she was looking for was not there. And when the curtain closed, there was nothing the girl could do but let out a long sigh of disappointment.


    ¡°Oh my God, Mommy¡¯s girl can dance that well. I never expected it. Isn¡¯t that right, Daddy?¡± The voice of Mrs. Thea Smith, the girl¡¯s mother, sounded cheerful as she weed her daughter out into the waiting room for the performance.


    ¡°A gift for my beloved daughter.¡± Mr. Smith then handed her a box. The little girl dressed in pink ballet clothes smiled cheerfully. ¡°You¡¯ll open it when you get home, OK?¡± Her father ordered. The girls nodded immediately.


    They then left the hall where the talent show was being held. Walked towards the parking lot, where another husband and wife were waiting for them.


    ¡°Shall we have dinner?¡± Greet the tall, bespectacled man standing towering in front of the girl dressed as a ballerina. He is Mr. Samuel Chayton. A good friend of the Smith family. His two sons are alumni of the school where Haisley is currently studying.


    Mr. and Mrs. Smith nodded their heads.


    ¡°Where are the kids?¡± Mrs. Smith asked with searching eyes.


    ¡°Nathan said that he and Gilbert would follow us straight to the restaurant.¡± Mr. Chayton replied.


    The two families got into their respective cars and left the school to the ce where the restaurant had been booked.


    Haisley, the girl in the ballerina dress, sat in the back seat holding a gift in herp. Her face looked sad as she asked, ¡°Crystal went with Nathan too?¡± she asked finally.


    ¡°Yes. They have to take care of the paperwork at school to register for campus.¡± Her mother answered again. Haisley took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Trying to hold back the tears that were starting to hurt her throat.


    In fact, for thest two months, she had been training hard to get praise from Nathan. But the man instead chose to go with her older sister. Haisley felt annoyed, angry, and jealous as one.


    Their journey to the restaurant was filled with silence because the girl who had just performed seemed reluctant to be disturbed.


    ¡°Save the gift first, darling.¡± Those words came out of Mr. Smith¡¯s mouth right after the car stopped in front of the lobby of a luxurious five-star hotel that Haisley knew belonged to the Chayton family. It is said that the hotel has belonged to the Chayton family for three generations, and Nathan and Gilbert are the next heirs who will continue the Chayton n.


    Where is Nathan? Didn¡¯t his parents say he would follow, but why hasn¡¯t Haisley seen him yet? He was the man Haisley had wanted to see since before the performance started. Instead, this man chose to ignore Haisley¡¯s struggle and instead went with Crystal, Haisley¡¯s older sister, who was his ssmate.


    Haisley obeyed her father¡¯s orders. Put the gift away and cover her ballet outfit with her favorite dusty pink cardigan. Her ballet shoes had changed to normal t, dusty pink shoes. OK, Haisley likes that color.


    She got out of the car, and her father and mother immediately reached out their hands. Each of them took both of her hands and guided her into the hotel area.


    Haisley¡¯s mncholy turned into a big smile when she saw Nathan, his younger brother Gilbert, and Haisley¡¯s older sister, Crystal, already sitting there. Two of the three people waved at her enthusiastically, which made Haisley wave back just as enthusiastically.


    ¡°Hey, ballerina.¡± Crystal¡¯s greeting seemed to spread joy there. Haisley smiled and approached. She hugged her only older sister, seven years older than her. ¡°Your dance was a sess?¡± she asked curiously.


    ¡°Of course. Haisley!¡± Haisley answered while puffing out her chest happily.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°If your show didn¡¯t coincide with my basketballpetition, by God, I would watch your show, H.¡± Aint apanied by a tone of apology came from the mouth of Gilbert, Nathaniel¡¯s younger brother and Haisley¡¯s best friend, ¡°If I were there, I would cheer for you to rece the cheerleader position for my basketball team.¡± He continued, which made Haisley frown in disgust at the thought of a man two years older than her wearing a super short cheer uniform.


    Haisley nced again at Nathan. The only person she had been waiting for praise from. But the man just remained silent. The ss of drink before him attracted his attention more than Haisley¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Because Haisley has been sessful with her dancing. Gilbert has also qualified for the quarter finals, Nathan and Crystal have managed to enter the university of their choice with schrships. So, tonight we will celebrate together by eating delicious food.¡± Samuel Chayton¡¯s voice enlivened the atmosphere again. And not even a minuteter, their table was filled with various tempting dishes.


    ¡°So, when are you leaving?¡± This question made Haisley, chewing her steak, look up immediately. It turned out that her father was asking Nathan and Crystal.


    ¡°As soon as all the administration is finished.¡± Nathaniel answered with a t expression.


    ¡°Lucky for you, you have a son as smart as Nathan. You can retire in peaceter, he could be a great sessor.¡± Praise Mr. Smith again.


    Mr. Chayton  nodded. His other hand rose and patted Nathan¡¯s shoulder happily. ¡°Lucky to have an eldest child who understands our needs as parents.¡± he continued. ¡°After he graduates from university, I will hand over all my efforts to him,¡± he said again.


    ¡°Poor Haisley, because soon you will be gone, she will definitely miss you very much.¡± The teasing words came out of Mrs. Smith¡¯s mouth.


    Haisley red at her mother, intending to threaten her, but instead, it made the adults around the tableugh.


    ¡°Don¡¯t nce at the other girls there, Nath. Poor Haisley will break her heart.¡± Mrs. Smith continued as she yed with Haisley¡¯s hair and rubbed her back gently, making Haisley groan inwardly and want to hide himself because he was embarrassed. Haisley¡¯s expressive attitude invitedughter from everyone except Nathan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will look after him for you, H. If he dares to tease another girlter, I will punish him first.¡± Mrs. Monica Chayton¡¯s promise to Haisley.


    Mrs. Smith nodded her head enthusiastically. They were working together on purpose andughing together.


    With a bright red face, Haisley nced at Nathan. Trying to find out the man¡¯s response. But Nathan didn¡¯t seem to care about anyone at the dining table. The man seemed lost in his thoughts.


    Nathan. Nathaniel Chayton. The neen-year-old man was Haisley¡¯s first love. Mentioning his name could make Haisley embarrassed. Usually, Haisley wants to appear neat and attractive in front of the young man.


    Maybe everyone thinks their feelings are just puppy love, which will disappear and change one day. Or suspect this is just a feeling of liking like someone admires their favorite actor or actress. For Haisley, Nathan is her idol. And now, she must be disappointed because the man filling her teenage diary will leave to continue his education at a higher level. The emotional distance that has always been far away is even further away.


    Haisley didn¡¯t say much because knowing that she would be separated from Nathaniel made her at a loss for words. The girl felt sad and disappointed because she would be abandoned. And considering Nathan¡¯s temperament, it was clear that there would be nomunication between them in the future.


    ¡°If you really don¡¯t want to lose Nathan, prepare yourself to chase him from now on.¡± The whisper made Haisley raise her head. She nced at Gilbert, who was sitting next to her. The boy winked with a mischievous smile on his face. Again, the teenager put his ear closer to Haisley and whispered, ¡°If you like him, go after him. Because everything is necessary fought for, not just ignored.¡± he continued again.


    As if getting support, Haisley¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. And the little girl nodded her head with renewed enthusiasm.

 Chap 2

    6 yearster


    ¡°Take care of yourself, don¡¯t bother Nathan and Gilbert.¡± This word was the umpteenth time Haisley had heard Mrs. Smith¡¯s advice. She, sitting in the airport waiting room, could only nod her head at the advice of her mother, who was in another country.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just nod. You have to get rid of your spoiled attitude. Remember, there you have to focus on studying. Don¡¯t switch your focus to other things.¡± This time, Mr. Smith joined in. Haisley could only chuckle in amusement but then nodded again.


    ¡°Well, I have to get my luggage.¡± She said in a farewell tone. Both parents waved again at the t screen in their hands. The faces of the middle-aged couple looked sad, apparently unwilling to let their youngest daughter go.


    Yes. Haisley was following the direction of her best friend, Gilbert. Haisley is ultimately determined to fight for a schrship to follow his soulmate.


    Haisley forgot about ballerinas and chose to focus on academics so she could get good grades. For six years, she struggled, taking part in tutoring activities here and there. At first, she had difficulty adapting, considering that her brain was not as smart as Nathan¡¯s or her older sibling, Crystal¡¯s. But Haisley didn¡¯t want to give up.


    Finally, in thest three years of school, she got good grades continuously. As a result, she got a schrship to the same school as her idol. She was getting her parents¡¯ permission to go far away, even though she had to stay at Nathan and Gilbert¡¯s residence.


    Of course, this condition is manageable. Because the purpose of Haisley going to Ennd was to be close to Nathan, and now, not just one step closer. But an inch closer.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Haisley smiled to herself. She was excited by the prospect of romance that would ur between her and Nathan in the future. Just the thought of being Nathan¡¯s girlfriend made her cheeks instantly red, let alone the thought of marriage.


    Haisley shook her head. Later, she can fantasize about it. Now, she has to focus on the queue to collect her luggage.


    But where is Gilbert? Haisley again reached for her cell phone in her jeans pocket. Her friend said he would pick Haisley up at the airport, but there has yet to be any news.


    She pulled the big suitcase with all the strength she had. Of course, she brought a lot of luggage. Apart from clothes, inside, there was also some food that her mother had deliberately put as souvenirs for Nathaniel and Gilbert.


    Her cheeks heated up again. Nathan, how are you? Do you miss me too? Haisley couldn¡¯t help but blush.


    Her tiny body pulled therge suitcase with some difficulty. She walked towards the airport exit. Taxis are neatly lined up there. Haisley nced around, looking for a familiar face. Where¡¯s Gilbert? Did her best friend fall asleep and then forget to pick her up? Haisley shuddered in horror at her thoughts.


    A tap on his shoulder made her yelp loudly. She turned her head and was really about to scream for help when she saw a tall, big man with bright orange hair, ck sses and a bushy beard looking down at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m notte, am I?¡± asked the man in his deep, echoing voice.


    Haisley frowned just as the man took off his sses and looked at Haisley with a big grin.


    ¡°What are you doing!¡± She shouted. Several people turned their heads and watched the two of them.


    ¡°What am I doing?¡± the man asked casually.


    ¡°So this is why you don¡¯t want to make a video call with me? Because your appearance turned ugly like this?¡± Haisley teased shamelessly.


    Gilbertughed out loud. ¡°Don¡¯t insult me, H. If I get angry, I will leave you here and let strangers kidnap you, people who like children like you.¡± The man answered in a threatening tone.


    Haisley looked back at him with narrowed eyes. ¡°Just do it if you dare!¡± she challenged. Gilbertughed again and then ruffled Haisley¡¯s hair.


    ¡°How dare I? What happenedter was that Crystal ravaged my handsome face. Then it was chopped up to be crocodile food by your father.¡± he said again. Gilbert¡¯s left hand grabbed the handle of Haisley¡¯s suitcase while his right hand wrapped around her tiny shoulder. ¡°Parking is a bit far.¡± He said to Haisley. Haisley just nodded and matched the man¡¯s long strides. ¡°Ready for adventure, huh?¡± he asked again.


    Haisley raised her head, but Gilbert didn¡¯t look at her. ¡°How is he?¡± She asked curiously. Yes, for the past six years, Gilbert has been the source of information. Luckily, the man didn¡¯t mind and was always happy to help her.


    ¡°He¡¯s not good.¡± The man answered tly.


    ¡°What do you mean, he¡¯s sick?¡± Haisley asked, panicked.


    Gilbert shook his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯ll find outter, H. But before that, I¡¯ll ask you again. Are you sure you want to be with Nathan?¡± he asked uncertainly. Haisley nodded enthusiastically. Of course, she was sure. Otherwise, why would she want to fight this long and this far? ¡°Are you sure you want to fight him? Ifter he behaves badly towards you, will you still want to survive?¡± he asked again.


    Haisley raised the corners of her mouth. She knew the meaning of Gilbert¡¯s question. And again, she just nodded her head in response. Gilbert then shrugged her shoulders. He knew that nothing could change his little friend¡¯s mind. He roughly took a deep breath and exhaled.


    ¡°I can only help as much as I can. The rest, I can only pray for you two.¡± He said wearily.


    Haisley smiled and nodded. ¡°Thanks, G,¡± she said and wrapped her tiny arms around Gilbert¡¯s big waist. ¡°By the way, is that hair that just got stuck in the gutter?¡± she taunted again.


    Gilbert snorted and ruffled Haisley¡¯s hair again. ¡°This is a Naruto cosy. It¡¯s booming, you know.¡± Gilbert replied angrily. Haisley chuckled again. ¡°Do you want to go straight home or have lunch first?¡±


    ¡°Have lunch. I am very hungry.¡± Haisley answered in a spoiled tone. Gilbert chuckled again and then nodded. He took the car keys from his trouser pocket and pressed the automatic lock button. Putting Haisley¡¯srge suitcase into the back of his silver Land Rover and then opening the passenger door for him.


    Haisley bowed gracefully before getting into the tall car, making Gilbertugh.


    Gilbert drove his car and took her to a fast-food restaurant. Gilbert ordered a double-cheese beef burger with soda as an apaniment for Haisley. As Haisley cut therge burger with a face that was almost drooling, Gilbert said. ¡°I¡¯m strange about you, H.¡±


    Haisley stopped her actions and raised her head to look at Gilbert. ¡°Why?¡± she asked with a confused expression.


    ¡°Your body is tiny, like the aunt of the dwarves. ¡°But your portion size can be like a giant portion.¡±


    Haisley red at Gilbert. Bite the burger in one big bite. She is chewing it without even maintaining her image. She then swallowed before answering. ¡°You should know, ya? Girls who eat a lot are sexier than girls who eat sparingly. Their food portions arerge, but they are proud to show it. Outside of pretending to eat a little, after returning home, they can increase their portions up to three times.¡±


    Gilbertughed and ruffled Haisley¡¯s hair again. ¡°Yea, yea. Eat a lot, and finish it. If necessary, use a bottle of mayonnaise.¡± Gilbert mocked. Haisley just nodded her head and went back to munching on her burger.

 Chap 3

    ¡°Princess, shall we go home?¡± asked Gilbert when he saw that Haisley seemed to have lowered all the food in her throat into her stomach. Haisley nodded enthusiastically and epted her best friend¡¯s outstretched hand.


    ¡°How is life on campus?¡± she asked on the way to the car. ¡°Comfortable?¡±


    ¡°Fun.¡± His answer was short, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, living abroad isn¡¯t that scary. There are lots of people from our vige here and they have also formed an association. I¡¯ll introduce you to themter.¡± He said as he opened the passenger door for Haisley before walking around to the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°You will feel at home living here. There is me, and there will be many friends from the same country.¡± He continued with his eyes ncing at Haisley. ¡°And this is also a chance for you to change your mind, H. Who knows, on campus, you might find a man who is better at everything than Nathan. He is not the only man in this world. Lots of handsome men hanging around. You know it?¡±


    Haisley red disapprovingly, then chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t try to poison my mind into changing sides, G.¡±


    Gilbertughed at Haisley¡¯s annoyed words. ¡°Yes, just a suggestion, H. As someone who knows both of you, I just don¡¯t want you to be hurt by him.¡± He said with a shrug of his shoulders. ¡°Then, what ns do you have to get Nathan?¡± he asked again.


    Now, Haisley was the one shaking her head in confusion. She turned her head, looking out the window. Choosing not to look at Gilbert directly. ¡°None,¡± she answered. That surprised Gilbert, and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.


    They had entered the residential area where Gilbert lived. What Haisley believes is more than an ordinary housingplex with low prices.


    Gilbert stopped his car in front of a white two-story house withrge windows on the front of the house. The house has a grassy yard that is quite spacious and neatly arranged. He took Haisley¡¯s suitcase out of the trunk and pulled it with his right hand while his left hand wrapped around Haisley¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°No need to be sad. We can think about a strategy to get Nathanter.¡± He said in an enthusiastic tone. ¡°In other words, while diving, drinking water.¡± he continued. They walked hand in hand on the path leading them straight to the wide veranda at the front of the house. ¡°Wee to the Chayton residence.¡± He said as he spread his arms wide before lifting Haisley¡¯s suitcase onto the veranda. ¡°I hope you feel at home here.¡± He said sincerely.


    Haisley smiled at that. She nced to the right side of the veranda and saw a sturdy wooden swing perched there. Meanwhile, not far from the swing, there is a pair of lounge chairs separated by a round table made of the same wood.


    The man then opened the double doors, which immediately opened a shoe cupboard connected directly to the living room and family room, whose furniture was dominated by cream and dark brown colors. There were no partitions in the room, so when she entered, Haisley could immediately see into the kitchen where a fat older woman with silver hair seemed busy with her knife.


    ¡°Let me introduce you; she is Aunt Jody. She¡¯s been Papa¡¯s confidant for a long time. Besides caring for the house, she is also responsible for feeding Nathan and me.¡± He said while smiling. ¡°Aunt Jody only works from Monday to Friday, from eight to four in the afternoon. Saturday-Sunday, she is off. But if there¡¯s something important, we can call. ¡°The house is close, about five minutes from here by car.¡± He continued, to which Haisley only nodded. ¡°Aunty, she¡¯s Haisley.¡± Just saying that, the woman smiled as she waved her hand. Haisley also responded in the same way.


    ¡°That¡¯s the door to Papa and Mama¡¯s room,¡± Gilbert said, pointing to the door on the left. ¡°Beside it is the door to the basement. Theundry is there.¡± Gilbert said as he walked past the sofa towards the stairs to the right of the wall. ¡°That¡¯s your favorite man¡¯s room.¡± he pointed at a door under the stairs. ¡°Inside, there is a connecting door that continues to the workce. So then you can get out of there.¡± Point to a door near the stairs. ¡°You can see the ss door next to the kitchen, right?¡± he asked Haisley, who nodded in return. ¡°That¡¯s the door to the backyard. There is a swimming pool there. Even though I know you won¡¯t use the pool, just a little suggestion, maybe you can see the beautiful view there at night.¡± he chuckled. ¡°So be careful.¡± He said warningly. Haisley just nodded, even though she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°And up there, that¡¯s our room.¡± He said, lifting Haisley¡¯s suitcase again to climb the stairs.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Gilbert stepped first while Haisley followed behind him. ¡°I need to warn you again. Nathan is very indifferent, so if you haven¡¯t met him. Then he will never be aware of your existence, H.¡± He said it as it is.


    Hearing those words made Haisley smile. Of course, she knew what Nathan was like. Gilbert not only asked her once or twice to stop liking his brother. But no matter how much her best friend tries to resist, Haisley still has feelings for Nathan.


    Whether he existed or not, Haisley knew that in the man¡¯s eyes, she was never visible. In Nathan¡¯s heart, her name never appeared. Haisley also doesn¡¯t know that the feeling of love she currently has is unrequited love. He knew ¨C knew that Nathaniel only saw him as a younger brother ¨C that was probably just the public opinion. Meanwhile, deep in his heart, maybe Nathan thought of her as just a stranger.


    And Haisley also knew ¨C knew who the woman Nathan wanted was. But selfishly, she chose to deafen her ears and blind her eyes. She preferred to pretend she didn¡¯t know.


    Not that Haisley never tried. When she found out who the woman he loved was, she wanted to stop. Diverting everything to what she can do as busy as possible. Make learning an outlet. Spending time with friends her age when she has nothing to do. She tried everything. But when she returned to her life, Nathan¡¯s return was the first word that came to her head.


    Can do it because I used to. That¡¯s a term Haisley often echoes in her head. She would be able to forget Nathan. But in the process, every time she tries to forget, she is haunted by longing for that man. The feeling that had been ingrained for so long was so difficult for her to get rid of. As a result, she could only pray that Nathan would finally be able to forget the woman he loved and look at Haisley. Realizing that all this time, she was there, who admired him and loved him.


    ¡°Daydream?¡± The sound brought him back to reality. She saw Gilbert, who was now standing with his arms folded in front of his chest. Haisley looked at her friend with a shy smile.

 Chap 4

    ¡°No.¡± Avoid it smooth. But Gilbert sneered.


    ¡°Get some rest, get rid of your jetg. I¡¯ll call you when dinneres.¡± He said, to which Haisley only answered with a nod.


    Gilbert came out of his room while closing the door. Haisley needed to find out where the man had gone. She followed his advice to rest and get rid of his jetg. While lying on the queen-sized bed, her memories returned to the past. The time when her heart broke instantly because of a scene she never expected to see.


    shback.


    That was the umpteenth time Haisley wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Today¡¯s weather is scorching. But that¡¯s not the problem. The problem is that currently, she is also on the first day of her period, and her stomach feels ufortable. She wanted to get home quickly. But the faster she walked, the more the pain became.


    Her bad mood turned into a big smile when she saw a car whose owner had not driven it for a long time perched sweetly in front of her house. ¡°Nathan?¡± she muttered to herself. Her slow steps suddenly turned into fast steps. She even ignored the difort bothering her for a long time.


    Just before arriving on the terrace, Haisley slowed her steps again. She even tried to calm her breathing, not to appear too enthusiastic about meeting his crush.


    The door is not locked. Intending to surprise Nathan, she walked in silently, looking for a figure she hadn¡¯t seen for three years. When she saw her father¡¯s study door slightly ajar, Haisley crept up and approached.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be like this, Nathan.¡± Haisley¡¯s steps halted when she heard her sister¡¯s voice speaking in a low voice. Haisley held back her steps. Her surprise instead turned on herself. ¡°Haisley loves you. How could you be like this?¡± continued her sister with an annoyed hiss. Haisley frowned, trying to sharpen her hearing.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t love her, Crys.¡± That answer immediately made Haisley feel like her heart dropped to the floor, ¡°I only think of her as a younger sister. To me, she¡¯s the same as Gilbert.¡± The man continued again. ¡°You know that the woman I have loved all this time is you, not her!¡±


    Bomb!


    Haisley stared, stunned where she stood. Nathaniel¡¯s voice sounded louder and firmer than her sister¡¯s voice earlier. Her throat suddenly felt tight, and Haisley¡¯s eyes suddenly heated up. Tears just welled up and fell without her realizing it. Is this what is called rejection? Is this what is called a broken heart? She asked himself.


    ¡°But you know that the man I love is not you,¡± answered her sister in a sad tone. ¡°The one I love is Juan.¡± She continued firmly.


    Of course. Haisley and her entire family know that. Her sister and Juan have even been in a rtionship since they were in high school.


    ¡°That¡¯s because you didn¡¯t give me a chance to show my love for you, Crys.¡± Nathan refused in a forceful tone.


    ¡°Toote, Nath.¡± Haisley heard her sister¡¯s voice again. ¡°Juan and I have decided to get married. And it won¡¯t be long now. So I beg you, open your heart to Haisley. She loves you.¡± Her sister said in a pitiful tone. ¡°She will be a good wife and mother for you.¡± She continued firmly.


    Sad? Of course, Haisley felt sad. Sad and offended. Did her sister have to sell her name to Nathan like that? As if she were merchandise that had to be promoted.


    ¡°No need to promote her to me, Crys.¡± Nathan firmly refused. And the rejection sounded more painful for Haisley than what her sister had just said. ¡°How can I love her as a woman when she is a little girl?¡±


    Was Nathan insulting her? Haisley asked herself.


    ¡°She¡¯s not yet an adult, Nath.¡± Crystal rejected again in a softer tone. ¡°But it will mature with time.¡± She continued firmly, ¡°If you asked me to give you a chance to prove your love for me, why don¡¯t you do the same for my sister?¡± offered Crystal. ¡°Allow her to show her love for you. She has great affection and love to give you.¡±


    This time, Haisley felt grateful for her sister¡¯s words. Of course, Crystal knows best how much Haisley loves Nathan. And she feels grateful for the support.


    ¡°Enough, Crys!¡± Nathan snapped, which also surprised Haisley. ¡°If you really can¡¯t ept me, that¡¯s okay.¡± The man hissed sharply, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me. But allow me from loving you. Don¡¯t force me into epting your sister¡¯s love. Don¡¯t ever interfere with your sister¡¯s obsession with me.


    ¡°I approve of your marriage to Juan. I pray that you are happy. But I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t be there on your happy day,¡± decided the man.


    Haisley suddenly widened her eyes and quickly moved to hide behind the wall next to the door to her father¡¯s study. At the same time, she could hear her sister calling Nathan.


    shback off


    No one knows about what Haisley heard at that time. Not Crystal, not even Nathan. Even when her sister finally married Juan, Nathan was not there even though the man sent a gift to her sister and brother-inw.


    And from then on, Haisley began to divert her attention from Nathan. But then, the words of her best friend, Abigail, rang in her head.


    shbackText ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Silent or expressed, love is still love,¡± Abigail said, looking at Haisley and via alternately. The conversation suddenly arose while they were having lunch in the canteen. ¡°It¡¯s up to you which one you want to choose. Silent but curious about the man¡¯s feelings. Or you choose to speak up even though you end up disappointed because of rejection. As for me, I prefer to express it.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s embarrassing. If we are rejected, doesn¡¯t that mean we no longer have the face to see it?¡± via looked at Abigail with a gentle gaze. Haisley just nodded in agreement. But Abigail, the girl with long, straight hair, shook her head.


    ¡°The thing that makes us tired the most is curiosity. Disappointed, there is a cure. But curious? The cure is just the answer.¡± She said what he said. ¡°There¡¯s no need to feel embarrassed. We also don¡¯t intend to humble ourselves. But, now that we know what the man¡¯s answer is, we can have a continuation of the story. Will the love story end here, and we change direction? Or our love story will continue into further episodes which may be sweet, but can also be painful.¡± She answered with poetic sentences.


    Haisley and via looked at each other for a moment before then looking back at Abigail. ¡°Remember what happened to your father and my aunt,¡± Abigail looked at via, reminding her. ¡°They will never get married if they both continue to remain silent.¡± she continued.


    shback Off


    Stick to that advice. Haisley, who was initially pessimistic about getting Nathan, felt that she had regained the enthusiasm to pursue her love. Abigail was right. Whether she was rejected or epted, that would be something she had to think aboutter. She had prepared herself if Nathanter rejected her. Embarrassed? That will be the number. But first. She had to know first how Nathan would react when he saw her.

 Chap 5

    Haisley blinked and saw Gilbert¡¯s figure standing towering in front of her. The man¡¯s knee seemed to be touching Haisley¡¯s knee again, dangling from the bed onto the thick carpeted floor.


    ¡°Sleeping ugly, wake up! Quickly change clothes. It¡¯s time to eat.¡± He said and chose to sit on the sofa in the room. ¡°Looks like Nathan came homete, so your longing won¡¯t be conveyed yet.¡± He said casually and chose to turn on the TV. Search for exciting channels.


    Haisley looked for her suitcase, which she had only opened to look for underwear and a change of clothes. But the suitcase seemed to disappear. ¡°I asked Aunt Jody to put your clothes away.¡± Gilbert pointed to the cupboard on the other side of the bed. Not a cupboard, to be exact, but an overhanging wall fitted with a wooden door. Haisley opened it and saw that her clothes, which weren¡¯t much, were neatly arranged along with shoes and so on.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± She said and then took something back from the cupboard and walked to the bathroom. She came out wearing knee-length jeans and an oversized short t-shirt. ¡°What are we eating?¡± She asked while tying her long hair into a ponytail.


    ¡°Not a sd because you¡¯re not a goat.¡± He teased because he knew that Haisley didn¡¯t like sd. It¡¯s not that she doesn¡¯t like eating vegetables. It¡¯s just that the thought of eating food dominated by vegetables makes her feel¡­


    They went downstairs, not to the dining table, because it felt too formal. Gilbert prefers to sit and serve food at the bar table. ¡°I deliberately bought a new rice cooker and rice, especially for you.¡± He pointed at the mini rice cooker, which was near the double-door refrigerator.


    Haisley snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t say it¡¯s specifically for me. I know you like rice, too!¡± She said as she opened the drawer and took out a te. The two ate happily while asionally joking and discussing what they would do tomorrow.


    Because her initial intention to see Nathaniel¡¯s reaction had yet to be carried out. So, like it or not, tomorrow¡¯s event must be reced by getting to know the city she will live in for the next four years. Or maybe more if Haisley chooses to continue her master¡¯s degree there. Or if she married Nathan? A hopeful smile spread across her chubby face.


    The next day, Haisley was shown around by Gilbert. Around the city where she will live. Visiting the campus where she will study. Rx in the city park with ice cream in hand. And many other things.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Haisley knew that Nathan hade homest night. It¡¯s just that she didn¡¯t realize when the man came back and when the man left. She only knew that the man hade home from the basket of dirtyundry Aunt Jody had brought while she and Gilbert were sitting enjoying breakfast, which was alreadyte.


    Of course, Nathan wouldn¡¯t bother waiting for her to wake up and greet her. The impression of avoidance was unmistakable without Gilbert needing toment on it.


    They spent the afternoon eating at a shop on the side of the road. A jumbo hot dog and a ss of c became theirpanions for conversation before finally returning home. And when she saw a ck car parked in the garage, Haisley knew. This is it.


    With her heart pounding, she walked after Gilbert. Haisley is a girl full of optimism. She believes that as long as she struggles, nothing is impossible, even though she knows God¡¯s hand ys an active role in every struggle and prayer. However, her optimism disappears when ites to one name. Nathaniel.


    With Nathaniel, Haisley always thought of the worst side. Cold Nathaniel. Nathaniel, who doesn¡¯t love her. Nathaniel, who doesn¡¯t care about her. But despite this, Nathaniel was still the man she adored. After all these years, that feeling never changed. Instead, it grew bigger until it became suffocating in her chest.


    ¡°Hi, G.¡± A lilting voice greeted them as Gilbert and Haisley opened the door. A beautiful woman with a sharp nose, white skin, and thick brown hair waved at them. Her slender body was d in a ck dress that looked clingy, forming a beautiful body that looked like a Spanish guitar. That¡¯s the term that men always use to judge the beauty of a woman¡¯s body, right?


    ¡°Loretta, how are you?¡± Gilbert greeted her kindly and kissed the girl on one cheek. Loretta. One name is her rival. Yes, Gilbert once mentioned that woman¡¯s name. The woman who is currently close to Nathan. A woman who is physically the opposite of Haisley. But that wasn¡¯t something that made Haisley give up. ¡°Meet Haisley Smith.¡± He said, grabbing Haisley¡¯s shoulder and bringing her in front of the beautiful girl.


    ¡°She¡¯s beautiful.¡± Compliment the girl sincerely. ¡°You¡¯re girlfriend?¡± she asked enthusiastically.


    ¡°Almost be,¡± Haisley answered tly. ¡°On process.¡± She answered with a wide smile. She didn¡¯t want the girl to know that she was chasing the man she was currently close to, right? Loretta looked at Gilbert questioningly, and Gilbert just casually shrugged.


    ¡°Just trust her.¡± The answer was t. ¡°Where¡¯s Nathan? Do you guys have an event?¡± He asked searchingly.


    ¡°He was in the study, contacting someone. He said there was an invitation from his colleague so we would have dinner there.¡± She said without exaggerating. ¡°Do you live together?¡± The girl was curious about Haisley¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Yes, of course. H lives here with us. Considering Nathan is rarely home, her presence means a lot.¡± Gilbert rubbed her shoulders and hugged her tighter, following Haisley¡¯s game.


    ¡°Very nice, I hope we meet often.¡± The girl said enthusiastically.


    ¡°Come visit often, you can be close friends. Coincidentally, H doesn¡¯t have any friends here.¡±


    ¡°Then,¡± the girl stretched out her fingers, decorated with beautiful pink nail polish and sprinkled with decorations. ¡°I will be happy to be your first friend in this city. Don¡¯t hesitate to ask me for help. As long as I can, I will always help you.¡± Haisley¡¯s hand, which was smaller in size, weed Loretta¡¯s hand. Loretta was not her enemy. She wrote to herself. She is a beautiful and sweet girl with a unique position in the heart of the man she loves.


    And the man he mentioned was finally seen. He was wearing a ck tuxedo with a bow tie neatly tied around his neck. The outfit entuated his broad shoulders and broad chest. His slim waist and long legs were d in matching trousers. Haisley looked up, examining the man again. His thick ck hair wasbed neatly. His sideburns and thin mustache further emphasize his jawline. Thick and beautifully curved eyebrows frame his eyes, which have a sharp gaze with dark blue pupils.

 Chap 6

    ¡°In that case,¡± the girl extended her fingers adorned with beautiful pink nail polish and glittering essories. ¡°I¡¯d be more than happy to be your first friend in this city. Don¡¯t hesitate to ask for help. As long as I can, I¡¯ll always assist you.¡± Haisley¡¯s smaller hand met Loretta¡¯s. Loretta wasn¡¯t her enemy, she wrote in her heart. She was just a pretty and sweet girl who held a special ce in the heart of the man she loved.


    And the man she referred to finally appeared. He was wearing a well-fitted ck tuxedo with a neatly tied bow tie around his neck. The attire entuated his broad shoulders and chest. His slim waist and long legs were d in matching trousers. Haisley looked up, examining the man once more. His thick ck hair was neatlybed, emphasizing his strong jawline. The stubble on his chin and thin mustache further entuated his face. Thick, gracefully arched eyebrows framed his sharp eyes with dark blue irises.


    He, Nathaniel, the man she had admired for ten years, appeared so gant in his suit. More mature than thest time she saw him. Fine lines on his forehead indicated that he had been using his brain extensively.


    There was no smile on his face. Just a cold expression with a sharp gaze. However, it didn¡¯t weaken Haisley. It didn¡¯t erase her love and turn it into hatred. That demeanor only showed Haisley that her presence here affected the man. It disturbed him. Though not because he was pleased or happy. She knew that her presence would only add to his wounds. Wounds because of her existence as an intruder who would disrupt his peaceful life. Wounds because her presence would only remind him of the woman he once loved. Or perhaps, did he still love her?


    Just call her stubborn. She was masochistic. Enduring even though her heart was hurting. But one thing she had embedded in her heart now: she wouldn¡¯t leave the man unless he said it with his own mouth.


    ¡°Hi, Nath. Long time no see,¡± Haisley greeted warmly, although her heart was in turmoil. Her desire to run and embrace him was overwhelming. But the grip on her shoulder seemed to remind her that it was something she couldn¡¯t do.


    ¡°Yeah, how long has it been since west met? Six years?¡± the man asked, raising an eyebrow. His arm lovingly wrapped around Loretta¡¯s waist. A pang of jealousy squeezed Haisley¡¯s chest. But she tried to hide her feelings behind her poker face. And Nathan was wrong about theirst meeting. Wrong, Nathan. Ourst meeting was three years ago when you confessed your feelings to my sister. But you never realized that.


    ¡°Yes, six years,¡± Haisley replied tly, even though every day she received photos from Gilbert. But that was their little secret between her and Gilbert.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Gilbert had such a beautiful girlfriend,¡± Loretta¡¯s voice melted the cold atmosphere between them.


    ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Nathan frowned. His eyes darted between Gilbert and Haisley.


    ¡°Yes, almost. Or, to be precise, could be,¡± Haisley answered calmly.


    ¡°Could be? What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Nath. I¡¯m still young. And I just got here. Who knows, out there, there might be a man who¡¯s better, more handsome, and more stable than Gilbert,¡± she repeated what Gilbert had said earlier.


    Gilbert tousled his hair with a smile. ¡°Enjoy your youth, Princess,¡± he said softly, nting a kiss on Haisley¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Ohhh¡­ So sweet,¡± Loretta eximed, her eyes sparkling with happiness. However, Nathan¡¯s gaze on them wasn¡¯t as enthusiastic as Loretta¡¯s.


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving before it¡¯s toote,¡± Nathan reached for Loretta¡¯s slender figure, passing by Gilbert and Haisley. Not once did he nce her way.


    When the sound of the engine faded, that was when Haisley copsed onto the nearest sofa. Her legs felt weak all of a sudden. Cold sweat somehow appeared on her forehead. Gilbert sighed softly, observing her. He didn¡¯t hesitate to help her sit down on the couch and fetched her a ss of water.


    Haisley gulped down the water in her hands until it was all gone. Gilbert sat on the closest single sofa to her. His hands were sped over his knees, supporting his head. ¡°Your battle has just begun, and look at your condition,¡± he said mockingly. Haisley gave him a sharp look. If her eyes could shootsers, Gilbert¡¯s body would probably be in apletely different shape by now.


    The manughed happily. His body, now leaning against the sofa, moved in tune with hisughter. Haisley had a strong urge to throw the ss in his hand at Gilbert¡¯s head. But after a moment¡¯s thought, she abandoned the idea. She still needed Gilbert¡¯s brain to assist her. If that brain got damaged, she would regret it on her own because there would be no one else to help her.


    Theughter finally ceased. Gilbert wiped the corners of his watery eyes and stared intently at Haisley. ¡°Get ready, Princess. Our battle has just begun. And if you get hurt in the middle of it, me your heart. Who told you your feelings for him never changed?¡±


    He patted his thighs and rose, walking away, leaving Haisley alone with the empty ss tightly clutched in her small hands.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Yes. Gilbert was right. However, she could only me her heart.


    Nathan clenched his jaw so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Somehow, anger had suddenly gripped him.


    He knew the girl woulde; Gilbert had mentioned her name often, even though he didn¡¯t want to hear it. Haisley. That was her name. And many other things about Haisley that Nathan didn¡¯t want to know but could easily recall and absorb.


    He knew her arrival wasn¡¯t just about the schrship she had earned. He knew it very well. Hering here was to disrupt his life. To disturb him with her baseless puppy love obsession.


    Nathan thought her feelings wouldn¡¯tst long. For God¡¯s sake, she was only 12 years old when she confessed her feelings. She had just started wearing sanitary pads correctly before learning to be an adult woman. And her feelings irritated him to no end. Because of that foolish sentiment, he couldn¡¯t have the woman he loved. Who else but Crystal Smith? His first love.

 Chap 7

    Yes. His first love who rejected him because she valued her sister¡¯s feelings more.


    If it weren¡¯t for Haisley¡¯s love, he would have fought for his love for Crystal before Juan took her away.


    Nathan sighed deeply. No, it wasn¡¯t Haisley¡¯s fault. It wasn¡¯t Crystal and Juan¡¯s fault either. It was all his fault. He was too cowardly to express his feelings. He kept dying because he thought Crystal, who was four years younger than him at the time, wasn¡¯t ready to ept his love and wasn¡¯t prepared for a more serious rtionship.


    He thought she was still too young. So, he assumed that to prove his love to Crystal, he had to be a man first.


    That¡¯s why he left his home to continue his education. To make himself more worthy in the eyes of the Smith family. Before marrying their eldest daughter. Note, their eldest daughter. Crystal Smith.


    But fate was not on his side. He received a series of surprises. Three years after his departure, just when he was starting his career, Nathan heard the news that Crystal had been proposed to and was about to get married. The man proposing was none other than Nathan¡¯s cousin and Crystal¡¯s close friend, Juan. A young man who was not even mature yet. Who couldn¡¯t even provide a decent life for the woman he loved. But Crystal chose him.


    Nathan tried to persuade Crystal to reconsider her decision to ept Juan¡¯s proposal and consider the feelings he had kept hidden for so long. But instead of changing her mind and epting him, Crystal introduced him to her younger sister. A shy girl who had never caught Nathan¡¯s attention. An innocent and naive girl who believed that the puppy love she felt was true love.


    Nathan nced at the woman sitting gracefully beside him, Loretta. She was a beautiful girl, someone Nathan wouldn¡¯t hesitate to introduce to the public. In front of everyone, she could disy her friendly and obedient side. She was elegant and educated. Yet, there was something that prevented Nathan from loving her. It wasn¡¯t because shecked resemnce to Crystal. But because¡­ Nathan chose to stop thinking about it.


    No matter how hard he tried to rece Crystal¡¯s presence with Loretta, he couldn¡¯t. And the way Loretta had greeted Haisley earlier was truly remarkable.


    Indeed, Nathan had deliberately invited Loretta to his home, which was happening for the first time in the past year they had known each other. His intention was to show Haisley that he didn¡¯t want her presence. That there was someone else in his life now. However, when he saw Haisley¡¯s expression as he embraced Loretta, it genuinely stunned him.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Haisley¡¯s indifferent attitude towards him and her friendly demeanor towards Loretta made him reconsider his assumptions about her. What did she mean by openly stating that she intended to find a boyfriend?


    Has she forgotten him? Forgotten her love for Nathan? The love that made Crystal believe that Nathan meant so much to her sister, making her plead for the eptance of the girl? Or was it just a game from the girl to make him jealous? To indirectly tell him that Nathan was no longer significant in her life?


    Arrgghhh! Nathan cursed himself inwardly. How could he be affected so easily by the words of that little girl? Yes! A little girl. Haisley was indeed just a little girl. Not just her age, but also her body.


    Nathan smirked to himself.


    He was quite surprised when he stepped out of his office and saw the figure of Haisley, who was now ninteen years old, in front of him. Haisley who was different from the Haisley he had met six years ago.


    Six years ago. She was a sweet girl wearing a pink party dress withce wrapped around her waist. Wearing pink shoes and neatly arranged hair adorned with a matching headband. Her petite body and chubby face made her look like a doll. Beautiful and adorable.


    However, it turned out that six years had truly changed her. Earlier, Haisley stood before him in shabby jeans and an oversized white t-shirt. Her long hair was tied up in a ponytail. She wore no feminine essories whatsoever. Even the small watch on her left wrist only added to her casual vibe. And her face, it hadn¡¯t changed. The girl still looked beautiful and remarkably fresh even without makeup. Clean and slightly flushed due to the heat she carried in from outside.


    Her figure remained petite, although there were changes in a few ces. His lower body suddenly throbbed when he imagined what might be beneath that oversized shirt. Nathan tried to refocus his mind on the road ahead.


    But when he remembered the graceful curve of her neck and the white skin of her throat, that throb only grew stronger. What would it feel like if his lips touched her corbone, licking the sweat trickling between them?


    Oh God. His thoughts were starting to go haywire. How could he think so dirty of a girl he previously only thought of as a little nuisance?


    Beside him was an undoubtedly gorgeous woman with a figure akin to a Spanish guitar, yet he found himself fixating on the petite body of a girl who might not even know how to wear lingerie. Whose breasts are not yet mature at all.


    Nathan wasn¡¯t even sure if the girl had ever kissed anyone before. Yes, maybe she has, but a quick kiss won¡¯t spark passion.


    Her lips, painted in a shade of soft pink, filled his mind once again. How would it feel if Nathan pulled those lips in with his own? Tasting them, giving them gentle nips that would make the girl moan? Nathan could even imagine the sensation as his tongue entwined with hers, sharp yet tender, while his hands roamed freely, teasing her breasts or perhaps ying with the girl¡¯s warmest parts.


    God, just the thought of it made him groan in frustration. And suddenly, Nathan felt himself growing so swollen and tight. It was all because of her. Yes! Her!

 Chap 8

    Lectures have already started. It¡¯s hard to believe Haisley has been living with Gilbert and Nathan for a month now. During this time, she only met Nathan a few times. Those meetings neversted more than five minutes and were just casual greetings from the hosts to their guest.


    Haisley was busy with her new life, making friends and socializing with people her age. Gilbert helped her with that. The third-year student introduced her to a group of American students and his other friends, whom Haisley started to like.


    As for Nathaniel? She knew he was trying to avoid her. When she was at home, he preferred to lock himself in his office or leave the house ande backte at night. Haisley didn¡¯t want to specte about what he was doing out there. Even though Gilbert often teased her about women who might be spending time with Nathan.


    And of course, she and Gilbert knew that Nathan was a normal guy. That meant it was unlikely for Nathan to go out with a woman and just hold hands. Haisley was not na?ve. Although she kept herself from being touched, it didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t know about the ¡®games¡¯ between men and women.


    That evening, Haisley, who had fallen asleep early, woke up in the middle of the night. She nced at the digital clock on her phone. It was one minute past one in the morning. She looked towards the balcony, which she hadn¡¯t closed the curtains for, and saw the dark night sky. Her stomach growled. She couldn¡¯t remember what time she had gone to bed the previous night, but she was sure she had missed her dinner. And because Gilbert wasn¡¯t home due to an event with his friends, there was no one to wake her up for the meal.


    Haisley reached for her bedroom slippers and got out of bed. Hopefully, Aunt Jody had prepared something she could heat up. Haisley went down to the kitchen and opened the pantry. However, it was empty. Then she looked at the refrigerator and noticed a small note stuck on it. Aunt Jody had made macaroni casserole for her. Suddenly, her stomach rumbled loudly. Haisley chuckled at her own behavior, grabbed the heat-resistant ss bowl, and put it in the microwave. Just five minutes, she murmured to herself. In the meantime, she would make a drink to apany her meal.


    Haisley opened the refrigerator door again and searched for the lemon she had bought at the supermarket the other day when Gilbert was buying groceries as per Aunt Jody¡¯s request. She looked for the citrus juicer, a ss, and some sugar while waiting for the water she was heating to boil.


    Haisley hummed as she squeezed the oranges and let out a yelp when the lemon she was squeezing slipped from her grip due to its slick surface. As she attempted to pour hot water into the ss of sugar, the microwave beeped loudly. Haisley pulled out her oven mitt and ced it on the bar table before continuing her activity of dissolving sugar in the ss.


    Next, she poured a bit of cold water into the sugary ss, followed by the lemon and, finally, ice cubes until the ss was full. The scent of lemon mixed with sugar made her mouth water even more. She smiled.


    Haisley washed the citrus squeezer and grabbed a tray from the bottom drawer. After living there for a month, she felt like she was in her own home. She knew where the kitchen utensils and spices were kept. Yes, she often helped Aunt Jody when she had free time. And indeed, she had always enjoyed cooking.


    Haisley ced a ss bowl, a small te, a knife, a fork, a bottle of hot sauce, and her drink on the tray and then walked towards the backyard. The wooden swing that used to be on the porch had been moved by her and Gilbert to the backyard per their request. That was because Haisley preferred spending her days there, sitting. Just lying down or reading, asionally chatting with Aunt Jody or Gilbert. Yes, even though she had friends now, she still didn¡¯t dare to invite them over. Asfortable as she felt living here, she was still just a guest, not the homeowner.


    Haisley reached for her phone, which had been tucked in the pocket of her knee-length shorts. She swiped the screen and started ying the movie she had just downloaded, turning up the volume to the maximum. Unbeknownst to her, someone had been watching her all this time.


    ******


    Nathan heard the faint sound of a door opening and closing. The silence in the house allowed him to hear it clearly. He could hear heavy footsteps scraping against the wooden floor above. He could guess who the owner of those steps was. None other than Haisley. Because he knew Gilbert wasn¡¯t home.


    Nathan walked towards his office door, which wasn¡¯t tightly shut. From there, he could see Haisley¡¯s unsteady steps. The girl was wearing an oversized long-sleeved shirt that almost covered her thighs. The neckline of the shirt appeared wide, revealing her slender neck and part of her shoulder. Instantly, Nathan¡¯s body tensed.


    Nathan squinted his eyes; he didn¡¯t see the thin straps that were usually present on a woman¡¯s shoulder. Was the girl not wearing a bra? His thoughts were confirmed when she lifted her long hair and tied it back with chopsticks she found nearby. For God¡¯s sake, what was on that girl¡¯s mind? Did she intend to tease him? The pulsating sensation between his thighs grew stronger. He felt irritated with himself.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    No. The girl had no intention of teasing him. The girl knew that Gilbert was not at home, and she must have thought that Nathan was not home either. Or, even if the girl thought Nathan was at home, she knew he wouldn¡¯t care about her, as usual.


    He also paid attention to the girl¡¯s bottom. See if the girl wasn¡¯t wearing pants either just because her long t-shirt covered most of her thighs. However, when he saw the girl standing on tiptoe, looking for something at the top of the cupboard, Nathan could see ck shorts that only covered part of her thighs. Oh my God, his hands were so itchy to feel the smoothness of those thighs. He growled again. Looks like tonight he has to take a cold shower.


    But even though his brain told him so. His body was still rooted to the spot. He was like a perverted boy who was snooping around. Seeing Haisley working in her kitchen somehow gave him a strange vibe. As the girl tried her best to squeeze the lemon, he imagined that he was behind her. Her small body must have only reached Nathan¡¯s chest. He could easily help the girl squeeze the lemon even though his hands might wander elsewhere while his lips could roam around, touching the curve of the girl¡¯s neck and shoulders.


    Oh my God, what dirty thoughts. Nathan tried to clear his mind by shaking his head. He really needed a cold shower. Nathan went back into his office. He needed to clear his mind. He couldn¡¯t possibly rush to his room while the girl was still standing in the kitchen and could notice his state of arousal.


    Nathan chose to walk to the sliding door in his room. The door led directly to the backyard, right where his swimming pool was located. If he couldn¡¯t cool down with a cold shower, he would opt for a swim to curb his desires.


    Thinking about his desires brought his mind back to Haisley. Was the girl still in the kitchen? Or had she gone back to her room? Contemting her presence in the kitchen made him imagine what it would feel like if he lifted her petite body, undressed her, and then merged his body with hers. Moving together simultaneously until they found release and exhaustion.


    Thinking about his desires brought his mind back to Haisley. Was the girl still in the kitchen? Or had she gone back to her room? Contemting her presence in the kitchen made him imagine what it would feel like if he lifted her petite body, undressed her, and then merged his body with hers. Moving together simultaneously until they found release and exhaustion.


    Damn! Nathan was losing his mind. Completely losing it. He needed to immerse his body in cold water.


    Quickly, he removed his shirt and pants, leaving only his tight underwear covering his arousal. He walked towards the pool and chose to submerge himself in the deepest part. Yes. He had to do it.

 Chap 9

    Haisley was startled, but she managed to suppress her scream every time the horror movie¡¯s music effects caught her off guard. Yes, despite not being brave, Haisley still enjoyed watching horror films.


    Because she was too focused on the character in the movie, she didn¡¯t notice the ripples in the pool. Until the creepy character appeared on her phone screen at the same time Nathan emerged from the swimming pool. Inevitably, the scream she held in burst out.


    Nathan, hearing it, immediately turned and saw Haisley looking at him with a shocked and frightened expression.


    ¡°FOR GOD¡¯S SAKE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE? ARE YOU TRYING TO SCARE ME?!¡± he shouted loudly, gasping for breath, his fists clenched against his chest.


    Nathan wiped his face, trying to get rid of the dripping water but didn¡¯t take his eyes off the girl.


    What was he doing? Obviously, he was swimming. And scaring the girl? He didn¡¯t even think about it. He wasn¡¯t even aware of her presence.


    ¡°I¡¯m swimming, in case you didn¡¯t know,¡± he replied nonchntly.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? How can you swim in pitch darkness like this? Aren¡¯t you afraid of catching a cold?¡± Despite his high and scolding tone, Nathan sensed genuine concern beneath his words. ¡°Can¡¯t you swim like a normal person?¡± he continued, his voice softer now.


    ¡°And when do normal people swim?¡± Nathan retorted teasingly. ¡°And if you care so much, could you bring me a towel or maybe a bathrobe?¡±


    Haisley stared at him sharply, but she couldn¡¯t help but rise and head inside the house, searching for whatever Nathan had requested while he opted to continue swimming.


    Haisley cursed herself; how could she not have noticed Nathan¡¯s presence? And when exactly had he been there? Had he been there before Haisley came out? But then why hadn¡¯t she seen him?


    Haisley cursed herself again when she opened the storage door and found no bathrobe inside. In the end, she randomly picked up a towel without checking its size.


    She walked back to the yard and approached the pool, trying her best to avoid the slippery areas. She didn¡¯t like swimming pools, not just because she couldn¡¯t swim, but for other terrifying reasons.


    Haisley ced the towel Nathan had requested on the beach chair made of high-quality wood, padded with waterproof foam. Then she walked away.


    ¡°You still don¡¯t like swimming pools, hmm?¡± The voice sounded so close to her ears. Even the warmth of his breath and his body heat radiated.


    Haisley turned around and saw him towering in front of her. This was the first time in six years that Haisley stood so close to Nathan. Their distance was even too close, less than three feet apart.


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± she hissed sharply. She tried to dispel her nervousness at being too close to her crush. Her hands clenched tightly, attempting to refrain from touching the broad chest so close within her reach. Haisley even refused to look up. She didn¡¯t want to gaze into his eyes and get lost in their beauty.


    Haisley took a slow step back.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t it my business?¡± he asked with an inquisitive gaze. Haisley took another step back, and he advanced half a step.


    ¡°It¡¯s really none of your business!¡± she replied sharply. ¡°What I like and dislike is not your concern.¡± Haisley turned around, but in an instant, her arm was caught by Nathan¡¯srge hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my concern, Princess. But it doesn¡¯t diminish my curiosity,¡± he replied casually. He released his grip on Haisley¡¯s arm, and for some reason, Haisley felt a sense of loss. ¡°You¡¯ve just started college, and you don¡¯t have many friends yet. Soon they¡¯ll invite you to parties. Wild parties, some of which might include pool parties. If you still dislike swimming pools, how can you attend their invitations?¡±


    ¡°Are you always going to avoid and refuse your friends¡¯ invitations? While if you keep avoiding parties like that, eventually, your friends will distance themselves from you because they find you boring,¡± Nathan taunted, making Haisley raise her head and look at him coldly.


    ¡°I can ¡®always¡¯ attend those parties without ¡®approaching¡¯ the pool,¡± she retorted arrogantly. ¡°I can even unt a Tiffany bikini without having to dip myself in the pool and get it wet.¡±


    Nathan raised an eyebrow coldly. Hearing the words ¡®unt a bikini¡¯ suddenly peaked his anger.


    ¡°Of course, I also know that a pool party doesn¡¯t always have to involve the pool. I can choose to sit in the farthest corner from the pool and engage in other activities like my friends do.¡± Haisley folded her arms in front of her chest, forgetting that she wasn¡¯t wearing a bra, and that the oversized long-sleeved shirt she was wearing was so old it had be thin enough to see through.


    Nathan tried to keep his eyes from straying to the tempting mounds peeking above the folds of Haisley¡¯s arms and instead focused on her face. But even that didn¡¯t dispel the tension building in his lower body. The tension he had tried to alleviate by swimming was now magnified several times. Especially seeing the angry red hue spreading across Haisley¡¯s cheeks under the pool lights.


    And those plump lips, despite uttering sharp words, were so enticing to be sucked on.


    ¡°If I may ask, what kind of activities are you referring to?¡± Nathan redirected his focus back to their conversation. He stood tall, folding his arms across his chest just like Haisley did.


    ¡°Typical activities that adults usually do,¡± she replied.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Adults?¡± he questioned.


    ¡°Yes! Adults!¡± she snapped back harshly. Haisley red at Nathan upon hearing the mocking chuckle from him.


    ¡°What do you think adults typically do?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to be stupid, Nathan! And don¡¯t think I¡¯m stupid!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re stupid, Princess. I just want to know, maybe your perception of ¡®adult activities¡¯ is different from mine.¡± Nathan approached again, while Haisley stepped back. For some reason, Nathan¡¯s gaze seemed more intimidating than his usual cold stare. ¡°So, Princess. Exin to me, what do ¡®adults¡¯ do?¡±

 Chap 10

    However, Haisley¡¯s response was drowned out by a groan that grew louder over time. Haisley turned and realized that the horror movie she had been watching was still ying. Because of their proximity to her phone, the sound, which had been turned up to the maximum, automatically reached their ears.


    Nathan¡¯s longer reach and quicker reflexes allowed him to grab Haisley¡¯s phone first. He looked at the screen with a raised eyebrow and a mocking smile.


    ¡°So this, is what you meant by ¡®adult activities¡¯? Is this what you¡¯ve learned about pool parties in your version? Men and naked women, all piled up?¡± His voice was low, icy, and dripping with sarcasm.


    ¡°Give me back my phone!¡± she snapped, reaching for Nathan¡¯s hand held high. Haisley could only reach up to his elbow. ¡°Give it back to me, Nathan!¡± she said, her voice growing louder.


    Haisley was angry because she felt embarrassed. Why did that scene y out when Nathan was there? Why not when they were still standing near the swimming pool?


    ¡°Is this what you¡¯ve learned?¡± Nathan repeated his question.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business! Whatever I¡¯ve learned, it¡¯s none of your business! Now give me back my phone!¡± Haisley tried to reach for her phone again. Even though she tiptoed and jumped, she still couldn¡¯t reach it. Her body was too short, or maybe Nathan¡¯s body was just too tall.


    Nathan wrapped his arms around Haisley¡¯s waist and pulled her petite body against his in a swift motion, leaving Haisley stunned.


    ¡°Is this what you¡¯ve learned, Princess?¡± Nathan¡¯s voice grew even colder. Meanwhile, the strange tingling sensation she felt made her body heat up.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, what do you want?¡± A momentter, Haisley bit her lower lip. She didn¡¯t mean to confront Nathan, especially not to make him think poorly of her. However, the man¡¯s words seemed to trigger her anger for some reason.


    ¡°Who?¡± he asked in a low whisper. Haisley stared at him, confused. ¡°Who did you learn it from?¡± he repeated, as if understanding Haisley¡¯s confusion.


    ¡°Whoever they are, it¡¯s none of your business!¡±


    Nathan¡¯s grip on Haisley¡¯s waist tightened. ¡°It is my business, Princess. You live under my roof, and I made a promise to your parents to take care of you. So tell me, who is this person?¡± Hismand was harsh.


    So, all of this was about responsibility? His anger towards her words wasn¡¯t driven by jealousy but by duty? Haisleyughed inwardly. How foolish of her to think that Nathan was jealous of her being close to another man.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for your answer, Princess,¡± he murmured again.


    Haisley stared at him sharply. ¡°There is no one,¡± she replied softly. The man froze. ¡°There¡¯s no one. I haven¡¯t learned it from anyone.¡± She answered, her voice growing louder. She grabbed her phone as quickly as she could and slipped it into her pocket. ¡°Or at least not yet,¡± she added with a sweet smile that curled her lips.


    She couldn¡¯t let Nathan win like this. She couldn¡¯t let her dignity be trampled upon. She couldn¡¯t let Nathan think that she couldn¡¯t do it. That she still couldn¡¯t forget him.


    She couldn¡¯t let his ego soar by believing that she still loved him, that she still hoped for him. And so, that mischievous thought surfaced in her mind.


    She walked away from him. ¡°Gilbert just introduced me to his bowling buddy. His name is Steven. Maybe you know him,¡± Haisley said, lifting the tray containing her leftovers and drink. She straightened her back and looked back at Nathan, who was still standing where he was. ¡°He¡¯s handsome, and he¡¯s sweet too. I like him. And Gilbert also said that Steven likes me. So, I thought, why not give it a try. But Gilbert said I should y hard to get, so I¡¯m just trying it out.¡± Without waiting for Nathan¡¯s response, Haisley walked into the house.


    She ced her dirty ss in the sink and stored the leftovers in the refrigerator. She could warm them up again tomorrow, she thought. Then she went back to the sink and washed her ss. When she turned around, she screamed in surprise upon seeing Nathan casually leaning on the bar table.


    ¡°What can that kid teach you? His experience isn¡¯t any better than yours. You can¡¯t expect his help,¡± his words were clearlyced with mockery.


    Haisley shrugged. ¡°Gilbert knows Steven, he knows what Steven likes and dislikes. I just have to follow his instructions.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re going to change yourself to get his attention?¡± he walked toward her and grabbed the ss from Haisley¡¯s hand, walking to the refrigerator and pouring cold water into it.


    ¡°Of course not! Why should I be someone else? If I want someone to like me, they should like me for who I am, not make me into what they like,¡± she replied coldly.


    Haisley watched as Nathan drank the cold water, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing up and down.


    Seeing that, Haisley chose to turn her back on him, afraid of being tempted to hug him from behind. Instead, she gripped the edge of the table tightly to restrain herself. But unexpectedly, he stood behind her, enclosing her between his strong arms. Haisley tried to hold her breath, praying that her racing heartbeat wouldn¡¯t reach the man¡¯s ears.


    ¡°So, after he likes you, what will you do?¡± The warmth of his breath sent strange shivers down Haisley¡¯s spine. She could feel his body bending as his head was now beside her right ear. ¡°Are you going to practice what you saw with Steven? Delve deeper into it and satisfy your curiosity?¡± His lips were dangerously close to her ear as he whispered the question.


    Haisley continued to try to steady her racing heart and the sudden rush of her breath, but Nathan¡¯s proximity made it difficult for her to stayposed.


    ¡°I told you, it¡¯s none of your business,¡± she growled harshly. She wanted to pull away, but Nathan¡¯s arms on both sides of her body gripped the table so tightly that Haisley saw her own fingers turning white.

 Chap 11

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear you say ¡®it¡¯s none of your business¡¯ again, Princess,¡± Nathan¡¯s voice sent shivers down her spine.


    ¡°Because it really isn¡¯t your concern!¡± Haisley replied and turned around abruptly. She red sharply at Nathan, unable to hide her anger. ¡°Anyone who is close to me, whatever I do with them, or whatever I learn from them, is not your concern! If you feel responsible for my presence here, just focus on my well-being! Not meddle in my personal affairs. Because my personal matters are not within your realm of responsibility!¡± She spoke with explosive anger.


    ¡°Besides, why suddenly care about who I associate with? While all this time, you seemed reluctant to meet me?¡± She stared at Nathan usingly. ¡°You can go back to being the homeowner who ignores his guests, Nathan. Don¡¯t confuse me with your sudden, unwarranted concern. Gilbert is already enough to protect me. You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡±


    ¡°And my affairs with Steven or any man I might date in the future, and whatever I do with them, whatever I learn from them, I emphasize once again that it¡¯s none of your business. You are nothing to me other than the owner of this house, my father¡¯s friend¡¯s son, and my friend¡¯s brother!¡± Haisley took a deep breath, trying to neutralize her emotions. These were the longest sentences she had ever uttered to Nathan throughout her acquaintance with him. And judging by his sharp gaze and hardened jaw, whatever she said clearly struck a chord with him.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Whatever! She didn¡¯t care. After all, he hadn¡¯t hurt her. In fact, he had hurt her more than she realized. Haisley walked away from Nathan. She didn¡¯t want to fuel her emotions further and end up uttering more harsh words. Quickly, she walked towards the stairs, saying, ¡°You better get dressed before you catch a cold!¡± Then she ran up the stairs.


    Haisley closed her bedroom door quite forcefully and locked it from the inside. Her body slumped to the floor instantly. The anger that had erupted moments ago now turned into quiet sobs. Nathaniel. Why did that man always mess with her feelings? Whether intentionally or not. Aware or not. That man had hurt her countless times.


    And what about her heart? Why couldn¡¯t it just move on and love someone else?


    Steven? Yes. What she said to Nathan about Steven wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. Gilbert did say that Steven liked her. And Steven was handsome and kind. But for some reason, could she not like him more than a friend? Or had she not tried hard enough?


    Gilbert hadn¡¯t taught her to y games with Steven. No. Gilbert wasn¡¯t that cruel, and she owed him an apology for falsely using him. Gilbert had actually encouraged her to give Steven a chance and learn to open her heart because Gilbert knew Steven was a good man. A very good one.


    Still with tears streaming down her cheeks, Haisley crawled onto her bed and chose to close her eyes until she fell into a deep sleep without thinking about anything.


    ***


    Haisley sat under the shade of a lush tree in the campus courtyard. Arge book rested on herp while a cold chocte drink was held in her left hand.


    The open book on herp suddenly disappeared, reced by a head with a handsome face and a sweet smile looking at her. ¡°What did you do to my sister that made her so angry with me?¡± Gilbert asked, his eyes full of suspicion. Haisley furrowed her brow in confusion. She hadn¡¯t seen Gilbert for two days. And Nathan? Thest time she saw him was when he was angry two days ago.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± She asked back.


    shback On


    Gilbert was focused on the documents in front of him when Nathan suddenly entered and stood in front of him, arms folded across his chest. ¡°Who is Steven?¡± he asked, without preamble.


    Gilbert raised his head and met Nathan¡¯s sharp gaze. His brother¡¯s face was 80% their father¡¯s, except for the eyes. While Gilbert had 80% of their mother¡¯s face, except for lips that resembled their father¡¯s more. Nathan had the arrogant face of an English aristocrat, whereas Gilbert had a handsome appearance more akin to his mother¡¯s. If people didn¡¯t know them intimately, they wouldn¡¯t guess they were siblings with an 8-year age gap.


    ¡°Do you know who Steven is, Nath? Why are you asking me?¡± Gilbert replied tly, attempting to refocus on his documents.


    ¡°No. I¡¯ll rephrase my question,¡± he said quickly. ¡°Are you trying to set up Haisley with Steven?¡±


    This time, Gilbert¡¯s brow furrowed in genuine confusion. But it seemed like there was a game Haisley was ying, and he just needed to follow along.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to set her up with Haisley, Nath. Haisley isn¡¯t that easy to pair off with someone she doesn¡¯t like.¡± Gilbert muttered in his mind. ¡°What¡¯s up with Steven, anyway?¡± He sought some rity, trying to understand what role he should y.


    ¡°Haisley said you introduced Steven to her and taught her to y hard to get until Steven falls head over heels for her. Are you trying to turn her into a ygirl?¡±


    Gilbert tried to suppress hisughter. ¡°Well, Steven does like Haisley, and it seems like Haisley feels the same way. I¡¯m not teaching Haisley to be a ygirl, Nath. I just want Haisley to be sure if Steven is really the one she likes and is right for her. That¡¯s not wrong, is it?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure this Steven guy is a good guy?¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, Nath. What do you mean by a good guy? There isn¡¯t a single man in this world without some dirty thoughts in his head. Good in what way?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t push Haisley toward a yboy, G.¡±


    ¡°Rx, I won¡¯t turn her into a victim of some wicked man. And Steven isn¡¯t a yer, Nath. He genuinely likes Haisley.¡± And that was the truth. Even though Haisley hadn¡¯t opened her heart yet and given Steven a chance to get close to her. ¡°Besides, I can¡¯t impose my will on who and what kind of man Haisley likes. And I can¡¯t stop her from getting close to anyone. Her being close, falling in love, or getting hurt, that¡¯s her business. We just ensure she feelsfortable here. Ensure her well-being is taken care of and her safety is preserved. Not to restrict her from socializing with anyone she likes, but we don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°But if she associates with the wrong crowd and gets hurt, it will be our mistake. She¡¯s under our responsibility.¡±


    ¡°No, Nath. That¡¯s not our concern. That¡¯s her parents¡¯ concern. And Haisley¡¯s parents have faith in their daughter. So whatever choices she makes, right or wrong, it¡¯s Haisley¡¯s responsibility. Besides, what kind of bad influence are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°What if she hangs out with the wrong people and chooses to engage in casual sex?¡±


    Gilbert snorted. ¡°That¡¯s her choice, Nath. We don¡¯t need to police her. It¡¯s her private matter. We don¡¯t have to handle it. You don¡¯t have to handle it.¡± He emphasized. In his heart, heughed in triumph. Nathan was starting to care about Haisley. He was afraid she would get hurt, afraid she would go down the wrong path. It seemed Nathan was beginning to see Haisley like any man would see a woman. ¡°Besides, she doesn¡¯t pry into your personal matters either. She doesn¡¯t care about who you date and spend the night with. She¡¯s not a child anymore, Nath. Clearly, she knows about the rtionship between adult ¡®men and women,¡¯ even though she might not know what really happens behind closed doors.¡±


    ¡°You just calm down, Nath. I will try to keep him away from you,¡± his words made his older brother furrow his brow. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like his presence. I know he disturbs your peace. That¡¯s why I¡¯m helping you. I¡¯m trying to get him closer to Steven so that you know he¡¯s moved on from you. And Steven, he¡¯s a good guy. He will love Haisley wholeheartedly. He really admires Haisley. I can assure you of that. And perhaps Steven can teach Haisley about the ¡®games¡¯ that grown men and women y. Steven is experienced.¡± He emphasized his words.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare teach anything bad to Haisley, G!¡± His voice was heavy with threat.


    ¡°I won¡¯t teach her anything, Nath. But if she wants to learn, I can¡¯t stop her. She¡¯s not a child anymore. She¡¯s a teenager growing into an adult with great curiosity. So, yes¡­¡± Gilbert shrugged nonchntly. ¡°You and I both know what we wanted to know at her age. Or if you¡¯re notfortable with her learning from Steven, maybe you can be her teacher. I don¡¯t know if she wants it or not. But I do know you could be a good teacher for her. Considering your experience in satisfying women.¡± There was a veiledpliment in his sarcasm. Nathan just stared at him, disbelieving, before leaving Gilbert with a pile of work that needed to be done.


    shback off.


    ¡°He¡¯s really interested in your rtionship with Steven. I think bringing up Steven in front of him might provoke his true feelings,¡± Gilbert looked at Haisley with a meaningful smile.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    Gilbert shrugged. ¡°Just a n,¡± he replied tly.

 Chap 12

    The weekend arrived uninvited. This was the first weekend where she saw Nathaniel at home. Without disappearing. Although his presence wasn¡¯t always visible to the eye. Maybe he was holed up in his study, or perhaps he spent his time in his room.


    Today was also Aunt Judy¡¯s day off. So like their usual weekends, she and Gilbert would go shopping for their needs. Or indulge in body treatments together.


    ¡°Are we going to eat out?¡± she asked with her mouth full. That morning, Gilbert made sweet pancakes for her.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Princess. I have an extra ss today, so I can¡¯t apany you. If everything goes as nned, I¡¯ll be back by two,¡± he said.


    Haisley sighed softly. But what could she say? When it came to education, she couldn¡¯t interfere. ¡°Alright, I guess I¡¯ll spend my Saturday at home. But after I get back from campus, we¡¯ll go out, okay?¡± she pleaded with a pleading expression. Gilbert ruffled her hair affectionately and nodded. ¡°Fine,¡± he replied shortly, then fed her another bite of pancake.


    After finishing breakfast, Haisley decided to watch TV in the living room. While Gilbert got ready to go to campus. And Nathan was still busy in his study. Whether it was too quiet or because she was bored, Haisley ended up falling asleep on the sofa.


    Nathan, about to fill his ss of water, froze when he saw the television on. He shook his head at the petite figure curled up on the couch like a fetus. Her knees were pulled up to her chest, one hand serving as a pillow for her head, and the other clutching the remote control.


    Nathan approached, reaching for the remote in the girl¡¯s hand and cing it on the table beside the sofa, knowing Haisley wouldn¡¯t wake up easily. He then shifted his position to lie down. Afterward, he ced his left arm under Haisley¡¯s head and the other hand under her knees, effortlessly lifting her small body, carrying her bridal style.


    Haisleyfortably rested her head on his chest, oblivious to her owner¡¯s increasingly rapid heartbeat. With casual steps, Nathan carried her back to her room on the second floor.


    Nathan opened the slightly ajar bedroom door with a push of his hip. Haisley¡¯s bed, originally positioned near the door, had now been moved to another corner close to the window and balcony. Nathan didn¡¯t know since when, as it was his first time entering her room. Clearly, the room¡¯s decor had changed since thest time he and Gilbert arranged it.


    The room was no longer as in as before; now, there were personal items scattered in different ces. The study desk, which previously only held a monitor, was now adorned with various stationery boxes, photo figures, and other knick-knacks. The bookshelf was starting to fill up with Haisley¡¯s textbooks and her collection of novels.


    The entire room was no longer recognizable to him. But one thing was certain, the room felt more masculine than feminine. Three-quarters of the items in there were neutral in color, the rest were girly.


    Nathan gentlyid Haisley down. But a momentter, Haisley shifted, her body turning towards Nathan who was crouched beside her. So, instead of leaving, Nathan found himself sitting still in his ce.


    The morning sunlight streaming through the ss door made Haisley¡¯s face and body appear even paler. Unconsciously, Nathan¡¯s hand reached out and adjusted the strands of hair falling on one side of Haisley¡¯s face. But his fingers found it insufficient to only touch her hair.


    Slowly, the back of his hand started to caress Haisley¡¯s face, starting from her forehead, cheekbones, jaw, and neck. Finally, his palm came to a stop between Haisley¡¯s jaw and cheek, stroking the rosy cheeks with fine golden hairs, lit by the sunlight.


    It was the first time Nathan noticed that the girl had soft hairs around her jaw, spreading back towards her ears. Nathan found it incredibly sexy.


    His thumb slowly moved and stroked Haisley¡¯s lower lip. It was plump and soft. Like jelly. Appearing sweet, soft, and refreshing. Nathan leaned his body forward and brought his face closer.


    Just a little, he thought. He just wanted to taste it.


    Nathan pressed his lips to the girl¡¯s lips. And what he felt turned out to be more than what he thought. Those lips were so soft and warm. Nathan¡¯s intentions suddenly changed. He no longer just kissed Haisley¡¯s lips but crushed and sucked them.


    Haisley had a dream. Someone gently stroked his cheek. The man¡¯s thumb rubbed her jaw in a circr motion. Then he moved to touch her lips, and a momentter, Haisley felt another touch on her lips. Something warm and chewy. She could feel the thumb pulling her chin, causing her lips to part slowly. And then a soft suck tugged at her bottom lip. Haisley groaned softly.


    The suction then turned into a crush. A warm tongue licked her lower lip before it moved to her upper lip and made the same movement again. Oh my God, why does this dream feel so real? She was even reluctant to open her eyes and wanted more than that. But suddenly, the kiss stopped. And Haisley felt those soft lips kissing her forehead for quite a long time before finally disappearing.


    Ah, why do sweet dreams only happen for a short time? She cursed in her heart.


    Nathan immediately left Haisley¡¯s room with his heart pounding. Oh Lord. he almost raped the girl in her sleep. When Nathan sucked her lips, the girl¡¯s moans aroused her passion even deeper. He wanted to put his hand under the girl¡¯s shirt and squeeze the warm mound. But fortunately, Nathan has good self-control. He managed to escape from his extraordinary desires.


    Nathan kissed the girl¡¯s forehead before finally leaving her room. He had to take another cold shower, he cursed under his breath, half-running towards his own room on the first floor.


    ***


    As he promised, Gilbert returned at two o¡¯clock, holding tworge pizza boxes in his hands. But he wasn¡¯t alone. Behind him was Steven, carrying arge cup of fried chicken from a well-known fast-food outlet. Haisley, who was incredibly hungry, cheered joyfully at their arrival.


    ¡°I told you, just give her plenty of good food, and she¡¯ll wee you happily,¡± Gilbert said openly.


    They chose to eat in the backyard gazebo. Soft and thick Persian carpets were spread on the floor. Haisley came prepared with a box of tissues and two bottles of cold mineral water. Gilbert waved his hand towards Nathan, who was standing on the balcony of his office. ¡°When is Lorettaing?¡± Gilbert asked when Haisley approached.


    Haisley squinted, seeing the figure with a beautiful body wearing a knee-length blue dress. Her shoulder-length bob hair flowed gracefully in the wind, resembling a summer dress advertisement. She looked elegant and beautiful as always. Not like herself, who was only wearing Gilbert¡¯s oversized knee-length jeans and a ck long-sleeved shirt.


    ¡°Probably when I¡¯m asleep,¡± she replied casually. Haisley took a big bite of her chicken and moaned in delight. Steven and Gilbert just smiled at her.


    ¡°Can I join?¡± Loretta greeted them warmly.


    Steven, Gilbert, and Haisley nodded in agreement. ¡°Wait a moment,¡± Haisley said. She walked back to the kitchen with the chicken still in her grasp and returned shortly after. She handed a napkin and a te to Loretta. ¡°It would be a shame if your clothes got dirty,¡± she said, noticing Loretta¡¯s furrowed brows. The girl was now sitting gracefully next to Nathan.


    ¡°You really didn¡¯t have to go through the trouble,¡± Loretta replied shyly. ¡°But thank you,¡± she added, spreading the napkin on herp.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    They ate amid light conversation, ranging from campus issues, work, trends in their city, and more about America.


    ¡°Join us on our vacationter,¡± Gilbert suggested to Loretta. Now that the food was gone, Haisley, Nathan, and Steven chose to lean against the gazebo wall, with their legs stretched out. Meanwhile, Loretta still sat gracefully in her position. Gilbert, on the other hand, preferred lying on Haisley¡¯sp. As if it were a routine, Haisley ran her fingers through Gilbert¡¯s hair with her delicate fingers. Steven seemed intrigued, while Nathan felt uneasy watching.


    ¡°When are you going back?¡± Loretta asked, curious.


    ¡°This semester break, right, H?¡± Gilbert looked up and received a nod in response. ¡°The four of us can go together. Haisley and I will be your guides.¡±


    ¡°Four?¡± Loretta asked, confused.


    ¡°Don¡¯t expect Nathan toe. He only goes back if it¡¯s necessary,¡± Gilbert replied again. Nathan remained silent. ¡°Besides, going on a vacation with Nathan wouldn¡¯t be enjoyable. Let¡¯s just be the four of us, let it be a couple¡¯s trip. You, Haisley, Steven, and me. We can have fun together.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll take you guys to some street food that tastes like five-star cuisine,¡± Haisley continued enthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯ll also introduce you to my friends.¡± Haisley could feel Gilbert stiffen in herp. ¡°You still remember my friend of Italian descent, right, G?¡± she teased Gilbert.


    ¡°Oh, you have Italian friends too?¡± Loretta¡¯s eyes lit up with enthusiasm.


    ¡°Yes, I went to an international school. You remember them, don¡¯t you, G? via and Abigail?¡± Haisley tried to hold back herughter as Gilbert chose to rise from his slumber and sat stiffly next to her.


    ¡°Yes, I know. Your friends who really like older men,¡± he replied softly. Haisley smacked his arm quite hard.


    ¡°Not like older men. But Gng is older. And you remember Abigail too, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The girl who¡¯s a clone of her aunt.¡±


    ¡°Now they¡¯re managing the business that used to be Aunt Ana¡¯s.¡± She redirected her attention back to Loretta. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to them. You¡¯ll definitely like them.¡±


    ¡°If Loretta likes you, she¡¯ll surely like that duo too,¡± Gilbert muttered without hiding his annoyance.


    ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to it,¡± Loretta said enthusiastically, not noticing Gilbert¡¯s irritated and bored expression. As for Steven, he felt that this vacation could be a more intense bonding experience for them.


    ¡°Me too,¡± Haisley replied with equal enthusiasm.

 Chap 13

    Haisley stretched, moving her head from side to side to relieve the stiffness. Studying was not something she enjoyed, but what could she do? After all, she was a student, right?


    Her business professor had already left the ss, leaving them with a pile of assignments to be submitted in the next two meetings. Haisley could only sigh in resignation. Well, at least tomorrow was the weekend, so she could forget about her college tasks for a while.


    ¡°Hey, H,¡± greeted a tall, slender guy with a friendly smile on his face.


    ¡°Hi, Dem. What¡¯s up?¡± Haisley asked politely.


    ¡°Do you still have sses?¡± Haisley shook her head. This was herst ss. ¡°Want to go out with me?¡±


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°Anywhere, a movie, food, maybe? Or just hanging out is fine too,¡± he replied enthusiastically.


    ¡°With who?¡±


    ¡°Just the two of us.¡±


    ¡°Alright. But you have to drop me hometer.¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    Haisley put all her books into her backpack. They walked side by side toward the corridor where Haisley¡¯s locker was located. She put away some books that she wouldn¡¯t need and then walked back towards the parking area.


    Gilbert didn¡¯t have sses today. And like days when his sses were empty, he would spend his day at the office, taking care of their family business. This would leave Haisley bored because there would be no one to hang out with. Fortunately, Demian invited her out. Demian knew, as Haisley had told him earlier, that she already liked someone else. So, she asked Demian not to get his hopes up too much. Although Demian thought the person Haisley liked was Gilbert, Haisley didn¡¯t feel the need to exin further.


    Sore turned into evening as Haisley spent her time with Demian. He was a kind and polite guy, friendly too. Like Steven, Demian was someone easily likable.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    At ten o¡¯clock, after having dinner at an Italian restaurant, Demian dropped Haisley off at Nathan¡¯s house. They chatted for a moment outside the car before Haisley bid him goodbye and entered the house.


    ¡°Dating, huh?¡± a sardonic remark greeted her from the other side of the door. Haisley turned to see Nathan sitting casually with a remote control in his hand.


    ¡°Who, H?¡± Gilbert called from the kitchen, a meaningful smile ying on his lips.


    ¡°Demian,¡± Haisley answered, walking closer. She grabbed the ss from Gilbert¡¯s hand and drank from it eagerly.


    ¡°Nice catch! He¡¯s a good kid,¡± Gilbert replied, offering Haisley a peeled and sliced apple.


    ¡°Besides studying, are you also working as a census worker, G? Or are you trying your hand at psychology games?¡± Nathan sneered.


    Gilbert winked at Haisley. ¡°Something like that, bro!¡± he replied casually. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know Gilbert on campus, right? Just ask around, and you can find out anything about anyone. I heard he¡¯s been aggressively trying to get close to you too, H.¡± Haisley nodded.


    ¡°He¡¯s nice. Handsome too. And most importantly, he¡¯s friendly, gentle, and always takes care of me,¡± she continued with praises that were indeed true. She winked at Gilbert in response. ¡°He proposed to me again earlier, G,¡± she said in her usual t tone, but it was surely audible to Nathan.


    ¡°Come on, princess. You need to choose. Don¡¯t y with people¡¯s feelings. You know Steven is a good guy, and he¡¯s still trying to get closer to you. Yeah, I can¡¯t give you ament about Demian. I don¡¯t know him like I know Steven. He¡¯s also a new kid, so there isn¡¯t much information yet. But at least you should have a choice,¡± Gilbert advised.


    Haisley just made a small grimace. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll think about it. I need to know and weigh the pros and cons between them. At least, let me try first, then I¡¯ll decide.¡±


    ¡°Try what, H?¡± Gilbert looked at her curiously.


    Haisley smiled meaningfully. ¡°At least I need to know which one of them can kiss better,¡± she replied lightly, putting thest piece of the apple into her mouth. ¡°Dating isn¡¯t just about walking, talking, and eating, right, G?¡± she said meaningfully.


    ¡°What? Are you out of your mind?!¡± a shout came from Nathan. ¡°Are you trying to be slut, H?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by slut?¡±


    ¡°Trying to kiss every guy and then deciding to be in a rtionship with one after finding someone suitable? Are you crazy? And you!¡± She pointed at Gilbert. ¡°You¡¯re probably polluting her mind with such ideas.¡±


    Gilbert raised both his hands up to his head. ¡°Slow down, bro!¡± he replied casually. ¡°You heard her, she makes the decisions, right?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong if I do that? It¡¯s my right, isn¡¯t it? Besides, there¡¯s nothing wrong with enjoying youth, right, G?¡± She turned to Gilbert and received a nod in response. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to enjoy your youth. One thing¡¯s for sure, I have to experience kissing and touching other men before I decide to spend my life with one man. In case you forgot, Nath. I¡¯m a faithful woman once I¡¯m bound by a vow. But until I utter that vow, I¡¯m a free woman.¡±


    ¡°I love you, princess. You¡¯re so cute. Whatever you want, I¡¯ll support you.¡±


    ¡°G!¡± Nathan snapped angrily.


    ¡°Thank you, G!¡± Haisley replied simultaneously. ¡°Don¡¯t try to win this alone, Mr. Nathaniel Chayton. I don¡¯t need your permission to do what I want. Even if I want to kiss every guy on campus, it¡¯s none of your business.¡± Haisley pecked Gilbert¡¯s cheek briefly. ¡°Goodnight, G!¡± she said and went upstairs to her room.


    ¡°I told you, don¡¯t teach her all these things. She¡¯s still impressionable, G!¡± Nathan fumed once Haisley¡¯s bedroom door was closed.


    ¡°As you see, she¡¯s not affected at all. It¡¯s her own decision, Nath. You just have to respect it. Besides, what she said is true. There¡¯s nothing wrong with trying a few men before she decides to be faithful to her husband. You¡¯ve been with several women until now too, haven¡¯t you? Why shouldn¡¯t Haisley? After all, she said it¡¯s just kissing.¡±


    ¡°Right now, he¡¯s saying he wants to try kissing. Tomorrow or the day after, he ns to sleep with those guys,¡± Haisley said.


    Gilbert shrugged. ¡°Give me the details about ¡®sleeping with,¡¯ will you? In case you¡¯ve forgotten, he and I often ¡®sleep together,¡¯ and you¡¯ve seen it plenty of times.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb, G! You know exactly what I mean.¡±


    ¡°Well, who knows, maybe your version of ¡®sleeping together¡¯ and mine are different. Next time, just use the word ¡®making love,''¡± Gilbert replied casually. ¡°And even if she decides to do it, it¡¯s her choice. I can only hope whoever she chooses to do it with is gentle. Considering Haisley¡¯s delicate frame¡­¡± Gilbert shrugged again. He turned his back on Nathan, a smile on his face. He wanted tough seeing his brother¡¯s shocked face, as if he had just been pped.


    Whether Nathan was truly clueless, pretending to be, or unwilling to admit, one thing was certain: Nathan cared about that girl. He was genuinely bothered by Haisley¡¯s presence. Haisley needed to act faster if she wanted Nathan¡¯s full attention.

 Chap 14

    Nathan returned from his business trip after three days. His throat felt sore, and his head throbbed, blurring his vision. He asked the office driver to take him back home, leaving his car at the central office.


    The house was quiet when he unlocked the door. Aunt Jody was probably out shopping, he thought. Nathan chose to enter his room, too tired to bother changing his clothes, and fell onto the bed, instantly drifting off to sleep.


    Haisley had juste back from campus when she noticed the front door slightly ajar, with Nathan¡¯s keys still hanging from the lock. It was unmistakably Nathan¡¯s, yet she didn¡¯t see his car in the garage. With a soft shake of her head, Haisley pulled the keys and locked the door from inside, as she usually did. All of them-she, Nathan, Gilbert, and Aunt Jody-had copies of the keys, making it convenient for everyone toe and go.


    Speaking of Aunt Jody, the middle-aged woman had called her earlier, asking for permission to return home because one of her grandchildren was sick and wanted to meet her. Since the grandchild lived in a different city, Aunt Jody intended to take leave and nned to return at the beginning of next week. Meanwhile, Gilbert had ns with his college friends and wouldn¡¯t be back until Friday night, if his friends didn¡¯t extend their research project into a vacation.


    Haisley made her way to the kitchen. As usual, she looked for a ss and filled it with cold water, taking long sips until it was empty. But when she went to put the ss down, something caught her eye. Nathan¡¯s room, which was usually tightly closed, appeared to be open. With hesitation, Haisley approached. She listened for a moment, just in case Nathan wasn¡¯t alone.


    There were no other sounds from inside the room except for vague murmurs, barely audible. Finally, Haisley mustered the courage to peek inside. She saw Nathan lying on the bed, facing upward. However, what made her furrow her brows was his slightly odd position. One of his legs dangled down and he was still wearing his shoes.


    Haisley approached, and the unclear murmurs became louder. ¡°Nath,¡± her hand reached out, attempting to wake Nathan. ¡°Nathan,¡± she repeated, but there was no response. ¡°Nathaniel, wake up!¡± she said with a higher pitch. But the man remained motionless.


    Haisley stared at Nathan¡¯s flushed face. Her hand touched his forehead, feeling the heat. ¡°Nath, are you sick?¡± she asked, but there was no answer. Haisley grabbed her bag and searched for her phone, contacting Gilbert and asking him to call the doctor.


    ¡°Dr. Willy will be here in about ten minutes. Is he okay?¡± Gilbert inquired.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, G. He¡¯s feverish and mumbling incoherently,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Usually, there¡¯s paracetamol in the first aid kit in the storage closet. Try giving him one tablet,¡± Gilbert suggested.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid, G. What if he has already taken it before going to sleep?¡± she replied in a panic.


    ¡°Alright, Princess. Stay calm. Just find a small towel and arge bowl in the kitchen. You know how to do apress, right? If not, you can find instructions online,¡± Gilbert said, intending to tease her. But there was noughter in response from Haisley. She was too worried to even respond to Gilbert¡¯s teasing. ¡°Call me again when the doctor arrives, H. I have to go,¡± he said before ending the call.


    Following Gilbert¡¯s instructions, Haisley went to the kitchen. She had found arge bowl and was looking for a small towel when the doorbell rang. Haisley walked to the door and saw a short man with thinning hair looking at her. ¡°Ms. Haisley?¡± the man asked with a deep and authoritative voice. Haisley had misjudged him; she had thought his voice would be small, matching his below-average height.


    ¡°Are you Dr. Willy?¡± Haisley asked hopefully, to which the man nodded. ¡°Thank goodness, you came early.¡±


    ¡°I just added the predicted time to the time I spend if there¡¯s traffic. But it seems there was no traffic like I anticipated, so yes, I arrived earlier,¡± the man replied as he followed Haisley into Nathan¡¯s room.


    ¡°I just got back; I don¡¯t know since when he has had a fever,¡± she said as the doctor opened his bag and started examining Nathan.


    His hands moved swiftly, touching Nathan¡¯s body until he finally sighed in relief. ¡°No need to worry. He just caught the flu. Probably too tired, a lot on his mind, it seems,¡± the man said again. ¡°Just apply coldpress, let his body stay warm. If he sweats, change his clothes immediately. And give him soup so his throat can feel morefortable.¡± The man provided Haisley with several medications and wrote down instructions on them. ¡°I think he also has some issues with his stomach. Make sure he eats on time. Take this before meals, and this after meals. And for this one, it contains a sleeping aid, so give it to him only at night.¡± Five kinds of medicine were now stored on the nightstand. ¡°Always be prepared for any possibility,¡± the man said when he noticed Haisley¡¯s bewilderment at the readily avable medications.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°T-Thank you, Doctor,¡± Haisley replied, feeling nervous and embarrassed. The middle-aged man only responded with a smile.


    ¡°Take good care of him. People who rarely get sick tend to be more delicate,¡± he said with aforting smile. ¡°And take off all these clothes; he must be feeling overheated. Use a thin nket, unless he starts shivering, then add a thicker one. And dress him in clothes that are easy to remove. His body is toorge; it might be difficult for you to change his clothes.¡± Haisley simply nodded, although for some reason, her face suddenly felt hot.


    After escorting the doctor outside, Haisley returned to the kitchen and brought a bowl along with the towel he had prepared earlier. He also grabbed a ss and a bottle of mineral water, cing the tray on the nightstand. He began to take off Nathan¡¯s shoes and ced them on the bed. He loosened the man¡¯s belt before turning his attention to the suit he was wearing. ¡°Nathan, please. Your body is really big. Be kind enough to move,¡± he said. But instead, Haisley found Nathan sweating profusely after the suit and tie were removed.


    Haisley filled therge bowl with cold water from the bathroom and started wetting his small towel. He ced the towel on Nathan¡¯s forehead and left the room again. The doctor had said Nathan needed to have soup. So, Haisley thought about making chicken soup and porridge for him.


    While cooking the porridge for an hour, Haisley changed thepress several times. Nathan¡¯s fever still hadn¡¯t gone down. He brought a bowl of porridge and the soup back to the room, attempting to wake Nathan up. The man¡¯s clothes were soaked with sweat.


    Haisley opened Nathan¡¯s closet. For the first time since he had known Nathan, it was the first time Haisley had entered the man¡¯s private area. Confused? Certainly. Throughout his life, the only man who had been so intimately close to him was his father, the only man in his house. Ignore Gilbert because he had no feelings for him beyond affection for a friend.


    Haisley pulled out the topmost shirt he could find and went back to the bed. ¡°Nath, wake up. Let¡¯s change your clothes, big guy,¡± he said softly. His small hands continued to shake Nathan¡¯s body to wake him up. Nathan squinted his eyes and looked at Haisley with a furrowed brow.


    ¡°Haisley?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. Come on, get up. Change your clothes and eat. After that, you¡¯re free to go back to sleep or do whatever you want.¡± Haisley helped Nathan sit up and ced several pillows behind him so he could befortable in his semi-upright position. ¡°Are you feverish? Do you have a headache?¡± she asked as Nathan closed his eyes, wincing. His head nodded slowly. ¡°Your clothes are wet, let¡¯s change them.¡± Haisley helped unbutton Nathan¡¯s shirt one by one and took it off. The man winced, although Haisley¡¯s movements were gentle. Maybe it was because his body was sore due to the fever, or perhaps, as Dr. Willy had said, people who rarely got sick tended to be more delicate.


    Haisley wiped Nathan¡¯s body with a warm towel she had wrung out, removing the remaining sweat before putting a fresh shirt on him. Then, she gave him the medicine that, ording to the doctor¡¯s instructions, Nathan had to take before eating. The manplied silently. Afterward, she ced the tray on hisp and told Nathan to eat.


    ¡°Porridge?¡± he whispered.


    ¡°The doctor said you have acid reflux. So, I thought porridge would be better. Come on, eat, and finish it. The soup too. While it¡¯s still warm,¡± she said.


    Nathan just nodded. He started spooning the porridge into his mouth. The aroma of green onions from the chicken soup in front of him increased his appetite. While he ate, he asionally watched the girl bustling around in her room. She put away her shoes, ced the dirty shirt in theundry basket, filled arge bowl with cold water, and ended by refilling the thermos with hot water for drinking.


    Without realizing it, the bowls of porridge and chicken soup in front of her were already empty. Haisley picked up the tray from herp and offered a few pills along with a ss of warm water. ¡°Eat, and go back to sleep,¡± was the only sentence she heard until Nathan drifted back into his slumber.


    Haisley nced at her watch. It had been over two hours since Nathanst fell asleep. His body was still warm, although not as hot as before. It seemed the doctor¡¯s medication was working. She felt hungry herself. Haisley reached for the towel on Nathan¡¯s forehead and ced it on the small bowl. She covered him before heading to the kitchen to prepare something for herself. Half an hourter, she was back in Nathan¡¯s room, checking on him. She chose to sit on the floor, which was covered in thick carpet, resting her head on her folded arms beside the bed. And when drowsiness overcame her, she didn¡¯t resist taking a brief nap, she thought, before fully sumbing to sleep.

 Chap 15

    Nathan opened his eyes; his headache had started to fade, although his body still felt ufortable. His throat still hurt when he swallowed, although not as intensely as before. Perhaps it was thanks to Dr. Willy¡¯s medicine, or it could be because of the porridge and soup that Haisley made.


    Thinking about her name, Nathan smiled to himself. He remembered the girl¡¯s face blushing when she helped him change his clothes and wiped his body with a warm towel. It was abundantly clear that she had never been that close to a man before. Nathan tried to slowly get up from his bed. He didn¡¯t want to wake her up; she was sleeping on the floor, propped up by her arms with her head resting on the side of the bed. Regardless of how sharp her words were and how cynical her gaze was, her attention to him was greater than anything else.


    Nathan couldn¡¯t help but wonder: what did this girl really want to prove to him? And more than that, he was curious about her feelings for him. Did she still have feelings for him, like she confessed before? Or perhaps those feelings were no longer there, as she seemed to be trying to prove?


    Nathan got up from his bed and stepped down slowly. He tried to reach for Haisley¡¯s body and move her onto the bed. He didn¡¯t want her to wake up with a sore waist and stiff arms from sleeping in a sitting position. Even considering her immense pride, Nathan was sure Haisley would never admit her pain.


    If Nathan¡¯s body were in normal condition, Haisley¡¯s body would have felt incredibly light when he tried to lift her. However, due to his weakened state, even lifting Haisley even slightly made him break out in a sweat. Nathany down next to her, breathing heavily. With his sideways position, he could observe her face very clearly.


    Haisley wore a cotton top with a halter neck design in a light purple color, with thin straps on her shoulders, revealing her smooth shoulders and slender neck. Stray hairs escaped from her simple bun, making her chubby face look even more endearing. Nathan yed with those strands with his fingers. His index finger traced her forehead, cheeks, down to her neck and corbone. He smiled to himself as Haisley moved, attempting to brush off his touch, probably finding it ticklish.


    Haisley shifted, adjusting her position to face him, giving Nathan the opportunity to untie her hair so her bun fell apart, her long ck hair spreading over the bedsheet. Tempted, Nathan ran his fingers through her hair. It was smooth and emitted a cherry scent.


    He remembered the moments when Gilbert helped her care for her hair every weekend. The jealousy unavoidably crept into his heart. Yes, every weekend, Haisley often asked Gilbert for help in maintaining her beautiful hair. Whether it was applying aloe vera masks, smearing in yogurt, or various other concoctions Nathan himself had no knowledge of.


    Gilbert¡¯s delighted expression every time he did it didn¡¯t improve Nathan¡¯s mood. Especially afterward when Haisley would do the same for Gilbert¡¯s hair, ending up washing each other¡¯s hair in the bathroom withughter that only fueled Nathan¡¯s growing frustration.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Nathan was confused about his feelings. When his parents said Haisley would be living with them and Gilbert, he wanted to be angry at her and hated her because he thought her presence would remind him of Crystal. However, the reality was, in the nearly three months she¡¯d been here, he hadn¡¯t thought about Crystal at all.


    Furthermore, he came up with various schemes to distance himself from Haisley and avoid her if she kept disturbing him with her once-expressed romantic feelings. But in reality, not a single n he devised worked. His anxiety about Haisley¡¯s presence that would disturb him with her puppy love never came true. Instead, he found himself getting angrier every time she talked about other men who approached her.


    Now there was Steven and Demian. Who knew who else would be added to the list of men pursuing her tomorrow or the day after. And Gilbert, his foolish brother, wholeheartedly supported whatever Haisley did, even allowing her tiny body to be touched by other men¡¯s hands.


    What was going on in his brother¡¯s mind? Wasn¡¯t he insane? Didn¡¯t he understand that guarding meant protecting Haisley from all the potential harm she might face? Yet, his foolish brother casually said that Haisley should indeed enjoy her youth.


    Absolutely insane!


    And the thought of Haisley kissing another man made his anger rise to the top of his head again. What did that girl say the other day? Feeling other lips? By God, Nathan would never allow it. He didn¡¯t want any other lips to touch his own.


    His? On what basis did he im Haisley¡¯s lips as his own? That girl is nothing. Or does Nathan want the girl to be who he is?


    His thumb touched the girl¡¯s lower lip gently. With a low groan, Nathan captured her lips with his and crushed them over time. He didn¡¯t care if Haisley woke up with his kiss. There was only one thing on his mind right now. He had to feel her softness.


    And if the girl wants to feel a man¡¯s lips and explore them. So Nathan will be happy to teach her.


    Answering his curiosity. Nathan went back to crushing, sucking, biting Haisley¡¯s lips alternately. Slowly, the girl replied. Kissing, sucking, and even licking his lips in return. And when Nathan sucked her tongue, the girl moaned. Her chest puffed up beautifully as if silently asking for more.


    Follow the girl¡¯s wishes. Nathan¡¯s hand entered the girl¡¯s clothes and gently squeezed the supple mound of flesh. Twisted the tiny tip and made the girl sigh. While his lips were still exploring Haisley¡¯s lips, his right hand was busy with the lump of supple flesh that was so tempting. His left hand lowered the thin shoulder strap and slid it down Haisley¡¯s arm so he could now see the breast he had touched.


    Round, full, firm, and beautiful. That was the only word in Nathan¡¯s head. Nathan¡¯s lips wanted more. The tiny body lying submissively beneath him seemed to provide more ess. Her long neck tempted Nathan toe closer and smell the girl¡¯s scent.


    Nathan sniffed and kissed it while his hands squeezed the girl¡¯s small breasts. He again heard the girl hissing, moaning in pleasure. Nathan¡¯s lips continued to trail along the girl¡¯s neck, kissing and asionally licking it. Then down to her corbone to the breast itself.


    Haisley¡¯s white skin looked red because of the heat that spread throughout her body. The pink peaks of her breasts looked seductive. Damn! Has Nathan now turned into a rapist? He touched the girl while she was unconscious?


    But he didn¡¯t care. He wants it. And the girl also liked his touch.


    Nathan lowered his head and gently kissed the supple flesh while his other hand yed with the girl¡¯s left breast. His kisses turned into strong sucking, making Haisley moan softly in her sleep. His back arched upwards, begging for more as her hands touched Nathan¡¯s head, grabbing his hair and trying to press it. Her body moved restlessly under Nathan¡¯s body. Making Nathan burn even more and want more.


    Nathan moved his mouth to the other side of Haisley¡¯s breast while his left hand twisted the top of the girl¡¯s right breast, recing the moisture of his lips with a gentle squeeze. Haisley¡¯s tiny hand grip on Nathan¡¯s hair became stronger. ¡°Nathan¡­¡± she moaned between hissing sounds. Nathan looked up and saw those eyes closed.


    Maybe the girl was dreaming. Dreaming of him rubbing her. And Nathan will fulfill her wish. He lifted his body again and kissed Haisley¡¯s neck and jaw while his right hand slid down Haisley¡¯s lower body. Rubbed her t stomach and continued down towards the girl¡¯s sensitive area.


    Nathan teases Haisley from outside her panties. Rubbing gently and pressing so that the girl¡¯s tiny body writhed and let out a muffled sigh. ¡°Nathan, please¡­¡± she moaned with her eyes closed. Excited by Haisley¡¯s request and hot by his desire. Nathan dared to put his finger into his underwear and touch the wet area. Inserted one finger and began to tease slowly.


    The girl¡¯s hips rose. Instinctively asking for more. Nathan moved more intensely. Kissing the girl¡¯s neck, squeezing her breasts, and asionally kissing her full lips. Meanwhile, his fingers moved faster and faster, going in and out as far as he could. Finally, he felt the girl¡¯s body stiffen and her sensitive parts swell. With a moan that sounded beautiful, the girl got her first release.


    Nathan smiled. He was satisfied with his results even though his body was still stiff. Nathan adjusted Haisley¡¯s clothes and then covered her small body, which seemed to neutralize her breath. He had to take a cold shower. He cursed as he got up from bed and went into the bathroom.


    Nathan turned on the cold water and stood under the shower until he felt his passion subside. Then he went back into the room with his body staggering because the throbbing in his head was getting more excruciating. Wearing only underwear that he took from the cupboard in the bathroom, he climbed into bed and covered himself with the same nket as Haisley. Nathan reached out and grabbed Haisley¡¯s head so that the girl slept in his arms with the pillow of his arm. Tonight, let Haisley be him. He thought before falling asleep.

 Chap 16

    Haisley felt her bed shake.


    ¡°Earthquake?¡± she asked, startled. Her eyes widened in panic. But as she tried to get up, intending to save herself, she felt her body being held by something hard but warm. Yes, Nathan¡¯s arms were wrapped around her tightly, almost crushing her. His body heat prated the thin clothes Haisley was wearing.


    It wasn¡¯t an earthquake; it was the vibrations caused by Nathan shivering in his sleep.


    Both their bodies were still covered by the thick nket, almost up to their chins. And what surprised Haisley afterward was realizing that Nathan had now undressed, and his hair looked damp. But clearly, the dampness was not due to sweat. ¡°Did Nathan take a shower while I was asleep?¡± she wondered silently.


    Very slowly, Haisley moved Nathan¡¯s arm away from her abdomen and got up from the bed. Her knees felt weak. After the pleasant dream she had just experienced, for some reason, her body felt tired, and she also felt sore in a few ces.


    Haisley pped her cheek quite hard, hoping to forget her dream. But, oh God, how could she dream something so erotic? She had never even kissed anyone, yet she could feel that vivid erotic dream, which felt so real. Even her underwear felt damp.


    Haisley shook her head again. It wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on that dream. She walked as fast as she could to fill a bowl with cold water and returned topress Nathan again. ¡°Nath, take your medicine first,¡± she requested, trying to wake Nathan up. It wasn¡¯t until the fourth attempt that Nathan woke up and took the medicine into his mouth. ¡°Did you shower? Where are your clothes?¡± she asked again, but the response she got was just a soft murmur. Nathan chose to lie back down.


    Nathan¡¯s body started shivering intensely again. Haisley searched for another nket from the stockpile in the kitchen and spread it out, wrapping Nathan¡¯s constantly mumbling body. ¡°Take off your clothes, Princess,¡± Nathan said so softly. Haisley widened her eyes but eventually understood what Nathan meant. Her body¡¯s warmth could alleviate the cold that Nathan was feeling.


    Quickly, Haisley undressed, leaving only her underwear, and hurriedly got under the nket. Shey next to Nathan and asked him to turn around so she could hug his back. However, Nathan didn¡¯t move at all. So, reluctantly, Haisley crawled andy on top of him. Her hands wrapped around Nathan¡¯s neck, and she buried her head in his neck. ¡°Get well soon,¡± she whispered softly. A few momentster, Nathan¡¯s body stopped shivering, although his body heat was still quite high.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Haisley released her embrace and covered Nathan with the nket before she dressed again. Nathan¡¯s sweat clung to her body. She dressed as quickly as she could and then went to the kitchen. Haisley would heat up her porridge and soup while she took a quick shower and changed her clothes.


    ***


    The third day saw Nathan returning to his normal self. His body temperature had returned to normal, and his appetite had increased. It was then that Nathan realized there had been no one in the house during his illness except for him and Haisley.


    The girl had been diligent in taking care of him. Somehow, Nathan found himself enjoying her pampering. Haisley, who used to be cold towards him, was now so attentive. In the depths of his heart, Nathan smiled.


    Every day, Gilbert would often call him, inquiring about his condition. He would even tease Nathan because the usually healthy man now seemed like a whining, spoiled child. His brother nned to return the next day.


    As for his work, Nathan had managed everything from home until now. His secretary came to the house if needed.


    Nathan got up from his bed. Feeling better, he chose to shower and have his meal at the dining table. Although he didn¡¯t know what Haisley would serve him tonight, he walked out wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with two buttons on the chest, which he deliberately left open, and a pair of branded sweatpants. Despite feeling better, the chill still lingered in his body.


    Haisley was quite surprised to see Nathan in the dining room. His face looked more gaunt due to the three days of illness, but he was no longer as pale. His fine hair was clean andbed away from his face. It seemed he had taken the time to shave.


    ¡°I made roast turkey and mashed potatoes,¡± she said, diverting her attention from Nathan. Her hands tingled, wanting to touch the face that had been so freely held for the past three days. ¡°Sit down; I¡¯ll serve it in a moment,¡± Haisley said, still with her back turned to Nathan.


    Nathanplied and chose to sit down. ¡°I¡¯m just curious, where did you learn to cook?¡± he asked, breaking the silence between them.


    ¡°I have a close friend who is really into the culinary world. And coincidentally, my friend¡¯s mother, who is also her aunt, Aunt Caliana, is an excellent cook. So when we have free time, we learn to cook from her,¡± Haisley replied at length. ¡°Many people say that to seduce a husband, all you need to do is give him delicious food and satisfying service,¡± she replied, trying to keep her tone as t as possible, although her face was already flushed. Especially when she remembered the recent dreams she had been having.


    ¡°Did you also learn about the ¡®satisfying service¡¯ from Aunt Caliana?¡± Nathan asked, his tone colder. He saw Haisley shrug.


    ¡°I learned from someone else,¡± Haisley said as she took the turkey out of the oven. She walked to the bar table and took arge knife to cut the turkey into smaller pieces. ¡°Besides, what can¡¯t be learned from the inte nowadays? Everything seems so transparent. Just use an email ount and dere that you¡¯re of legal age, then any content that shouldn¡¯t be seen by children can be essed.¡± She ced the turkey pieces on a serving te and started arranging them.

 Chap 17

    ¡°But what you see is different from what you feel in person,¡± Nathan said, not wanting to back down.


    ¡°Of course, Nath. I know that too. It¡¯s all just acting, except maybe if the video¡¯s title is a tutorial,¡± she said and ced the te on the dining table. Nathan grabbed Haisley¡¯s arm before she could go to the kitchen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend that you¡¯re trying out what you¡¯ve seen, Haisley,¡± he growled. His grip on her arm tightened, making Haisley wince in pain. She harshly attempted to free herself from Nathan¡¯s grip.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you multiple times, Nathaniel, it¡¯s none of your business,¡± she said, her tone as cold as ice. ¡°I have my own rights to do whatever I want, and I¡¯ve said that to you repeatedly.¡± Her words were a reminder.


    Nathan stood tall in front of her, his head bowed to meet Haisley¡¯s eyes, which only reached his chest. His sharp gaze made Haisley afraid, but she tried to conceal her fear.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re experienced. Very experienced,¡± she said softly. She looked back at Nathan with a sharp gaze. A small, teasing smile appeared on her lips, making Nathan swallow hard, resisting the temptation to grab her and kiss her as he did when she was asleep. ¡°Someday, if I need your help on how to seduce, I¡¯ll definitely ask you to teach me,¡± she said shamelessly.


    She turned away, leaving Nathan standing there, stunned by Haisley¡¯s words that felt like they were stabbing him, while Haisley tried her best to calm her racing heart.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s like a boxing ring, you want to turn me into a punching bag for practice, is that it?¡± Nathan asked when his momentarily weakened mind regained function. Haisley, putting potatoes into arge bowl, just shrugged nonchntly.


    ¡°Gilbert said if I want to be great, I need to practice often,¡± she replied, trying to provoke him. ¡°So, the more I practice, the better I¡¯ll be. How many punching bags does a boxer have to destroy before bing a professional? If you can count, try counting for me. I¡¯ll make that the number of men I¡¯ll date until I¡¯m finally dered a pro,¡± she answered, cing the bowl of mashed potatoes on the table.


    As Haisley turned back to the kitchen to get a drink, Nathan blocked her way. He stared at her with fiery eyes. But Haisley stood her ground, gazing back at him with a cynical look. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Haisley asked coldly.


    ¡°You said you wanted to count how many punching bags are ruined before a boxer bes a pro. Do you already have your first punching bag?¡± he asked coldly. Therge figure of the man drew closer, instinctively making Haisley step back slowly to avoid him. Haisley swallowed hard; it seemed like she had baited Nathan excessively. His anger was evident.


    ¡°Who¡¯s your first punching bag? Tell me. Is it Steven? Demian? Or is there another man?¡± With each step Nathan took, Haisley took a step back.


    ¡°It could be Steven, it could be Demian, or maybe both at the same time,¡± Haisley answered without hesitation. Although in her heart, she knew it was neither of them, and it would never be.


    ¡°Stop it, Haisley,¡± the man growled. Nathan gripped Haisley¡¯s upper arms tightly, causing her to frown and struggle to break free. Instead, he pushed Haisley with his body, pinning her against the bar table, her back now trapped between Nathan¡¯srge frame. ¡°Don¡¯t try to be a slut. It¡¯s not suitable for you,¡± he continued, his gaze piercing.


    ¡°And what do you think, if I¡¯m not allowed to be a slut, what kind of woman should I be then? A graceful and obedient woman who just agrees with whatever my future husband says?¡± Haisley challenged. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Nathan. Maybe Loretta is more suitable for a woman like that. But me, I prefer to be a rebellious wife.¡± She tried to push Nathan¡¯s chest.


    If he were in good health, Nathan might never have moved from his position, but because he was still in the process of healing, Haisley¡¯s quite forceful push made Nathan stagger and step back a few paces. Haisley was surprised herself when she saw Nathan bump into the dining table, causing the tes and bowls on it to shift from their ces.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Haisley asked in panic. She reached out and tried to help Nathan stand upright again. Nathan didn¡¯t reject her hand. Instead, he hugged Haisley¡¯s waist rather than epting her help.


    Haisley jerked as her body once again came into such close proximity to Nathan¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ll never allow you to y around, Princess,¡± Nathan growled in her ear. ¡°I won¡¯t allow anyone to be worthy of you,¡± he continued softly.


    In her conscious and shocked state, Haisley tried her best to hide her joyful smile. Finally, her bait had worked. She had to keep challenging Nathan if she wanted her dreams toe true.


    ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t anyone worthy to be my partner?¡± she challenged, tilting her head back to meet Nathan¡¯s gaze directly, which he returned with intensity.


    ¡°No one. Because I won¡¯t allow anyone to be worthy of you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so arrogant, Nathan. There are plenty of men in this world better than you. And don¡¯t assume you¡¯re an expert in everything. Even though I know you¡¯re a yboy who can easily switch women like changing clothes, I don¡¯t like teasing a man who already has a girlfriend. I don¡¯t want to be seen as a woman trying to steal someone, even though my intention isn¡¯t to make them mine, but just like you said, to make them my partner in life.¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°And Demian or Steven is a suitable candidate because neither of them is close to any woman right now. Plus, both of them seem to admire me, so I¡¯m sure they will kindly fulfill any of my hopes,¡± Haisley said and pushed Nathan to sit in a chair.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let it happen, Princess.¡±


    ¡°And I won¡¯t ask for your permission to let me, My Prince,¡± she retorted and started spooning mashed potatoes onto Nathan¡¯s te. Again, she tried to conceal her delight at the victory she had achieved.

 Chap 18

    Haisley nced at her watch. It was already 15 minutes past the scheduled time Gilbert had promised her. Today, Gilbert had promised to introduce her to some of his friends from Indonesia. They were nning to organize their weekend getaway together. And now, Haisley was waiting for him to pick her up, but he hadn¡¯t shown up yet.


    Should she go to the meeting ce by herself? After all, Haisley knew where Gilbert had arranged to meet his friends. But she was a bit hesitant. She was sociable, but when it came to dealing with men, she kept a bit of distance.


    She would wait for another ten minutes, she decided inwardly. Haisley chose to watch a movie on her phone while waiting.


    A tap on her shoulder made her look up. A chubby man was looking her way, nodding his head in the direction where a yellow sports car was parked not far from her. Gilbert waved at her with a broad smile on his face. After thanking the chubby man who had approached her, Haisley finally ran over and got into the passenger seat on Gilbert¡¯s right.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte,¡± he said with a wide grin. He stepped on the gas and began driving at a moderate speed.


    ¡°Can you at least give an excuse?¡± Haisley said sarcastically.


    ¡°Your Prince suddenly dumped a pile of work on me. So, well, instead of being a disobedient little brother, I just obeyed,¡± he said without feeling the slightest bit guilty. Gilbert didn¡¯t specify what task it was, and Haisley didn¡¯t want to know if it involved his business affairs.


    ¡°Have your friends been informed?¡± she asked again. Gilbert nodded.


    About ten minutes into their journey, they arrived at a bustling caf¨¦ filled with young people who, upon closer inspection, weren¡¯t much older than Haisley. Gilbert walked toward the crowd seated at a tall square table surrounded by several chairs. It appeared to be three tables put together specifically for this meeting. Haisley only recognized one of Gilbert¡¯s friends, Steven, who was now waving at her warmly and gesturing for her to sit in the empty chair next to him. Given Haisley¡¯s petite frame, it was a bit challenging to sit on such a high chair. She had to use the footrest, holding Steven¡¯s hand for support.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were here,¡± Haisley said, because Gilbert had previously mentioned that this meeting was specifically for Indonesian students.


    ¡°Coincidentally, Gilbert and I have a project together, so he invited me along. You know, photography,¡± Steven said, met with a nod from Haisley. Yes, he knew that Gilbert was very fond of the world of photography. That was also the reason for histe return when Nathan was sick a week ago.


    The waiter ced drinks in front of Haisley that he hadn¡¯t ordered before. But he knew that Gilbert had ordered it for him. A ss of iced cappino with vani ice cream filling the rim of the ss and a beef burger with mozzare cheese that looked tempting.


    ¡°So, any suggestions on where we should go this weekend?¡± Gilbert asked bluntly. Haisley had heard many arguments from Gilbert¡¯s friends. Some suggested just taking a stroll in the city park around Oxford, others invited them to a museum, and there were those who suggested camping.


    Haisley wasn¡¯t really interested. If he could be honest, he wasn¡¯t a travel enthusiast. He wasn¡¯t a fan of rare or old items found in museums. And he didn¡¯t really like the hot beach weather either. But he did like the cold mountain air. However, at the thought of ¡®hiking¡¯, his desire vanished.


    Yes, Haisley was azy type. Just look at the food in front of him. Junk food. Wasn¡¯t that one of the foodszy people liked? Although he could cook, he couldn¡¯t be considered a bad cook.


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ve looked up some references on the inte. I think Polperro in Cornwall will be our choice. It¡¯s quite far, but at least the ce is beautiful. What do you think?¡± That was Gilbert¡¯s suggestion. Haisley saw some of his friends starting to search for the destination on social media, and after feeling satisfied with Gilbert¡¯s suggestion, they nodded. After that, they discussed the vehicle they would use for the approximately four-hour journey.


    Three hourster, after all decisions had been made, Haisley and Gilbert returned to their home and entered through the connecting door from the garage to the kitchen. As usual, Haisley grabbed a drink from the fridge, and Gilbert chose to sit at the bar table and reached for the nearest cookie jar. ¡°What about amodation?¡± Haisley asked again, continuing the conversation he hadn¡¯t really paid attention to before.


    ¡°We can rent one of the fishermen¡¯s cottages. But afterward, I want to camp at one of its coves. Of course, after getting permission from the locals,¡± Gilbert replied casually, ying with his phone.


    ¡°What should I bring?¡± Haisley was a little confused; this was her first trip after settling down for almost three months.


    ¡°Sunblock, definitely. For the rest, just pack your essentials if you¡¯re nning to go to the beach. The vibe won¡¯t be much different from the beaches in Indonesia,¡± Gilbert replied. Haisley nodded in response. Neither of them noticed Nathan, who had actually been sitting in front of the turned-off TV since earlier.


    ¡°nning a vacation, hmm,¡± he mumbled, surprising Gilbert and Haisley.


    ¡°Since when have you been there?¡± Gilbert turned his chair, now facing his brotherpletely.


    ¡°Since before you entered the kitchen,¡± Nathan answered casually. ¡°So, where are you nning to go for the vacation?¡± he asked, now standing and casually approaching the kitchen, a movement that still made Haisley¡¯s heart race. He was wearing a white V-neck cashmere sweater with matching sweatpants, making him look like an angel without wings in Haisley¡¯s eyes. Not to mention his still damp hair after a shower and his polished face from shaving, making Haisley¡¯s hands itch to touch him.


    Haisley shook her head slightly to dispel her fascination. She had to y hard to get, just like her initial n.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°One of the provinces in the southwest,¡± Gilbert replied, turning his chair again and reaching for his cookie jar.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite far from here, G,¡± Nathan murmured, leaning against the kitchen wall.


    ¡°Yes, indeed. If it¡¯s close, it wouldn¡¯t be called traveling,¡± he continued. ¡°Oh, H, are you inviting anyone else? The kids asked for the right headcount.¡± Gilbert seemed to be replying to a message on his phone.


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Demian, maybe? Aren¡¯t you two getting close?¡± Gilbert could see Nathan tense out of the corner of his eye. He hoped Haisley understood his hint.


    ¡°Oh,e on, G. How could I possibly invite Demian while Steven is there? Do you think I¡¯m crazy?¡± Haisley replied. Gilbert smiled at his friend¡¯s response and was relieved that the girl understood his code.


    ¡°Why not, H? Come on, before wedding bells start ringing, having one or two lovers isn¡¯t a bad idea.¡± Gilbert put his phone aside this time and chose to observe his sister¡¯s reaction. ¡°You could sneak out with one of them when the others are already asleep. A fun three-day, two-night adventure, isn¡¯t it, Princess?¡±


    Gilbert wanted tough so hard when he saw his sister, who had been casually leaning with both hands in her pockets, now standing with her arms folded across her chest. Her shoulders looked tense, and her eyes stared sharply at Haisley, who was now standing, ying with her fingers on the rim of the ss, and biting her slightly reddened lower lip. Nathan didn¡¯t notice Gilbert, who kept watching his sister¡¯s expression through the reflection in the fridge.


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t think so,¡± Haisley replied firmly.


    ¡°Why?¡± Gilbert asked, sounding sad.


    Haisley looked at him with a teasing gaze. ¡°I just want Steven, for three days and two nights,¡± she said then. ¡°At least let me focus on him without having to sneak around like a mistress afraid of getting caught by her lover, G.¡±


    Gilbert raised both his hands above his head, appearing defeated. ¡°Fine, do what you want. Three days and two nights, Princess. Indulge yourself with Steven. Explore everything you want to explore, don¡¯t miss anything,¡± he said, winking. He was aware that his sister¡¯s body on the other side of the room was getting tenser.


    ¡°Of course, my dear Gilbert. I won¡¯t miss a thing,¡± Haisley replied, winking back at Gilbert. ¡°Well, I guess I should go bikini shopping too, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Gilbert nodded. ¡°What color do you think he would like?¡±


    Gilbert stroked his chin with his right hand, which rested on his left hand. His eyes observed Haisley carefully. ¡°I think red and ck would suit you, Princess,¡± he answered after observing for a few moments. ¡°Choose something sexy, okay?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I will,¡± Haisley replied. Haisley turned around and washed her ss before cing it back in the cab. Meanwhile, Gilbert closed his cookie jar and tidied it up again.


    Haisley wrapped her arm around Gilbert¡¯s waist with her right hand, her backpack in her left hand. They walked side by side towards the stairs leading to their room on the second floor without paying attention to Nathan.


    ¡°Do you think I should order online?¡± Haisley asked as they climbed the stairs.


    ¡°No need. I know a swimwear store that sells sexy bikinis here,¡± Gilbert answered, which was then met with a nod from Haisley. Then their conversation faded as they walked further away.


    Nathan remained frozen in his spot, attempting to calm the sudden surge of anger upon hearing the names Demian and Steven. Especially when Gilbert mentioned the three-day, two-night trip and the bikini. The beach, of course, they would go there if Gilbert suggested Haisley wear a bikini. But which beach were they heading to? When were they leaving? And with whom?


    Nathan walked into his office and quickly powered up hisptop. Southwest province. That¡¯s what Gilbert had mentioned earlier. And where they would go, while there were several beaches in that area. Nathan didn¡¯t mean to disrupt their vacation ns. It¡¯s just that he had to look out for Haisley. He couldn¡¯t let Gilbert exert a bad influence on the girl. After all, Haisley¡¯s parents had entrusted her to his care.


    Yes, that was the only reason Nathan delved into finding out where those two kids nned to go. No other reason. Especially not one involving the word ¡®jealousy.¡¯

 Chap 19

    Haisley sprinted from her ssroom, ncing at her watch. She was over ten minutes past the time she had promised. All of this was because Mr. Flitwick had detained their ss with a task that wasn¡¯t important, while Haisley was already pressed for time because today she and Gilbert, along with their friends, were going on vacation as they had nned. She opened her locker in haste, swapping her book-filled bag for a tote bag containing her skincare routine essentials that she would carry during the trip. She didn¡¯t worry about her outfit since her backpack would undoubtedly be carried by Gilbert.


    Haisley grabbed her phone and tried to contact Gilbert while running back to the parking lot, where Gilbert and their friends had promised to wait for her with the rented minibus. But after trying three times, her calls failed each time, as it seemed he was busy making calls to someone else.


    Upon reaching the parking lot, Haisley looked around anxiously. There was no minibus waiting for her; instead, there was arge bus towering as the only significant vehicle in the area. She tried calling Gilbert again, and thankfully this time her call went through. ¡°G, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte. You didn¡¯t leave without me, did you?¡± she asked, panicked.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Nah, of course not, Princess. Where are you?¡± Gilbert asked casually.


    ¡°I¡¯m in the parking lot. You said you would wait for me here. Where are you?¡±


    ¡°I see you, Princess,¡± Gilbert¡¯s voice came along with someone tapping on her shoulder. Haisley turned and saw Gilbert grinning mischievously at her, and to her surprise, Loretta, looking as beautiful as ever, stood right beside Gilbert with her characteristic smile.


    ¡°Hey, M,¡± the girl greeted cheerfully as always. ¡°You don¡¯t mind if I join the group, do you?¡± she asked in her mother¡¯snguage. Haisley looked at Gilbert, confused, who simply shrugged nonchntly.


    ¡°Come on, everyone¡¯s already waiting. We don¡¯t want to miss the sunset,¡± Gilbert said, mimicking Loretta¡¯s call.


    While Haisley continued to look around for the car they would be using, Gilbert leisurely made his way to the bus, which hadn¡¯t moved yet.


    ¡°G?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Someone sponsored our trip this time, Princess,¡± he replied casually. ¡°Although there are conditions, but it¡¯s not good to refuse a stroke of luck,¡± he continued, and immediately, the bus door opened automatically. ¡°Wee to the luxurious bus, Princess,¡± Gilbert said with his exaggerated style, while boarding the bus backward. Loretta linked her arm through his enthusiastically.


    ¡°Nathan rented this bus for us,¡± she said, pulling Haisley inside. Haisley was utterly surprised when she saw the inside of the bus. This was the first time she had seen a vehicle transformed into a luxurious living room.


    Sure, here is the tranted text in American English:


    ¡°Yeah, this is not just an ordinary bus. More precisely, Haisley called it a mobile home. Because the bus has been modified in such a way that it has sofas, beds, a kitchen, and even a toilet inside. Okay, he was indeed amazed, considering that cars like this are extremely rare, or maybe they don¡¯t even exist in his home country. Gilbert¡¯s friends who are going on this trip wave at him simultaneously. The happiness reflected on their faces instantly infects Haisley. Steven, who was the first to approach him, warmly hugged his shoulders.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Gilbert¡¯s brother is sponsoring all of this. Meanwhile, Gilbert and I were almost about to rent a van for ourselves,¡± the man said with a joyful voice he couldn¡¯t contain. Haisley turned his head to Gilbert, who was sitting on a ck velvet sofa in front of him, and the man just shrugged in response to his question.


    ¡°Alright, driver, it¡¯s time to go!¡± shouted Gilbert and his friends. Loretta, who knows when she sat down on the sofa in front of Gilbert, joined in enthusiastically.


    They spent the three-hour journey doing various things. Sharing stories, joking, singing, and some even fell asleep and were teased by Gilbert¡¯s other friends.


    Less than four hourster, they arrived at Crumplehorn, just north of the vige they were heading to. From here, they would walk along small roads for about half a mile. One of Gilbert¡¯s friends acted as their guide.


    They stood in front of a souvenir shop painted in white and waited for Gilbert¡¯s friend to go in and meet the owner. Afterward, they were taken to a two-story cottage, the house where they would stay tonight, because the next day they would set up tents on one of the beaches after getting permission from the local elders and making sure the weather was good.


    Loretta, Haisley, and two other female friends of Gilbert chose to stay in the upstairs room, while the rest of the men, including Gilbert, chose to stay in the downstairs room and part of the living room.¡±


    After cleaning up, they finally decided to find food at a restaurant near the harbor. Haisley, who was a seafood enthusiast, readily agreed when Gilbert ordered arge portion of seafood for her. When it came to food, she never refused as long as it tasted good.


    Enjoying their meal apanied by the sea breeze and the beautiful sunset was a pleasure in itself for them. For a moment, they shifted their view from the city¡¯s hustle and bustle to the lively atmosphere of fishing boats. The lights andrge sails that usually filled the streets now became a view of the sea, along with the lush green grass on the hills, truly a natural beauty. If only Haisley liked water, she would probably have loved to stay there. Unfortunately, among the many things she liked, water was the only thing she didn¡¯t.


    In the evening, they gathered in therge cottage room. The cold sea breeze forced them to light a fire. Steven handed her a mug of hot chocte and chose to sit on her right side. Gilbert, on the other hand, sat contentedly on her left, holding a can of beer he had bought at the fisherman¡¯s store that afternoon. He said it was to warm their bodies while sharing stories.


    And indeed, throughout the night, there were always things they could talk about until Haisley couldn¡¯t remember exactly when she fell asleep in Gilbert¡¯s embrace.


    Nathan entered the dimly lit cottage. The fire in the firece had started to die out. The teenagers were sleeping in somewhat peculiar positions in his view. Not peculiar in a negative sense because they were all fully clothed. It was just their positions that seemed quite amusing to him. Three of them slept on sofas surrounding the center of the thick carpeted floor. Some were still neatly lying down, while others hugged the back of the sofa with their nkets falling to the floor. The rest slept on the carpet, embracing each other as if cuddling with a pillow, their nkets in simr disarray. Some nkets were still wrapped around their bodies, while others had managed to kick them quite far away.


    And what surprised him was that the only woman among the group of teenagers lying unconscious there was Haisley. Yes, the little girl who always messes with his mind. The petite girl seemed to be sleepingfortably in the man¡¯s arms. Who else, if not his younger brother, Gilbert? And the two seemfortable with each other.


    If he were currently a cartoon character, fire would appear above his head, and smoke would be billowing out of his ears. He walked quite quickly towards Gilbert. Pulling the nket covering both bodies made Haisley curl up even more tightly into Gilbert¡¯s arms and overflowed Nathan¡¯s emotions.


    Furiously, he tried to break free from Haisley¡¯s tiny arms around Gilbert¡¯s waist. He felt the girl¡¯s rejection, but he didn¡¯t just give up. He slowly moved his arm around her neck, then put his arm around the bottom of the girl¡¯s knees and stood up, taking Haisley in his arms.


    How could a little rabbit like her not be afraid of being among a pack of tigers like Gilbert and his friends?


    Nathan took the girl to one of the rooms, which he was sure was empty, considering the men were all sleeping in the living room. Yes, he had counted the young men lying helpless, and the count was certain. Afterying Haisley¡¯s body on the bed, Nathaniel returned to the door and locked it from the inside. Slowly, he removed his coat, ced it carelessly on the bed, andy beside the tiny body still sleeping.


    The light from outside the window covered with curtains was the only light in the room. However, that didn¡¯t prevent Nathan from seeing Haisley¡¯s beautiful sleeping face. As usual, he grabbed a lock of Haisley¡¯s hair, blocking her face and put it behind the girl¡¯s ear. With her head propped on his arm, Nathan looked at Haisley¡¯s face, tracing part by part of that beautiful face with his eyes. The drowsiness he had been holding in started weakening him until he finally fell asleep with his arms embracing the small body.

 Chap 20

    Haisley was surprised to wake up in bed. Thest thing she remembered was sleeping with Gilbert the night before. Perhaps Gilbert had kindly moved his body to another room. That¡¯s what Haisley thought. She stretched and groaned before getting up from herfortable bed. Once again, she was startled by the presence of a man she had never imagined standing there, looking at her with his arms folded across his chest.


    ¡°N-Nathan? When did you arrive?¡± she asked, her forehead wrinkled. Haisley groaned inwardly. How could she look so disheveled while he appeared so perfect in his short-sleeved shirt and khaki chinos, his hair still wet from the shower.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be getting ready? We¡¯re supposed to have breakfast soon, right?¡± he replied.


    Haisley furrowed her brow again, not because of Nathan¡¯s words, but more to remember where she had put her bag. She quickly got up and went to where she had left her bagst night. Then she brought the bag back into the room, cing it on the bed and taking out her toiletries and change of clothes. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Haisley asked because Nathan had been standing there like a Greek god statue born in modern times.


    ¡°Why? Do you mind?¡± he countered the question back at her. Haisley rolled her eyes and chose to enter the bathroom.


    She showered quickly, ran her fingers through her hair, and dried it with a towel. Haisley emerged from the bathroom wearing a chiffon beach dress with a flower pattern that reached the floor, with a neckline in a sabrina shape.


    The god statue was nowhere to be seen now. Haisley put her dirty clothes away before stuffing them back into her bag. Then she walked out of the room. Gilbert and his friends, including Loretta, had already changed into fresh clothes and looked as fresh as ever.


    Looking at Gilbert, Haisley asked cheerfully, ¡°Where are we going now?¡±


    Loretta was already sitting next to Nathan, and Haisley tried to appear casual even though her heart felt hot. Alright, now Haisley knew why the god statue had followed them. Probably because he was afraid that the pretty girl would be flirted with by Gilbert¡¯s friends.


    Yes, Loretta was friendly, which made Gilbert¡¯s friends easily get close to her. No wonder Nathan was afraid of his girl being taken away by someone else. Haisley sighed inwardly. She briefly wished she were Loretta but immediately shook her head. She was herself; she should never want to be someone else.


    Seeing Haisley, Gilbert kindly approached and put his arm around her shoulder. ¡°Nathan will treat us to breakfast near the pier area. After that, he will rent a yacht and take us around the ind while having lunch there,¡± Gilbert announced. His friends seemed enthusiastic. On the other hand, hearing the words ¡®yacht¡¯ and ¡®going around¡¯ made Haisley have a bad feeling.


    They had breakfast with Polperro¡¯s typical seafood menu at a cafe not far from the cottage. They chatted in afortable atmosphere, discussing unimportant things.


    Gilbert was never far from Haisley, and neither was Steven. They were always on one side of Haisley, making her feel like a princess who needed two bodyguards. As for Loretta and Nathan? Whether she liked it or not, Haisley had to admit that they did look good together. Oh God, why did Haisley feel her body temperature rising so quickly even though it was still morning?


    For the first time, Haisley boarded arge luxurious boat that could amodate a hundred people at once. She gaped at thevish interior of the yacht rented by Nathan. Sofas, a pantry, a mini bar, luxurious bathrooms, and not to mention, there were five bedrooms inside, making her feel like a person who¡­ And equally surprising, the yacht also had karaoke facilities. Stepping inside was like entering a five-star hotel. Only the word ¡®Wow¡¯ escaped Haisley¡¯s lips, as well as Gilbert and their friends. Well, at least she wasn¡¯t the only one feeling out of ce right now.


    Perhaps this was the life of young millionaires. Because even though Haisley came from an affluent family, she wasn¡¯t as wealthy as the Gilbert and Nathan families. And this kind of luxury life wasn¡¯t her style.


    A chef with three assistants was already prepared to indulge their taste buds with undoubtedly high-quality food. Gilbert¡¯s friends were naturally ttered by Nathan¡¯s feast.


    Except Haisley.


    She felt more annoyed because Nathan¡¯s special treatment wasn¡¯t for her but for Loretta. But what could she do? Refusing wasn¡¯t an option. What would Nathan say if she openly admitted her jealousy of the sweet gestures she had always longed for?


    As a result, she chose to avoid the situation and sat on the deck. She preferred to sit on a plush sofa shaded by arge umbre, enjoying the morning breeze carrying the scent of salt.


    Gilbert approached her with a can of soda, seemingly taken from the refrigerator inside the ship. ¡°Why the long face, Princess?¡± he asked nonchntly. He held a can of beer in his own hand and opened it, causing a hissing sound carried away by the rtively loud sea breeze.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Haisley replied just as casually, sipping the soda that left a bitter-sweet taste in her mouth.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you like all of this?¡± Gilbert asked again.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t what I imagined, G. I thought we¡¯d be setting up tents on the ind and making a bonfire while grilling fish caught by fishermen. asionally entertaining ourselves with a Hawaiian dance and singing. But now? I feel like this has turned into a show-off of wealth,¡± sheined, taking another sip of the cold drink.


    ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Gilbert asked once more. Haisley was sure his eyes were ncing her way teasingly behind the expensive Maybach sunsses he wore.


    ¡°Jealous? Are you mocking me now?¡± Haisley retorted sharply. ¡°As if you don¡¯t know how I feel,¡± she snorted, making Gilbertugh. He edged closer, ying with Haisley¡¯s loose hair, tucking it behind her left ear and whispering.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let him know you¡¯re jealous, Princess,¡± he whispered. ¡°He¡¯s right behind us,¡± he continued before reaching out and cing his hand on Haisley¡¯s shoulder, pulling her closer. Haisleyplied, deliberately resting her head on Gilbert¡¯s right shoulder. ¡°Smart girl,¡± he murmured, stroking Haisley¡¯s hair gently.


    ¡°You¡¯re here!¡± That joyful exmation was now very familiar to Haisley. Loretta had arrived. The beautiful girl wore a tempting red bikini with the bottom covered by a beach sarong, undoubtedly as expensive as her bikini.


    Not to mention the wide beach hat that added to her charm.


    Did she already know in advance that they were going to sail using this luxurious boat, making her look so perfect? While Haisley?


    Well, it seemed like deciding toe here was a wrong choice. Haisley couldn¡¯t swim anymore and despised being in the water. So buying a bikini, no matter how expensive or beautiful, was pointless. Because Haisley would never be able to wear it again.


    Loretta and Nathan sweetly sat in chairs not far from where Haisley and Gilbert were seated, sticking together like glue. ¡°Didn¡¯t you bring a bikini?¡± the girl asked. Haisley shook her head.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t bring one and didn¡¯t intend to,¡± she replied honestly.


    ¡°Why? I mean, how can you go to the beach without a bikini?¡± Nathan answered on Haisley¡¯s behalf. Haisley red at him.


    ¡°Haisley has a fear of water. It¡¯s not that she can¡¯t swim,¡± Gilbert tried to mediate. Loretta looked at him-could Haisley interpret it as a pitying gaze?-which Haisley responded to impassively. Luckily, the girl didn¡¯t continue discussing the reasons for Haisley¡¯s trauma. ¡°What are we going to do after this?¡± Gilbert directed the question to his sister.


    ¡°Nothing, except enjoying the delicious dishes from the chefs and savoring the night in the middle of the sea before we return tomorrow,¡± Nathan answered casually. Haisley froze in Gilbert¡¯s embrace. All of this was beyond her expectations, concerning spending the holiday on the ind.


    Nathan certainly knew that Haisley no longer liked the ocean. Or was he pretending not to know? Not liking was not the right term; it was more of a fear. In the past, Haisley used to be a fan of sand, beaches, and the blue water. But since that incident, Haisley only dared to step her feet on the sand and beach. She didn¡¯t dare to go any further than that. And now, she was trapped in an area she didn¡¯t actually like. Although Haisley knew she would be safe, the fear still enveloped her heart, even if just a tiny bit.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

 Chap 21

    Gilbert¡¯s group of friends arrived, each carrying drinks and food in their hands. They ced them on a table not far from their reach. ¡°This is truly a fantastic vacation, G,¡± eximed one of Gilbert¡¯s female friends, if I¡¯m not mistaken, named Reia.


    ¡°Say thanks to my brother, guys,¡± that was Gilbert¡¯s only response. ¡°We¡¯ll be staying here tonight. There are four rooms, and you can divide them among yourselves,¡± Nathan said, expressing gratitude on behalf of Gilbert¡¯s friends. A chorus of amazement followed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We won¡¯t run out of food until we head back tomorrow,¡± Nathan replied again.


    Lunch came suddenly. They were served steak and sd. Imagine eating the best beef in the middle of the ocean beneath the roar of waves and strong winds. And don¡¯t forget the asional waves that made the yacht sway. How do you feel? Haisley chose the word ¡®nauseous¡¯ to describe it all.


    Her stomach churned. Her body had been continuously drenched in cold sweat since earlier. Even the sirloin she used to enjoy now tasted nd in her mouth. She truly didn¡¯t like this. Luckily, Gilbert was still looking out for her.


    When the men decided to go fishing and swimming, and the women chose to sunbathe and swim, Haisley decided to sit inside the boat. She curled her knees up on the soft couch, suddenly feeling weak.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Gilbert offered her warm lemon juice, hoping to relieve Haisley¡¯s nausea.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m not!¡± Haisley replied softly after murmuring her thanks for the lemon juice he handed her. ¡°Tell me if you knew about this n, G?¡± she used without hesitation. Gilbert had now taken off his expensive sunsses. His eyes gazed at Haisley, emphasizing that he also didn¡¯t know anything.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be this cruel, Princess,¡± he replied. Yes, Haisley had to believe him. Gilbert clearly wouldn¡¯t torment her like this. And clearly, Nathan was doing all this because he liked Loretta too much. And Haisley couldn¡¯t me him for that.


    ¡°Sea sick?¡± The girl who upied her thoughts appeared before her again. Looking at her with a worried expression. Haisley could only give her a faint smile.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she answered shortly. Loretta sat on the couch across from her. And Nathan, who cameter, chose to sit next to his woman. Should Haisley snort?


    The pain surged through her heart again. But Gilbert¡¯sforting hand on her head calmed her. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we¡¯d sail like this,¡± she said softly. Her gaze shot sharply toward Nathan. ¡°I thought we¡¯d just have lunch and then go back to the cottage and decide to camp on the beach afterward.¡± Haisley expressed what was on her mind.


    ¡°I was actually surprised too. I didn¡¯t think Nathan would do all of this. I did tell him that I love the beach and the ocean. Turns out, he went all out for this. And you¡¯ve made me really touched,¡± the girl looked at Nathan with admiration, then turned to Haisley with guilt in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, H. If Nathan¡¯s surprise made you ufortable.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she replied. ¡°Maybeter, if we go to America, you really should visit Miami. Most tourists love it,¡± Haisley suggested, met with enthusiastic nods from Loretta.


    ¡°Yes, dly. I¡¯ll go wherever my guide takes me,¡± she continued. Haisley could only smile in response to the girl¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°But before that, I want to enjoy this ind. Who knows, down there, I might see something beautiful,¡± she said, which Haisley interpreted as her way of saying goodbye.


    Loretta then got up and left them with a wave of her beach sarong. Now, only Nathan, Haisley, and Gilbert remained in the spacious room, yet Haisley still felt suffocated.


    ¡°Your face is getting paler. Shouldn¡¯t you rest?¡± Gilbert offered, to which Haisley shook her head.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, G. I¡¯m really okay. You better go out there. Your other friends might get bored,¡± she replied softly.


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡± Gilbert continued to look at Haisley with concern. Haisley nodded, trying to reassure him. She didn¡¯t want to be the hindrance to Gilbert and his friends¡¯ vacation.


    ¡°Oh,e on, G. Do you think I don¡¯t know that you¡¯ve been itching to plunge into the water since earlier?¡± she teased. Gilbertughed and finally got up.


    ¡°If anything happens, you know where I am, right?¡± he asked. Haisley nodded again. Then Gilbert left. Now it was just Nathan and Haisley, sitting facing each other in silence. Haisley kept her knees bent, sitting sideways and leaning one shoulder against the sofa.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know it would be this bad,¡± Nathan said softly. Did Haisley hear it right? She sensed a tone of guilt in his words.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Finally, Haisley turned her head and looked at the handsome man she had admired for so long. ¡°Tempora Mutantur, Et Nos Mutamur In Illis. Time changes and we change with it,¡± she replied, offering only this response to Nathan. ¡°I also didn¡¯t know you could be this sweet to a girl you like,¡± she continued without meeting Nathan¡¯s eyes.


    Her heart ached, and for some reason, her words seemed to make her eyes well up. ¡°You¡¯re really sweet. Crystal made a big mistake rejecting you.¡± Haisley¡¯s words appeared to surprise him. ¡°I¡¯ve known all along that you liked Crystal. I was even there when you confessed to her. Crystal probably never imagined that changing times could also turn a cold Nathaniel into a sweet man. Because as far as we knew, it was always Gilbert who showed his friendly side.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that I liked Crystal?¡± The question was cold. Haisley shrugged.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I identally overheard,¡± she replied casually.


    ¡°Then when did you decide to be in a rtionship with Gilbert? Didn¡¯t you like me all this time?¡± he used.


    Haisley stiffened. She didn¡¯t expect such a direct question toe from Nathan. Not about her rtionship with Gilbert, but about the fact that she liked him.


    ¡°Times change, don¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t bear to like a guy who doesn¡¯t like me back, especially a guy who prefers my sister over me.


    ¡°It¡¯s heartbreaking to think that I, someone who¡¯s nothing special, have topete with the extraordinary Miss Crystal.


    ¡°Basically, I¡¯ve be someone aware of my abilities and weaknesses,¡± she said, trying to string words together that didn¡¯t quite match her reality. She shifted her gaze to Nathan and gave a faint smile. ¡°So I thought, liking Gilbert makes more sense for me. He can be nicer and more attentive to me. Plus, he won¡¯t use my sister as aparison.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve decided to stop liking me?¡± the man asked, still in his cold tone.


    Haisley smiled again, then nodded. In her heart, she cursed herself. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve decided not to like you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Since when?¡±


    Haisley shrugged. ¡°Maybe since I knew that the name Haisley will never exist in your heart?¡± She said rhetorically. ¡°I have to know my limits, Nath. I have to know when to start and when to stop. At least that¡¯s what you adults do. Choose what¡¯s best. Select what¡¯s advantageous and let go of what might be detrimental. And I chose to let go.¡±


    ¡°And you think I¡¯m something detrimental?¡±


    Haisley nodded. Nathan clenched his fists. Frustration. Anger. And other emotions swirled within him. ¡°Just consider my past affection as a silly crush. And didn¡¯t you always see it that way?


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep up with unrequited love. Don¡¯t we need both legs to pedal a bike forward?


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight alone. I want to enjoy my youth by findingplete love.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay to be hurt, but waiting for something without certainty is foolish.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you also investing to get certain results? Even though failures are inevitable, you try to minimize that possibility.


    ¡°So do I.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to make my heart a gambling chip anymore. Even though the possibility of heartbreak will always be there. But at least, if I invest my feelings in someone who understands me, I won¡¯t hurt too much because at least I¡¯ve received the love I need in return.


    ¡°And I think, I can¡¯t get it from you, but I can get it from Gilbert.¡±


    Nathan still looked at her with a gaze Haisley couldn¡¯t interpret. But she tried not to care.


    In fact, she had made a firm decision now. Yes, it seemed she would do what she had just expressed.


    She would stop loving Nathan. Try to find someone new she could love and who would love her back. Even though clearly, that person wouldn¡¯t be Gilbert. Because Haisley also knew that all this time Gilbert had someone he loved too. And Haisley only regarded Gilbert as a friend, apanion, and also a brother she never had.

 Chap 22

    The chefs had served lunch on the deck. Haisley, still unsteady, left Nathan, who remained silent. Gilbert was already on the deck, wearing his unbuttoned shirt and knee-length shorts. Loretta was back in her beach sarong, wearing a bikini and damp hair.


    The lemon had at least settled Haisley¡¯s stomach a bit. She picked up a te and started filling it with food, then carried it to the quietest corner she could find.


    Gilbert sat beside her. He put his slightly wrinkled hand on Haisley¡¯s forehead. ¡°You¡¯re not running a fever, but you look really pale, Princess,¡± he whispered, concerncing his voice.


    Haisley forced a smile. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you, G,¡± she replied, gazing at Gilbert with sad eyes.


    ¡°We can talk elsewhere,¡± he said, taking Haisley¡¯s te with his right hand while his left hand gently held her small one. They went back inside the ship, walking through the corridors until Gilbert opened a door.


    He led Haisley into the karaoke room and locked the door from the inside. The room was soundproof, and Gilbert seemed to have brought Haisley to the right ce. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did something happen while I was away?¡± he asked, full of concern, offering the food to Haisley again. But she chose to ce her te on the table, reluctant to touch it.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made a decision, G,¡± she began softly.


    ¡°What decision?¡± Gilbert looked at her with a furrowed brow.


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided to give up. Decided to stop hoping for Nathan,¡± she said, her eyes now welling up. Gilbert widened his eyes at her confession. He stepped closer, embracing Haisley again, cradling the girl¡¯s head against his chest. Haisley finally let out all the emotions she had been holding since her arrival in Ennd. Since her encounter with Nathan. Since her introduction to Loretta.


    ¡°I give up,¡± she said hoarsely. ¡°I can never measure up to Crystal. Not her beauty. Not her intelligence. Not her grace.¡± Haisley released herself from Gilbert¡¯s embrace and wiped her tears roughly. ¡°And now, there¡¯s Loretta. I¡¯m not the kind of woman Nathan likes. Mature, elegant, ssy? I¡¯m the opposite of them.


    ¡°How could Nathan ever like me? And look,¡± Haisley spread her arms, gesturing to the entire interior of the karaoke room. She showed Gilbert what she meant. ¡°He¡¯s even doing all of this for Loretta. Because he adores Loretta so much. I give up, G,¡± Haisley patted her chest. ¡°I can¡¯tpete anymore,¡± she said, her tears flowing freely.


    Haisley then recounted the conversation that happened between her and Nathan after Gilbert¡¯s departure. About her openly deciding to stop liking Nathan and shifting her focus to Gilbert.


    ¡°Why, H? We haven¡¯t even started anything,¡± he said softly, wiping Haisley¡¯s tear-streaked face with hisrge thumbs.


    Haisley shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can, G. Maybe it¡¯s better if I forget about Nathan and start a new chapter. Or perhaps I should forget about new beginnings altogether and focus on my school. Then go back to America and start my love story there.¡±


    ¡°H¡­¡±


    ¡°He never even acknowledged my existence!¡± Haisley eximed in frustration. ¡°If only Nathan had a tiny bit of concern for me. Maybe he wouldn¡¯t be like this.¡± Haisley took a long, deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her chest felt so painful that her tears couldn¡¯t be held back any longer. ¡°If only he knew my fears, he wouldn¡¯t have done this, even though he likes Loretta so much. If only he had a little affection for me, maybe he would have chosen a different way to make Loretta happy. And now I understand. He pped me with all these harsh truths, G.


    ¡°I give up. I lose. And I think it¡¯s better to be heartbroken now thanter, after I¡¯ve gone too far and hoped too much.¡±


    ¡°H¡­ I think this is just your momentary emotion. Later, after we¡¯re home, we¡¯ll talk about this again. Okay?¡± Gilbert clearly didn¡¯t want to give up so easily.


    He cared deeply for Haisley and knew how much she liked his brother. Gilbert also knew that Nathan had simr feelings for her, even though he hadn¡¯t realized it- or perhaps he had but was reluctant to admit it.


    Gilbert knew that everything Nathan was doing right now wasn¡¯t just for Loretta. Loretta was just one of the coincidences that happened at the wrong time. Nathan wasn¡¯t the kind of person to willingly waste his precious time for a woman. He hadn¡¯t even done this for Loretta before, despite the fact that they had known each other for a year.


    Gilbert knew that Nathan was doing all of this for Haisley. Because a long time ago, both Nathan and Gilbert knew how much Haisley loved the ocean. But since that incident- an incident Nathan was unaware of because he had decided to leave first- Haisley had be someone afraid of the depths of water. Whether it was a pool or the ocean.


    And perhaps Nathan didn¡¯t know how significant that fear was for Haisley and regarded it as a minor fear. Maybe Nathan thought that going sailing like this would heal Haisley, even though in reality, the opposite was happening.


    And Gilbert didn¡¯t want their important rtionship to end due to misunderstandings like this.


    ¡°Now rest. You¡¯re in a fragile state because of our current situation. Later, when we¡¯re on solid ground, think about everything calmly. Don¡¯t let your emotions cloud your judgment.


    ¡°Remember, H. Ten years you¡¯ve fought to wait for Nathan is not a short time,¡± he reminded her. Haisley just remained silent.


    Haisley woke up with a pounding head and a queasy stomach. After her conversation with Gilbert, he had insisted that she have lunch. After that, Haisley had fallen asleep.


    She looked out the window, and the orange hues had already filled the sky. Had she slept too long?


    Haisley was still in the karaoke room, thest ce she remembered being. The dirty tes were gone, probably taken away by Gilbert while she was sleeping.


    She walked out of the room, heading back to the shipyard where she believed her friends were. True enough, some of them were sitting, enjoying the view, while others stood with drinks in hand.


    Loretta, the girl, had changed into a beautiful gradient blue-green beach dress thatplemented her pale skin and made her slender figure even more stunning. ¡°Feeling better?¡± the girl asked kindly. Haisley nodded, although her head was throbbing even harder. ¡°Want something to drink? Something alcohol-free?¡± the girl offered again. But Haisley declined.


    Haisley looked around and saw Gilbert talking to Steven, while Nathan was in another corner, wearing his sunsses and seemingly gazing at the beautiful scenery in front of him.


    Reluctant to approach them, Haisley chose to walk towards the group of women.


    ¡°You look pale,¡± Reia observed with concern. Haisley smiled faintly and chose to stand, holding onto the metal railing. The strong wind tousled her long hair.


    The reflection of the setting sun looked so beautiful before her. The smell of the sea was strong in the air. Haisley closed her eyes, trying to enjoy the sensation.


    ¡°Lucky are the women liked by the Chayton family,¡± Reia said again. Haisley opened her eyes, looking at her new friend who was now sitting with her hips leaning against the railing, her back facing the ocean, a colorful drink in one hand.


    Haisley followed Reia¡¯s gaze, turning around and leaning against the railing as well. She saw Loretta standing next to Nathan, whispering something in his ear, causing him to slightly lean towards her.


    ¡°Pretty girl for the handsome guy. Rich for the rich. You¡¯re lucky too because Gilbert seems to like you,¡± she said with a mncholic smile on her face. Haisley knew that Reia was one of Gilbert¡¯s admirers. Just like Haisley¡¯s feelings for Nathan, Reia¡¯s feelings for Gilbert would also likely remain unrequited.


    ¡°I¡¯m lucky to know them. To me, they¡¯re the best big brothers I¡¯ve never had,¡± she replied with a genuine smile.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just date Gilbert?¡±


    ¡°He already likes someone else,¡± Haisley answered honestly. Just as she smiled, Nathan turned around. Haisley didn¡¯t know where he was looking because his beautiful eyes were still covered by his sunsses.


    And at that moment-somehow, some way-their yacht rocked so violently. Haisley and Reia, who were leaning on the railing, suddenly lost their bnce, and both of them fell backward into the water. Haisley heard people calling her name and Reia¡¯s simultaneously. Just before she felt her back hit the water with a deafening ssh.


    No!


    Her entire body was soaked. Her legs hurt. Something seemed to pull her deeper into the cold, dark water.


    Haisley tried to inhale. But instead of air filling her lungs, it was hot, suffocating water. Haisley coughed, but instead of relief, she felt her throat being constricted.


    Pain!


    Haisley clutched her throat with both hands while her legs thrashed, kicking the water with all her might. She hoped her kicks would propel her back to the surface, but instead, she sank further.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She could swim. God, she was a good swimmer. Her father always said she could be a swimming athlete if she wanted. But why couldn¡¯t her legs bring her up? Why didn¡¯t her hands, paddling desperately, lift her body?


    Haisley kept trying to breathe, clutching her throat, wanting to scream for help. But the heat, the sting, and the pain forced their way into her body, invading her lungs.


    Haisley was tired. Her head couldn¡¯t think anymore. Everything was turning ck.


    Someone, please! She screamed in desperation, knowing no one would hear.


    Haisley was exhausted. And she chose to give up. It felt so suffocating. She couldn¡¯t breathe. And everything truly just became darkness.

 Chap 23

    Nathaniel¡¯s POV


    I was furious. Hearing Haisley¡¯s confession that she would stop loving me felt like something had pierced my heart. Especially the fact that she knew about my feelings for Crystal somehow made a corner of my heart ache. In the end, the girl gave up. Shouldn¡¯t I be happy? After all, that was what I intended by doing all of this, to hear those words. But why did I feel so reluctant now? It was as if someone had taken a beloved toy of mine and finally threw it, breaking it right in front of my eyes. I could only stare at her pale face.


    Haisley! The girl disturbed me. Hearing her intention to erase the ten years she used to love me made me feel unwilling. I just let her go past me. Did she think it would be that easy to remove Nathaniel from her mind? While I was sure my name was ingrained in her very being.


    Times do change. But it won¡¯t change that girl¡¯s love for me. I was sure of it. But seeing her closeness with Gilbert, for some reason, made my confidence waver. Gilbert was indeed much better than me. I mean, he was friendly, sociable, and well-liked by people. Not like me, who was always cold and distant to everyone.


    I also didn¡¯t like it when I saw Gilbert pulling her hand with a piercing gaze in my direction. As if he used me of doing something evil. Should I confront my brother? Ugh! Gilbert didn¡¯t need to consider me his rival; it was just futile. Gilbert should know his ce and step back. Because I was confident that Haisley still liked me.


    And where did they go? Stupidly, I followed them. And I knew they entered the soundproof karaoke room. What were they doing in there? Flirting? Damn! Didn¡¯t Haisley say she would learn how to seduce men? Was Gilbert her teacher now? No! That couldn¡¯t happen!


    I waited for them toe out. How much time had passed? Why hadn¡¯t they appeared yet? I spent two hours gulping down drinks. Again and again. Until finally, I saw Gilberting out of the karaoke room with a half-empty te in his hand. But not Haisley.


    I walked closer. Entered the karaoke room and saw the petite girl seemed to be asleep. Her face looked swollen, pale, and sweaty. I chose to leave her alone for a moment. Walked to the kitchen and grabbed a small towel and a bowl of warm water before returning to the karaoke room.


    The girl¡¯s forehead creased when I ced the wet towel on her forehead and gently wiped it. Until her face and neck. I remained silent there for quite some time, gazing at her face, which bore no resemnce to Crystal, the woman I had adored for so long.


    Enough!


    I decided to get up and leave her alone to return to the front of the ship. Not to mingle with Gilbert¡¯s friends, but to calm my mind after the little girl¡¯s statement.


    Soon, I saw out of the corner of my eye that she had returned. Her face was still pale, although not as much as before. She forced herself to smile and responded to Loretta¡¯s friendly greeting before choosing to walk to the other side where her friend was.


    Loretta approached me, talking about something rted to America and Miami, to which I replied asionally and as briefly as possible. And then, it happened very quickly. When I leaned in to hear more clearly what Loretta was saying, I saw the girl was looking in my direction. I wanted to give her a mocking smile before I felt the ship shake violently, and I heard a surprised scream as Haisley¡¯s small body seemed to sway and fall backward over the fence.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Haisley!¡±


    ¡°Reia!¡±


    The shouts were simultaneous with people running towards the fence where the two girls hadst leaned. I was stunned. I stood frozen in my ce before my feet ran, and somehow my body jumped into the water.


    In the beginning, everything seemed blurry. I looked around, searching for heads that might surface. There was Gilbert, Steven, and the other girl who had fallen with Haisley. But where was that girl? I nced at Gilbert. For a split second, our eyes met before we both took a deep breath and went back underwater.


    The orange hue we had seen earlier was fading. It blurred the seawater slightly, obstructing our view. With the remaining air in my lungs, I tried to locate the girl. And I saw her.


    The girl seemed motionless. Her long hair spread around her head. Her hands were limp in front of her, and her legs¡­ I swam closer. My movements felt so sluggish, even though I was exerting all my strength. The time I spent getting to her felt incredibly long.


    Finally, I reached her body. Her slender waist was now in my arms. I pulled her, kicking the water beneath me so I could rise to the surface. The waves were surprisingly strong. For a moment, I lost my direction until I heard my name being called.


    I managed to lift her petite body. Her face was incredibly pale. Extremely pale, and her lips were turning blue. I panicked. I was terrified. I pped her cheeks, feeling their coldness, and she remained still.


    ¡°H!¡± I shouted with my throat getting hoarse, probably because of the seawater I identally swallowed. ¡°H! Wake up!¡± I pped her cheeks again, but she remained motionless. ¡°G. Hold her head!¡± Imanded Gilbert, who was also frozen with his pale face.


    I positioned her body to be straight, while Gilbert held her head to ensure her airway was clear. I began chestpressions. One. Two. Three. I pinched her nose and breathed air into her mouth. I repeated it several times until, finally, when I was starting to give up, she coughed and expelled water from her mouth and nose.


    ¡°H?¡± Gilbert tapped her cheek while I sat down weakly. My chest was still pounding. She continued to cough with her body tilted before Gilbert gently lifted her shoulders.


    ¡°G¡­¡± she whispered faintly while embracing Gilbert. Her tiny body trembled violently, just like Gilbert¡¯s. Her eyes looked dazed, and I saw her lips moving soundlessly.


    My sister hugged Haisley so tightly and asionally stroked her wet, long hair while kissing Haisley¡¯s forehead and temples, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Everything¡¯s okay.¡± Then I saw the girl looking at me. Her eyes were red. I was sure it was because of tears. Then, in a matter of seconds, the girl slumped weakly, fainting in Gilbert¡¯s arms.


    ¡°H!¡± Unconsciously, I screamed in panic. I grabbed her body from Gilbert¡¯s embrace. Whether it was rough or not, I didn¡¯t care. I pped her cheeks again, hoping she would open her eyes. But there was no response.


    ¡°We need to turn back, Nath. We need to get her to the hospital immediately,¡± Gilbert said before my sister got up and left Haisley in my arms.


    I carried her inside. Taking her to the room I nned to useter that night. I closed the door, then undressed her without caring if I had to see her naked body. I didn¡¯t feel ufortable at all. Iid her on the bed and quickly covered her with a thick nket.


    Soon, her body started shivering. Trembling intensely and convulsing. Then I heard her whimpering, followed by her rising body temperature. Now her whole body, initially pale, had turned red.


    Gilbert entered the room. He looked at Haisley with his worried eyes. He lifted the girl wrapped in a nket onto hisp. ¡°H¡­¡± He grabbed Haisley¡¯s tiny hand from under the nket and held it tightly. His left hand caressed Haisley¡¯s wet head. He kept saying, ¡°It¡¯s all okay,¡± softly and repeatedly, rocking Haisley¡¯s body. As if Haisley was nothing more than a child being cradled by its mother.


    I stepped back, my head filled with questions. What happened? What had really happened to Haisley, something I did not know?

 Chap 24

    ¡°They arrived on the shore almost an hourter. Ambnces and paramedics were already waiting right at the dock. Haisley¡¯s small body appeared even paler, and the girl¡¯s breaths were shallow.


    Paramedics immediately ced an oxygen mask on her nose along with an IV drip in her arm. The nearest hospital was almost an hour¡¯s drive away. And during that time, Nathan stayed with her inside the ambnce.


    In her unconscious state, Haisley¡¯s hands kept squeezing his. Nathan knew she was in pain.


    Haisley was quickly rushed into the Emergency Department. A male doctor in his mid-thirties, Nathan guessed, examined her. Shortly after Gilbert arrived at the Emergency Department waiting area where Nathan was, a female nurse called out.


    ¡°Guardians of Miss Smith?¡± she called out loudly. Both Nathan and Gilbert stepped forward. The nurse looked at the two men in front of her alternately. Reluctant to choose, she asked both of them to follow her.


    They were led into a room, dressed in sterile clothing before being led into a closed room where a doctor, also in sterile attire, was waiting for them.


    Yes, Haisley was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after the examination. And now, shey on a small bed with a tube inserted into her mouth, recing the mask that had been on her face, and an IV stand next to her bed. Not to mention a few devices attached to her chest and fingertips.


    ¡°She¡¯s suffering from Aspiration Pneumonia,¡± the doctor attending to Haisley exined. ¡°It seems a considerable amount of seawater entered her lungs. This caused injuries to her lungs and throat. For the time being, she needs intensive care. We¡¯ve already ced her on a venttor to assist her breathing so that she doesn¡¯t experience too much pain. We¡¯ll remove it once her breathing difficulty subsides,¡± the doctor said.


    And time seemed to pass incredibly slowly. Now, the two siblings were standing outside the room where Haisley was being treated. From a distance, they could see the small girl¡¯s body, which looked flushed due to fever.


    Her eyes were tightly closed, but her eyeballs continued to move, appearing restless in her sleep. Gilbert and Nathan could only watch her through the ss partition.


    ¡°A few years ago, after you left. Exactly when Haisley was in middle school, she was bullied at her school,¡± Gilbert began to tell the story. ¡°The reasons weren¡¯t clear. From what I heard, some of her seniors at the time tied her body with a rope connected to a backpack filled with stones. They submerged Haisley and the bag in the school¡¯s swimming pool. The pool was two and a half meters deep, which Haisley usually crossed with ease. But that time, it almost became the scene of her death,¡± he said with a mncholic tone. Meanwhile, Nathan could only gaze at his sister in disbelief. But Gilbert didn¡¯t see his brother¡¯s expression because he was focused on Haisley¡¯s condition behind the ss.


    ¡°From the CCTV footage the family obtained, there were three students at the scene when the tragedy urred. Two of them wore the same uniform as Haisley. The other wore a different uniform,¡± Gilbert finally turned to his brother and saw how shocked and pale Nathan¡¯s face was. ¡°From the footage, it was clear that at that time, both of Haisley¡¯s hands were tied with tape. Then the bag, which waster found to contain several bricks, was thrown, and her small body was dragged down to the pool¡¯s bottom.


    ¡°God still loved Haisley, because at that moment, there was a new student who witnessed what happened and immediately reported it to the security personnel.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°The kids ran away. They fled. Acting as if they hadn¡¯tmitted any crime that couldbel them as child killers. Leaving Haisley, who was struggling to survive in the water, with her breath almost gone, just like now,¡± Gilbert focused his attention back on Haisley.


    ¡°She went into shock,¡± he said sadly. ¡°For two days, she was in aa due tock of oxygen to her brain. She received intensive care for days in the hospital. And for months, she underwent psychological treatment due to that traumatic event, which always made her hysterical and gave her nightmares almost every night.


    ¡°And while Haisley was in the process of physical and mental recovery, those evil kids were caught.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t even know Haisley. And Haisley didn¡¯t know them at all. Ironically, theymitted that heinous act out of jealousy because of a teenage crush one of the perpetrators had,¡± Gilbert said, his face contorted with disgust. ¡°Haisley¡¯s parents reported those kids to the authorities. They demanded ountability and punishment for the crime that almost took away their beloved daughter.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, their young age led to their punishment being changed to being ced under the care of Social Services. The school only issued a suspension (disciplinary probation) for both students. Meanwhile, a student from a different school received an unknown punishment, even though he was the mastermind behind all the incidents involving Haisley.


    ¡°After that, Uncle and Aunt decided to transfer Haisley to another school, in another city. Hoping that this move would help Haisley forget the horrifying incident that almost took her life.


    ¡°But Haisley was never the same again. She managed to heal her trauma, but water became her biggest fear,¡± Gilbert concluded sadly. He looked back at his sister¡¯s face.


    ¡°I know you never wanted to know about this,¡± he said, his mouth slightly upturned in a mocking expression. ¡°I just wanted to tell you, the reason she is like this now. Not to gain your sympathy and pity. Haisley never wanted that. I said it only so that this incident never happens again.¡± Gilbert patted his smaller sister¡¯s shoulder firmly before leaving the man behind and going back into the ICU. He was wearing special clothing and a mask, which Nathan could see from behind the ss as his younger brother sat beside Haisley¡¯s bed, gently wiping the girl¡¯s forehead as she slept restlessly.


    A sense of guilt flooded through him.


    The girl was on the brink of death for the second time. And he was the cause of it, which made him feel even more guilty.


    Gilbert seemed to hold the small hand tightly, his eyes showing deep affection. He continued to wipe Haisley¡¯s forehead and cheeks, which somehow looked thinner within a few hours.


    ***


    ¡°Haisley, someone is looking for you.¡± Haisley turned and saw Pingkan, one of her ssmates, running toward her.


    ¡°Who?¡± asked Haisley. The braided girl just shook her head.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t say his name. He said he¡¯s waiting for you at the swimming pool area. Maybe one of the swimming clubs wants you to join?¡± her friend said with a meaningful smile. Haisley smiled back and nodded, indicating that she got the message.


    Haisley indeed loved swimming. Her father said she could be a swimmer if she wanted. But Haisley didn¡¯t want to be an athlete. She just wanted to study properly to get a schrship and attend the same college as Nathan, her crush.


    Haisley followed Pingkan¡¯s advice, heading towards the swimming pool area alone, without suspicion. She found no one there; no sses were having sports activities that afternoon, so the swimming pool area appeared deserted.


    Haisley looked around inside the indoor pool area, searching for the person Pingkan mentioned. There, two students were wearing the same uniform as hers. However, she didn¡¯t recognize one of them due to the different uniform.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re Haisley?¡± The student in the different uniform stared at Haisley with sharp eyes.


    ¡°Who?¡± Haisley asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Do you know Jonathan?¡± the girl asked again. Haisley furrowed her brow.


    ¡°Jonathan? Jonathan who?¡± Haisley tried to remember. Did she know any Jonathan?


    ¡°They call him Joe. He¡¯s a member of the Santa Maria Church choir,¡± the girl continued.


    Oh, Joe. Haisley knew him. If she wasn¡¯t mistaken, he went to Tunas Pelita Christian School. Haisley wrinkled her forehead. What did she have to do with Joe?


    ¡°Yeah, I know him. Why? What does this have to do with Joe?¡± she asked, curious.


    ¡°So it¡¯s true, you¡¯re close to him?¡±


    Haisley¡¯s forehead creased even more. Me? Close to Joe? Her head shook slightly. ¡°I do know Joe because we happen to attend the same church. But how is he rted to all of this?¡± Honestly, Haisley was getting more confused.


    ¡°I¡¯m Jonathan¡¯s girlfriend!¡± said the girl whom Haisley still didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°And because of you, Jonathan left me!¡± She stared at Haisley sharply.


    ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Haisley tried to exin. ¡°There seems to be a misunderstanding here. Joe and I have absolutely no connection. We never even talked. Maybe you¡¯ve got the wrong person?¡± she asked uncertainly. But instead of trying to find the truth, the girl asked her two friends to hold Haisley roughly.

 Chap 25

    Haisley started to panic. She was no match for her two schoolmates who now gripped her tightly on both sides. Then, roughly, her hands were pulled behind her, and Haisley screamed as her shoulder bones throbbed with pain. The sound of the tape being ripped off faintly reached her ears before she felt her hands tightly bound behind her back.


    ¡°Wait! What is this?!¡± she screamed in panic, attempting to free herself and kicking out. However, her small body was thrown onto the cold ceramic floor, face down. Her legs were tied tightly with a thick rope.


    ¡°This is a lesson for you. So there won¡¯t be any more victims of your flirtations. You home-wrecker!¡± the unfamiliar student hissed. Haisley kept struggling, but instead of getting free, she felt pain all over her body.


    ¡°Help!!¡± she shouted loudly, hoping someone woulde to her rescue. ¡°Help!!¡± she tried to make her voice as loud as she could. But then her mouth was sealed shut with the same tape used to bind her hands.


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re good at swimming. So, I know you¡¯ll survive this pool, right?¡± the unfamiliar student sneered again.


    Haisley struggled again but still couldn¡¯t break free. Then her body was roughly lifted. Her two schoolmates gripped her arms again. Haisley widened her eyes in panic when she realized something was attached to the rope binding her legs. She tried to squirm, attempting to free herself. But her two schoolmates justughed mockingly at her.


    Whether they were aware or not, they were now at the deepest end of the pool. Or perhaps they assumed they were at the shallow end. Haisley grew even more panicked. The deepest end of the pool measured two and a half meters. And that depth would surely drown her. It would be different if they threw her into the shallower end, which was only one and a half meters deep. She could still stand there even though her head would almost touch the surface of the pool.


    They suddenly lifted therge stone and threw it to the pool¡¯s bottom. Haisley managed to take a deep breath through her nose before her body was thrown into the cold water, submerging her entirely.


    ¡®Oh God, help me. Send someone to rescue me,¡¯ Haisley prayed in her heart. She truly hoped God would work a miracle for her. Bring someone closer to the pool area so she could be saved.


    Her mouth couldn¡¯t open because it was sealed shut with tape. The only airway she had was her nose. And she couldn¡¯t inhale or exhale while she struggled. Oh God, help me. I promise to be a devout believer if I survive.


    She couldn¡¯t hold it any longer. All the remaining air bubbled out of her nose. And now water was entering her nostrils.


    Haisley choked, unable to cough because her mouth was covered. She couldn¡¯t rise because her legs were bound. All the air in her lungs was gone, reced by a pain so crushing. God, please¡­


    She gasped. Numbness set in. As time passed, everything in her vision blurred. Until she couldn¡¯t see anything anymore.


    Is this my time of death? That was the only thought in her head before everything turned ck.


    ***


    Haisley¡¯s grip on Nathan¡¯s hand tightened. The sleeping girl seemed restless. Her head moved from left to right.


    ¡°Help!¡± her voice muffled beneath the oxygen mask still attached to her nose. ¡°Help me!¡± she whispered again.


    Nathan gently stroked Haisley¡¯s head, tenderly kissing her forehead. ¡°Haisley, it¡¯s just a nightmare. Wake up,¡± he whispered into her right ear. But the girl still didn¡¯t open her eyes. ¡°Haisley¡­ Haisley. Come back. Wake up,¡± he pleaded, squeezing Haisley¡¯s right hand with his right hand while his left hand rested on top of her head. ¡°Haisley Smith. Wake up, Darling.¡± Instead of waking up, Haisley appeared to be panicking in her sleep. Her head kept moving from left to right, and her breaths were shallow. The noise from the machines on the left side of the bed sounded loud. Now, Nathan tried patting her cheeks, hoping his actions would wake Haisley from her slumber.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Gilbert arrived, quickly running to the bedside. ¡°Haisley!¡± Gilbert stood on the left side of the bed. ¡°Haisley, Darling. Everything¡¯s fine. Wake up!¡± he pleaded with a gentler voice into Nathan¡¯s left ear. But the girl¡¯s small body seemed to be convulsing, as if trying to free herself from an invisible restraint. Her lips continued to whimper, and her breaths remained shallow.


    Gilbert pressed the emergency button while asionally calling Haisley¡¯s name. A doctor entered, followed by a nurse. They examined Haisley due to her unstable heartbeat. Soon, the male doctor injected a liquid into Haisley¡¯s IV drip. In seconds, the girl calmed down again.


    ¡°I gave her a sedative injection. It seems the patient was having a nightmare,¡± the doctor said. Both Nathan and Gilbert didn¡¯t take their eyes off Haisley.


    ¡°Can you provide a referral letter? I want to take her back to the city,¡± Nathan requested.


    The doctor seemed to think for a moment but then nodded. Nathan followed the doctor. Shortly after, he returned to Haisley¡¯s room.


    ¡°How about your friends?¡± he asked Gilbert.


    Earlier, in the panic, they had forgotten about Gilbert¡¯s group and Loretta. They were probably still at the cottage. ¡°I¡¯ve contacted them. They¡¯ll be heading back as nned,¡± Gilbert replied. Nathan just nodded.


    Half an hourter, they were on their way back to the city. Both Nathan and Gilbert decided to follow the ambnce carrying Haisley with the car Nathan had used before, driven by Nathan¡¯s private chauffeur.


    Upon their arrival in the city, Haisley was immediately ced in a VVIP room. The girl was still deeply asleep due to the medication. About half an hour after their arrival, she finally opened her eyes.


    The clock showed three in the early morning. Haisley looked around. The ce seemed dark, and she didn¡¯t recognize where she was. Until she looked to the side of the bed and saw two men she knew sleeping sitting next to each other.

 Chap 26

    Nathan sat upright with his head slightly bowed forward, while Gilbert slept with his head leaning on Nathan¡¯s shoulder. They would surely wake up with ufortable neck and shoulder positions. And Haisley felt guilty about it. If only she hadn¡¯t drowned, she wouldn¡¯t have troubled the two brothers. She really had to make it up to them. And an idea suddenly crossed her mind.


    ¡°Haisley woke up from her bed. She needed to use the bathroom urgently but hesitated to wake up Nathan or Gilbert. She removed the oxygen mask from her nose, grabbed the IV stand, and walked silently.


    A few minutes after finishing her business, Haisley was surprised to find Nathan standing in front of the bathroom door. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± he asked, his eyes narrowing sharply.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t want to disturb you,¡± Haisley replied softly. She walked ahead of Nathan to return to the bed. She noticed Gilbert sleeping, his head tilted back, leaning against the chair. His neck would surely be stiff tomorrow.


    ¡°How are you?¡± Nathan asked again. Now Haisley was sitting on the bed, and Nathan was still standing in front of her. They were quite close.


    ¡°Better,¡± she replied, looking up at Nathan. ¡°Where are we?¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°We¡¯re back in town,¡± he answered in his usual tone, cing the IV stand back in its ce.


    ¡°What about Loretta and the others?¡± Suddenly, the image of the beautiful girl shed in Haisley¡¯s mind.


    ¡°G has arranged for them to return as scheduled. Are you hungry?¡± he asked, abruptly changing the subject. Haisley rubbed her slightly painful stomach. When was thest time she ate? She didn¡¯t have proper lunch and dinner.


    ¡°Wait here; I¡¯ll find some food. I hope it won¡¯t take long,¡± he said. He then left Haisley after handing her the TV remote.


    ¡°Hasn¡¯t he changed?¡± The question made Haisley turn toward Gilbert. He was moving his apparently stiff neck.


    ¡°What do you mean? Didn¡¯t you sleep?¡±


    ¡°Not since you woke up. I just pretended to sleep and wanted to see what Nathan would do. How are you?¡±


    ¡°Better,¡± Haisley replied with the same words. Gilbert got up and walked closer to the bed. He helped Haisley adjust the bed position before sitting on a chair he had purposely pulled close to the bed.


    ¡°Thank goodness,¡± he said in relief. ¡°Want a drink?¡± he asked. Haisley nodded. Gilbert took a ss from the bottom of the water dispenser and filled it with warm water before handing it to Haisley. ¡°He seems worried. Don¡¯t you realize he was the one apanying you in the ambnce from the maind to the first hospital?¡± Haisley shook her head after finishing her drink. ¡°He¡¯s the one who asked the paramedics for permission to bring you here. I think he was panicking at that time. He really cares about you. And that means he¡¯s already paying attention to you.¡±


    Haisley snorted in response. She ced the ss on the bedside table and then pulled the nket up to her mid-thigh with her hand, her other hand free from the IV.


    ¡°Everyone would feel the same way, G. Not just Nathan. I¡¯m sure others would feel the same worry if someone they knew suddenly drowned in front of them.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want to think, go ahead. But I see it differently,¡± he continued with a sharp gaze fixed on Haisley.


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided to stop hoping, G. I won¡¯t fall for Nathan anymore. Whether he treats me well or not, I won¡¯t take it to heart. And if I see him being nice to someone else, I won¡¯t be jealous either. So, even if you think Nathan has started to change a little towards me, I¡¯ll always assume he¡¯ll do the same thing to a stranger.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to let myself fly and then be dropped because of empty hopes I¡¯ve built.¡± She replied with a mncholic face. ¡°It¡¯s all over. My ten years are over. I choose to step back before falling into a hole too deep and ending up in pain.¡±


    Unbeknownst to Haisley, someone heard her words outside the door, their hands clutching a package they carried.¡±


    On the second day of her treatment, her friends who had gone on the trip together came to visit her at the hospital. Haisley weed them with a bright smile on her face, grateful for their attention, especially considering she had only recently met them. Haisley¡¯s room, which had been quiet, suddenly became lively with their presence. Luckily, the hospital staff didn¡¯t reprimand them.


    They gathered in Haisley¡¯s room for quite some time until they decided to leave, each of them uttering ¡®get well soon¡¯ before departing. Among everyone saying their goodbyes, Haisley asked Reia to stay a bit longer. She was the only woman in the group whom Haisley felt she could trust.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Reia turned around, approaching Haisley¡¯s bed. ¡°Do you need something?¡± she inquired.


    Haisley smiled shyly, nodding her head slightly. ¡°I need your help,¡± she said softly. ¡°Do you have any information about ts that might be avable for rent soon?¡± she asked in a hushed voice.


    Reia frowned upon hearing Haisley¡¯s question. ¡°For whom, H?¡± she asked, surprised. Everyone knew that Haisley was currently staying at Gilbert and Nathan¡¯s residence. So, it seemed odd for Haisley to be searching for a new ce. Especially a t. Why would she want to leave a ce with better facilities for a small, possibly noisy, and cramped rental?


    ¡°For myself,¡± Haisley replied honestly. Reia¡¯s forehead wrinkled further in confusion.


    ¡°You want to move?¡± Reia asked, unsure. Haisley nodded again. ¡°You want to live alone? Move out of Gilbert¡¯s house, is that it?¡± she asked, trying to convince herself. Haisley nodded once more in response. ¡°Why?¡± Reia asked, curious. ¡°I mean, why do you want to move? Isn¡¯t it morefortable to live at Gilbert¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°No specific reason,¡± Haisley shook her head slowly, smiling gently. ¡°I just want to learn to be independent. I don¡¯t want to keep bothering Nathan and Gilbert,¡± she reasoned. ¡°Besides, from the beginning, my n was just to stay temporarily at their ce. Until I got to know the area well.¡± Yes, Haisley had thought about it since the beginning. Although she didn¡¯t expect it to happen so quickly. Her initial n was far from moving out; she had intended to win Nathaniel¡¯s heart first. But now? That desire had dissolved, disappearing along with the seawater that had nearly drowned her.

 Chap 27

    Reia nodded, understanding Haisley¡¯s stated reasons. She could only look at Haisley with apassionate smile.


    ¡°Do you want a t to rent alone, or are you open to sharing?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Just a personal one if there¡¯s any. I¡¯m not used to living with strangers,¡± Haisley replied honestly. ¡°And if possible, something affordable,¡± she added with a shy smile.


    Reia nodded her head slowly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask the others. If there¡¯s any information, I¡¯ll let you know,¡± she promised. Haisley murmured her thanks. ¡°But H, does Gilbert know about your n?¡± she asked again.


    Not out of curiosity, but to avoid problems with Gilbert if Haisley did all of this without his knowledge and Reia helped her. If that happened, Gilbert would be angry with Reia. And Reia didn¡¯t want that. Haisley only nodded weakly, which Reia interpreted as a ¡®yes.¡¯ She felt more at ease now. Reia stood up and prepared to leave.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll update youter,¡± she said, patting Haisley¡¯s arm before saying goodbye. ¡°Get well soon, H,¡± she prayed sincerely. Haisley nodded her head again.


    After Reia left, Haisley tried to go back to sleep, her mind upied with thoughts of her uing move. She had lied to Reia and might have gotten her involved in a potential problem. Because Gilbert didn¡¯t know about her ns. Her friend would surely not ept her decision so easily. But truly, Haisley couldn¡¯t bear staying at that house any longer. She wouldn¡¯t be able to handle seeing Loretta and Nathan¡¯s interactions in the future. Because she knew she would feel jealous.


    ¡°Perhaps all this time, she could endure everything she saw. She could pretend that everything was fine. But until when? She wasn¡¯t sure that she wouldn¡¯t explode at some point and end up announcing to everyone that she was jealous. That she loved Nathan so much that she couldn¡¯t bear to see him with another woman. That she liked Loretta too much and agreed that they looked so good together that she couldn¡¯t bring herself to make a n to separate them.


    She couldn¡¯t embarrass herself any further. It had been enough loving Nathan all this time. A love that until now remained unrequited. She didn¡¯t want Nathan tough at her because she still believed in her foolish love.


    Yes, Haisley knew Nathan was that cruel. Because if Nathan wasn¡¯t cruel, he should have given Haisley a chance to express all her suppressed feelings. Because if even a little bit he thought that Haisley¡¯s feelings for him were genuine, at least he could try to open his heart to her. Instead, he deliberately hurt her by showing all his warmth to Loretta and always being cold to her.


    What about his presence in the hospital these past few days? Everyone assumed Nathan was taking care of her because he was worried. You¡¯re wrong.


    Everything he did was merely out of a sense of responsibility. Yes, the responsibility of a foster parent to the person living under his roof. The moral responsibility as someone entrusted with a Haisley. Because, willingly or not, Haisley was under his care.


    Because Haisley was under his supervision. He felt responsible for what happened to Haisley. Not because he was afraid of losing her, not because he was worried about her, not because he loved her and cared for her. But more because he was afraid of being med by someone else.


    Haisley knew that because she heard it from Nathan¡¯s own mouth when he thought she was asleep.


    That¡¯s why Haisley was so eager to leave Nathan and Gilbert¡¯s house right now.


    She had been pitied enough. She didn¡¯t want to receive that kind of treatment anymore.


    What she wanted from Nathan was his love. His affection. Not his pity.


    Haisley didn¡¯t know exactly when she fell asleep. Because when she woke up, Gilbert was sitting next to her bed.


    ¡°Good evening, Princess,¡± he greeted with his characteristic smile.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Evening, G,¡± she replied hoarsely. ¡°What time is it?¡± Haisley blinked her eyes while rubbing them with the back of her index finger.


    ¡°6 o¡¯clock,¡± Gilbert answered after checking the time on his left wrist. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± He offered, to which Haisley nodded. ¡°Aunt Jody made you a meaty casserole. She said, hopefully, you¡¯ll recover soon. She can¡¯t visit you because she¡¯s very anti-hospital,¡± he continued, raising the table attached to Haisley¡¯s bed. He ced the casserole, contained in a square heat-resistant ss bowl, and handed a spoon to Haisley. She murmured her thanks to the tall, big man, which he acknowledged with a slow nod. ¡°Eat a lot, finish it,¡± he instructed softly.


    Haisley just nodded and started spooning the soft macaroni into her mouth.


    ¡°When can I go home, G?¡± she asked between bites.


    Gilbert, who was sitting next to Haisley¡¯s bed, nced up from his phone. ¡°Why?¡± he asked, putting his phone into the pocket of his short-sleeved shirt worn over his t-shirt. ¡°Miss home already, huh?¡± he teased. Haisley only gave a thin smile.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± she replied tly.


    ¡°If your condition is better tomorrow, you can go home tomorrow evening or the day after,¡± he answered. Haisley simply nodded in response to Gilbert¡¯s words.


    Neither Gilbert nor Haisley spoke much. Their previous personal conversations had drastically changed Haisley. The girl had be quieter now.


    Although not expecting much, Haisley couldn¡¯t help but feel disappointed because she no longer saw Nathaning to visit her. Maybe because he had seen that Haisley was fine, so he felt there was no need to visit her anymore. Deep down, Haisley wanted at least a little bit of his concern.


    Sad? Definitely. At the very least, Haisley hoped he would pay some attention to her while she was in the hospital. That way, she could feel that he cared for her even a bit.


    But it turned out, it was all just Haisley¡¯s dream. And she didn¡¯t want to ask Gilbert about his whereabouts either. She was afraid of being disappointed by the answer Gilbert might give. So she chose to stay silent.

 Chap 28

    The next day, after a thorough physical examination, including a lung check, Haisley was allowed to go home. Her return to Gilbert¡¯s house was greeted by Aunt Jody, who intentionally came homete just to see Haisley¡¯s current condition. It was also because the woman felt guilty for not visiting when Haisley was being treated.


    Gilbert escorted her to her room. Although Haisley asked him not to. For God¡¯s sake, she felt like a seriously ill person with all of Gilbert¡¯s attention.


    Gilbert didn¡¯t allow Haisley to go to ss either, despite her pleas and sweet persuasions. But Gilbert remained firm. He used Haisley¡¯s health condition as the reason, although he was eager to meet Reia and ask about the t issue he inquired about at the hospital earlier.


    It was her fault, really, because she hadn¡¯t had the chance to ask for Reia¡¯s phone number. Another reason was, she actually forgot where her phone was. All she remembered was thest time she used it before boarding Nathan¡¯s rented yacht. And now, when she needed it, she only remembered. Could it be that she lost her phone? Haisley wasn¡¯t gadget-dependent, so she didn¡¯t feel the loss. Except for moments like this, when she needed it to contact someone.


    Fortunately, the phone was returned to her by a courier in the afternoon after her return from the hospital.


    Haisley could have asked Gilbert for Reia¡¯s number. But considering their not-so-close rtionship, Haisley was afraid that Gilbert would ask her a lot of questions about why she wanted Reia¡¯s number.


    No, she hadn¡¯t intended to tell Gilbert that she was moving. Not until she received confirmation from Reia. She was afraid that she wouldn¡¯t have a valid reason to defend herselfter on. But if she had alreadypleted the transaction for the t, Gilbert wouldn¡¯t prolong the issue either.


    Three days passed at home. That meant Haisley had missed a week of sses. Finally, on Monday, Haisley returned to her lectures. She had to catch up on points so her attendance wouldn¡¯t affect her grades. Luckily, the professors didn¡¯t give quizzes while she was absent. If there had been a quiz, Haisley didn¡¯t know how she would fix her gradester on.


    During her ss break, Haisley tried to find Reia. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t locate her. Fortunately, she ran into Steven. He wasn¡¯t in the same major as Reia. However, because they had known each other for a long time, Steven surely had Reia¡¯s number.


    Oh God, how foolish Haisley was to forget about him.


    After getting Reia¡¯s number, Haisley tried to message her, informing her that the number belonged to Haisley and asking her to reply when Reia was free.


    In the evening after dinner, Reia finally contacted her.


    ¡°How is it?¡± Haisley asked without preamble.


    ¡°Hold on a minute, ma¡¯am,¡± Reia chuckled on the other end.


    Haisley took a deep breath. ¡°Okay, one minute,¡± she said, met with Reia¡¯sughter. The girl had be much friendlier when she realized that Haisley wasn¡¯t one of the girls chasing after Gilbert, her crush.


    ¡°There are a few vacant ces. One studio apartment and another one-bedroom t. When do you have time to check them out?¡± Reia asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go by your schedule,¡± Haisley replied.


    ¡°Alright then. My sses tomorrow are until two. We have time until five before my next ss. How about that? Can you make it?¡± After deciding where to meet, Haisley finally ended the call.


    The next day, Haisley saw Nathan at the breakfast table, which was unusual. Just seeing his back made her heart beat faster than usual.


    It hurt, realizing that the man she loved so much didn¡¯t care about her at all. But what could she do? Nathan didn¡¯t tell Haisley to fall in love with him. It was purely her own heart¡¯s doing.


    And on the other hand, Haisley couldn¡¯t force Nathan to love her back. Because clearly, love was not something that could be forced.


    Haisley took a deep breath, trying to act normal as usual. Even though her eyes felt hot, remembering Nathan¡¯s indifference over the past week.


    ¡°Morning,¡± Haisley greeted. Nathan merely nodded without lifting his head from the tablet in his hands. His face was even less attractive than the news he was reading.


    Where was Gilbert? Haisley looked around the room, searching for the tall, big man. But his head was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Gilbert has a photoshoot. He didn¡¯te homest night,¡± Nathan answered, not even raising his head from his tablet.


    ¡°Oh,¡± was all Haisley said before she grabbed a slice of toast and spread chocte spread on it, thenyered it with a slice of cheese before closing it with another slice of bread that she also spread with the spread.


    There was no conversation during breakfast. Just silence. Even the sound of their chewing seemed to echo in the quiet room.


    Nathan realized that Haisley wasn¡¯t as chatty as usual. Had the girl truly made up her mind to forget Nathan? Nathan asked himself. But why did Nathan feel disappointed? He felt unsettled. Should he express it?


    No!


    Immediately, Nathan shook his head. That would be equivalent to humiliating himself.


    Haisley finally got up from her seat. ¡°I¡¯ll go first,¡± she said, excusing herself. Nathan only nodded indistinctly in response. But a momentter, Nathan lifted his head and watched the girl walking away.


    Haisley left him in the dining room just like that. Instantly, Nathan¡¯s forehead creased. Not like Haisley at all.


    Yes. Usually, if Gilbert wasn¡¯t around, she would sweet-talk him into giving her a ride to campus. But this time, she didn¡¯t. What was going on with her?


    Nathan immediately got up and followed her with his wide steps.


    ¡°Haisley¡­¡± He was about to offer her a ride when the honk of a car swallowed his call. Steven waved at her from inside his ssic ck Ford. The girl approached Steven without even turning to look at Nathan.


    Was she intentionally ignoring his call, or was she pretending not to hear? Nathan asked himself.


    ¡°Steve? Are you purposely picking me up?¡± she eximed loudly.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Nathan saw the slender man nodding his head with a smile on his face. ¡°G asked me to pick you up,¡± he said just as loudly. ¡°He said he¡¯s not going to campus today and didn¡¯t want to let you take public transportation,¡± he continued, loud enough for Nathan to hear. Haisley only nodded at him and eagerly circled the front of the car before getting into the passenger seat.


    Once again, Haisley didn¡¯t look at him. She didn¡¯t even wave, knowing Nathan was there. And Nathan could only watch the car drive away, feeling annoyed.


    For God¡¯s sake, what was happening to him?


    He gripped the car keys tightly in his hand and went back inside the house.


    In the evening, after exploring as promised with Reia, Haisley finally decided to rent a t that wasn¡¯t too far from the campus area.


    The ce wasn¡¯t overly spacious. In fact, Nathan¡¯s bedroom wasrger than the entire t. However, its location was quite strategic. For Haisley, the room, measuring six by six, was satisfying enough. The bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom were all integrated directly with the living room. A significant advantage was the tall window that led to a fairlyrge balcony, allowing Haisley to enjoy the view and safely hang her clothes there.

 Chap 29

    ¡°Haisley is currently facing Gilbert¡¯s anger. Just as he had predicted. His friend couldn¡¯t ept the fact that Haisley had already paid the t rent and would be moving out over the weekend. And that¡¯s tomorrow.


    Haisley himself didn¡¯t know Nathan¡¯s response because the man was out of town, attending one of his friend¡¯s weddings. Haisley knew that the man was apanied by his girlfriend, Loretta, because she had posted a photo of them on her social media.


    Even though the photo only showed Nathan¡¯s back, Haisley knew it was him.


    ¡°H, think about it again. I can cover your rent. I can talk to my friend who¡¯s looking for a ce. But don¡¯t move, H,¡± the man pleaded.


    ¡°G, please,¡± Haisley begged. This was beyond his patience. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore; he didn¡¯t want to keep getting hurt.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I thought it was just a momentary emotional outburst, H. If I knew you were serious, I wouldn¡¯t have taken my eyes off you,¡± Gilbert replied, still reluctant. ¡°What about Uncle, Aunt? What about my parents, Haisley?¡±


    ¡°I already told Mom and Dad. They agreed to let me move. I need to be more independent. And about Uncle and Aunt, I asked Mom and Dad to talk to them,¡± he replied.


    Gilbert could only look at Haisley and then let out a long sigh. He was clearly frustrated with Haisley¡¯s unteral decision. After all, it was Haisley who had asked him to help her get closer to Nathan. But now, she suddenly decided to stop.


    Gilbert wasn¡¯t frustrated because of Haisley¡¯s submission. He liked her so much that he couldn¡¯t bear to lose her. Deep down, he really wanted Haisley to seed with Nathan. But so far, Haisley had endured. Ifpared to himself, Gilbert wasn¡¯t sure if he could withstand his love as strongly as Haisley.


    ¡°Fine. But remember, if anything happens, you have to tell me. If something is bothering you or if there are people making you ufortable. You have to tell me,¡± Gilbert said. Haisley just nodded as he hugged Gilbert¡¯s tall, broad body.


    Saturday morning, the doorbell of Nathan¡¯s residence rang. Steven and Reia appeared there. They had promised to help Haisley move, even though she had prohibited them. She didn¡¯t bring many things anyway, just clothes, some books, and electronic gadgets, most of which she had bought during her few months in Ennd.


    Before noon, the packing was already done. Using Gilbert¡¯s SUV, which they were both fans of, they loaded Haisley¡¯s belongings, which weren¡¯t much. They stopped briefly to eat at a fast-food cafe before heading to Haisley¡¯s t.


    Haisley¡¯s small rented t was in an affordable area considering its proximity to her campus in South Kensington. It could be considered a luxurious area in the UK due to its strategic location. It was close to museums and both upscale and simple franchise restaurants. Haisley was determined to apply for a part-time job after she could socialize with her new living space.¡±


    ¡°At seven in the evening, the three of them finally left Haisley¡¯s residence. While Haisley sorted her belongings with Steven¡¯s help, Gilbert and Reia kindly bought her groceries and other necessities they thought she might need.


    Now, exactly at eight in the evening, Haisley was enjoying the instant coffee that Gilbert had bought for her, savoring the view from the balcony.


    On Sunday morning, Gilbert even returned with breakfast. iming boredom at home, he used it as an excuse to disturb Haisley all day. However, his real intention was to change Haisley¡¯s mind and convince her to return home.


    Nathan returned from his trip at midnight. He dropped Loretta off at her ce before heading back to his own residence. Something felt odd as he unlocked the door. It felt different. Empty. Or was it just his imagination?


    Not wanting to dwell on it too long, Nathan quickly entered his room. He wanted to lie down and unwind. Tomorrow was Monday, and he had a lot of work to attend to.


    In the morning, Nathan had breakfast alone. He didn¡¯t see Gilbert. Nor the petite girl. Why did the atmosphere feel so chilly? He intended to ask Aunt Jody. But a call on his phone diverted his attention. Eventually, without asking his housekeeper, Nathan left for his office.


    Days passed by like this. Nathan was engrossed in his work. He came homete, and the house was quiet. asionally, he hoped to find Haisley watching in the backyard, wearing his oversized shirt and her hair in a bun. But he never got that chance. He also never saw Gilbert at home. Was his brother really that busy with his activities?


    Yes, Nathan and Gilbert¡¯s rtionship couldn¡¯t be described as close. They only contacted each other if there was something important to discuss. There were no shared stories or sessions of confiding in each other. Or perhaps, was this how a normal rtionship between brothers was? Nathan didn¡¯t know; he neverpared his life to others¡¯.


    And then, the weekend came again. Nathan intentionally made no ns to go anywhere. Today, he just wanted toze around at home. Or perhaps, he just wanted to see the petite girl with her busyness in the kitchen, cooking and exchanging shouts with Gilbert.


    Strangely, by eight in the morning, Nathan still hadn¡¯t seen a trace of her. Did she have sses on the weekend? As far as Nathan knew, she didn¡¯t.


    Gilbert came downstairs a little after eight in the morning. He was wearing casual shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Nathan greeted him casually as Gilbert went to the kitchen and took out food from the fridge. Gilbert poured cold milk into a tall ss, put frozen food in the microwave, and started the stove to fry sausages and eggs.


    ¡°Why a Ready Meal? Doesn¡¯t Haisley usually cook for you?¡± Nathanmented when Gilbert ced his breakfast on the dining table. Gilbert snorted.


    ¡°Later. She¡¯s going to cook. For lunch.¡± Gilbert replied casually. He was confident; Nathan was so indifferent that he didn¡¯t realize Haisley was no longer with them.

 Chap 30

    Gilbert¡¯s phone rang. He reached for it in his pocket, seeing Haisley¡¯s name. Deliberately, he pressed the green button and then the loudspeaker button, cing the phone on the table.


    ¡°Yeah, H.¡±


    ¡°G, are youing here?¡± the girl asked from the other side. Sounds of ttering were audible, and Gilbert could tell she was preparing her breakfast.


    ¡°I am. Later. With the others,¡± Gilbert replied, taking a bite of his food. Meanwhile, Nathan frowned, not understanding. Where? Where was the girl?


    ¡°Oh, okay then. Come earlier though, okay? We need to shop first. We¡¯ve run out of groceries. The kids asked for this and that. Have you read the group messages?¡±


    ¡°I have. Alright then, see you.¡± Then ¡®click.¡¯ The call ended.


    ¡°Where are you all going?¡± Nathan finally asked. He looked at Gilbert, who raised his head from his meal.


    ¡°To Haisley¡¯s ce,¡± he replied tly.¡±


    Nathan¡¯s forehead furrowed. Wasn¡¯t the girl supposed to be living here? He questioned silently.


    ¡°Are you so busy that you didn¡¯t realize Haisley isn¡¯t here anymore?¡± Gilbert teased.


    Nathan¡¯s frown deepened. What did he mean?


    ¡°She moved out from herest week,¡± Gilbert replied again, as if he was a psychic, answering questions Nathan hadn¡¯t voiced. He pocketed his phone, cleaned up his finished meal, and got up to leave.


    ¡°Why?¡± Nathan finally asked.


    ¡°Why what?¡±


    ¡°Why did she move? Wasn¡¯t she supposed to live here? Why did she suddenly leave?¡± Nathan inquired, wanting to know.


    ¡°She never wanted to live here. From the beginning, she stayed here because of Mom¡¯s persuasion. She never forced herself to stay. Her initial n was to live independently here. After getting to know the area, she wanted to move. And vo, she now knows the ce, has socialized, and found a new ce to live and work,¡± Gilbert exined candidly.


    ¡°Work?¡± Nathan snorted.


    Gilbert returned a mocking smile. ¡°Changing someone¡¯s mindset is indeed difficult.¡± Gilbert answered Nathan¡¯s question with sarcasm. ¡°From the start, all you ever saw in Haisley was her negative side. To you, she never looked good. And the way you think about her is something you need to change,¡± he said before walking away, leaving Nathan stunned, unable to retort against Gilbert¡¯s jibes.


    Gilbert felt exasperated himself. He chose to leave Nathan at that moment. He had to restrain himself. He couldn¡¯t possibly engage in a full-blown argument with his own brother over something that wasn¡¯t really that important.


    Gilbert himself was puzzled by Nathan¡¯s behavior. He didn¡¯t know if his brother liked or disliked Haisley. He knew that Nathan wasn¡¯t always like this. He used to be normal. By that, Gilbert meant he used to act like a good older brother to Haisley. He was friendly and caring. But suddenly, everything changed. If Gilbert¡¯s calctions were correct, the change urred about six or seven years ago.


    Argghh! Gilbert didn¡¯t want to waste any more time dealing with their insignificant love story. His own love story might not even work out. Besides, Haisley had decided to give up. So Gilbert would follow what she deemed best. Because the truth was, the girl was right. Nathan didn¡¯t care at all. He wasn¡¯t even aware that Haisley had been gone for quite a while. And Haisley was right too. Holding onto a man like Nathan might not make her happy after all.


    Gilbert knocked on Haisley¡¯s apartment door. A girl he knew turned out to be there already. ¡°Loretta? What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Loretta asked back, opening the door wide for Gilbert. Gilbert didn¡¯t answer her question and instead continued walking towards Haisley.


    ¡°Why is she here?¡± Gilbert asked when he saw Haisleying out from the bathroom. Haisley responded to his friend¡¯s question with a smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s the weekend, G. She said she had nothing to do,¡± Haisley answered softly.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Does she have to be here?¡± Gilbert asked again, sounding sarcastic.


    Haisley just smiled at his friend once again. He didn¡¯t know what made Gilbert dislike his sister¡¯s choice of partner, and it made Haisley feel guilty towards Loretta. He looked at the beautiful girl who stared back at Haisley and Gilbert alternately, her forehead creased in confusion because she didn¡¯t understand English at all.


    ¡°Yeah, maybe she just really needs a friend,¡± Haisley replied casually. ¡°Besides, don¡¯t be like that. She¡¯s your future sister-inw, G.¡± Haisley¡¯s words, despite being apanied by a smile, clearly showed the sadness there.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gilbert asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Her rtionship with Nathan is serious, G. Last week, Nathan met Loretta¡¯s family. And Loretta said her family asked about their rtionship. Nathan said he¡¯s serious.¡± Gilbert now focused his gaze entirely on Loretta.


    ¡°May I ask you something?¡± he asked seriously. Loretta looked at Gilbert confused but then nodded slowly. ¡°You and Nathan, are you really serious about your rtionship?¡± he asked without preamble.


    Haisley grabbed Gilbert¡¯s arm, squeezing it slightly, although he knew it wouldn¡¯t affect him at all. But at least he hoped Gilbert wouldn¡¯t be so harsh on Loretta.


    Loretta looked confused too by Gilbert¡¯s sudden question. But she just nodded her head.


    ¡°That¡¯s what Nathan said when he met my dad,¡± she answered with a happy expression on her face. ¡°Nathan even said he would introduce me to his parents if we go to America.¡± She continued before turning her attention to Haisley with a questioning look. ¡°We are going there, right, Haisley?¡± she asked, trying to convince. Haisley answered by nodding his head.


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± This time Gilbert looked at Haisley sharply.


    ¡°You remember our conversation, right?¡± Haisley reminded him. ¡°That we¡¯re going to America during the semester break.¡±


    Gilbert nodded. His face instantly turned cold. ¡°Yes, but that¡¯s for vacation,¡± he retorted. ¡°Why did it turn into a meet-the-family event?¡± he disagreed, again usingnguage Loretta didn¡¯t understand.


    Haisley just shrugged. ¡°Come on, G. Why make a fuss about it? Our agenda is to go back to America for vacation. Nathan introducing Loretta as his future wife is his business. You should be grateful, if anything. It means Nathan has moved on from Crystal,¡± Haisley replied in a calming tone. But Gilbert shook his head again firmly.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be like that, Haisley,¡± Gilbert refused. ¡°Loretta.¡± Gilbert¡¯s tone, sounding more like amand, startled the girl. ¡°Can you go home? Or at least visit your boyfriend at his house. He must be happy to see you there.¡± Gilbert¡¯s request sounded more like an eviction.


    ¡°G¡­¡± Haisley tried to intervene. But Gilbert ignored him and started typing something on his phone. Haisley¡¯s phone chimed. Haisley opened the message in their group chat and read the message sent by Gilbert. He asked his friends to cancel their n toe to Haisley¡¯s ce. ¡°G, what¡¯s going on?¡± Haisley asked, not liking this.

 Chap 31

    ¡°We need to talk. And I know you¡¯re not in the mood to deal with the kids¡¯ prattle. So just let them be,¡± Gilbert grabbed Haisley¡¯s phone and tossed it carelessly onto the fridge. He nced back at Loretta, who was still frozen in her spot. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± he asked sharply. Confused, Loretta hurriedly grabbed her bag.


    ¡°Haisley, I¡¯m going home,¡± she bid, her gaze fearful as she looked at Gilbert. Haisley only whispered an apology before the girl left.


    ¡°G, you don¡¯t have to be like this,¡± Haisley said with annoyance after Loretta was gone.


    ¡°And what should I be like?!¡± Gilbert retorted sharply. ¡°What is she really doing here? Since when has she been here? Has she been here sincest night?¡± These questions poured out of Gilbert spontaneously.


    Haisley walked to his balcony and chose to sit there, ignoring Gilbert, who was still emotional.


    ¡°Haisley?¡± Gilbert approached, calling the girl with a gentler tone.


    Haisley nced at his friend briefly before answering. ¡°She came here after you called, G,¡± he said honestly. ¡°She even kindly brought me food.¡± Haisley pointed to the package on his kitchen table.


    ¡°For what? A balm for a wounded heart?¡± he sneered.


    ¡°G,¡± Haisley warned again. ¡°Don¡¯t me Loretta if she likes Nathan. And you can¡¯t stop her if she wants to confide in me. Loretta doesn¡¯t know that I have feelings for Nathan too. All she knows is that I¡¯ve been in a rtionship with you.¡±


    ¡°So because of that, she can just freely vent her problems to you?¡± he asked again skeptically.


    Haisley looked away, choosing not to look at Gilbert. ¡°She¡¯s just lonely, and she needs a friend,¡± he said softly. ¡°She considers me her friend, that¡¯s why she confides in me.¡± Haisley still refused to look at Gilbert.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask her to stop talking then?¡± Gilbert softened further. He knew Haisley was the one hurting the most here. Gilbert sat closer and put his arm around Haisley¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Even if you can¡¯t tell her you like Nathan, at least you can politely refuse her so she doesn¡¯t talk about her private matters.¡±


    Haisley chuckled, but his tears fell nheless. ¡°Women¡¯s conversations aren¡¯t always about designer bags or thetest makeup products, G. You surely know that too.¡±


    ¡°But hearing her talk about her rtionship with Nathan is slowly hurting you, Haisley.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I won¡¯t deny that. But listening to Loretta¡¯s stories, at least I¡¯m somewhat entertained. And I know that Nathan has finally been able to open up to other women. Slowly, he has moved on from Crystal in his heart.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure Nathan really likes Loretta?¡± Gilbert asked uncertainly.


    Haisley straightened up and looked at Gilbert. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It could be his tactic to make you jealous.¡±


    ¡°By involving his parents?¡± Haisley shook his head. ¡°Nathan wouldn¡¯t be that cruel, G. Besides, why would he make me jealous when he knows I¡¯ve only liked him all this time?¡± Haisleyughed, rejecting Gilbert¡¯s way of thinking. ¡°Let it go. There¡¯s nothing more we can do except to surrender and ept them. Nathan will never fall for me, G. I¡¯m nothingpared to Crystal. So let it be. Let me enjoy my college life here. If I happen to meet a foreign guy, then it¡¯s my luck.¡± Haisley spoke softly. He patted his thigh and then stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping. Whether the kids are here or not, I need to eat, G.¡±


    Gilbert just watched the girl. There were no more words he could say. He would just go with the flow.


    At Nathaniel¡¯s residence, Nathan furrowed his brow upon hearing the doorbell ring. Who could be visiting on a weekend like this? Maybe it¡¯s his friend Gilbert, he thought. He got up from his seat, cing the book he was reading down, and walked towards the door. There stood Loretta, wearing a bright floral-patterned long dress. She smiled and waved. ¡°Hi,¡± she greeted. ¡°Can Ie in?¡±


    Nathan shifted his body, allowing Loretta to enter his home. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Nathan asked, confused. Her presence was so sudden, without any prior notice, and it bothered Nathan. He really wanted to be alone at the moment.


    ¡°I¡¯m from Haisley¡¯s t,¡± she replied, then sat gracefully on one of the sofas. ¡°Gilbert came, and he said he wanted to be alone with Haisley. So he asked me toe here. He said you were alone and would probably appreciate mypany.¡±


    Nathan furrowed his brow. His brother? Alone with Haisley? ¡°Why are they alone?¡± he asked unconsciously.


    Loretta looked back at Nathan, puzzled. ¡°Why do you think they want to be alone?¡± She chuckled, finding it amusing. Nathan only furrowed his brow further. ¡°They¡¯re a couple that really clicks. I like it,¡± she continued enthusiastically.


    Loretta might like it, but Nathan didn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t like the idea of them being ¡®alone¡¯ at all.


    Nathan grabbed his phone and called his brother. ¡°Why did you tell Loretta toe here?¡± he asked irritably.


    ¡°Oh, has she arrived?¡± Gilbert asked back. ¡°Thank goodness if she arrived safely.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but why did you ask her toe here?¡± Nathan muttered again.


    Gilbert just chuckled. ¡°Everywhere, having your girlfriend visit makes your heart happy. Why are you so annoyed? I¡¯m giving you guys some time to do your own thing.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Nathan clearly heard the mocking tone in his voice. ¡°By the way, Bro, are you serious about Loretta? Why didn¡¯t you tell me? As your only sibling, I feel offended hearing this from someone else,¡± Gilbert said, still sounding mocking.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You want to introduce Loretta to the folks as your potential partner, right?¡± Gilbert asked again. ¡°Congrats, Bro. Looks like I¡¯ll be organizing a bachelor party for you soon.¡± Nathan still didn¡¯t understand, his forehead creasing further.


    ¡°G, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Haisley¡¯s voice interrupted.


    ¡°The one on the left looks better, Darling,¡± Gilbert replied.


    ¡°Where are you guys?¡± Nathan asked, his tone displeased.


    ¡°Why? Want to join us here? Sorry, I¡¯m not a fan of double dates,¡± Gilbert refused before Nathan could even speak.


    Double date? So, they¡¯re on a date? Didn¡¯t Gilbert say he was going to Haisley¡¯s ce with her friends earlier? ¡°Nath, let it go. I still have a lot to discuss with Haisley.¡± Without waiting for Nathan¡¯s response, Gilbert hung up.


    ¡°Are there friends at Haisley¡¯s ce?¡± Nathan immediately looked at Loretta after ending the call. Loretta shook her head.

 Chap 32

    ¡°Haisley said her friends would have lunch there. But it seems Gilbert forbade them froming,¡± Loretta replied truthfully.


    Nathan¡¯s chest heated instantly. ¡®What does Gilbert want, really?¡¯ he wondered in his mind.


    ¡°What did you tell Haisley earlier?¡±


    ¡°Why? Did I do something wrong?¡± Loretta asked again. Her face looked scared. Nathan stared at her in silence. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything. We just talked aboutst week¡¯s matter. When you met my parents and said you wanted a serious rtionship. I told Haisley that if we go to America, you¡¯ll introduce me to your parents. That¡¯s what you told my dad yesterday, right?¡± Loretta was now uncertain.


    Nathan cursed under his breath. ¡°Damn!¡± Surely Haisley and Gilbert misunderstood Loretta¡¯s words. Damn! Damn! Damn!


    Nathan paced back and forth in the living room. The clock showed eight in the evening, but Gilbert hadn¡¯t returned yet. He wanted to call his brother and ask about his whereabouts, but he hesitated. Eventually, he decided to return to his room and try to sleep.


    By midnight, he hadn¡¯t heard Gilbert¡¯s car entering the driveway. In fact, Nathan was already deep asleep,pletely unaware of his brother¡¯s return.


    The next morning, Nathan intentionally woke up early, hoping to see his brother in the dining room. But he heard nothing. Maybe his brother was still asleep because he came homete. But howte did hee homest night? Where had he gone?


    Nathan waited. He didn¡¯t move from the living room at all. By ten in the morning, there were no signs of his brother¡¯s presence. Nathan finally went to the garage. Damn! His brother¡¯s car wasn¡¯t there. Did that mean he didn¡¯te homest night?


    ¡°I gave you time to do whatever you want.¡± Did that mean Gilbert was doing ¡®whatever¡¯ with Haisley?


    No. That couldn¡¯t happen. Gilbert couldn¡¯t touch Haisley. The thought of his brother being close to Haisley, being intimate with her, made Nathan furious at himself.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Nathan stood up abruptly. He contacted Loretta and asked for Haisley¡¯s address. He had to raid that ce. Regardless, Haisley was still under his watch. Her parents and his parents entrusted her to him.


    The address was now in Nathan¡¯s hands. And his car was speeding towards her residence.


    ***


    Haisley felt unwell. Since Gilbert left yesterday evening, she chose to stay in her room and do nothing. She even felt toozy to put away the groceries she and Gilbert bought. She only stored raw and perishable items in the fridge. The rest remained untouched in its ce in the corner of the kitchen counter.


    Although she didn¡¯t want to remember, the conversation she had with Loretta that morning kept echoing in her ears. The girl¡¯s happy expression kept haunting her eyelids. Consequently, every time she recalled it, Haisley found herself shedding tears. She had thought her tears were exhausted, but she was mistaken.


    For the past week, since she moved to her tiny t, not a night went by without her crying. Even though she spent her days busy with sses and evenings working, when she returned to the t, she tried to open her textbooks to forget about Nathan. But her efforts and hard work from morning till night only made her physically tired. Her heart and mind still echoed Nathan¡¯s name.


    Every time shey down, she remembered his name and face. And it all ended with tears streaming down her face. There were no loud sobs. Just quiet sobbing that sounded heartbreaking to anyone who heard it.


    Was this what heartbreak felt like? But this was the consequence she had to bear. Why did she fall for a man who didn¡¯t pay any attention to her?


    A throbbing pain shot through her stomach. Her body also felt slightly warmer than usual. Haisley got up from her bed. This Sunday, she didn¡¯t have any work shifts scheduled because she had covered for her colleague the previous day.


    Haisley intended to tidy up her bed. However, when she bent down to straighten the bedsheet, the pain in her stomach returned. She groaned and sat down on the floor instantly. Haisley took slow breaths. The pain subsided a bit. However, her body felt feverish, and she even shivered momentarily.


    Haisley slowly got up again. She opened her wardrobe, hoping to find a sweater or jacket to warm herself. Fortunately, she had already organized it and found a cream-colored jacket hanging inside. Haisley leaned against the wardrobe when dizziness overwhelmed her. She tried to control her breathing once again.


    Paracetamol, she murmured. The pain might ease a bit if she took it. Haisley walked slowly to the kitchen, hoping to find the medicine she was looking for in the medicine box. Before she could find it, she heard a knock on the door. Supporting her weight by holding onto the kitchen table, Haisley managed to open the door.


    Nathan stood in front of her, looking breathless. Had he been running?


    ¡°Where is he?¡± The question was apanied by a forceful push, making the door open wider. Haisley almost lost her bnce if she hadn¡¯t steadied herself in time.


    ¡°Who?¡± She asked, softer than she intended.


    Nathan ignored her question. He just walked towards her bed. His eyes alternated between staring sharply at Haisley and the untidy bed. Then Nathan roughly opened the bathroom door. The sound of wood hitting the wall deafened Haisley.


    ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± He asked, breathless. His body now feltpletely weak. The pains in her stomach intensified. And when it happened, Haisley¡¯s vision even blurred.


    Nathan moved closer. He grabbed Haisley¡¯s upper arm roughly. Haisley let out a small groan. ¡°What were you two doingst night?¡± He asked harshly.


    Haisley tried to focus her vision. The pain in her stomach, coupled with Nathan¡¯s grip on her arm, made it impossible for her to think clearly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Haisley asked weakly. Her breaths were ragged, trying to endure the pain.


    ¡°You and Gilbert! What were you doingst night? Were you having sex like crazy?!¡± He used her.


    Haisley hoped she misheard Nathan¡¯s question. However, the intense shock in her body indicated that he was indeed questioning her. Haisley grabbed onto Nathan¡¯s shirt in return.


    ¡°Nathan¡­ I¡­¡± Before Haisley could finish her sentence, her body copsed onto the floor. Nathan, unprepared, fell with her. The sound of his knees hitting the floor resonated sharply.


    ¡°Haisley, Haisley.¡± His hands lightly tapped Haisley¡¯s cheek. Cold. His hands felt cold. ¡°Haisley?!¡± His call grew louder. ¡°Haisley, what¡¯s happening to you?¡± But Haisley couldn¡¯t respond at all.


    Her lips felt numb. Her body waspletely powerless to rise. All she could do was breathe, trying to alleviate the increasing pain.


    ¡°Haisley?!¡± His voice was thest thing Haisley heard before her consciousnesspletely faded away.

 Chap 33

    A few moments earlier, Nathan stared at the old building in front of him. Was this where Haisley lived? Was this ce better than Nathan¡¯s own home? He snorted and entered the building. The elevator was moving slowly, and Nathan felt impatient. Eventually, he chose to run up the stairs to the floor where Haisley¡¯s room was located.


    He paced back and forth for a moment, torn between barging in forcefully or politely knocking on her door. Eventually, in his remaining patience, Nathan¡¯s hand lifted, and he knocked on the door roughly.


    Haisley opened the door. Her face was flushed, and her hair was disheveled. Nathan¡¯s mind instantly turned negative. He ignored her surprised question, walked in, and immediately saw the messy bed.


    His suspicion was correct. His brother had engaged in inappropriate behavior with Haisley, the girl they were supposed to protect. Instantly, anger surged within him. Rage clouded his mind. Nathan forcefully opened the bathroom door, causing it to m loudly against the wall.


    ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± Nathan redirected his attention to Haisley. He walked back towards her with quick steps and grabbed her upper arm roughly. ¡°What were you two doingst night?¡± he demanded harshly.


    The girl seemed unfocused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she countered. Nathan felt something odd about Haisley, but he chose to ignore it.


    ¡°You and Gilbert! What were you doingst night? Were you having a wild affair?¡± He didn¡¯t want to ask, but he couldn¡¯t control his mouth. Haisley still didn¡¯t answer, and Nathan saw no sign of Gilbert anywhere. Had he been wrong in his assumptions?


    ¡°Answer me!¡± he ordered roughly, shaking Haisley¡¯s body once more.


    The girl seemed to struggle to breathe. ¡°Nathan¡­ I¡­¡± Then suddenly, her body slumped to the floor, pulling Nathan down with her. His knees hit the floor instantly, causing a pain that made him grit his teeth.


    The girl¡¯s head hung limply on Nathan¡¯s chest.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Haisley, Haisley,¡± Nathan patted Haisley¡¯s cheek, lifting it so he could see her face clearly. ¡°Haisley?¡± he called her name again. But only faint moans escaped Haisley¡¯s lips. ¡°Haisley, what¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked again, hoping for a response from her.


    The girl¡¯s eyes opened slowly. Her lips parted as if to say something. Again, she moaned softly. Her face clearly showed pain. Her breaths became shallow.


    ¡°Haisley?¡± he called her name once more. But she waspletely limp in his arms. ¡°Oh God. Haisley, wake up!¡±


    Nathan had no other choice. He carried her with both of his hands. With every step, he could feel Haisley¡¯s body swaying above his arms. Now Nathan could feel the heat radiating from her body. The elevator opened, a stroke of luck. He quickly entered and struggled to press the first floor.


    Within seconds, he managed to get out of the building. He ran as fast as he could with the burden in his arms toward his car. He pushed the seat back until Haisley could lie in the front seat. Nathan then circled around to the driver¡¯s seat. He fastened Haisley¡¯s seatbelt before securing his own.


    Cold sweat now covered Haisley¡¯s face. Her once-red face now turned pale instantly. Nathan reached for her hand, and her hand felt extremely cold. He pressed on the gas pedal harder. In less than ten minutes, he arrived at a hospital. Nathan pulled Haisley out of the car and quickly carried her to the Emergency Room. A nurse weed them and directed him to an empty bed.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the doctor?¡± Nathan asked, panicking. A woman in her forties approached.


    The nurse who had greeted him earlier was now fitting an oxygen tube under Haisley¡¯s nose. She then took her blood pressure and inserted an IV line.


    The female doctor examined Haisley carefully while asking Nathan a few questions. Nathan could only answer what he knew.


    ¡°How is she, Doc?¡± he asked after the doctor finished examining her.


    ¡°From her symptoms, I can conclude that the patient is experiencing Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Or inyman¡¯s terms, irritation in therge intestine,¡± the doctor replied. ¡°This could be caused by several factors, especially dietary mistakes, excessive stress, and fatigue. Perhaps one of these reasons caused the patient to experience this.¡±


    ¡°But she¡¯ll be alright, won¡¯t she, Doc?¡±


    ¡°At the moment, I¡¯m prescribing pain relievers for the patient. Once she wakes up, we can conduct further observation to provide better treatment. Let me know when the patient wakes up.¡± The doctor and nurse then left Haisley and Nathan alone.


    Nathan draped the bed with curtains and sat beside it, observing Haisley, who now looked much better than before. The furrow on her forehead had disappeared, and her breathing was more regr.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he whispered softly. His hand gently reached for Haisley¡¯s left hand. Nathan felt deeply guilty. He had hurt her too much. But could he muster the courage to apologize directly to her?


    Nathan couldn¡¯t ignore the fact that he had known Haisley liked him all this time, even when she was much younger. But instead of being grateful for her affection, Nathan turned against her. Haisley¡¯s love for him had prevented Nathan from being with the girl he truly loved, her sister, Crystal.


    Two hourster, Haisley opened her eyes. For a moment, she lost track of time. Then she nced to the side and saw Nathan there.


    ¡°Thirsty?¡± he offered. Haisley nodded weakly. Nathan grabbed a bottle and lifted Haisley¡¯s body slightly so she could drink from the straw without choking.


    ¡°What time is it?¡± she asked after her throat feltfortable.


    ¡°Two o¡¯clock.¡±


    Haisley remembered the time when Nathan had arrived at her unit. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for troubling you,¡± she said regretfully. Nathan furrowed his brow upon hearing this. ¡°Gilbert?¡± Haisley inquired again.


    ¡°Why? Are you already missing him?¡± Nathan asked sharply. Haisley was startled. ¡°You spent the whole night together, and now you¡¯re missing him?¡±


    Haisley looked at him, confused. She didn¡¯t understand where Nathan¡¯s conversation was heading, but she let it be.


    ¡°Can I go home now?¡± she asked again. Nathan still regarded her with an angry re. It made Haisley ufortable.


    ¡°The doctor said you can go home if you¡¯re feeling better,¡± he said, still with a harsh tone.


    Haisley tried to smile. ¡°I¡¯m feeling better,¡± she replied softly.

 Chap 34

    Nathan then stood up and left her alone. Haisley¡¯s chest hurt seeing his treatment of her.


    ¡°Why? Can¡¯t you be gentle? Just like how gentle you are with Crystal? Or now with Loretta?¡± Haisley wondered in her heart. She wiped her tears.


    Nathan returned with a female doctor behind him.


    ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± the doctor asked gently. Haisley nodded. ¡°No more pain in your stomach? Or head?¡± Haisley shook her head. The doctor smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve prescribed medication for you. If the pain persists after the medication is finished,e back here for further examination, okay?¡± Haisley simply nodded.


    She just wanted to go home and sleep in her own bed. She didn¡¯t want to see Nathan¡¯s angry gaze again.


    A nurse removed the IV from her hand, and then they left. Nathan grabbed something from the bedside drawer. It turned out to be the prescription the doctor mentioned. He handed it to Haisley.


    They left the ER together. That¡¯s when Haisley felt confused. She didn¡¯t have her phone, let alone her wallet. Asking Nathan for fare felt embarrassing, but she had no other choice.


    ¡°What¡­¡± her words hung in the air. She shook her head. ¡°Thank you for bringing me here. I promise I¡¯ll cover all the medical expenses,¡± Haisley said finally.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯d ask forpensation?¡± Nathan retorted. Haisley smiled. Of course, Nathan didn¡¯t need it. He had more than enough money in his savings.


    ¡°Thanks again,¡± Haisley could only repeat those sacred words. Nathan walked towards the parking lot without looking back. Haisley assumed she would follow him, given that she didn¡¯t have any money or a phone. But when Nathan reached his car, he didn¡¯t find Haisley behind him.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    His eyes searched for the petite girl in a cream-colored jacket and saw her walking away from the hospital parking lot. In frustration, Nathan cursed. He then got into his car and drove, following her.


    His car was blocked by a line of vehicles trying to leave the hospital. When he finally made it out, he couldn¡¯t find her anymore.


    Only at a bus stop did he spot her, sitting hunched over, seemingly staring at her feet moving back and forth. Nathan stopped his car and rolled down the passenger window.


    ¡°What are you doing there!¡± his shout attracted the attention of several people, including Haisley. She lifted her head and saw Nathan. ¡°Come on in!¡± hemanded. But Haisley remained rooted to her spot.


    Irritated, Nathan got out of the car and approached her. ¡°You really enjoy making me angry, don¡¯t you!¡± he said sharply. He stood towering over Haisley. Haisley was about to speak, but Nathan pulled her roughly to stand beside him.


    Before Nathan could pull her further, a hand pped his hand away. Haisley lost her bnce and ended up in the strong embrace of a man.


    ¡°Dean?¡± Nathan eximed in disbelief.


    ¡°Stop being harsh to her, Nath!¡± The call sounded just as cold.


    Haisley and Nathan turned their heads simultaneously. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Haisley asked, a smile on her face. Dean returned her look and smiled back.


    ¡°If I say I was looking for you, would you believe me?¡± The man replied, a yful glint in his eyes. ¡°Are you okay? You look pale.¡± Haisley nodded in confirmation. ¡°Shall we go? Gilbert told me you¡¯re not staying with him anymore.¡± He chose to ignore Nathan and guided Haisley in the opposite direction.


    Haisley nodded in response to Dean¡¯s question. ¡°But you haven¡¯t answered my question. What are you doing here?¡± She repeated her question.


    ¡°I¡¯m on a student exchange program,¡± the man answered casually and naturally gentle.


    ¡°Student exchange program?¡± Haisley asked, surprised.


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s supposed to start next semester. So I came here just to hang out and find a ce to stay. I tried contacting Gilbert, thinking I could stay with him until the exchange program starts. But when he said you¡¯re not staying with him anymore, I decided to find another ce.¡± He replied.


    ¡°But how did you end up here?¡± Haisley asked again. Still not understanding. After all, a hospital wasn¡¯t a ce people visited identally.


    ¡°I just dropped off my friend at his friend¡¯s ce. As I was about to leave, I thought I saw you. I took a closer look, and it really was you. So I got out of the car just when that barbarian was pulling your hand.¡± Haisley chuckled when she heard Dean call Nathan a barbarian.


    Nathan and Dean were cousins from their mother¡¯s side. Despite being cousins, they never got along. There was always something they argued about. Dean was older than Gilbert but younger than Nathan. His position as a cousin didn¡¯t seem to intimidate Dean; he even caused more trouble for Nathan.


    ¡°Where do you live?¡± They had entered Dean¡¯s car and were getting ready to drive. Haisley mentioned her address, making Dean furrow his brow. Haisley knew what was on his mind. Probably not far from what Nathan was thinking.


    ¡°It¡¯sfortable, really. A bit noisy, though. But genuinelyfortable,¡± Haisley replied honestly. Dean could only nod. They passed by Nathan, who was still frozen in his spot.


    ¡°Has your rtionship with him not improved?¡± Dean asked again. Haisley could only shake her head weakly. ¡°Chasing schrships, studying in a foreign country just to be close to the man of your dreams, yet he treats you the same. Instead of hoping for him, why don¡¯t you just date me?¡± Haisley yfully nudged Dean with the little strength she had left. He chuckled.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? What did the doctor say?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, just exhausted.¡± She replied briefly. Dean just nodded. If Haisley said so, then it must be true. They didn¡¯t talk much during the journey.


    Dean parked his car a few meters away from Haisley¡¯s ce, as the main road was almost full of other vehicles.


    He guided Haisley up to her t. Seeing the mess inside, Haisley groaned. Deanughed at her reaction.


    ¡°Rest, I¡¯ll help tidy up.¡± He said.


    Haisley just nodded. She was too tired to confront him. Eventually, she walked to her bed,id down, and covered herself with a nket almost reaching her shoulders.


    Dean tidied up his t as he said he would. He even sorted out the stic bags of ignored food that Haisley brought. Meanwhile, Haisley fell into a deep sleep.

 Chap 35

    When she woke up, her room smelled of food, awakening her appetite. She saw Dean wearing an apron, cooking something in her kitchen. And there was another figure sitting there casually. ¡°Already awake, Snow White?¡± Gilbert teased with a smile.


    ¡°Did I sleep for long?¡± She asked, wiping something sticky off her forehead. A wet towel was now in her hand. She saw a basin of water beside the nightstand and finally realized someone had beenpressing her.


    ¡°No rice, so I made this instead.¡± Dean arrived with a tray of wheat porridge emitting an onion aroma. The smell made Haisley¡¯s stomach growl louder. She smiled, epting the spoon Dean handed her and started eating.


    The textured wheat and minced chicken instantly increased her appetite.


    ¡°Drink your tea while it¡¯s hot.¡± Gilbert also handed her a cup of lemon-scented tea. Haisley could only mumble a thank you to both men.


    Not long after the bowl and the tea were finished, Dean took the dirty bowl and cup to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Gilbert sat next to her bed and stared at her intently.


    ¡°What was he doing?¡± He asked without preamble.


    ¡°Who?¡± Haisley asked, confused. She really didn¡¯t understand Gilbert¡¯s line of questioning.


    ¡°Nathan. What was he doing? Did he attack you?¡±


    Haisleyughed at Gilbert¡¯s choice of words. ¡°Attack me? Oh my God, G. Your choice of words. He came here looking for you, actually.¡± She replied honestly.


    ¡°Looking for me?¡± Gilbert asked incredulously. Haisley nodded slightly.


    ¡°He knocked on the door and searched for you. He even lifted the nkets, checked the bathroom, and even the wardrobe. He probably thought he could hide his giant body in there.¡± Haisleyughed again.


    Gilbert furrowed his brow further. He leaned back in his chair, folding both his arms across his chest and crossing his legs. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand what goes on inside that guy¡¯s head,¡± he said more to himself. Haisley just stared at Gilbert. Meanwhile, Dean came over and touched her forehead.


    ¡°Your fever has gone down. Are you feeling better?¡± He asked. Haisley just nodded. ¡°Want me to prepare some warm water? Taking a bath would be good for your body.¡±


    ¡°With pleasure, Doctor,¡± Haisley said with a grateful smile on her face. Dean rose again and walked towards the bathroom.


    ¡°Dean!¡± Gilbert shouted, startling Haisley.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Dean replied from the direction of the bathroom.


    ¡°Do you still like Haisley?¡± Gilbert asked again, as if Haisley wasn¡¯t the topic of their conversation. Dean¡¯s head emerged from inside the bathroom.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Just answer.¡± Gilbert¡¯s tone was quieter this time.


    ¡°I do, of course. My love is only for you, Haisley. ept it already; I can¡¯t keep being rejected.¡± He then went back into the bathroom. As if his request was not something important waiting for an answer.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°In that case, just date him!¡± Gilbert shouted again. This time, Dean truly came back from the bathroom, wiping his wet hands.


    ¡°I¡¯m totally fine with that. I¡¯m willing. It¡¯s up to her if she wants to. Besides, Haisley, what¡¯s so great about Nathanpared to me? I¡¯m rich, handsome, even more handsome than him. Plus, I¡¯m a future sessful doctor. Nathan? He might go bankrupt tomorrow, you know?¡± He teased.


    Gilbert threw a chair cushion at him. Dean didn¡¯t have time to dodge, and Haisleyughed at the scene.


    ¡°Are you wishing your own cousin to go bankrupt?¡± Gilbert growled.


    ¡°It¡¯s his own fault; he¡¯s not a good guy. So I wish bad things on him too. Right, H?¡± Dean winked, seeking approval. Haisley justughed. ¡°Come on, the water will turn cold again soon,¡± he said, and Haisley got up to go to the bathroom.


    ***


    Nathan¡¯s house felt empty with just him there. No Gilbert, and certainly no Haisley. Maybe, if Haisley were still around, the house would be livelier because Dean, the troublemaker, would probably choose to stay there.


    Their rtionship was like a love triangle. There was Haisley, always chasing after Nathan, and then there was Dean, always pursuing Haisley. But before, this didn¡¯t bother Nathan. However, this time, he couldn¡¯t understand why Dean¡¯s presence had suddenly irritated him so much.


    Nathan grabbed his phone and dialed a number overseas, disregarding the time difference. He needed to know what was happening.


    ¡°Dean is here,¡± Nathan said before the person on the other end could even say hello.


    ¡°Are you calling me in the middle of the night just to make an announcement?¡± The groggy voice on the other side was clearly someone who had just woken up.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me, Van?¡± Nathan asked, his voice cold. The person he called was Ivander, Dean¡¯s older brother and Nathan¡¯s cousin.


    ¡°What do you mean? Is he causing trouble?¡± There was a yawn in the background. There was no answer from Nathan. ¡°I didn¡¯t know he was there right now, Nath. He said he had an exchange program there. But that¡¯s for next semester. Maybe he¡¯s just traveling there for fun. Fed up with Germany, I guess.¡±


    ¡°So, you knew he would be here?¡±


    ¡°When he found out Haisley was studying there, he immediately looked for a way to transfer too.¡± Ivander¡¯s voice was nonchnt. Then the sound of dragging footsteps was heard. ¡°Well, you can just amodate him at your ce for a while. It¡¯s good, right? With him around, you won¡¯t be bothered by Haisley anymore. That¡¯s what you wanted, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Nathan snorted in response. ¡°Haisley doesn¡¯t live here anymore.¡± There was a spray of words from the other end.


    ¡°What do you mean? Isn¡¯t she keeping an eye on you anymore?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Ivander chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s pretty obvious why she wanted to study there, right? If not to be close to you, then what? But it¡¯s good for you now. If she¡¯s not watching you anymore, you can be free. So, does she have a new boyfriend now?¡± Ivander asked eagerly.


    Haisley¡¯s one-sided love story seemed to bemon knowledge now. Everyone seemed to know how much Haisley adored Nathan and how much Nathan despised her.


    But now? Was karma finally at y? Why was Nathan now so bothered when Haisley decided to distance herself? Especially since he was the one who had taken steps to keep away from her all this time.


    Had he truly fallen under her spell now and forgotten his role as her brother? Nathan ran his hand through his hair roughly.

 Chap 36

    Haisley felt like a spoiled child. With Dean and Gilbert in her apartment, these two men truly treated her like a princess, and they were her guards. Gilbert didn¡¯t hesitate to wash Haisley¡¯s clothes, which had been neglected for two days because she was feeling unwell. Despite Haisley¡¯s protests, he insisted on doing it. However, behind that kindness, Gilbert mocked her when he found her underwear that he had washed.


    ¡°Look, Haisley¡¯s size is just this.¡± Gilbert even demonstrated the use of his bra in front of Dean. When Haisley¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment, Gilbert justughed.


    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why Nathan rejected her?¡± teased Dean, his eyes ncing at Haisley. Haisley threw a pillow at him.


    ¡°H, how about getting breast imnts? Many college girls do it.¡± Gilbert teased her again.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°G, ew!¡± Haisley felt ufortable just thinking about it. Although she wasn¡¯t really embarrassed orcking in confidence. ¡°If I get breast imnts, I might end up hunchbacked,¡± she replied, giving her reason.


    Dean immediately approached and hugged Haisley¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Haisley. If, suppose, Nathan likes a girl with huge breasts, I¡¯m fine with yours.¡± He teased again. Haisley pinched his thigh hard, making Dean scream in pain. ¡°Ouch, H, I thought your pinches wouldn¡¯t be that hard.¡±


    Gilbert was stillughing. The three of them then stretched their legs on the carpet next to the bed while watching TV.


    ¡°What should we have for dinner?¡± Gilbert asked when his stomach started growling. His stomach was always quick to announce its hunger.


    ¡°How about going to the nearest Chinese restaurant?¡± Dean suggested again.


    Gilbert nodded enthusiastically. Then, they both looked at Haisley. Haisley nodded in agreement. They then got up and prepared to go for dinner. But when they reached the ground floor of the apartment and were about to walk out, their steps were suddenly halted when they saw two figures walking in.


    ¡°Who is she?¡± Dean asked Gilbert.


    Gilbert himself focused his gaze more on one of the figures. He growled internally at the man¡¯s behavior in front of him. Meanwhile, Haisley, the girl, remained friendly and wore her best smile.


    ¡°I heard you were sick,¡± Loretta¡¯s friendly voice greeted them.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling better now,¡± Haisley replied honestly.


    ¡°I brought you some fruits.¡± The woman carried a bag of fresh groceries in her arms. Gilbert quickly grabbed it, not wanting Haisley to be burdened by the bag.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Gilbert and Haisley said simultaneously.


    ¡°Are you leaving? Did Ie at the wrong time?¡± Loretta asked again.


    Gilbert spoke on behalf of Haisley once more. ¡°We¡¯re going out for dinner,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry if that¡¯s the case,¡± Loretta replied, feeling embarrassed.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we all have dinner together? Haven¡¯t we not eaten yet?¡± Nathan said, his eyes challenging Dean.


    ¡°Is it okay?¡± Loretta asked hopefully.


    Haisley just smiled and nodded. She couldn¡¯t refuse Loretta¡¯s presence, especially since the girl had kindlye to visit her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take this upstairs first. Wait for me in the parking lot,¡± Gilbert quickly moved towards the open elevator, leaving two pairs of people who would surely have a cold war after he left.


    ¡°Sorry, but we haven¡¯t been introduced,¡± Loretta looked at Dean.


    Dean smiled back at Loretta, a smile that could usually win the hearts of women. And indeed, Loretta¡¯s face turned red just by seeing his smile.


    ¡°Dean,¡± he extended his hand towards Loretta.


    ¡°Loretta,¡± she replied softly. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you. Are you also a friend of Haisley from college?¡± she asked, curious.


    Dean shook his head. ¡°Didn¡¯t Nathan tell you?¡± he asked, a hint of mockery in his tone.


    Loretta frowned. ¡°I¡¯m Nathan¡¯s cousin from America,¡± she replied casually.


    Loretta¡¯s eyes widened instantly. She looked at Nathan and Dean alternately, then ended her curiosity by looking at Haisley. With her expression, she seemed to be asking, ¡°Is that true?¡± And Haisley confirmed it by nodding.


    ¡°Do you also go to school here?¡± Loretta asked again, still curious.


    Dean shook his head. ¡°No, I just came to visit. To see the new college and also my future fianc¨¦e.¡± Dean put his arm around Haisley¡¯s shoulder and pulled her closer. Loretta was surprised once again.


    ¡°H, so all this time, you rejected my matchmaking with my friends because you already have a handsome man waiting for you? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± she pouted. The girl hugged Nathan¡¯s arm and yfully hit him. ¡°And you, why didn¡¯t you tell me that Haisley already has someone? Now I¡¯m embarrassed like this. I always thought you had a rtionship with Gilbert.¡±


    Dean held Haisley even tighter with his left hand. With that hand, he brought Haisley¡¯s head closer to his chest. Haisley remained silent; she didn¡¯t mind being treated like a puppet by Nathan¡¯s cousin.


    ¡°I asked Gilbert to look after her before I moved here,¡± Dean announced. ¡°And yes, Haisley is not the type of person to show off,¡± Dean praised, his admiration evident in his voice and sharp gaze directed at Nathan. ¡°And I¡¯m a lucky man to have her. She¡¯s beautiful, kind-hearted, and more than that, she¡¯s a girl who¡¯s incredibly loyal and always full of love. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Although the question was directed at Loretta, his eyes were sharp as he looked at Nathan.


    Nathan looked back at Dean with his sharp gaze, clearly clenching his jaw to control his anger. Seeing his cousin¡¯s expression, Dean felt even more challenged. He deliberately entertained Loretta, although he knew it would only fuel Nathan¡¯s anger.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Loretta eximed happily. ¡°Absolutely right,¡± she continued, her eyes focused on Haisley. ¡°Haisley is incredibly loyal. Do you know how many guys I¡¯ve introduced to her? From students to businessmen. But Haisley always rejected them. She never even gave me a chance to introduce them directly. Even her college friends liked her, but she never cared about them.


    ¡°Although there are many girls out there who take the opportunity, especially since Gilbert can¡¯t always watch over her twenty-four hours a day. And Haisley is good at taking care of herself. If not¡­¡±

 Chap 37

    ¡°If not what?¡± This question came from Gilbert, who had returned from upstairs. All four pairs of eyes looked at him simultaneously. Gilbert looked at Dean with a questioning expression. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± he asked, curious. Hisrge hands now gently pushed Haisley and Dean, who was still faithfully holding her, to step out of the lobby.


    ¡°It¡¯s not important, G,¡± Haisley replied softly as Gilbert matched his steps with hers.


    However, Loretta reacted differently. In her steps, she turned her head back with an using gaze at Gilbert. ¡°Why are you pretending to be Haisley¡¯s boyfriend when she already has Dean?¡± she pouted yfully. Gilbert looked back at Dean and Haisley.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Dean murmured something to him, prompting Gilbert to respond. ¡°You never asked,¡± he said tly. ¡°And Haisley isn¡¯t someone who likes to show off.¡± That was his brief answer.


    Loretta looked back again. ¡°Since when?¡± she asked, more directed at Haisley and Dean. ¡°Have you two been together for a long time before Haisley came here?¡± she continued, still curious.


    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss thatter,¡± Gilbert replied when they were in the parking area. ¡°So, whose car are we taking?¡± he asked, looking at his brother and cousin alternately.


    Honestly, Haisley really wanted them to use separate cars, but it seemed that the three men there didn¡¯t think the same way. Neither Gilbert nor Dean seemed to have any intention of taking out the keys to their usual cars. So, in the end, Nathan activated the remote for his SUV.


    Loretta immediately got into the driver¡¯s seat without hesitation. Gilbert opened the back door, entering first, while Dean held the door open, allowing Haisley to enter and sit in the middle before he himself sat next to her.


    Haisley¡¯s petite body was now sandwiched between two tall and big men. She felt like a little child guarded by two bodyguards.


    ¡°Is your seatfortable?¡± Dean asked gently. He intentionally raised his right hand and leaned it on the back of the seat Haisley was sitting in, giving her more space.


    Haisley nodded her head in response to his question. Loretta, who had initially observed their interaction through the front mirror, now turned halfway, facing backward. She seemed unfazed, even though her seatbelt was constricting her body.


    ¡°So sweet,¡± she eximed with sparkling eyes. Meanwhile, Nathan, hearing herment, just scoffed.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± he asked, his tone curt.


    Gilbert mentioned one of the Chinese restaurants they were heading to. Nathan frowned but then drove his car in silence.


    ¡°So, how long have you two been together?¡± Loretta¡¯s curiosity seemed far from over. Although her body was now facing forward again, her eyes were back on the rearview mirror, alternating between Haisley and Dean.


    ¡°Quite a while,¡± Dean answered on behalf of them. His left hand reached for Haisley¡¯s left hand, deliberately intertwining their fingers and lifting her hand, giving it a gentle peck on the back. Meanwhile, his right hand, ced behind Haisley¡¯s head, started to caress her hair slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve known her since she was a kid,¡± he continued, pinching Haisley¡¯s cheek affectionately. ¡°She always looked beautiful and cute in my eyes. And since then, I¡¯ve liked her,¡± Dean confessed. Haisley looked up at him, and Dean just gave her his soft smile. His eyes met hers, equally tender.


    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Loretta eximed with admiration. ¡°You two are really amazing,¡± she said enthusiastically. ¡°How long has it been? Five years? Six years?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Six years, give or take,¡± Dean replied.


    ¡°So, when exactly will your rtionship be official?¡± Loretta inquired again.


    A smile spread across Dean¡¯s face, especially when he noticed Nathan watching him from the side mirror. ¡°As soon as possible,¡± Dean answered ambiguously.


    ¡°Will your return to America be to formalize your rtionship, Haisley?¡± Loretta now looked at Haisley eagerly.


    ¡°Formalize?¡± Dean furrowed his brow. He looked at Haisley, then at Gilbert, and finally at Nathan. ¡°Why is there an ¡®also¡¯ in that question? Who else would formalize the rtionship other than us?¡± he wondered. But it seemed no one wanted to answer his question. Loretta fell silent, blushing. Nathan remained silent with his expression unchanged. Gilbert fell silent, containing his anger.


    And Haisley? The girl fell silent with a pensive expression.


    Not wanting the silence to linger, Dean finally answered after processing everything. ¡°Yes, during this vacation when she returns to America, we will be engaged,¡± he said with a t tone, as if it were not a lie.


    Haisley looked up at Dean again, and Loretta looked at Dean with enthusiastic eyes. Meanwhile, Nathan stared at his cousin sharply from his car¡¯s rearview mirror. Dean raised the corner of his mouth, openly looking at Nathan from the same mirror.


    ¡°We have to move fast because when the next semester starts, I will be staying here, and we will live together. Isn¡¯t that right, dear?¡± he asked, gently stroking Haisley¡¯s hair.


    Haisley looked at Dean for a moment before shifting her gaze to the rearview mirror where Nathan and Loretta were now looking at her with curiosity.


    Haisley smiled, more at Loretta, and nodded. She did it not because she felt challenged or wanted to challenge Nathan. But because she knew her hope to win Nathan¡¯s heart and make him fall in love with her was already gone.


    The cheers apanied by Loretta¡¯s apuse almost made Haisley jump out of her seat in surprise. She saw the girl in front of her again turning her body backward, trying to reach out for Haisley¡¯s hand. Haisley willingly extended her hand, free from Dean¡¯s grip.


    ¡°Congrattions to both of you,¡± Loretta said sincerely. ¡°Why are you so heartless to me, Haisley?¡± sheined, lightly pping Haisley¡¯s hand. ¡°If Dean hadn¡¯t spilled the beans, I might have been confused in America. What about your engagement theme? Are you going to have a dress code?¡± she asked eagerly.


    Both Dean and Haisley shook their heads for different reasons.


    ¡°Haisley is very simple. We will have a simple engagement too. Just close family and friends,¡± Dean replied again.


    Loretta squeezed Haisley¡¯s hand gently, looking at Haisley and Dean alternately. ¡°You two are so sweet,¡± she praised. The girl then released her grip on Haisley¡¯s hand and used it to pat Nathan¡¯s upper arm. ¡°Nath, should we also change our engagement party to a simple theme? Just close family and friends?¡± she asked hopefully.

 Chap 38

    Nathan didn¡¯tment at all. No nod, no shake of the head.


    Dean¡¯s fingers tightened around Haisley¡¯s. She raised her face and smiled. Although the smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes, it was enough for Dean to know that the heart of the girl he loved was now hurting.


    Gilbert, who had been silent all along, also reached out his hand. He ced his palm on the back of Haisley¡¯s hand, which was previously held by Loretta, and squeezed it gently. In his silence, he gave his support to Haisley.


    If the three of them were together at that moment, Haisley might have cried from the pain. But she tried to hold back her tears. There would be a time when she was alone and could let out all the remaining tears she had been trying to hold back.


    They had arrived at the Chinese restaurant Gilbert had mentioned. Haisley really wanted hotpot. Although Dean had initially forbidden her due to her unwell condition, heter allowed it. At least he hoped the food would cheer Haisley up.


    Haisley smiled brightly, making Dean feel fond of her, prompting him to pinch her cheek, which in turn made Nathan simmer with jealousy just by looking at them.


    ¡°So, H, when are we nning to go to America?¡± Loretta¡¯s question returned to their initial discussion. Perhaps there was nothing else to talk about.


    ¡°After the exams,¡± Gilbert answered on their behalf. Haisley and Dean nodded simultaneously.


    ¡°Then, where are we going to stay?¡± Loretta asked again.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Haisley was about to speak, but Dean cut in. ¡°You can choose where to stay,¡± he said quickly. ¡°If you want, you can stay at my ce or Haisley¡¯s ce.¡± He continued, but then he shook his head. ¡°But considering Nathan¡¯s character, I think my offer won¡¯t apply. Nathan will confine you to his private apartment. Given that Nathan is a severe jealous type, I don¡¯t think he¡¯d like to see you meeting Ivander. My brother,¡± Dean continued.


    ¡°You have a brother?¡± Loretta asked again, genuinely enthusiastic to get to know her friends¡¯ families. Dean nodded.


    ¡°I, G, and Nathan are cousins on our mother¡¯s side. Nathan and my brother are the same age as me and G,¡± Dean replied. ¡°My brother is Nathan¡¯s rival. So don¡¯t be surprised if he teases you to make Nathan jealous,¡± Dean added.


    Loretta looked at Nathan with enthusiasm. ¡°Tell me more about your families. Nathan is very secretive. He never even talked about his family in America to me,¡± Loretta pouted. Shortly after she spoke, the waiter served their orders.


    Dean shrugged with a sneer on his face. ¡°There¡¯s not much to tell,¡± he said tly, pouring food into Haisley¡¯s bowl. Nathan noticed this action.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Haisley murmured.


    Dean smiled, adjusting Haisley¡¯s hair so it wouldn¡¯t fall into the bowl in front of her.


    ¡°Our close family consists of just me, G, Nathan, and my brother Ivander,¡± Dean returned to the original topic. ¡°We spent a lot of time together since childhood. We know each other¡¯s secrets to some extent,¡± Dean replied.


    Gilbert, who had started to eat, nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Secrets? What kind of secrets?¡± Loretta asked eagerly. Dean looked at Loretta, then shifted his gaze to Nathan. His mouth lifted into a smirk.


    ¡°Secrets about women, of course,¡± he said ambiguously.


    Loretta frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°We all know who likes whom,¡± Dean replied again.


    ¡°Really?¡± Loretta asked again. Dean nodded. ¡°Has Nathan ever been rejected by a woman?¡± she asked again. Dean nodded again, his face wearing a mocking expression. ¡°Who? Who has rejected Nathan?¡± she asked enthusiastically.


    ¡°His first love,¡± Dean replied.


    Nathan red at Dean furiously. Meanwhile, Dean just shrugged, indifferent, with a mocking grin on his face.


    ¡°May I know who she is?¡± Loretta looked toward Haisley.


    Haisley widened her eyes, looking surprised. She shook her head quickly. ¡°No, no. You¡¯re mistaken. It¡¯s not me,¡± she replied. A smile appeared on her face. ¡°Everyone knows I¡¯m not Nathan¡¯s type,¡± she said with determination. Behind her, both Gilbert and Dean¡¯s hands patted her gently.


    ¡°Before meeting you, Nathan used to love my sister. Crystal,¡± Haisley replied then.


    Loretta looked shocked. ¡°Really?¡± she asked, unbelieving. Haisley nodded. ¡°Is she as beautiful as you?¡± she asked again.


    Haisley shook her head. ¡°What am Ipared to my sister?¡± she said shyly. ¡°My sister and I are clearly very different.¡± She continued. ¡°My sister is a very beautiful woman. She¡¯s also kind, friendly, and intelligent.¡± Haisley praised sincerely. Instantly, a cloud appeared on Loretta¡¯s face. Haisley quickly added, ¡°But don¡¯t worry. My sister is married and has children.¡± Haisley chuckled. Even though she was heartbroken, she didn¡¯t want to make Loretta feel the same way she was feeling now.


    ¡°So, Nathan was rejected just like that?¡± Loretta asked again. Haisley could only smile. Loretta seemed to exhale a long breath. She appeared relieved now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Gilbert finally spoke up. ¡°Nathan is a loyal type of guy. If he has decided to marry you, then he will.¡± He said with a reassuring tone.


    He looked at Loretta with a gaze that was hard to interpret. While Loretta took his words as encouragement, behind Haisley¡¯s back, the man gently stroked the fragile girl¡¯s back with soothing, gentle movements.


    The conversation shifted to more general topics about America that Loretta was eager to know. After feeling full, Haisley excused herself to go to the bathroom. In less than five minutes, she was out of the bathroom, but looked surprised when she saw someone standing there, leaning against the wall with both hands folded in front of his chest.


    ¡°So now Haisley has be good at lying, it seems,¡± the man mocked.


    Haisley tried to ignore him, choosing to walk away. But Nathan quickly grabbed her arm.


    ¡°I¡¯m talking to you,¡± he said roughly. His grip on Haisley¡¯s arm was so strong that it was painful.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you, Nath,¡± Haisley tried to free her arm, but in vain. ¡°Let go of me,¡± she pleaded softly, hoping Nathan would be kind enough to release her. But he didn¡¯t. Instead, he pulled her out of the back door of the restaurant into a narrow alley lit only by the dim streetlights. ¡°Nathan, let go!¡± Haisley still struggled, but Nathan didn¡¯t release her.


    Once they were truly alone, Nathan let go of her. Haisley looked around fearfully. There was no one there; if Nathan did something terrible, Haisley was sure no one would help her.

 Chap 39

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Haisley asked, her remaining courage intact.


    ¡°Are you really going to get engaged to Dean?¡± the man asked coldly.


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business, Nath,¡± Haisley reminded him.


    ¡°Are you nning to y my brother and cousin?¡± Nathan asked again.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Haisley asked, confused.


    ¡°You¡¯re flirting with Gilbert. You said you were with Gilbert on the yacht earlier, but now you¡¯re with Dean. Are you nning to hurt both of them to get back at me?¡± he asked again.


    Haisley snorted. ¡°Does that bother you?¡± Haisley challenged. ¡°No, right? So why should I fulfill your thoughts?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re cunning,¡± Nathan sneered.


    Haisley looked up at him. Fortunately, the dark alley could hide her blushing face. ¡°I¡¯m just taking advantage, Nath.¡±


    ¡°Advantage of what? Fooling Dean for the rest of his life?¡± he challenged. ¡°Pretending to love him when you really love me?¡±


    Haisleyughed hysterically. ¡°You¡¯re really arrogant. Just because I love you doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t move on. What¡¯s the difference between me and you? After Crystal rejected you, what did you call your rtionship with Loretta? Rebound?¡± she asked challengingly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you deceive her too? nning to marry her while your heart still belongs to Crystal? So why can¡¯t I?¡±


    Haisley continued, ¡°It¡¯s not a secret anymore. Everyone knows I¡¯ve liked you for a long time. And you don¡¯t like me. That¡¯s a fact.


    ¡°And Dean, he really loves me even though he knows my heart isn¡¯t his. If he can love me like that, why can¡¯t I try to do the same? As time goes on, I¡¯m sure my feelings for you will fade. And my love for Dean will grow.


    ¡°He¡¯s a man who has everything I need. He¡¯s handsome, he¡¯s rich, he¡¯s kind. And most importantly, he pays attention to me, and he loves me. So it won¡¯t be hard for me to love him.


    ¡°So what happens between us, it¡¯s not a lie. I am going to have a serious rtionship with Dean,¡± Haisley replied firmly.


    Nathan froze. Hearing Haisley¡¯s firm statement made him doubt himself. Earlier, when he was about to confront Haisley, he was so sure that she would confess her true feelings to him. That she truly loved Nathan and didn¡¯t want Nathan to be with Loretta. Even with his confidence, he felt certain that Haisley would beg him to leave Loretta and choose her.


    But he was wrong. Haisley was beyond his predictions.


    ¡°Just as I pray for your happiness, you should pray for mine, Nath,¡± she said more gently. ¡°Loretta is a good girl. She seems to really admire you. So don¡¯t waste her.¡±


    Haisley was about to turn and walk away, but Nathan pulled her hand again. He pushed her body against the wall so quickly that Haisley didn¡¯t realize she was groaning softly in pain because something was stabbing her back.


    Even roughly, he intended to kiss Haisley. But Haisley quickly came to her senses. With all her strength, she tried to resist.


    ¡°Stop, Nathan!¡± shemanded. ¡°If you do this, I will hate you for the rest of my life!¡± she screamed with the remaining strength she had.


    But Nathan ignored her threat. He still tried to kiss Haisley.


    ¡°Dean! G! Help!¡± Haisley yelled with the little voice she had left, attempting to push her face away from Nathan.


    Somehow, someone managed to pull Nathan away from Haisley. Haisley looked at Dean, who stood tall in front of her, blocking her view of Gilbert, who was now beating Nathan. With gentleness, he tilted his head.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked softly.


    Haisley¡¯s breath was erratic, and tears of fear flowed freely. Her body trembled violently while the pain in her back throbbed intensely.


    ¡°We¡¯re going home!¡± that voice belonged to Gilbert. Haisley looked in his direction, wanting to see Nathan¡¯s condition, but both men blocked her view. ¡°Ignore that bastard. I¡¯m even ashamed to admit he¡¯s my brother,¡± Gilbert sneered again. They pushed Haisley out of that narrow alley onto the main street.


    Once on the main road, Gilbert hailed a taxi for them. Meanwhile, Dean still lightly held her shoulders, his hands patting Haisley¡¯s shoulderfortingly.


    ¡°H, are you okay?¡± Gilbert, who had walked back to them, looked at her with concern. Coinciding with the taxi door opening for them. But as Haisley was about to step in, Dean stopped her.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Blood?¡± his eyes pointed at Haisley¡¯s back. ¡°H, your back is bleeding.¡± Haisley turned, following Dean¡¯s gaze, but before she could see the blood he referred to, her head felt light, and everything seemed to fade from her view. ¡°Haisley!¡± Just as the shout was heard, Haisley¡¯s body fell limp.


    Dean effortlessly lifted Haisley¡¯s petite body. He even cradled Haisley throughout the journey to the hospital. Gilbert, who sat in the front seat next to the driver, kept looking back throughout the trip. Both of them seemed very anxious.


    ¡°Her body is hot, G,¡± Dean said in panic.


    ¡°Stay calm. The hospital is just up ahead,¡± Gilbert said, although he was panicking himself.


    The driver stopped the car right in front of the emergency entrance. A duty doctor immediately weed them upon seeing Haisley in Dean¡¯s arms.


    Dean and Gilbert quickly exchanged information with the doctor. At a time like this, Dean should have been dependable, considering he was a medical student himself. But because of his panic, he became confused.


    The duty doctor examined the wound on Haisley¡¯s back after hearing their story. The blood Dean pointed to came from a deep tear in Haisley¡¯s back.


    ¡°I will clean it,¡± the duty doctor said, starting the cleaning process. The doctor even used a scalpel and cut out some of the flesh from Haisley¡¯s back. ¡°It seems her back was pierced by a rusty nail,¡± the doctor said again. ¡°I have to remove it because I¡¯m afraid of infection, which could be even more dangerous than that.¡± The doctor skillfully began to close the wound using medical sutures.


    Gilbert, who fundamentally didn¡¯t like the sight of blood, could only shudder every time the doctor stuck the needle, which, ording to Gilbert, looked more like a fishhook.

 Chap 40

    ¡°How is she? Is she okay?¡± Gilbert asked again after the doctor finished stitching.


    ¡°Physically, she is weak. Besides this wound and the pain you mentioned earlier, I think the patient is also in shock,¡± the doctor answered. Both men nodded their heads. ¡°She can go home and be treated at home once she regains consciousness. But my suggestion is, for one or two days, the patient should receive treatment here. At least if there¡¯s a medical team here monitoring her.¡±


    Gilbert and Dean exchanged nces. Then they nodded together before looking back at the doctor.


    ¡°Just let her be treated here, Doc,¡± Gilbert finally concluded.


    The doctor nodded in agreement. ¡°You can take care of that at the administration desk.¡± He replied sinctly. Gilbert nodded. He then went to the administration area without being told twice.


    In less than twenty minutes, Haisley had been transferred to a VIP room. Her small body looked even more fragile when she was in pain. Her face was pale, and her eye bags seemed to darken.


    ¡°Sorry to say¡­ But your brother¡¯s behavior is like a jerk, G,¡± Dean cursed.


    Gilbert could only shrug. He couldn¡¯t say anything himself. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s jealous,¡± he replied tly.


    ¡°He can be jealous. But that doesn¡¯t mean he can hurt Haisley like this. What did Haisley do wrong to him? He¡¯s the one who rejected her all this time. He¡¯s the one who decided to be in a rtionship with Loretta. So why should he be jealous?¡±


    Gilbert looked at his cousin tly. ¡°Whether he¡¯s aware of it or not, ever since Haisley came here, Nathan has lost control of himself. He actually has feelings for Haisley. He¡¯s just afraid of swallowing his pride. You don¡¯t know how sweet Nathan has been to Haisley all this time,¡± Gilbert tried to correct his cousin¡¯s perspective.


    ¡°Yeah. But he¡¯s a coward. He values his pride too much. Who does he think he is? Zeus?¡± Dean snorted. ¡°If Nathan had been kind to Haisley, I would have stepped back for him. Because Haisley¡¯s happiness is my happiness too. But after knowing that behind Haisley¡¯s back, he decided to get engaged to Loretta, I feel I have the right to step forward. At least, I can make Haisley happy.¡±


    Gilbert gazed at Haisley, still peacefully sleeping. He felt guilty for his friend. When he said he would help Haisley get Nathan, he couldn¡¯t tell the girl the truth: that behind her back, Nathan had decided to marry Loretta. Even if Nathan said it was all for business purposes, the news of the engagement would undoubtedly hurt Haisley. Gilbert knew that even though Haisley had stopped hoping for Nathan, her heart would still ache upon hearing the news.


    Silence settled in as the day came to an end. Dean and Gilbert chose to sleep at the hospital, apanying Haisley. Unbeknownst to them, Haisley had been holding back her tears since earlier.


    Yes, she heard everything. She knew that Nathan would marry Loretta. Loretta¡¯s words weren¡¯t mere boasting. Because even though Gilbert didn¡¯t say it for Haisley¡¯s sake, Loretta had already revealed the truth to her a few days before. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t deny it when Dean confessed that they had been in a rtionship all along. Because Haisley needed that reason to maintain her dignity. In front of Loretta and Nathan.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Haisley sat on her bed. The throbbing in her back was no more painful than the throbbing in her heart. This was what they called a wound without blood, unseen but incredibly painful.


    ¡°God, if you¡¯re listening, then I beg you, erase his name from my heart. Remove his face from my mind. From now on, I swear, as much as possible, I won¡¯t show my face in front of him again,¡± Haisley whispered in her heart, apanied by silent tears and stifled sobs.


    ¡°Haisley decided to go back to her apartment the next day. Even though Dean and Gilbert urged her to stay one more day in the hospital, Haisley refused. She had troubled everyone enough with her emotions. She didn¡¯t want to burden everyone with her physical injuries as well.


    Reluctantly, Dean and Gilbert finally gave in to her wishes and took the girl back to her t. But they were determined not to be refused when they decided they would take care of Haisley until she was fully recovered.


    Refused? Of course not. Haisley actually liked it. The presence of Gilbert and Dean was a source of entertainment for her. Her two good friends prevented her from drowning in the solitude and pain she was experiencing.


    ¡°¡®Creamy fetini carbonara made by Dean is ready to be enjoyed,¡¯ Dean proudly announced. Gilbert ced a folding table, ny by sixty centimeters, from behind the cupboard and set it near Haisley¡¯s bed. Meanwhile, Dean served three tes of fetini, two with double portions and one with a smaller portion. He also served grilled sausages in front of them as a side dish because fetini alone wouldn¡¯t fill them up. Haisley could only smile at it.


    But before she was allowed to eat, Gilbert deliberately took a selfie. Not to capture the food Dean prepared, but to capture their togetherness, which heter uploaded to his social media.


    ¡®Happiness is simple. Just being with the ones we love,¡¯ he wrote as the caption for their photo. ¡®Let¡¯s eat,¡¯ he said enthusiastically and immediately grabbed a fork, stirring the steaming fetini.


    The three of them ate and talked. Theyughed and teased each other asionally. Haisley joined in when they discussed things she also knew about. But when the conversation shifted towards the men, she squinted at both of them, which was met with echoingughter.


    ¡®So when are you leaving?¡¯ Gilbert¡¯s question instantly turned the warm atmosphere cold.


    ¡®Are you trying to kick me out?¡¯ Dean asked, narrowing his eyes.


    Gilbert rolled his eyes dramatically. Then he snorted and stared at Dean sharply. ¡®You came here for observation, not to settle down. You should be self-aware. Don¡¯t just stay here indefinitely without knowing when to leave.¡¯


    Dean just grimaced. He looked at Haisley with sad eyes. ¡®I still miss Haisley,¡¯ he confessed genuinely. ¡®You don¡¯t know how hard it is to hold back the longing. Messaging her feels dry, video calls make me seem unimportant. Dean is that hopeless when facing Haisley,¡¯ he said in a funny tone that made Haisleyugh again. But a momentter, Dean¡¯s expression turned serious as he looked at Gilbert. ¡®If I leave, will you take care of her? I don¡¯t want your brother to hurt her again,¡¯ he said sadly.

 Chap 41

    Gilbert rolled his eyes excessively. Then he snorted and looked at Dean with a sharp gaze. ¡®Yes, I¡¯ll take care of her. If needed, I¡¯ll cage Haisley. Are you satisfied?¡¯


    ¡®You can¡¯t just cage her, what do you think she is? A cat?¡¯ Dean retorted, displeased.


    ¡®Yes, she¡¯s a naughty cat that can¡¯t be managed,¡¯ Gilbert said, looking at Haisley with a raised eyebrow. ¡®Her hair,¡¯ he said mockingly, ¡®is messy like it hasn¡¯t beenbed for years, her fangs haven¡¯t been trimmed for a long time, not to mention her ws, they haven¡¯t been polished.¡¯


    Dean hit Gilbert with the fork in his hand. ¡®Do you think Haisley is what? A cat, a human, or a shoe?¡¯ Dean asked sarcastically. Gilbert shrugged indifferently.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡®Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯ll be fine here. We¡¯ll meet directly in America. Just a few more weeks, right? The semester is almost over,¡¯ Gilbert said, intending to reassure his cousin.


    ¡®Haisley, you behave well with G here, okay? If he¡¯s naughty to you, report it to me. I¡¯ll report it to Aunt so his pocket money will be cut,¡¯ Dean threatened at the end of his sentence.


    Gilbert kicked the guy with his bare foot. ¡®Damn you! Alwayspeting!¡¯ he said in annoyance. Dean, who was kicked, justughed in response.


    And then, the time for Dean¡¯s departure arrived.¡±


    For some time, Dean stayed in the same country and city, yet he never set foot in Gilbert and Nathan¡¯s residence. Dean openly disyed his dislike for his cousin. Ever since the tragedy thatnded Haisley in the hospital, Dean¡¯s distaste for Nathan seemed to have turned into hatred.


    Dean said he¡¯d rather roam the streets than ask Nathan for a living. Haisley felt guilty; without words, she felt she was the cause of this cold war.


    Dean and Gilbert picked her up at her apartment. Dean pleaded, almost childishly, for Haisley to apany him to the airport, where he would depart for the country where he still had to continue his studies. Haisley agreed, not out of pity for Dean but because she genuinely feltfortable with him, and it seemed like the right thing to do.


    International flights were notoriously crowded. Gilbert parked his car and the three of them walked to the terminal where Dean¡¯s flight would depart. In the waiting area, they spent time chatting once more. Until Dean¡¯s boarding call was announced, and he had to check his documents and wait inside.


    Dean took a deep breath, looking deeply at Haisley. She didn¡¯t know when Gilbert had left them alone, but it was evident that his presence was now gone.


    ¡°I know my words might never have seemed serious to you,¡± Dean began, his gaze tender and his tone soft but audible to Haisley due to their face-to-face position.


    Haisley, with her height only reaching Dean¡¯s neck, had to tilt her head to clearly see Dean¡¯s facial expression. No, she thought. She had never regarded Dean¡¯s words as mere jests. She just didn¡¯t want to give him hope and didn¡¯t want to treat those words as reality because she didn¡¯t want to hurt Dean, who had been so kind to her.


    ¡°I also know that you might perceive what I did in front of Nathan all this time as revenge, to annoy him,¡± he continued, still in his soft tone.


    Then, Dean reached out, taking both of Haisley¡¯s hands, smaller and paler than his own. His thumbs gently stroked the back of her hands.


    ¡°But, Haisley, from the depths of my heart, I really like you, I truly love you,¡± he said sincerely. ¡°I¡¯m just asking, give me a chance,¡± he pleaded again with a pleading tone.


    Haisley never diverted her gaze from Dean. She knew he was sincere. And actually, if Haisley thought about it more deeply, being with Dean might be better than being with Nathan, who could never open his heart to her.


    Dean¡¯s gentleness, his attention, and his affection were every woman¡¯s dream.


    But¡­


    If Haisley immediately epted his feelings, wouldn¡¯t she appear terribly cruel? Making Dean a temporary escape while her own heart¡¯s wounds weren¡¯t fully healed yet. In front of her might be Dean, but in her heart, there was still Nathan¡¯s name reigning.


    Even though she didn¡¯t know how long it would take to forget her love for Nathan. But Haisley was also reluctant to make Dean a temporary escape. She cared for Dean, as a friend, as apanion. She didn¡¯t want to hurt him and end up not speaking to each other one day if she disappointed him.


    ¡°Haisley¡­¡± Dean tightened his grip on her hands. It brought Haisley back to her senses, and she looked at the handsome man¡¯s face again, intently.


    ¡°I love you, Haisley. I don¡¯t expect you to answer that now, but I hope you¡¯ll consider my feelings,¡± he said earnestly.


    ¡°Dean¡­¡± Haisley called his name, intending to express what was in her mind. But instead of letting Haisley speak, Dean pulled her hands and enveloped her petite body in his embrace.


    ¡°I know you still have Nathan in your heart,¡± he said softly. ¡°I realize that love isn¡¯t easily reced, just like how I¡¯ve tried hundreds and even thousands of times to rece Haisley with other women over the years. But as I¡¯ve tried to find a recement for Haisley, I hope you will also try to find a recement for Nathan. And I don¡¯t mind if I¡¯m that recement or backup.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t promise that I¡¯ll make you happy forever; those words are just empty talk. But I can promise you that I¡¯ll do my best to make you happy. To make youfortable with me, Haisley,¡± he emphasized, apanied by a hug that tightened with each word he spoke.


    ¡°Dean¡­¡± Haisley called his name again. The words and promises that came out of his mouth somehow made her entire body tingle. Not out of anticipation and fear but out of emotion.


    Unintentionally, her eyes welled up, releasing the tears she had been trying to hold back. Haisley returned the embrace with equal intensity, burying her head in his shoulder to ward off the pain and sorrow she knew Dean felt for her.


    Was this how she appeared in Nathan¡¯s eyes? Pathetic? Even though she knew Nathan would never be as sensitive as Dean to even feel that.

 Chap 42

    Dean¡¯s boarding call echoed once more. He reluctantly released his embrace on Haisley. His beautiful eyes mirrored Haisley¡¯s reddened ones; he didn¡¯t need a mirror to know.


    They locked eyes for a few moments before they both smiled. ¡°Call me if you consider my request,¡± he said, gently stroking Haisley¡¯s head. ¡°And remember, we still have to be ¡®engaged¡¯ when we get back to America,¡± he chuckled, a teasing tone in his voice.


    Haisley chuckled along. She felt Dean drawing his head closer, his thin lips pressing a heartfelt kiss on the top of her head.


    ¡°Take care,¡± he said after the warm kiss. ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± he said, stepping back. He waved to Gilbert, who somehow had returned to stand beside him, before turning around and walking away, putting more distance between them.


    During his journey back to his apartment, Haisley became quieter. Gilbert noticed, but his friend didn¡¯t want to disturb Haisley either. Gilbert knew what had happened in thest moments before Dean boarded his flight. On the way to pick up Haisley, Dean had asked him to give them some time alone to express his feelings and hopes to her.


    shback.


    ¡°Give me some time to talk to Haisley about my feelings,¡± mumbled Dean, his words audible to Gilbert.


    ¡°Why are you so dramatic? Why didn¡¯t you talk to her about your feelings earlier?¡± Gilbert replied impatiently.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to, G. I¡¯m still hesitant to confess my feelings to her. I don¡¯t want to pressure her too much. She still needs to sort out her feelings for Nathan. I don¡¯t want to reopen her wounds by expressing my feelings,¡± Dean exined.


    ¡°So what¡¯s different now? Haisley still hasn¡¯t healed her feelings from Nathan,¡± Gilbert retorted.


    Dean shrugged. ¡°Before, I felt like I wasn¡¯t ready for my own idea. But now, I¡¯m determined.¡±


    Gilbert frowned. He nced at his cousin from behind his dark sunsses. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Dean shrugged again, indifferent. ¡°Now I¡¯m sure that even if Haisley sees me as a rebound, a backup n, I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯ll ept it. As long as she is willing to try.¡±


    ¡°What the heck!¡± Gilbert instantly mmed his hands on the steering wheel, not slowing down his car. ¡°Are you crazy, or just in stupid?¡± he asked, frustrated. He looked at Dean with a sharp gaze, which Dean couldn¡¯t see behind his dark sunsses. ¡°The two of you, are you both masochists?¡± Gilbert muttered incredulously.


    ¡°At least I love Haisley, and I¡¯ll try to give her everything I have. Love, affection, and time. Unlike your brother, who only hurts Haisley. If only he had been honest with himself, he should have expressed his feelings to Haisley first. But sadly, he¡¯s too selfish to ept the fact that Haisley has reced Crystal in his heart and mind,¡± Dean sneered in disgust.


    Gilbert couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Yeah, the three of you are equally foolish,¡± he said sharply. ¡°Luckily, I¡¯m not in love. If I were, I¡¯d be suffering just like the three of you, equally foolish.¡±


    ¡°Someday, you¡¯ll have feelings that you mock right now, G. Feelings of love and affection for someone who often makes you feel helpless, even though you¡¯ve tried your best for everything,¡± Dean replied, his tone soft. Yes, just like what he felt for Haisley now. When he had tried his best to give her everything he could, but Haisley still made him feel helpless.


    Gilbert shrugged, ignoring his cousin¡¯s mncholic words. Instead, he asked again. ¡°How prepared are you to be hurt by Haisley and Nathan, Dean?¡± he asked. Though spoken with indifference, it carried a deep meaning.


    Dean turned his face away, choosing to look at the city¡¯s traffic jam. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I say I¡¯m prepared, but in reality, I don¡¯t know, G. But I¡¯ve prepared myself in case I get hurt in the future,¡± he answered, his voice low but confident.


    Gilbert looked at his cousin more freely because the traffic light in front of them was red.


    ¡°Suppose, tomorrow or the day after, Nathan realizes his feelings for Haisley. If he eventually wants Haisley back, and Haisley still has feelings for him. What will you do? What will you do?¡± Gilbert wanted to know.


    Dean straightened his back, looked at Gilbert with a sharp and confident gaze. ¡°If Haisley asks for it, even if it means she wants to go back to Nathan, and as long as Nathan promises that he will love and protect Haisley, I will give Haisley back to him.¡±


    ¡°But as long as Nathan¡¯s arrogant and rough attitude still exists, no matter how much Haisley cries, begs, and asks me to let her go. I won¡¯t give her to Nathan,¡± Dean said earnestly.


    Gilbert raised the corner of his mouth. His right hand patted Dean¡¯s shoulder firmly before he continued driving his car.


    ¡°I¡¯ll support you wholeheartedly. Even though Nathan is my brother, I love Haisley as if she were my own sister,¡± Gilbert said passionately. ¡°Nathan is such a fool,¡± he muttered.


    End of shback.


    ¡°And now, here he is. Although he didn¡¯t know what sentences Dean had said to Haisley, he knew the general idea.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Something bothering you, Haisley?¡± Gilbert finally asked, choosing to break the silence even if it was just small talk.


    Haisley straightened her back, turning to Dean. ¡°I don¡¯t know, this and that,¡± Haisley replied in her soft tone. ¡°Where did you go earlier, G?¡± Haisley asked suspiciously, squinting her eyes.


    Gilbert shrugged. ¡°I thought you two needed to talk like adults, I just gave Dean a chance to talk to you. Why? Did he say something that makes you look so miserable right now?¡± He teased.


    Haisley sighed, pushing the man¡¯s arm with her left hand before resting her chin on her right hand and staring out the deliberately open window. ¡°Do you know what he said to me?¡± she asked usingly.


    Gilbert shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, really,¡± he replied tly. ¡°He just asked for some alone time with you, Haisley. And I granted him what he wanted. That¡¯s it.¡± He replied, still in his casual tone. ¡°What did he say?¡± Gilbert asked curiously.


    Haisley turned her attention back to Gilbert. The girl then leaned her back against the chair with her head down, staring at her intertwined hands. Haisley took a deep breath before exhaling sharply.


    ¡°Dean said he doesn¡¯t mind being a substitute,¡± Haisley said softly.

 Chap 43

    Gilbert reached out his right hand and gently stroked Haisley¡¯s head. ¡°Is that what¡¯s bothering you?¡± Gilbert inquired.


    Haisley nodded her head. ¡°How could he be so stupid to say something outrageous like that, G?¡± she asked, her anger exploding instantly.


    ¡°Because he loves you, H.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but that doesn¡¯t mean he should hurt himself like that. Are there no other girls out there he could like? Many women would fall in love with him. He¡¯s handsome, he has a clear future, and more than that, he¡¯s a gentle and kind-hearted man. So why does he have to do all this, G?¡± she asked passionately.


    ¡°The same question goes for you, H,¡± Gilbert replied softly, not usingly. ¡°Why are you still holding on to Nathan when you know he likes your sister, he never notices you, and often behaves rudely, hurting you?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m stupid and blind,¡± Haisley replied softly.


    ¡°Same goes for Dean, he¡¯s stupid and blind too. He¡¯s clueless,¡± Gilbert replied mockingly this time.


    ¡°But I¡¯m trying to avoid and forget Nathan, G. So why can¡¯t Dean do that?¡±


    Gilbert shrugged. ¡°Well, because he¡¯s foolish, right?¡± he said with a mockingugh. Then Gilbert nced at Haisley and spoke more seriously. ¡°Give Dean a chance, Haisley,¡± he said firmly. ¡°If you know how it feels to love someone who doesn¡¯t love you back. Why don¡¯t you try to make Dean get a love that isn¡¯t unrequited?¡± Gilbert asked. ¡°I mean, there are two good things you¡¯ll get from Dean, H. The first is you¡¯ll make him happy. Isn¡¯t making others happy a good thing? And being with you, that¡¯s the greatest happiness for Dean.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you just making him a substitute?¡± Gilbert nced at Haisley just to see the girl nodding her head. ¡°But Dean epts that. His feelings have epted that, and he even anticipates himself with all the pain he will endure in the future.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°But if you really don¡¯t want to hurt him further, you¡¯re the one who has to try harder. Don¡¯t make Dean a substitute, don¡¯t make Dean just a recement for Nathan. But see him as Dean. The man who has loved you for the past six years. Who clearly can give you his world, give you everything as long as you ept him for who he is.


    ¡°And the second good thing, you are loved, H. Isn¡¯t being loved better than loving but getting hurt?¡± Gilbert asked for Haisley¡¯s opinion by looking at her. But Haisley remained silent. ¡°Try to open your eyes, Haisley. Don¡¯t be as foolish as Nathan, who is reluctant to rece Crystal¡¯s position in his heart. Try to make yourself happy by epting all the love and affection someone is willing to give you. Don¡¯t just beg for Nathan¡¯s love and attention.


    ¡°If in the end, your rtionship with Dean doesn¡¯t work out. At least you both have tried to give your best to each other. So there will be no regretster.


    ¡°As a jerk in the Chayton family, I suggest you take advantage of everything Dean offers. ept everything Dean gives you. I¡¯m sure you will be happy with him.


    ¡°Forget Nathan, consider all the stories you¡¯ve been through as puppy love. Even if you¡¯re destined, God will arrange for you to be together at some point in the future. And even if not, at least you¡¯ve tried your best.¡±


    ***


    Time passed. Haisley still pondered Dean¡¯s words about the man¡¯s willingness to be a recement. Tempted? Not at all. She simply contemted Gilbert¡¯s statement about ¡®trying.¡¯


    Haisley didn¡¯t want to hurt Dean, but she knew what it felt like to hope and wait even when the person you hope for shows no signs of reciprocation. Haisley cried almost every night. Longing for Nathan, desiring him. She also cried because of the questions in her mind about ¡®why¡¯ Nathan treated her that way.


    She lied to Gilbert the next day when he saw her puffy eyes on campus and said she had overslept. In reality, far from thete hours, she could only drown in dreamless sleep.


    A week after Dean¡¯s departure, Haisley decided to keep herself busy with a heap of work. She filled her free time with part-time jobs. What initially started as working at one ce now turned into two simultaneous jobs. And when there was still spare time and one of her friends invited her for another sideline job, she joined in.


    Reia even shook her head at Haisley¡¯s greed for work. The girl suspected Haisley worked to earn money to support herself while in a foreignnd and was reluctant to burden her parents in America. But in reality, Haisley¡¯s needs were entirely met. Even Gilbert¡¯s parents didn¡¯tck in giving her attention. It¡¯s just that she truly wanted her time to be upied. Working not only made her physically tired but also mentally drained. And when she returned to her t, she had no energy left to think about Nathan and cry over her love for him.


    Haisley¡¯s biggest mistake was postponing honesty. She still hadn¡¯t told her family and Nathan¡¯s family that she had moved. Initially, she waited for the right time and the right words to say. But because she was too busy thinking about Nathan and keeping herself upied with work, shepletely forgot to tell them all.


    And now, when Gilbert stood in front of the caf¨¦ door where she worked with a puzzled expression, Haisley was also confused.


    ¡°What, G?¡± Haisley asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Mom and Dad, they¡¯re on their way here, H,¡± Gilbert said, flustered. Haisley instantly widened her eyes in surprise.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Haisley inquired. Gilbert nodded his head, convinced. ¡°What about you, G, I forgot to tell Mom and Dad, Uncle, and Aunt,¡± Haisley replied eventually. The girl bit her lower lip in confusion.


    The problem was, they feared Gilbert¡¯s mother¡¯s anger. She would definitely scold Gilbert severely if she knew that Haisley-who had been entrusted by both her parents to live with the siblings-had ultimately chosen to stay elsewhere, far from their supervision.


    As for Haisley¡¯s own parents, she was calmer because usually, her parents trusted her choices.


    ¡°If youe to pick them up from the airport, how about that?¡± he asked, pleading.


    ¡°When?¡±


    ¡°Tonight,¡± Gilbert replied, rubbing his neck. ¡°Their ne willnd at seven tonight.¡± Haisley nced at her watch. It was five in the evening, and she had been working since two in the afternoon. That meant she had just spent three hours at the caf¨¦.


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Laurent; he¡¯ll surely allow you to leave,¡± Gilbert said without waiting for Haisley¡¯s approval and walked inside the caf¨¦.

 Chap 44

    Laurent, the owner of the caf¨¦, was Gilbert¡¯s acquaintance. Gilbert was the one who got the job for Haisley from this forty-year-old man. Haisley didn¡¯t know what Gilbert said to him, but one thing was clear-Gilbert approached him with a face full of pleas, hands sped in front of his face.


    Laurent then looked at Haisley and approached her. ¡°Gilbert said he needed you. Is that true?¡± he asked. Haisley nodded her head. ¡°He¡¯s not going to kidnap you, is he, Haisley?¡± he asked again with a probing look. Haisley chuckled, seeing Gilbert roll his eyes behind the man. But then, she nodded her head.


    ¡°No, Sir. My parents areing, and I need to greet them,¡± Haisley replied politely. She still felt stiff around him even though he had told her to address him by his first name, as Gilbert and other employees usually did.


    ¡°Go ahead. I won¡¯t deduct your pay because you¡¯ve been working very diligently all this time,¡± he said, which was met with an enthusiastic nod from Haisley. She bid farewell and went to the back of the caf¨¦ to change into her own clothes while Gilbert waited for her, chatting with Laurent.


    They must be discussing photography. Yes, what Gilbert had told her earlier was that Laurent often asked for his help in photographing the caf¨¦ and the menu items, either for social media promotion or for printing in catalogs.


    Haisley emerged ten minutester, wearing jeans and a white short-sleeved shirt. There was something different about Haisley; she had cut her long hair short, now falling to her shoulders. And now, she let her hair hang loose. Not to forget, a mini shoulder bag adorned her small shoulders. Seeing her, Haisley looked more like a high school teenager than a girl who would soon turn twenty.


    ¡°Thanks, bro. See youter,¡± Gilbert said his goodbyes, acknowledged by a nod from Laurent.


    They walked towards the parking lot where Gilbert¡¯s SUV was parked. He graciously opened the passenger door for Haisley before turning and getting into the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Haisley asked with a smile on her face.


    Gilbert squinted. ¡°Don¡¯t tease me,¡± he muttered. ¡°You should bring a change of clothes, Haisley,¡± he said then.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why?¡± she asked, confused. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to exin everything to Aunt directly about my move?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Tonight?¡± Gilbert asked incredulously. He then shook his head. ¡°No. Mom will dominate you, and you¡¯ll forget the fact that you ¡®have¡¯ to tell her about your move. So, you won¡¯t be able to escape until Mom decides to sleep, and you¡¯ll be too tired to return to your t. So, yes. You need to bring a change of clothes,¡± Gilbert said, more like an order than advice.


    Haisley fell silent. Staying over at Gilbert¡¯s meant she had to get up early and meet Nathan for breakfast. But for the past month, she had tried not to see him, whether on social media or in her phone gallery. What would happen to her and her heart if they met in person again?


    But what Gilbert said wasn¡¯t wrong either. Aunt Monica was a talkative woman who liked to ask questions. The car had already stopped at Haisley¡¯s residence. Without Haisley asking, Gilbert got out first and opened the door for her. He led Haisley upstairs as if it were his own home, not Haisley¡¯s.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Haisley to pack her sleepwear and change of clothes for the next day. While she was packing, Gilbert was busy checking the fridge and cabs in the kitchen. It was as if he were an inspector responsible for keeping Haisley¡¯s kitchen stocked. Haisley could only shake her head.


    ¡°I thought you were cooking diligently now?¡± he asked, his face content. Indeed, Haisley¡¯s fridge was full of fresh and frozen food. She had just shopped the day before.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go hungry. Or at least, I have something to serve if there¡¯s a sudden guest,¡± Haisley remarked, which was met with a nod from Gilbert.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± he asked, pointing to Haisley¡¯s bag. Haisley nodded, and Gilbert grabbed the bag from her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said. He then exited the unit first, allowing Haisley to turn on the lights and lock the door. Afterward, they headed to the airport.


    Gilbert might seem unrulypared to Nathan. But he was a man who was very polite and respected women.


    He was a man who loved his mother deeply.


    Not out of fear, but Gilbert was a son who didn¡¯t want to hurt the woman who gave birth to him. Everything his mother wanted, which Nathan couldn¡¯t fulfill, Gilbert always did without question. If Aunt Monica were an authoritarian figure, Gilbert wouldn¡¯t have grown up as happy and as free as he was now. Fortunately, Aunt Monica was a highly democratic woman who had immense trust in her children¡¯s decisions.


    As for Haisley, considering she had no daughters, Aunt Monica always treated her like her own child.


    Aunt Monica was also very supportive of Haisley¡¯s rtionship with Nathan. The woman, nearly fifty years old, knew how deeply Haisley loved Nathan and often referred to her as a daughter, whether in front of their families or when she met her friends. Little did she know or care that her son absolutely didn¡¯t want Haisley and often acted harshly towards her.


    ¡°They spent their travel time chatting as usual. Yes, as a conversation partner, Gilbert was a figure with extensive knowledge. One thing with him could lead to another. And Haisley enjoyed being with that man. They could talk about books, movies, music, and even gossip about their professors and campus mates together. For Haisley, Gilbert was a friend and also a good brother. Sometimes she wondered why God didn¡¯t make her love Gilbert. Why did she have to fall in love with Nathan?


    They arrived at the airport at five minutes to seven. Time seemed to move slowly due to the traffic jam. ¡°Hungry?¡± Gilbert asked as they headed to the airport lounge.


    ¡°Very,¡± Haisley replied with a grin on her face.


    ¡°Do you remember the first time you came here? You ate arge burger,¡± Meryaughed again at that memory. How surprised Gilbert was at his own eating portion. And to this day, Haisley¡¯s portion was indeedrge. No matter how many problems she faced, she could still eat until full.


    ¡°G, Haisley, you¡¯re here too?¡± That cheerful voice made them turn instantly. Loretta and Nathan. They looked like prince and princess from a fairy tale. Beautiful and graceful, as well as handsome and handsome.


    ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± Gilbert directed the question to Nathan. Loretta seemed to ignore the somewhat sharp-toned question and immediately approached Haisley. She hugged her small body tightly and enthusiastically.

 Chap 45

    ¡°At first, I thought Gilbert brought his girlfriend, considering your haircut¡­¡± The girl touched the end of Haisley¡¯s hair. ¡°Since when did you cut it?¡± She teased. Haisley was about to answer, but Loretta quickly pulled her body. ¡°Oh, Haisley, I really missed you,¡± she said with a wide smile on her face. Haisley hugged her back and smiled. ¡°How have you been?¡± Loretta asked again. She looked at Haisley, holding her face with her soft and fragrant hands. ¡°You look thinner than I remember, or is it because of your new haircut? Is your college life that challenging?¡± she asked again.


    Haisley shook her head. ¡°Not too much,¡± she answered honestly. Because indeed, her college life wasn¡¯t that challenging; it was forgetting her love for Nathan that made it difficult.


    ¡°Why did you guyse here?¡± Gilbert repeated the same question.


    Loretta shrugged. ¡°I came to your house and heard from Nathan that you were picking up your parents. I didn¡¯t want to be seen as a disrespectful potential daughter-inw, so I forced Nathan to pick them up here too. I didn¡¯t know you woulde with Haisley.¡± She said it in her usual cheerful tone.


    Gilbert nced at Nathan. He knew that wasn¡¯t the real reason his sister came to the airport. He then looked at Haisley, who tried not to look in his sister¡¯s direction. Gilbert¡¯s gaze returned to Nathan. Maybe his brother didn¡¯t realize it, but since Gilbert noticed the presence of those two, Nathan¡¯s gaze never shifted from Haisley. And what was that look? Anger? Or longing?


    ¡°It seems their ne hasnded,¡± Gilbert said, then gently put his arm around Haisley¡¯s waist.


    Haisley looked up, surprised by Gilbert¡¯s action. But she didn¡¯t say much and chose to follow Gilbert wherever he led her. Meanwhile, Loretta, with her womanly charm, clung to Nathan¡¯s arm and followed Gilbert from behind.


    They were in the waiting area, watching the exit door and waiting for the couple they hadn¡¯t seen for months. Ten minutes standing there, they finally saw a tall, broad-shouldered man with nearly white hair embracing a slender woman who looked like a runway model in her not-so-young age.


    The middle-aged couple¡¯s eyes searched among the crowd, and when they saw their children, they waved enthusiastically. The woman even left her luggage and ran eagerly toward the waiting group.


    ¡°Haisley, dear. Oh my goodness, what did you do to your beautiful long hair?¡± Mrs. Monica protested while grabbing a handful of Haisley¡¯s hair and pouting in annoyance. Mrs. Monica really liked Haisley¡¯s long ck hair. ¡°Anyway, long time no see. Oh dear, auntie missed you so much.¡± The woman, who was almost fifty years old, continued while hugging Haisley tightly.


    The height difference between them didn¡¯t seem to be a barrier for the woman to embrace the almost adult teenager.


    ¡°Look at your face,¡± the woman said while holding Haisley¡¯s face with both hands, just like Loretta had done before. ¡°You look thinner. Are you on a diet? Or is it because of your new haircut?¡± She asked, furrowing her forehead, once again caressing Haisley¡¯s hair affectionately. Then she looked at her second son and narrowed her eyes. ¡°Or you¡¯re notfortable living with G and Nath? Did my two children make it difficult for you while you were here?¡± Haisley couldn¡¯t answer with words. She could only respond with a shake of her head and a smile that never left her face.¡±


    How could she answer if he wasn¡¯t allowed to open his mouth?Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°If my child does something unpleasant to you, just tell me. Let me punish them.¡± Mrs. Monica said with a more threatening look towards Gilbert.


    ¡°Why me, Mom?¡± Gilbert asked, confused.


    ¡°Because all this time, you were the one who often teased her.¡± His mother said irritably.


    Gilbert chuckled but then took his mother¡¯s hand and hugged her. Meanwhile, his father, who had walked over with two suitcases, preferred to hug Nathan first. After Mrs. Monica released her hug from Gilbert, she realized that her eldest hade to pick her up at the airport.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked Nathan.


    Nathan didn¡¯t answer and chose to roll his eyes in embarrassment. However, Mrs. Chayton still stretched out her arms and hugged her son¡¯s body, who was taller than her.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for your exnation, Nath.¡± The woman whispered in her son¡¯s ear. Nathan winced.


    It was clear that her mother had not noticed Loretta¡¯s presence beside her since earlier. Nathan saw the woman nce at Loretta before kissing Haisley as confirmation.


    ¡°And who is this beautifuldy?¡± asked the woman in English. The woman previously spoke Miami to Haisley and her two sons.


    ¡°Loretta,¡± Loretta answered shyly. It was clear from Loretta¡¯s face that the girl wanted to get a warm hug like Haisley got. However, apart from the friendly smile on her face, Mrs. Chayton seemed to be putting some distance between the two of them. Meanwhile, Haisley was in Mr. Samuel¡¯s Chayton warm embrace. That hug made Loretta jealous again.


    ¡°Monica.¡± Mrs. Monica Chayton answered. ¡°So, where do we go now? I really hungry.¡± She asked his two children.


    ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t eat on the ne?¡± Gilbert asked, confused.


    Mrs. Chayton shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Eat, but yeah, I¡¯m hungry again.¡± The woman said with a chuckle that made Gilbert roll his eyes.


    ¡°They walked towards the parking lot, aware that Nathan and Gilbert each had a car. Mrs. Monica eximed, ¡®Dad¡¯s going with Nathan, Mom¡¯s going home with Haisley.¡¯ She said, furrowing her brow at Mr. Samuel.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡± her husband pleaded.


    ¡°Yes, I  knows you will miss me. But don¡¯t worry, Darling. We¡¯ll meet at the pasta restaurant in a little while,¡± she said, pulling Haisley and handing her bag to Gilbert. ¡®Where¡¯s your car?¡¯ she asked, immediately pointing at Gilbert. Mrs. Monica pulled Haisley¡¯s arm, ignoring her husband, her eldest son, and also her ¡®future son-inw.¡¯


    ¡°They stopped at a pasta restaurant. The male waiter who weed them at the door led them to the table Mrs. Monica desired. A round table with six chairs near the window was Mrs. Monica¡¯s choice. She was clearly ustomed toing to the ce, able to choose a spot with a good view.

 Chap 46

    Mrs. Monica deliberately let Haisley sit on her right, and her husband sat on her left. Unwilling to let Haisley sit close to Nathan, Gilbert ended up sitting on Haisley¡¯s right, so Loretta sat on Gilbert¡¯s right and Nathan sat on his ¡®future wife¡¯s¡¯ right.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°The waiter gave each person a menu. Mr. Samuel seemed engrossed in his own menu choice. So did Gilbert. ¡®Haisley, dear. What would you like to eat?¡¯ Mrs. Monica asked, lowering the menu from her face.


    ¡°Haisley looked at the menu confused. She then looked at Gilbert for advice, which didn¡¯t escape Nathan¡¯s notice; he then made a decision that made people turn to look at him. Gilbert ignored his sister and pointed to a menu item for Haisley, which she nodded at. Everyone had stated their orders, only Loretta hadn¡¯t.


    ¡°¡®I¡¯m on a diet,¡¯ the girl said shyly. ¡®I¡¯ll just have a sd,¡¯ she said, closing the menu and handing it back to the waiter.


    ¡°¡®Dessert?¡¯ the waiter asked. The girl shook her head again.


    ¡°¡®You know, your youth should be spent enjoying delicious food while you can. While there¡¯s still a chance,¡¯ Mrs. Monica said, sounding mocking.


    ¡°¡®Oh, I enjoy good food. It¡¯s just that for the past week, I¡¯ve had to watch my body for my friend¡¯s wedding. I don¡¯t want the clothes they¡¯ve made not to fit me,¡¯ the girl said shyly. Mrs. Monica just nodded without intending to speak further.


    ¡°¡®So, how¡¯s your college, Haisley? Do you like your new friends?¡¯ The woman turned to Haisley again and spoke in Miaminguage. It was evident that she didn¡¯t want Loretta included in their conversation.


    ¡°Haisley smiled and nodded. ¡®I love it. G introduced me to her friends on campus. She has so many friends, Tan,¡¯ Haisley replied.


    ¡°¡®To the point where you¡¯re torn between studying and casting your charm,¡¯ Nathan said sarcastically. Mrs. Monica looked at her son with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°¡®What¡¯s wrong if Haisley charms people?¡¯ the woman said, displeased. ¡®She¡¯s a beautiful girl, she¡¯s single, and unattached. It¡¯s only natural at her young age to have many acquaintances. In fact, it¡¯s even better if she dates. And Aunt advises you, Haisley. Don¡¯t just date one boy. That will only make you bored. Date three to five people at once, so your life isn¡¯t too dull,¡¯ she said with a mischievous smile.


    ¡°¡®What kind of advice is that?¡¯ Nathan mocked his mother.


    ¡°¡®It¡¯s advice that Haisley should listen to and follow,¡¯ his mother replied challengingly to Nathan.


    ¡°¡®Is Mommy  nning to teach her something bad?¡¯ Nathan asked, displeased.


    Mrs. Monica shrugged. ¡®Life is too boring if you only love one person, Nath. You should only love one person when you¡¯ve married them. If not, then you¡¯re free to like and love many people.


    ¡°¡®Others might call it being a yer, but for Mommy , it¡¯s some kind of adventure. You have to find the best among the good. And let go of the bad among the good,¡¯ she continued, ring at Haisley. ¡®Don¡¯t waste your time adoring a man who might not be your destiny, Haisley,¡¯ she warned.¡±


    ¡°Gilbert nodded his head in agreement with his mother¡¯s words. And Haisley suspected that Gilbert¡¯s reason for not dating much was somewhat influenced by his mother.


    ¡®Besides, Haisley dating many men, what¡¯s your problem? She¡¯s single, and beyond that, she¡¯s beautiful. Surely many men like you, don¡¯t they?¡¯ she asked Haisley, who responded with wide-eyed confusion. Meanwhile, Nathan answered his mother¡¯s question with a snort. Mrs. Monica then lovingly stroked Haisley¡¯s hair. ¡®Trust Auntie, dating experiences teach you a lot about men, dear. And G,¡¯ Mrs. Monica looked at her youngest son. ¡®Are there no suitable friends for Haisley among your circle?¡¯


    Gilbert nodded his head like a puppet. ¡®Many have asked her out. It¡¯s her who always acts too busy,¡¯ he replied indifferently.


    Mrs. Monica shook her head. ¡®Don¡¯t be like that, dear. Even if you¡¯re not dating them, if they ask you out, just ept. You know, it¡¯s like hitting the double jackpot. Don¡¯t spend your money; let them sacrifice for us. No need tomit; we can just call those rtionships ¡®friends with benefits¡¯ or ¡®friends with mischief.¡¯ And if you enjoy it, that¡¯s fine.¡¯


    Mrs. Monica continued as the waiter arrived with a food trolley and ced their ordered dishes on the table. They thanked him as the food was served in front of them.


    ¡®You know, dating also teaches you many things that will benefit youter on,¡¯ Merya turned to look at her friend¡¯s mother. ¡®Apart from knowing various types of men, you¡¯ll also learn about sulking, persuading, and more importantly, you¡¯ll learn how to seduce. If you hone your skills now, when you get married, you¡¯ll be a skilled woman. At the very least, you¡¯ll be a good kisser,¡¯ the woman said without attempting to whisper or lower her voice. It made Haisley blush instantly.


    ¡®Ma, don¡¯t teach someone else¡¯s child to be cheap,¡¯ Nathan said, disliking her tone.


    Mrs. Monica shrugged again. ¡®Cheap? For Mommy , cheap is subjective, Nath. It depends on how you look at it.


    ¡®You see a woman dressed in a mini skirt and call her cheap, but after you get to know her, she turns out to be devout to God and her parents. Then you worship a woman who behaves politely and seems nice, but behind her modest dress, she¡¯s a tycoon¡¯s mistress. In your opinion, who¡¯s cheaper?


    ¡®Just because a woman dates many men, you call her cheap. But what about men who sleep with many women? You don¡¯t call them cheap, just bastards. In Mommy ¡®s ears, that word is much more polite. Moreover, what¡¯s wrong with being cheap? After all, it¡¯s not you who is losing out.


    ¡®Loretta,¡¯ Mrs. Monica looked at Loretta, who had been silent since she only understood a little of the Miaminguage. ¡®In your opinion, which is better, a woman who dates many single men, or a woman who steals another woman¡¯s man?¡¯ Mrs. Monica asked her in her nativenguage.


    ¡®If they genuinely like each other in the rtionships they¡¯re in, I think it¡¯s better to date many men,¡¯ the woman said, confused. ¡®But maybe if a woman steals someone else¡¯s partner, we could find out why. Maybe the man doesn¡¯t love the woman.¡¯


    ¡®Bored, you mean?¡¯ Mrs. Monica asked. Loretta nodded. ¡®If he¡¯s bored, why doesn¡¯t he leave the woman? After all, men have the right and power to do so.¡¯


    ¡®There might be a reason that holds the man back from leaving the woman?¡¯ Loretta asked hesitantly.

 Chap 47

    Mrs. Monica shook her head. ¡®When a man still clings to his partner and looks for other women out there, it¡¯s not because he has a reason to stay. They use the word ¡®bored¡¯ as a substitute for ¡®going toe back.¡¯ Because in the end, when his boredom disappears, he will return to where he truly belongs.


    ¡®And honestly, he doesn¡¯t want to leave. He wants to gain benefits for himself. Never mind that he hurts the woman apanying him. Because why? Because he¡¯s a bastard. And in the end, the woman who bes his outlet is often called cheap.


    ¡®And even cheaper, if the woman who bes the mistress begs to hold on. Even now, the homewrecker is worse than the official wife. They act as if they are queens and the official wives are parasites. But in reality, it¡¯s the opposite.


    ¡®So Haisley, if a man hurts you, leave! Don¡¯t be a cheap woman begging for his love. Out there, there will be a superhero waiting for you. A man riding his white horse, waiting for the princess to return to her senses. Before you respect and worship your partner, you better worship and respect yourself first.


    ¡®You¡¯re a beautiful girl, you¡¯re a good girl. Many mothers would want you as their daughter-inw, and many men would want you as their life partner,¡¯ Mrs. Monica said, making Haisley smile and nod her head.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat before it gets cold,¡± Mr. Samuel intervened. ¡°Besides, why are we discussing such disgusting things during dinner?¡± he asked, puzzled.


    Mrs. Monica shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Mommy  also doesn¡¯t know how our conversation ended up on such distasteful topics,¡± she replied, confused.


    The conversation shifted to lighter topics. Mrs. Monica engaged Haisley in conversation more, Gilbert was busy with his phone, Nathan was discussing business with his father. And Loretta, the girl, remained silent, only answering when asked. Haisley herself felt confused and guilty towards the girl. If only she hadn¡¯t joined Gilbert earlier, maybe Mrs. Monica would be talking to Loretta instead of her now.


    At ten o¡¯clock, they were on their way back to the Chayton residence. This time, Mr. Samuel apanied Gilbert in his car because Nathan was going to drop Loretta off at her home.


    ¡°Auntie is really tired and sleepy. Yet she still wants to talk to you a lot,¡± Mrs. Monica said, yawning widely. ¡°You¡¯ve be quite quiet, Haisley. Is something wrong?¡± she asked sharply.


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong, Tan. Auntie, just rest,¡± she replied, met with Mrs. Monica¡¯s snort. But inevitably, the woman nodded her head.


    ¡°See you at breakfast tomorrow,¡± she said.


    Haisley just nodded along with Gilbert, who came out of his parents¡¯ room after delivering the suitcase inside. Mrs. Monica walked in, patting Gilbert¡¯s shoulder briefly.


    ¡°Want something to drink?¡± Gilbert offered Haisley. Haisley shook her head. ¡°Come on, your room upstairs hasn¡¯t been touched yet.¡± Gilbert then patted Haisley¡¯s head. ¡°See you tomorrow morning,¡± he said. Haisley nodded and stepped upstairs.


    Haisley sat in the bedroom that used to be hers. She sat in silence for who knows how long in the dim light. Haisley took a deep breath, ncing at the wall clock showing eleven o¡¯clock. It was time for her to sleep.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Haisley got up, nning to freshen up before going to her bed. But then she realized her bag was still in Gilbert¡¯s car¡¯s trunk. How could she forget like that?


    Haisley then walked to Gilbert¡¯s room, knocking softly. ¡°G, are you still awake?¡± she inquired.


    ¡°Not yet. Come in, H,¡± Gilbert replied from inside. He was sitting in front of hisputer desk. He seemed to be examining the screen disying his photo results. ¡°Why?¡± he asked, then turned to Haisley.


    ¡°Can I borrow the car keys? My spare clothes are in the bag in the trunk,¡± she said, feeling embarrassed.


    Gilbert chuckled. ¡°The car keys are on the key holder near the door, Haisley. Sorry, I forgot to take them down when I put the banged-up suitcase down earlier,¡± he said apologetically. Haisley just smiled and then left Gilbert¡¯s room.


    Haisley walked slowly towards the first floor. She didn¡¯t want to disturb the homeowners, as they must be too tired. She took the key from the key holder Gilbert had mentioned and walked towards the garage. How surprised Haisley was to see Nathan already there, seemingly just getting out of his car. Why didn¡¯t she hear his arrival? Or was it his arrival that snapped her out of her reverie?


    The man stared at Haisley sharply, but not a word came out of his mouth. Haisley chose to ignore him and walked towards Gilbert¡¯s car. She pressed the button on the key in her hand, and the car¡¯s trunk popped open. She then opened the back of the car and retrieved her bag from there. Afterward, Haisley closed it again slowly, so as not to make any noise that might disturb the people inside the house. When she was about to step inside, she was quite surprised because Nathan was still standing in his original ce, leaning on his car door.


    ¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡± he asked, usingly and coldly.


    Haisley, who was about to step in, had to stop and look at Nathan in confusion. ¡°Doing what?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Dominating the conversation with my mother,¡± Nathan used, sharply. ¡°So much so that Loretta didn¡¯t have a chance to talk and introduce herself.¡±


    Haisley furrowed her brow, bing even more puzzled. Her? Dominating the conversation? Wasn¡¯t the man using the wrong person? Clearly, she knew that his mother had been the one engaging her in conversation, not the other way around.


    ¡°You know I didn¡¯t do that,¡± she said, clearly disliking Nathan¡¯s usation.


    But the man shook his head. ¡°You deliberately stayed silent and replied to my mother¡¯s remarks only half-heartedly because you knew that way, she would talk more. You gave her a chance to talk. And that made Mommy  not notice Loretta at all.¡±


    ¡°I, whether I talk or stay silent, will always look wrong in your eyes, Nath. I don¡¯t need to respond to your nonsense,¡± she said, then turned around. But Nathan moved faster; he pulled Haisley¡¯s arm, causing her grip on her bag to loosen, and the bag fell to the floor with a soft thud.


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense, Haisley. And what about your hair? Did you cut it? What¡¯s your purpose? Seeking people¡¯s attention?¡± he used again.

 Chap 48

    Reluctantly, Haisley lifted her head, looking at him just as sharply. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business when or why I cut my hair. Seeking attention?¡± Haisley snorted in annoyance. ¡°Yes, I deliberately seek attention. I even intend to beautify myself and improve my appearance so that I can look sexier and attract many men¡¯s attention here.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Do you remember what your mother said earlier, that I should date many men? Well, I will do it. Then after that, you will call me a cheap woman. And you know, I don¡¯t mind hearing that. So now, let go of my hand. I want to sleep,¡± Haisley snapped, yanking her hand away, but Nathan¡¯s grip was tight, making it not easy for Haisley to break free. ¡°Nathan!¡± Haisley growled in frustration.


    ¡°What about Dean?¡± he asked, his mouth tightly closed. ¡°Are you nning to date many men behind his back? Are you nning to betray him?¡± he used, angrily.


    Haisley lifted the corner of her mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve told you my affairs have nothing to do with you,¡± she hissed.


    ¡°He¡¯s my brother,¡± Nathan replied angrily.


    ¡°And he is my boyfriend. So what¡¯s the problem? If he epts me dating many men behind him, then we¡¯ll continue this rtionship. If not, we¡¯ll just break up. It¡¯s that simple, Nath. Because, as your mother said, I only need to be faithful to the man who will be my husbandter.¡± Haisley then pushed Nathan¡¯s hand that was gripping her arm. Luckily, he let go.


    Haisley then grabbed her bag, which had fallen to the floor, and quickly ran into the house, heading straight to her room. She didn¡¯t care if her actions would wake up the people in the house. She just needed to apologize afterward.


    With restrained anger, Nathan also walked into the house and watched Haisley run away from him. The girl seemed to hurry into her room and lock the door from the inside.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t jealousy something unpleasant, Nath?¡± The voice came from one corner of the dimly lit room. His mother stood behind the bar counter with a ss in her hand. Nathan could see her because the light from the garden provided a little illumination towards the kitchen.


    A few hours earlier.


    Today was the day when Nathan¡¯s parents were due to arrive for their second visit. Nathan intentionally asked his secretary to postpone the meeting scheduled after 4 PM because he nned to leave home early. He just wanted to make sure everything was in order at home before his parents arrived and started meddling in various things. Gilbert had already promised to pick them up from the airport, so Nathan didn¡¯t need to call a driver to fetch them. As he stepped out of the lobby, he saw Loretta walking towards him.


    ¡°Nath, where are you going?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Home,¡± Nathan replied, tly as usual.


    ¡°Why? Are you sick?¡± she asked, concerned. Loretta reached out her hand to touch Nathan¡¯s forehead, but he declined.


    ¡°My parents areing, so I need to go home early,¡± he stated matter-of-factly.


    ¡°Your mom and dad?¡± Loretta asked eagerly. Nathan just nodded. He chose to continue walking, and Loretta followed him. She walked alongside him, still looking enthusiastic. ¡°Are we going to pick them up from the airport?¡± she asked again.


    Nathan shook his head. ¡°Gilbert is picking them up,¡± he said, tly.


    Loretta extended her hands and held onto Nathan¡¯s arm. ¡°We should pick them up, Natha. You and I. I don¡¯t want to be seen as disrespectful and indifferent to their arrival,¡± she pouted.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s unnecessary. Gilbert is already on his way there, and you can meet my parents tomorrow. There isn¡¯t much time left if you meet them now. They must be tired and want to rest,¡± Nathan said, still maintaining his indifferent demeanor. But Loretta grabbed his arm again and shook it with a cute, pleading expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want your mom to think I¡¯m an inconsiderate daughter-inw, Nath. Please, let¡¯s go pick them up. At least, I want to make a good impression on your parents. Especially your mom,¡± she said, imploringly.


    Nathan felt irritated. However, what Loretta said made sense. ¡°I still need to go home and change,¡± he said. Loretta nodded in agreement and followed Nathan.


    They then got into Nathan¡¯s car, which had been brought by a valet.


    Nathan wasn¡¯t a talkative person, and Loretta knew that. So during the journey from the office to his residence, they remained in silence.


    As Nathan had mentioned earlier, he went home, took a shower, and changed his clothes. After that, he headed back to the airport to pick up his parents, even though he thought it was a futile gesture since Gilbert would undoubtedly be picking them up there as well.


    They arrived at the airport, once again the journey filled with silence. Upon reaching the waiting area, Loretta, who was walking with her right arm around Nathan¡¯s arm, now patted his upper arm.


    ¡°Nath, isn¡¯t that Gilbert?¡± she asked, pointing to a tall, burly man sitting with a petite girl with short ck hair. ¡°Is that his girlfriend?¡± she asked again when she saw Gilbert wrap his left arm around the girl¡¯s shoulder and gently tap their heads together. ¡°They¡¯re so affectionate,¡± Loretta said enthusiastically. ¡°Is Gilbert nning to introduce his girlfriend to your parents too? We can¡¯t fall behind, Nath. Come on,¡± she said, pulling Nathan¡¯s arm to make them walk faster.


    They approached, and then Loretta realized that it wasn¡¯t Gilbert¡¯s girlfriend but¡­ ¡°G, Haisley, you¡¯re here too?¡± she changed her question at thest moment.


    Just like Nathan and Loretta, they were surprised by the girl they thought was Gilbert¡¯s girlfriend, who turned out to be Haisley. Both of them seemed taken aback by Nathan and Loretta¡¯s presence, and even Gilbert didn¡¯t hide his displeasure.


    ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± he asked, his sharp gaze directed straight at Nathan. But instead of answering his younger brother¡¯s question, Nathan found himself staring at Haisley. The girl and her newly cut hair.


    What was she doing with her beautiful hair? Why did she cut it so short? Nathan asked, a sudden pang of irritation creeping into his heart.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Gilbert¡¯s question redirected Nathan¡¯s attention from the girl, who was clearly avoiding looking at him. Loretta helped Nathan respond to his brother¡¯s curt question. Nathan kept his eyes on Haisley, who still refused to meet his gaze. Was she ying with fire now? After previously admitting to being involved with Dean and Gilbert, she was now openly standing here and intending to meet his parents? What kind of game was this petite girl going to y?

 Chap 49

    They stood in the passenger arrival area. Haisley seemed unwilling to stray far from Gilbert. The petite girl didn¡¯t mind being in Gilbert¡¯s embrace, asionally looking up and smiling at her younger brother, but she didn¡¯t even nce at Nathan. This only served to infuriate him further.


    Why did he feel like an ignored airport pir to her several times over?


    Nathan was still gazing at the girl when he heard a familiar loud voice, and a tall, slim, beautiful woman with long hair dyed dark brown and ombre with golden strands enveloping Haisley¡¯s small frame almost caused her to fall backward if Gilbert hadn¡¯t quickly steadied her by the waist. The woman¡¯s scolding was ear-piercing.


    Nathan averted his gaze and saw his father approaching, pulling two suitcases with both hands. The nearly sixty-year-old man came closer, and Nathan greeted him with a hug, patting his back gently.


    ¡°How are you, Pa?¡± he said.


    ¡°Good, very good,¡± his father replied softly, in stark contrast to his wife¡¯s loud voice, which almost drowned out the airport speaker. ¡°How about you?¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Nathan replied tly.


    ¡°Who is this beautiful girl?¡± his father asked Loretta. A shy smile appeared on her lovely face. Loretta extended her hand, which his father shook.


    ¡°I¡¯m Loretta, Sir,¡± she said.


    ¡°Samuel Chayton,¡± his father replied, shaking Loretta¡¯s hand.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± the question Gilbert had asked earlier was now posed by his mother. Nathan could only roll his eyes. But then the woman grabbed Nathan and whispered, ¡°Mom is waiting for your exnation, Nath.¡± Her words left Nathan momentarily bewildered. Quickly, she released her embrace and then looked at Loretta. ¡°And who is this beautiful youngdy?¡± she asked with a kindness Nathan knew was nothing but feigned.


    ¡°Loretta,¡± Loretta replied shyly.


    Nathan couldn¡¯t do anything as his mother merely extended her hand and shook Loretta¡¯s, not showing the warmth she disyed when embracing Haisley.


    ¡°Dad goes with Nathan, Mom goes with Haisley.¡± The words inly exined that his mother favored Haisley over getting to know Loretta better.


    Again, Nathan couldn¡¯t force his mother¡¯s will. Just like his father, who could only resign himself and ept his wife¡¯s decision.


    They walked towards the car while Gilbert already had his father¡¯s suitcases and ced them in the car. ¡°Forgive your mom; she still can¡¯t ept your decision to marry Loretta,¡± his father whispered when Loretta had entered the car.


    ¡°We all know Mom is very hard to please,¡± Nathan replied tly. He then got behind the wheel and waited for Gilbert¡¯s car to move first.


    After driving for a while, Gilbert¡¯s car finally turned on its side lights, and they entered the parking lot of the pasta restaurant his mother loved so much. She visited every time she came to Ennd. Nathan could see his mother getting out of the back seat, followed by Haisley. The middle-aged woman then wrapped her arm around Haisley as if she didn¡¯t want to lose the petite girl. Any stranger seeing them would probably assume that Haisley was her biological daughter, not her friend¡¯s child.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    His mother spoke to the male host, who immediately led them to a table near arge window offering a view of the city. They were promptly handed menus. His mother seemed to give Haisley undivided attention, making it difficult for her to order as if she couldn¡¯t choose her food on her own. And indeed, the girl couldn¡¯t pick her menu, so Gilbert chose for her. Ugh, spoiled brat. Nathan thought as he ced his own order.


    ¡°You know, your youth should be spent enjoying delicious foods. While there¡¯s still a chance,¡± his mother¡¯s statement was another way of saying, ¡®Shouldn¡¯t you be dieting? Isn¡¯t your body already too small to keep dieting?¡¯ That¡¯s roughly what Nathan gathered from his mother¡¯s gaze at Loretta. Even though Loretta had given reasons why she had to diet, his mother continued to mock her without uttering a single word.


    His mother refocused on Haisley. Nathan hadn¡¯t lived in America for six years, so he didn¡¯t know how close their rtionship was. But seeing his motherfortably conversing with Haisley, even though the girl only responded minimally, for some reason made Nathan angry. Why couldn¡¯t his mother look at Loretta and appreciate her presence there?


    ¡°Do you like your new friends?¡± The question interrupted his business conversation with his father. Now was the time for Nathan to make his mother realize that Haisley wasn¡¯t the good girl she imagined.


    ¡°Until you¡¯re torn between studying and casting spells,¡± she said curtly. She was still angry with the girl for openly being involved with Dean and also Gilbert, yet also ying with Steven. Nathan didn¡¯t know which man she was intentionally approaching, with or without the knowledge of her younger brother and cousin.


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem if Haisley charms people?¡± His mother¡¯s response clearly left Nathan incredulous. Hello, he was trying to remind his mother that Haisley wasn¡¯t a good girl, but his mother was supporting her instead?


    ¡°She¡¯s a beautiful girl, she¡¯s single and not tied down. It¡¯s only natural at her young age to have many acquaintances. If she can and if she¡¯s capable, it¡¯s even better if she dates. And let me advise you too, Haisley. Don¡¯t just date one boy. That will only make you bored. Date three to five people at the same time, so your life won¡¯t be too dull,¡± the woman replied to her eldest son.


    ¡°What kind of advice is that?¡± Nathan asked, growing increasingly incredulous. He knew his mother could be described as democratic and leaning towards entricity. But not like this, right?


    ¡°Life is too boring if you only love one man, Nath.¡± Her statement was clearly a jab at him. Nathan couldn¡¯t tell if his mother was mocking him for loving Crystal or if she was mocking Haisley for loving him. Only his mother understood the meaning behind her words. ¡°You should aim for the best among the good. And let go of the bad among the good.¡± So, ording to his mother, he was the bad part that Haisley needed to let go of? ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time obsessing over a man who might not be your destiny, Haisley.¡± So, Haisley¡¯s desire to forget him stemmed from his mother¡¯s advice? Now he knew why Haisley dared to be so bold around him.


    ¡°At least, she can be a good kisser.¡± The woman¡¯s final words after her lengthy advice made Nathan irritated.

 Chap 50

    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t teach other people¡¯s children to be cheap women,¡± Nathan said in a disapproving tone. But his mother responded to his words with another lengthy speech about women, about obedience to God, parents, and infidelity.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being cheap anyway? After all, it¡¯s not you who¡¯s at a loss.¡±


    Indeed, it wasn¡¯t her who would suffer the consequences, but Haisley¡¯s future husband. He would be left with the pieces in the end. Then his mother proceeded to talk to Loretta, but with sensitive content that left the girl flustered. And Nathan knew, whatever Loretta¡¯s response, his mother would counter it with other statements. Fortunately, his father intervened in the conversation, preventing the sensitive discussion from continuing further.


    In the end, Nathan escorted Loretta back to her apartment. Loretta remained silent throughout the journey, just like when they were heading to the airport. But this time, Nathan knew that the girl seemed sadder than before.


    ¡°Is there something you want to talk about?¡± Nathan asked Loretta. The girl appeared hesitant, shaking her head while biting her lower lip. ¡°Just say whatever you want to say; I¡¯ll listen,¡± he added.


    Loretta seemed to raise her head, her eyes looking at Nathan hesitantly. ¡°I think your mother doesn¡¯t like me,¡± the girl said softly.


    Nathan frowned. He wasn¡¯t unaware of his mother¡¯s deliberate act of not talking to Loretta. He just pretended not to know. ¡°That¡¯s just your feeling because you haven¡¯t gotten to know Mommy .¡±


    Loretta shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. She just seemed to like Haisley more than me all night. She didn¡¯t even talk to me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because Mommy  has known Haisley since she was a baby and considers her as her own child. You know my family doesn¡¯t have daughters. And besides, next time, you should try talking to Mommy  yourself. I think it¡¯ll be easy. Mommy  likes fashion, just like you.¡± Nathan replied tly.


    A smile instantly appeared on Loretta¡¯s face. The girl nodded enthusiastically. ¡°You¡¯re right. How long will your mother be in London?¡± she asked, curious.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. One to two weeks, maybe.¡± Nathan said uncertainly because his mother could stay longer than that.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll visit your house and take your mother shopping. Do you think that¡¯s a good idea?¡± she asked for advice. Nathan just nodded his head.


    Loretta eagerly wrapped her arms around Nathan¡¯s neck. Despite her tall figure, she still had to stand on her tiptoes to bnce their heights with Nathan. Loretta leaned in, and her lips met his.


    Sweet, with a hint of pasta. That was the first taste Nathan got from Loretta¡¯s full lips. But still, it didn¡¯tpare to the sensation of kissing Haisley¡¯s thinner lips.


    Loretta kissed him with enthusiasm, but Nathan couldn¡¯t feel any passion. His mind was instead filled with the image of himself kissing Haisley¡¯s lips and touching her body. Damn! He cursed inwardly and immediately pulled away from Loretta.


    ¡°It¡¯ste. I have to go home,¡± he said. Loretta pouted upon hearing this.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to stay over?¡± she asked, hope evident in her voice. Nathan just shook his head. Then he quickly got into his car to head home.


    Damn! Why did he have to imagine Haisley at a time like this? He cursed inwardly.


    Several tens of minutester, he arrived home. Nathan parked his car in the garage. Gilbert¡¯s car was already neatly parked there. He had just gotten out of his car when he saw the connecting door open and the petite girl emerged, still wearing jeans and a short-sleeved shirt.


    Was she waiting for him? He wondered.


    But no, the girl seemed to ignore him and strolled towards Gilbert¡¯s car. As she reached into her bag in the trunk, Nathan noticed how tempting her petite backside looked. His hand itched to touch and squeeze it. Just that simple sight made his lower body react instantly.


    ¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡± The question just slipped out of Nathan¡¯s mouth.


    The girl holding the bag stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. ¡°Doing what?¡± she asked, confused.


    Moving your butt so seductively. That was what was on Nathan¡¯s mind right now. ¡°Dominating the conversation with my mother,¡± Nathan replied. ¡°So much so that Loretta didn¡¯t even get a chance to talk and introduce herself.¡±


    Damn! Why did he have to say that? Why did he have to act like an angry lover because his lover was being treated unfairly? That wasn¡¯t what he was thinking at all.


    ¡°You stay silent on purpose and only respond to Mommy ¡®s words briefly because you know that way, Mommy  will talk even more. You¡¯re giving her a chance to talk. And it makes Mommy pletely ignore Loretta.¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    The girl seemed to furrow her brows, then stared at Nathan defiantly.


    ¡°Whether I stay silent or talk a lot, it will always be wrong in your eyes, Nath. I don¡¯t need to respond to your nonsense.¡± The girl then turned around.


    No, Nathan didn¡¯t want her to leave yet. He still wanted to confront her. He still wanted to see the face of the girl he hadn¡¯t seen for so long.


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense, Haisley. And what about your hair? Did you cut it on purpose? What¡¯s your intention? Seeking attention from people?¡±


    Seeking attention from me? That thought only upied his mind. His hand itched to touch her hair and feel its texture again. Would it be as soft as before?


    ¡°Yes, I deliberately seek attention,¡± the girl replied with fiery eyes. ¡°I even intend to beautify myself and improve my appearance so that I can appear sexier and attract more men¡¯s attention here.


    ¡°Do you remember what your mother said earlier, that I should date many men? Well, I will do that. And after that, you will call me a cheap woman. And you know, I don¡¯t mind hearing that. So now, let go of my hand. I want to sleep.¡± The girl tried to shake her hand to free herself, but Nathan didn¡¯t let go. Every time he saw those lips talking, his desire to silence them with his own lips grew stronger.


    ¡°Nathan!¡± Haisley growled in annoyance.


    ¡°What about Dean?¡± Why did he have to mention that jerk¡¯s name? He cursed inwardly. ¡°Are you nning to date many men behind his back too? Are you nning to betray him? Are you nning to parade yourself to many people? Why not to me?¡± Nathan thought, frustrated.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you that my affairs have nothing to do with you,¡± the girl said irritably.


    ¡°He¡¯s my cousin,¡± Nathan said meaninglessly.


    ¡°And he¡¯s my boyfriend,¡± Haisley replied angrily.


    How far had Haisley¡¯s rtionship with Dean actually gone? What had they done in her small t? Had they already had intercourse?


    ¡°I just need to be loyal to the man who will be my husbandter,¡± thest sentence Nathan heard came from the girl¡¯s mouth.


    Husband? Who would marry Haisleyter? Who would be her husband? I¡¯d rather die first before proposing to her to her parents.


    The girl walked away, leaving Nathan confused with his own thoughts.


    Nathan ran his fingers roughly through his hair and watched the girl run away from him. He was sure she had locked herself in from the inside because she was afraid of him.


    Nathan was about to walk to his room when he saw the woman he really wanted to avoid. ¡°Isn¡¯t jealousy quite unpleasant, Nath?¡± she asked mockingly.

 Chap 51

    Nathan sneered, ¡°Who¡¯s jealous of whom?¡± he asked his mother.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it amusing to think that I would be jealous of Haisley?¡± his mother replied nonchntly, taking another sip of her drink. Nathan raised an eyebrow, deliberately mocking his mother.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Mommy  is puzzled by what both of you are thinking, you and your father,¡± he said bluntly. The woman walked away from the kitchen and approached Nathan.


    ¡°Business, right? Why involve marriage?¡± she said mockingly.


    ¡°Mutual symbiosis?¡± Nathan replied foolishly. His mother burst intoughter.


    ¡°What mutual symbiosis? Can you really endure a woman you don¡¯t love? What about intimacy? Can you be intimate with a woman you don¡¯t desire? Or do you fantasize about another woman while you crush her in bed?¡± His mother sneered. ¡°Yes, considering men can have sex with any woman without love, I suppose you can do it. After all, the woman you marry will just be a baby factory to carry on your legacy, won¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°Mommy ,¡± Nathan interjected, feeling his ears burning from his mother¡¯s overly vulgar words.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with what Mommy  said?¡± she asked challengingly. ¡°Nathan, listen to Mommy . If you want to be trapped in a marriage with a woman you don¡¯t love, why don¡¯t you trap yourself with Haisley? At least Haisley is much better than your chosen woman because we know her and her family for a lifetime. We know her virtues and ws. But Loretta?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with her. She¡¯s beautiful and educated. Her family is certainly not one to be underestimated.¡±


    His mother snorted again. ¡°So you choose her because she¡¯s wealthy?¡± she asked mockingly. ¡°What aboutfort and living abundantly with love?¡± she challenged. ¡°Life isn¡¯t about how extensive your business roots are. It¡¯s not about how many zeros are in your bank ount. It¡¯s not about how many business connections you have.


    ¡°Life is aboutfort.


    ¡°It¡¯s useless to have many businesses if you don¡¯t have time for yourself and your happiness. It¡¯s useless to have a lot of savings if here,¡± she pointed to Nathan¡¯s heart, ¡°you feel emptiness and loneliness. It¡¯s useless to have many business rtions because when you¡¯re sick, no one will sincerely take care of you except your family. Your wife and your children.


    ¡°She, Loretta, whom you imes from a wealthy and prosperous background. Dignified and educated, ask her, will she really be with you in your poverty, sickness, and hardship?


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother asking her if she¡¯ll be with you when you¡¯re rich because your wealth will be her pleasure and happiness, that¡¯s for sure. Because everyone, whether you know them or not, will be there when you¡¯re in that position. But she, they, might not be willing to ept all your shorings, your poverty, your pain when it all happens to you.


    ¡°She, who is used to eating with a golden spoon, will never ept a wooden spoon, let alone one that¡¯s covered in mold. And you. Don¡¯t be arrogant because of your current situation. Your wealth, your sess, it¡¯s all entirely your hard work. But God is fair, if He does this,¡± the woman snapped her fingers. ¡°And says that everything you own must be gone, what do you have left? Nothing, except the love of someone who, of course, loves you sincerely and unconditionally.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit with love. Such things only exist in fairy tales read by teenagers,¡± he scoffed.


    Mrs. Monica raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°Is that so?¡± she asked challengingly. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you use that intelligent brain of yours to think? Try talking to your heart about what you¡¯re currently experiencing. About Haisley,¡± she said meaningfully. ¡°Ask yourself what feelings you have for that little girl right now. Is it love? Obsession? Or pure greed? Because from what I can see in the way you look at her, it¡¯s clearly not hatred. Nor is it greed.¡±


    ¡°You might not want to admit it because of your inted ego. But if you truly reflect on what you feel, you¡¯ll realize that you¡¯ve already anchored your emotions onto that little girl.


    You even foolishly envy your own half-sister just because she pays more attention to Haisley. The truth is, you neglect the girl you im will be your ¡®future wife¡¯ and me Haisley for your foolishness.¡±


    ¡°You are smart in academics, but you are stupid about your feelings.


    ¡°You think Mommy can¡¯t see how you keep your distance from Loretta? But you did things differently to Haisley. Why? Are your hands itching to touch it? Your lips want to kiss her? Or maybe,¡± his mother pointed at Nathaniel¡¯s lower body. ¡°Your junior can¡¯t help but want to find a nest to hide in?¡± she asked mockingly. ¡°I know more about life than you, I know what passion is and I know when I see people feel it. Because I¡¯ve experienced it myself, darling.¡± She said, chuckling as she patted Nathan¡¯s cheek mockingly.


    Mrs. Monica then walked away, leaving Nathan standing stiffly in his ce with his hands clenched in anger.


    ¡°Think again, at least with Haisley you know that you will be loved and your body knows how to react.¡± She said with a wink and walked away.


    Unlucky! Nathan cursed again to himself. How could that woman know everything so thoroughly in such a short time?


    Nathan rushed into his room and closed the door roughly. He doesn¡¯t care if he wakes people up.


    For God¡¯s sake! All of this is because of Haisley.


    ***


    The morning hubbub reluctantly forced Nathan to open his eyes. After his unpleasant conversation with his mother the previous night, which he couldn¡¯t admit was enjoyable, Nathan had trouble sleeping. He had managed to close his eyes for only an hour or two before sunrise, and now he felt a headache creeping in. Especially with the disturbances he hearding from the kitchen, not far from his room.


    Nathan roughly kicked off his nket and stumbled toward the bathroom. He washed his face and brushed his teeth without bothering to change his clothes. He opened the door and was quite surprised by the scene before him. His mother, father, and Gilbert were sitting around the dining table while Haisley was busy with cooking utensils alongside Aunt Jody.


    ¡°What are you all fussing about this early in the morning?¡± Nathanined to his family.

 Chap 52

    His mother looked him up and down mockingly and then nodded her head toward the wall clock. ¡°It¡¯s already eight, Nath. I thought you¡¯ve vanished and hidden in your kingdom,¡± she said mockingly.


    Why did his mother always behave so cynically and mock him? What had he done to her, really?


    Nathan walked to the dining table and chose to sit there, directly facing his mother. Gilbert sat across from his father, leaving two empty seats. One on Gilbert¡¯s left, which was also his mother¡¯s right side. One on Gilbert¡¯s right, which was Nathan¡¯s left side.


    The sound of the doorbell caught everyone¡¯s attention. Aunt Jody offered to open the door without being asked. Meanwhile, Haisley was still engrossed in her cooking, the smell of which reached the table.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Loretta¡¯s cheerful greeting surprised everyone. Nathan, who was facing away from the entrance, had to turn his body first. ¡°I hope I¡¯m not toote for breakfast. I made breakfast for all of us,¡± she said cheerfully. She carried a transparent bowl containing something ivory and red, which Nathan could guess the contents of.


    ¡°Notte at all,¡± Mrs. Monica said enthusiastically. ¡°We haven¡¯t started breakfast yet,¡± she continued. Haisley, who had been cooking, finally turned around and greeted Loretta with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Haisley, you¡¯re here too?¡± the girl asked in surprise.


    Mrs. Monica¡¯s eyes narrowed upon hearing the question. ¡°Of course, is she not allowed to be here?¡± she inquired, curious.


    Loretta looked visibly ufortable. She then ced what she had brought on the dining table and nced at Mrs. Monica nervously.


    ¡°Not like that, I mean, Haisley doesn¡¯t live here anymore, so it¡¯s quite surprising to see her here this early in the morning,¡± he continued.


    Mrs. Monica looked shocked-it was evident that she was taken aback by Haisley not living here anymore-but quickly covered her surprise. ¡°What¡¯s the difference with you?¡± Mrs. Monica asked, her sweet smile on her face. ¡°You don¡¯t live here either, but you¡¯re already here this early morning,¡± she said, making Gilbert suppress hisughter by biting his lip.


    ¡°Um, well, that¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°What did you bring?¡± Nathan quickly changed the topic. He knew his mother wanted to corner Loretta, and he didn¡¯t want to see that cold war continue.


    ¡°I brought a casserole with lots of meat in it. I hope you like it, I made it myself since this morning,¡± she said shyly.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ looks tempting,¡± Mr. Samuel said as he looked at the aluminum foil-covered bowl. He then asked Aunt Jody to bring tes and a knife for Loretta¡¯s casserole. Aunt Jody then ced what Mr. Samuel asked for on the table.


    ¡°Haisley, is Aunt¡¯s order ready?¡± Mrs. Monica asked Haisley.


    ¡°In a moment, Tan. The broth isn¡¯t dry yet.¡±


    ¡°No need to wait until it¡¯s dry, just bring it here, I¡¯m hungry already,¡± Mrs. Monica requested, which Haisley promptly agreed to.


    Haisley then took a bowl from the bottom of the kitchen set, which inevitably made her showcase her hips that enticed Nathan. He quickly averted his gaze and chose to look at the red sauce in Loretta¡¯s bowl. Meanwhile, in her silence, Mrs. Monica seemed to disy a mocking smile.


    The girl then brought arge dish that Nathan had earlier smelled of fishiness. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Nathan asked curtly.


    ¡°Stir-fried goat meat,¡± his mother replied tly, staring at the dish Haisley brought with enthusiasm. ¡°And the sambal and stir-fry?¡±


    She asked Haisley. Haisley smiled again and walked to the kitchen. She returned with arge bowl in her right hand and a small bowl in her left hand. ¡°American food that I miss,¡± his mother said, sniffing the stir-fry served by Haisley.


    ¡°Where did Mom get all of this?¡± Nathan was surprised to see the stir-fried water spinach in front of him. Not to mention the raw sambal served in another small bowl.


    Mrs. Monica shrugged. ¡°Just ask Aunt Jody. Isn¡¯t social media very useful in times like this? Just look at how all this organic food can be obtained,¡± his mother said happily. Aunt Jody, mentioned by his mother, now ced arge bowl of rice in front of them.


    ¡°Oh, Haisley. Thanks a lot. I really missed all of this,¡± Gilbert said, who without permission moved a spoonful of rice onto his te.


    Mrs. Monica looked at her youngest son with a sharp, piercing gaze. Gilbert just shrugged; he would postpone the confrontation with his mother until he felt full.


    Stiffly, Haisley sat next to Mrs. Monica and inevitably faced Loretta, who sat next to Nathan.


    ¡°You owe me an exnation, Haisley,¡± Mrs. Monica whispered in Haisley¡¯s ear, making Haisley grin reluctantly.


    Just likest night, Mrs. Monica openly chose to eat the food cooked by Haisley rather than the food brought by Loretta, and so did Gilbert. Meanwhile, Mr. Samuel and Nathan ate the breakfast Loretta had brought, although they also seemed to nce at the food made by Haisley.


    Mrs. Monica¡¯s smile blossomed with mockery. She considered this a cold war for the Chayton family.


    Ms. Monica called Gilbert and Haisley into her room. Ignoring the puzzled looks from Loretta and her husband, the woman immediately closed and locked her bedroom door as soon as the two entered.


    ¡°So, exin everything. Why did you move from this ce? Does it have anything to do with Nathan and Loretta?¡± The question was directed straight at Haisley, who sat with her head down and hands intertwined on the bed, next to Gilbert, who sat casually with his hands resting behind his back, supporting his weight.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Haisley shook her head, about to object, but Gilbert interrupted her.


    ¡°Of course, it has to do with them. Did you think this has anything to do with me, Mom?¡± he asked sharply. Mrs. Monica narrowed her eyes at Gilbert.


    ¡°And exin that to Mommy, G,¡± shemanded again.


    ¡°Haisley just didn¡¯t want to be the third wheel in their rtionship,¡± he said with a mocking smile on his face. ¡°Good for Haisley, she chose to stop loving Nathan rather than chasing after him,¡± he continued.


    Haisley then looked at Gilbert usingly, but he just sneered and shrugged nonchntly.


    ¡°Haisley, hasn¡¯t Auntie already told you that you should fight to win Nathan¡¯s heart? Auntie wouldn¡¯t ask you to fight if she knew her son didn¡¯t have any feelings for you,¡± Mrs. Monica said, squatting in front of Haisley. ¡°Nathan is just confused right now. Let¡¯s consider this moment as him being lost. He needs you to guide his way.¡±

 Chap 53

    Haisley smiled and shook her head. ¡°No, Auntie. Nathan isn¡¯t lost. He knows exactly which path he should take, and Loretta is his choice. I don¡¯t want to keep hoping. I¡¯ve waited long enough for Nathan to erase the name Crystal from his heart and mind. Even though that name wasn¡¯t reced with mine, I am grateful. At least Nathan is no longer hoping for something that will never be his.


    ¡°And now, it¡¯s my turn to realize that Nathan isn¡¯t meant for me,¡± Haisley said with full confidence.


    Mrs. Monica shook her head. The woman stood up again and paced back and forth in front of the two young women with a troubled mind.


    ¡°Nathan is just not thinking clearly, and his foolish father is the same. How could he agree to his son¡¯s marriage based on business?¡± the woman grumbled angrily. ¡°In the end, Nathan will realize that marrying for business reasons is not a good thing.¡±


    Gilbert straightened up and looked at his mother with a mocking gaze. ¡°Come on, why should Mom worry about him so excessively? Even if he regrets it, Nathan will be the one to feel it. Not us,¡± he said dismissively, met with a re from his mother.


    ¡°You should be helping your brother to see reason. Not letting him go even more insane,¡± his mother said harshly.


    Gilbert shrugged. ¡°There are things we can and cannot interfere with, Ma. That¡¯s the principle.¡±


    ¡°Nathan chose, which means he¡¯s ready for all the consequences. He¡¯s an adult, not a child. Whether he¡¯s happy or not in the end, it¡¯s his choice. We should be thankful that Haisley finally has an open mind. She finally realizes that loving Nathan is not good for her,¡± he said tly.


    Mrs. Monica looked at Haisley with hope. ¡°But I¡¯ve always dreamed of making you my daughter-inw, Haisley,¡± she said pleadingly. ¡°Can¡¯t you change your mind and fight for Nathan again?¡± she asked, full of hope.


    Haisley looked at the woman hesitantly. Should she admit that she still wanted Nathan?


    No. Haisley couldn¡¯t be a fool for the umpteenth time. She had to stop hoping. She had to stop begging for Nathan¡¯s love.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Auntie,¡± Haisley replied softly.


    Mrs. Monica groaned in frustration. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you just fall in love with Haisley?¡± She used her youngest son. ¡°And why did you have to fall in love with Nathan instead? Why not just fall in love with Gilbert?¡± She said to Haisley, making Gilbert struggle to hold back hisughter.


    His mother and her absurd thoughts were truly unique.


    ¡°If only you two were in love, Mommy would be much happier,¡± she grumbled angrily.


    Gilbert sighed. ¡°Come on, Mom. Even though Mommy can¡¯t make Haisley a daughter-inw, you can still make her a sister-inw. At least you can still arrange a match between Haisley and Dean,¡± Gilbert replied tly.


    ¡°Dean?¡± Mrs. Monica asked her youngest son. Gilbert nodded. ¡°You mean Dean, ¡®that¡¯ Dean?¡± she asked incredulously, to which Gilbert nodded again. ¡°Why Dean?¡± she asked, confused.


    ¡°Because Dean clearly loves Haisley,¡± Gilbert asked his mother.


    Mrs. Monica shook her head vigorously. ¡°Oh God, does the Smith family really have to be taken over by your cousins, G?¡± she sighed in frustration.


    ¡°Well, because my cousins know which seeds are good and which are not,¡± Gilbert replied confidently, which was met with a pinch from Haisley and a kick from his mother. ¡°Come on, Mom, Haisley. Just open your minds. What¡¯s so great about Nathan? Your sister already realized and chose Juan over ¡®perfect¡¯ Nathan. So, what¡¯s wrong with you choosing Dean too? Didn¡¯t I say being loved is better than loving?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± his mother objected again. ¡°Mommy is still convinced that Nathan likes Haisley; he just hasn¡¯t realized it yet because he¡¯s too obsessed with advancing his business.¡±


    ¡°In that case, let him be,¡± Gilbert said, irritated. He then stood up from his seat and red at his mother. ¡°Stop Mommy¡¯s chatter and belief that Nathan has feelings for Haisley. Because even though I know and believe those feelings exist, I won¡¯t allow Haisley to marry Nathan,¡± he said with restrained anger. He looked at Haisley and his mother, both of them staring at him in confusion.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± his mother asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Mama has no idea how that jerk has been treating Haisley all this time,¡± Gilbert said harshly. His patience seemed to have reached its limit. Haisley pulled his shirt, urging Gilbert to stop talking about what had been happening between them, about Nathan¡¯s cruel treatment she had endured. ¡°He¡¯s cruel. He openly insults Haisley, not just verbally but also non-verbally,¡± Gilbert said passionately.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± his mother asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s one thing when hepares Haisley to Loretta; Gilbert could still control himself. But sexual harassment?¡± Gilbert shook his head. ¡°He¡¯s crossed the line,¡± he said angrily.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Haisley referred to the incident of sexual harassment mentioned by Gilbert, the moment when Nathan tried to kiss her in the alley where theyst ate, resulting in Haisley being rushed back to the hospital due to a tear on her back. But she was wrong.


    ¡°Remember the morning when I mentioned there was an additional schedule?¡± Gilbert asked Haisley. She was still trying to recall it when Gilbert continued, ¡°I came back home because I forgot something. And there I saw him, he was hovering over you while you were sleeping,¡± he said with a shallowugh that instantly made Mrs. Monica¡¯s eyes widen in shock, and Haisley¡¯s face transformed into anger.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop him?¡± his mother asked, wanting to know.


    ¡°For what? To embarrass that man and Haisley?¡± Gilbert asked sharply. ¡°He did it because he wanted to, didn¡¯t he? So I thought, fine, I¡¯ll let it happen because apparently Nathan wants Haisley too.


    ¡°The jerk likes her. If not, he wouldn¡¯t have done it, especially to a sleeping girl.


    ¡°And then, he suddenly shows up when we were about to go on vacation, willingly amodating all of us and suddenly providing luxuries by renting a yacht and an equally luxurious vi.¡±


    ¡°He did all of that for whom? For you, H. He only used Loretta as a camouge because he didn¡¯t want to admit his feelings for you. He regretted not knowing that you developed aquaphobia. He didn¡¯t know because he never bothered to get to know you, never wanted to know about you. And he reced his guilt by saying harsh things to you. Especially when he found out that you knew he used to like your sister.


    ¡°He felt ashamed, guilty, and jealous all at once.


    ¡°If he really had no feelings for you, he wouldn¡¯t be feeling all of that. But yes, he does have those feelings, but he¡¯s unwilling to admit it. He doesn¡¯t want to admit that he¡¯s fallen for your charm.¡±


    ¡°Do you wonder why he went berserk at the t and used us of having a rtionship? If he didn¡¯t have feelings for you, he should be happy because you have someone else to love, so you wouldn¡¯t bother him anymore.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not the case. He¡¯s jealous, especially when Dean came and talked about his feelings for you. He got even angrier. He¡¯s afraid that you might eventually turn to Dean. And you know why? Because he wants you for himself but refuses to admit it.


    ¡°It¡¯s clear he deliberately let Loretta say those things because he wanted to make you jealous. But Dean is smarter. He knows what Nathan wants, so he said what Nathan didn¡¯t want to hear. And you got the reaction Nathan didn¡¯t want you to have.


    ¡°If he wasn¡¯t jealous, he would let you go to Dean. Regardless of whether Dean is his rival or not. If he had no feelings for you, him losing you from his reach would be something he should be thankful for. But the fact? He just doesn¡¯t want to admit that he has fallen for you, H.¡±

 Chap 54

    Mrs. Monica looked at her youngest son with a stunned expression, as did Haisley. She didn¡¯t want to believe Gilbert¡¯s ¡®assumptions¡¯ and avoid building her hopes on uncertain grounds.


    It was just Gilbert¡¯s ¡®spection.¡¯ In reality, Nathan had decided to marry Loretta, which meant he didn¡¯t want her. Because if Nathan did want her, he wouldn¡¯t rashly choose to marry a woman he didn¡¯t desire. If he truly loved her, he would choose Haisley over his business.


    Shouldn¡¯t love work that way?


    Or perhaps Nathan relied more on his rationality than his emotions? Yes, of course, marrying Haisley would offer Nathan no benefitspared to marrying Loretta, who could provide him with everything.


    Haisley sank back into despair.


    What she heard from Gilbert did momentarily lift her spirits, but the harsh reality swiftly brought her crashing down, not just back to earth, but into a seemingly bottomless pit.


    For Nathan, she indeed seemed unimportant, not worth fighting for. And that certainty further solidified Haisley¡¯s resolve not to hope anymore. Yet, she felt a twinge of gratitude, however brief, knowing that Nathan had at least some feelings for her beyond mere hatred.


    Mrs. Monica looked at Haisley withpassion. ¡°Haisley.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided to stop loving Nathan, Auntie,¡± the girl said softly. Tears began to well up in her eyes from the piercing pain in her chest. ¡°I¡¯m tired too,¡± she replied, her lips curled upward in a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t force Nathan to love me, and Gilbert is right. Being loved is better than loving.¡±


    ¡°H¡­¡± Gilbert felt guilty. He was wrong for unloading all the burden he had been carrying in front of Haisley.


    For him, Nathan¡¯s happiness and Haisley¡¯s happiness were his happiness too. But Nathan had gone too far to earn Haisley¡¯s forgiveness, and he didn¡¯t want his mother to keep supporting this rtionship that would never lead anywhere.


    He wanted to open his mother¡¯s eyes so she would stop giving false hope to Haisley about her brother¡¯s realization without demeaning the girl. But Haisley also needed to realize that Nathan was not the right man for her. Despite that tiny bit of affection Nathan held for Haisley, he would only bring her more pain than joy.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Gilbert wasn¡¯t someone who believed that someone could change in a short time. That¡¯s what he believed about Nathan too.


    ¡°I have to go to work, G. Can you drop me off?¡± Haisley looked up and stared at Gilbert, attempting to put on a cheerful face. Gilbert scratched his neck. That expression, it was clear he was the one who had hurt the girl¡¯s feelings and made her suffer.


    ¡°Forgive me, H,¡± he said softly.


    Haisley smiled again and shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to forgive, G. Let it go,¡± she said, waving her hand. ¡°You¡¯ll take me, won¡¯t you?¡± she asked, her eyes pleading.


    Gilbert nodded.


    Then, Haisley turned to the woman who was now looking at her with sorrowful eyes. ¡°Aunt, forgive me,¡± she said earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t like staying here. This house isfortable, veryfortable. Especially since Aunt Jody is an amazing cook. But I also need to learn to be independent. Aunt understands, right?¡± she asked, answered by a nod from the woman. Haisley could see her wiping her face quickly to hide her tears. ¡°I love you, Aunt,¡± she said, hugging the woman gently. ¡°I promise, if youe here again, I will visit you. Besides, in a while, G and I will be going back to America for a vacation. Right, G?¡± Haisley turned to Gilbert, who answered with a nod.


    ¡°Forgive me, H,¡± the woman said, touched.


    Haisley simply nodded. She then stood up and approached Gilbert. ¡°I¡¯m going home now,¡± she said at the doorway. Mrs. Monica just nodded without looking at her daughter¡¯s friend. ¡°I¡¯ll bring my bag upstairs first,¡± she said to Gilbert, who nodded back at her silently.


    Gilbert walked back to the kitchen, grabbed a cold water bottle from the fridge, and chugged it down greedily.


    ¡°What were you talking about in there? Why did it take so long?¡± his father inquired. Gilbert mmed the bottle onto the bar table roughly.


    ¡°Not much, just why Haisley moved out and our ns to go back to America for Haisley¡¯s engagement party with Deanter,¡± Gilbert answered tly, trying to keep his emotions in check. He could see Nathan straightening up, his gaze sharp. But Gilbert only nced at him briefly; he chose to focus on his father instead.


    ¡°Dean? Haisley has decided to get engaged to Dean?¡± Mr. Samuel asked, unsure.


    Gilbert nodded. ¡°In the end, being loved is more beautiful than loving. Isn¡¯t that right, Nath?¡± he taunted his brother.


    Haisley came with a small shoulder bag and a garment bag in her right hand. She looked at Gilbert in confusion, but he answered the unspoken question with a shrug. She walked toward Mr. Samuel and said, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m leaving.¡± She spoke with a smile more genuine than before.


    ¡°Where to?¡± Samuel asked, puzzled.


    ¡°She has to go back to her t and also has to go to work,¡± Gilbert helped answer. He then walked away from the kitchen, putting his arm around Haisley¡¯s shoulders and guiding her away from the house.


    Nathan had to restrain himself from turning around and watching Haisley leave with Gilbert, given Loretta¡¯s presence. Shortly after the door closed and the roar of Gilbert¡¯s car faded away, Nathan saw his mothering out of her room with reddened eyes. Was she crying? Nathan wondered. The woman then walked toward the dining table, and for some inexplicable reason, she lifted the teapot filled with cold water and deliberately poured it directly over Nathan¡¯s head.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Nathan was instantly shocked, staring at his mother with wide, unbelieving eyes.


    ¡°Sweetheart!¡± Mrs. Monica¡¯s husband was equally surprised by his wife¡¯spletely irrational act.


    The startled exmations from the two of them were undoubtedly apanied by Loretta, who also rose from her seat in shock. From the kitchen, Aunt Jody, who was cleaning up after the meal, looked at the family with both hands reflexively covering her mouth.


    Nathan looked at his mother in bewilderment, as did Mr. Samuel. The man gazed at his wife, who was now breathing heavily, clearly trying to control her anger.


    ¡°You scoundrel! Bastard! I don¡¯t know who taught you to be such a coward!¡± his mother cursed. ¡°You should be ashamed of yourself. You should be ashamed in front of Haisley for all the things you¡¯ve done to her. Hypocrite!¡±


    ¡°You deny the fact that you like her, yet you treat her like a cheap woman. And you mock me for giving her advice? At least I advised her to do something she would do in her right mind. Not like you, taking advantage of a good girl when she¡¯s defenseless!¡± she said, her tone fiery, further confusing the father and son along with the two other women in the room.

 Chap 55

    ¡°I swear. I won¡¯t let you near Haisley. I swear that you will regret treating her the way you have. And I swear. When someday your muddled mind clears, and you desire Haisley for yourself, I will be the first one to stand in your way,¡± she dered vehemently.


    ¡°You¡¯ll beg, not to me, but to Haisley. And before you do that, I will never let you have her. Remember that!¡± threatened Mrs. Monica, casting a cynical nce at Loretta and Mr. Samuel before storming back into her room and mming the door shut.


    Mr. Samuel looked at his son, as did Loretta. The girl trembled in fear, witnessing Mrs. Monica¡¯s outburst, although she didn¡¯tprehend all of her words.


    ¡°Nath?¡± Her hand lifted to touch Nathan¡¯s shoulder.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Stay silent!¡± Nathan snapped, causing the girl to freeze and remain still where she stood. His father also fell silent upon seeing the rage on his eldest son¡¯s face.


    With a rage he couldn¡¯t contain, Nathan walked towards his room and did the same thing his mother had done earlier. Damn! What could that girl have said to his mother to make her act so harshly? Haisley! Nathan seethed in frustration.


    ***


    ¡°Why have you been silent all this time, G?¡± Haisley asked softly as the car driven by Gilbert stopped at the red light.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, H,¡± Gilbert replied softly.


    ¡°You know, I feel like a ball being yed between you two right now,¡± she continued sadly. ¡°I came here hoping that I could get my first love, even though I know it sounds childish. But the encouragement from Aunt and you made me even more enthusiastic.¡± Haisley chose not to look at Gilbert and instead focused on the scenery in front of her. ¡°I thought everything would be fine,¡± she said with a grimace on her face. ¡°I still hoped that I could be the one to heal Nathan¡¯s heart.¡± She spoke again. Haisley blinked her eyes quickly to ward off the tears that were about to fall. ¡°But the enthusiasm I felt all this time. The encouragement I got from you all this time. I feel like a beggar, G.¡±


    Gilbert shifted his body to face Haisley. ¡°I truly am sorry, H. I messed up by hiding the fact that Nathan is already with Loretta. Initially, I just assumed it wouldn¡¯tst long. That everything would end without us realizing. I didn¡¯t know Nathan was thinking way ahead of that.


    ¡°You know we never talked about it. I had no idea when he suddenly decided to get engaged to Loretta. I swear, H.¡±


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell me the truth after you found out?¡± Haisley then averted her gaze and looked at Gilbert with teary eyes. ¡°I feel like a fool, G. I tried, I worked hard to get to this point because I wanted my first love. If only I knew Nathan was engaged to Loretta from the start, I would have nevere here and fought for something I couldn¡¯t have.


    ¡°Yes, I would have been heartbroken over the fact. But I would have epted it gracefully. And at least, if I chose not toe here, my heartache would have healed faster. If I didn¡¯te here, at least I¡¯d have my mother to hug me when I cried at night. But now?


    ¡°Even to tell the truth to my family, I¡¯m embarrassed,¡± Haisley whispered.


    The traffic light had turned green, and Gilbert started his car again to move forward before other vehicles honked impatiently.


    ¡°H,¡± Gilbert whispered. ¡°I truly am sorry,¡± he said, sounding genuinely remorseful.


    Haisley forced a smile and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, G. It¡¯s all over now,¡± she said softly. ¡°Ever since the incident on the ship, I haven¡¯t had any hope for Nathan. But hearing your confession just now, I was truly shocked.¡± Haisley grimaced again. ¡°I felt like a cheap woman in Nathan¡¯s eyes. Maybe when he took advantage of me, he thought I was awake but pretending to sleep, choosing to enjoy his actions.¡± From the corner of his eye, Gilbert saw Haisley roughly wipe her face. ¡°I don¡¯t even have the face to meet Nathan anymore.¡±


    ¡°H. That bastard is Nathaniel. He¡¯s the hypocrite, saying something that doesn¡¯t match what he feels,¡± Gilbert protested.


    But Haisley shook her head. ¡°I won¡¯t care about what¡¯s in Nathan¡¯s mind anymore,¡± she said softly. ¡°I¡¯m going back to America,¡± she said with determination.


    Gilbert turned the steering wheel and stopped his car at the side of the road. ¡°H?¡± he asked, panicked.


    Haisley looked at Gilbert and ced her hand on his arm. ¡°I have to move away. I have to avoid it to forget. Even though this is a big city, the possibility of us meeting is still there. Whether intentionally or not, we could meet. And before my wounds truly heal, it will just continue to hurt me, G.¡±


    ¡°But H.¡±


    ¡°I will apologize to my parents. I¡¯m at fault. From the beginning, everything was wrong. My intention toe here, it was wrong.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯ve worked hard to get to your current position, H,¡± Gilbert said again.


    ¡°I just need to work hard again, G. It won¡¯t be difficult,¡± she replied gently. Like the usual Haisley. ¡°I can¡¯t endure loving someone who only gives me pain and humiliation,¡± she said sadly. ¡°But I also can¡¯t ept the presence of someone else. Even though I know that Dean truly loves me, I don¡¯t want him to experience the same as me. Feeling toyed with.¡±


    ¡°But someday, if Dean still loves me after my love for Nathan fades away, I will ept him, and I promise I will love him back as much as he loves me,¡± Haisley said earnestly. ¡°Besides, Aunt Monica is right. I just have to enjoy my life. And I just need to fall in love with the man who will be my husband. That¡¯s it. Right now, I just need to spend my time studying harder and hopefully seed in the future.¡±


    Gilbert nodded, extending his right hand and gently stroking Haisley¡¯s hair. ¡°You will be a sessful and intelligent woman. More than that, you are someone very easy to love, H,¡± he said, earning a nod from Haisley.


    Gilbert then took a deep breath and drove his car again, resolute in his intention to take Haisley to her workce.

 Chap 56

    A week had passed since Haisley¡¯s conversation with Gilbert in the car. She still hadn¡¯t told her family about her n to return to America because Haisley herself was now on the brink of confusion. Should she go back to her hometown and waste the golden opportunity to continue her education at a prestigious university just because of a broken heart? Or should she endure in a foreignnd, far from the family she loved, with the possibility of getting hurt again someday?


    Haisley wanted to be wiser and more mature. She didn¡¯t want to rush into decisions and end up with regrets. She had worked for three years to get to this position. Just because of Nathaniel, she felt like the world¡¯s biggest fool.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Haisley took a deep breath. She was now sitting in the campus courtyard with friends she had recently met. Studying abroad turned out to be not as terrifying as she had imagined. Because, as it turned out, she had made good friends. Although sometimes they had different opinions, their high tolerance allowed Haisley to be more easily epted and adapted.


    From a distance, Haisley could see her tall friend approaching them. His left hand waved while his right hand carried a backpack slung over his shoulder. Say what you will, Gilbert stood out. Besides his above-average height, he also had a handsome face. His outgoing personality made him easy to get along with, and, honestly, Haisley was proud to be one of his friends.


    ¡°Day off?¡± the man asked as he sat down next to Haisley.


    Haisley nodded. ¡°I need to give my body a break,¡± she said softly.


    Gilbert just nodded. ¡°Haisley, Mama intends to have a party at home. Will youe?¡± he asked hesitantly.


    ¡°A party? What kind of party?¡± Haisley asked in return.


    Gilbert looked at his friend with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Did you forget what month it is?¡± he asked with a pout.


    Haisley immediately widened her eyes and reflexively covered her mouth with both hands. ¡°Oh my God, G. I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said regretfully. ¡°So, Aunt wants to throw you a birthday party?¡± she asked, answered by Gilbert¡¯s nod. ¡°Are you unusually willing?¡± she asked suspiciously.


    Gilbert chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to. I usually have a small gathering with friends every year. Simple, just a barbecue party at home. But because Mama is here this year. She wants a slightly grander party. So that she can feel the house is alive,¡± he said.


    Haisleyughed along with him. Yes, she knew about Mrs. Gilbert¡¯s love for socializing. Because Aunt Monica had chosen to be a full-time housewife. After Gilbert and Nathan grew up, she spent most of her time socializing with her friends. Church gatherings,munity events, neighborhood moms¡¯ groups, and many more she participated in.


    ¡°So, are youing?¡± Gilbert asked again.


    ¡°I have work,¡± Haisley replied softly. Not because she couldn¡¯t ask for time off. But she was reluctant to meet Nathaniel.


    ¡°I know you¡¯ll use that excuse. But I already talked to your bosses first. You¡¯ll have permission on that date,¡± he said with an innocent grin on his face.


    Haisley could only re at her friend. If Gilbert took the initiative first, what could she do?


    ¡°Alright, if the mastermands, what can a servant do?¡± teased Haisley, receiving a ruffle of her hair as a reward.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a fancy party where guests are required to unt designer gowns and tuxedos. You know I don¡¯t like stuff like that,¡± Gilbert said. ¡°Wear something that makes youfortable. I know very well that you¡¯re strongly against wearing a dress that could make you trip and end up t on your face,¡± Gilbert teased, earning a punch on his upper arm from Haisley.


    ***


    A knock on the door drew Haisley¡¯s attention away from the washing machine in front of her. She walked towards the door and peeked out. Outside, Reia and Steven were standing, ncing at their watches impatiently.


    ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± Haisley asked, confused.


    Without waiting for Haisley to invite them, the two walked inside her unit. Reia even stared at Haisley with disbelief. ¡°H, we should have been on our way to Gilbert¡¯s house. Why are you still dressed like this?¡± Reia tugged at the end of the long-sleeved shirt Haisley was wearing. ¡°Aren¡¯t you nning to go to G¡¯s party?¡± she used.


    Haisley rolled her eyes. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to go. She just chose to dy it. Haisley nned to arrivete and then leave early. She would go just to maintain courtesy. Say hello to Aunt Monica and Uncle Samuel, then greet Gilbert and a few of his invited friends before choosing to leave. That¡¯s what Haisley had nned before Reia and Steven showed up as if they were picking her up.


    ¡°We have to leave now. Don¡¯t say no, H,¡± Reiained again. The girl even walked towards Haisley¡¯s closet without asking for permission and started looking through her clothes collection. ¡°And it¡¯s highly unlikely that you¡¯ll go to Gilbert¡¯s party wearing an old T-shirt and worn-out jeans,¡± shemented.


    ¡°Why not? Gilbert himself said the party isn¡¯t a fashion show,¡± Haisley retorted. She herself saw Reia wearing a simple cocktail dress, and Steven? He was just in a short-sleeved shirt covered with a leather jacket and jeans.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a fashion show, but it¡¯s not a servant¡¯s job either,¡± Reia replied. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s settled. You¡¯re wearing this.¡± She pulled out Haisley¡¯s only mini ck dress with a heart-shaped neckline and puffy patterned sleeves.


    ¡°Not that, please. Can¡¯t I wear something else?¡± Haisley requested. She still had another dress she brought from America. Wearing that particr outfit, for some reason, Haisley feared she might feel ufortable. Especially since the back of the mini dress was quite open. But Reia shook her head.


    ¡°Have you showered?¡± the girl asked. Haisley nodded. ¡°Then hurry up and put it on. Or do you want me to dress you here, so Steve can watch?¡± she challenged, to which Haisley responded with a yful sticking out of her tongue.


    With a grumpy expression, Haisley took the dress into the bathroom. Shortly after, she emerged. Steven instantly widened his eyes at Haisley¡¯s appearance, which could be considered elegant even though not yetplete. Meanwhile, Reia whistled happily upon seeing her. The girl pulled Haisley to sit on the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do your hair. Then, I¡¯ll make your face look fresh,¡± Reia said. She pulled out small items from her bag and began to style Haisley. She applied a bit of lipstick on Haisley¡¯s face, brushed her eyebrows, shaping them into a more perfect arch than before. She dusted powder and then reapplied the lipstick on Haisley¡¯s lips. ¡°Perfect,¡± she praised her hard work. She then knelt behind Haisley and started ying with ab.

 Chap 57

    Steven remained silent. He chose to stand, leaning his shoulder against the wall, observing the changes Reia made on her. And vo, in less than fifteen minutes, Haisley transformed from casual Haisley to a more feminine version.


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving now,¡± Reia said, not allowing Haisley to see her own reflection in her bedroom mirror.


    A dozen minutester, they arrived in the Chayton residential area. Haisley recognized several cars parked along the road leading to therge house. She could also see Gilbert¡¯s car intentionally parked on the side of the road, not inside the garage as usual.


    The Chayton family home was not decorated asvishly as parties usually were. There were only a few additional lights as decorations and to enhance the view. The rest was just filled with tablesden with food and drinks.


    Reia didn¡¯t release her hold on Haisley¡¯s right arm, while Steven stood by her side, looking like a guard. They entered the Chayton residence. Mrs. Monica and Gilbert were there to greet them at the door. Mother and son weed the guests with openly disyed happiness. As for Mr. Samuel or Nathan, Haisley didn¡¯t dare to ask where they were.


    ¡°Haisley,¡± Mrs. Monica¡¯s greeting was loud, making Haisley wince. The woman hugged Haisley tightly, ignoring Steven and Reia, who had been apanying her since earlier. ¡°You look absolutely beautiful tonight,¡± she praised, spreading her arms so she could look at Haisley clearly. Haisley just smiled in response. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, dear, I really haven¡¯t had the face to meet youtely,¡± the woman continued, her face full of regret.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Aunt. Forget it,¡± she replied. She then nced at Gilbert and knew her friend hadn¡¯t told his mother anything about Haisley¡¯s ns. If he had, Mrs. Monica wouldn¡¯t behave like this. She would bombard her with various questions and prohibitions and deliver a stack of reports to Haisley¡¯s family in America.


    ¡°Come on in,¡± Gilbert said, his hand on Haisley¡¯s shoulder, recing his mother¡¯s hand, leading Haisley inside the house.


    The central part of the house didn¡¯t seem too crowded. Gilbert guided Haisley towards the backyard where some people were already present, holding food and drinks in their hands.


    ¡°I only invited a few friends. But then Dad and Mom had some guests too. So well, there you go. Let¡¯s just enjoy,¡± he said when Haisley noticed some unfamiliar faces.


    Although she didn¡¯t know all of Gilbert¡¯s friends, if they were college friends, she probably recognized them, even if she didn¡¯t know their names one by one.


    The event was quite lively. Mrs. Monica invited an indie band, friends of Gilbert, to perform. Haisley¡¯s friends used the opportunity to dance. As for Haisley herself, she chose to step aside and enjoy the food. Steven stood beside her, while Gilbert was currently dancing with Reia, who clearly disyed her happiness.


    ¡°Haisley?¡± The cheerful call made Haisley turn around. There, standing next to the man she ¡®used to¡¯ admire, was a beautiful woman in an undoubtedly expensive dress.


    ¡°Hi,¡± Haisley greeted as Loretta approached, kissing her cheeks in turn.


    ¡°How have you been? You know, I really missed you. But you¡¯re always so busy,¡± the girlined at the end of her sentence.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Haisley replied truthfully. ¡°And yes, I have been busytely,¡± Haisley said. Busy avoiding heartache if I hear you talk about Nathan and his perfection, she thought inwardly.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯de,¡± Nathan¡¯s cold voice emerged.


    Haisley just raised the corner of her mouth. Challenge. The voice in her headmanded. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t Ie? Gilbert specifically invited me. I wouldn¡¯t disrespect that,¡± she said coldly.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nathan looked at her with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± The voice came from Gilbert, who was back with Reia. Apparently, the music had changed, and both of them seemed tired now.


    Nathan deliberately went to pick up Loretta even though he was reluctant to do so. But he needed to stall for time before meeting Haisley. For some reason, just thinking about meeting Haisley disturbed him. Ever since his mother said they were going to have a birthday party for Gilbert, Nathan felt uneasy every night.


    Yes, ever since the incident with the spilled water, Nathan¡¯s already distant rtionship with his mother became even more strained. But if before he felt indifferent, now he felt uneasy under his mother¡¯s sharp gaze. It was as if every time she looked at him, she wanted to pierce him with a trident.


    He was embarrassed too. The fact that Gilbert knew what he did to his little sister¡¯s best friend, when Nathan thought it would remain a secret, made him lose face in front of his sister. Although until now Gilbert¡¯s treatment towards him remained the same, still, Nathan felt like he had no face left when meeting his sister.


    And about Haisley. He was angry and suspected that the girl had said things to his mother and his sister. Then he realized that Haisley wasn¡¯t the kind to gossip. She often covered up her difficulties rather than asking for help, even from Gilbert, who was very close to her.


    Throughout his journey to pick up Loretta, Nathan couldn¡¯t focus on their conversation. He was tense. His mind kept reying scenes of what he would do when he met Haisley. What greetings he should say. What kind of attitude he should show. None of it was clear, even when the car he was driving had stopped in front of his own house.


    Nathan nced at the car he recognized as Steven¡¯s. The man who openly picked up Haisley once when Gilbert wasn¡¯t around. The man who always stuck to Haisley like a leech whenever they went on trips together. Imagining the face of his sister¡¯s friend made Nathan snort irritably, which caught Loretta¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Why?¡± the girl asked, curious. Nathan just shook his head. He couldn¡¯t possibly say what was on his mind to the girl.


    Nathan led Loretta inside the house. Nobody greeted them, not Gilbert, not his mother. Where was his brother?


    Nathan walked towards the backyard. At the end of the pool, a simple stage was set up, about forty centimeters high, now filled with entertainment from Gilbert¡¯s friends. Nathan and Gilbert had contrasting personalities. If he preferred to have a few friends, Gilbert was the opposite. Nathan was even surprised because wherever they went, someone always greeted his brother.


    Across the simple stage that was obscured by the pool, Nathan could see his brother dancing with a female friend. Yes, a female friend, not a girlfriend. Initially, he thought he would see Haisley dancing with his brother. But he didn¡¯t see him. Until his gaze shifted to the left corner of the garden and saw the girl standing next to Steven, who was acting like a bodyguard.


    Haisley hadn¡¯t noticed him yet because she seemed engrossed in watching the people dancing. And Nathan could only see her back. Her smooth back, half-exposed due to the dress she was wearing.


    I don¡¯t know, even though he hadn¡¯t seen her face yet, he was sure it was Haisley. Her short hair was tied back and clipped with a simple hairpin.


    ¡°Haisley?¡± Loretta¡¯s call made the girl and her bodyguard turn simultaneously.

 Chap 58

    Nathan was quite surprised. Seeing Haisley¡¯s smile directed at Loretta somehow made his heart beat faster. The girl looked beautiful, although her appearance couldn¡¯t be considered extraordinary. But Haisley clearly looked beautiful. Even the bangs that were usually teased now made her appearance more graceful than ever.


    Nathan enjoyed the beautiful sight in front of him. Beautifully arched eyebrows, a small and sharp nose, Haisley¡¯s rosy cheeks were now etched in his eyes. Not to mention her lips, which were reddish and seemed sweet enough to kiss. Unconsciously, Nathan licked his lips.


    ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯te,¡± he said coldly, trying to hide his other desires that seemed to rebel against his body.


    ¡°Gilbert invited me specifically. I wouldn¡¯t disrespect that,¡± her cold reply, directed straight at him, made Nathan grind his teeth.


    Nathan was about to respond, but then his sister and her dance partner appeared.


    ¡°Haisley, give it a try, you¡¯ll like it,¡± Reia said, panting. Of course, she seemed to be dancing as if Gilbert¡¯s backyard was a nightclub for the night.


    ¡°Later,¡± she declined politely.


    Then a guitar riff started ying a melody that Haisley recognized. ¡°Come on,¡± Steven said, taking her hands and cing them on his shoulders while his hands rested on her waist respectfully.


    ¡°I can¡¯t count the times


    I almost said what¡¯s on my mind


    But I didn¡¯t¡±


    Steven guided her to move left and right slowly and rhythmically. A smile appeared on his face. To her left, Loretta and Nathan were already standing, both dancing in the same position.


    ¡°And just the other day


    I wrote down all the things I¡¯d say


    But I couldn¡¯t


    I just couldn¡¯t¡±


    Steven spun her around so now from behind her, Haisley could see Nathan¡¯s face more clearly, his gaze never leaving her.


    Baby, I know that you¡¯ve been wonderin¡¯


    Mm, so here goes nothin¡¯


    As the song yed, their movements synchronized, and for a moment, Haisley forgot about everything else. She was just there, dancing, lost in the music, caught between Steven¡¯s gentle hold and Nathan¡¯s intense gaze.


    In case you didn¡¯t know


    Baby, I¡¯m crazy ¡¯bout you


    In case you didn¡¯t know


    In Case You Didn¡¯t Know ¨C Brett Young ¨C Cover by Boyce Avenue


    ¡°Why does this song feel like a mockery to her?¡± Haisley wondered in her heart. It seemed like this way she was expressing her feelings to Nathan. Feelings he undoubtedly knew, but would never be reciprocated. Haisley instantly shifted her gaze. She turned around, her back now facing Loretta¡¯s back.


    One song felt incredibly slow to finish. Haisley felt restless. For some reason, it felt like there were hundreds of tiny needles pricking her exposed back, making her hair stand on end involuntarily. Steve lowered his head, watching her intently.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, concern etched on his face. Haisley looked up and shed a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just feel thirsty,¡± she said. And she wasn¡¯t lying because since entering Chayton¡¯s residence, she hadn¡¯t touched anything.


    Steven led Haisley away from the couples dancing. Reia and Gilbert were sitting at the bar table, engaged in conversation. Haisley walked closer, and the bartender handed her a hurricane ss filled with red and orange liquid. Haisley grabbed it and took a sip.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°H!¡± Gilbert immediately stopped her. But because Haisley was thirsty and the drink felt refreshing in her throat, she ignored Gilbert¡¯s interruption and ended up finishing half of the ss. Gilbert still looked at Haisley in panic. How could he not? Although the drink looked like regr juice and seemed refreshing, it contained alcohol. And Gilbert knew that Haisley had never consumed alcohol before.


    The music changed back to lively. Haisley chose to sit, leaning her body against the bar. She stood to the left of Reia, who was sitting to the left of Gilbert, now facing the dance floor.


    ¡°Will she be okay?¡± Reia asked Gilbert, making Haisley turn her head and furrow her brow.


    ¡°Who will be okay?¡± she asked, curious. Gilbert and Reia both responded with a mutual nce. Steven, who then walked closer, could sense the strange atmosphere there.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked Reia and Gilbert in turn. Both of them pointed to the half-empty ss behind Haisley¡¯s back. ¡°Is she drunk?¡± he asked silently. Gilbert and Reia both shrugged.


    However, it seemed the effects of the drink were starting to show because Haisley was now smiling, moving her body to the rhythm of the music. Clearly not the usual Haisley who sat still, untempted to dance.


    ¡°Your friend is amazing, G. His voice and music are really good,¡± praised Haisley to Gilbert. Gilbert merely raised the corner of his mouth in response.


    Nathan, who stood at the edge of the dance floor, now looked towards the bar. He was searching for Haisley but couldn¡¯t find the girl. Instead, he saw his sister sitting next to the girl he had danced with earlier. And standing beside the girl, with his back to Nathan, was Steven. Nathan recognized him by the leather jacket he was wearing. Nathan¡¯s gaze traveled downward, and between Steven¡¯s legs, he could see Haisley¡¯s tiny feet standing straight. So, were the two of them facing each other? What were they doing?


    Then Nathan saw Haisley¡¯s tiny hand reach out and touch the man¡¯s shoulder. Steven seemed to bow his head, and his face appeared to tilt. Nathan¡¯s eyes widened in shock. What were these two doing in public like this? Were they kissing?


    Unbeknownst to Nathan, Gilbert looked at his brother with a mischievous grin on his face.


    ¡°H, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Steven tilted his head to look at Haisley, who was now bowing with her forehead leaning against her chest.


    ¡°Dizzy,¡± Haisley replied softly, causing Steven to bow his head even more as Haisley¡¯s voice was muffled by the music around them. However, when Steven was about to bow down, someone pulled his jacket from behind, making Haisley, who was holding onto him, stumble. If only Gilbert wasn¡¯t beside her, Haisley might have fallen to the ground or, worse, collided with the bar table behind her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t act indecent in this house, buddy,¡± the cold-toned remark made Gilbert turn around, and Haisley raised her head. Nathan was standing there, staring sharply at Steven. While Steven, confused, looked back at the man with a furrowed brow.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked, puzzled. But instead of answering Steven¡¯s question, Nathan turned his gaze back to Haisley, who was now in Gilbert¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Is this how you behave? Gilbert, Dean, and Steven. How many more men are you going to openly date?¡± he asked in his mother tongue, understood only by Reia and Gilbert.


    ¡°What¡¯s your problem, Nath?¡± Gilbert looked at his brother with annoyance. The man¡¯s hand still supporting Haisley¡¯s intoxicated body.


    ¡°The problem is she¡¯s acting like a cheap girl,¡± Nathan pointed with his finger at Haisley, making Reia cover her mouth in surprise.


    Gilbert chuckled. ¡°What did she do? She¡¯s just leaning on Steven because she feels dizzy. Do you call every girl who does that cheap?¡± Gilbert challenged with a loud tone.


    Nathan looked at Haisley, who had now lowered her head again. Then he looked at Gilbert, Steven, and Reia. Unable to say anything, he then averted his gaze and shortly after walked away from the bar table to go back inside his house.


    Loretta followed the man despite confusion filling her head. Nathan nced at his mother, who was still sitting at the bar table with snacks in front of her. He ignored her and walked towards the kitchen to get cold water from the refrigerator. Meanwhile, his mother turned back to look at him with a lifted corner of her mouth. Clearly, she saw what her eldest son did outside just now.

 Chap 59

    ¡°Nath, are you okay?¡± Loretta grabbed his shoulder. Nathan chose not to answer. He nced back at his mother, who shrugged and walked away from the bar table with a bowl of snacks in her hand.


    Nathan then turned when he saw Haisley being led by Gilbert. Suddenly, he reached for Loretta¡¯s waist, surprising her, and then tilted his head to the left, so from Haisley¡¯s perspective, it looked like Nathan was kissing Loretta.


    Annoyed, jealous, angry-while intoxicated, he felt all of it, but he tried to ignore it. He chose to grip Gilbert¡¯s arm tighter and simply followed his friend¡¯s steps, who helped him upstairs.


    What was really in that drink that made the floor feel like it was twisting like a snake? He wondered to himself. The drink tasted sweet and refreshing, but its effects made him feel weak and miserable.


    Gilbert opened the door to his old room and led him inside. Slowly, he seated Haisley on the bed. ¡°Lie down, the dizziness will go away,¡± he said gently.


    Haisley looked up, gazing at her friend with a furrowed brow. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just take me home, G?¡± she asked, confused.


    Gilbert sighed. The man chose to crouch in front of Haisley so that their heads were at the same level. ¡°I¡¯m the host, H. And we¡¯re celebrating a birthday, can¡¯t I escort my guest?¡± he said slowly with a smile on his face.


    Haisley frowned in frustration. The image of Nathan kissing Loretta filled her mind again. ¡°Then call a taxi, or let Steven take me home,¡± she suggested.


    Gilbert shook his head. ¡°With the risk of you being mistreated by a taxi driver?¡± he said disgustedly. ¡°Or what if Steven takes advantage of the situation while you¡¯re vulnerable in your intoxicated state?¡± he asked, making Haisley shiver.


    Haisley looked at Gilbert with narrowed eyes. ¡°Steven would never do anything indecent,¡± she said confidently.


    Gilbert smiled. He agreed with what Haisley said. If Steven had any intentions, he would have acted on them long ago. But still, Steven was a man, and Haisley was at her weakest right now. So Gilbert chose not to trust anyone.


    ¡°Go to sleep. If you wake up and still want to go home, I¡¯ll take you,¡± he said. Haisley looked at him with a dazzled gaze but then nodded. Gilbert rubbed Haisley¡¯s head before retreating and closing the door behind him.


    Haisley dropped her body onto the bed, with her legs hanging off the floor. She closed her eyes with one hand, hoping that this way she could fall asleep and wake up with a clear head. However, once again, the image of Nathan kissing Loretta as he passed by earlier disturbed her. A strong pang in her heart made her eyes moist, and then the tears fell, touching the left side of her face and dripping onto her ear.


    Roughly, Haisley wiped away the tears, muttering to herself. ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish. They¡¯re engaged and will get married. So why should you feel jealous? Nathan is not someone for you. He¡¯s just your friend¡¯s brother, who happens to be also a good friend of your brother and the child of your parents¡¯ friends. That¡¯s it. Period,¡± Haisley said to herself.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Haisley sat up again, shaking her head to ward off the dizziness. The feeling of thirst now dominated her throat. She looked up at the bedside table; usually, she found a small teapot and a ss there. But since she no longer lived there, those simple things were no longer present.


    She got up from her seat and then stumbled as she walked out of the room. She didn¡¯t care if she saw Nathan and Loretta being affectionate. Right now, quenching her thirst was more important. Dehydration could be fatal, and Haisley didn¡¯t want that to happen to her.


    Haisley descended the stairs, holding tightly onto the wooden handrail. Her eyes were down, observing the steps that somehow seemed to double in her vision. She didn¡¯t want to misstep and tumble down headfirst. So she took each step very carefully.


    On her way to the kitchen, she heard the voice of someone she knew too well. ¡°Looking for a new victim, Haisley?¡± The question made Haisley turn around. She had to tilt her head back because the man was taller than her.


    ¡°Victim?¡± Haisley asked in return.


    ¡°Victim, for you to hunt,¡± Nathan replied with a sly smile on his face.


    Haisley chuckled, making Nathan, who was looking at her, frown instantly. ¡°Well, I¡¯m looking for water if you call that a victim. Because I need it right now as my prey,¡± she replied.


    Haisley then looked into the office area. Seeing a ss on the table, she walked over. She grabbed the ss and took a sip of the golden liquid inside, frowning immediately. ¡°What is this?¡± she asked, coughing as she felt the bitter liquid burning her throat.


    ¡°What do you think? Sweet tea?¡± Nathan answered, pulling the ss still in Haisley¡¯s hand and cing it on the table, out of her reach. ¡°It¡¯s whiskey, not sweet tea,¡± he continued. He then walked to the other side of the room, opened a small fridge, and took out a bottle of water. Opening it, he handed it to Haisley.


    Haisley mumbled a thank you and then gulped down the clear, cold water without pause until only half of it remained. Nathan watched her, observing how she quenched her thirst in a manner that was both greedy and far from graceful.


    Haisley wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand and handed the bottle back to Nathan for him to close. Drinking the cold water didn¡¯t seem to alleviate the throbbing in her head; instead, it felt like it was getting worse.


    ¡°Don¡¯t sleep here,¡± Nathan¡¯smand echoed in Haisley¡¯s head. She leaned her hips against the desk, both hands gripping the edge to maintain her bnce. Her head tilted back, and she looked at Nathan with narrowed eyes, hoping her gaze could focus on the handsome figure before her.


    Haisley smiled, a gesture that puzzled Nathan. ¡°You know,¡± she said, ¡°whether you¡¯re angry or not, your face still looks handsome.¡± She chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder many girls in our school used to like you. And now, Loretta seems to be a very lucky girl to have won you.¡± She continued.


    Nathan scoffed. He walked closer and ced the cold water bottle on the table. He deliberately stood towering in front of Haisley with his hands folded in front of his chest. ¡°And was the girl who liked me among them you?¡± Nathan asked casually, even though he knew Haisley¡¯s answer.


    Haisley nodded quickly in response. Then she shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t just like you. But I,¡± she pointed at herself. ¡°love you.¡± And she directed her index finger at Nathan. ¡°You¡¯re handsome, you¡¯re smart, you¡¯re great at everything, and more than that, you¡¯re a good and gentle man.¡± She spoke rapidly, with her finger still pointing at Nathan. ¡°Even though you never show that to me.¡± She said with tears now starting to fill her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re always cold to me. You¡¯re always cynical. You never smile. But I still like you.¡± She continued.


    Tears nowpletely filled Haisley¡¯s eyes and fell onto both of her cheeks as the round orbs couldn¡¯t hold them back any longer. Haisley wiped away the tears harshly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what makes you hate me. Even when Crystal rejected you, you openly rejected me in front of her. But I still didn¡¯t want to give up. I still wanted to get you. Am I stupid?¡± She asked more to herself. ¡°I should have stepped back since then. I should have looked for someone else to like. Instead of daydreaming and hoping that slowly your love for Crystal would fade, and then I would rece her.


    ¡°I should have, when you decided to stay here, I should have looked for another guy.¡± Haisley thenughed. ¡°I even became a bully to people I didn¡¯t know just because there was a guy who liked me. You know, I didn¡¯t realize it because my eyes were closed. My heart was closed to someone other than you. If only at that time I epted his confession. Maybe now I would still be dating him. Or maybe I would have dated several people by now.


    ¡°You know, six years after that, I¡¯m always alone. Even though asionally I go out with Abigail and via, but still. I¡¯m single.¡± She chuckled again. ¡°I also want to be like most girls. You know, spending Saturday night dating. Just watching a movie at the cinema or going for a walk. Holding hands and maybe by now, I could know what it feels like to kiss.¡± Haisley looked at Nathan and then closed her mouth. ¡°I forgot. You¡¯ve already stolen a kiss from me while I was unconscious, right?¡± she asked innocently.


    ¡°Gilbert said you pounced on me while I was sleeping. What else have you done to me, Nath?¡± she wondered. ¡°And why didn¡¯t you do it to me when I woke up?¡± she asked challengingly. ¡°You know, I wouldn¡¯t refuse it at all. Because I¡¯m also curious about how it feels. Would your lips taste as sweet as candy?¡± she asked with hopeful anticipation in her eyes. Then her expression turned into a disgusted grimace. ¡°Or would it be bitter and burning like that drink?¡± She pointed to the whiskey ss that was fifty centimeters away from her reach.


    Nathan still stood in ce, looking at the girl without expression. ¡°What do you think?¡± the man asked in return.


    Haisley immediately stood up quickly and staggered again. Nathan quickly grabbed her waist with both hands to help Haisley regain her bnce. But Haisley pushed him with all her strength until Nathan ended up falling backward,nding on his butt first. Fortunately, the office floor was lined with thick Turkish carpet, so Nathan¡¯s fall didn¡¯t cause any pain, just a muffled thud.


    Haisley chuckled, seeing Nathan looking at her with an annoyed expression. But that expression changed when Haisley walked closer. The girl stood tall above Nathan, opened her legs, and then threw herself, sitting on hisp. Still not tall enough because Haisley still had to tilt her head to see his face.

 Chap 60

    Haisley raised her hand and then gently rubbed Nathan¡¯s face with her fingers. The girl¡¯s index and middle fingers touched Nathan¡¯s forehead, tracing down his nose to the tip. ¡°You¡¯re handsome, very handsome,¡± she whispered. Her eyes blinked slowly, as if holding back sleep. Nathan knew the girl sitting on hisp was now intoxicated, and he chose to let her be.


    ¡°You have a nice nose. Well-shaped,¡± she chuckled. Then her fingers touched Nathan¡¯s closed eyes. ¡°You also have long and curly eyshes. You know, I¡¯m always jealous when I see them,¡± she continued. Nathan opened his eyes again and saw Haisley looking at him with her half-closed eyes. ¡°But unfortunately, your eyes always stare at me sharply. Sarcastic. You always look at me with using eyes,¡± she said with a sad smile on her face. ¡°And yet, I always want you to look at me, Nath,¡± she sighed softly.


    The girl¡¯s eyes then moved towards Nathan¡¯s lips. Her fingers touched his thin lips and lowered his bottom lip. ¡°I¡¯m always curious about the taste of these lips. You know?¡± she looked into Nathan¡¯s eyes again. ¡°I once dreamt that you kissed me with these lips,¡± she said again.


    ¡°How did it feel, that dream?¡± Nathan asked hoarsely.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Haisley smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she replied, shrugging her shoulders. Haisley moved forward on Nathan¡¯sp. She felt something strange down there, ticklish, but she didn¡¯t want to shift.


    ¡°What did I do to you in that dream?¡± Nathan asked again. Suddenly, he felt hoarse. What Haisley was doing made his body react spontaneously. And her presence on hisp made the lower part of his body rebel as if wanting to escape its confinement.


    Haisley looked at the man again. Her hands were now on Nathan¡¯s shoulders, she leaned her weight on them and adjusted her sitting position. Bending both knees before sitting back on Nathan¡¯s body, with their sensitive parts ovepping.


    Nathan groaned, his hands now supporting the weight of his body behind him. As if by doing so, he could create some distance between the two of them.


    Haisley seemed lost in thought. Her left hand now reached Nathan¡¯s nape, ying with the hair there. Meanwhile, her right hand reached for Nathan¡¯s lips again.


    ¡°I dreamt that you kissed me,¡± she said, her slender fingers tracing Nathan¡¯s pinkish lips. A rare thing for a man who asionally smoked. ¡°Your tongue yed on my lips and inside my mouth,¡± she continued without shifting her gaze from those thin lips.


    ¡°Do you like him?¡± Nathan asked. Haisley smiled and nodded.


    ¡°It tickles me,¡± she admitted shamelessly. Now both of the girl¡¯s hands were sped behind Nathan¡¯s neck. ¡°And I want more,¡± she continued honestly. ¡°Then I felt your lips touching me in another ce. And something down there felt wet.¡± She said with a giggle that made her look like a five-year-old who had just received a new toy. Haisley looked back at Nathan¡¯s face. ¡°Unfortunately, it was just a dream,¡± she said sadly.


    Nathan sat up straight. His left hand lifted and touched Haisley¡¯s back, hindered by clothes. Meanwhile, his right hand now reached the left side of Haisley¡¯s face.


    Feeling Nathan¡¯srge and warm hand on the side of her face, Haisley closed her eyes. She tilted her face and tried to feel the texture of the hand, which couldn¡¯t be described as smooth but also not rough.


    ¡°Do you want me to kiss you again?¡± He asked huskily. His eyes now stared at Haisley¡¯s pale pink lower lips. Haisley opened her eyes slowly, looked at Nathan, and then nodded.


    ¡°Kiss me, Nath,¡± she requested. And without Haisley asking twice, Nathan silenced the girl¡¯s lips with his own.


    Haisley tightened her embrace around Nathan¡¯s neck as he yed with her lips. Unconsciously, she squeezed his hair while intentionally pressing her body against Nathan¡¯s, as if it made them inseparable. Nathan gently sucked on her lower lip, causing something in Haisley¡¯s stomach to churn with excitement.


    ¡°Return the favor,¡± Nathan whispered in front of his lips. ¡°Do it like I do.¡± He continued before silencing Haisley¡¯s mouth again.


    Haisley fell silent; it was clear she wasn¡¯t as experienced as Nathan. However, instinct guided her to do what Nathan was doing. Her lips began to move in sync with Nathan¡¯s. Sucking, licking, and when Nathan¡¯s tongue started ying, she did the same.


    The moans of the two individuals filled the enclosed room. They ignored the faint music ying from outside. Their heads moved left and right alternately, creating sounds that only heightened the heat in both of their bodies due to the passion being expressed.


    Haisley moved instinctively, sensing a pulsating sensation beneath her. Something belonging to Nathan was clearly stirring down there. Ticklish? That wasn¡¯t what Haisley felt, but rather a different sensation. As if she needed something more than what Nathan was doing to her at the moment. Haisley moved restlessly on Nathan¡¯sp.


    Aware of what Haisley wanted and his own desires, Nathan¡¯s right hand moved to touch the girl¡¯s shoulder while his left hand lowered the zipper at the back of Haisley¡¯s outfit. After the zipper was open, Nathan lowered the girl¡¯s clothing from her left side. This revealed a significant portion of Haisley¡¯s hills that were previously covered by the contrasting ck fabric against her fair skin.


    Haisley wasn¡¯t wearing a bra, as her outfit was designed for her not to wear one. And that was an advantage for Nathan because he didn¡¯t need to bother with undoing any sps to see the beautiful contours of her hills. Nathan had seen them before, not just once, but he was still tempted by the sight of the rosy peaks in front of him.


    Haisley lowered her head, observing what Nathan was staring at, causing them to pause their wet kisses.


    ¡°Nath¡­?¡± she called softly. Instead of answering, Nathan raised his right hand and touched the side of the hill. This made Haisley shiver instantly and bite her lower lip. Nathan squeezed it, and Haisley reciprocated by gripping the man¡¯s hair in response. ¡°Nath¡­ what are you¡­ oh¡­¡± Nathan ced his lips on the surface of Haisley¡¯s hill, causing her to gasp. The girl¡¯s hands gripped Nathan¡¯s hair more tightly. The tickling sensation from Nathan¡¯s hair on her face and the soft warmth of the man¡¯s lips made Haisley move restlessly again. She could feel Nathan pulling the other side of her clothing further down, exposing both hills clearly in front of the man¡¯s face, showcasing their rosy peaks.


    Haisley could feel Nathan extending his tongue before his lips engulfed her mound. ¡°Ohh¡­ Nath¡­¡± Haisley hissed, calling his name while tilting her head back, both of her hands still gripping Nathan¡¯s hair. She could sense Nathan¡¯s other hand now moving to stroke her bare thigh. Along with the movement of his lips, his hand began to explore beneath Haisley¡¯scy underwear. ¡°Nath, what are you¡­ oh¡­¡± Once again, Haisley moaned as she felt the man¡¯s fingers entering her. She swallowed hard. Her body trembled with something Haisley had never felt before. Maybe she had felt it before, but then it was just a dream.


    Haisley felt one of the man¡¯s hands on her back. And gently, she felt her body swaying and ending up lying on the Turkish carpet that Nathan had upied earlier. Their positions had now reversed. Nathan was now on top. The man¡¯s face was now looking at her while Haisley could still feel his hand ying down there.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± He asked huskily. Haisley bit her lower lip, unable to give an answer when Nathan¡¯s touch made her feel even more intoxicated. She bent both of her knees while her hands held onto Nathan¡¯s hand, not allowing it to leave.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Nathan whispered again. Haisley then nodded, and the man¡¯s lips silenced her once more.


    The man¡¯s hands and lips yed, making Haisley more restless. She wanted Nathan to do something more. But she didn¡¯t know what it was. She could only move her body, hoping that Nathan understood her desires. And within minutes, she felt something strange but pleasurable down there.


    ¡°Nath, I¡­¡± She murmured as Nathan¡¯s hand moved faster and Haisley¡¯s hips moved in response.


    ¡°No need to hold back,¡± Nathan said in her ear. ¡°I can feel your body tightening, Haisley.¡± He said with a soft bite behind Haisley¡¯s ear. ¡°Say my name, Haisley.¡± He said again.


    ¡°Nath, oh¡­ Nathaniel¡­¡± The exmation came out simultaneously with something wet and warm flowing underneath her. Haisley arched her back when that sensation appeared and then disappeared in a split second. Her knees felt weak, and her eyes began to see stars again.


    Nathan smiled, withdrawing his hand from beneath Haisley¡¯s pants and wiping his wet fingers on her underwear. Meanwhile, his eyes gazed at Haisley, who looked breathless with closed eyes, flushed cheeks, and slightly swollen lips as a result of their passionate kiss.


    After her breathing returned to normal, Haisley opened her eyes and looked at Nathan. She forgot that her situation was now messy. Haisley gazed at Nathan with a mncholic look.


    ¡°What was that, Nath?¡±


    ¡°What did you feel in your dream before?¡± Nathan asked in return. Haisley nodded slowly. ¡°That¡¯s called climax, darling,¡± Nathan whispered in Haisley¡¯s right ear, causing her to close her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his breath on her ear. ¡°You¡¯ll experience even greater satisfaction than that when you make love,¡± he continued.


    Nathan then straightened his body and sat down, bringing Haisley with him to sit in front of him. They sat side by side, facing each other. Haisley still felt a bit dizzy as she joined him in sitting.


    Nathan shifted his body even closer. He could smell Haisley¡¯s perfume mixed with sweat and the passion she still felt. One of his hands rose and untied Haisley¡¯s messy hair. Haisley could only gaze at the man, amazed at the tenderness Nathan was showing-a rare experience for her, perhaps something she had never felt before.


    Nathan rested his chin on Haisley¡¯s shoulder, allowing her to smell his cologne that she had only faintly sensed before. The man¡¯s hand moved to Haisley¡¯s back. As his fingers touched her bare skin, Haisley could feel another electric sensation vibrating through her body. Nathan adjusted his clothes and then closed his back with the zipper pulled by his right hand.


    Whether Nathan saw it or not, there was a scar from a rusty nail on Haisley¡¯s back, a mark she obtained on a night when Nathan once again hurt her heart. Nathan saw it, but he chose to ignore it.


    Haisley blinked when Nathan straightened his body again. Somehow, her awareness had returned. ¡°Making love?¡± she asked with a soft voice.


    Nathan looked at Haisley and then nodded. ¡°Yes, making love. It will feel even more intense than what you just experienced,¡± he said with a proud smile on his face.


    ¡°Is it called making love because it¡¯s done by people who love each other?¡± Haisley asked innocently.


    Nathan nodded. ¡°If it¡¯s not done out of love, you would call it sex,¡± he said unabashedly.


    Haisley nodded in understanding. Whatever was on Haisley¡¯s mind, the girl smiled back at Nathan. ¡°I think Dean and I will enjoy things like that,¡± she said without removing the smile from her face. Nathan¡¯s back straightened instantly, his face suddenly turned pale.

 Chap 61

    ¡°Dean?¡± the man asked with a soft chuckle.


    Haisley nodded. ¡°Yes, Dean,¡± she said, still smiling.


    ¡°You don¡¯t love him,¡± Nathan said coldly. ¡°A woman can¡¯t do that unless it¡¯s with a man she loves,¡± he continued with a mocking smile.


    Haisley shrugged, her face still smiling. ¡°You said if it¡¯s not done with love, it¡¯s called sex. So, Dean and I can do that because even if I don¡¯t love him, he loves me,¡± she continued. ¡°You also do it without feeling love for me, Nath. So, I¡¯m sure I can do it too,¡± she added. Haisley then chuckled. ¡°If I had known the pleasure from earlier, I would have dly epted Dean¡¯s proposal from the other day.¡± Sheughed again.


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Nathaniel asked with narrowed eyes.


    Haisley shrugged. ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean anything. Dean just said he loves me. And he wants to be with me. You know, he said he could be your recement,¡± she said again. ¡°And although I reluctantly admit it, Dean is the best option I have right now.¡±


    Nathan stood up instantly and stared at Haisley with a cold gaze. ¡°What does that mean?¡± he asked again like a parrot.


    Haisley also stood up, though still swaying. She shook her head to dispel the dizziness. She was sure that she wasn¡¯t really drunk, even though she knew alcohol was one of the triggers for why she did all this. All the cheap actions she did in front of Nathan.


    She knew that alcohol was also what made her brave enough to challenge Nathan with a confrontational attitude.


    Haisley was on the verge of sanity. And because she was standing on the edge of the cliff, she thought there was no harm in throwing herself into it. Whether she would be safe or not, she wasn¡¯t sure. She wasn¡¯t confident that she would have the opportunity to defend her dignity at another time.


    ¡°Dean, he asked me to marry him. You know?¡± Haisley said with a t tone but with a smile still lingering on her face. ¡°Previously, I suspected that I still had hope to be with you. Hope that someday you would open your eyes and allow me to fill your heart. Hope that someday you would love me.


    But then Loretta¡¯s presence pped me in the face.¡± Haisley looked at Nathan sadly. She tilted her head to ward off the tears that were about to fall. ¡°She¡¯s so perfect.¡± She praised sincerely. ¡°A real angel. She¡¯s beautiful, she¡¯s kind, and more than that, she loves you. And I understand, she can rece the figure of Crystal in your heart.


    ¡°But still,¡± Haisley touched her left chest. ¡°It hurts here.¡± She whispered.


    ¡°I forced myself. Convinced myself with the hope that this would all just be temporary. That Loretta wouldn¡¯t be your final harbor.


    But when Gilbert revealed the truth. About you and your engagement. Finally, I understood. There will never be a Haisley in Nathan¡¯s life. The pce I built with our dreams and hopes of being together someday finally crumbled.¡± Haisley¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Boom, it disappeared just like that.¡± She said with a sadugh. She could feel her own body shivering as she heard the wordsing out of her own mouth. Something she had always denied but in the end had to admit was the reality she faced.


    Nathan looked at Haisley with a furrowed brow. The man was clearly confused. One moment Haisley seemed so passionate with his touch, and now she was looking at him with a sad gaze as if about to say farewell.


    ¡°I worked hard, fought for a chance. Made you fall in love. Without realizing, that from the beginning, I should never have done that.¡±


    ¡°Tapi penyesn tidak pernah ada di awal, bukan begitu?¡± she asked sadly. ¡°I love you, Nath. Very much.¡± She admitted honestly. ¡°But I can¡¯t endure just with that feeling. My mouth says I¡¯ve stopped loving, but my heart hasn¡¯t. In fact, I still envy you and Loretta. In reality, I still cry for you every night when I¡¯m alone.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired, Nath. And I want to stop.


    ¡°I reject everyone whoes to me for you,¡± she said. ¡°I reject all the love and attention they offer because I¡¯m waiting for you. But not anymore.¡± Haisley shook her head. She also saw Nathan shaking his head, and she didn¡¯t know why. ¡°I will try,¡± she said with a smile that reappeared on her face. ¡°I will try to ept Dean and love him.¡± Nathan widened his eyes upon hearing that name mentioned. ¡°I will give the love I should have given to you to him. Because he, all this time, has given the love I truly wanted from you.


    ¡°Dean gave it sincerely to me without forcing me to reciprocate his feelings. And now it¡¯s time for me to reciprocate. It¡¯s time for me to wee him.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do it,¡± Nathan retorted coldly. His gaze was piercing. Nathan shook his head, refusing to ept Haisley¡¯s words into his mind. ¡°You can¡¯t force your feelings like that. That¡¯s foolish,¡± he continued with sarcasm.


    Haisley shook her head again. ¡°I can,¡± she said, more convincing herself. ¡°I can because I am foolish. As foolish as I used to hope for you, in the past.¡± She emphasized thest word. ¡°Back then, I was foolish. But not anymore,¡± she said with augh. ¡°Besides, Dean is better than you.¡±


    Nathan snorted. ¡°Better in what?¡± he challenged.


    Haisley groped for something to hold onto to alleviate her dizziness. She chose to sit on the sofa without diverting her attention from Nathan. ¡°You know, Dean is handsome. Even much more handsome than a Nathaniel Chayton. He¡¯s also wealthy, just like you. He¡¯s a gentle and caring man. He¡¯s a very understanding person,¡± she said with a smile still on her face. ¡°And he also has a heart, which you don¡¯t have.¡± Haisley said sadly. ¡°And more importantly, he loves me.¡± She continued.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t love you!¡± Nathan retorted. ¡°He just wants topete with me.¡±


    Haisleyughed. ¡°Compete for what?¡±


    ¡°To win you. To make me angry.¡± Nathan scoffed in disgust.


    Haisley widened her eyes. ¡°Compete for me?¡± She asked, puzzled. ¡°You¡¯re using the wrong word, Nath. Topete is to take something you already have. Like youpeted for Crystal with Juan. So why should hepete for me when you¡¯ve never had me.¡± But then Haisley nodded slowly. ¡°Ah, you did have my heart, Nath.¡± She chuckled. ¡°But that was in the past. Not anymore.


    ¡°I¡¯ve nned to give my heart to Dean. So, he doesn¡¯t need to botherpeting for my heart from you.¡± She said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll willingly go to him. Surrender myself and my heart to him.¡± She continued confidently. ¡°And just as I pray for your happiness with Loretta, pray the same for me, Nath. Consider it a souvenir from me after all these times I begged for your love.¡± Haisley leaned her head on the back of the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m tired of praying for God to open your heart to me. So instead, from now on, I¡¯ll pray for God to open my heart to Dean.¡± Haisley yawned widely. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand and then found afortable head position. ¡°I¡¯m really sleepy now.¡± She said, and without saying anything more, the girl closed her eyes and began to breathe evenly.

 Chap 62

    The throbbing sensation returned to Haisley¡¯s head. She opened her eyes and blinked to ward off the light emanating from the ceiling above her..


    Where is this?


    The question immediately popped into her head. Slowly, Haisley got up and sat. Her eyes scanned the surroundings. Isn¡¯t this her old room? Why is she here?


    Haisley stood up and felt a queasiness in her stomach, then the girl ran to the bathroom and emptied whatever was writhing in her throat.


    Nausea, heat in her stomach, and a burning sensation in her throat made Haisley shed tears, the effects of everything she felt.


    Haisley rinsed her mouth and then sat on the closed toilet. The dizziness pierced her head more and her vision seemed to shimmer because of it.


    What happened? The question without an answer once again filled her head. She tried to remember what happenedst night. She danced with Steven and afterward, she drank the juice on the bar table, then she felt dizzy. And after that? She forgot. Her mind waspletely nk.


    Was it Gilbert who took her upstairs to the room? Haisley snorted. Of course. There¡¯s no way Nathan would do it.


    Haisley stood up again as her dizziness began to subside. She walked back into the room and widened her eyes when she saw the clock showing eight o¡¯clock. Trouble, she would bete for work!


    Quickly, Haisley rushed out of her room and almost collided with the solid wall in front of her. Correction, not a wall, but Gilbert¡¯s broad chest.


    ¡°Are you awake?¡± the man asked while holding Haisley¡¯s head that had almost hit him.


    Haisley looked up and nodded. ¡°I¡¯mte, G,¡± she muttered, more like grumbling.


    Gilbert shook his head. ¡°You have the afternoon off. I¡¯ve contacted your boss. So here.¡± He handed the paper bag in his left hand to Haisley. ¡°Mama¡¯s clothes. Shower and change, then I¡¯ll wait for you for breakfast in the backyard.¡± He said in a moremanding tone.


    Haisley peeked into the paper bag as Gilbert¡¯s hands touched her shoulders, turned her body, and then pushed the petite Haisley back inside.


    ¡°Ten minutes max. Don¡¯t take too long. I¡¯m really hungry,¡± the man said, then closed the door behind Haisley.


    Haisley unpacked the contents of the gift onto the bed and lifted it. A beautiful white dress that fell to her knees with a soft floral pattern, and matching underwear. Although it didn¡¯t have a price tag, Haisley knew these were new items. She smiled and silently thanked Mrs. Gilbert and, of course, Gilbert. She then walked back into the bathroom and washed herself with her favorite brand of soap, which somehow was there. Again, she whispered her thanks to the mother and son.


    With the new clothes and still-wet hair after showering, Haisley came down exactly ten minutester. It was rtively quick as Haisley didn¡¯t like spending too much time in the bathroom unless she was soaking or taking a long bath. She also didn¡¯t use any makeup because she didn¡¯t carry anything other than what was in her small bag, which only contained a wallet with not much money and identification cards.


    Haisley came down with a mood that somehow felt better thanst night and the days before. When she saw Loretta at the dining table, Haisley appeared normal and waved enthusiastically to the girl. It was as if the jealousy she feltst night due to seeing the intimacy between the girl and Nathan had disappeared into thin air.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± she greeted everyone.


    Simultaneously, everyone turned their heads towards her and responded with ¡®Good morning¡¯ with different expressions, except for Nathan. He didn¡¯t say anything, just looked at Haisley with a cynical gaze.


    But it didn¡¯t matter; Haisley didn¡¯t care. Soon, she wouldn¡¯t have to see that gaze anymore. She told herself.


    Yes, Haisley finally decided that she would go back to America. Start everything anew. Pursue schrships for her education. If she couldn¡¯t fulfill everything before the beginning of next year¡¯s semester, she would ask her father to fund her studies. If her father got angry and refused, Haisley would look for a job. If that proved difficult, she would ask her brother-inw for help to be employed in hispany.


    In essence, Haisley¡¯s n is to return to America first. She¡¯ll figure out other nster. Period.


    ¡°You look very beautiful,¡± Mrs. Monica said. She looked at Haisley from top to bottom. The dress she was wearing had a square neckline, showing off her slender neck and most of her shoulders. The wide bottom of the dress moved with Haisley¡¯s steps, revealing her calves and small ankles. ¡°Do you like the dress?¡± Mrs. Monica asked again, and Haisley nodded in response. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Mrs. Monica looked at Haisley carefully.


    Haisley nodded her head in response. Her eyes caught sight of toast in front of her, suddenly making her stomach growl. Haisley sat to the left of Mrs. Monica, right next to Gilbert, cing her across from Loretta. Without hesitation, Haisley flipped the te in front of her and took the toast from the middle of the table. ¡°Haisley is really hungry, Tan,¡± she said with a grin on her face.


    ¡°Eat a lot,¡± Mrs. Monica said, stroking Haisley¡¯s still damp head. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dry your hair? What if you get a headache?¡± She asked with concern.


    Haisley pouted and nodded her head at Gilbert. ¡°G told Haisley toe down quickly. He said she was hungry,¡± she said, answered by Gilbert with a raised eyebrow. He reached for the toast that Haisley took and then spread chocte spread on it. Haisley chuckled afterward. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Tan. It¡¯ll dry on its ownter,¡± she said as she took back her toast and began to bite into it in one big bite.


    ¡°Are you okay, Haisley?¡± The soft question came from Loretta.


    Haisley blinked both of her eyes and looked at Loretta in confusion. Then she nodded because her mouth was full of bread. Gilbert handed her milk so that Haisley could swallow her breakfast before answering.


    ¡°You, like you haven¡¯t eaten for a week.¡± Thement came from Gilbert as he wiped the bread crumbs from the corner of Haisley¡¯s mouth. Haisley herself justughed hearing it. Meanwhile, Nathan, the man, stared at Haisley with his usual sharp gaze.


    Haisley shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I felt nauseous this morning, and you know,¡± Haisley whispered the word ¡®vomit¡¯ to her friend. ¡°And now, I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    Gilbert raised the corner of his mouth in understanding. ¡°That¡¯s because you got drunkst night,¡± he said, answered by nods from Loretta and Mrs. Monica.


    ¡°Really?¡± She asked shyly.


    Gilbert, Loretta, and Mrs. Monica nodded again. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember at all?¡± the man asked, curious. Haisley shook her head with a grin on her face. ¡°Not at all?¡± Gilbert asked, intrigued. Haisley nodded. Gilbert chuckled. A mocking smile from the man was directed at his sister. Haisley herself didn¡¯t know why.


    ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± the girl asked when she saw Nathan¡¯s face still giving her a sharp look. ¡°Did I do something embarrassing?¡± She asked again to Gilbert, the girl was really panicking now. Mrs. Monica again stroked her hair while Gilbert held her hand to calm her.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong, Haisley. Everything¡¯s fine. You¡¯re a good kid even when you¡¯re drunk,¡± Gilbert replied with a smile that never left his face.


    ¡°Meaning?¡± Haisley asked, confused.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Meaning, you¡¯re the type of person who doesn¡¯t cause trouble when drunk,¡± Gilbert replied again. ¡°What¡¯s thest thing you remember?¡± he asked, curious.


    Haisley furrowed her brow, thinking seriously while chewing on her toast. ¡°Steven and I were dancing, and then I had your juice.¡± She said, answered by Gilbert¡¯s nod. ¡°That juice tasted really good, G. Why alcohol?¡± Sheined.


    Gilbert didn¡¯t answer. The man justughed. ¡°What are you going to do? You¡¯re off work today. Want to go out?¡± Gilbert offered again.


    Haisley shook her head. ¡°I need to freshen up. While there¡¯s still time.¡± She said, taking another bite of her toast.


    ¡°Freshen up?¡± Mrs. Monica looked at Haisley in confusion.


    Haisley nodded. ¡°Today was supposed to be myst day at work, Tan. The day after tomorrow, I¡¯m going back to America.¡± Haisley¡¯s response was met with silence.

 Chap 63

    A few hours earlier.


    The party had ended, some of Gilbert¡¯s friends had already returned to their respective homes, and Gilbert himself was tired and eager to drop his body onto the bed. The tall and big-bodied man then went up to his room, but his steps stopped when he passed Haisley¡¯s room. Gilbert was surprised because the door to the room was open. As far as he remembered, he had closed it before going back downstairs.


    Gilbert walked closer and peeked inside. The room¡¯s lights were still off, and he opened the door wider. Haisley, the girl he had left behind, was not there. Quickly, Gilbert headed to the bathroom whose door was closed and knocked. He felt afraid that, because of her drunken state, Haisley might be drowning herself in the bathtub.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Haisley!¡± Gilbert pounded on the door while calling her name. Silence. No answer, no sound of water. ¡°Haisley, are you in there?!¡± He asked louder, but still, Gilbert didn¡¯t get any response. ¡°Haisley?!¡±


    Gilbert grabbed the doorknob, and the door opened easily. The bathroom was empty. Haisley wasn¡¯t there.


    Confused, Gilbert half ran to his own room. He assumed that Haisley might be wandering around in her drunken state, looking for her. The girl had mentioned she wanted to go home, and Gilbert promised to escort her home if she woke up.


    But Haisley wasn¡¯t in her room either. Did she decide to go home on her own? He wondered.


    Gilbert reached for his phone and called her. However, the ringtone sounded faint from Haisley¡¯s room. And indeed, Haisley¡¯s small sling bag was there, lying on the floor beside the bed.


    Gilbert sighed in frustration. It was the first time Haisley got drunk, and it was because she identally drank his drink. He had no idea how Haisley was when she was drunk.


    Nathan! One name shed in Gilbert¡¯s mind. Could it be that Haisley was looking for Nathan?


    In a hurry, Gilbert ran down the stairs to Nathan¡¯s room. He tried not to fall among the scattered items now littering his house. Gilbert pounded on Nathan¡¯s door with force. He didn¡¯t want Nathan to do anything inappropriate to Haisley, especially since the girl was currently intoxicated.


    Just like Haisley¡¯s room, Nathan¡¯s room was quiet. No response.


    Gilbert forced open Nathan¡¯s door and saw that the room was empty. Where could his brother be? Once again, he wondered.


    Loretta? Did Nathan escort Loretta?


    Gilbert shook his head. No. Nathan did not escort Loretta because he clearly saw Loretta being picked up by her driver earlier. Of course, at Nathan¡¯s request, as he imed he was too drunk to take Loretta home.


    Bullshit, he snorted. Nathan wasn¡¯t a man who easily got drunk even after drinking a considerable amount of alcohol.


    Gilbert nced at the study and walked in that direction. If he found Haisley there and Nathan did anything inappropriate, Gilbert swore he would punch the man.


    Without knocking, Gilbert opened the door roughly. There, behind the desk, was Nathan sitting with a whiskey ss in his hand. The man¡¯s eyes stared sharply ahead. And when Gilbert turned around, he saw Haisley sleeping in a seated position.


    ¡°What is she doing here?¡± Gilbert asked, puzzled. He approached Haisley and adjusted her hair with his fingers, making sure that she was indeed deeply asleep. Gilbert looked back at his brother, and the man answered his little brother¡¯s question with a shrug.


    ¡°She mistook whiskey for sweet tea,¡± Nathan said mockingly. He shook his ss again before taking a sip.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything to her, did you?¡± Gilbert used coldly.


    Nathan shrugged again. ¡°Ask her when she wakes up,¡± he replied tly.


    Gilbert snorted again. He walked closer, flipped another ss on the tray, and then poured the whiskey in front of Nathan into it before deciding to sit in the chair across from Nathan. ¡°Let¡¯s talk man to man, Nath,¡± he said tly.


    Nathan just shrugged. ¡°Just say what¡¯s on your mind,¡± he said shortly.


    ¡°I just want to know, what do you really want in life?¡± Gilbert asked as he sipped his whiskey.


    Nathan raised an eyebrow, looking at his younger brother. ¡°You suddenly be a caring brother, huh?¡± The man mocked.


    Gilbert shook his head. ¡°Not really,¡± he answered. ¡°I¡¯m just curious about your mindset. I¡¯m trying to get to know my brother.¡± He continued honestly.


    ¡°I¡¯m just me. I¡¯m just myself trying to be the best at everything,¡± Nathan replied.


    ¡°Perfectionist,¡± Gilbert responded with a murmur. ¡°So, you¡¯re not pursuingfort and happiness in your life, Nath?¡±


    ¡°Sess is directly proportional to afortable life, G. And happiness is included in the package,¡± the man replied tly.


    Gilbert shook his head at his brother¡¯s answer. ¡°Then, what about Haisley? Is she really unworthy of being in your life? Do you think Haisley isn¡¯t the best in your life, so you don¡¯t want to choose her?¡± he asked, curious.


    Nathan looked at Haisley, then turned his gaze back to Gilbert. ¡°Why bring her into this?¡± he asked, puzzled.


    Gilbert pulled the corner of his mouth. ¡°Because I want to know what achievements you¡¯re really seeking in life. Is it just sess in your career, or do you want sess in your personal life too?¡±


    Nathan snorted. ¡°In reality, sess in a job doesn¡¯t always corrte with personal life. Haven¡¯t you seen people who are happy in life but living modestly? Haven¡¯t you seen people who are sessful in life but have a broken family? Something has to be sacrificed, G. You can¡¯t have it all. You can¡¯t be greedy. Unless you have a partner who is right for you and can support you. Not just moral support, but also support in the form of power.¡±


    ¡°So, Haisley¡¯s position here is a downfall for you?¡± Gilbert asked. Nathan didn¡¯t give any response. ¡°What about love?¡± he asked again.


    Nathan snorted again. ¡°Love is just a mirage,¡± he replied curtly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t believe in it, Nath. Because if you don¡¯t believe, you wouldn¡¯t have feelings for Crystal.¡±

 Chap 64

    ¡°Love is just a camouge, G. In fact, love won¡¯tst if we don¡¯t give women what they need. The main source of love is money and power. Will your woman stick with you just because you shower her with words of love? Can she buy designer clothes or collect diamonds with love? No, she won¡¯t be able to.¡±


    ¡°And also, what I felt for Crystal back then can¡¯t be called love,¡± Nathan answered tly. ¡°Just consider it as an adrenaline trigger because I wanted topete with Juan. Then I lost. And it¡¯s all over.¡± Nathan spoke without expression.


    ¡°Is that so? So you consider your feelings for Crystal just some kind of intensepetition? Whoever she chooses is the winner?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and I lost,¡± Nathan replied without a hint of sadness.


    ¡°So, what are you doing with Haisley now? Is this also your game? You act reluctant to ept her but take advantage of her innocence. You y with her feelings. Who¡¯s challenging you this time? Steven? Dean?¡±


    Nathan looked at Gilbert coldly. ¡°I never yed with her feelings. She¡¯s the one who¡¯s too foolish to persist in liking me even though she knows I can¡¯t reciprocate her feelings.¡±


    Gilbert chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°I sometimes wonder. What is your heart made of, Nath? Where does all that egoe from? Your mouth can say you don¡¯t like her, but not your body. Your gaze, your gestures, and everything. Everyone clearly knows that you like Haisley. You want her. But you deny it all and treat her harshly. Aren¡¯t you afraid that one day you¡¯ll regret it?¡±


    ¡°Regret is for those who have made mistakes. For those who have chosen wrong,¡± the man scoffed.


    ¡°Well, and you¡¯ll be among those people. You¡¯ve clearly made a big mistake, Nath,¡± Gilbert replied. ¡°Why pretend not to like her when, in fact, you want her so much?¡± he asked again. ¡°As a man, I know the passionate look in your eyes towards her. Why won¡¯t you admit that as well?¡±


    Nathan scoffed again. He shook the ss and took another sip of his drink. ¡°A normal man will feel passion for any woman, and you don¡¯t need to categorize that as love,¡± he said mockingly.


    Gilbert raised the corner of his mouth. ¡°Normal men would only be passionate when they see a woman naked or dressed provocatively. But a normal man who is passionate when he sees a woman dressed modestly and covered, that¡¯s clearly because of love. Not solely because of his male desires. And you always look at Haisley with that kind of gaze. Different from your gaze at Loretta. Do you think I never noticed that?¡± Gilbert snorted and took another sip of his drink. ¡°I may not be an honorable man, but I try to behave that way by treating women as well as I can. But you?¡± Gilbert looked at his brother with a mocking gaze. ¡°Believe me, Nath, like you said earlier that regret is felt by someone who has made the wrong choice, don¡¯t let yourself experience that.


    If Haisley has closed her heart to you, you will be the one who ultimately loses because you can¡¯t have someone who loves you so sincerely and deeply. Haisley is not a saint who can forgive forever. There will be a time when she gets tired and gives up. Especially with all your treatment towards her all this time.


    You only have one more chance, Nath. When she has decided to be with Dean. That means she has decided to forget you. And I know Haisley and how stubborn she is.


    Think again, who do you want to see in the remaining years of your life, Nath. Loretta or Haisley. Because your wealth, your handsomeness, your sess won¡¯tst forever. In the end, you will grow old and lonely. If it¡¯s not your wife and children apanying you, then there won¡¯t be anyone willing to sit beside you in your moments of despair.¡±


    Gilbert put down his ss roughly and then walked towards Haisley. He held the small girl in his arms with both hands.


    And not even twenty-four hours after he said all that to Nathan, now Haisley seemed to have made her decision without hesitation.


    Haisley stared at her apartment. All of her personal belongings were already packed in boxes that she wouldter send using cargo to America. After returning from Gilbert¡¯s house yesterday, Haisley immediately visited the two ces where she worked and informed them of her resignation. Both of her bosses promptly paid her a modest sum, but it was enough for Haisley to cover the cargo expenses. As for the return ticket, Haisley used her own money and also borrowed some from her brother-inw, Juan. She pleaded with him not to say anything to her sister and their parents.


    Reia expressed regret when Haisley mentioned that she would be returning to America in a matter of hours. Reia asked Haisley to restrain herself and continue her studies there. However, Haisley had convinced herself that it was all in vain. The girl also asked Haisley to at least endure until the next semester, but Haisley refused again. After all, in America, she would still have to retake her courses from the beginning, so why should she spend more time and money to stay there?


    Now, after all her belongings were packed and she was ready to go to the airport, Haisley was surprised by the arrival of Gilbert and Aunt Monica.


    ¡°Aunt won¡¯t let you go back to America alone, Haisley,¡± the woman said in response to Haisley¡¯s unspoken question.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why? What about Uncle?¡± Haisley asked, surprised.


    ¡°Gilbert¡¯s dad is old. He can go home by himself. Don¡¯t worry about him,¡± the woman said, visibly annoyed. Haisley looked at her friend, and the man just shrugged.


    They had arrived at the airport, each carrying their suitcase. Haisley¡¯s suitcase was indeedrger than Aunt Monica¡¯s because Haisley took advantage of the maximum airline baggage allowance to reduce the cost of transporting her belongings. Fortunately, Gilbert was there, and his presence and strength greatly helped her.


    ¡°Are your parents upset again?¡± Haisley whispered as Gilbert unloaded the luggage from the car.


    ¡°Why do you ask?¡± he replied.


    ¡°Howe your uncle allowed Aunt to go back to the US alone?¡± she asked, still in a whisper. Meanwhile, Mrs. Monica seemed engrossed with her gadget.


    ¡°Dad is out of town. Mom escaped,¡± Gilbert said with a chuckle.


    Haisley widened her eyes in surprise, but Gilbert seemed unfazed.


    Haisley hugged Gilbert tightly as her flight was announced. ¡°I¡¯m going to miss you, G,¡± she said sadly.


    Gilbert ruffled Haisley¡¯s hair affectionately. ¡°That¡¯s why, tell whoever to go back to the US. You can stay here with me,¡± he offered as a final plea.


    Haisley pursed her lips and shook her head. ¡°Only fools don¡¯t know when to stop,¡± she replied with a sad smile.


    ¡°I always pray for the best for you, Haisley,¡± he said, apanied by a brief kiss on Haisley¡¯s head. ¡°Even though meeting your God is rare,¡± he chuckled, making Haisleyugh as well.

 Chap 65

    Haisley nodded with a smile on her face. Mrs. Monica had extended her hand, calling for Haisley. The girl nodded and approached her, wrapping her hand around the arm of the woman she considered her own mother.


    Once on the ne, Haisley sat separately. Of course, their seating sses were clearly different. Haisley bought an economy ss ticket, while Mrs. Monica purchased a first-ss ticket.


    However, to Haisley¡¯s surprise, just before the ne was about to take off, Mrs. Monica walked into her ss and asked the woman sitting next to her to change seats.


    ¡°Aunt, why?¡± Haisley asked, confused.


    ¡°I can¡¯t sit quietly alone for hours. It annoys Haisley,¡± Mrs. Monica replied casually.


    They fastened their seatbelts, and the journey began. Haisley chatted during the trip, and when sleep came, both of them slept.


    Upon arriving in America, a driver was already waiting for them at the airport. Fortunately, Haisley hadn¡¯t asked Juan to pick her up because Mrs. Monica had instructed her driver to wait for them there.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Do you want to go straight home?¡± Mrs. Monica asked.


    And here, Haisley was once again troubled. What would happen if she returned home? Would her parents be furious? Would they regret or me Haisley for deciding to return to America after all her struggles?


    ¡°If you¡¯re unsure, you can stay at Aunt¡¯s house. Go home tomorrow,¡± Mrs. Monica suggested, a suggestion that Haisley nodded in agreement to.


    They arrived at Mrs. Monica¡¯s residence. The spacious and luxurious house always felt empty. This was not only because Mrs. Monica always apanied Mr. Samuel wherever he went but also because both of her sons had not lived there for a long time. Moreover, when they were still in America, the house only became lively when Gilbert was around, often bringing his friends there.


    Or if there was any liveliness, it only urred during certain celebrations. Despite being wealthy, Mrs. Monica was selective in socializing. She chose not to associate with rich women who constantlypeted by unting outrageously priced branded goods. This was also the reason why Mrs. Monica could be friends with Haisley¡¯s mother.


    The next day, with a fearful heart that made her heartbeat twice as fast, Haisley, apanied by Mrs. Monica¡¯s driver, finally returned to Kansas. The house they had upied for the past few years after the unfortunate incident that befell Haisley when she was in junior high school. Two hourster in the journey, she was now standing at her parents¡¯ residence.


    The two-story simple house in the housingplex, predominantly white, appeared closed. Perhaps her parents were at her brother¡¯s residence. If so, it meant they were currently in Manhattan. Haisley dragged her suitcase wearily, opened the unlocked door, and was greeted by the sight of Brigit, their household assistant who had been working with them since Haisley was little. The woman, over fifty years old, seemed to be scrubbing the bottom of the wardrobe while squatting and humming. Haisley could see her hands reaching the wardrobe¡¯s bottom with difficulty, while her hips swayed.


    ¡°Bri!¡± Haisley called out to the woman. No response. Perhaps because the woman¡¯s humming was louder than Haisley¡¯s call. ¡°Bri!¡± Haisley called again, this time apanied by a tap on the woman¡¯s leg.


    ¡°Oh, you little devil!¡± the woman eximed with her quirky expression. She cursed as her head identally bumped into the wardrobe. ¡°Who is it?¡± she asked angrily, turning to look at Haisley. Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Oh my God, Miss Haisley. What are you doing here?¡± she asked in amazement. ¡°Oh, this is really Miss¡¯s house, right?¡± She chuckled afterward. ¡°I mean, Auntie, why is Miss here? Shouldn¡¯t Miss be somewhere else? In London, right?¡±


    Haisley smiled and shook her head. She chose to walk into the house while pulling her suitcase.


    ¡°Haisley is back; it¡¯s unbearable over there,¡± Brigit replied casually. ¡°Where are Mom and Dad?¡± she asked while looking around.


    ¡°Mr. and Mrs. went to Subang. There¡¯s some invitation or something. They said they¡¯ll be back the day after tomorrow,¡± Brigit replied, somehow instantly relieving Haisley.


    The girl walked to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and then took out cold water. Leaning her hips against the kitchen counter, she began to drink to quench her thirst.


    ¡°Miss, do you want to eat? Auntie can prepare something. What would you like to eat?¡± Brigit asked.


    Haisley closed her water bottle and shook her head. ¡°Haisley is already full. I had breakfast beforeing here. Maybeter in the afternoon,¡± she said, and Brigit nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to rest, okay?¡± she added, getting another nod from Brigit.


    Haisley ced her suitcase beside the bedroom door. Reluctant to open it, the room, untouched for months, remained clean and just as it was when Haisley left. All thanks to Brigit and her mother.


    Haisley sat on her bed and leaned her back against the bed frame. She took out her phone from her sling bag. When she opened the screen, she wasn¡¯t surprised to see a message notification from Gilbert. Yesterday, she had informed Gilbert about her arrival time and also about staying at Chayton¡¯s residence. Earlier, when she was about to leave, Haisley had also informed Gilbert.


    Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away, Gilbert appeared to chuckle as he read the message on his phone. He paid no attention to the two older men, each looking at him with different expressions. His father, upset because Gilbert assisted his mother in returning to America, and Nathan, who red at him angrily for reasons unknown.


    Haisley lowered her head in the living room of her house. Both of her parents were back. Her mother was sitting in one of the chairs, while her father stood with his back to her. Clearly, the middle-aged man was holding back his frustration. After all, who wouldn¡¯t be surprised to find out that their youngest daughter, whom they knew was in another part of the world, suddenly slept soundly in her own room without any prior notice, and dered that she would quit the schrship she had been pursuing for thest three years.


    ¡°Are you sure about your decision, dear?¡± her father asked after some time in silence.


    Haisley looked up, directly into her father¡¯s eyes before nodding her head.


    ¡°But why?¡± The question came from her mother. ¡°Why would you suddenly want to quit school? Don¡¯t you value your schrship? You¡¯ve been studying so hard to pursue it for thest three years until you didn¡¯t want to be a ballerina.¡±


    Haisley looked at her mother and nodded again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom, Dad,¡± she said softly.


    Her father sat on the chair and shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize to Papa. You have to apologize to yourself,¡± he said tly. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard to get to this point. Papa and Mama are just here to support you. All decisions ultimatelye down to you. With one condition, don¡¯t regret itter.

 Chap 66

    ¡°I can¡¯t say you¡¯re already an adult, but you¡¯re not a child anymore who needs guidance and is confused in making decisions. Papa knows you¡¯ve considered everything thoroughly, but does it really have to be like this?


    ¡°Papa can¡¯t me you; from the beginning, Papa didn¡¯t agree with your intention to study in Ennd just because you wanted to be with Nathan. Papa has also been young, fallen in love, and been obsessed with the feelings Papa had. But Papa doesn¡¯t want to sacrifice Papa¡¯s future for those uncertain feelings. Papa doesn¡¯t want you to experience that.¡±


    Haisley lowered her head and twiddled her fingers. She knew, very well, that her actions from the beginning could be considered impulsive. She was too confident. She was too sure that her past actions could stir Nathan¡¯s heart. But the reality was different.


    ¡°Now, what do you want to do here?¡± Haisley lifted her head and looked at her father. ¡°Haisley will work while studying to enter university next year,¡± she said earnestly. Yes, she had nned that before, right? She would work, save money, and study to pursue a schrship at her desired campus next year.


    ¡°Sure? This time I want to go to college because you really want to study there, not for any other motivation?¡± Haisley answered her father¡¯s question with a nod. ¡°Where do you want to work? Not all high school graduates can get a good job with decent pay.¡±


    ¡°I can work in a caf¨¦ or restaurant, Dad. I don¡¯t mind being a waiter; I¡¯m used to working as one,¡± she said sincerely.


    Her father could only nod. It didn¡¯t mean that he couldn¡¯t help her get a job in afortable ce or use his connections. But he had always taught independence to his children. A child should be able to be themselves, find their identity, try to do everything on their own before giving up and asking for help from their parents. And that¡¯s what Haisley had learned until now.


    And Haisley¡¯s statement became the final decision epted by both her parents.


    Haisley didn¡¯t feel a difference in the atmosphere at home. She felt like she was back to the time before she decided to leave her family. And if asked about her feelings, Haisley felt happy at the moment, but there was an emptiness within her.


    Of course, in her heart, she still missed Nathan. Longed for him. Her mind questioned whether he felt the same. Did he think about her? Miss her? But then Haisley¡¯s inner self answered with a firm ¡®No.¡¯


    Nathan never cared about her. That was a fact.


    Haisley didn¡¯t waste time. She immediately contacted some acquaintances and searched for information about job vacancies. Some of her school friends questioned why she was looking for a job or asked for whom the job was. Because, as far as they knew, Haisley shouldn¡¯t be in America right now. But Haisley didn¡¯t want to bother exining. She just said that she needed a job for herself.


    Fortunately, one of her friends offered her a job. Although, as she suspected, it was just as a restaurant waiter. Because, well, the diploma she had now was only a high school diploma. But before Haisley could send her application to the restaurant, she received a call from her sister-inw.


    ¡°Do you want to work?¡± the man inquired. Haisley answered enthusiastically. ¡°Is it okay if the job is just being a room service?¡± the man asked again. Haisley didn¡¯t refuse; she would ept any job as long as it waswful. ¡°If you want, I¡¯ll send you a ticket.¡±


    ¡°A ticket?¡± Haisley furrowed her brow in confusion.


    ¡°Yes, a ticket. Because the job opening is not in Kansas or Manhattan but in Miami,¡± the man said again. Haisley thought for a moment. Miami? What about the cost of living? Would the sry be sufficient? Could she still save for her future education?


    ¡°Amodation and meals are provided by the hotel. You just need to be frugal if you want to save,¡± her sister, Crystal, chimed in. And if her sister said so, it was indeed the case.


    Haisley then nodded enthusiastically, forgetting that she was on a phone call, not a video call. ¡°Haisley wants it, Kak,¡± she said excitedly.


    ¡°Good, then prepare your suitcase. I¡¯ll arrange the ticket here. I¡¯ll also tell Mom and Dad about your job in Miami,¡± her sister-inw said. Shortly after that, the call was disconnected.


    Haisley, who was in her room, now flopped onto her bed. Ennd, Miami, this year truly was a year of adventures for her, she thought to herself.


    A message appeared on her phone. Haisley turned on the screen and saw Gilbert¡¯s name on the notification board.


    G:


    Morning here, Bear.


    How¡¯s the US?


    Haisley:


    Always beautiful to behold. G, I¡¯m working in Miami.


    G:


    What? Awesome! Are you going to charm some foreigners there?


    Haisley:


    No! I think this time I¡¯ll look for someone local. No foreigners, no mixed race.


    G:


    Seriously?! Well, it¡¯s okay, I support you. What about Dean then?


    Haisley:


    I don¡¯t know. Let time answer that.


    G:


    Take your time.


    Haisley just smiled as she read the messages.


    Meanwhile, at Gilbert¡¯s residence.


    Gilbert ced his phone on the table, ignoring the two men who still looked at him disapprovingly. His mother still couldn¡¯t be reached until now. And the people at home refused to provide any information to his father. Meanwhile, his father couldn¡¯t leave his work to follow his mother to America. As for Nathan?


    Gilbert himself didn¡¯t know what made his brother act coldly toward him.


    Haisley?


    It could be about Haisley. But why did Gilbert have to be the scapegoat for his brother¡¯s inconsistent behavior? Did Gilbert ask Nathan to ignore Haisley? Did Gilbert ask Nathan to treat Haisley so badly that she decided to leave them?


    ¡°It¡¯s Nathan¡¯s fault and his decision. So why should Gilbert be treated unpleasantly by him now?¡±


    The ringtone on Gilbert¡¯s phone prompted his father to forcibly grab Gilbert¡¯s phone. The old man assumed that the call was from his mother; unfortunately, his assumption was wrong. The call was from his cousin, none other than Nathan¡¯s rival, Dean.


    ¡°Yes, Bro?¡± Gilbert greeted with an enthusiastic tone, ignoring his annoyed father who chose to leave the dining table. Meanwhile, Nathan remained seated there, ring at Gilbert with his sharp gaze.


    ¡°Is it true that Haisley is back in the US?¡± Dean asked from the other side.


    Gilbert unconsciously nodded. ¡°Yeah, she just came back with her mom to the US. Why, how do you know? Did Haisley contact you?¡± Gilbert asked curiously.


    ¡°No, Juan told me,¡± Dean answered irritably. ¡°Haisley is so nice to let you know. I was shocked here when I suddenly heard that she¡¯s going back to the US. What else did she say to you?¡± Gilbert asked again, ignoring Nathan¡¯s raised eyebrow and his sarcastic gaze.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Is Nath there?¡± Dean asked confusedly. But without waiting for Gilbert¡¯s answer, he continued, ¡°Juan said that Haisley will be working in Miami.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she just told me that she¡¯s going to spend her vacation time in Miami,¡± Gilbert said, sidelining the fact that Haisley was actually going there to work. But he deliberately said so to gauge his brother¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°She¡¯s working there on Juan¡¯s rmendation. Juan said Haisley will postpone her studies until next year. I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s moving to the US, but I don¡¯t want to waste my education here. What do you think I should do?¡± Dean asked.


    ¡°Just follow her to Miami when youe back. If necessary, stay there with her. Propose to her, maybe even marry her as soon as possible, so when you go back to studying, you¡¯ve already left her in a safe position,¡± Gilbert suggested.


    ¡°Will she really be interested?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she will. She just chatted with me. She said she¡¯s looking for a local guy. Doesn¡¯t want a foreigner, especially mixed-race. If you don¡¯t believe it, I¡¯ll screenshot it for you.¡±


    ¡°Haisley is really heartbroken because of Nathan, huh?¡± Dean asked despondently.


    Gilbert felt he had heated up his brother enough. He then stood up with the phone still on his ear and walked away from the dining table towards the backyard of his house.


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t make that decision if she felt fine, would she?¡± Gilbert answered bluntly.


    ¡°Do I still have a chance to get close to her?¡± Dean asked again with his desperation showing.


    ¡°No one knows what we¡¯ll face in the future, Dean. If you really want to fight to win her, then fight. Don¡¯t do it halfway. Haisley will also know about your struggle, and who knows, she might soften eventually,¡± Gilbert encouraged. From the corner of his eye, Gilbert could see Nathan approaching. And deliberately, he spoke again, ¡°By the way, when are youing back? When you¡¯ve prepared your ticket to the US, let me know. I want to go there too. I don¡¯t want to miss the moment of your proposal to Haisley.¡±


    ¡°You jerk, I haven¡¯t even gotten close to her, how can I propose!¡± Dean said, but then he understood why Gilbert said that. ¡°When I have the return schedule, I¡¯ll let you know.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t forget, don¡¯t go overboard. I want to find a cheap flight ticket to save on expenses,¡± Gilbert replied with a chuckle. After a brief small talk, Gilbert then hung up the phone.


    ¡°Dean getting engaged to Haisley?¡± Nathan asked curiously.


    Gilbert looked at his brother and squinted. ¡°Were you eavesdropping?¡± he asked curtly.


    ¡°Just answer, G,¡± Nathan said annoyed.


    Gilbert only responded to his brother¡¯s question with a shrug. ¡°Find out for yourself,¡± he said as he walked into the house, leaving his visibly irritated brother behind.

 Chap 67

    Miami.


    Haisley took a deep breath, catching the prating scent of salt in the air. The hot weather immediately prated her skin, and then she smiled. Tomorrow or the day after, whenever she arrived in Bandung, her somewhat yellowish skin tone would undoubtedly turn into a shade of brown. But that was fine; change was asionally necessary.


    She had also seen her ce of residence. The roommates shared by two people, equipped with an en-suite bathroom and a small kitchen containing a single-door refrigerator, a stove, and some essential kitchen utensils. Her roommate, a 25-year-old girl named Astrid, seemed like a mature and friendly person.


    Haisley had also visited the hotel where she would be working. The hotel staff mentioned that for the next week, someone would provide her with training before she would eventually work independently. Considering Haisley was not a graduate of a tourism or hotel school, she had to truly learn about attitude and her job as a restaurant waitress in a hotel.


    Yes, it was a higher level, as she perceived it, because the sry was considerably higherpared to working as a regr restaurant waitress.


    And now, Haisley chose to stroll around and spend her time before she got busy with her job in the uing days.


    By five in the morning, Haisley was ready. By half past six, she had finished her shower, and by six, she had finished breakfast and was ready to go to the hotel. Mba Astrid mentioned that her trainer was a man in his thirties who seemed cold and unfriendly. The thing he disliked the most wasteness. So Haisley was advised to arrive at the hotel before six-thirty. And now, here she was, in the employee changing room, ready to change into her internship uniform.


    There were three people who apparently entered with her: a 23-year-old man named Cakhra, a 25-year-old man named Wahyu, and a girl around 21 named Saras. The four of them stood in a row, waiting for the trainer to arrive. And then, there he was, the tall, handsome, and masculine man in a suit, wearing a name tag with the hotel logo beside it.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Allow me to introduce myself, I¡¯m Aditya. I am tasked with providing you with training for the next week. I hope you can follow the hotel¡¯s work procedures and coborate well.¡± He spoke, greeted by nods from the four individuals. The man then called each new employee by name and subsequently guided Haisley and the other three to follow him.


    Because they will all be employed in the hotel¡¯s restaurant section, they were taken to explore the kitchen, bar, and ces typically used by their customers for dining. Yes, the dishes they would deliver were not confined to an area of around fifty by fifty meters. It also included other areas like the pool and bungalows, not to mention the hotel rooms themselves. So, Aditya took them on a tour of almost the entire hotel to show them all the avable spaces.


    Haisley stretched her legs when break time arrived. Working with Aditya truly required high spirits and extra energy, as the man seemed never to run out of energy. And for some reason, since she mentioned his name, he looked at Haisley with a cold and suspicious gaze, as if she had done something wrong to him. However, Haisley had no idea what mistake she might have made with the man.


    Haisley nced at her phone that she had set to silent mode. The numerous iing messages forced her to reluctantly roll her eyes. Her sister, Crystal. Her brother-inw, Juan. Her mother, and even Gilbert, everyone seemed to be sending her messages just to ask the same thing. How was Haisley¡¯s job, and was shefortable in Miami or not?


    Oh God, she had just started her day; how could she decide whether she wasfortable or not? Haisley chose to ignore these messages and then put her phone in her pocket. She needed to eat delicious food to fill up her energy until the evening. Haisley then walked to the kitchen, asked for her lunch from the staff on duty there, before facing Aditya and starting to work.


    Haisley finished her first day at three in the afternoon. For the next week, she would continue working from morning until evening, until she was given another schedule if her one-week training was sessful.


    What she knew was that there were three schedules in their restaurant. The morning shift, from half-past seven to three o¡¯clock. The afternoon shift from two to eleven at night. And the night shift, from half-past four in the afternoon until half-past one in the morning. And Haisley was actually enthusiastic to experience working in these shifts. She believed that her busy schedule would slowly make her forget the painful chapter of her love story.


    A week passed without feeling it. Haisley¡¯s internship uniform had now changed to the official hotel employee uniform. Haisley herself was given several types of uniforms, ranging from T-shirts and long pants to a white shirt with a ck knee-length skirt,plete with the mandatory high-heeled shoes that they said she had to wear during her day and night shifts. There was also another uniform in the form of batik that she had to wear on specific days.


    Haisley was assigned to work six days a week, with one day off, and in the following week, a shift change. For her day off, she was not allowed to take weekends off because, they said, weekends were the busiest days in the restaurant.


    In the third week of her work in Miami, Haisley received something surprising. Whether it was a dream or not, Haisley seemed to see her friends there. via and Abigail. But when Haisley tried to approach them, they seemed to disappear into a crowd of people.


    Haisley then grabbed her phone, searching for Abigail¡¯s contact and hoping her number hadn¡¯t changed without her knowledge. Fortunately, on the third ring, Abigail answered her call.


    ¡°Haisley?¡± Abigail asked in surprise.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. Where are you?¡± Haisley inquired. ¡°You¡¯re in Miami, right?¡± without waiting for Abigail¡¯s response, Haisley continued questioning.


    ¡°How did you know?¡± Abigail asked back.


    ¡°I¡¯m here too, in Miami. I just saw you with Via. Oh, that was really Via, right?¡± Haisley asked hesitantly.


    Abigail chuckled clearly on the other end. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s via. Where are you? What are you doing in Miami? Vacation?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m working here,¡± Haisley answered without embarrassment.


    ¡°Working? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be studying in a foreign country? Why are you working? Where do you work?¡±


    Haisley mentioned where she worked. Abigail replied that she knew the ce and then asked when Haisley would return. Haisley mentioned her working hours and her day off.


    ¡°All right, let¡¯s meet at Jimbaran, how about that?¡± Abigail suggested, and Haisley agreed.


    And when the evening came, Haisley truly went to Jimbaran to meet her two friends whom she hadn¡¯t seen for almost a year. ¡°Rin! La!¡± she shouted as she ran towards the two figures.


    Abigail, being called, stood up and then smiled. She opened her arms so that Haisley¡¯s smaller figure could enter her embrace. They hugged each other, swinging their bodies, and somehow, the longing felt so real at that moment.


    Haisley then released her embrace, looking at via who was still sitting on the beach chair with her usual gentle smile. The girl stood up with apparent difficulty and then hugged Haisley just as tightly.


    ¡°Missed you guys,¡± she said with a longing that she no longer hid.


    ¡°Why are you stranded here? Ran out of money for tuition?¡± Abigail teased intentionally.


    Haisley red at the girl who was known for her straightforward attitude. However, without hesitation, she replied, ¡°I had a broken heart. Instead of staying there and my once big heart turning into a peanut, I chose to return  to US.¡±


    ¡°You? Broken heart? Did I hear it wrong?¡± Abigail asked incredulously.


    ¡°Believe it or not. But the fact is, it¡¯s true. Turns out, Nathan already has a girlfriend there, a foreigner, beautiful, and rich,¡± she said with annoyance. ¡°Unfortunately, that girl is nice, so instead of making a move on her, I¡¯d just embarrass myself.¡±


    Haisley continued with a pouty face, answered by Abigail and via withughter. ¡°What about you guys? Vacation?¡±


    via and Abigail nodded. ¡°She¡¯s on vacation,¡± Abigail said to via. ¡°I¡¯m just unemployed,¡± she continued.


    ¡°Awyer, unemployed with a busy schedule,¡± via replied. ¡°She has a photo shoot schedule here, so we decided to have a vacation together.¡±


    Haisley nodded. ¡°How long are you guys here?¡± she asked again. Abigail shrugged, while via remained silent. ¡°If you¡¯re here for a while, great. I don¡¯t want to be alone here. With you guys around, at least I can spend time together. At least until your vacation is over,¡± she continued.


    ¡°My holiday still has a long way to go, so I¡¯ll be here for quite some time. You cane to the vi, and if you want, you can stay with us. It won¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±


    Haisley shook her head. ¡°I stay in the employee dorm, so I can¡¯t just do whatever I want. But if I want to stay overnight asionally, it¡¯s possible.¡±


    They continued chatting until via heard the call to Maghrib prayer from her phone.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find a ce to chat,¡± she suggested to the two girls in front of her, who answered with nods. Abigail then helped via to stand up, and the three of them went to the parking area where Abigail¡¯s car was.


    Abigail drove her car to an area she deemedfortable for chatting. When via excused herself to go to the bathroom, Haisley¡¯s eyes kept watching her friend¡¯s steps.


    ¡°What happened to her?¡± Haisley asked softly.


    Abigail knew that the question would eventuallye, but Haisley tried to restrain herself, not wanting to hurt her friend¡¯s feelings.


    ¡°She had a broken heart, just like you,¡± Abigail answered honestly. Haisley looked at her friend with a furrowed brow.


    ¡°On the day you went to Ennd, her crush also chose to go to Germany for further studies.¡± Mentioning Germany reminded Haisley of Dean; she had to contact him and let him know about her presence to prevent him from thinking she was still in Ennd, although she doubted Dean was unaware.


    ¡°And then?¡± Haisley redirected the conversation to its original topic.


    ¡°Via had an ident when she was about to catch up with Uncle,¡± Abigail replied. ¡°Her condition is really bad. She¡¯s even suspected to be paralyzed for a long time. But she has a strong spirit to survive. Today is the first day she let go of her crutches,¡± Abigail pointed to the back of her car, where a pair of grey crutches leaned inconspicuously, almost unnoticed by Haisley before. ¡°Previously, she sat in a wheelchair and learned to walk. Until now, she also uses knee straps under her skirt, which makes it a bit difficult for her to walk.


    ¡°Because it¡¯s the holiday season, she decided to take a break from therapy and chose to have a vacation here. Although that¡¯s just an excuse. In fact, she¡¯s here to avoid meeting other family members and doesn¡¯t want to receive pitiful nces.


    ¡°Moreover, she avoids meeting Uncle even though it was just an ident,¡± Abigail continued.


    Haisley could only look at Abigail with an understanding gaze. She knew how it felt to have a broken heart, which is why she understood via¡¯s current feelings. If aparison were made, what Haisley felt now was nothingpared to what via experienced.


    ¡°Hopefully, we can get a better fate after this,¡± the girl said while making the sign of the cross with her hand. Abigail smiled and silently agreed with her friend¡¯s prayer.

 Chap 68

    Good news for Haisley the next day. She heard that Gilbert and Dean had nned to spend their vacation in Miami and had even given Haisley a photo of their ne tickets and the possible time they would arrive at the airport.


    Yes, Dean and Gilbert promised to meet in Manhattan before eventually using the same ne to fly to Miami. It¡¯s inconvenient, while there is actually a ne they could use tond directly in Miami.


    Haisley herself resisted telling Gilbert about via¡¯s presence in Miami. Haisley knew that Gilbert had liked via for a while, but he didn¡¯t dare to express his feelings because of religious differences. What would her friend say when he saw the increasingly beautiful via? Surely he would like her even more. As a woman, Haisley herself admired the beauty of the Italian-blooded girl, especially Gilbert.


    Haisley had already asked to swap shifts with her coworker the day before. Luckily, her friend agreed to exchange schedules, so now Haisley is here, waiting for Dean and Gilbert at the airport.


    Upon hearing that the ne carrying her two friends hadnded, Haisley immediately went to the passenger exit and prepared to wee them.


    Gilbert¡¯s figure couldn¡¯t be said to be too conspicuous. Like the tourists who are already familiar in Miami, so is Gilbert¡¯s figure now. Seeing her friend scanning around in his Miami-style sunsses, Haisley instantly jumped and waved her hands while calling their names.


    ¡°G! Dean! Over here!¡± Haisley shouted loudly, still jumping and waving both of her hands.


    The two cousins looked at her simultaneously. Withughter on their faces, Haisley immediately collided with Dean and Gilbert and hugged them with her petite arms.


    ¡°Oh God, I really missed you guys.¡± Haisley said sincerely. Dean patted her back while Gilbert ruffled the girl¡¯s hair with affection.


    Haisley released her embrace and raised her head to the two tall guys. ¡°Did you guys miss me too?¡± she asked with a hopeful tone.


    Dean and Gilbert looked at each other and then shook their heads at the same time, making Haisley squint her eyes and pout in annoyance.


    ¡°All right, I¡¯m just going back then,¡± she said curtly, and she indeed turned her body around. Then, Dean and Gilbert sped their hands on Haisley¡¯s shoulders, causing the girl to stumble under the weight. ¡°Do you guys not realize personal space?¡± she grumbled irritably, but Dean and Gilbert just chuckled at herint.


    ¡°Haisley?!¡± A soft, feminine voice made Haisley stop in her tracks. She looked at Dean and Gilbert alternately with furrowed eyebrows before turning around to search for the person calling her.


    The girl looked beautiful in a mini skirt and a white tank top. Sunsses perched on her sharp nose. Behind those sunsses, Haisley knew the girl was looking in her direction because she could see a smile forming on her face.


    ¡°Loretta?¡± Haisley mumbled the girl¡¯s name. She didn¡¯t know what to feel when she saw the figure of the girl now quickly walking towards her, extending her arms as if asking Haisley to step into her embrace.


    ¡°Oh my God, Haisley. I¡¯ve missed you,¡± the girl said while hugging Haisley tightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing to America?¡± she scolded with a reproachful tone.


    Haisley herself was silent. She didn¡¯t know how to answer, especially since she couldn¡¯t control her feelings. Especially when she saw the man who had been the goal of her escape to Miami now standing in front of her, looking at her with his cold gaze.


    ¡°Haisley? Are you daydreaming?¡± the girl asked in her mother tongue.


    Haisley widened her eyes and shook her head instantly. She tried to put a smile on her face. The genuine smile that she used to easily show Loretta now felt heavy to give.


    ¡°I missed you too, Loretta,¡± Haisley replied, with a directed gaze at her beloved fianc¨¦. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I left without saying goodbye. Everything happened so suddenly, I didn¡¯t have much time to meet all my acquaintances. And when I came to America, I got too caught up with my work and forgot to contact you,¡± Haisley said again.


    In reality, Haisley deliberately changed her phone number aftering to America so that Loretta and anyone who had been her friend in Ennd wouldn¡¯t contact her and give her news she didn¡¯t want to hear. Haisley only gave her new number to Gilbert, Dean, Aunt Monica, and her family members.


    Haisley, upon arriving in Miami, redirected her attention to Dean and Gilbert. Walking close to them, she stood between them and warmly embraced their arms on her shoulders.


    ¡°Have you guys found a ce to stay?¡± Haisley inquired. Dean and Gilbert simultaneously shook their heads. ¡°I can¡¯t invite you to stay with me, even though I¡¯d love to. I live in the staff dorms and can¡¯t just host guests casually. Considering you both have a lot of money, it¡¯s better if you contribute by staying at my hotel, what do you think?¡± Haisley asked, looking up at them and receiving another simultaneous nod from the cousin pair.


    Haisley cheered happily upon hearing their agreement. Not because she would get an incentive ormission for bringing guests to the hotel where she worked, but because she wanted to minimize the time and, possibly, expenses to meet with them. If Dean and Gilbert stayed in another hotel, Haisley would have to spend more time and maybe money to see them.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t pick us up in a private car?¡± Dean asked when they were outside the airport. Haisley nudged his stomach and looked at him annoyed.


    ¡°You know I can¡¯t drive!¡± she said irritably, to which Gilbert responded with a chuckle.


    ¡°So, why bother picking us up if you¡¯re not giving us a ride?¡± teased Gilbert again.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Haisley squinted at him. ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d be kidnapped, considering you¡¯re foreign tourists,¡± she said casually, making both men burst intoughter. They forgot that behind them, there was a figure observing their interaction with a cold gaze hidden behind stylish sunsses.

 Chap 69

    They arrived at the hotel where Haisley worked. Haisley greeted the receptionist cheerfully, and the twenty-five-year-old girl responded with a friendly greeting. Yes, she was Astrid, Haisley¡¯s roommate in the staff dorms.


    ¡°So, have your guests arrived?¡± the woman asked warmly.


    Haisley nodded enthusiastically. She had already informed Astrid that her friends would being and vacationing in Miami. Not to show off, just to let the woman know that maybe for a while she wouldn¡¯t be staying at the club, or perhaps she might arrive after closing time.


    She also recounted her meeting with via and Abigail yesterday just so the woman would understand. And honestly, Haisley really liked Astrid; she considered Astrid as her own sister, given that the woman¡¯s age was almost the same as her sister Crystal¡¯s.


    ¡°My friends want to book a room here, Ma¡¯am,¡± Haisley said, making the woman nod.


    ¡°What kind of room would you like?¡± she asked politely, then handed over a book containing a list of room types, facilities, and rental prices.


    ¡°We¡¯d like to book a bungalow,¡± Gilbert pointed to a page he thought had good facilities for them. Astrid nodded and then typed something on herputer.


    ¡°Under whose name is the room reservation? May I have personal information and a phone number?¡± Astrid said professionally.


    Gilbert took out his identification card and then stated his phone number. Following the applicable rules, Astrid requested a deposit. After the transaction waspleted, Haisley Miami grabbed the arms of both men and announced loudly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to your room, gentlemen,¡± she said, answered byughter from Gilbert, Dean, and Astrid.


    Haisley didn¡¯t care about the couple standing behind them and chose to urge the two men to enter deeper into the hotel area.


    The bungalow booked by Dean and Gilbert had luxurious facilities. The front of the bungalow looked ordinary, facing other bungalows with a distance of about ten meters between each building. Meanwhile, its interior facilities could be categorized as luxurious. It had a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and a superrge bed. There was another door inside the bungalow made entirely of ss. If opened, they would immediately enter a private pool area with a view of the ocean. The sides of the pool were fenced with tall yellow bamboo trees, providing privacy for the upants.


    ¡°Satisfied?¡± Haisley asked both of them. Dean and Gilbert nodded. Haisley smirked, ¡°Of course, you get what you pay for,¡± she said mockingly.


    Dean chose to sit on the bed, while Gilbert stepped outside towards a chair by the edge of the pool. Haisley, standing at the ss door, positioned herself between the two.


    ¡°Do you like working here?¡± Dean inquired. Haisley smiled and nodded.


    ¡°The weather here, even though it¡¯s hot, makes mefortable,¡± Haisley answered truthfully. ¡°Did you see how friendly Ms. Astrid was just now? She¡¯s my roommate in the staff dorms. She¡¯s very kind and attentive. I feel like I¡¯m living with Ms. Crystal here,¡± she honestly admitted.


    Gilbert chuckled, but Dean chose to silently observe her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to ask me?¡± Gilbert questioned with an using tone. Haisley squinted at her friend. ¡°About how Loretta and Nathan ended up here?¡±


    Haisley continued to gaze at her friend in silence. She looked at Dean, and Dean shrugged. That meant Dean didn¡¯t know anything about the reasons Nathan and Loretta were here and who brought them.


    ¡°I told Loretta that I wasing to America. And she held Nathan to his promise to bring her on vacation here. I just wanted to give you one more chance, Haisley,¡± he said, directing his gaze at her. ¡°Not for you. I know that you¡¯re ready to let go of Nathan. But for Nathan,¡± he continued coldly. ¡°I want to know if he still sticks to his decision to be with Loretta, or if he¡¯ll realize his feelings and choose you.¡±


    Haisley shifted her gaze, now looking at Dean. He looked back at her with a gentle smile.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. I¡¯ll bind you in an engagement,¡± he said in a soft tone audible to Haisley, causing her eyes and mouth to widen as she looked at Dean and Gilbert with a gaze she found terrifying.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be crazy, Dean!¡± Haisley said with a rather loud tone. However, Dean, who was being scolded, responded with a chuckle.


    ¡°Why not? Come on, Haisley, just go along with the game,¡± Dean replied sweetly. ¡°I understand that making you fall in love isn¡¯t like an online transaction where you just check out and pay. Although I do hope that your mind changes and you ept my love easily,¡± the man said with a pleading tone. ¡°But our engagement-even if it¡¯s pretend-I hope it opens Nathan¡¯s eyes and makes him realize that he wants you,¡± Dean added.


    ¡°But what if it doesn¡¯t have any effect on Nathan? I¡¯d just be embarrassing myself if that¡¯s the reality,¡± Haisley objected.


    Dean shook his head. ¡°If that doesn¡¯t have an effect on Nathan, then I hope it has an effect on you. At least, you can open your eyes and look at me. So you also know that there¡¯s someone who truly loves you,¡± Dean said softly. Haisley sighed in resignation.


    ¡°Come here,¡± Dean requested, patting the seat next to him. Haisley walked over wearily and then sat beside him. Dean put his arm around Haisley¡¯s waist andid his head yfully on her shoulder, and Haisley didn¡¯t resist at all. Dean¡¯s yful attitude, to Haisley, was simr to Gilbert¡¯s affection towards her-no effect or sensation whatsoever.


    Haisley raised her right hand and then yfully tapped Dean¡¯s hand, and at the same time, they saw Loretta and Nathan emerge from inside the room.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait for us?¡± Loretta¡¯s words made Haisley raise her head. Gilbert, lying in the poolside chair, nced briefly but returned to his indifferent posture. Meanwhile, Dean, the man, tightened his hold on Haisley¡¯s waist and chose to ce his right hand on the back of Haisley¡¯s hand, keeping her hand on his face.


    ¡°Do you like your room?¡± Haisley asked casually. She chose not to look at Nathan and ignored the man.


    Loretta nodded enthusiastically. ¡°No wonder they always mention Miami whenever they go on vacation. It¡¯s my first time here, and everything looks absolutely beautiful to me,¡± the girl eximed with admiration. Haisley just lifted the corner of her mouth and smiled. ¡°I heard you work here too, Haisley?¡± the girl asked, and Haisley responded with a nod. ¡°When¡¯s your day off? I thought you could be my tour guide while I¡¯m on vacation here,¡± Loretta said again, still with her enthusiastic tone.

 Chap 70

    Haisley seemed to ponder for a moment. Her day off was still a while away. But should she be Loretta¡¯s tour guide? She wondered in her heart. And risk hurting herself by seeing Loretta¡¯s intimacy with Nathan or hearing the girl constantly recounting her beautiful moments with Nathan?


    No, Haisley wasn¡¯t a fool.


    ¡°My day off is still a long way off. I even forced my coworker to switch shifts with me today,¡± she confessed. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to apany you, Loretta. It¡¯s just that my two friends are also here, and I already made ns with them first. If only I knew you wereing here, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have made ns with them,¡± Haisley said, half of it being a fact and the other half just her invention. Because if she knew Loretta wasing too, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have picked up Dean and Gilbert and let them vacation in Miami without her.


    Loretta looked at her with a pouty face. And Gilbert, the man who was lying down earlier, now looked at Haisley with a curious gaze.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Nathan will apany you everywhere,¡± Dean finally spoke. ¡°Aren¡¯t you two also preparing for your engagement? So, it¡¯s better if you n everything together. Because I¡¯ll also do it with Haisley, right, Haisley?¡± Dean raised his head and looked at Haisley. Haisley looked back at him and then nodded.


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re also getting engaged here? With Dean?¡± Loretta asked enthusiastically and incredulously at the same time.


    Haisley shrugged. ¡°Yes, because he insisted,¡± Haisley replied in her t tone. ¡°I got tired of seeing him whining and saying that everyone should know that a Haisley belongs to Dean. Finally, I joined in the game my two friends created.¡±


    Loretta pped her hands in excitement. ¡°How about we celebrate together?¡± she suggested.


    Haisley shook her head. ¡°No, I think that¡¯s not appropriate. We should be the main figures at our respective parties, right?¡± Haisley looked at Dean again from the corner of her eye. And the man who had now put his head back on Haisley¡¯s shoulder nodded in agreement. ¡°Besides, our event with Dean won¡¯t be as festive as yours. I think it¡¯s enough to have dinner with our friends watching, that¡¯s all,¡± Haisley said again.


    Dean nodded again. ¡°Yes, Haisley is right. Just me, Haisley, some friends, and a few close family members. After all, we¡¯re not from the business world like your family. So, we can keep it more private,¡± Dean said again, receiving another nod from Haisley.


    They heard Nathan scoff, and for the first time since seeing him at the airport, Haisley lifted her head and looked at Nathan with a challenging expression. ¡°Got something to say, Nath? Why do I feel like you have aint?¡± she asked sarcastically.


    Haisley knew he was ncing at her from behind his sunsses, as he slightly lowered his head to see her sitting. But Nathan didn¡¯t say anything, only tightened his jaw. Dean could notice the bulge in his cousin¡¯s pocket. It was clear that Nathan was clenching his fists inside the pockets of his short chino pants.


    ¡°Haisley, can we order some snacks and cold drinks from here?¡± Dean chose to steer the conversation.


    Haisley shifted her attention and nodded. ¡°Of course. What do you want to eat?¡±


    ¡°You know the good food here, just order for us,¡± Dean said, and Haisley nodded in agreement. He lifted his head again and rested it on the pillow.


    Haisley patted her thighs and then stood up. ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll order some delicious food and refreshing drinks. Do you guys want anything?¡± she asked Loretta and Nathan. Loretta nodded enthusiastically, but Nathan chose not to respond. Seeing that, Haisley decided to purse her lips and shrug. She then walked into the room and searched for the phone.


    Haisley sat on the bed with her back to the exit. She reached for the phone on the bedside table and pressed the restaurant button. ¡°Hello, Kak Ben. It¡¯s Haisley,¡± she mentioned her senior¡¯s name and then informed him of her current location. They discussed for a while about the menu that Haisley could order, and after a few moments, she hung up after expressing her gratitude. She ced the phone back on its handle. As she stood up, she was quite surprised to see Nathan standing against the wall that led to the minimalist kitchen of the bungalow. His arms were folded in front of his chest, and his eyes were sharp, focused on Haisley. He had also taken off his sses, and they now hung on the top two buttons of his open shirt.


    ¡°What are you doing there?¡± Haisley asked curtly.


    ¡°You finally ask me,¡± Nathan replied in his cold tone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you greet me at the airport and instead ignored me?¡± He reproached her with a disapproving tone.


    Haisley stared at him and then scoffed. ¡°Is that an obligation, Nath?¡± She asked challengingly. ¡°I don¡¯t have an obligation to greet you or be polite to you. Considering all this time, you¡¯ve never been polite to me either,¡± she replied in a mocking tone, lifting Nathan¡¯s eyebrow upon hearing it.


    Haisley, now, was back. And the rebellious spirit within the girl seemed to be even stronger than before. In recent times in Ennd, Nathan had seen her looking downcast. And now, he didn¡¯t see that anymore.


    ¡°Are you really going to get engaged to Dean?¡± Nathan inquired.


    ¡°Of course, you¡¯re really going to get engaged to Loretta, aren¡¯t you?¡± Haisley countered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t turn my question around like that, Haisley. Just answer. Yes or no?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel obligated to answer to you, Nath. It¡¯s my business with Dean, not yours. Why? Don¡¯t like it? Don¡¯t approve of our rtionship?¡± Haisley asked challengingly. ¡°I don¡¯t care about your approval. We don¡¯t care. After all, Dean is just your cousin, not your brother. If I were engaged to Gilbert, maybe your approval would matter. But Dean¡¯s brother is Juan, not you. So, I don¡¯t care much about your opinion,¡± Haisley continued with her blunt tone.


    Haisley walked away from the bed, but unfortunately, to get back to the pool area, she had to go around the bed where Nathan was standing. She walked toward him, hoping Nathan wouldn¡¯t do anything untoward like what happened at the restaurant before when he cornered her against the wall, leaving not only a mark on Haisley¡¯s back but also in her heart. However, her hope vanished as Nathan grabbed her left arm.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You can¡¯t get engaged to Dean,¡± Nathan whispered so quietly. Haisley looked up, staring at him with narrowed eyes. ¡°You still love me, you want me, and you¡¯ll just make Dean a substitute.¡±


    Haisley tried to release her arm from his grip, but instead of letting go, Nathan¡¯s hold tightened. ¡°So whether he¡¯s a substitute or not, that¡¯s between me and Dean, Nathaniel Chayton,¡± Haisley replied with the same hushed tone as Nathan. ¡°It¡¯s not your concern. Your concern right now is your own fianc¨¦e whom you¡¯ve left outside. Not me.¡± Haisley then yanked her hand forcefully and managed to break free from Nathan¡¯s grasp. She nced at her hand and saw the reddish mark left by him.


    Haisley lifted her gaze again and looked at the man with her sharp eyes. ¡°Do you know why I came back to America?¡± she asked challengingly. ¡°Because I¡¯m sick of seeing you. I¡¯m disgusted with your ego,¡± she said with a mockingugh. ¡°All this time, you could mock me because I loved you. But, unfortunately, I realized first that a Nathaniel Chayton is not a man ¡®worthy¡¯ for me to love. Because, as it turns out, out there, there¡¯s a man who looks at me with full love, who can appreciate me, ept me, and love me wholeheartedly. And that¡¯s Dean.


    So why should I waste it? It would be foolish of me to still hope for an arrogant and heartless man like you,¡± she said with a scornful tone. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I sincerely wish for your happiness and Loretta¡¯s as well. Because no matter what, if someday Dean and I get married. I will also be your cousin-inw, just like Crystal¡¯s status right now,¡± she said with a smile on her face and then left Nathan, who was frozen in his ce.

 Chap 71

    Haisley returned to the pool area without even ncing at Nathan. Loretta seemed absorbed in the pool water, while Dean and Gilbert, hearing the footsteps, looked at Haisley with raised eyebrows.


    Haisley intentionally chose to sit next to Dean, hoping Nathan would notice. Even if Nathan showed his arrogance again, Haisley just needed to show him that she was fine without him.


    ¡°Something bothering you?¡± Dean whispered, his hand resting on Haisley¡¯s shoulder.


    Haisley shrugged and chose to lean her body against the back of the poolside chair, using Dean¡¯s arm as a makeshift pillow. She even intentionally rested her arm on Dean¡¯s stomach.


    From the corner of her eye, she could see Nathan passing by their chairs and sitting in another chair next to Gilbert.


    ¡°Is he the one getting on your nerves?¡± Dean whispered above Haisley¡¯s head.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Haisley mumbled with her usual blunt tone. Dean chuckled, causing Haisley, who was hugging him, to shake slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered food; they¡¯ll be here soon. But since I¡¯m sleepy, can I take a nap?¡± Haisley asked in a yful tone. Dean stroked her head and nodded.


    ¡°I know my hug isfortable; no wonder you¡¯re sleepy. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll watch over you,¡± he said, kissing the top of Haisley¡¯s head.


    Haisley pinched Dean¡¯s stomach in annoyance. ¡°You always take advantage in every situation,¡± sheined, making Deanugh again.


    True to his words, not long after, Haisley fell asleep in Dean¡¯s embrace. She didn¡¯t even notice when her friends, who worked in the hotel restaurant, came and brought the food.


    As the afternoon faded into evening, Haisley found herself moved to the bed. She stretched and groaned, feelingfortable as if she hadn¡¯t experienced sound sleep for a long time. Even though, in reality, since returning to America, she sometimes suffered from insomnia due to often thinking about Nathan. But this time, her dreamless sleep felt refreshing.


    Was it because she slept in Dean¡¯s embrace, and the warmth of his hug made herfortable?


    Or was it because she had poured out her emotions to Nathan, giving her a sense of relief? Haisley didn¡¯t know the reason.


    Haisley searched for her small bag, looking for her phone to see if there were any messages for her or not.


    ¡°Where is everyone?¡± she wondered, not hearing the voices of Dean or Gilbert.


    Haisley walked out towards the pool and saw Gilbert enjoying the sunset in the pool. ¡°Where¡¯s Dean?¡± she asked her friend.


    Gilbert turned and smirked. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s on the run,¡± he replied casually.


    Haisley furrowed her brows in confusion. ¡°On the run from whom?¡± she asked, curious.


    ¡°Dari kamu, dari siapagi?¡± Gilbert responded curtly, shifting his gaze away again. Haisley sat in the chair that Gilbert had upied earlier and joined in looking at the beautiful sunset in the distance.


    ¡°You mentioned your friends. Is she here?¡± Gilbert inquired.


    Haisley nced briefly at her friend¡¯s back. She knew whom Gilbert was asking about and replied with a short ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not doing well,¡± Haisley answered quietly. Gilbert instantly turned his body and looked at Haisley in confusion. ¡°I only found out about her condition yesterday when we identally met,¡± she honestly admitted. ¡°Abigail said she had a serious ident. Until now, she can¡¯t walk normally. And don¡¯t be surprised if you see her appearanceter,¡± Haisley said with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Why with her appearance?¡± Gilbert asked, curious.


    ¡°She¡¯s more mature now. She looks even more beautiful than thest time I saw her,¡± she replied. Haisley stared at Gilbert intently. ¡°And that only shows even more that you two can never be together,¡± Haisley said sadly.


    Gilbert pulled the corner of his mouth again. It had to be admitted that Haisley¡¯s words were true. He and via-the girl he had liked for a long time-could never be together. Because of matters of faith. Gilbert couldn¡¯t abandon his beliefs, and the same goes for via. But beyond that, Gilbert knew that via already liked another man, a man she had loved for a long time.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we fall in love with someone who loves us, whether it¡¯s a man or a woman?¡± Haisley spontaneously remarked, causing Gilbert to mimic his body again. This time he folded both his hands on the cold and wet pool floor. The sun hadpletely set, leaving a bit of orange that would soon turn into darkness.


    ¡°If only our hearts could choose where to anchor,¡± Gilbert replied with a touch of mncholy.


    Haisley responded to his remark with a smile. She then patted Gilbert¡¯s thigh and stood up. ¡°If that¡¯s something we can do, I guess we wouldn¡¯t be stranded here as lonely souls,¡± she replied. ¡°I¡¯ll head to my room for a bit. Don¡¯t miss me too much,¡± Haisley bid farewell to her friend.


    ¡°Wait, what? Aren¡¯t we going to have dinner together?¡± Gilbert asked, puzzled.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Haisley nced at her friend briefly and then shrugged. ¡°If dinner means being with the lovey-dovey couple, I don¡¯t think so. I prefer to have dinner alone,¡± Haisley shook her head. ¡°Just not feeling it today.¡±


    Gilbert furrowed his brows again. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be having dinner with them instead? It¡¯s like indirectly showing that you¡¯re okay with their rtionship. Nathan will get even more conceited if he knows you¡¯re avoiding him,¡± Gilbert¡¯s reasoning made sense.


    Haisley fell silent but shook her head again. ¡°Not today, maybe tomorrow,¡± she said, excusing herself.


    Haisley sent a message to Dean that she was heading back to her room and wouldn¡¯t be back until tomorrow night due to her early work schedule. Dean didn¡¯t read or reply to her message, but Haisley was confident he would read itter.


    As she stepped out of the bungalow rented by Dean and Gilbert, she passed by Nathan¡¯s rented bungalow because it was the only way to get to the main building. Loretta, on the other hand, stayed in the bungalow located at the far end, right next to Dean and Gilbert¡¯s. As she walked by, Haisley hoped she wouldn¡¯t have to see Nathan and ruin the improved mood. Fortunately, that didn¡¯t happen.

 Chap 72

    Haisley arrived at her room after a considerable walk. She greeted the residents of other rooms whom she had started to recognize one by one. Haisley went to her room and chose to freshen up before changing into short cat-patterned pajamas. She emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her wet hair.


    ¡°Haisley, there¡¯s a guest.¡± Someone knocked on her door just as she was about to put on her sheet mask. Haisley frowned. Who could it be at this hour? She wondered silently but still walked out of her room, with a towel on her head.


    ¡°Oh, Mas Adit?¡± Haisley looked at her boss with confusion. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± she asked without any formalities. Aditya, her coach and boss, now stood in front of her looking awkward. It could be said that his appearance was more casualpared to when they were working. If Haisley usually saw him in a neat suit with his hair styled and some hair gel, this time she could see Aditya wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt with jeans, and his hair falling straight. Aditya looked younger than the mature impression he usually portrayed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see you at the hotel; I thought you were sick.¡± The man said while showing a white stic bag in his hand. ¡°I wanted to visit you, and I brought some toast,¡± he said with a shy smile.


    Haisley smiled as well, epting the package and expressing her gratitude. ¡°I¡¯m not sick, Mas. Just swapped shifts. Fortunately, a friend of mine came to visit,¡± Haisley replied honestly. She invited Adit to sit on the rattan chair there because she couldn¡¯t ask him to enter her room.


    ¡°Yeah, I heard they rented a bungalow at our hotel,¡± Adit replied. Haisley nodded.


    ¡°Maybe the day after tomorrow, they¡¯ll also rent a ballroom or a restaurant or another ce in the hotel because there¡¯s a couple getting engaged.¡± Haisley shared more information.


    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Aditya eximed in admiration. ¡°Jetset people?¡± He asked, and Haisley nodded. ¡°And do you know them?¡± He asked again, amazed.


    Haisley shrugged. ¡°The younger sibling of the bride-to-be happens to be my best friend.¡± She replied, referring to her and Gilbert¡¯s status. ¡°The young entrepreneur guy, and the girl is the daughter of a renowned businessman in Ennd.¡±


    Aditya whistled again upon hearing it. ¡°I thought we were on the same level, but hearing your acquaintances, it seems you¡¯re beyond my expectations,¡± he said softly.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Haisley asked, confused.


    Adit looked at her and shook his head. ¡°No particr meaning,¡± he quickly replied. ¡°Haisley, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Haisley!¡± Another shout from the entrance of the dormitory made Haisley and Adit turn. Two figures waved enthusiastically at her. Who else but Gilbert and Dean.


    ¡°Who are they?¡± Adit asked, not pleased.


    Haisley frowned at the tone of his voice. ¡°My friends,¡± she said. ¡°The brother of the guy I mentioned earlier and his cousin.¡± Haisley then stood up, approaching the two because it seemed they weren¡¯t walking through the gate to get closer. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Instead of answering, they slipped their hands under Haisley¡¯s armpits and lifted her easily, as if Haisley were just a bag of groceries. ¡°Hey! Put me down!¡± she shouted, kicking at the empty air.


    Instead of lowering Haisley, the two turned their bodies to face Adit, who was now standing. ¡°We¡¯re taking her away for a while. Don¡¯t wait for her!¡± Gilbert shouted, and then they turned around and moved away from the dormitory.


    ¡°You guys are crazy! This is called kidnapping!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re hungry, we¡¯ll talkter.¡± Dean replied casually.


    They lowered Haisley¡¯s body right next to the car. Dean opened the passenger door and told Haisley to get in, while Gilbert went to the back. After that, Dean spun around and sat behind the wheel.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Whose car is this?¡± Haisley asked, confused.


    ¡°Rented,¡± Dean replied honestly. ¡°I went out earlier to rent a car, intending to take you for a ride, but when I came back, you were already gone.¡±


    Here¡¯s the trantion of the provided text into American English:


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told G that I need a break. Tomorrow, I have to work, Dean.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll drop you offter. Besides, we¡¯re hungry. If we eat just the two of us, people might get the wrong idea,¡± k Gilbert said, causing Haisley to raise an eyebrow instantly.


    ¡°Do you guys not realize what I¡¯m wearing? Pajamas! If you really want to take me out, at least let me change into something more appropriate.¡± She said irritably.


    ¡°And let that smitten guy see how sweet Haisley is? No way, this is good enough,¡± Dean refused, making Haisley roll her eyes, and Gilbert chuckled behind them.


    Dean parked the car in a designated parking area for a seafood restaurant on the beach. Enthusiastically, Gilbert got out first while Dean was still trying to persuade Haisley to get out of the car.


    Even though it was nighttime, people were clearly wearing more formal clothes, even though it looked casual. Unlike her, wearing pajamas.


    ¡°Embarrassing, Dean!¡± Haisley muttered irritably.


    ¡°Come on, just ignore the people, besides, Dean still adores Haisley.¡± He said yfully. Gilbert, who had walked a bit farther, now waved his hand, calling both of them. ¡°Come on, Haisley, get down.¡± Dean requested again. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel sorry for that hungry monitor lizard? He just drank pond water, leaving half because he¡¯s holding back hunger.¡± Dean joked, making Haisley reluctantlyugh. As a result, Haisley gave in and followed Dean¡¯s wishes. She walked quickly, almost running towards Gilbert, who was already seriously looking for a ce for them to eat.


    When Haisley assumed they were only the three of them in that ce, she was wrong. Because it turns out, Loretta and Nathan were already there earlier than them. Haisley knew that when she heard her name being called, and the beautiful girl wearing a chiffon dress with a Sabrina neckline was waving enthusiastically at her.


    Haisley immediately nced at Dean and Gilbert, using them of conspiring. But their faces showing confusion made Haisley sure that her suspicion was wrong.


    ¡°Okay, no matter what, this is a small ind, so the chances of meeting the same people are very high,¡± Gilbert said while putting his arm around Haisley¡¯s shoulder.

 Chap 73

    A few moments earlier.


    A knock on the door forced Gilbert, who had juste out of the pool, to reluctantly open it half-naked. He frowned upon seeing Loretta standing there.


    ¡°Why?¡± Gilbert asked without opening the door wider.


    ¡°Is Haisley still here? I want to invite her to dinner,¡± Loretta said, peeking into the room.


    ¡°She¡¯s not here; she¡¯s already back in her cabin,¡± Gilbert replied bluntly. ¡°But we¡¯ll pick her upter. We¡¯re going to have dinner together.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going to have dinner?¡± Loretta inquired.


    Gilbert scratched his eyebrow with his index finger. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe around here.¡± Gilbert continued, ¡°There¡¯s a seafood restaurant near the beach. Dean and I will pick up Haisley and eat there. Sorry, I didn¡¯t invite you two because I thought you might want a candlelight dinner with Nathan.¡±


    Loretta looked at Gilbert in silence. Without much ado, Gilbert said goodbye to Loretta and went back into his bungalow. Shortly after, Dean entered their room and looked around because he didn¡¯t see Haisley.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Haisley?¡±


    ¡°Back in her cabin, wants to rest,¡± Gilbert replied tly.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Well, I just rented a car, wanted to take her out, and she¡¯s already back. You let her go back too, we wanted to hang out,¡± Deanined, looking annoyed.


    Gilbert shrugged. ¡°Well, just pick her up then. What¡¯s the big deal? We can have seafood while we¡¯re at it,¡± he offered, mentioning the restaurant he had mentioned to Loretta earlier.


    Dean looked at his cousin with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Do you even know where she lives?¡± Dean asked, and Gilbert nodded. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go,¡± he said, and less than fifteen minutester, they were in the Haisley¡¯s cabin area.


    ¡°Why do I have to like her?¡± Deanined when they arrived at Haisley¡¯s cabin gate. From a distance, they could see a guy handing a bag of groceries to Haisley. ¡°I haven¡¯t even gotten rid of your brother, and now there¡¯s a newpetitor.¡±


    Gilbert rolled his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s your own fault for liking Haisley. As if there¡¯s no other girl on this. You and Haisley are really a perfect match. Both like overthinking. Enduring a love you can¡¯t get.¡±


    Dean kicked Gilbert¡¯s leg hard enough for him to groan. ¡°As if you¡¯re any different, jerk!¡± Dean cursed in frustration.


    Gilbert chuckled. ¡°Well, we¡¯re all in the same boat,¡± he grinned.


    They then called Haisley¡¯s name. The girl looked up and walked towards Dean and Gilbert. As you know, both of them forcibly brought Haisley without allowing her to bid farewell to her guest.


    And now, after receiving Loretta¡¯s wave in the ce Gilbert mentioned earlier, they walked towards the couple who had been seated first. Haisley still stared at the two men who kidnapped her with a suspicious look. However, they both avoided eye contact with Haisley.


    The three of them sat across from the couple. Loretta and Nathan¡¯s dishes had arrived, emitting a distinctive aroma and looking tempting.


    ¡°I¡¯m really hungry, can I start first? Our orders will be here soon anyway,¡± Gilbert requested and shamelessly began to take the crab legs on therge te in front of them.


    Nathan ignored his brother and focused his gaze on Haisley. ¡°Is this your habit after returning to the US?¡± he asked curtly. His gaze shifted from Haisley¡¯s clothes to the top of her head.


    Haisley widened her eyes and then held her head. The small towel she had used earlier was gone. Maybe it fell off unconsciously when Dean and Gilbert picked her up. And she was sure that her hair now looked messy because it hadn¡¯t beenbed.


    With pride, Haisley lifted her chin and responded to Nathan¡¯s words. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my appearance? Just because I¡¯m wearing pajamas and my hair is wet and ubed, you want to ridicule me?¡± she asked sharply. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Nathaniel Chayton. But this is Miami. Where many tourists even walk around in just bikinis. And of course, everywhere people who have swum will have wet and messy hair.


    ¡°If you want to see someone with neat hair, don¡¯t look at me, just look at your future fianc¨¦e,¡± Haisley added. Loretta, suspecting she was mentioned, raised her head and looked at Haisley confused. Haisley chose to shrug as if she didn¡¯t say anything, but Gilbert and Deanughed.


    Haisley kicked both of them under the table. Unfortunately, because her legs were short, what happened was that she just grazed the legs of the two men who dodged, avoiding the pain she intended.


    ¡°Never mind, just ignore him,¡± Gilbert said with his mouth full. ¡°Haisley, there¡¯s something you need to answer.¡± He looked at Haisley with his sharp gaze. ¡°Who was the guy over there? Is he one of your fans too?¡± Gilbert asked, making Nathan raise an eyebrow again, and Dean scowled in annoyance.


    ¡°You mean Mr. Adit?¡± Haisley asked back.


    ¡°He¡¯s not that old to be called ¡®Mr.,''¡± Deanined.


    Haisley smiled and then reached out her hand, rubbing Dean¡¯s arm. ¡°He is indeed young, Dean, dear,¡± she said mischievously. ¡°Maybe around twenty-eight or so. Definitely not over thirty.¡± Haisley replied hesitantly. ¡°He¡¯s a local guy, and he¡¯s handsome too, right?¡± she teased, making Dean blush.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re messing around behind Dean¡¯s back, Haisley?¡± Gilbert teased again. Haisley instantly looked at him with wide eyes and an open mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m not cheating, G. Admiring him, yes. What¡¯s wrong with admiring a handsome man? Like you guys have never admired a beautiful and sexy girl.¡± Haisley used sharply, making Dean and Gilbertugh. ¡°Don¡¯t be like someone using me of being an improper woman, G.¡± Haisley retorted to Nathan. ¡°What do you think of me?¡± she asked sharply. ¡°I am a good woman. Just because I¡¯ve been rejected doesn¡¯t mean I seek sce by epting every man whoes to me and cheating.¡±


    ¡°All of them?!¡± Dean and Gilbert asked simultaneously. Haisley looked at both of them alternately.


    ¡°How many is the ¡®all¡¯ you¡¯re talking about?¡± Dean asked, displeased.

 Chap 74

    Haisley shrugged. She chose to mumble thanks to the waiter who ced their orders on the table. Seeing Haisley sweetly smile at the guy who brought their dishes made Dean sneer again. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re right, G. I really need to be careful with Haisley.


    When she was in Ennd, many guys liked her. And that was under your supervision. What more here? No one¡¯s watching over her here,¡± Dean squinted at Haisley. ¡°Just look at the guy earlier; he¡¯s melting just from her smile. Especially Adit, who stares at Haisley every day. Be careful, Haisley, if you ever cheat on me, those guys who hit on you will get a curse from me.¡± Dean threatened, but Haisley responded with a smile.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I should quickly get engaged to him. If necessary, get engaged at the hotel where he works. So that his friends know that he¡¯s taken.¡± Dean said seriously.


    Loretta, who didn¡¯t understand what the three people in front of her were talking about, now looked at each of them in turn. ¡°What are you talking about? Why do you look so serious?¡± she asked, curious.


    Gilbert looked at his brother¡¯s girlfriend and replied, ¡°Dean is afraid that Haisley will be looked at by other guys here. So he ns to have an engagement event at Haisley¡¯s workce so that everyone knows that Haisley is not an avable girl as they think.¡± Gilbert answered honestly.


    ¡°Is that true, Haisley?¡± Loretta asked, curious.


    Haisley shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll go along with whatever Dean wants.¡± She answered briefly.


    Nathan looked at the girl with his sharp gaze. He suddenly got up, leaving the table without saying anything. Everyone at the table paid attention to his departure, but no one chased after him. The man seemed to take out a cigarette from his pants pocket and lit it in the distance.


    After dinner, they continued their evening with a stroll along the beach. ¡°Digesting the food,¡± that¡¯s what Gilbert said. But Haisley felt tired; she asked Dean to stop, and they finally sat on the beach chairs avable there.


    Haisley really wanted to rest, but it seemed that Dean and Gilbert still wouldn¡¯t let her go home. The reason was that they hadn¡¯t spent enough time together, and another reason was because they were afraid Aditya might be there.


    ¡°Do you want a drink?¡± Dean offered. Haisley shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty and need to use the restroom for a moment. I¡¯ll be right back, but don¡¯t run away like you did this afternoon,¡± he ordered. Haisley rolled her eyes and waved her hand to dismiss him. Dean then stood up, ruffling Haisley¡¯s hair before leaving.


    Remaining were Gilbert, Loretta, Nathan, and Haisley. Haisley chose to intentionally turn her back to Nathan. She was reluctant to sit facing him for too long. Since dinner, she had received unpleasant stares from him. Even if he continued to stare at her the same way now, let him look at her back.


    Haisley was actually puzzled by the man. What did he really want? If she approached, it was wrong. If she distanced herself, it was still considered wrong.


    A group of dozens of young people was seen walking in a group towards the beach. One of them carried arge speaker ying cheerful music that was then turned up loud.


    ¡°Look, it seems like they¡¯re having a party.¡± Gilbert pointed excitedly towards the group of young people. ¡°Let¡¯s go there.¡± Gilbert got up and invited Haisley as well. However, Haisley shook her head. She wasn¡¯t someone with excess energy like Gilbert.


    ¡°Pergi saja ku mau. Aku tunggu Dean di sini,¡± Haisley rejected. Gilbert pouted and looked at Haisley with a pleading expression, but Haisley just smiled and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m really tired, G. Just go.¡±


    Haisley pushed his shoulder with all her strength. Behind her, Loretta seemed to be persuading Nathan in the same way. And just like her, he chose to reject Loretta¡¯s request.


    Gilbert seemed to deliberately invite Loretta with him, leaving Nathan alone with Haisley.


    ¡°Who was the guy you were talking about earlier?¡± the man asked curtly after Gilbert and Loretta went far away.


    Haisley chose to pretend not to hear him and opted to look at Gilbert and Loretta, who were now dancing with strangers in the gathering.


    When Haisley expected Nathan to be angry with her and choose to leave, she was wrong. The man rose from his seat and walked in front of Haisley, then sat on the beach chair in front of her, blocking her view of Gilbert and Loretta.


    ¡°Stop acting like I don¡¯t exist, Haisley!¡± the man said loudly. It was clear that he didn¡¯t like Haisley openly ignoring him.


    ¡°I¡¯ve just started ignoring you, Nath. Why? Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Haisley stared back at him challengingly.


    ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t like it. Because I¡¯m a living being, not an inanimate object.¡±


    Haisley widened her eyes at his words. Then sheughed loudly, a forcedughter. ¡°Did I hear it wrong?¡± Haisley asked sarcastically. ¡°If you¡¯re offended by my behavior, what do you think about my feelings all this time after being treated as you pleased? You always act like you don¡¯t care about me. You do whatever you want, say whatever you want.


    ¡°I¡¯m here, but you always ignore me. And now you¡¯re saying that you don¡¯t like my current attitude, while all this time what you¡¯ve done to me is much worse than this, Nath. Don¡¯t you realize that?¡±


    Nathan fell silent. Haisley chose to stand and was about to leave the man, but before she could take a step, Nathan held her arm.


    ¡°What else do you want?!¡± Haisley snapped angrily. Haisley tried to free herself; she knew Nathan wouldn¡¯t do anything inappropriate to her in a crowded ce like this, but Haisley was still afraid.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get engaged to Dean,¡± the man whispered.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Haisley furrowed her brow and looked at him confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    Nathan looked up and gazed at Haisley with a gaze that Haisley found hard to interpret. ¡°Don¡¯t get engaged to Dean. Don¡¯t get involved with any man. You won¡¯t be happy with them,¡± he said coldly.


    Haisley widened her eyes even more. Her mouth opened wide to protest, but she restrained herself. Haisley took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before saying, ¡°So, ording to you, can I be happy with anyone? With you?¡± she asked challengingly.


    Nathan nodded without averting his gaze from Haisley, snorting and looking annoyed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t y with me, Nath. How can I be happy with you?¡±


    ¡°Because you love me,¡± Nathan said firmly.


    ¡°And you love Loretta!¡± Haisley retorted just as firmly. ¡°And you¡¯re going to get engaged with her soon.¡±


    Nathan still looked at her, and the man seemed to shake his head slightly. This made Haisley furrow her brow again, confused.


    ¡°I don¡¯t love her, and I never loved her. And as for the engagement, I never hoped for it at all,¡± he replied, sounding somehow like the voice of a tired person in Haisley¡¯s ears.

 Chap 75

    Hearing Nathan¡¯s statement didn¡¯t make Haisley happy; instead, it made herugh out of anger. Yes, the girlughed with a mocking expression right in front of Nathan.


    ¡°What kind of confession is this, Nath?¡± she snorted ungracefully. ¡°Do you think after hearing your words, I¡¯ll say thank you, rejoice, and then hug you with happiness?¡± she asked sarcastically. ¡°I did have a crush on you, Nath. But I¡¯m not a foolish girl who easily falls for crocodile tears!¡± Haisley yanked her hand away from Nathan¡¯s grip and was about to walk away, but Nathan pulled her back.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying or bragging, Haisley,¡± the man said coldly.


    Haisley lifted the corner of her mouth and looked at him sharply. ¡°If you really don¡¯t want this engagement, if you really don¡¯t love her, why have you kept it by your side all this time? Why have you been so sweet to her all this time?


    ¡°You don¡¯t treat me the same way. Compared to your kindness to her, you¡¯ve been so mean and cruel to me. So, do you want me to believe you don¡¯t love her? What kind of nonsense is that?


    ¡°If you really don¡¯t love her, you could be mean to her like you¡¯ve been to me all this time. If you don¡¯t want this engagement to happen, you could refuse it because that¡¯s who you are. But the reality?¡±


    ¡°The reality is not what you see, Haisley,¡± the man said wearily. ¡°The reality is that I have to be kind to her even though I don¡¯t want to. And the reality is that I can¡¯t refuse this engagement even though I want to.¡±


    Haisleyughed skeptically again. ¡°Whatever, I don¡¯t care about the reality because I¡¯ve stopped trying to understand.¡± She replied, yanking her hand away from Nathan again and walking away.


    Haisley walked quickly away from Nathan, but after a few steps, Nathan made her stop by standing tall in front of her.


    Haisley tried to move to the other side of the road to avoid Nathan, but it seemed he intentionally blocked her way. Unexpectedly, he bent down and effortlessly lifted Haisley onto his shoulder, as if she were no heavier than a bag of rice.


    ¡°What are you doing, Nath? Are you crazy! Put me down!¡± Haisley shouted, hitting the man¡¯s back with both hands as hard as she could. Her feet kicked the air, and even the sound of her fists hitting the man¡¯s back sounded painful in her ears. But Nathan seemed unshaken. He continued carrying her away from the beach, past the sidewalk barrier, and walked towards the parking lot.


    ¡°Hellllp!!¡± Haisley yelled to anyone who saw her. ¡°This guy kidnapped me!¡± she continued loudly.


    Instead of helping her, people just stared with smiles on their faces, thinking it was some funny show. Assuming that what Haisley and Nathan were doing was a lover¡¯s quarrel scene from a drama.


    ¡°Nathaniel Chayton! I swear I won¡¯t forgive you if you do something bad to me!¡± Haisley scolded harshly. But instead of responding, Nathan lowered her right next to the jeep¡¯s door, which Haisley was sure was a rental.


    ¡°Get in!¡± Nathan ordered firmly.


    Haisley looked up at the man. She tly refused themand of the man standing in front of her. Haisley intended to stomp on the man¡¯s foot with all her might, having prepared to lift her right foot and gather her strength there. But instead of sessfully stepping on Nathan¡¯s foot, Haisley ended up stomping the asphalt very hard, causing her foot to twist, making her groan in pain and tears streaming down her face.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nathan asked with a panic he didn¡¯t hide. He bent down to Haisley¡¯s foot to check its condition.


    ¡°Arrghh¡­ it hurts!¡± Haisley whimpered. Annoyed, in pain, and embarrassed, the girl felt all these emotions simultaneously. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have dodged when I was about to stomp on your foot!¡± she scolded harshly and groaned again as she felt the throbbing pain in her foot.


    Nathan seemed to suppress a smile, but instead of mocking, he opened the car door and effortlessly lifted Haisley into it.


    ¡°I told you to get in. It¡¯s your fault for intending to hurt me, so you got a taste of your own medicine,¡± hemented in his t tone.


    Haisley resisted. She tried to get out of Nathan¡¯s rented car, but Nathan held her knee with his abdomen.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Back to Dean and Gilbert? Do you think I¡¯ll allow that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°This is kidnapping, Nathan!¡± Haisley scolded harshly.


    Nathan shrugged indifferently. ¡°I¡¯ve done worse than this, if you must know,¡± he said. With both hands, Nathan moved Haisley¡¯s knee so that she now faced forward. Nathan also deliberately fastened the seatbelt, locking the girl¡¯s body before smoothly closing the car door.


    Quickly, Nathan ran to the driver¡¯s seat, not wanting Haisley to beat him in releasing the seatbelt and escaping.


    Sure enough, when he entered, Haisley had managed to release her seatbelt and was about to open the door. Unfortunately, Nathan¡¯s hands moved faster, so he could lock the door and reattach the seatbelt to the girl¡¯s petite body.


    Nathan drove them to another area away from the hotel and Haisley¡¯s residence. The increasing throbbing in Haisley¡¯s foot made her unable to resist any longer. She could only lean her body against the back of the seat while asionally hissing in pain.


    Nathan brought their car to a vi area. Haisley widened her eyes instantly and looked at Nathan in disbelief. ¡°What are you going to do here?¡± she asked fearfully. Nathan just nced at her without giving an answer.


    The man then got out of the car and walked back towards where Haisley was sitting. Unlike when he got in earlier, this time Haisley stayed inside the car, gripping the seatbelt tighter and refusing to get out.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on your mind, Nath. But I don¡¯t want to go inside with you. Take me back to my apartment!¡± Shemanded fearfully.


    Who wouldn¡¯t be afraid, knowing what Nathan could do to her when she was unconscious, and now, conscious, Haisley was afraid Nathan would do something even worse. Physically and mentally hurt her.


    Not one to be outdone, Nathan quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and then lifted Haisley off the car in a bridal style, not like a bag of rice as he did before. Strangely, it felt gentler than before.


    ¡°You can¡¯t escape from me, Haisley,¡± Nathan whispered with his cold face, making Haisley even more frightened. They entered the vi. Without letting Haisley down, Nathan booked a one-bedroom apartment for them for a week.


    One week? Haisley widened her eyes, looking at Nathan with an unbelieving gaze. What was this man nning?


    The vi receptionist asked about their luggage, but Nathan just shook his head. He asked to be taken to the room as soon as possible and to arrange for a massage therapist because Haisley¡¯s sprained ankle was starting to show a bluish tint.


    The vi Nathan rented consisted of a one-bedroom unit, a kitchen, a living room, and a private swimming pool. Nathan seated Haisley on arge L-shaped sofa slowly before walking to the open kitchen and opening the fridge.


    ¡°At least this will alleviate the pain until the massage therapist arrives.¡± He returned with a bowl of ice and a small towel he brought from the bathroom.


    Haisley groaned as she felt the cold ice touching her skin. She looked at Nathan with irritation, but he seemed indifferent to her annoyance.


    ¡°Why are we here, Nath? What do you really want from me?¡± Haisley asked with a softer voice than before.


    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to keep you away from Dean and the other men you were talking about earlier,¡± the man replied tly, slowly moving the towel, causing Haisley to hiss in pain.


    ¡°Yes, but for what? What¡¯s the point? Why do you have to do this?¡±


    ¡°I told you I don¡¯t want you and Dean to get engaged.¡±


    ¡°But what right do you have to decide if I want to get engaged or be in a rtionship with anyone? Remember, Nath, out there is Loretta. She might be looking for you right now. We should go back and meet them.¡±


    Nathan looked at her coldly and shook his head firmly. ¡°No. I won¡¯t go back there, especially not with you. Not until you listen to all my exnations.¡±


    ¡°What exnations? I don¡¯t need your exnations. All I know is that you and Loretta will get engaged here, soon. And after that, you will get married. So stop doing foolish things, Nath.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t get engaged to her. I don¡¯t care anymore about any risks I have to face in the future. I¡¯d rather go to jail than let you go with Dean.¡±


    Risks? Jail? What is this man really saying? Haisley wondered in her heart. But just before she could voice her question, their doorbell rang.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chap 76

    Haisley winced in pain and continued to grip Nathan¡¯s arm as the masseuse he had called arrived and began massaging his feet. Cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Nathan felt a bit guilty, but he was confident that Haisley would thank himter.


    ¡°Apply this ointment to his feet three times a day. First, clean them with a warm damp towel,¡± said the woman, whom Nathan estimated to be in her mid-fifties.


    Nathan nodded and handed money to the masseuse as he escorted her out. He returned to the living room and saw Haisley still lying down, pale-faced and sleepy.


    ¡°Feeling better?¡± he asked while sitting next to Haisley and wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    Haisley got up from the bed and groaned when he put his feet on the floor. Nathan looked at him in confusion. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked anxiously.


    ¡°I need to go to the bathroom,¡± replied Haisley curtly. Nathan chuckled and quickly scooped Haisley up in his bridal style.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to fall and hurt your other foot, Haisley,¡± Nathan said as he observed the sharp gaze Haisley directed at him. ¡°I know you¡¯re aware of my tendency to take advantage of you when you¡¯re not paying attention. I won¡¯t apologize for it because I enjoy it,¡± said the man innocently, receiving a raw punch in the back from Haisley.


    ¡°I also won¡¯t promise not to do it again, whether you¡¯re aware or not,¡± he continued, this time getting a series of blows to the front and back of his body.


    Nathan took Haisley into the bathroom and helped him stand. ¡°Do you need assistance?¡± he shamelessly asked. ¡°After all, I already know what¡¯s under your clothes, so why be embarrassed if I just remove your sleep pants?¡± he added, making Haisley want to throw something at him.


    ¡°Get out of here!¡± Haisleymanded loudly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave if you promise not to lock yourself in the bathroom just to avoid me, Haisley,¡± said the man again.


    Lock himself in the bathroom? Haisley hadn¡¯t even thought about that. Nathan had just given him a good idea.


    Seeing Haisley¡¯s residence made Nathan regret bringing it up. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± he warned. ¡°You¡¯ll only get pneumonia if you insist on hiding in a damp and cold ce like this,¡± he continued, cautioning. Haisley red at him with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Hemanded rudely. ¡°I¡¯m not a fool who would torture myself for a monster like you,¡± Haisley retorted. She tried to push Nathan with all her strength, although the result did not match what she desired. In reality, Nathan only shifted slightly from his ce. ¡°Nathan, I really need to use the bathroom!¡± she snapped irritably.


    Nathan raised the corner of his mouth and then willingly stepped out of the bathroom. ¡°Call me when you¡¯re done. You shouldn¡¯t hurt your feet by walking too far,¡± he said firmly. Haisley chose to ignore him.


    Haisley was still sitting on the toilet after finishing her business. She fell silent with all thoughts wandering in her head. What¡¯s going on with Nathan? Why did he change so drastically? What actually happened? What¡¯s with the prison that he mentioned earlier? All these questions were just unanswered thoughts swirling in her mind.


    The sound of a knock on the door made Haisley jump. ¡°Are you done? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re sleeping in there, Haisley,¡± Nathan¡¯s voice sounded loud from outside the bathroom.


    Haisley walked unsteadily to unlock the door from the inside. She didn¡¯t want Nathan to act irrationally by breaking down the bathroom door just because she didn¡¯t give him an answer.


    As soon as the door opened, and she stepped out, Nathan effortlessly lifted her again. This time, he carried her into the room. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Haisley asked bluntly.


    ¡°Sleeping,¡± Nathan replied in a t tone.


    ¡°Sleeping?¡± Haisley repeated the word with a sarcastic tone. ¡°I have to go back to my room, Nathan!¡± she snapped displeased. ¡°I have to work tomorrow!¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t be working. I¡¯ve told Juan that you can¡¯t work for the next week,¡± he casually replied, then lowered Haisley onto the bed. ¡°And yes, I¡¯ve also contacted Gilbert to let him know that I¡¯m taking you away, so he and your dear Dean won¡¯t search for you like crazy or report you to the police as a missing person,¡± he continued, still in a casual manner.


    ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Haisley eximed loudly. ¡°What about Loretta? She¡¯ll be confused and looking for you because you¡¯re not there!¡±


    Nathan just smiled and shrugged before saying, ¡°I don¡¯t care. And again, who do you think I¡¯ve gone crazy for?¡± He asked tly. ¡°And, one more thing, Haisley. I don¡¯t like the way you¡¯ve been talkingtely. Did you learn to boss people around after moving to Miami? Please cherish your voice and spare my ears. You¡¯re not suited to y the role of an angry girl, Haisley Smith.¡± He scolded with a gentle tone.


    Now it was Haisley¡¯s turn to be wide-eyed, mouth agape, as she listened to Nathan speak all that.


    Nathan left Haisley and went into the bathroom. Seizing the opportunity, Haisley got down from the bed and intended to escape. She walked unsteadily towards the door and tried to open it. But there was no key there.


    Haisley then walked to the living room, opened the ss door slowly, and headed out towards the swimming pool. There must be an exit. She thought as she stepped out the door. However, all Haisley found was a three-meter-high wall surrounding the building.


    Haisley sighed in resignation. She felt like crying.


    Haisley turned around and saw Nathan standing, folding his arms in front of his chest with his hips leaning against the edge of the sofa.


    ¡°I told you, you won¡¯t be able to run, Darling. You¡¯re stuck with me for the next week. This time, I won¡¯t let you escape like thest time,¡± he said with a grin on his face.


    Nathan stood upright and walked closer.


    ¡°W-what do you want?¡± Haisley asked in a panic.


    Nathan once again lifted her in a bridal style. ¡°I told you we¡¯re going to sleep. Don¡¯t bother avoiding it because I¡¯ll stick to you like glue.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Haisley eximed loudly.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who made me like this. If only you hadn¡¯t followed me to Ennd, maybe I¡¯d still be sane right now,¡± he said tly, gentlyying Haisley¡¯s body on the bed.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    He then spun around and climbed up the other side of the king-size bed, causing Haisley to scoot away.

 Chap 77

    ¡°There¡¯s no use in moving away. Eventually, you¡¯ll inch closer to me and seek warmth from my body,¡± he said.


    Haisley snorted in disgust. ¡°I won¡¯t do it,¡± she said confidently.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t do it, then let me do it.¡± And Nathan really inched closer to Haisley. He embraced the petite girl with both hands and even entwined Haisley¡¯s legs with his, making it difficult for her to move.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a pillow?¡± Haisley asked irritably as she tried to free herself.


    ¡°You know you¡¯re more than just a pillow. Because you¡¯re warm, soft, and can make enticing sighs,¡± he whispered in Haisley¡¯s ear, causing her to widen her eyes instantly.


    Haisley froze on her bed. Her heart could be said to be working out right now. Nathan¡¯s body scent, the fragrance of his shampoo wafting, made Haisley feel ticklish, wanting to touch him. But she tried to resist the urge not to do so.


    She tried to find a topic of conversation but was also confused about what they should talk about. Haisley took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly several times, causing Nathan, who rested his chin on her shoulder, to chuckle.


    ¡°I won¡¯t do anything weird, Haisley. I swear,¡± the man said, and Haisley was sure there was a triumphant smile on his face. ¡°Sleep, you¡¯re tired,¡± he added softly.


    Then Nathan moved to get up, propping his head on his hands and looking at Haisley with a mischievous gaze. ¡°Or do you want me to lull you to sleep? Do something fun that will really tire you out and make you fall asleep?¡± He offered with a suggestive look at Haisley¡¯s body, causing her to immediately pull the nket up to her neck.


    Nathanughed at her reaction and then dropped his head onto the pillow. ¡°Never try to do anything funny, Nathan.¡±


    ¡°I promised I wouldn¡¯t, but you don¡¯t believe me,¡± Nathan said, looking at Haisley again as hey on his side.


    ¡°How can I trust you after what you¡¯ve done to me all this time? You openly show your dislike, but secretly touch me. Hypocrite,¡± Haisley muttered, making Nathan lift the corner of his mouth.


    ¡°Yes, I am that hypocritical,¡± he admitted softly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be such a jerk.¡± He continued, sounding sad.


    Jerk? That word reminded Haisley of something. ¡°Why did you say you¡¯re willing to go to jail? What did you really do, Nath? Did youmit a crime?¡± Haisley asked, curious.


    Nathany back and closed his eyeszily. ¡°Sleep, it¡¯ste,¡± he said indifferently.


    Instead ofplying, Haisley rose from her seat and mmed Nathan¡¯s hand away from his face. ¡°Answer me, Nath. Tell me what you¡¯re really hiding. I want to know!¡± she demanded firmly.


    ¡°Do you want to pay me?¡± the man teased. ¡°I¡¯ll answer any of your questions, as long as you pay me. At least one question for one kiss.¡± He challenged, making Haisley widen her eyes instantly. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve been the one kissing you all this time. asionally, I also want to feel kissed by you, Haisley,¡± he said again, still in his casual tone.


    Haisley snorted, choosing to lie back down and turn away from Nathan. ¡°Forget it. If you really don¡¯t want to say anything, then so be it. Besides, I don¡¯t need to know. I just need to endure a week here with you, as you said before,¡± she said, pulling her nket higher and closing her eyes.


    Nathan shifted his sleeping position again, lying on his side. He rested his head on the curve of his elbow and silently gazed at Haisley¡¯s back.


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to know?¡± the man asked again. ¡°If you change your mind, all you have to do is pay me, Haisley,¡± he said, a statement met with silence from Haisley.


    Haisley woke up feeling a considerable weight on the side of her body. As she tried to move, she felt her hand attached to something. When she lifted her head, she saw her right hand fingers entwined with Nathan¡¯s right hand fingers. Haisley wasn¡¯t aware when the pillow she had onst night turned into the strong arm of a man.


    The same thing happened with her left hand. When she lowered her head, she saw Nathan¡¯s left hand ovepping hers, and his palm touching the back of her hand with his fingers intertwining with hers. The heaviest burden she felt was on her legs. Nathan¡¯s left leg was pressing on hers. Haisley rolled her eyes. What is going on with this guy? She wondered silently. Since when did he stick to her?


    Haisley tried to free herself from Nathan¡¯s grasp, but he was surprisingly sensitive and turned around to hug her even tighter, wrapping around her stomach. ¡°Let me go,¡± Haisley whispered.


    ¡°Just a moment, Haisley,¡± the man murmuredzily.


    ¡°Let me go, Nath. I need to go to the bathroom,¡± Haisley said sharply. ¡°I need to pee.¡±


    ¡°I know how to make you pee in a different way,¡± the man whispered again teasingly. His left hand crept up towards Haisley¡¯s upper body. Haisley instantly widened her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t mess around!¡± Haisley said, shaking off Nathan¡¯s hand, which didn¡¯t make him angry but rather made him chuckle. Nathan released his grip on Haisley¡¯s hand andid back. Haisley got up and sat on the edge of the bed, ring at Nathan. Nathan just grinned, making Haisley want to throw a pillow at him.


    With great effort, Haisley stood up, leaning on the nightstand next to the bed. Nathan immediately got up and tried to help her. Haisley tried to push his hand away, but Nathan was much stronger than her.


    After finishing her business, Haisley staggered out of the bathroom. She nced at the room, surprised that it was neatly arranged as if no one had used it before. Haisley then chose to leave the room and found no one there.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Nath, where are you?¡± she shouted somewhat loudly, but there was no answer. Haisley walked towards the kitchen and opened the fridge to see what food she could eat. However, the fridge was empty. Frustrated, Haisley chose to sit on the sofa and turned on the TV.

 Chap 78

    Almost half an hour of waiting, Haisley heard the sound of keys turning. She turned and saw Nathan smiling at her with two shopping bags in his hands.


    ¡°Making you wait?¡± the man asked with a grin on his face. ¡°I was looking for breakfast for both of us and some spare clothes,¡± he said as he walked towards the kitchen.


    ¡°Spare clothes? From where?¡± Haisley asked curtly. Nathan looked at her, shrugging. ¡°The market,¡± he replied shortly. Nathan then brought the food for both of them to the living room,plete with drinks. ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast first, then you can shower. It¡¯s okay if the clothes haven¡¯t been washed yet. Later in the afternoon, more clothes and groceries will arrive. I¡¯ve asked the vi staff to do the shopping,¡± he said casually.


    Haisley chose not toment on anything. She preferred to finish her breakfast because she was genuinely hungry. After finishing her meal, Haisley left her dirty bowl untouched and chose to grab the ck stic bag that Nathan said contained his spare clothes. She staggered towards the bathroom without bothering to check its contents. However, her shout echoed instantly after she entered the bathroom and took out the contents of the bag to hang behind the door.


    ¡°What is this!¡± she shouted, opening the bathroom door and pointing a set of lingerie that Nathan gave her. Lace panties that were see-through and a matching bra that¡­ Haisley herself was reluctant to exin.


    ¡°Why? Doesn¡¯t it fit you?¡± Nathan asked with a t expression. Haisley squinted her eyes, looking at him annoyed. ¡°I know your body size, Haisley. I¡¯m sure that size fits perfectly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the issue,¡± Haisley growled. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t even dare to buy this myself, how could you dare to buy such skimpy fabric?¡±


    Nathan shrugged. ¡°I just said I needed underwear for my wife and mentioned that we¡¯re newlyweds. The seller immediately gave me that. Isn¡¯t it perfect?¡± he asked with a sly smile on his face. ¡°Just wear it, Haisley. I know you won¡¯t want to wear the same underwear for the next few hours. But if you don¡¯t want to wear it, I think that¡¯s even better,¡± he chuckled again.


    Haisley widened her eyes, her mouth opening wide without being able to say anything. She mmed the bathroom door so hard that it produced an unpleasant sound she heard and also made the walls around her vibrate. Haisley nced at the rayon short dress that felt cool on the skin with a floral pattern. Haisley took a deep breath and hung the dress behind the door before undressing herself and taking a shower.


    In less than twenty minutes, Haisley came out of the bathroom with Nathan¡¯s newly bought underwear and her short dress. Her shoulders were exposed because Nathan chose a Sabrina-neck dress for her. There was a thin stic band at her waist, shaping Haisley¡¯s small waist. And the bottom fell slightly above her knees. Perhaps in a taller girl, the short dress would touch half of her thighs.


    ¡°Are you deliberately giving me mini clothes?¡± she used Nathan.


    The man himself looked fresh and wore a new shirt along with patterned cotton shorts that lookedfortable. Nathan looked at Haisley, staring at her from top to bottom and then whistled.


    ¡°Nathan!¡± Haisley snapped irritably. She was truly perplexed by Nathaniel¡¯s new personality. It was very different from the cold demeanor he always showed.


    Nathan shrugged and smiled. ¡°I just imagined you wearing it when the store employee suggested that outfit. And yes, the outfit exceeded my expectations,¡± he replied casually. ¡°Come here, you need to reapply ointment on your feet to reduce the swelling,¡± he said softly.


    Haisley walked closer, stumbling, and her eyes narrowed sharply. She had to be wary of this new Nathan. If not, she might fall into his trap.


    Haisley sat on the sofa and lifted her right leg onto the sofa¡¯s arm, holding the hem of her skirt with one hand. She didn¡¯t want Nathan¡¯s mischievous gaze to focus on what was behind the skirt. However, the man just smiled at Haisley¡¯s actions. His left hand reached out and gently held Haisley¡¯s ankle before opening a bottle containing a mixture to apply to Haisley¡¯s foot. Diligently, he rubbed it and gave a gentle massage, making Haisley let out a small sigh.


    Haisley took a slow breath. The conversation from the previous night echoed in her ears. She cleared her throat softly and looked at Nathan seriously. ¡°Tell me about the prison, Nath.¡±


    Nathan looked up and gazed at Haisley seriously before showing his mischievous grin again.


    ¡°Why? Curious?¡± the man asked with a mischievous tone. ¡°I told you, I¡¯ll say it if you¡¯re willing to pay me, Haisley,¡± he replied again.


    Haisley rolled her eyes again. She pulled her foot, which Nathan had treated, and chose to pout in annoyance.


    Haisley grabbed the TV remote and turned it on without interest. She had changed the channel several times but couldn¡¯t find anything worth watching. She sighed in resignation, tossed the remote onto the sofa, and slouchedzily against it.


    ¡°Are we going to be like this all day? I¡¯m bored, Nath. I should be working today,¡± she said, getting no response from Nathan.


    Thinking about work, Haisley remembered Aditya, whom she had to leave forcibly because Dean and Gilbert took her awayst night. After some consideration, did kidnapping be a hobby of Nathan¡¯s family?


    Haisley grunted in annoyance. She left her phone in her room, and she couldn¡¯t borrow Nathan¡¯s phone because he probably wouldn¡¯t give it to her. But even if Nathan willingly handed over his phone, Haisley still couldn¡¯t contact anyone because she didn¡¯t remember Aditya¡¯s number. She didn¡¯t even memorize Dean and Gilbert¡¯s numbers to ask them to pick her up. Damn it! She cursed unintentionally but loudly.


    ¡°What¡¯s damn, Haisley?¡± Nathan asked with a curious look.


    Haisley nced at him and furrowed her brow in confusion. ¡°Damn because I¡¯m stuck with you here,¡± she said suddenly. ¡°I need to contact Mas Adit, Nath. Lend me your phone,¡± Haisley said, reaching out her right hand.


    Nathan looked at Haisley with a frowning forehead and sharp prating eyes. ¡°Why do you have to contact him? Who is he?¡± he asked, and then one of his eyebrows lifted, looking at Haisley displeased. ¡°Do you want to contact your lover? For what?¡± he asked sarcastically.


    Haisley shrugged, making the lower part of her hair sway momentarily. ¡°I have to apologize to him,¡± she said casually. ¡°I left himst night without saying goodbye; he must be worried about me,¡± she reasoned. Although Haisley herself didn¡¯t care and wasn¡¯t sure if Aditya would worry about her or not.


    ¡°Just let him worry; it¡¯s not his duty to be concerned about you,¡± Nathan replied bluntly.


    ¡°I also have to inform Dean and Gilbert,¡± Haisley spoke again, ignoring Nathan¡¯s sarcasticments.


    ¡°I¡¯ve contacted Gilbert and told him that you¡¯re with me,¡± Nathan repeated his statement fromst night.


    Haisley immediately looked at him sharply. ¡°And Loretta? Have you also contacted your fianc¨¦e and told her that you¡¯ve confined me here?¡± she asked challengingly.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Nathan shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t bring it up. If she wants to find me, I don¡¯t care. I don¡¯t want to y drama with her anymore. Let her act as she pleases,¡± Nathan said with a cold tone that sent shivers down Haisley¡¯s spine.


    ¡°What¡¯s really going on with you, Nath?¡± Haisley asked, curious. ¡°Tell me about your rtionship with Loretta, tell me what really happened?¡± she asked again.


    Nathan looked at Haisley with a serious expression before grinning. ¡°Your payment, Haisley,¡± the man challenged.

 Chap 79

    ¡°Oh, please, Nathan. This is not the time for you to joke with me!¡± she snapped annoyed.


    Nathan shrugged. ¡°Who¡¯s joking with you? I¡¯m serious. If you want a kiss, I¡¯ll tell you everything,¡± he said again.


    Haisley looked at him. Her curiosity was truly unbearable. She stared at Nathan, and it seemed like he could read her inner turmoil. Nathan then patted his thigh, asking Haisley toe closer.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie. One kiss, and I¡¯ll answer all your questions,¡± he said in a tempting, soft tone.


    Somehow, Haisley rose from her seat and walked towards Nathan. She stood in front of him and looked at Nathan hesitantly. Nathan then extended his right hand, took Haisley¡¯s left wrist to bring her closer, and ced his left hand behind her thigh. He pulled her, so Haisley sat on hisp, leaning on both folds of her knees.


    ¡°Will you answer all my questions after one kiss?¡± she asked hesitantly, answered by a serious nod from Nathan. Haisley still looked at him nervously. Her gaze was directed at Nathan¡¯s lips, which were reddish, almost darkened from his recent smoking habit.


    Seeing Haisley still hesitating, Nathan reached out with both hands and grabbed Haisley¡¯s wrists, lifting them and cing the palms of her hands on both sides of his face. Nathan looked at Haisley¡¯s face intensely, their eyes locked for a moment before finally Haisley leaned her face closer.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want a short kiss, Haisley,¡± he whispered softly just before Haisley touched her lips to Nathan¡¯s.


    Haisley was confused about what to do because, honestly, this was the first time she consciously kissed someone. What she had seen in movies and dramas had never been truly experienced in reality. The same goes for what she felt in her dreams. However, Haisley felt Nathan¡¯s hand touching her nape, and his lips opened, slowly sucking her lower lip.


    ¡°Do it like what I do, Haisley,¡± he whispered as their lips separated for a moment.


    Haisley didn¡¯t understand what he said. But then Nathan touched their lips again and started moving slowly. When he sucked her lip, Haisley did the same instinctively. And when he extended his tongue into Haisley¡¯s mouth, Haisley instinctively did the same.


    Disgusting? Maybe that¡¯s what one would feel if we didn¡¯t love the person we touched. But in Haisley¡¯s case, it was clear that she loved Nathan very much, and of course, even though she was initially hesitant, she enjoyed Nathan¡¯s touch on her body. Even unconsciously, she sighed softly when she felt Nathan¡¯s left hand slip under her skirt and touch her thigh. The man pulled Haisley closer, so she could feel something hitting her sensitive area.


    ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± Haisley moaned softly, and suddenly, their kiss broke off just like that. She looked at Nathan confused, her lips feeling wet and throbbing.


    ¡°This is what I always feel every time I see you, Haisley,¡± he whispered, his eyes focused on her. ¡°I always want to touch you,¡± he said with lips that he now pressed against the curve of Haisley¡¯s neck. Strange sensations could be felt, reaching even to the core of her body. Unconsciously, Haisley moved her head to allow Nathan to explore further. Indeed, Haisley wanted to know what it felt like to be touched by Nathan when she was conscious.


    Nathan¡¯s left hand continued to caress her thigh with an extremely slow and gentle movement. Meanwhile, his right hand now moved behind Haisley¡¯s back, slowly creeping up and touching her shoulders. Then, slowly, he lowered the sleeve of Haisley¡¯s clothes so that she could see the ck bra that Nathan had bought for her.


    ¡°Your body always smells every time I kiss you, Haisley,¡± he whispered again.


    The man¡¯s lips now moved down to touch her pelvic bone and gave a slight suction there. Haisley bit her lower lip and squeezed the man¡¯s shoulder as a form of self-defense not to make any sound after feeling the strange sensation caused by that simple touch.


    And then, the man¡¯s head bowed, and his lips moved even lower until Haisley could feel the warm breath between her curves, which were now starting to heat up and sweat. Haisley didn¡¯t realize when exactly Nathan lowered one strap of her bra becauseter, she could feel the cold air touching her chest before it was reced by warmth as Nathan¡¯s lips molded and sucked it so hard as if he were a baby breastfeeding.


    ¡°Nath¡­¡± Haisley called his name softly while roughly grabbing his hair. ¡°Oh, what¡­ Nathaniel¡­¡± she muttered again when she felt the increasingly intense suction that also made her feminine area throb due to the strange sensation. Nathan released his mouth and raised his head.


    ¡°This is what I do to you when you¡¯re asleep, Haisley,¡± he said shamelessly. Haisley stared at him with misty eyes and an indescribable feeling. ¡°Do you want me to continue? Do you want to know how far all of this will end?¡± he asked again. Haisley could only look at him with wide eyes in disbelief. ¡°I assure you, your purity is still intact, Haisley Smith. I just want to show you what I¡¯ve done to you while you were unconscious. What I did wasn¡¯t just once, but several times,¡± he continued shamelessly.


    Haisley swallowed unconsciously. Her eyes were still locked with Nathan¡¯s. But then, very slowly, the girl nodded her head.


    Nathan raised the corner of his mouth and smiled. He then extended his left hand and touched Haisley¡¯s head. His fingers slipped through the gaps in Haisley¡¯s hair and then pulled her head closer. Nathan kissed her with a tenderness more intense than before.


    When Haisley responded to the movement of his lips, the man¡¯s right hand wandered again, went under her skirt and then crept up, slowly touching the girl¡¯s stomach before sliding his fingers into the protective triangle he had chosen. Haisley broke the kiss again when she felt Nathan¡¯s fingers starting to move in her most sensitive area.


    ¡°Nath?¡± she asked confused. She tried to move her body away, but Nathan¡¯s left hand wrapped around Haisley¡¯s waist and pulled her closer so that the man¡¯s fingers could go deeper. ¡°Oh, Nath¡­¡± Haisley whispered again when she felt Nathan¡¯s fingers moving in and out faster.


    Nathan lowered Haisley¡¯s other bra strap again so the girl¡¯s chosen hill was visible in front of his face. He pulled Haisley¡¯s back again and sucked on one of them and sucked it like he had done before. Haisley subconsciously stood on her knees. One hand gripped Nathan¡¯s shoulder tightly while the other held the man¡¯s head so he wouldn¡¯t move away and even told him to stay there.


    Along with the movement of Nathan¡¯s hands and the y of his hands on Haisley¡¯s body, the girl moaned and hissed, making Nathan even more triggered to move faster. When Haisley felt something about to explode from inside his body, she shouted the man¡¯s name loudly as something warm and thick came out of her sensitive part and spilled into Nathan¡¯s hand.


    Haisley went limp for a moment. She fell back onto Nathan¡¯sp with a gasp. Her head hung down in shame. Deliberately hiding her face on Nathan¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I always do to you. Doesn¡¯t it feel really good, Haisley?¡± The man asked as he rubbed Haisley¡¯s head with his left hand. Haisley didn¡¯t dare to look up. She chose to keep her head down and rest her forehead on Nathan¡¯s broad shoulder. Her attitude made Nathanugh with excitement. ¡°I love you, Haisley. Very.¡± The man whispered in Haisley¡¯s left ear before kissing her very gently. Haisley bit her lower lip harder without wanting to; tears fell through the t-shirt Nathan was wearing.

 Chap 80

    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, Nath,¡± Desis Haisley said as she lifted her head and roughly wiped away her tears. She adjusted her clothes with trembling hands and stepped back away from Nathan. ¡°Just because of what I did a moment ago doesn¡¯t mean I believe your sweet words,¡± she used harshly.


    Nathan was surprised and looked at the confused girl. ¡°Haisley.¡±


    Haisley raised her hand, pointing her index finger at Nathan. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say anything to me.¡± The girlmanded loudly. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re doing all this to me, Nath. I can still remember your rude attitude towards me when I followed you months ago,¡± she said with a wounded tone. ¡°Yes, you surely know why I was so eager to study in the same country as you. It¡¯s because I love you! You know that all these years I¡¯ve only admired you! I just love you! Even though I know you love my sister, Crystal. But still, in every prayer, I hope you open your eyes and then look at me.


    ¡°I¡¯m not ashamed to say this because you already know.


    ¡°But all this time, you always treated me as if I didn¡¯t exist.


    ¡°You ignored me. You belittled me, demeaned me, and even treated me roughly.¡± She used repeatedly. ¡°And now, suddenly, you¡¯re being sweet to me and dering your love, even though your engagement clearly tells me that you¡¯re going to get engaged and married.


    ¡°Do you think I can trust you just like that?


    ¡°What can¡¯t you get from Loretta that you can get from me, Nath?¡± She challenged. ¡°You¡¯re keeping me here, for what? Do you think because I love you, I¡¯ll willingly surrender my body to you?¡± She asked sadly, Nathan shook his head, as did Haisley. ¡°No, Nath, that¡¯s not going to happen. No matter how much I love you, I won¡¯t pawn myself like that. At least I will keep myself for my future husband. And what just happened between us, consider it just an interlude. So it¡¯s pointless for you to imprison me here because I won¡¯t be your sex puppet.¡± She dered loudly.


    Nathan remained silent, frozen, and mute in his ce as he waited for Haisley to express everything on her mind. When he saw Haisley drop her body onto a sofa that was quite far from him and cover her sobs again with both of her hands, Nathan stood up and walked closer, kneeling in front of the girl.


    ¡°Forgive me, Haisley,¡± the man whispered. Nathan touched Haisley¡¯s shoulder, and she shrugged it off to reject Nathan¡¯s touch. ¡°I know I¡¯m foolish; I know I¡¯ve been cruel to you all this time. And I did all that to make you stay away from me. But it turns out¡­¡± The man took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. ¡°I am also tormented by it.


    ¡°When you decided to distance yourself from me, I realized that I had made the biggest mistake of my life. When Gilbert¡¯s friends approached you, I realized that I was jealous. Not to mention them, not to mention Dean, just seeing you with Gilbert already made my heart heat up, Haisley.¡± Nathan reached out and held Haisley¡¯s arm so that she no longer covered her face and could see his sincerity.


    ¡°I was jealous seeing howfortable you were with Gilbert. How you couldugh freely with him. How he could embrace you sofortably. I was jealous because I wanted to be Gilbert at that moment.¡±


    ¡°But you showed Loretta in front of me instead,¡± Haisley said coldly.


    ¡°It was she who presented herself in front of you when she found out you were there,¡± Nathan corrected, making Haisley furrow her brow in confusion. ¡°And I thought I could use her to make you stay away from me. But the fact is, when you¡¯re not around, I only go crazier.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t my intention to use you of anything with Gilbert in the t. But I couldn¡¯t shake off the image that always crossed my mind about how gentle Gilbert¡¯s attitude towards you was. And I was jealous, and I vented my jealousy on you. I apologize for that.


    ¡°And when I saw Dean¡¯s presence and his challenge to me, I was even more consumed by jealousy,¡± the man whispered. ¡°I realized that when Gilbert made me aware of it. I wanted to bring you back home. I wanted to keep you by my side, under my watch, but I know I can¡¯t do that. I can¡¯t keep you by my side. I can¡¯t promise you a future.¡±


    ¡°Why? Why can¡¯t you promise all that to me while you can promise all that to Loretta?¡± Haisley asked challengingly.


    ¡°Understand, Haisley. Have I ever proudly acknowledged my rtionship with Loretta all this time? Hasn¡¯t she always been the one talking a lot about our rtionship to you? Even during that holiday incident, I genuinely didn¡¯t know she was there. I went there to follow you. I rented that yacht because I knew how much you liked the sea and swimming. I swear, I never knew about the unfortunate event that happened to you. No one ever told me about it. Whether Juan, Crystal, Gilbert, or even Mama, no one ever told me about that crucial thing.¡±


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t deny when Loretta assumed that you did all that for her!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because I couldn¡¯t argue in front of her, Haisley.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because you love her.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t love her!¡± Nathan snapped harshly. ¡°I never loved her. I didn¡¯t even admire her.¡± He continued softly.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t love her, you wouldn¡¯t have kissed her!¡± Haisley used again, making Nathan furrow his brow in confusion. ¡°You kissed her at the party, Nath, I saw it.¡± Haisley whispered softly, tears streaming down her face again.


    Nathan shook his head. ¡°I never kissed her. What happened was we had a big fight. We argued, and I ended up asking her to leave.¡±


    ¡°And she came back the next morning with your favorite breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Yes, because that¡¯s her way of apologizing to me.¡± Nathan exined again.


    Both fell silent. Haisley looked at Nathan, and vice versa. ¡°Loretta might love me, or more urately, she might be obsessed with me. But I don¡¯t feel anything for her.¡± Nathan replied softly.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t love her, why is all this happening? Why don¡¯t you leave her? Why did you decide to get engaged and marry her? Why!¡± Haisley demanded again.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Because I killed her fianc¨¦,¡± Nathan answered softly, causing Haisley to fall silent. Nathan bowed with his shoulders slumped in front of Haisley. Meanwhile, Haisley was still trying to absorb the man¡¯s words, which sounded like indistinct murmurs in her ears.


    ¡°What did you just say, Nath?¡± Haisley asked the man to repeat his words.


    Nathan lifted his head and looked directly at Haisley. ¡°I killed her fianc¨¦, Haisley.¡± Nathan repeated his words. He took a deep breath and began to tell the story. ¡°Almost two years ago, I came home from a friend¡¯s wedding party drunk.¡± He said softly. ¡°I forced myself to drive home because it was veryte. I refused to stay at the hotel because I felt capable of going home. And on the way, I didn¡¯t know what actually happened because it happened so fast-our cars, mine and the one Loretta and her fianc¨¦ were in, collided.


    ¡°We were both taken to the same hospital. When I woke up, I heard the news that Loretta¡¯s fianc¨¦ was in aa. And Loretta herself, the girl, looked miserable seeing her fianc¨¦¡¯s condition. I felt guilty.


    ¡°No one discussed the ident for quite some time. Neither the fianc¨¦¡¯s family nor Loretta¡¯s family. Until finally, two weeks after the treatment, Loretta¡¯s fianc¨¦, who was in aa, passed away.¡± Haisley was shocked to hear that. ¡°What happened afterward is that Loretta continued to be sad, ming herself for the ident that befell her fianc¨¦ and even attempting suicide.¡± Once again, Haisley was unprepared to hear this.


    ¡°Loretta¡¯s father then came to me, asking for my help.¡± Haisley stared at the man with a furrowed brow. ¡°He said that Loretta¡¯s mental condition became unstable due to the sessive sorrows. It turns out, before the ident happened, Loretta had just experienced a miscarriage. And after losing her unborn child, she had to lose the man she loved, leading her to depression.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why didn¡¯t her father take her for treatment? Why did her father ask for your help?¡± Haisley asked, puzzled.

 Chap 81

    ¡°Because the doctor said she could recover with my care. She had to find a recement for her fianc¨¦. And indirectly, I was the one who caused her depression. I was the one who made that woman lose the man she loved.¡± Nathan said sadly.


    ¡°I refused their request to rece her deceased fianc¨¦, Haisley.¡± He continued with a distant gaze. ¡°But then they showed me a report. About me driving under the influence of alcohol and causing an ident that led to death. They threatened to sue me and put me in jail, Haisley.¡± The man said with a trembling tone.


    ¡°I was truly scared. I didn¡¯t want to go to jail.¡± He said, shaking his head. ¡°The thought of being stuck in a cell for a while made me always have nightmares. I know I¡¯m a coward, but I¡¯m really scared. Crimes often happen in prison. Violence, abuse.¡± The man shook his head again.


    ¡°Imagining staying in a cell with a man who might have a mental disorder or is thirsty for sex makes me feel nauseous and want to vomit every time.


    ¡°I heard that story from one of my friends who had been a prisoner. What do you think I should do?¡± the man asked again. ¡°Of course, I prefer to continue living freely, even if in return I¡¯m tied to a woman who isn¡¯t sane. But at least, when I¡¯m tired, I can disappear for a while and take a breath. While in jail? I¡¯m still an outsider, and you surely know how some people¡¯s attitudes differ about that.¡±


    Haisley stared at Nathan in silence. She could see how pale the man¡¯s face was, and how frightened Nathan looked hearing his own words. She wanted so much to reach out andfort him, but she couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°So, why?¡± Haisley asked after a few moments of silence.


    Nathan lifted his head again. ¡°I never thought you¡¯d be so determined toe to Ennd. Even though Gilbert often talked about your arrival, and Mama had warned me to prepare a special room for you. I chose to ignore it. Honestly, at that time, I wasn¡¯t even curious about what you looked like now. Whether you had grown taller or remained as mischievous as before.¡± His candidness, whether he liked it or not, made Haisley chuckle. ¡°And I was quite surprised when I saw you. You changed. Not just physically, but your attitude, your way of speaking, you became more mature than before. You were bolder, openly saying whatever you wanted. You became more aggressive. And without realizing it, you started to catch my attention.


    ¡°I still wasn¡¯t aware of my feelings. I thought what I felt was just frustration because my world, which used to be organized, became chaotic because of your presence. But then Steven appeared. I was angry when you chose to get into his car even though I had intended to take you to campus.¡± Nathan grumbled in annoyance.


    Haisley furrowed her brow to recall that incident. ¡°When?¡± she asked softly.


    ¡°At that time when Gilbert wasn¡¯t around, and he, that brat, offered to pick you up,¡± Nathan answered irritably.


    Haisley remembered that moment but didn¡¯t realize that Nathan was prepared to drive her. He never offered, always maintaining a t expression in front of her.


    ¡°Not to mention he tried to get close to you in Crumplehorn. I was really angry with Gilbert when he let you stranded with those guys even though I intentionally rented that vi to make youfortable.¡± He said loudly, expressing his frustration. ¡°And after all I did to you, you said you would stop loving me. What did you expect me to do at that time? I felt undermined just like that, you know?¡±


    ¡°Is your ego wounded, huh?¡± Haisley taunted, and the man shot her a sharp look.


    ¡°Do you remember when Gilbert called me and let Loretta into the house?¡± Nathan asked with a forceful tone, forcing Haisley to remember. ¡°You must remember because at that time, I heard him calling your name when you had just moved into that old t.¡± He grunted in annoyance. ¡°Loretta came to the house on Gilbert¡¯s advice, even though the night before I had just had a fight with her and wanted to break up with her.¡± Nathan continued.


    ¡°But at that time, he came to my t and talked about your rtionship.¡± Haisley whispered.


    ¡°Yes, he clearly-with a pretend innocence-indirectly exined it to me. He deliberately came to you to make you jealous. But I was even more jealous with his remarks about how good your rtionship with Gilbert was.¡±


    ¡°So, that¡¯s your reason foring to my unit and using me of doing inappropriate things with your brother?¡± Haisley asked in annoyance, but Nathan responded only with silence. ¡°You know I could never do anything with Gilbert; he¡¯s like my own brother. I never even considered him as the opposite sex.¡±


    ¡°Do you think my sanity could ept that?¡± Nathan retorted curtly. ¡°My mind was already crazy trying to find a way to get away from Loretta, and hearing him say that about you, of course, I swallowed it whole.¡±


    ¡°But you could have asked me or Gilbert in a civilized manner.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Gilbert is that good? Don¡¯t forget how skilled he is at getting on my nerves, Haisley.¡± Nathan reminded her. Haisley bit her lower lip; she forgot that her friend was indeed a cunning guy.


    ¡°Then Dean came and dered his ownership over you when I was trying to separate myself from Loretta in the best way I could so that I could confess my feelings to you. And you know Loretta¡¯s reaction at that time?


    ¡°She challenged me. She said you could fall in love with Dean.¡±


    ¡°But they haven¡¯t even met¡­¡±


    ¡°And do you think she¡¯s not watching you? Not watching us?


    ¡°She does, Haisley. Very well and skillfully.


    ¡°She knows almost the entire lineage of my family, she knows your family. She investigates because she can.¡± He continued with the frustration he showed again. ¡°Why do you think she suddenly became enthusiastic about your rtionship with Dean when we were having dinner that time?


    ¡°It¡¯s all because of that challenge. She wanted to make you retreat by saying that we were going to get engaged. Actually, I never agreed to it. But I was also too afraid to deny and reject her statement. The shadow of prison haunted me again, Haisley. And yes, I¡¯m that much of a coward.¡± Nathan said again with embarrassment.


    ¡°When Mom and Dad came. Dad asked nicely about my rtionship with Loretta. Of course, as a father, he realized something was wrong with his son.


    ¡°When Mom struggled with all her usations about me and my behavior towards you, as well as how much she disliked my rtionship with Loretta, I chose to tell everything to Dad. I asked him to help me find a way out, Haisley. I really wanted to get away from Loretta and avoid prison as much as possible. And Dad asked me to be patient.


    ¡°But then you chose to leave.¡± He used. Haisley widened her eyes at his usation. ¡°You chose to give up on me and leave me. Although that night, I tried to confess my feelings to you, Haisley.¡± He said softly.


    Haisley furrowed her brow again. ¡°When?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    ¡°When you were drunk, when you entered my office. When I tried to flirt with you again.¡± He said with a seductive tone at the end of the sentence.


    ¡°When you masked your words of love and changed them with the word ¡®making love¡¯?¡± Haisley asked, making Nathan wide-eyed instantly.


    ¡°Do you remember that?¡± He asked incredulously. Haisley shrugged apathetically. ¡°How much do you remember, Haisley?¡± he asked again.


    Haisley raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Since the moment I said you were very handsome, Nathan.¡± She said shamelessly.


    ¡°And you said you would make love with Dean after I did all that?¡± he asked, displeased. ¡°And you pretended as if nothing happened between us the next day?¡±


    Haisley shrugged with an indifferent expression. ¡°At that time, I really didn¡¯t remember it much.¡± She answered honestly, ¡°And even if I remembered, I would still do the same thing. I had to save my dignity, Nath. But honestly, I just remembered that moment just now, because you reminded me after the ¡®fun¡¯ we just had.¡± She said with a mocking expression that she didn¡¯t hide.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were that cunning, Haisley Smith.¡± Nathan muttered irritably.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°And you like sticking with a woman much more cunning than me.¡± Haisley retorted, making Nathan fall silent.

 Chap 82

    After Nathan¡¯s confession of love and Haisley¡¯s acknowledgment of what Nathan did to her on Gilbert¡¯s birthday, both chose to remain silent. It was only a few momentster that they stared at each other and burst intoughter simultaneously.


    ¡°You pervert!¡± Haisley eximed.


    ¡°Sly girl,¡± Nathan replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m sly because I learned from you,¡± Haisley retorted, unwilling to be outdone.


    ¡°And I love you,¡± Nathan dered firmly.


    Haisley fell silent, gazing at him and observing his expression for a few moments. Not to question whether Nathan¡¯s deration of love for Haisley was true or not, but to understand how he felt in the current situation they were facing.


    ¡°What are you going to do after this?¡± Haisley asked again, curious. Clearly, Nathan¡¯s issues were not resolved until his situation with Loretta was rified.


    Nathan shrugged with an indifferent expression. ¡°Dad has hired someone to investigate Loretta¡¯s situation,¡± he answered matter-of-factly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to avoid it anymore; I¡¯ve decided that I¡¯ll go back to Ennd and surrender willingly if Loretta and her ex-fianc¨¦¡¯s family want me to face the consequences of my actions and ept the punishment.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather be in jail for the next few years than be imprisoned with Loretta forever,¡± he replied with a smile on his face.


    Haisley leaned over and then hugged Nathan beneath her. She knew that Nathan¡¯s brusque attitude all this time was just a fa?ade. She was grateful that Nathan, too, had started to have feelings for her, although not as intense as the feelings Haisley had for him. But she was still grateful because, in the end, God opened Nathan¡¯s heart to her.


    ¡°Thinking about you, Dean, and also prison scares me, Haisley,¡± he whispered in her ear. He pulled Haisley¡¯s body so that she was now on hisp, sitting sideways while Nathan sat cross-legged on the cold floor.


    ¡°Why with me and Dean?¡± Haisley asked back. This time, she rested her head on Nathan¡¯s shoulder and touched her forehead to the curve of his neck. Meanwhile, she intentionally linked her left hand with Nathan¡¯s right hand.


    ¡°Hearing you getting engaged to him makes me jealous and angry,¡± he admitted straightforwardly. ¡°I really won¡¯t ept you being with him, Haisley.¡± He said it bluntly, making Haisley chuckle.


    ¡°So, do I have to be with you then?¡± Haisley teased again.


    ¡°It should be like that,¡± Nathan replied.


    Haisley straightened her shoulders and gazed at Nathaniel with an unreadable expression. ¡°Do you think I still want to wait for you after all you¡¯ve done to me all this time?¡± Haisley asked again. Nathan now also straightened his shoulders.


    ¡°I know I¡¯ve been cruel to you all this time, even though you knew the reasons. Forgive me for demanding too much from you when I didn¡¯t deserve it. I just¡­¡±


    Haisley embraced his neck again, hiding her face in the curve of Nathan¡¯s neck. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do. I don¡¯t know what to say. Hearing you say that you love me feels like a dream. Let me savor all of this for a moment, Nath. May I?¡± She asked softly, answered by Nathan¡¯s nod. He rubbed Haisley¡¯s back andforted her. Haisley chose to close her eyes, inhaling Nathan¡¯s scent as she had longed to do. But then a thought crossed her mind.


    ¡°What about Gilbert?¡± she asked, sitting upright on Nathan¡¯sp and looking at him with confusion.


    ¡°Why bring him into this?¡± Nathan asked with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to be clueless, Nath. You know what I mean,¡± Haisley said, hitting his chest.


    Nathan chuckled again. ¡°Gilbert only found out everything after you and Mom left us,¡± Nathan answered truthfully.


    ¡°Tell me everything,¡± Haisley requested, curious.


    Nathanughed again but divulged everything without holding back. ¡°When Mom decided to go back to America with you without Dad¡¯s permission, the atmosphere at our home worsened, especially when Mom couldn¡¯t be reached.¡± Nathan exined, making Haisley widen her eyes. She knew Aunt Monica had returned to America with him out of frustration with her husband and son, but Haisley didn¡¯t expect that the middle-aged woman would also engage in silent actions like a teenager.


    ¡°Gilbert supported you and Mompletely,¡± Nathan grumbled. ¡°And Dad, at that time, was in a situation where he couldn¡¯t leave me because, as you know, he was busy looking for someone to free me from Loretta and her family.


    ¡°The business that Dad used as the basis for my engagement with Loretta was just an excuse because, in fact, Dad and Loretta¡¯s father didn¡¯t know each other. Dad knew who Loretta¡¯s father was, but only to some extent. They had never contacted each other at all.


    ¡°Worried about Mom, who couldn¡¯t be reached, and because our housekeeper chose to side with Mom, the only way for Dad to find out about Mom¡¯s news was through Gilbert.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Gilbert clearly refused. He¡¯s more pro-Mom than Dad. But then, out of necessity, we spilled everything. About the ident I had while drunk, Loretta¡¯s engagement conditions, and her mental state.


    ¡°Gilbert is way smarter than you, you know that?¡± Nathan asked with a mocking tone, met with a huff from Haisley. ¡°He realized from the beginning that something was wrong with Loretta. About how she tried to get close to you and told you about our-fake-rtionship.


    ¡°I knew from the start that Gilbert didn¡¯t like Loretta. The first reason was that Gilbert was more supportive of you,¡± Nathan stated matter-of-factly. ¡°And the second reason, because she aggressively tried to introduce herself to Gilbert as my fianc¨¦e, just like she did to you, while I acted indifferent.


    ¡°After knowing these facts, he wasn¡¯t too surprised. He said he would help gather information to break Loretta and her family¡¯s threats against me. You know, Gilbert has too many connections from various circles.¡± Haisley nodded in agreement. ¡°And he also helped Dad help me. I appreciate that. Until then, he asked about you. About my feelings. Because Gilbert was sure that I had feelings for you.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t deny it because that¡¯s the truth. But I¡¯m also self-aware. I couldn¡¯t suddenlye here and confess my feelings to you while my issues with Loretta were unresolved. How could I give you false hope when I myself didn¡¯t know my fate afterward? Not to mention Dean.


    ¡°But then Gilbert convinced me that I should pursue you. At least, you should know how I feel. I had intended toe here alone. But somehow, Loretta seemed to know my ns.¡±


    ¡°So, it wasn¡¯t you following Dean and Gilbert here?¡± Haisley asked, curious.

 Chap 83

    Nathan shook his head. ¡°No. I took the initiative toe here on my own. I tried to reach you because I couldn¡¯t contact you directly.¡± Nathan said, and Haisley nodded.


    ¡°I changed my phone number and deleted all contacts because I didn¡¯t want to suddenly have the urge to contact you.¡± Haisley¡¯s response made sense.


    Nathan nodded. ¡°I then tried to find out about you from Crystal, and you know, she absolutely refused to help.¡± Nathan said frustratedly. ¡°She even cursed me and said I¡¯m the source of all your sadness.


    ¡°Fortunately, Juan is moremunicative. He told me that you¡¯re now working, mentioned where you live, and the hotel where you work. Then, I prepared a flight ticket to Miami. Somehow, he knew everything,¡± Nathanined again. ¡°He then discussed vacations to Miami and more. I told him to restrain himself, and he threatened again to send me to jail.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of his threat, but I¡¯m afraid that my issues with you aren¡¯t resolved, and you might leave with someone else. That¡¯s more suffocating for me than anything else,¡± Nathan said seriously.


    Haisley looked at him, raising her hand to gently stroke Nathan¡¯s face. Nathan closed his eyes and savored Haisley¡¯s touch, something he had missed for a long time.


    ¡°I then told Gilbert everything, and he gave me this idea. He said he already made a deal with Dean to meet you here.


    ¡°At first, I refused, thinking that Dean wouldplicate everything, considering he also wants you,¡± Nathan snorted, making Haisleyugh. ¡°But it turns out, no. Dean said he¡¯s ready to have his heart broken if it means you choose me over him.¡±


    ¡°Dean is indeed much better in everythingpared to you,¡± Haisley said straightforwardly, without intending to offend or mock Nathan.


    Nathan nodded and sighed tiredly. ¡°I know,¡± he admitted reluctantly. ¡°And that¡¯s what scares me. You chose him over me,¡± he said again.


    Haisley bit her lower lip. ¡°I haven¡¯t chosen anyone between you two. You can rx,¡± she said, shrugging. ¡°Continue your story,¡± she ordered.


    ¡°I was angry seeing you greet both of them at the airport while ignoring me,¡± heined again.


    ¡°I was disgusted seeing you with him,¡± Haisley replied just as bluntly. ¡°Is that why you were throwing a fit at me in Gilbert¡¯s bungalow?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Nathan snorted. ¡°Loretta somehow always follows me. When I came to Gilbert¡¯s bungalow, I thought I could have a private talk with you. You saw for yourself how I requested a separate room from her. If I really loved her, shouldn¡¯t I choose to be alone with her? But I was repulsed,¡± Nathan honestly replied. ¡°She monitors me, as if she attached a tracking device to my body because then, when I opened the door to the room, she was already there with her disgusting grin,¡± Nathan said again.


    Haisley tried to bite her lip to hold backughter. How many times had Nathan described Loretta as repulsive? Even though she knew, as a fellow woman, she should feel sympathetic, Haisley couldn¡¯t feel that way. She was too angry and hated Loretta just like Nathan did.


    ¡°I lost the chance to talk to you. And when I looked for you again, Gilbert said you were gone. I intended to look for you, but once again, Gilbert stopped me. He said it would look suspicious if I intentionally went to find you. No one knows whether he paid someone here to follow me or you.


    ¡°Then Gilbert came up with another idea. I don¡¯t understand why Gilbert prefers photography. He deserves to be an actor or maybe a director. Because there are clearly many weird things in his head,¡± Nathanmented, met with Haisley¡¯s nod. ¡°Loretta then came to the bungalow, right when I was there. She pretended to ask about your whereabouts, even though I knew she was looking for me. I deliberately left my phone in the room and didn¡¯t lock it so that she would think I didn¡¯t go far.


    ¡°Then Gilbert said you weren¡¯t there. He also said that he and Dean nned to pick you up and take you somewhere. And you know, Gilbert¡¯s mind didn¡¯t go wrong. Just when he found me, he immediately invited me to go to the ce Gilbert asked about.


    ¡°I told Loretta that we needed a car to go for a stroll. She enthusiastically epted my idea, suspecting that I would go for a walk with her. Little did she know, Dean and Gilbert also rented another car for me to use besides the one they used to pick you up. Their goal was nothing but to confuse Loretta and anyone who might be following us,¡± Nathan answered again.


    ¡°That party?¡± Haisley asked, confused.


    ¡°That was just a coincidence,¡± Nathan replied matter-of-factly. ¡°The universe helped me,¡± he said proudly. ¡°And now, I¡¯ve trapped you here. And I¡¯ve told you everything without holding back. I just need to wait for your answer, Haisley,¡± he said with a mncholy tone. ¡°Do you still have feelings for me? Do you still love me?¡±


    Haisley didn¡¯t answer Nathan¡¯s question. Instead, she chose to scrutinize the man carefully. It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t want to express her feelings; she just felt that she needed time to process everything.


    She had to reconsider whether all of Nathan¡¯s words came genuinely from his heart or were just a lure to make her willingly give everything to him. Haisley didn¡¯t want to be a greedy monkey falling into the hunter¡¯s trap for the second time just because she was promised fresh bananas.


    ¡°Haisley?¡± Nathan shook the girl¡¯s body, urging her to give him an answer.


    ¡°What would you do if I said I still love you?¡± Haisley asked softly. ¡°And what would you do if I said I love someone else?¡± she asked again, making the man¡¯s back straighten, his face turning pale.


    ¡°You love someone else?¡± he inquired.


    Haisley shrugged. ¡°You know, after I left Ennd and opened my eyes and mind, I realized that in this world, there are many men who are much more handsome, much better, much more polite than you. Stability can be sought, but someone¡¯s attitude is not something that can be shaped in a matter of days.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You can see for yourself how Dean has treated me all this time. He¡¯s clearly much better than you. And honestly, I feel veryfortable with all the special treatment he has given me so far. Until I thought, if I married him, I would definitely be treated like a queen.


    ¡°Especially since I also know what his parents are like; they also like me, just like Aunt Monica has cared for me all this time. So yes, living with Dean won¡¯t be difficult.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t love him,¡± Nathan retorted.

 Chap 84

    ¡°Not yet, but that doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t,¡± Haisley gently rejected. ¡°He has fought for me until now; I think, as a sincere response to his efforts, I can give him a chance. I just have to think about all the goodness he has, and I know that love wille because of familiarity. That has been amon saying we¡¯ve heard for a long time, hasn¡¯t it?


    ¡°Even though for some people, lovees after quite a while, I¡¯m sure I can bring that feeling for Dean because he¡¯s not a difficult person to love.¡±


    ¡°But with him, your life will feel nd, t,¡± Nathanmented again.


    Haisley shrugged. ¡°For someone like me,fort is paramount. You know I¡¯m not one to specte. So, Dean has already made me calm with everything.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to worry that he will take impulsive actions like Gilbert. I also don¡¯t need to puzzle over what¡¯s in his head like I do with you. And Dean is also a person who expresses what he feels right away, so I won¡¯t misunderstand because he keeps everything to himself and bursts it out in an explosion.


    ¡°Yeah, I think marrying him is better. He¡¯ll also have a stable job, and I believe working as a doctor is more promising than marrying a businessman who has many challenges. Isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°But you still won¡¯t feelfortable with him. Over time, you will feel bored. Because even though you say you don¡¯t like challenges, I know you have a wild side, Haisley,¡± Nathan replied, making Haisley involuntarily smile.


    Nathan was too caught up in his emotions, despite Haisley not letting go of his neck since earlier. If only his mind wasn¡¯t so consumed with jealousy, he should have known that everything Haisley said was intended to make him jealous. And when he saw the smile on her beautiful face, he finally realized that he had fallen into the trap Haisley set for him.


    ¡°I know you still love me,¡± he said, bowing down and then gently kissing Haisley¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°Who said that?¡± Haisley asked with a yful look.


    ¡°I did! I just said it. You deliberately baited me by mentioning Dean just to make me jealous. And you seeded,¡± he said, making Haisleyugh at his confession.


    ¡°And after you know my feelings, what will you do?¡± Haisley challenged again.


    Nathan fell silent. ¡°Ideally, I want to marry you as soon as possible,¡± he whispered.


    ¡°That¡¯s not impossible,¡± Haisley replied casually.


    ¡°Yes, I know. I could do it right now, especially considering this is Miami. But no,¡± he refused again. ¡°I¡¯ve made a lot of mistakes with you, and I want to fix everything slowly, one by one. I want to give you a proper wedding. Whether it¡¯s the system or the execution, I want you to get married in the church you want, wear the wedding dress you want, be made up by the MUA you choose. And more than that, I want our wedding to be witnessed by all the guests, by all the friends and rtives you want to invite to be present in it.


    ¡°I want everything to be right because I want to prove to everyone that I love you, and you are very precious to me,¡± Nathan confidently stated, making Haisley¡¯s heart beat fast, and her eyes teary with emotion. She tightened her embrace around Nathan¡¯s neck and hid her face in the crook of his neck.


    ¡°But before all that happens, I have to settle my issue with that woman first. And that¡¯s the toughest part,¡± Nathan said hesitantly. Haisley lifted her head again and looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid if I have to face the consequences of my past mistakes with Loretta, my ex-fianc¨¦e. I¡¯m not afraid anymore, and I¡¯m confident I can face it. But, I¡¯m afraid that in the process, I¡¯ll lose you again, Haisley. I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t patiently wait for me and eventually fall into the arms of another man.¡±


    ¡°I know that my struggle to win you over is not much. But if you end up marrying another man you love, I can¡¯t do anything except eventually surrender and ept it. And honestly, I don¡¯t want that to happen.


    I know I¡¯m selfish. But I can¡¯t do anything except ask you to be patient and hope that you¡¯re willing to wait for me until all these problems are resolved.


    May I make that request?¡± he asked with a pleading face.


    This is not the Nathan she knows, Haisley thought. The Nathan she knows wouldn¡¯tpromise his dignity by making such a request. The Nathan she knows is a person with strong convictions, who, once he has a desire, will do anything to achieve it. But the Nathan now, in front of her, has transformed into someone weak, as if he has no power at all. Is this because he¡¯s afraid of losing her?


    And Haisley also seems unrecognizable to herself. The Haisley from the past might have agreed without much thought as long as the request came from Nathan. But the current Haisley? She¡¯s the Haisley who can¡¯t promise anything to Nathan right now. Not because her love for Nathan is no longer there. She still has that feeling, and she doesn¡¯t know how long it willst. But at this moment, her once unshakable confidence has waned.


    She used to be sure that she could pursue Nathan¡¯s love, confident that she could conquer him even though she didn¡¯t know what was on his mind. But now, after knowing what¡¯s on Nathan¡¯s mind and what he expects from her, her interest seems to be waning. What is really happening to her? Is her love for Nathan just empty words? Is the feeling she has just an obsession? Has the effort she has put in so far been a kind of empty enthusiasm that, after getting what she wanted, she feels satisfied? Like a child who wants a toy and, after getting it, bes bored and just stores it in a corner of the room?


    Is that what she feels for Nathan? Haisley herself doesn¡¯t know the answer. And she can¡¯t predict what she will do in the future. She doesn¡¯t know what she wants. She doesn¡¯t know if she can wait until all these problems are resolved. She no longer knows what her dreams are. Since deciding to leave Ennd, she has left all her dreams and hopes there, with the intention of not looking back.


    And now? As the dreams she left behinde back to haunt her, she is the one confused.


    Oh God, what is this? Why is she like this?

 Chap 85

    Haisley rests her forehead on Nathan¡¯s shoulder again. She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, never letting go of her embrace around his neck.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispers softly. Nathan also falls silent and chooses to listen. His hands are sped at Haisley¡¯s waist, and he ces his chin on top of her head. He, too, takes a deep breath and exhales slowly.


    ¡°No need to apologize. I¡¯m the one who should apologize here,¡± he responds softly. And those words make Haisley feel breathless for a moment. ¡°I asked too much from you, yet I¡¯ve never given you anything. No kindness, no hope. I haven¡¯t nted a single goodness all this time, but suddenly I¡¯m asking for all that goodness from you. I have no shame,¡± Nathan says with a sad smile on his face. ¡°But I want you to know, I¡¯ve fallen in love with you. And perhaps you can say this is some kind of punishment that God gives me because I¡¯ve wasted you all this time. So now, He wants me to know that this has been your feeling toward me.


    ¡°At least you reciprocate by treating me well, not in a rough way like I¡¯ve shown you all this time,¡± he scoffs, mocking himself. ¡°I just want you to know that I¡¯m in love with you. I love you, Haisley. Whatever your answer is, I won¡¯t force anything. I won¡¯t ask you to wait. I can¡¯t let you go to someone else because I have no right to do that. You¡¯ve never been mine to then give to someone else.


    ¡°But I will sincerely pray for your happiness. I promise that,¡± Nathan says again.


    Hearing all this, Haisley feels as if all those words are a farewell statement. She knows that Nathan has made a decision, and she can¡¯t do anything except offer him support. Although in her heart, she feels something unsettling, she can¡¯t let Nathan leave her so soon.


    She wants to keep Nathan and bind him to herself.


    But she¡¯s not sure about her own feelings.


    All of this is confusing for Haisley. She can¡¯t express the contents of her heart with words.


    Is there someone who can help her? Express what Haisley really wants right now? Because she herself is overwhelmed with confusion about her own feelings.


    Oh God, help me. Haisley screams in her heart.


    The sound of knocking made Haisley look at Nathan with fear.


    ¡°That must be G,¡± the man said calmly.


    Haisley got off hisp, allowing Nathan to go and open the door for whoever was knocking. As Nathan suspected, it was indeed Gilbert who came with Dean. Both men carried arge stic bag in each hand.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Gilbert and Dean almost simultaneously asked. Haisley looked at both of them with a raised eyebrow, confused. But then nodded.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I was just afraid he might have assaulted you,¡± Gilbert casually replied. He ced the shopping on the bar table before sitting on the sofa, a bit far from Haisley, followed by Dean, who sat next to him. ¡°You know how he is, so it¡¯s natural for me to worry,¡± he added, still with a casual tone.


    Meanwhile, Nathan seemed busy with the shopping bag Gilbert had just brought. He put some items into the fridge and neatly arranged the rest on the kitchen table.


    ¡°Are you sure no one followed you?¡± Nathan asked after finishing his task, sitting next to Haisley. His arm lifted, possessively embracing Haisley¡¯s shoulder. Gilbert and Dean nodded in response to Nathan¡¯s question.


    ¡°But it won¡¯t be long, Nath,¡± Gilbert finally said. Haisley could feel Nathan¡¯s body freezing beside him. ¡°Loretta is like a madwoman. When she found out you both disappeared, she went crazy. She searched the entire inn area, then to your residence, Haisley.¡± Gilbert¡¯s words sent shivers down Haisley¡¯s spine.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t do anything strange, did she?¡± Haisley asked, imagining Loretta ransacking her room and interrogating everyone to find out her whereabouts.


    Gilbert seemed to shake his head. ¡°Not so far,¡± he tly replied, knowing very well that ¡®not so far¡¯ would soon be ¡®very soon¡¯. ¡°She bombarded us, using us of hiding both of you, even though it¡¯s true. Then she tortured the person who followed you in front of us. She also threatened to report you to the police if you didn¡¯t show up in front of her soon,¡± he added again.


    Haisley was once again filled with fear. ¡°How could she?¡± she asked both Gilbert and Nathan in turn.


    ¡°Of course, she¡¯ll use your hit-and-run report as an excuse,¡± Gilbert replied again. ¡°If she reports you and hands over all the evidence she currently has, making you a fugitive, she can ask for help from the local police to arrest you. Or she might ask the police from Ennd toe here and look for you. You know she can do that,¡± Gilbert warned. ¡°Now it¡¯s all up to you, Nath. Whether you¡¯ll stick with your decision or not,¡± Gilbert added.


    Haisley looked at Nathan again, seeing the hardened expression on his face. The color seemed to drain from his face momentarily. Haisley knew that Nathan was nervous and scared right now. She reached out and touched Nathan¡¯s hand, clenched tightly on his thigh.


    ¡°What did Papa say?¡± Nathan asked again.


    ¡°Papa said he still hasn¡¯t found any evidence,¡± Gilbert replied wearily. ¡°Even by contacting people he knows, Papa still hasn¡¯t found a way to free you from that crazy woman¡¯s clutches.¡±


    Nathan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. ¡°I have to go back to Ennd and surrender,¡± he said a few momentster, shocking Haisley to hear it. So soon? He was still enjoying the time when he felt Nathan¡¯s love, but how could he say this heartlessly about leaving her?


    ¡°You can¡¯t just leave like that, Nath,¡± Haisley protested softly.


    Nathan finally turned his face to Haisley, seeing the girl¡¯s eyes now warming up and bing teary. ¡°I have to do it, Haisley. If I go and surrender, the punishment I¡¯ll receive will be lighter than waiting for them to catch me. And surrendering at least makes me not a coward like I¡¯ve been all this time.¡±


    Haisley shook her head, refusing to let Nathan give up so easily. Nathan showed a gentle smile, lifting his hand and gently stroking Haisley¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Just pray for me, Haisley. Hopefully, the court won¡¯t sentence me too harshly,¡± he pleaded with a mncholic face.


    Later, Dean and Gilbert left them after dinner. Haisley spent more time in silence, refusing to join the conversation between Nathan, Dean, and Gilbert. And the three men didn¡¯t force her to stay involved.


    ¡°Everything will be okay,¡± Gilbert said, gently rubbing Haisley¡¯s head. Dean did the same before following Gilbert out.

 Chap 86

    Now, only Haisley and Nathan remained. Haisley chose to sit in a chair by the pool, feeling the breeze in silence.


    Nathan ced a thin nket over his shoulders before sitting beside her and hugging her. He wrapped his arms around Haisley¡¯s stomach and rested his chin on her shoulder.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Nathan asked curiously.


    Haisley remained silent for quite some time before answering. ¡°A lot,¡± she whispered. She then lowered her head, covering her face with both hands, and soon Nathan felt the girl¡¯s body shaking, her soft sobs heard between her fingers. Haisley was crying.


    Nathan reached for her shoulder and shifted his position so that Haisley now sat sideways on hisp. One of his hands lifted, pushing Haisley¡¯s head to lean on his shoulder before gently stroking her head. Meanwhile, his right hand caressed Haisley¡¯s arm slowly.


    ¡°Shhhhh,¡± he whispered, trying tofort her. ¡°Everything will be okay,¡± he assured in a soft tone. Now his hand moved up and down her back in soothing motions. Instead of stopping her tears, Haisley hugged Nathan¡¯s neck tightly and cried loudly on his shoulder.


    ¡°Why?¡± she asked softly in Nathan¡¯s ear. ¡°Why does it have to be like this?¡± she asked again. ¡°You haven¡¯t even made me happy yet, and you¡¯re ready to leave me again? Then what, do I have to wait for you again?¡± she asked, displeased. ¡°Are you going to let me grow old alone?¡±


    Nathan chuckled at her words. He still gently rubbed Haisley¡¯s back and hid his head in the small curve of Haisley¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to wait for me,¡± Nathan whispered softly. ¡°You¡¯re right, there are better, more handsome, and more prosperous men in this world than me. You can find them.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t love them,¡± Haisley objected harshly.


    ¡°In that case, you can be with Dean. You said he has treated you well all this time. And I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll treat you even better for the rest of his life. He will love you more than I do.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m not sure I can love him,¡± Haisley replied again, still in tears.


    Nathan chose not to speak any further. Both of them just stayed silent. The silence in the vi was filled with Haisley¡¯s sobs and the distant sound of waves crashing.


    After a while, Haisley lifted her head, wiping her tears roughly. Nathan handed her the tissue she used to dab her nose.


    ¡°Satisfied?¡± Nathan asked mockingly. Haisley scowled right at Nathan¡¯s face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mock me.¡± Haisley hit Nathan¡¯s arm hard enough to make a loud sound. But he didn¡¯tin and chose toy his head on Haisley¡¯s shoulder again.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared, Haisley,¡± he said softly. Now it was Haisley¡¯s turn to hug him and stroke his head, hoping the gentle movement could calm Nathan. ¡°I know I¡¯m a coward, but thinking about living in prison, I still feel scared,¡± he said. Although Nathan didn¡¯t cry like she did, Haisley could feel hisrge body trembling. ¡°But my biggest fear is losing you,¡± he said, lifting his head again and looking at Haisley with his mncholic gaze.


    Haisley bit her lower lip, looking at Nathan with all sorts of thoughts in her head. But she knew everything in her mind was not more meaningful than the man in front of her.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°Marry me, Nath,¡± she said, making Nathan look at her with unbelieving eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose you either, Nath. I will wait,¡± she said confidently. Both her hands lifted, cupping Nathan¡¯s face. ¡°Whatever happenster. However severe the problems that entangle youter. However long the punishment they give youter, I believe I can endure. I can wait.


    ¡°I¡¯ve waited for you and chased after you for ten years, so what¡¯s the difference with waiting a bit longer? Although, I still hope everything can be resolved properly so you don¡¯t have to be punished.¡± Her prayer was heartfelt.


    Nathan still stared at Haisley without saying anything, causing Haisley¡¯s face to blush with embarrassment.


    ¡°Nath, are you listening to me?¡± Haisley asked shyly.


    He smiled and nodded. ¡°I heard it, Darling. From the beginning to the end. I just didn¡¯t expect you to say this,¡± he whispered.


    Haisley shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Well, you already told me before that you want to marry me. What¡¯s the difference? I¡¯m just repeating your words.¡± She continued with a t tone. ¡°We can get married here, at the church by the beach. I heard it¡¯s not difficult to get married and blessed here.¡±


    Nathan shook his head, clearly rejecting the girl¡¯s idea. ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate, Haisley. A simple wedding is not right for you.¡± He politely refused, causing Haisley to pout instantly. ¡°I want you to have a proper wedding, attended by proper guests. Not a hasty marriage like this.¡±


    ¡°We can have a reception after all your business with that psycho is done,¡± Haisley suggested.


    However, once again, Nathan shook his head. This clearly irritated Haisley. She rose from Nathan¡¯sp and red at him angrily.


    ¡°Fine if that¡¯s what you want,¡± she said with a cold tone that made Nathan wince. ¡°You never loved me, and you never will. Everything you said to me before was just empty words,¡± she continued as she walked into the interior of the vi. ¡°You never wanted me, that¡¯s why you don¡¯t want to marry me. Because if you truly love me and want to spend the rest of your life with me, then you would willingly marry me as soon as possible,¡± she added with a loud tone.


    Nathan tried to chase her, grabbing Haisley¡¯s arm and turning the girl around with a speed she didn¡¯t expect, causing her to sway and fall into his arms.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish, Haisley!¡± he growled, frustrated. ¡°How can you still not believe after all this?¡± he asked angrily. ¡°I¡¯m not unwilling to marry you soon. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t love you. But I don¡¯t want to marry you in an inappropriate way like this. I¡¯ve discussed this before.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I haven¡¯t lost my memory to forget that. But that¡¯s your wish. And my wish is the opposite. I want to marry you. Soon. Here,¡± Haisley stated firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t need a beautiful, luxurious, and expensive dress. I don¡¯t need a grand party. Just you. Gilbert and Dean can be witnesses. Besides, via and Abigail are here. They¡¯re my best friends, and their presence is enough for me.¡±


    ¡°What about your parents? My parents? Don¡¯t you want them to be there? Don¡¯t you want your father to walk you down the aisle the way it should be?¡± he asked again.

 Chap 87

    Haisley knew she was wrong. She didn¡¯t think that far. She knew her father would be disappointed if she got married without asking for his blessing. But Haisley believed her parents would understand her actions. Something then shed in her mind.


    ¡°I can ask Juan and Crystal to bring them here. I can also contact Aunt Monica, and you just need to call your father. He¡¯s the farthest from here. We can process the wedding in two days if you tell your father right now. At least he can take the earliest flight and arrive here as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy, Haisley,¡± Nathan groaned. Haisley¡¯s thoughts clearly seemed unreasonable.


    Haisley froze, standing still with her eyes locked on Nathan.


    ¡°I am indeed crazy, Nath. But at least my craziness doesn¡¯t exceed Loretta¡¯s. It¡¯s your fate to be surrounded by crazy women like us.


    ¡°I leave all decisions to you, Nath. If you really don¡¯t want to marry me soon, don¡¯t me me if I never want to see you again for the rest of my life,¡± she said as she walked into the bedroom, leaving Nathan with her decision.


    Nathan sat in contemtion after hearing Haisley¡¯s words. Learning that the girl wouldn¡¯t want to see him for the rest of her life felt agonizing. He eventually gave up, searching for his phone and then contacting his father.


    Although his father seemed hesitant due to their unresolved issues, he left all decisions to his son. Nathan felt truly grateful to have his father. His father also promised to find the first flight to Miami to attend his wedding.


    Next, Nathan contacted his mother. His rtionship with his mother hadn¡¯t improved since she left. Nathan should have apologized from the beginning and exined everything to avoid misunderstandings. However, he knew his mother well, and he didn¡¯t want to burden her with more stress.


    Nathan pressed the call button upon seeing his mother¡¯s contact on the screen. If he used his previous number, he was sure his mother would ignore him. However, with this new number, she answered on the third ring.


    ¡°Yes, who is this?¡± the middle-aged woman asked in a t tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s Nathan, Mom,¡± Nathan whispered.


    There was silence before Nathan heard his mother take a deep breath and exhale slowly.


    ¡°Why? What do you want? Are you going to inform me that you¡¯re officially ending your rtionship with that blonde girl?¡± she used curtly.


    Nathan tried to hold back hisughter. It had been a long time since he had pranked his mother. He really wanted to transform into Gilbert, who could easily prank others. It felt like he could try it now.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m getting married,¡± he said as casually as possible.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You?¡± his mother eximed. But Nathan heard the woman take a deep breath again and exhale slowly. ¡°Congrattions then,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°With Haisley,¡± Nathan continued, making his mother gasp in shock.


    ¡°W-what did you say? Did I hear it wrong? Are you going to marry Haisley?¡± his mother stammered in disbelief.


    Nathan nodded, realizing his mother couldn¡¯t see him. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m marrying Haisley, the day after tomorrow,¡± he said to his mother with a smirk on his face.


    ¡°Oh God, oh God, oh God,¡± his mother uttered, and Nathan was sure she was currently searching for something to hold onto, so shocked. ¡°How is this possible? What kind of dream did Mama havest night?¡± she mumbled more to herself than to Nathan. ¡°You¡¯re not lying, right? Don¡¯t tell me this is some kind of prank, Nath,¡± his mother said again. Nathan then switched his phone call mode to video call. His mother appeared to be sitting on the sofa, one hand massaging her temples.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been in Miami for a few days now, with Dean and Gilbert. Nathan came here to get Haisley back, Mama¡¯s future daughter-inw.¡± Nathaniel then shifted the camera to the back and showed the bedroom where Haisley was lying, clearly annoyed. ¡°She¡¯s angry because I kidnapped her,¡± Nathaniel admitted without feeling ashamed. Maybe this was what he should have been doing all along, pouring out his feelings and thoughts to his closest ones instead of dealing with everything alone. ¡°There are things that Papa and I need to say, but I think we should hold off until Mamaes here. Will Mamae and see my wedding with Haisley?¡± he asked hopefully.


    His mother appeared to sit up straight, looking at Nathan¡¯s face on the phone screen with enthusiasm. ¡°Of course. How could Mama miss your wedding? But why rush like this? What about Haisley¡¯s parents? Have you told them about your intention to marry Haisley?¡± his inquisitive mother asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I need Mama to be here. At least Mama can help me convince Haisley¡¯s parents to ept me as their son-inw,¡± Nathan said with hope.


    His mother immediately stood up from her seat. ¡°I¡¯ll find the first flight to Miami. Or should I wait for Haisley¡¯s parents at home and go to Miami with them?¡± the woman began to panic.


    ¡°Haisley will contact Crystal. Crystal and Juan will bring Haisley¡¯s parents to Miami. Mama can meet them here,¡± Nathan said again, hoping it would calm his mother.


    His mother nodded enthusiastically, expressing her gratitude, and promised toe to Miami as soon as possible. After ending the call, Nathan walked to the room where Haisley was lying with closed eyes due to annoyance.


    ¡°Haisley,¡± Nathan climbed onto the bed andy facing the woman he now realized he truly loved. Slowly, Haisley¡¯s eyes opened, gazing at Nathan with an expression that Nathan found difficult to interpret. ¡°I¡¯ve contacted Mom and Dad. They¡¯ll being here as soon as possible,¡± Nathan informed her. Haisley didn¡¯t respond and continued to look at Nathan with the same expression. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Nathan asked, now doubting whether they had made the right decision.


    Instead of answering, Haisley inched closer. She rested her head on Nathan¡¯s upper arm while her right hand held onto Nathan¡¯s stomach tightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure. Very sure,¡± Haisley replied with a muffled voice against Nathan¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Do you want to contact your family?¡± Nathan asked, handing her his phone. Haisley responded by shaking her head, making Nathan frown in confusion. ¡°Why not? Don¡¯t you want them toe?¡± he inquired.


    Haisley then looked up, kissed Nathan¡¯s chin softly before smiling again. ¡°I¡¯ve contacted Crystal and asked her to bring Mom and Dad here,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°What? When?¡± Nathan asked, bewildered.

 Chap 88

    Haisley then reached for the pillow she had used earlier. She pulled out a t object from it and showed it to Nathan.


    ¡°G gave me this before they left,¡± Haisley said with a smile on her face. ¡°He said I should hide it from you and contact him if I need help,¡± she exined, shrugging.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nathan asked, not understanding.


    ¡°Well, he would run away with me if I wanted. Dean also said that if you did anything, anything I didn¡¯t like, he woulde back here and take me away from you,¡± she said, causing Nathan to instantly tense up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything foolish. I definitely won¡¯t allow it,¡± Nathan growled.


    Haisley nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what I told him too. But Dean said he could report you to the police for kidnapping. That way, he could also send you back to Ennd to face charges along with Loretta¡¯s affairs,¡± she continued, making Nathan even more furious. ¡°Dean really cares about me more than he does about you,¡± Haisley insisted, making Nathan raise an eyebrow in confusion.


    ¡°You like that, huh?¡± he asked irritably. ¡°You like being fought over by me and my own cousin?¡± Nathan asked, tickling Haisley.


    Haisleyughed and nodded. ¡°Finally, I feel like a valuable woman because I can be fought over by two men at the same time,¡± Haisley replied withughter as Nathan continued to tickle her. ¡°Nath, stop! It¡¯s ticklish!¡± she ordered him.


    Nathan knew that his tickling was hurting the girl. Too muchughter didn¡¯t make someone happy; it made the stomach ache from strained muscles. Nathan theny on top of Haisley. His elbows supported his weight to avoid pressing too much on the petite girl. His hands gently stroked Haisley¡¯s hair and face.


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± he whispered in front of Haisley¡¯s face. ¡°For wasting too much time neglecting and hurting you.¡± Nathan apologized, and this wasn¡¯t the first time he had said those words to Haisley. Emotion wasn¡¯t something strange that Haisley felt hearing it. She felt happy, very happy because, in the end, Nathan could realize his own feelings.


    She was happy because the man no longer rejected her presence and instead ended up fighting for it and their rtionship. Haisley felt incredibly fortunate. The years she spent loving him were now paying off.


    ¡°I love you, Haisley. Even though right now, I still feel scared.¡±Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Haisley reached out her hand and gently stroked Nathan¡¯s face. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Haisley asked with a furrowed brow.


    Nathan took Haisley¡¯s left hand with his right and kissed the girl¡¯s palm gently.


    ¡°Many things,¡± he answered softly. His hand continued to caress Haisley¡¯s face gently. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t be the person you expect. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t make you happy. I¡¯m afraid of being someone who always brings you pain. And I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t give you a clear future,¡± he said, rolling his body and bringing Haisley back into his embrace.


    ¡°I don¡¯t expect anything other than love and loyalty,¡± Haisley replied on the man¡¯s chest. ¡°When I feel pain, it¡¯s not because of you, but because I put too much hope in you. I dreamed too high. If only I was aware and understood you, tried to be in your shoes, knew that you didn¡¯t like me and stepped back, I¡¯m sure I wouldn¡¯t feel anything.¡±


    ¡°But I do like you,¡± Nathan retorted.


    ¡°And you need a wake-up call for that,¡± Haisley reminded.


    Now it was her turn to roll over and lie on Nathan¡¯s body. Her hands were folded in front of Nathan¡¯s chest, her chin resting on her hands so Haisley could fully gaze at Nathan¡¯s face.


    ¡°Happiness isn¡¯t exclusive to one person,¡± Haisley said again, touching her index finger to Nathan¡¯s cheek, then his cheek, and finally, his lips. ¡°And the future, even though we n and hope everything goes ording to what we want, it won¡¯t always be the same. Because we never involve unexpected challenges in there.¡±


    ¡°Alright, the conclusion is this: we go through all of this together. You can¡¯t keep everything to yourself anymore. Stop being the perfect Nathan in everyone¡¯s eyes. Is it wrong if you make mistakes? You¡¯re human, not an angel,¡± she said with narrowed eyes. ¡°Moreover, as far as I know, your parents never demanded you to be a perfect person. It¡¯s just your desire, always wanting to be the best at everything,¡± she sneered. ¡°You know, Aunt Monic told me that you¡¯re more suited to be a museum disy than her child. And I admit, Gilbert is more fitting to be your parents¡¯ child than you. Sometimes, I wonder if you¡¯re really Aunt Monic¡¯s biological child or if you¡¯re adopted.¡±


    Nathan widened his eyes at Haisley¡¯s baseless usation. ¡°What did you say? Are you using me of not being my parents¡¯ second child?¡± he asked irritably.


    Haisley nodded without hesitation. ¡°You think about it yourself. Look at Gilbert, Dean, Juan, and Ivander. They have friendly and warm attitudes. They¡¯re easygoing and never shy away from showing their feelings. You¡¯re the only one among your siblings with a different attitude. No wonder I suspected that you were an adopted child.¡±


    Nathanughed. He yfully rolled Haisley over and pinned her down. ¡°You¡¯re such a naughty little girl,¡± he said as he tickled Haisley again until she begged for mercy. ¡°But isn¡¯t it because I¡¯m different from the others that you like me?¡± Nathan asked confidently.


    Haisley looked at him with traces ofughter still on her face. The girl then nodded her head slowly. ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s the truth,¡± she said before Nathan rewarded her with a kiss.


    The next day, Haisley was surprised by the arrival of her parents, brother, and sister-inw. Of course, all four of them were apanied by Dean. Meanwhile, Gilbert, that man, wouldeter because he had to wait for his father¡¯s arrival and needed to exin something to his mother.


    Haisley was bombarded with various questions about her sudden wedding ns. Without any preamble, her brother used Haisley of being pregnant, using it as a reason to expedite the wedding.


    ¡°I¡¯m not pregnant, Crys. Seriously,¡± and this statement, who knows how many times Haisley had dered loudly. ¡°I¡¯m still a virgin. If you don¡¯t believe it, we can go to a gynecologist,¡± she challenged.


    While Haisley was bombarded by the women, Nathan was bombarded by the men.


    Juan, Mr. Smith, and also Dean invited him to talk in a more private ce-although that ce actually didn¡¯t exist. They spoke in a quieter pool areapared to the bustling interior of the vi where the women were.


    Dean, representing Nathan, recounted the mistakes Nathan had made and also talked about Loretta. Neither Mr. Smith nor Juan responded, letting Dean finish his entire story.


    ¡°I sincerely apologize, Uncle,¡± that was Nathan¡¯s first sentence to Mr. Smith. ¡°I know I¡¯ve been cowardly. And I also know I¡¯ve been shameless in wanting Haisley. But I truly love Haisley and want to be with her,¡± Nathan said with a regretful and hopeful look at Haisley¡¯s father.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do anything,¡± the middle-aged man said softly. ¡°Haisley may have a small stature. But when ites to desires, she¡¯s not someone to be opposed. Just look at all her efforts and hard work all this time. After she makes a decision, she always fights to the best of her ability.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t me you either. This has be the decree of the Almighty. I hope you can find the best way. I hope you can resolve all your problems quickly,¡± the middle-aged man said wisely.


    ¡°I promise I will try to make Haisley happy. I will try not to disappoint her. And if someday I break my promise, Uncle and Aunt have the right to punish me. I¡¯ll ept it all,¡± he said sincerely, causing the middle-aged man¡¯s eyes to well up. Both of his hands stretched out, asking Nathaniel toe into his embrace.


    ¡°All fathers will always feel sad when their daughters get married. Because in our eyes, as parents, you will always be children. I can only pray that you will always be under God¡¯s protection,¡± he said, wiping Nathan¡¯s chest.

 Chap 89

    The next day, Nathan¡¯s parents came along with Gilbert. Nathan¡¯s mother was clearly ecstatic when she found Haisley, joyfully embracing her tightly. The same joy was evident in Haisley¡¯s mother as well, as the women who had been friends for years finally came together. Nevertheless, a hint of sadness could still be seen on Haisley¡¯s face, though not too prominently.


    They then discussed their ns for the next day, including the blessing, the pastor, the wedding venue, and the post-celebration feast. While the parents were discussing the tight schedule, Haisley took the opportunity to inform her two friends about her hastily arranged wedding the next day.


    Abigail and via were clearly surprised by the news. Abigail even bluntly asked if Haisley was pregnant out of wedlock. However, Haisley firmly replied ¡®no¡¯ to her friend and briefly recounted what had actually happened to her and Nathan, leading to their decision to get married quickly.


    ¡°If you want,¡± via said in her usual soft tone, ¡°you can have the blessing and reception here.¡± She offered. Yes, via did have a family vi in Miami, currently inhabited only by her and Abigail.


    ¡°There are people here who can help you, whether it¡¯s with food or just light tasks like decoration. And there are plenty of rooms here, so you can stay together as a family. Abigail and I can take one of the rooms, and you¡¯re free to use the others,¡± she continued.


    Haisley felt embarrassed to ept her friend¡¯s invitation, but then Abigail spoke up. ¡°If this has anything to do with the crazy woman, you guys definitely need to be more careful,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Here, security is clearly controlled, and you can feel at ease without worrying about the main criminal showing up during the event.¡±


    ¡°Besides, what¡¯s the problem? This ce is spacious. Even if your family and Nathan¡¯s family gather together, there¡¯s still enough room to breathe,¡± she added, making Haisley chuckle.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try discussing it with the others,¡± said Haisley, receiving an enthusiastic response from her two friends. Haisley then informed her family about the offer from her two friends, with Gilbert being the most enthusiastic about the suggestion.


    ¡°That makes sense. Plus, we can take a break from that psycho woman. And if via says it¡¯s safe there, then that¡¯s probably the truth,¡± Gilbert added.


    In the evening, they entered the gates of Quirino¡¯s residence. via and Abigail weed Haisley and her family with enthusiasm. Abigail and via already knew Haisley¡¯s family as they attended the same school. Despite their different beliefs, they got along very well.


    via and Abigail suddenly became tour guides for Haisley and Nathan¡¯s family. Therge vi, consisting of three main buildings and onemon building, left Haisley and her family in awe.


    ¡°Uncle and auntie, and everyone, you can choose to stay in any room you like. Via made sure everything is cleaned, and the bathroom supplies areplete,¡± via said warmly. Everyone nodded in agreement.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Nathan¡¯s parents, Nathan, and Gilbert chose the building that was Lucas¡¯s residence, via¡¯s first uncle. Meanwhile, Haisley and her family chose to stay in Erhan¡¯s residence, via¡¯s second uncle. via and Abigail themselves stayed in Antony¡¯s residence, via¡¯s father.


    After everyone got their respective rooms, they gathered again in themon building. They assembled in the living room and resumed nning for the next day. Abigail suggested having the blessing by the pool, which had a direct view of the ocean. Juan said he could ask his friend to provide all the decoration needs for a small reception. Haisley¡¯s brother-inw also assured them that he would prepare food for a simple feast for their family.


    Meanwhile, Aunt Monica, Nathan¡¯s mother, would prepare clothes for the two brides, which, despite beingst-minute, they would surely acquire. Abigail, Haisley¡¯s friend and a professional model, offered to assist Haisley and her future mother-inw in getting what they needed. She had connections with some designers who had boutiques in Miami.


    Everything was quickly taken care of. With Abigail¡¯s help, Haisley and the women finally got the dresses they needed, while the men prepared their attire with Juan¡¯s assistance.


    ¡°If only your friends shared our faith. I would be happy to have one of them as a daughter-inw,¡± Aunt Monica¡¯s words made Haisley smile at that moment. Yes, if only Abigail or via shared their faith, one of them would likely be Aunt Monica¡¯s daughter-inw. But perhaps it would turn into a love triangle, considering Gilbert loved via, while Abigail loved Gilbert.


    If Gilbert ended up with via, there would be a distance between via and Abigail. That¡¯s why Haisley was thankful that they didn¡¯t share her faith. She didn¡¯t want the strong friendship, now bound by marriage (via¡¯s father married Aunt Abigail), to turn sour because of one man.


    That night, when everyone had returned to their respective rooms, Haisley could only lie silently in her room, listening to the sound of waves and the wind entering through her open window.


    Tomorrow, she wouldn¡¯t be Haisley Smith anymore. Instead, she would be Haisley Chayton. Yes, the dream she had been building would finally be a reality.


    Happy? Of course, that¡¯s what Haisley felt. But more than that, she felt scared about what would happen in the future ¨C her future and Nathan¡¯s. Because their problems were clearly just beginning.


    Morning approached swiftly. Haisley, who had slept dreamlessly, felt like she had closed her eyes for only a few minutes. But hours had passed, and now she was facing the makeup artists who were friends of Abigail, ready to turn her into a queen for the day.


    Haisley underwent instant pampering throughout the day. Somehow, it seemed like a salon had relocated to her friend¡¯s residence. She and the women underwentprehensive body treatments, each handled by an expert. Facial treatments, body scrubs, and even nail and hair care were all part of their day. Haisley could only murmur her thanks to her two friends for all the special treatment. However, they just responded with a casual shrug.


    From behind the curtain of her window ¨C because her mother and future mother-inw forbade her from being seen by anyone ¨C Haisley observed the pool area transformed into a wedding blessing venue. An altar was ced facing the ocean, adorned with thin curtains and beautiful fresh flowers.


    A distance from the altar were chairs draped with fabrics matching the altar curtains. These were tied with simple yet beautiful flower knots. The chairs were divided into two sections with a path in the middle adorned with a sprinkle of beautiful flowers. On the sides, poles were set up, each with flower arrangements at the top.


    Simple yet still beautiful and awe-inspiring. Haisley never imagined receiving a wedding blessing in such a beautiful ce. Because just yesterday, all that was in her mind was getting married in front of a pastor, witnessed by her family, wearing simple clothes.


    But look at her now. Haisley wore a beautiful knee-length white dress ¨C Abigail suggested to avoid looking too short ¨C with seven-centimeter heels. Her shoulders were wide open with balloons on both sides. Her hair was beautifully styled, adorned with a beautiful tiara on top, supporting her floor-length bridal veil.


    A bouquet of white roses was held in her hands. Haisley truly felt like a princess at this moment. Plus, her subtly applied makeup made her look fresh, not making others forget her usual face.


    ¡°Wow¡­¡± The exmation made Haisley nce at the owner of the voice.

 Chap 90

    Abigail, her friend, looked beautiful in a white dress. It had a Sabrina neckline with straps on each shoulder. The bottom reached her ankles, and when she walked, the dress swayed along with her.


    Abigail always looked beautiful in Haisley¡¯s eyes. She was a friendly and brilliant girl with asionally crazy ideas. No one would think that at her teenage age, she was already skilled at matchmaking ¨C even though her own love story never seeded because the only one she loved until now was Gilbert. And no one knew that, even at her young age, Abigail was already good at making money. Clearly, she would be a wealthy woman someday.


    via, Abigail¡¯s friend and cousin, had a personality far different from Abigail¡¯s. via was a shy and reserved girl, speaking only when necessary. She had a pure and academically sharp mind. Like Abigail and Haisley, she also had someone she admired, although Abigail now said that via no longer hoped for sess in her rtionship with the man she admired.


    The Italian-blooded girl wore a long-sleeved dress that covered her entire body. Her head was adorned with a simple pashmina of the same color as her cream-colored dress, but it did not diminish her beauty. The two girls approached Haisley and hugged her in turn.


    ¡°Congrattions on starting a new life,¡± via said in her usual soft tone.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what advice to give you. Since I¡¯m single and have no thoughts of getting married quickly. I can only pray for your happiness. May your problems be resolved soon, and may you have children soon. Give me cute nieces and nephews, as cute as you were back then,¡± she said while pinching Haisley¡¯s cheeks.


    ¡°Abby, what if the makeup smudges?¡± Haisley asked annoyedly, to which Abigail chuckled.


    ¡°The makeup artist is still outside; just touch up, what¡¯s the big deal.¡±


    Haisley just snorted, making Abigail and viaugh simultaneously. ¡°But thanks to both of you for making what I wantede true,¡± Haisley said with teary eyes.


    Not just once or twice did she talk about her dream wedding to via and Abigail. And when her dream came true, and her two friends became the fairy godmothers who fulfilled all her dreams, Haisley truly felt touched by it.


    ¡°Sorry for not being able to make you a tiered cake,¡± Abigail regretfully said. ¡°The pastry chef is not in Miami because they have to participate in a festival in Japan.¡±


    Haisley grabbed her friend¡¯s hand and squeezed it gently. ¡°This is more than enough for me,¡± she said emotionally. ¡°I have Nathan, my parents, my brother, and all of you. This is definitely the perfect wedding for me.¡±


    Abigail smiled upon hearing this, but then a mischievous grin appeared on her face. ¡°Later, after the wedding night, give me details on how, how many techniques you used, and which style really made you hot and cold, okay?¡± Abigail¡¯s request clearly earned light punches from both her friends on their respective arms.


    Shortly after, Haisley was picked up by her father. They descended from the room Haisley used, heading towards the pool area where the blessing would take ce.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    The sound of music flowing from the piano yed by Juan made Haisley¡¯s heart pound instantly. Her eyes scanned the left and right sides of the chairs, now filled with family and friends.


    Dean seemed to be looking at her. Haisley knew she had disappointed the man, and she truly felt moved when she saw the sincerity in his gaze. Not a face full of anger or jealousy, not a disappointed expression, but a genuinely heartfelt smile that made Haisley¡¯s feelings blossom.


    Haisley could also see the happiness on her mother¡¯s and her sister¡¯s faces, not to mention on the faces of her future inws and her soon-to-be brother-inw and friend. Before she finally dared to look toward the altar, where the man she had loved for years stood. He looked incredibly handsome in his silver tuxedo, his face expressing clear admiration as he gazed in her direction.


    The closer she got, the tighter she clung to her father¡¯s arm. Doubts whispered in her head. Not because she doubted that Nathan was the right man for her. But a fear of the vague future about their happiness together.


    No. Haisley had to forget that. Forget Loretta and all the problems that troubled Nathan right now. Haisley was sure everything would be resolvedter. There¡¯s no problem without a solution, isn¡¯t it?


    Haisley was now facing Nathan. Her father gently released his embrace, and the man who raised her cleared his throat before saying words that made Haisley try to hold back her tears.


    ¡°I entrust my daughter to you. Hoping you can make her happy, protect her, and love her for the rest of your life,¡± her father said with a choked voice. Haisley looked up at him and saw his teary eyes.


    Oh God, she had made her father shed tears. But Haisley knew it wasn¡¯t tears of disappointment or anger. It was tears of joy and, of course, reluctance. Just like when her father let go of Crystal to Juan.


    ¡°I promise, uncle. I will do my best to make Haisley happy. You don¡¯t need to ask me to take care of and love her because, even without you asking, I will do it,¡± Nathan replied firmly before taking Haisley¡¯s hand and holding it.


    They then faced the minister and pronounced their wedding vows. Hourster, they spent time at the feast filled with many stories, jokes, andughter.

 Chap 91

    After having a meal with his family, a decision was made to return. Nathan took Haisley back to the vi they had rented, of course, under the insistence of the parents who understood what the new couple wanted. While the parents nned to return to Manhattan after Haisley left, via kindly asked everyone to stay in the vi and enjoy the vacation as long as they wanted. Haisley¡¯s friend mentioned that she was happy because the vi was upied, especially since via really liked Haisley¡¯s three-year-old niece, who was in her active and talkative phase.


    Haisley felt embarrassed hearing the parents¡¯ encouragement because, even though it was said jokingly, she knew there was a hidden meaning from them. Everyone knew what the new couple would face. It was just a matter of time before the bomb exploded. Both they and Haisley knew that she had to make the most of her time with Nathan before the real problems arose.


    In the short journey from via¡¯s vi to Nathan¡¯s rented ce, the newlyweds never let go of each other¡¯s hands. It wasn¡¯t just because happiness enveloped their feelings, but also the apprehension of the inevitable separation they would have to face soon.


    Nathan parked his car in front of the vi. He walked around the car and then opened the passenger side with a very clear intention. He was going to carry Haisley bridal-style to their room. Although hesitant due to embarrassment, Haisley eventually gave in to Nathan¡¯s desire.


    Haisley opened their unit¡¯s door still in Nathan¡¯s embrace. As the door opened and Nathan stepped into the vi, Haisley was once again enchanted. She didn¡¯t know when or how he nned it all, but Haisley was clearly speechless when she saw a sprinkle of rose petals in front of her, deliberately arranged like a carpet leading her to the bedroom. Haisley nced at Nathan, but he just shrugged with an indifferent expression.


    Haisley walked carefully towards the bedroom, following the trail of flowers. The scarf she had worn earlier was now gone, so it wouldn¡¯t disrupt the arrangement of roses. As it turned out, the petals didn¡¯t just stop on the floor; they were also scattered on the bed, where arge bouquet of red roses sat alongside a set of beautiful jewelry.


    ¡°Sorry for not being able to give you the best,¡± Nathan whispered right behind Haisley. The man¡¯s hands embraced Haisley from behind, holding her stomach, and resting his head on Haisley¡¯s, which once again was free from her tiara. ¡°But I promise to try to give you everything best in the future,¡± he earnestly pledged. Haisley immediately turned around and hugged Nathan tightly. Her head shook slowly while her eyes teared up, and her gaze never left Nathan¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°This is already enough. More than enough,¡± Haisley replied with a choked voice. ¡°I don¡¯t expect anything from you except love and loyalty, Nath,¡± she said softly.


    Nathan looked at Haisley with a gentle smile on his face. ¡°From now on, until we grow old and are separated by Godter, I will only love one Haisley and be faithful to her. If I make a mistake, remind me of this promise. And if I break my oath of loyalty, you can punish me as harshly as you want,¡± Nathan said earnestly, met with Haisley¡¯s nod.


    Nathan lowered his head and touched his lips to Haisley¡¯s forehead, kissing her deeply and for a long time. ¡°I love you,¡± he said softly. Then his lips descended to Haisley¡¯s cheek. ¡°Thank you for epting me, who is imperfect and useless.¡± He continued on her right cheek before moving to her left. ¡°Thank you for going through all the difficulties with me,¡± he said before lifting his head and looking back at Haisley. ¡°Thank you for being patient and willing to wait for me after all this time, enduring and enduring all the wrongs I have done to you. I feel undeserving to have a Haisley. But on the other hand, I feel very happy. Incredibly happy,¡± he said sincerely.


    Haisley looked at him intently, and a tear fell on her cheek. Nathan lifted his hand and wiped Haisley¡¯s tears with his thumbs. ¡°You have to repay all my sacrifices, Nath. I swear, I won¡¯t let you go easily,¡± she swore, answered by Nathan¡¯s chuckle. ¡°I love you, Nathaniel Chayton,¡± Haisley said with a firm tone, as if it were an indisputable vow.


    Nathan shook his head gently. ¡°I love you more, Haisley Chayton,¡± he said just as firmly. ¡°And I will love you more for the rest of our lives,¡± he added before lowering his head and sealing the vow with a gentle kiss on Haisley¡¯s lips. The kiss slowly turned into a passionate one, leading them to end up on a bed filled with rose petals. The setting sun bore witness to their love affair.


    Days passed, and Haisley truly felt like a blissful newlywed. Nathan treated her exceptionally well and with great care. On the first day as official husband and wife, after Nathan imed his rights, Haisley felt like she was in a romantic drama with Nathan treating her as the main character.


    He prepared breakfast for her and brought it to the bed. He arranged warm water in the bath so Haisley could soak and relieve the aches in her body from their repeated lovemaking. Even afterward, he skillfully massaged Haisley in a way she never expected, leading them to spend more time in bed.


    They never left the room, not because they didn¡¯t want to or because they were engrossed in their intimacy. It was more about avoiding people who might have been hired by Loretta to find and capture Nathan.


    They spent time rediscovering each other, reminiscing about the brief moments they shared when they were younger. They shared stories about their lives during the times they were apart.


    Both of them knew that the happiness they felt wouldn¡¯tst long. It might not even reach the joyous times typical of newlyweds. They knew that this was the calm before the storm that awaited them.


    And it proved true. On the third day after bing husband and wife, one afternoon, the vi door was knocked, and four tall, local-faced men and two foreign-faced men stood before Nathan with cold and frightening expressions.


    ¡°Brother Nathaniel Chayton,¡± one of the policemen, I Wayan Pastika, said with a t and deep tone. ¡°We, from the Denpasar police station, have received a report that you are on the wanted list.¡± He continued, showing a police logo on a piece of paper and another paper in English with Nathaniel¡¯s face underneath. ¡°You are a suspect in the attempted murder case of Mr. Bryan Thompson and fraud against Ms. Loretta Osborne.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chap 92

    Bryan Thompson, for the first time, Haisley heard the name of Loretta¡¯s former fianc¨¦ who became a victim of Nathan¡¯s ident. However, for the second usation, Haisley looked at the men in front of her with an unbelieving gaze. ¡°W-what does this mean?¡± she asked in confusion. ¡°Why is it a case of attempted murder and fraud?¡± She asked the two inclothes policemen.


    But instead of answering Haisley¡¯s questions, the second policeman, who didn¡¯t bother to show his identification, took handcuffs from his pocket and put them on Nathan¡¯s hands, who didn¡¯t resist at all. Because both Haisley and Nathan knew that it would be futile. Nathan couldn¡¯t fight four men at once. And if he did, it would onlyplicate his situation when the punishment was imposedter.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You can call awyer to help with the mitigation of your sentence,¡± the first policeman said, barely audible to Haisley. ¡°We¡¯ll be waiting for you at the police station,¡± he added, more directed at Haisley.


    Instead of responding to the policeman¡¯s statement, Nathan asked for something else. ¡°Can you allow me to talk to my wife?¡± he requested, answered by nods from the two policemen.


    They were still standing at the doorway, clearly not providing any privacy for Haisley and Nathan. Finally, Nathan, with his hands in cuffs, led Haisley away from them. He cupped Haisley¡¯s face with his cuffed hands, wiping away the tears that were flowing freely.


    ¡°Shhh¡­ everything will be okay,¡± Nathan said so gently, but instead of calming Haisley, it made her cry even harder. ¡°Everything will be okay, trust me,¡± Nathan said, his voice also trembling. The words were not only directed at Haisley but also at himself.


    Who wouldn¡¯t be afraid of going to jail? Even those whomitted greater mistakes than him would undoubtedly be afraid to hear the word ¡®prison.¡¯


    ¡°W-what should I do?¡± Haisley asked between sobs. She was like a little child about to be left by her father, in need offorting.


    Nathan, with his limited freedom, rubbed his wife¡¯s head. He extended his arms over Haisley¡¯s head and hugged her tightly, gently stroking her back.


    ¡°Call G, tell him that I¡¯ve been arrested. Go back to Mom and Dad¡¯s house. Let them do everything that needs to be done,¡± Nathan said slowly so that Haisley could understand what he was saying.


    Haisley lifted her head, looking at Nathan with blurred vision due to her tears. She tried to blink and wipe her eyes roughly, although it was in vain because her tears welled up again.


    ¡°I love you,¡± she whispered softly while hugging Nathan again and hiding her face on his chest, making the shirt Nathan wore damp with her tears.


    ¡°I know. And I love you very much too,¡± Nathan said gently, kissing Haisley¡¯s head repeatedly. ¡°I love you so much, remember that, Haisley Chayton,¡± Nathan said sincerely.


    The sound of footsteps reminded them that someone was waiting. Nathan released his embrace, slipped his cuffed hands over Haisley¡¯s head, once again wiped her face with his thumbs, and smiled.


    ¡°We¡¯ll get through this. You believe in me, right?¡± he asked, answered by Haisley¡¯s nod.


    After saying that, Nathan stepped back away from Haisley and surrendered himself into the hands of the two local uniformed policemen.


    Nathan was escorted away by four tall, imposing figures. In every step he took, he always turned back, looking at Haisley standing at the doorway with tears streaming down her face, a worried expression on her face. Until the moment he disappeared behind the bend, Haisley felt her knees weaken, and she fell onto the cold floor, crying loudly without caring if it might disturb anyone in the area.


    It took quite a while for Haisley topose herself and embed positive thoughts in her head that everything would be okay. Limp, she stood, leaning against the door frame, walking unsteadily, starting to think about what she should do.


    Mobile phone.


    That word instantly snapped into her mind. Her eyes began to search for the t objects that she and Nathan had overlooked for some time.


    Haisley searched every corner of the room, making all the sofa cushions fly. Even her bed, she made it messy. Not just looking for the phone, but because she needed to channel her anger that she could no longer contain. The anger and fear she felt. The same emotions she knew Nathan was experiencing.


    When Haisley sat on the floor in the corner of the bed, she then saw her phone and Nathan¡¯s phone side by side in the second drawer of the nightstand. Haisley crawled, took her phone, and turned it on. As Nathan had said, she had to contact Gilbert. And that¡¯s what she did.


    Haisley informed Gilbert that Nathan had been taken by the police. Not forgetting to mention the charges the police had given to Nathan. Her voice sounded sobbing and unclear as Haisley exined everything with tears that wouldn¡¯t stop flowing down her face.


    ¡°Calm down, Haisley. Everything will be okay,¡± Gilbert said on the other side.


    ¡°How can everything be okay!¡± Haisley shouted loudly. ¡°They took Nathan with them! They took my Nathaniel,¡± Haisley said, weakening at the end of the sentence.


    ¡°Calm down, I¡¯m on my way there.¡± That was Gilbert¡¯s only response before he hung up. Haisley dropped her phone to the floor lethargically. She hugged her knees and cried again.


    Gilbert and Dean entered Haisley¡¯s unit with their own keys. Their first nce fell upon a messy living room. Scatter pillowsy on the floor, decorations out of ce, and general disorder. They searched for Haisley and found the petite woman sitting in the corner of the bed, both legs folded, and her face buried between her knees.


    ¡°Haisley?¡± Gilbert and Dean called simultaneously. The woman raised her head, her eyes still streaming tears. Her face was red and swollen. As Dean approached, she dropped her body into his embrace.


    ¡°They took him, Dean,¡± she sobbed in Dean¡¯sforting hug. ¡°They handcuffed him and took him away. What do we do now?¡± she asked in a muffled voice.

 Chap 93

    Dean held Haisley and tried to calm her while Gilbert stood in front of them, his attention focused on Nathan¡¯s phone. After a moment, he bent his knees and squatted in front of Haisley.


    ¡°Haisley, calm down. Tell us everything,¡± Gilbert requested gently.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    Haisley released herself from Dean¡¯s embrace, wiped her tears with force, and blew her nose with the tissue Gilbert handed her. She began to recount all the details, about four men who came iming to be police officers, using Nathan, handcuffing him, and taking him away.


    ¡°Attempted murder?¡± Gilbert asked, furrowing his brow. ¡°Not premeditated murder?¡± he repeated, to which Haisley shook her head.


    ¡°He said attempted murder,¡± Haisley said confidently. ¡°And fraud,¡± she continued with a sniffle, tears flowing again.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Gilbert said, ncing at Dean. ¡°Loretta¡¯s fianc¨¦ is already dead. It¡¯s impossible for him to be used of an ¡®attempt.¡¯ And what¡¯s with that woman using my brother of fraud?¡± Gilbert grumbled in frustration. ¡°Where did they take Nathan? East or south?¡± Gilbert asked again, leaving Haisley silent this time.


    Haisley couldn¡¯t remember which police station the men mentioned. All she could recall was that they said ¡°police station¡± without specifying the details.


    A knock on the door made Gilbert stand up and step aside. He opened the door for the guests who shared his concerns. Gilbert¡¯s parents, Haisley¡¯s parents, her brother and sister-inw, and two friends, via and Abigail, entered. They all headed to the room where Haisley was crying, with Dean trying to console her. Gilbert¡¯s mother and Haisley¡¯s mother approached the distressed woman, embracing her from two different sides, attempting to soothe her.


    ¡°We need to find Nathan¡¯s actual location,¡± Gilbert said, addressing the men. He mentioned the name of the police officer mentioned by Haisley along with the characteristics she provided. ¡°I suspect this might be a trap,¡± he whispered, not wanting Haisley to hear and panic.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to get the CCTV footage from the vi. Hopefully, they can give us ess to identify those police officers,¡± Juan said, nodding at Gilbert. He then left the unit without saying another word.


    ¡°Dad, try asking your contacts. Whether the report about Nathan has actually reached the police station there. We need to make sure the embassy really sent someone to arrest Nathan. Or if it¡¯s just that cunning woman¡¯s trickery,¡± Gilbert said again, getting a nod from Mr. Luis, who stepped away and typed something on his phone.


    ¡°What can Uncle do to help, G?¡± Haisley¡¯s father asked, looking helpless. Gilbert looked at him and shook his head.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do for now, Uncle. We have to wait for Juan to go and find Nathan and those four police officers,¡± Gilbert said.


    Haisley¡¯s father sat down in a chair with Crystal trying tofort him. Meanwhile, Haisley remained in the embrace of her mother and her mother-inw. Abigail and via walked out of the room and approached Gilbert, asking what they could do next. However, Gilbert shook his head and said the same thing he told Haisley¡¯s father.


    A few minutester, Mr. Gilbert finished his call, and an anxious expression appeared on everyone¡¯s faces.


    ¡°My friend will find out, G. We wait for his report in a few hours,¡± his father said, and Gilbert nodded.


    A few minutester, the door was knocked again, and Juan appeared. ¡°I got the faces of those four people,¡± he said loudly. He took out his phone from his pocket, sending a video to several people in the room. They opened it on their own phones.


    Afterward, Gilbert suggested forming a team to try to find the police officers and Nathan at the police station mentioned by Haisley and other stations, as his gut feeling told him that the officers were fake. Juan went with Crystal, while Gilbert went with Dean. The rest were asked to wait at the vi until Gilbert returned.


    Hourster, Gilbert, Dean, Juan, and Crystal returned with weary faces. They didn¡¯t get any results, and Gilbert¡¯s earlier suspicion about the fake police officers was proven right. Upon hearing the news, Haisley broke into hysterical cries, a heartbreaking sound for anyone who heard it.


    ¡°What happened?¡± she asked softly. ¡°Why is this happening? Where did they take Nathan?¡± she questioned to no one in particr.


    Everyone could only look at her with sorrow.


    Abigail nudged via and whispered something in her friend¡¯s ear. via, hearing Abigail¡¯s idea, immediately nodded. She took out her phone from her pocket and contacted someone she knew could help ¨C Granny Helena and her father, Antony Ahmed Quirino.


    Meanwhile, a few moments earlier, in another location, Nathan bowed his head after leaving Haisley crying alone at the doorstep. He wanted to go back, run to his wife, hug andfort her. At the very least, he would stay with her until their families and Haisley¡¯s family arrived. But he knew he didn¡¯t have the privilege to ask for that from the police who arrested him. Instead of apanying his wife, Nathan would be used of resisting arrest, making his case even worse.


    Nathan was pushed to the back of the jeep, sandwiched between tworge foreign men who had captured him, making him feel cramped and unable to move. However, he chose to stay silent, notmenting at all. Meanwhile, the two local men who also captured him sat in the front seats. The man who handcuffed him sat behind the wheel, while the other seemed to be contacting someone and speaking softly.


    As the car started moving, and the route was not toward the police station Nathan knew, he began to feel suspicious. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± he asked with a fear that involuntarily crept into his voice.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± the driver replied.


    ¡°I need to know where I¡¯m being taken. Shouldn¡¯t you be taking me to the police station? Which police station?¡± Nathan insisted, fear growing in his mind.


    The two men in front of himughed upon hearing Nathan¡¯s question. ¡°You picked the wrong time to ask, buddy. Toote to know where we¡¯re heading,¡± one of them said. After that, Nathan saw the man nod to the two behind him, and he felt a hard blow to the back of his neck before everything turned dark before his eyes.

 Chap 94

    Nathan winced, feeling the same pain in his neck. But it wasn¡¯t just that. He felt sore in several ces and numbness. Both his upper arms throbbed. He tried to move, just stretching his stiff muscles, but he realized his body couldn¡¯t move.


    Nathan¡¯s consciousness gathered instantly. He tried to open his eyes but couldn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t know when they were closed or what covered them, but he couldn¡¯t release them because his hands were tied behind him, indicating that he was bound to the back of a chair.


    Nathan also tried to move his legs. Besides tingling, once again, he knew that his legs were tightly bound.


    ¡°It seems like he¡¯s fully conscious now.¡± A voice, a man¡¯s voice full ofughter, made Nathan stop moving. The voice clearly wasn¡¯t the same as the two men who kidnapped him. Nathan wasn¡¯t forgetful enough to forget their voices.


    ¡°Who is that? Who¡¯s there?¡± he asked loudly, making the manugh.


    ¡°Even if I mention my name, you won¡¯t know who I am,¡± the man said with aughter that echoed.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Nathan asked in a calmer tone, hoping that this approach might lead to negotiations, as it had in the past.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± the man inquired.


    ¡°Money? I can give you money. Name your price,¡± Nathan continued.


    The man clicked his tongue. In Nathan¡¯s imagination, he pictured the man shaking his head and giving him a disdainful look.


    ¡°I¡¯m already very wealthy,¡± the man proudly replied. ¡°If it¡¯s just money, I think I have more than your familybined.¡± He continued with a t tone. ¡°Offer me something else,¡± he said.


    Nathan furrowed his brow. If money wasn¡¯t the issue, then what? Nathan tried to think hard. The sound of shoe taps echoing on the floor made Nathan refocus his hearing.


    ¡°You talk too much, Ramon,¡± a voice he unmistakably knew said.


    ¡°Loretta?¡± Nathan asked, confused.


    Not because of her presence here, as from the beginning, he suspected that his abduction was rted to her. Who else would want him as much as Loretta?


    What surprised Nathan was how fluent the woman was in the Miaminguage. During all this time, she seemed like someone who didn¡¯t understand thenguage at all.


    ¡°Missing me, handsome?¡± The woman asked with a soft, seductive voice. The sound of her shoes got closer. Nathan could smell the perfume as she approached. Then, he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder before her thighsnded on something he knew was Loretta¡¯s body.


    Her hand explored Nathan¡¯s back, his neck, beforending on his other shoulder. Meanwhile, her right hand now touched Nathan¡¯s chest, teasingly moving upward, caressing his neck¡¯s side before ending up on his cheek.


    Loretta tilted her head, and the woman¡¯s breath felt warm on Nathan¡¯s right neck. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question. Do you miss me?¡± She asked again with a husky and teasing tone. The woman¡¯s lips approached Nathan¡¯s ear, and her teeth gently nibbled on his earlobe, intending to tease.


    Nathan knew exactly what the woman wanted to hear from him and what kind of reaction she expected as a result of her teasing moves. Unfortunately, just like before, Loretta didn¡¯t ignite any interest in him. Even though Nathan¡¯s body reacted, it wasn¡¯t because he found Loretta¡¯s tempting physique appealing, but because his mind pictured Haisley.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m numb to you,¡± Nathan replied with a mocking smile on his face, which instantly received a p on his left cheek. But he felt the pressure on his thighs and the woman¡¯s arm on his shoulder were gone.


    ¡°How dare you!¡± The furious woman growled, making Nathanugh in response.


    Nathan lifted his head in the darkness. ¡°What do you really want from me?¡± he asked, curious. ¡°From the beginning, this rtionship has been based on your traps. You made me a captive, trapped and threatened me for mistakes I unintentionally made. You used our business as a shield. Yet, you know from the start that there would be no love between us. If there were any feelings, it was just pity.¡± Nathan continued with a mocking smile on his face.


    Nathan¡¯s clear words only fueled the woman¡¯s anger further. He could feel her heavy and rapid breath not far from him. The blindfolded eyes surprisingly made his ears more sensitive.


    ¡°You bastard!¡± the woman hissed again. Nathan could sense her approaching and quickly pulling off the blindfold, causing him to nearly stumble forward. Nathan tried to clear his vision, which was blurry, before focusing his attention on Loretta.


    He was quite taken aback by the appearance Loretta presented. There was no sweet and graceful girl that the woman had been trying to portray. What Nathan saw now was the true her. Loretta looked like a cheap woman. Her appearance resembled those who sold themselves on the streets.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Extremely short leather skirt with a skimpy tank top. Thickyers of makeup and high heels. The only thing left of the Loretta Nathan knew was her wavy blonde hair framing both sides of her face.


    ¡°Are you looking for a job as a pleasure woman?¡± Nathan asked, this time not just with his mouth, but also with his eyes.


    Being asked like that obviously made Loretta furious. The woman didn¡¯t just p him this time but punched him.


    ¡°You¡¯re a real scumbag!¡± she shouted loudly, making Nathan burst intoughter, even though the corner of his mouth felt numb, and he knew it was slightly torn.


    ¡°If you know I¡¯m this despicable, why do you want to defend me?¡± Nathan asked with a mocking tone.


    ¡°Because I want you!¡± Loretta shouted loudly. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you,¡± she added with a softer tone.


    The woman approached Nathan again, running her hand on Nathan¡¯s face, causing him to try to move away, though clearly without sess.


    ¡°You have a body that every woman desires, you know? Since the first time I saw you, I¡¯ve really wanted to take you to my bed,¡± she said with a mischievous tone.


    ¡°Is that why you trapped me?¡± Nathan inquired.

 Chap 95

    Loretta looked at Nathan with a furrowed brow. ¡°Trapped you?¡± she asked disapprovingly. ¡°Who trapped you, Nath? You¡¯re the one who walked right into the trap yourself,¡± she scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t me me if you¡¯re too cowardly to admit your mistakes, so you chose to get trapped with me,¡± she said with an emptyugh. ¡°But honestly, I¡¯m also grateful that you fell into my trap. Because, truth be told, I was afraid you¡¯d turn brave and choose to turn yourself into the police back then,¡± she said with a shiver. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what would have happened if you chose to report yourself. We could both end up in jail, but of course, my punishment would be longer and even more terrifying than what you¡¯d get,¡± she replied, making Nathan furrow his brow.


    Nathan observed Loretta pacing in front of him, her expressions changing.


    ¡°If only that wench Haisley didn¡¯t show up!¡± she cursed without looking at Nathan. ¡°I think right now, you would still be Nathaniel Chayton, the coward,¡± she said with a mocking gaze at Nathan. ¡°What did she actually say to you that made you lose your cowardice and decide to report yourself to the police after all these years, Nath?¡± she asked with a soft tone filled with curiosity.


    Nathan simply stared at her, with no intention of giving an answer. Because he, too, questioned himself about what Haisley had said that made him brave enough to make a difficult decision and be willing to bear the risks he had been avoiding ¨C imprisonment and being bound in marriage.


    Realizing that Nathan was not responding, the woman quickly walked back towards him and gripped Nathan¡¯s face with her long, sharp-nailed fingers.


    ¡°What did she do to you, you bastard!¡± she yelled in frustration. ¡°Did she sell herself to you? Did she open her legs in front of you?¡± she used angrily. ¡°Tell me! Did she really do that?¡± she asked, then answered her own question. ¡°Of course she did. Isn¡¯t that what you men need? Something between a woman¡¯s thighs!¡± she demanded,ughing again. ¡°Even though I offered myself to you, you were never interested at all,¡± she continued with a resigned tone.


    ¡°My body goes numb when I¡¯m with you,¡± Nathan replied tly.


    This clearly enraged Loretta even more. The woman straightened her back and punched Nathan in the same spot she had hit before, with a force stronger than before.


    ¡°No man has ever rejected me like you, you jerk!¡± she cursed again. ¡°All men want me because of my body, and because I can give them satisfaction,¡± she said, unwilling to ept Nathan¡¯s statement.


    ¡°Unfortunately, it doesn¡¯t happen to me,¡± Nathan replied, spitting out blood from his bleeding gums and torn lips. ¡°Even though you pretend to be an innocent girl, you still can¡¯t arouse me. It makes me wonder why you didn¡¯t get tired and leave me after all this time,¡± Nathan said. Yes, that question suddenly popped into his head. Why? ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you love me?¡± Nathan asked mockingly.


    The woman thenughed. ¡°No. Love has never been in my dictionary,¡± she replied loudly. ¡°I¡¯m not that good of a woman to fall in love with you. I¡¯m not your foolish Haisley who persisted in loving the coward Nathaniel for years. I¡¯m not as naive as she is.¡±


    ¡°Then why?¡± Nathan asked, curious.


    ¡°Tell me, you both have given me many benefits. You and Gilbert. Don¡¯t you realize that?¡± Loretta asked with a mocking expression. Nathan looked at the woman with a deepening frown. ¡°Do you know who Ramon is?¡± She pointed to the man who had been sitting quietly, observing their conversation with a constantly burning cigarette in his hand. ¡°We¡¯ve been working together for a long time,¡± Loretta said proudly. ¡°Do you think this is my first time in America?¡± she asked, a question to which Nathan silently responded ¡®no¡¯ in his mind. ¡°Yes, after hearing my fluent speech, I¡¯m sure you already knew,¡± she answered her own question. ¡°I¡¯ve been back and forth to this country for seven years. Isn¡¯t that long enough?¡± she asked with her sardonic smile. ¡°Ramon is my ally. We work together to sell what you might call contraband.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a dealer?¡± Nathan asked incredulously. The woman widened her smile even more.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± she retorted.


    ¡°How could you?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Loretta countered. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the saying go, ¡®There are many roads to Rome¡¯?¡± she said with a scornful tone. ¡°And yes, we also have many ways to smuggle those things you call contraband,¡± she added with disdain. ¡°So far, our dealings have never been discovered, until that bastard Thompson realized it. You know, you¡¯re not entirely to me for his death. If I may be honest, Thompson was already dead before your car hit ours,¡± Loretta said with a bitter smile. ¡°We¡¯ve been dating for quite a while. Although he had a handsome face and came from an affluent background, unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t great in bed,¡± she snorted. ¡°I stuck with him just like I stuck with you. He introduced me to many people he knew, giving me a lot of ess, connections, and buyers,¡± she said with augh on her face. ¡°And unfortunately, after he found out about my job, he cunningly started squeezing me. Asking for a share he shouldn¡¯t have gotten.


    ¡°Think about it, I¡¯m the one working hard, persuading people here and there to buy my goods, and suddenly he wants a cut of my earnings?¡± The woman snorted in disgust. ¡°No way,¡± she said, annoyed. ¡°The longer I worked, the bigger my earnings became, and everything was considered because he paved the way for me to get richer.


    ¡°I started getting fed up. I started getting bored with him. So, I nned various ways to get rid of him without arousing police suspicion. And that night was the perfect night to carry out my n,¡± Loretta said, her eyes drifting away. ¡°I put something in his drink without him knowing. Something that would make him slowly die without realizing it. Something that turned alcohol into the trigger for that drug reaction.¡±


    ¡°At that moment, the car he was driving started to swerve. He was almost losing consciousness but still tried to stay awake. And out of my frustration, I gave him a lethal injection and tossed the syringe carelessly onto the road,¡± she said, still with a distant look in her eyes, as if the event had just happened yesterday. ¡°I had prepared myself for a car ident, expecting broken bones or ribs afterward. And the car began to swerve when he got his attack.


    ¡°I was ready and closed my eyes. It didn¡¯t matter, everything would return to normal as long as I could eliminate that obstacle from my life.


    ¡°I stretched out my foot to step on the gas when that bastard hadpletely lost consciousness and intended to crash myself into the guardrail. But before I could actually do it, you collided with our car. And yes, you ended up trapped with me,¡± she said, now shifting her attention to Nathan. ¡°You just believed it when that fake doctor said something about my mental condition. But, Nathan, my dear, I¡¯m perfectly fine.


    ¡°How could I be a drug dealer if my brain is damaged? Because even though I sell those illicit goods, I¡¯m not a user,¡± she replied with a loud, resoundingugh. ¡°Initially, I wanted to thank you for making things easier for me. You know, a drunkard crashing into a couple¡¯s car, causing one to die and the other to be injured.


    ¡°Initially, I didn¡¯t intend to trap you,¡± she confessed.

 Chap 96

    ¡°I thought I could make peace with you and break free from the annoying Thompson. But then, I found out who you really are. I started to get interested. And when I saw you in person, suddenly I became too passionate and wanted you for myself.


    ¡°You¡¯re too handsome to be rejected, and your body is too enticing to let go. But your position as a businessman makes me more reluctant to release you. Because with you, I have a way to expand mywork.¡±


    ¡°Then I got to know Gilbert. Despite having to admit that I didn¡¯t like him because I knew he didn¡¯t like me either. But I tried to restrain myself, attempting to win his heart by always acting sweet and innocent.


    ¡°But he remained unfooled. While I needed him. Clearly, he was also very useful to me. Through him, I had more customers. You know, the students with all their difficulties, life pressures, and their desire to ¡®escape¡¯ for a while from their problems allowed me to establish my roots among them.


    ¡°Both of you are the biggest money maspared to that Thompson. That¡¯s why I stuck by your side. But then, an unexpected threat came in the form of a sweet girl named Haisley.


    ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t consider her a problem. Until you intentionally wanted to make her step aside from you and make her jealous.


    ¡°I know your tactics. You let me talk a lot in front of her because you wanted to get rid of her, without realizing that you were disturbed by her because you had feelings for her, but once again, you were too cowardly to admit it. Because if you weren¡¯t bothered by her, you wouldn¡¯t need to bother trying to get rid of her, right?


    ¡°That¡¯s why I helped you make things easier for you. Consider it my thanks to you for making me rich.


    ¡°I told her who I am and how important I am to you-although I know it¡¯s all lies. I know what you did to her in the vi room during that vacation. But I kept quiet.


    ¡°I deliberately unted my rtionship with you on the ship at that time. I knew she was afraid of the water. Oh, it¡¯s not me who asked your captain to rock the ship,¡± Loretta rejected when Nathan looked at her suspiciously. ¡°I don¡¯t want to make others suspicious of my reckless actions, even though I want to. And honestly, at that time, I hoped she would end up like Thompson. But unfortunately, you saved her, and it proved that you really didn¡¯t want to lose her.


    ¡°Then I knew that slowly I would lose you, and even though that doesn¡¯t mean I would lose my connections, I still didn¡¯t want to lose you.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if people consider it an obsession. It doesn¡¯t matter if you think I have a mental disorder. The fact is, I still need your status to expand mywork. Moreover, I still haven¡¯t felt your body, Nath,¡± she said with a seductive tone. ¡°I tried to seduce you. But damn it! Once again, you were not affected by me. You chose to take me home even though I was ready to give you an aphrodisiac.¡± She said loudly, looking at Nathan with frustration.


    Nathan¡¯s memory returned to Gilbert¡¯s birthday. When he saw Loretta put something in his drink but intentionally spilled it as if it were an ident. Loretta seemed unaware of it because she didn¡¯t mention it and chose to continue her story.


    ¡°And then, you started showing your intentions. You wanted to separate from me. And I chose to bring out my weapon, even though I was actually scared,¡± the woman said, shivering again. ¡°I was afraid that you would no longer fear my threats, and it turns out my fear was justified.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not the only thing I feared. Just imagine, what would the police do if I reported you? They would reopen the old case, and that means they would perform an autopsy on Thompson¡¯s body. And honestly, I don¡¯t want the police to sniff around what I did. I don¡¯t want to get caught.


    ¡°But I still don¡¯t want to let you go. Do you know why?¡± Loretta asked, a question that Nathan didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Because I¡¯m not satisfied with revenge on you yet. That¡¯s why I brought you here instead of delivering you behind bars.


    ¡°The judge will only give you a light sentence for the negligence you¡¯ll get for driving under the influence. Even though I added other charges, the punishment is still rtively lightpared to what I would get for premeditated murder and drug dealing.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°They could give me a life sentence, or worse, the death penalty,¡± Loretta shivered again. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want that to happen. So, here we are,¡± she said with a sly smile on her face.


    ¡°You know, if you hadn¡¯t threatened to put me in jail, I think both of us would be safe right now,¡± Nathan said with a low voice. ¡°If you just let me go, let me live with Haisley, I think the police wouldn¡¯t bother with this issue again.


    ¡°The ident with Thompson would never resurface. And I would never know who you really are, a high-profile criminal behind your innocent appearance. We would both be free as long as we both turned a blind eye,¡± Nathan said, and the woman nodded in agreement.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. It would just be an ident in the past,¡± she replied simply. ¡°I can still run my business without you knowing. And you can be happy with your chosen woman. But you forget the point I mentioned earlier, Nath. I want revenge on you!¡± she eximed. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be happy. Not after the humiliation you¡¯ve given me,¡± she continued with burning anger. ¡°You¡¯ve damaged my ego, Nathan. I feel like a worthless prostitute in front of you. You never look at me as a woman, but you react differently to her.¡±


    ¡°Your gaze, it shows how deep your feelings are for her. You love her even though you refuse to admit it. You¡¯re jealous of her, especially after the appearance of Dean. You¡¯re so eager to protect her even though you¡¯re the one ruining her. You¡¯re obsessed with her, without realizing you¡¯ve made her your world.


    ¡°Do you think when you mention her name in front of me, I¡¯m not angry? I¡¯m very angry, but I¡¯m too skilled to control my emotions.


    ¡°But honestly, you should know that I also like Haisley,¡± the woman shrugged. ¡°Whether she¡¯s truly good, innocent, or just stupid,¡± she continued with a sneer. ¡°But she¡¯s really a good friend. She¡¯s always willing to listen to my confessions without judging. When others might go mad and kick out someone who tells a love story with someone they love. Not Haisley. She evenforts me, embraces me, and cheers me up. Isn¡¯t she so kind?¡± she asked Nathan with a mocking smile on her face. ¡°Which girl supports another girl along with the man she loves? But that¡¯s Haisley, isn¡¯t it? Her sincere eptance of me has touched me. I feel like I have a good friend, a sister.


    ¡°But unfortunately, I see her as a threat, and I want her to step out of my arena.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nathan asked, not understanding.

 Chap 97

    ¡°Do you think I only want to get rid of you?¡± Loretta asked, curious. Then she shook her head. ¡°No, dear. I do want to get rid of you, but not simply.¡± She continued with meaningful words. ¡°With all the attitude and humiliation you¡¯ve given me all this time, I want you to die slowly in the most painful way.


    ¡°Right now, I¡¯m enjoying her tears, as she loses you and pleads with everyone to find you.


    ¡°But soon, I¡¯ll witness your tears. Begging and pleading with me to let her go.


    ¡°True revenge is not by retaliating against that person directly. Because that would be a simple act of revenge.


    ¡°True revenge is making the person you want to punish feel pain by making them witness the suffering of someone they dearly love. And in your case, it means the pain endured by your beloved wife. Haisley.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t involve Haisley; she doesn¡¯t even know anything!¡± Nathan snapped harshly.


    This only made Loretta smile even more delightedly. ¡°Of course, she still has to face consequences. You know why? Because she¡¯s disrupted the rhythm of my life!¡± She shouted angrily. Then the woman took a long breath and exhaled slowly. ¡°She messed up everything I carefully arranged.¡± She said in a calmer tone. ¡°I even prepared a murder scheme for you so subtly that you wouldn¡¯t feel any pain for my revenge for your treatment of me all this time. But she made you run away from me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because your n is still not perfect,¡± Nathan said with a mocking tone.


    Loretta nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t deny that your brother is smarter than you, Nath.¡± Loretta returned the insult to Nathan. ¡°Didn¡¯t he realize that I ordered someone to follow you?¡± She asked again, which Nathan had to reluctantly admit. ¡°Unfortunately, I forgot to have my people keep an eye on him until I was caught off guard. If only I had realized when he invited me to dance. If Gilbert hadn¡¯t intervened, I¡¯m not sure you would still be here and alive. Maybe right now you¡¯d be drifting in the ocean, bing fish food.¡± She continued with an evil smile on her face. ¡°But yes, I can stille up with another strategy.¡± The woman continued. ¡°I will create a spectacle for you and Haisley at the same time.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare touch Haisley!¡± Nathan growled threateningly.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But what could Nathan do while he was helpless? That¡¯s what made Lorettaugh mockingly at him. ¡°What can a powerless coward like you do?¡± Loretta asked with her mocking tone. ¡°You can¡¯t even save yourself. How can you save your wife?¡± Loretta continued to taunt.


    ¡°Don¡¯t y games, Loretta. I won¡¯t forgive you if anything happens to Haisley!¡± Nathan threatened loudly as Loretta now walked away from him with triumphantughter.


    ¡°You can haunt me after you die,¡± she said with a cynical tone. ¡°Or you can meet my victims in the afterlife and carry out your revenge ns on me afterward.¡± She continued withughter. ¡°We¡¯ll see, Nath.¡± She said, giving a kiss on Nathan¡¯s forehead and leaving him with the man named Ramon.


    ***


    Haisley was eventually moved to the vi owned by her friend via¡¯s family. It wasn¡¯t without reason; they were afraid that the malicious individuals hired by Loretta might return to the vi and do anything unexpected.


    Who knows if Loretta¡¯s crew is coborating with someone working at the vi, nning further harm to Haisley. So far, via¡¯s father, who was asked to monitor the airport, has not found the names Nathan or Loretta on any flights. They had suspected this, considering it was unlikely for them to forge a passport for Nathan in such a short time. Not to mention, all of Nathan¡¯s important documents were left in the vi he rented previously, which Gilbert had hidden from the beginning, even before Nathan took Haisley away at that time.


    Now, only two possibilities remain. Loretta is hiding Nathan around Miami, or she took him to another area by sea. Everyone cannot feel at ease until they receive thetest news about Nathan.


    Simultaneously, they specte about the reasons behind Loretta¡¯s reckless actions. If it¡¯s rted to her obsession with getting Nathan, there¡¯s a slim chance they¡¯ll be contacted by Loretta, meaning they¡¯ll have to wait for news from via¡¯s father¡¯s contacts. But if it¡¯s all about money, they just have to wait for a demand for a ransom to get Nathan back. Again, this sounds unlikely, considering Loretta herself is not poor; she certainly doesn¡¯t need money.


    Gilbert¡¯s father has tried contacting Loretta¡¯s father in Ennd. However, they ended up discovering another surprising fact about Loretta. Loretta¡¯s father stated that he washed his hands of what Loretta was doing. In a not-so-brief conversation, he revealed a shocking fact that Loretta wasn¡¯t actually his biological child.


    ¡°She¡¯s not my biological child,¡± said the middle-aged man from a distance with a sad tone. ¡°I brought her from an orphanage to save my wife. Our daughter, Loretta, died in an ident. My wife couldn¡¯t ept that fact. As a result, she underwent psychological treatment for some time. To bring her back, I picked up a child who had a physical appearance and face almost identical to my daughter. She also had the same date of birth and birth year. I adopted her, making her my Loretta. Discarding her old identity and giving her my daughter¡¯s identity.¡±


    ¡°At first, everything improved. My wife became cheerful again because she got her Loretta back. And Loretta was genuinely a good child, always following what my wife and I asked. She studied well and evenplied with what my wife wanted for her school and extracurricr activities. Until she grew up, understood what she wanted, she began to change.


    ¡°She showed her true rebellious character. She grew into a defiant girl. But my wife still considered it normal, attributing it to the search for identity and peer influence, that¡¯s what my wife always suspected.


    ¡°However, over time, Loretta became increasingly uncontroble. Many disappointments she caused gradually made my wife more and more down. Loretta was no longer considered our child by my wife, and she tried to evict her from our home.


    ¡°But then, she came back.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what she said to my wife; my wife then epted her back into our home. But since she came back, my wife became unhappy. She fell ill and then passed away a few years ago.


    ¡°I tried to turn a blind eye to her. Letting her do whatever she wanted. When I felt she was starting to tarnish our family¡¯s reputation, she misbehaved. Telling me about what she knew about my wife.¡± The man still spoke with a sad tone. ¡°If I dared to kick her out and ignore her as a child, she would tell everyone about my darkness. About my Loretta, who is not my biological child but a child my wife obtained from her affair with her ex-lover-because I clearly couldn¡¯t give her offspring.


    ¡°I already knew about that fact and chose to stay silent because I loved my wife too much. And hearing that she would tarnish my wife¡¯s reputation, I chose to remain silent. Not to mention, she threatened to tell everyone about how I abused my power to make an adopted child my biological child illegally.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m afraid that all of that will ruin everything I¡¯ve built and maintained all these years.¡±

 Chap 98

    ¡°If you¡¯re so afraid of her, why are you choosing to stay silent now?¡± Mr. Luis asked curiously. ¡°If the police catch her and themunity knows about your disgrace because of her, wouldn¡¯t that be the same as wasting your struggle all this time?¡±


    The man across took a long, tired breath and exhaled slowly. ¡°This is what I wanted to talk to you about,¡± he said again. ¡°I¡¯ve hired someone to find that girl and get rid of her,¡± he continued, stunning everyone in the room. ¡°I¡¯ve been restraining myself for the sake of my reputation, for the sake of my wife¡¯s reputation, and for all the hard work I¡¯ve put in. I don¡¯t want her to destroy it with unpleasant news.


    ¡°Since the incident with Thompson, I¡¯ve devised many schemes to get rid of that girl. But then I saw a slight change in her when she got close to Nathan. I thought your son would change her for the better. But I was wrong; all her good behavior was just a fa?ade. And then, I felt I needed to know the reason for my wife¡¯s death, which I had never suspected before. And I found shocking news that turned out¡­¡± Sobbing could be heard from afar. ¡°My wife didn¡¯t die because of the illness and depression she suffered.


    ¡°In fact, all this time, Loretta had been giving her medicine that made my wife suffer and die slowly. Loretta came back for revenge for what my wife and I had done all this time. She made my wife suffer and killed her slowly. And she also intends to do the same to me.


    Quietly, she changed my medicine with hers, which is more dangerous. That¡¯s why my health has been deterioratingtely. I only found out about this because I could investigate her when she wasn¡¯t here.¡± They all heard soft sobbing in the distance. ¡°Without my knowledge, it turns out I¡¯ve been harboring a venomous snake in my own home, and now I realize it and regret it.


    ¡°If only back then I hadn¡¯t let her into my home, maybe we would be happy now. If only back then I could have been patient and helped my wife out of her grief, she would surely still be here.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t bring a sweet and kind-hearted girl before my wife, but rather gave her a snake that, in silence, measures the right time to destroy the master.


    I should have thoroughly investigated everything when the Thompson incident happened, instead of closing my eyes and getting involved in the drama she created to get Nathaniel.


    Forgive me, forgive all the mistakes this old man has made. I will help you.¡± He said confidently. ¡°No, I help myself. I¡¯ve sent people to find her, and I¡¯ve told them to meet you so that they can work together with your people.


    They are the best people I could get. They will help you get Nathaniel back and also get rid of that woman in a way that the police won¡¯t suspect. Once again, forgive me.¡± The old man pleaded resignedly.


    Haisley could only cry after hearing everything. She was even more frightened now. Loretta was not only obsessed with Nathan but also a cold-blooded killer. Yes, that woman was clearly a cold-blooded murderer. Even after being raised by her foster family and given all the privileges that other orphans couldn¡¯t get, she still heartlessly killed her foster mother slowly.


    ¡°If she can do something so cruel to someone who has given everything, what will she do to Nathan?¡± Haisley asked softly to anyone who could hear her.


    ¡°She won¡¯t do anything to Nathan, Haisley,¡± Gilbert tried to reassure.


    ¡°How can you be sure of that?¡± Haisley asked hesitantly. ¡°We don¡¯t know her, G,¡± she continued, though she hoped her brother-inw¡¯s words were true.


    Haisley cried again out of fear. Her two friends, via and Abigail, tried hard tofort her. It took quite a while until they finally managed to bring Haisley back to her room and make her rest.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    When Haisley was no longer with them, they talked again about Nathan in hushed voices.


    ¡°This is clearly no longer an issue of obsession or kidnapping for money,¡± Gilbert expressed his opinion. ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure what¡¯s going on in her mind right now and don¡¯t know what actions she will take afterward. If this is a revenge motive, besides finding Nathan quickly, we also have to be wary of Haisley. It¡¯s not impossible that she wants Haisley and wants to take revenge on her too.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s one question that bothers me, G.¡± Dean looked at his cousin. ¡°What feelings does she have for Nathan? Does she really love Nathan?¡± he asked curiously. ¡°Did you hear what her foster father said earlier? The man said that since being with Nathan, she started to change. Do you think she changed because she loves Nathan and wants to be a better person so that Nathan loves her?¡±


    Gilbert shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Gilbert whispered. ¡°All I know is one thing. She¡¯s a dangerous woman.¡±


    Hourster, via¡¯s father¡¯s messengers arrived escorted by the vi¡¯s guards. Simultaneously, the man who had contacted Gilbert¡¯s father arrived, informing them that they were messengers of Loretta¡¯s father.


    The men chose to stay away from the building where Haisley and the other women were, intentionally doing so to prevent the women from bing more frightened if the news they brought was bad. Fortunately, they decided to move to a separate building because the information they heard afterwards was clearly not something they wanted Haisley to know.


    Two local men, messengers of via¡¯s father, and two foreign men, messengers of Loretta¡¯s father, now sat with Dean, Gilbert, Juan, Mr. Luis, and Juan. One of the local men and one of the foreign men handed over brown envelopes that they ced on the table. Gilbert took one envelope from the local man, and Juan took the other.


    ¡°A man named Ramon, born in Miami, is currently a target for intelligence agencies because he is a major drug dealer. The police have arrested him for smuggling alcohol, but he managed to escape. And now, he is suspected to be involved in arge drug traffickingwork.


    ¡°He has moved to many cities and changed identification cards illegally. But he wasst seen here. That¡¯s what we found when we were looking for the woman suspect who is there,¡± he pointed to Loretta.


    ¡°Do you mean he¡¯s working with a drug dealer? But how is that possible?¡± Dean eximed in surprise. ¡°I thought he only worked with local thugs to kidnap Nathan,¡± he continued, looking at the others.


    Juan then handed the documents he was holding to Dean. ¡°They have known each other for more than seven years,¡± answered the foreign man with his thick English ent, indirectly responding to Dean¡¯s question. ¡°A man named Ramon has be a drug supplier, and Loretta has be both a dealer and distributor in Ennd. We received information from some conglomerate kids within the same social circle as your brother, implicating the suspect on Loretta. Both of them are now on the wanted list in two countries,¡± he continued, shocking Gilbert¡¯s family.

 Chap 99

    ¡°We have sessfully located his whereabouts.¡± The local man pulled out his phone from his pocket and showed the screen to everyone in the room. ¡°Ramon¡¯s gang has a hidden base on a small ind. There¡¯s a concealed building behind the forest that they¡¯ve been using as their headquarters. We need to cross the strait to get there, and it will take hours,¡± the informant continued. ¡°We have agreed to raid the base when we are sure that everyone is there. Forces have been mobilized. The police, along with the navy and ground forces, are working together for this massive capture. Pray that your brother Nathan is in good condition.¡± The man said, nodded at by several heads in the room.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    They intended to share this information with Haisley so that she could be more at ease, knowing at least they had information about Nathan¡¯s whereabouts. Gilbert went to the room where he knew Haisley was with her two friends. However, after knocking on the door several times and receiving no response, he chose to open it and was quite surprised not to find anyone there.


    Still trying to think positively, Gilbert went downstairs and searched for the whereabouts of the three friends. Once again, he didn¡¯t find them. Gilbert went to the other building, not the one they used for the meeting earlier, but another building among the four within the vi¡¯s scope. There he saw the women gathered ¨C Crystal, Abigail, via, Mrs. Gilbert, and Haisley¡¯s mother. However, Haisley was not there.


    ¡°Where is Haisley?¡± he asked, looking at each of the women and girls there one by one.


    ¡°She said she wanted to sleep, G. We left her alone not wanting to disturb her rest,¡± Abigail replied matter-of-factly. Gilbert furrowed his brow.


    ¡°She¡¯s not in her room,¡± Gilbert said with a growl. The women and girls there shook their heads in disbelief. They all then scattered to search for Haisley and eventually discovered that she was nowhere to be found.


    ¡°CCTV,¡± Abigail said to via. The group then hurried to another building located near the employees¡¯ residence. via asked the security guard to check the CCTV and find the whereabouts of the suddenly missing Haisley.


    All eyes were fixed on therge square screen in front of them, divided into several small boxes showing every corner where the CCTV was installed. They watched for a while until they finally saw Haisley walking out of the vi on her own and then getting into a vehicle waiting for her at the front door.


    ¡°Damn!¡± The men cursed simultaneously, while the women felt their knees weaken upon realizing that now, two members of their family were in danger.


    A few moments earlier.


    Haisleyy her head on the bed and chose to close her eyes. In doing so, she hoped that her two friends could leave her alone.


    Haisley didn¡¯t dislike the attention from Abigail and via; in fact, she felt happy that both of them were there with her, patiently apanying her in her worst times. But over time, she felt increasingly suffocated. She was genuinely afraid that something might happen to her husband, the man she loved more than life itself.


    Without via and Abigail knowing, Haisley had received a message from an unknown number. In the message, the sender said that Nathan was with them, and Haisley was expected not to tell anyone about the message if she wanted Nathan to be safe. Haisley didn¡¯t need to guess where the message came from.


    Haisley had tried to contact that number again, but the call never went through. She tried to reply to the message and ask where Nathan was, but the message was never delivered.


    Half an hour after the first message, another message appeared on her phone, from a different number, stating that they would pick up Haisley and reunite her with Nathan, as long as she didn¡¯t inform anyone about the message. Within ten minutes, she would ask Haisley to provide an answer that Haisley had to respond to immediately.


    Ten minutes, a time that Haisley felt like hours. Haisley never let go of her phone, holding it tightly until it became wet with her own sweat. And when another message came in, questioning if Haisley was ready to meet Nathan without telling anyone about her departure, Haisley quickly typed Yes. The message sender said they would contact Haisley in twenty minutes. And again, when Haisley tried to contact that new number, it became inactive.


    Haisley waited for another twenty minutes. At the same time, people hired by her friend¡¯s father and Nathan¡¯s father arrived. It was then that she received a message that she had to leave the vi within thirty minutes without anyone knowing. And here she is now, pretending to sleep just so via and Abigail would leave her alone.


    She knew that there were security guards in front guarding the vi. And she knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy to leave the vi without being observed. But she had to do something. She had to try to leave the vi to find her husband, Nathan, again.


    Haisley knew she was foolish. From the first message, she should have told her family, sought a solution together. But she knew, even though her family wouldn¡¯t leak what she said to anyone, even though there would be no spies in via¡¯s vi, her conscience couldn¡¯t lie.


    For quite a while, she pretended to be asleep until she heard Abigail and via leave the room with extremely slow steps so as not to disturb her sleep. She looked at her phone again, waiting for another message toe in and provide instructions on what to do.


    Haisley waited for quite a while. This time, it wasn¡¯t a message she received, but a call.


    ¡°Hel-hello?¡± she stammered in fear.


    ¡°Get out of there in five minutes.¡± It was a woman¡¯s voice, strangely familiar to Haisley. But she didn¡¯t know how she could speak so fluently and even without a foreign ent in her voice. ¡°I don¡¯t care what excuse you make to leave there. If you don¡¯t leave the vi in five minutes, don¡¯t expect to see Nathan again.¡± The woman said in a threatening tone. ¡°After you¡¯re out, there will be a car waiting for you. So hurry!¡± The voice ordered before abruptly ending the call.

 Chap 100

    Five minutes, could Haisley sneak out of via¡¯s vi? What should she say if someone catches her?


    Haisley shook her head. Quickly, she walked out of the room. Sneaking as she put on her sneakers and headed towards the front gate because the vi didn¡¯t have a back gate.


    A guard seemed to be at his post. Haisley tried toe up with a n so that the tall, sturdy man wouldn¡¯t suspect her.


    She walked closer and saw the uniformed man immediately stand and inquire about Haisley¡¯s needs. ¡°The guest inside is asking for you toe in, he said there are instructions to be given.¡± Haisley said to the man, who she knew was only slightly older than her husband. The man nodded without much suspicion and then left his post. Thus, Haisley could leave the vi without being suspected.


    She stepped out and chose to hide in a dark area while waiting for the car mentioned by the caller to arrive. The two men who had earlier imed to be police officers and took Nathan away now stopped the car in front of Haisley. Both of them gave a disgusting grin that made Haisley shudder involuntarily in terror.


    ¡°Hello, little one. Ready to go?¡± The driver asked Haisley, while the other man got out of the car and opened the passenger door for Haisley to enter.


    ¡°Rx, we won¡¯t do anything dirty outside the job assigned to us,¡± said the second man with a sneer as he saw Haisley hesitating to get into the car.


    Feeling like she had no choice, Haisley finally got into the back seat, and the car immediately drove away from the vi.


    They drove for quite a while. Haisley remained silent, not asking where she was being taken, and let the two men in front speak in their ownnguage and even argue about something that Haisley didn¡¯t pay attention to the reason for. Until they arrived at a hidden beach behindrge rocks. A ten-meter-long pier was visible in the moonlight, illuminated by the car lights Haisley was riding in. At the end of the pier, there was a dark-colored speedboat. A tall, big man stood at the end of the pier with one hand holding a cigarette and the other holding something.


    Haisley was pulled by the car driver and dragged towards the end of the pier to meet the man. The man looked sneering, extinguished his cigarette and stomped it rudely with the boot he was wearing before handing something in his hand to Haisley, which turned out to be a brown envelope containing money.


    ¡°Get out of here, don¡¯t let the police find you,¡± the man said to the two men. Haisley¡¯s hand was now in his grip, and he roughly dragged her onto the boat, pressing her shoulders so that Haisley sat calmly before he released his grip and started the engine that took Haisley into the dark sea.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Haisley asked, gathering her courage. The man didn¡¯t answer her at all. Until, for who knows how long, the small, powerful motorboat stopped and floated in the middle of the ocean. Not far from them, arge cabin cruiser boat could be seen approaching. The boat turned around so Haisley could see its back. The man who brought her pulled her arm to make her stand again and silently dragged her to the end of the boat.


    ¡°Jump!¡± hemanded Haisley. ¡°Be careful not to slip and drown,¡± he added mockingly. Haisley could only widen her eyes, but the strong push from the man made her unwillingly have to jump. Luckily, she was wearing sneakers with a non-slip bottom, so she didn¡¯t slip. Nevertheless, she still felt pain from the fall, sitting on both of her knees.


    As Haisley tried to stand up, she could see a woman she recognized but couldn¡¯t quite ce standing in front of her with a wicked grin.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hello, Haisley. How have you been?¡± The girl she once knew as simple and sweet now looked sexy with heavy makeup adorning her face. One of her eyebrows lifted in ordance with her menacing grin, which seemed terrifying in Haisley¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Loretta?¡± Haisley asked in disbelief. Not disbelief that this woman was the mastermind behind all this, but disbelief in her changed appearance and the words she spoke. How articte she was, not like the ¡®ignorance¡¯ she always pretended to have.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. Who did you think? A fairy?¡± She chuckled. She then nodded towards another man standing beside her before turning to enter the cabin part of the boat. Meanwhile, Haisley was once again held by two strangers who gripped her arms tightly. ¡°I thought you and your friend had tight security. But I didn¡¯t imagine that you could leave the house so easily,¡± Loretta said as she continued to walk inside with a sway of her hips. ¡°Dear Nath, look who¡¯s here,¡± she added, stopping her steps.


    Haisley was stunned as Loretta shifted her body, making Haisley see her husband¡¯s condition. She cried instantly, trying to free herself and approach her husband, embracing him while asionally wiping his bruised and bloodied face.


    ¡°Shhh, I¡¯m okay,¡± Nathan said with difficulty, grimacing. His face was battered and bruised, and it was unclear which part of his body was injured. Nathan¡¯s hands were tied behind his back, and he sat on his knees. He looked pitiful.


    ¡°How about that? Are you happy to see him alive?¡± Loretta asked with a smile on her face. She was already sitting on the sofa, lighting her cigarette. She let the reunion of the couple unfold while sipping whiskey from her crystal ss. ¡°Enjoy it; this joyful reunion will be over soon,¡± she said with a meaningful smile.


    ¡°What do you really want from us?!¡± Haisley asked, staring at the woman in front of her with a look of pure hatred. Her chest throbbed painfully at the sight of Nathan¡¯s current condition. But her hatred for Loretta was much greater than anything else.


    The woman sat casually, taking another sip of her whiskey before shrugging her shoulders and looking at Haisley with a t expression. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she replied tly.


    ¡°If you want money, just say so. Although I¡¯m not rich, I¡¯m sure my family can ransom Nathan,¡± Haisley pleaded.


    Loretta raised the corner of her mouth and snorted. ¡°Do you think I need that?¡± she asked mockingly. ¡°My parents, I mean my adoptive parents, are already wealthy enough. So, I don¡¯t need all that. My job also gives me more than enough than I could ask for. So, I don¡¯t need the scraps you¡¯re offering,¡± she said coldly.


    ¡°Well, then, what do you want?¡± Haisley asked, puzzled. She didn¡¯t know how to negotiate with Loretta.


    ¡°It seems I want to make both of you suffer,¡± Loretta said as if she were contemting an important form in her head. ¡°Yes, making people who have hurt me suffer is my hobby.¡± She continued with a happy smile on her face. ¡°I just haven¡¯t thought of the most beautiful way to make both of you suffer at the same time,¡± she added, crossing her legs, resting her elbow on her knee, and cupping her chin with her hand.


    Haisley could only look at the woman with an unbelieving gaze. She jerked in surprise when she saw the woman p her hands on both thighs and then stand up. Looking at Haisley and Nathan with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Take them to the deck!¡± she ordered the two men who had been standing silently against one of the walls.

 Chap 101

    They walked with firm steps that made the ship¡¯s floor creak under the weight of theirrge bodies. One of the big men grabbed Nathan¡¯s arm from behind and made him stand up, causing Nathan to groan in pain. Haisley tried to hold onto Nathan, but her arm was also held by another man whose body was just asrge as the one holding Nathan.


    Nathan appeared to walk with a limp, asionally hissing in pain. Something was wrong with his leg, and Haisley could sense it even though she didn¡¯t know why.


    ¡°What have you done to Nathan?!¡± Haisley shouted at Loretta, who stood between her and Nathan. The woman turned, tilting her head and then looking in Nathan¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± she replied tly, shaking her head. Then her mouth opened wide, and she looked at Haisley with a guilty expression. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ve made a few of his ribs move. A little crack in the rib bones, and his leg won¡¯t kill him, right?¡± she asked cheerfully, continuing her steps.


    Nathan was now at the front of the deck, right in front of the captain¡¯s cabin. He was made to sit on his knees again. Meanwhile, Haisley was taken further to the edge of the deck, the man carrying her still keeping her standing.


    Haisley nced at Loretta; the woman seemed to stand casually, leaning her hips against the railing, with both hands folded in front of her chest.


    ¡°I once heard a story,¡± the woman began with a dramatic tone. ¡°There was a little girl who used to be so good at swimming, but due to a tragedy, she became afraid of water.¡± She continued with a horrifying grin, her sharp eyes fixed on Haisley.


    Haisley was startled instantly, looking at the woman with a horrified expression. In her mind, she had already guessed where this conversation was heading. She shook her head, silently praying that what was in her mind wouldn¡¯te true.


    Haisley looked at Nathan, and he also gazed in her direction with an expression that conveyed fear.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be insane, Loretta. Your issue is with me; why bring Haisley into this? She never hurt you from the start,¡± Nathan whispered. His voice was barely audible, seemingly having an issue with his jaw that caused Nathan to speak like that.


    Loretta nodded, walking closer to Haisley. ¡°She has never been a problem for me. Haven¡¯t I told you that, for me, she¡¯s a good girl?¡± Loretta asked. She was now standing beside Haisley, gently touching her cheek with her index finger. ¡°She could even be a good friend if I wanted to be friends with her,¡± she said with a grin in front of Haisley. Her hands then cupped Haisley¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re a beautiful and kind girl. Even when I said all those things about the man you love, you turned around and gave me good advice instead of scowling at me and saying bad things about Nathan to make me hate him.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re a good girl, Haisley,¡± she said, kissing Haisley¡¯s cheek softly. ¡°But your presence is Nathan¡¯s happiness.¡± She added, raising her head and looking at Haisley with a mncholic gaze. ¡°And Nathan¡¯s happiness is the thing I hate the most,¡± she said as she stepped back.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    She tilted her head at the man standing behind Haisley. Haisley then felt something tightening around her hands. ¡°W-what are you doing?¡± Haisley asked, frightened.


    ¡°ying,¡± Loretta said with a smile on her face.


    The woman walked away again, leaning her hips against the railing, folding her hands in front of her chest, and looking at Nathan for quite a while before redirecting her gaze to Haisley.


    ¡°Let¡¯s consider that we¡¯re acting in a kidnapping drama,¡± she continued casually. ¡°I¡¯m kidnapping both of you.¡± She pointed her index finger at Nathan. ¡°You will be the superhero, and she,¡± she pointed to Haisley, ¡°will be the damsel in distress.¡± She said, still smiling. ¡°Then, when I say ¡®Action!''¡± she shouted loudly. ¡°He will go into the water, and you, somehow, will save him.¡±


    Loretta then smiled at Haisley, just as the same man tied something to Nathan¡¯s leg. Haisley looked down, staring in shock at therge hook attached to a heavy dumbbell, perhaps weighing ten kilos or more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, Loretta!¡± Nathan barked roughly.


    ¡°Tsk tsk tsk¡­¡± Loretta sneered, looking at Nathan with a mocking face. ¡°I¡¯m not messing around, Nath. Just one kind.¡± She said with her wicked grin. ¡°If you manage to save him, I¡¯ll let both of you go. But if not¡­¡± She shrugged with a scornful lip.


    Haisley could only stare nkly at Nathan. Her heart pounded painfully fast. She felt suffocated even before her worst fears became a reality. Her tears couldn¡¯t be held back anymore. She was terrified, and even if she couldn¡¯t endure, she felt her legs no longer capable of supporting her body.


    ¡°Action!¡± Loretta eximed loudly, and that was thest thing she heard before feeling her body pushed backward, crashing into the water and slowly sinking.


    Haisley didn¡¯t resist; she didn¡¯t try to pull herself out of the water as she did when she fell from the yacht rented by Nathan. Deliberately, she allowed the dumbbell to pull her deeper into the dark waters.


    Nathan widened his eyes as he watched Haisley fall below. The loud sound of the dumbbell hitting the water, followed by Haisley¡¯s body, made Nathan roar, calling his wife¡¯s name. With difficulty-and the pain in his right leg-Nathan tried to stand. However, the grip on his shoulder forced him to kneel again. Lorettaughed, mocking him with a scornful gaze.


    ¡°Not yet, Darling. Wait a moment. At least until your wife runs out of breath, then you can go into the water and save her. Giving her artificial breath will be in vain anyway,¡± Loretta said again, herughter echoing in the midst of the strong sea breeze.


    ¡°Bastard!¡± Nathan shouted loudly. ¡°You whore!¡± He yelled again, triggering Loretta¡¯s anger instantly.


    Quickly, she half ran towards Nathan and then kicked his face with her leather-d foot. Unfortunately for Loretta, before she could carry out her action, Nathan¡¯s free hand-unnoticed by both her and her guards-held her back until she fell to the floor with a loud thud. Using his other elbow, Nathan struck the sensitive area of the man standing behind him-about to attack, but slower-so forcefully that the man groaned and hopped around.


    Nathan swung the knife he held at another man approaching, ready to attack. He managed to wound the man¡¯s abdomen, hearing a loud tearing sound as the de ripped through fabric and skin. The man staggered back, reflexively clutching his stomach, and with an unknown strength, Nathan twirled the blood-stained knife in his hand, stabbing it into Loretta¡¯s calf that he held so tightly. Loretta cried out in pain, and her scream echoed in the air.


    Nathan pulled the knife back, his hand once again covered in Loretta¡¯s blood. Before he could stab it again into her leg, he was attacked by tworge men. They seemed to be putting in a lot of effort to endure the pain Nathan caused. He knew he was going to lose. The two men were muchrger and stronger than him, and he had been tortured for hours.


    A gunshot rang out, freezing all four of them in ce. Loretta, who had already lost a significant amount of blood, now sat weakly, leaning against the railing while holding her injured leg. Apparently, when Nathan was attacked, she had scooted away, afraid of being hit. The two men who were assaulting Nathan also stopped, searching for the source of the gunshot. Nathan, exhausted and beaten, could only lie helpless.


    Six men, dressed in all ck, stood surrounding them, each holding a weapon.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± ordered one of them, causing the tworge men to raise their hands reflexively.

 Chap 102

    ¡°Wh-who are you?!¡± Loretta asked in the midst of her pain. ¡°Ramon! Ramon! Where are you, you bastard!¡± she shouted loudly. Loretta looked at the darkened cabin where Ramon should have been behind the ship¡¯s wheel. She trusted the man who had tormented Nathan all day to be the captain of the ship they were on.


    ¡°We¡¯ve neutralized Brother Ramon from the beginning!¡± said the uniformed man, walking closer to Loretta, who had turned pale and looked in pain, taking handcuffs out of his pocket. The other two men working for Loretta had already been instructed to kneel, and the two other men in ck uniforms handcuffed their hands behind their backs.


    ¡°How did you get here?¡± Loretta asked, trying to buy time as the police put handcuffs on her. Unlike her two henchmen, Loretta¡¯s handcuffs were ced in front, allowing her to still hold her bleeding leg.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know the chronologyter,¡± the policeman said, pulling Loretta¡¯s arm to make her stand.


    Unbeknownst to Loretta, the ship they had been on since earlier was now approaching the shore. She hadn¡¯t noticed the dock just a hundred meters ahead because there was no light at all.


    ¡°You!¡± The woman red at Nathan. ¡°You and your whore wife!¡± Loretta couldn¡¯t utter another word. Her eyes darted around, looking for the figure she suddenly believed had survived the plunge. But she didn¡¯t find the woman. ¡°Where is that slut?!¡± She roared as the man in ck uniform dragged her farther away from the deck.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡± Haisley is fine. You don¡¯t need to worry about her,¡± said the man in ck with a mocking smile on his face, making Loretta shout her frustration into the wind.


    A few hours earlier.


    ¡°This won¡¯t be easy.¡± Abigail tried to talk to Haisley face to face. She asked via to go to the kitchen with a few excuses so that her friend wouldn¡¯t hear what she and Haisley were discussing. ¡°Stop crying and listen to me, Haisley!¡± Abigail said, shaking Haisley¡¯s arm. The woman in front of her wiped away tears with the backs of her hands and looked at Abigail with red eyes.


    ¡°Listen to me carefully.¡± Abigail said, nodded to by Haisley. ¡°Uncle Antony has nned all this with me, and now I¡¯m going to tell you. Listen and understand, then act on it.¡± She said, once again nodded to by Haisley. ¡°There¡¯s a good chance Loretta won¡¯t contact Nathan¡¯s family because she doesn¡¯t need anything from them. But she will contact you.¡± Abigail said, making Haisley look at her in disbelief. ¡°When that happens. Give me a code.¡±


    Haisley furrowed her brow in confusion. Shouldn¡¯t she tell her family if Loretta contacts her? It seemed like Haisley voiced that thought unintentionally because Abigail shook her head and said,


    ¡°Uncle Antony asked us not to trust too much in Loretta¡¯s father¡¯s henchmen.¡± Abigail whispered, making Haisley¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°Even if he says he¡¯s hands-off on this case, Uncle Antony isn¡¯t entirely sure. So now we can only trust Uncle Antony¡¯s people.¡± Abigail said, answered with a hesitant nod from Haisley. ¡°If he sends you a message, look at me, blink twice, then raise your eyebrow. The number of fingers you raise must be equal to the number of messages he sent. Do you understand?¡± Abigail asked, once again nodded to by Haisley.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll ask you not to tell anyone. And it¡¯s possible that if you say you got a message from us, Loretta¡¯s father¡¯s people will be the messengers. Whether it¡¯s for Loretta or for her father. But if that happens, it means you have to be prepared to lose Nathan.¡± ¡°So, if she says she¡¯ll meet you with Nathan and tells you to sneak out of this vi. Give me a code if you want to sleep and don¡¯t want to be disturbed. Understand?¡± Haisley nodded again. ¡°The reason via shouldn¡¯t know is that you know she¡¯ll panic. When she panics, she won¡¯t think clearly, and I don¡¯t want Uncle Antony¡¯s efforts to fail.¡±


    ¡°When we leave the roomter, I¡¯ll keep via and the people in this house away from this room. You then go to the security post, tell him toe in. He¡¯ll know what that means because I¡¯ve given him instructions. After you leave, I¡¯ll take them to the CCTV room so everyone is convinced that you left of your own ord. Understand?¡±


    ¡°T-then, what happens after that?¡± Haisley asked, panicked.


    ¡°After that, there will be further instructions. You just need to do what they tell you.¡± Abigail said, and Haisley could only nod silently.


    Haisley followed all the instructions Abigail gave without missing a single one. When she raised her fingers to Abigail, her friend just looked at her and gave a faint nod.


    As she pretended to sleep, Abigail then invited via to leave her alone.


    Haisley then crept out of the room and headed to the security post. She informed the male guard at the post as Abigail had instructed. She then left after the guard left his post and got into the waiting car.


    ¡°Hello, dear. Ready to go?¡± The driver asked Haisley while the other man got out of the car and opened the passenger door for Haisley to get in.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t do anything dirty outside the job assigned to us.¡± The second man said with a grin as he saw Haisley hesitating to get into the car. The car then drove off, and the man suddenly reached into his pocket, took out a phone, and made a call. ¡°Yes, Boss, she¡¯s with us now.¡± The man said. Haisley suspected the call was from Loretta, but she was wrong. The man then switched the call to loudspeaker and handed it to Haisley.


    ¡°Hello, Haisley. It¡¯s Uncle Antony, remember me?¡± The deep voice of a man on the other end made Haisley stunned. Somehow, Haisley felt like crying at that very moment, but she held herself back. ¡°Listen carefully, my dear. These two are now working with me.¡± He said, making Haisley look at the two men alternately.


    ¡°We work for anyone who pays us.¡± The man behind the wheel said.

 Chap 103

    ¡°They will take you to the dock, which will then take you to where Loretta is. The man who will pick you upter is not my henchman. So, you have to be cautious,¡± Antony warned. ¡°The two men with you now will give you some items.¡± The man next to him then took out a small box from his shirt pocket, opened it, and took out a small round object about the size of a headset¡¯s knob, no bigger than a thumb.


    ¡°This is a GPS and a mic. ce this object where it can¡¯t be seen,¡± the henchman said with a mischievous smile. ¡°Maybe in your clothes.¡± He chuckled, making the driverugh heartily. ¡°And this, although small, is very sharp.¡± The man handed Haisley a metal object. ¡°If you press this,¡± he pressed his thumb on a point, and then a sharp-edged knife quickly appeared. ¡°This knife can identally hurt you, so be careful and use it wisely.¡± He said as he ced the object next to the previous ck item.


    ¡°Uncle¡¯s people will monitor you. With the GPS, we¡¯ll know where that man is taking you. With the mic, we¡¯ll know what they¡¯re going to do. Don¡¯t worry. Uncle has hired experts. Just trust that you¡¯ll be fine. Even if you¡¯re in the middle of the ocean, Uncle¡¯s divers will find you.¡± Her friend¡¯s father reassured. Haisley couldn¡¯t say anything. She could only nod her head while crying. ¡°Calm down, you and Nathan will be safe. Uncle ensures that.¡± Antony said again.


    ¡°Th-thank you, uncle.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet; everything is not finished. What you need to do is to buy time until my people are ready.¡± Antony said again, nodded by Haisley once more.


    They didn¡¯t talk anymore because both Haisley and the two men in the car already knew what they had to do.


    ¡°You know, we promised to retire from our dirty job after this. The man you call uncle promised to give us more decent jobs afterward.¡± The driver said, staring at Haisley through the rearview mirror. ¡°Sincerely, we apologize and regret what happened to you and your husband. But perhaps this is God¡¯s n for us.¡± He continued, and Haisley could only respond with silence.


    Following the man¡¯s advice, Haisley tucked the GPS behind her bra. She didn¡¯t feel embarrassed as she believed it was necessary. As for the small knife, she slipped it into her shoe. She took a deep breath several times and prayed that everything would be okay. She hoped she and Nathan could return safely.


    When sheter entered the cabin, she ran to Nathan, hugged him, and slipped the knife into Nathan¡¯s bound hands. ¡°Be careful, the knife is very sharp. We¡¯ll be fine; someone will save us.¡± She whispered in Nathan¡¯s ear while hugging him before focusing her attention on Loretta.


    The ship¡¯s deck looked ominous in her eyes. The dark sea and the strong wind made Haisley feel like her death was imminent. But she remembered her friend¡¯s father¡¯s words-they would be fine. Someone would save them.


    When Loretta ordered the big man to tie a rope to her legs, Haisley identally looked down. There, she could see someone¡¯s head emerging from the water, as if staring back at Haisley behind dark, shimmering swim goggles. Haisley instantly swallowed her saliva. She had to face her fear.


    She looked at Nathan, nodding her head faintly. Hoping her husband understood the code she gave, that they would be safe. When she was then thrown into the water, she could hear her husband¡¯s screams, which she knew came out reflexively.


    Haisley felt the cold water enveloping her body. She tried to stay calm because she knew that panic would only make her swallow too much water, causing pain and sinking too deep. In the silence, she felt her body embraced by someone, and then the weight pulling at her legs was released.


    In the darkness, Haisley felt something brought close to her face. She knew it was a device connected to an oxygen tank that could help her breathe. She opened her mouth and then drew air from it. It continued until she was brought to the surface and hidden on the side of the ship that wouldn¡¯t be visible from above.


    Haisley could hear roars, the sound of things falling, including Loretta¡¯s screams from above, making her shiver in the grip of the diver she now knew was a woman. She held on to the woman and clung to the rope tied to the float on the side of the ship, then slowly crawled to the back of the ship. She heard explosions and tried to stifle her gasp, then caught Loretta¡¯s muffled curses against her.


    Haisley dropped her body at the back of the ship just as Nathan was assisted by a man dressed in all ck. Loretta and her two henchmen were dragged by one man each, also wearing all ck, approaching her. When Nathan saw her, he tried to move quickly and hugged Haisley tightly.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Nathan asked, carefully examining Haisley¡¯s face and body.


    Haisley couldn¡¯t hold back her tears any longer. The scared tears she had been holding back since earlier now turned into tears of relief. She hugged Nathan tightly and cried on his neck, ignoring Loretta who continued to curse at her amid her groans.


    ¡°I hurt her,¡± Nathan whispered as Haisley caught sight of something emerging from the woman¡¯s leather pants. ¡°I think it¡¯ll leave her paralyzed,¡± he said with a satisfied tone. Haisley shivered in fear as she witnessed the cruelty on Nathan¡¯s face. ¡°I really want to kill him, but I don¡¯t want to be someone even more stained with sin,¡± he confessed while embracing Haisley again andforting his wife, kissing her wet head. Their fear was nowpletely gone.


    The ship had reached the dock. There, Haisley and Nathan were weed by two tall, imposing men standing upright with nk expressions. Behind them were three ck Jeep diator cars shining their lights towards the sea.


    The men in all-ck uniforms, not carrying any criminals, assisted Haisley and Nathan, who limped off the ship first. ¡°Take those three people away,¡± the leader of the squad instructed his subordinates who were holding the criminals.


    That¡¯s when Haisley noticed another man being carried unconscious. The three men in ck dragged the criminals roughly towards one of the cars. ¡°That woman,¡± he pointed to the man still holding Loretta. ¡°Separate her and take her to the location.¡± Hismand was acknowledged with a nod from the man. Then, apanied by the female diver, they took Loretta away in another ck Jeep diator.


    Loretta looked frightened. She widened her eyes, looked at the leader, and screamed, ¡°Where? Where are you taking me?¡± She asked loudly and hysterically.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°To a ce where someone has been waiting for your arrival,¡± the leader casually replied. He no longer paid attention to Loretta¡¯s cries and now focused on Nathan and Haisley.

 Chap 104

    ¡°Both of you,e with me,¡± he said with a nod of his head, walking towards another ck Jeep diator, as dark as the other two jeeps that had roared away, leaving their tire tracks in the sand.


    sping each other, with Nathan limping, they entered the leader¡¯s car.


    ¡°You were never part of this capture,¡± the man said with his deep voice, immediately nodded by Haisley and Nathan. ¡°You never met us,¡± he continued, receiving another nod from Haisley and Nathan. After that, no one spoke.


    Haisley and Nathan¡¯s hands were intertwined, their bodies swaying with the car¡¯s movements on the uneven roads.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Haisley looked out the window. Although she didn¡¯t pay much attention to the road when they departed, she knew that the path they were on now was different. And actually, the dock they had just left wasn¡¯t the same as when Haisley departed. Was this a secret route? A path known only to a few? Were the people who just saved her elite forces? Were they government troops? Or special forces paid by individuals?


    Haisley shook her head. She didn¡¯t need to know that. She wouldn¡¯t ask anything else. She was grateful enough to get out of this tragedy. And she hoped there would be no more tragedies after this.


    They arrived at a more open area, still within the embrace of the forest. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± said the leader. Without being asked, though with confusion, Haisley, who was shivering from the cold, and Nathan, who was in pain, got out of the car while the leader remained inside.


    The car then drove away, Haisley heard the horn honked three times, and shortly after, bright lights illuminated them, apanied by the roar of a car engine in silence. The light approached and then stopped not far from where Haisley and Nathan stood. The car door opened, and Haisley could see Gilberting out from the driver¡¯s side and Juan from the other side.


    ¡°G¡­¡± Instantly, Haisley shed tears again, entering Gilbert¡¯s embrace and crying there while Juan weed Nathan.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± Gilbert said, wiping Haisley¡¯s head and kissing her friend and brother-inw¡¯s head before enveloping the shivering figure into the car and covering her with a thin nket that he had prepared.


    Gilbert drove the car towards the city. Nathan and Haisley were then taken to the hospital. There were no major issues with Haisley. Aside from the shock, she felt her body was fine. The doctor had rmended treatment, but Haisley refused.


    While Nathan was undergoing examination, Haisley and Nathan¡¯s family, along with via and Abigail, followed to the hospital. Upon seeing Abigail, Haisley immediately dropped her body into the embrace of the tall and slender girl. She cried and kept murmuring thanks before hugging via and uttering the same sentiments. Both of her friends could only rub Haisley¡¯s back andfort her.


    ¡°Everything is fine now,¡± they said, nodded by Haisley.


    Before long, Nathan came out of the X-ray room wearing patient clothes. The doctor mentioned that one rib on the left and three ribs on the right of Nathan were cracked. The shinbone also had fractures, but not too severe. They just put a cast on his leg and advised Nathan to be careful and avoid excessive movement for the next four to six weeks. Nathan was decided to receive treatment that night due to his weakened condition.


    They gathered in the VVIP room rented by Haisley¡¯s inws for half an hour until the nurse asked them to go home. Eventually, only Gilbert apanied Haisley, who insisted on staying in the hospital to be with the sleeping Nathan under the influence of the doctor¡¯s prescribed medication.


    Haisley suspected that the police woulde that night, but none arrived.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Gilbert asked with a concerned look. Haisley looked at him and nodded. She did feel weak, as if her body was now experiencing the aftermath of the shock she had just gone through. However, she chose not to say anything to Gilbert.


    Suddenly, Haisley covered her face with both hands and started to cry softly. Gilbert, concerned, approached and wrapped his arms around his petite sister-inw¡¯s shoulders,forting her.


    ¡°I was really scared, G,¡± Haisley whispered. ¡°Even though Abigail said everything would be okay, still, when I imagine everything now, it feels frightening. I don¡¯t know what would have happened to Nathan if via¡¯s father didn¡¯t help us. I also wouldn¡¯t know how strong I would be if Abigail didn¡¯t reassure me,¡± she said between sobs, trying to calm herself down so as not to wake Nathan. ¡°Everything felt really creepy. Seeing Nathan sitting there with a bloody face, I felt like our lives would end right there. We wouldn¡¯t survive and get off that ship alive. When that woman nned to make me drown, it felt like my heart was forcibly ripped out and taken away.


    ¡°I was really scared. Even the presence of the diver didn¡¯t really make me feel safe. The loud sound of punches and gunshots. I thought there would be casualties. I thought someone would die. But fortunately, that fear didn¡¯te true. That woman, she¡¯s truly terrifying, G. There¡¯s no more sweet Loretta; she looks more like the goddess of death in my eyes,¡± she continued, still sobbing.


    Gilbert once again rubbed Haisley¡¯s back, and Haisley rested her face on the broad chest of her friend and brother-inw.


    ¡°But you guys are okay now. Just consider it all a bad dream,¡± said Gilbert, responded to by a nod from Haisley. Shortly after Haisley appeared calm and wiped her face from tears, Gilbert asked, ¡°What about that woman? What happened to her?¡±


    Haisley exined the entire chronology of events she experienced, from the moment she received the message, Abigail¡¯s instructions, to the two people who took her to the dock. ¡°The knife they gave me, I gave it to Nathan. And Nathan said he stabbed the woman¡¯s leg with that knife. I didn¡¯t really pay attention to it, but she did limp when she was escorted by the people in all-ck who saved us.


    ¡°What do you think, are they special agents?¡± she inquired.


    Gilbert shrugged. ¡°Whoever they are, we can only be thankful to them,¡± he said tly, making Haisley nod in agreement.

 Chap 105

    The next day, Nathan and Haisley¡¯s families were nning to return to the hospital. Still, Gilbert objected because Nathan wanted to go home since he opened his eyes in the early morning. Nathan told Gilbert that he didn¡¯t want to make Haisley wait for him at the hospital for too long and preferred to rest at home.


    Gilbert eventually conveyed his brother¡¯s request to the morning visiting doctor. Fortunately, the doctor agreed, and in the morning, afterpleting the paperwork, Nathan, Gilbert, and Haisley returned to via¡¯s vi.


    They received a warm wee at the vi owned by Haisley¡¯s friend. Her family was just as enthusiastic as they were the night before when they gathered at the hospital. If the previous night they allowed Nathan and Haisley to rest, this time they didn¡¯t. Everyone was clearly very curious about what Nathan experienced during the abduction.


    With Haisley sitting by his side and their hands intertwined, Nathan recounted the entire ordeal to his family. From the two men who picked him up, making him unconscious when he realized they weren¡¯t the police. Then Nathan woke up in a warehouse, tied up. His introduction to Ramon and Loretta¡¯s confession. The subsequent torture by Ramon and his henchmen without any reason other than Loretta¡¯s request. And then they took him to the sea.


    Seth itu, Haisley took over the narrative. She repeated the same story she had told Gilbert the night before, with a calmer demeanor. No one anticipated what Haisley had to say, especially the part where via¡¯s father predicted everything and took actions they had never expected.


    They were about to inquire further, but their conversation was interrupted when via¡¯s employees came and informed them that they had guests. Two men, associates of via¡¯s father, arrived and greeted them.


    The two men expressed their gratitude upon seeing Nathan and Haisley. They just wanted to ensure that Nathan and Haisley were alright and mentioned that their job was done.


    ¡°You won¡¯t have to deal with Loretta and Ramon anymore. There won¡¯t be any police involvement linking your names to the case currently entangling Ramon and his henchmen,¡± one of the two men who came to via¡¯s vi said.


    ¡°So, where are they now?¡± Crystal asked, curious.


    ¡°Ramon and his men are under police surveince. They are being interrogated and will receive the appropriate punishment.¡±


    ¡°What about the woman?¡± Nathan¡¯s mother asked.


    The two men exchanged nces before one of them answered, ¡°From now on, you won¡¯t have any dealings with Loretta. Your business with that woman is done, including the hit-and-run case two years ago. All the data has been erased.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean she will face charges for her nned murder of her fianc¨¦?¡± Nathan asked the two officers.


    Both men shook their heads. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know what happened to her. The case is closed, and your reputation is restored. You won¡¯t have any dealings with Loretta or thete Thompson.¡±


    It was relieving yet still left them curious. However, no one asked any questions.


    ¡°Alright, our job is done,¡± one of the men said as he stood up. ¡°Thank you for cooperating,¡± he added, directing the gratitude more towards Haisley, who nodded shyly. The two men shook hands with everyone present.


    ¡°Now, can we finally breathe a sigh of relief?¡± Nathan¡¯s mother asked when the two men were no longer in sight.


    ¡°Seems like it, yeah,¡± Gilbert answered his mother¡¯s question.


    ¡°So, can we start nning your wedding reception now?¡± Monica looked meaningfully at her eldest son and his wife.


    ¡°Not now, Ma. Nathan still needs time to recover,¡± Haisley offered, receiving a yful jab from her mother-inw. The woman, who still looked beautiful in her not-so-young age, rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Haisley. We also need time to prepare everything. The wedding dress, venue rental, catering, and everything else,¡± Haisley¡¯s mother-inw said, making Haisley smile shyly.


    The next day, after deciding to return to Manhattan, Abigail apanied Haisley to her workce. ¡°How¡¯s work going?¡± Abigail asked as she helped her friend tidy up the remaining clothes in Haisley¡¯s locker.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°Juan talked to the hotel management.¡± Haisley said with a sad smile on her face. ¡°I actually enjoyed staying here. But now, our status has changed.¡± She chuckled, earning a teasing look from Abigail.


    ¡°Come on, Haisley, we also need time to prepare everything. The wedding dress, venue rental, catering, and other things,¡± her mother-inw said, making Haisley smile shyly.


    The next day, after deciding to return to Manhattan, Abigail apanied Haisley to her workce. ¡°How¡¯s work going?¡± Abigail asked as she helped her friend tidy up the remaining clothes in Haisley¡¯s locker.


    ¡°Juan talked to the hotel management.¡± Haisley said with a sad smile on her face. ¡°I actually enjoyed staying here. But now, our status has changed.¡± She chuckled, earning a teasing look from Abigail.


    ¡°I¡¯m genuinely happy if you¡¯re happy.¡± Abigail said as they returned to their usual casual mode of conversation.


    Haisley smiled at her friend. Even though they hadn¡¯t seen each other for some time, Haisley knew that Abigail still had feelings for the man who was now her brother-inw. She paused in her packing and approached Abigail, sitting beside her and taking the girl¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I know it might sound trivial, but I genuinely pray that someday you¡¯ll find someone you can love wholeheartedly and who loves you just as deeply,¡± Haisley prayed with utmost sincerity while gently rubbing the back of Abigail¡¯s hand with her thumbs. ¡°You¡¯re a good person, a really kind one. You¡¯re incredibly sincere. So, I hope one day you find someone who will treat you like a queen. A guy who will love you and never hurt you.


    ¡°I know, even though I agree that you and G are both good people, our faith doesn¡¯t allow you two to be together. So, Rin, erase your feelings for Gilbert. Because I¡¯m sure, your God has already determined a better match for you in the future.


    ¡°Open your heart, ept someone new who shares your faith, and forget Gilbert. You two can¡¯t give up on your beliefs.¡±


    Abigail lifted the corner of her mouth and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m self-aware, Haisley. Even if Gilbert and I share the same faith, he has undoubtedly chosen Via over me. We both know how smitten he is with Via.¡±


    ¡°But Via has been in love with Uncle first,¡± Haisley replied, to which Abigail responded with a chuckle.


    ¡°Complicated, huh,¡± Abigail remarked, met with a nod from Haisley. ¡°I can¡¯t promise that my feelings for G will disappear; maybe they will fade in due time. I have Him, the Ultimate Turner of Hearts. Just pray that I can get the best. Before heading in that direction, I want to focus on my career first. Save up to get rich quickly,¡± she added, promptingughter from both of them. ¡°So, where will you two live after this?¡± Abigail asked curiously.

 Chap 106

    Haisley fell silent again. She and Nathan had discussed this before the kidnapping happened, but they hadn¡¯t informed their families yet. ¡°Nathan asked me to live in Ennd and continue my studies,¡± Haisley said, making Abigail furrow her brow. ¡°Nathan will support me because, clearly, my schrship can¡¯t be used anymore since I¡¯ve left campus. At first, I said I didn¡¯t want to, what¡¯s the point of studying if, in the end, I stay at home taking care of the kids. But Nathan said that ¡®no one regrets having learned¡¯, so yeah, I¡¯m starting over.¡± Haisley exined, looking at Abigail with curiosity. ¡°You still don¡¯t want to continue your studies? Your brain is clearly smarter than mine, Abby.¡±


    Abigail shrugged. ¡°I also have ns to go there. I¡¯m just not sure which major to take. I haven¡¯t found a passion that drives me to choose a specific field. Maybeter, I¡¯ll consult with Itan.¡± Haisley chuckled at her friend¡¯s words. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Abigail asked curtly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s just funny,¡± Haisley replied, continuing her packing activities. ¡°Sometimes, I think you¡¯re Tante ire¡¯s secret child. You and Via are perfect as siblings. You even seem closer to Uncle Antony than to your own dad.¡±


    Abigail shrugged. ¡°Who knows. I sometimes think the same way. My mom is Itan, and my dad is Uncle,¡± she replied with augh.


    ¡°So, if one day Via ends up with Uncle, will you call Via your stepmom?¡± Haisley¡¯s words clearly made them burst intoughter instantly.


    The day of Haisley and her family¡¯s departure arrived. Abigail and via only escorted Haisley and Nathan to the front gate of the vi. They received warm hugs from the women. While via refused hugs from the fathers, it was different for Abigail. She didn¡¯t mind getting heartfelt hugs from Nathan¡¯s dad, Haisley¡¯s dad, and Juan. But when facing Gilbert, she only extended her hand.


    ¡°Promise that you¡¯ll visit Aunt¡¯s house when youe to Manhattan,¡± Aunt Monica requested from her daughter¡¯s friend, and they both nodded in agreement. After a bit of small talk, everyone got into the car and headed to the airport.


    Haisley sat next to Nathan, resting her head on his shoulder. Their fingers intertwined on Nathan¡¯s thigh. Both of them hoped that their lives after this would be okay. No more drama, no more tragedies. No more disruptive figures in their lives like Loretta.


    She just wanted a happy life, even though she knew that until they die, their lives will continue to face trials. But she hoped that they would be able to ovee those challenges together.


    Meanwhile, in a ce far from America, a woman found herself sitting on a chair with her hands and feet tied. It felt like d¨¦j¨¤ vu, but this time, the woman wasn¡¯t looking at her victim but at herself.


    She lifted her head and felt an excruciating pain in her shoulders and neck. Where was she? The question instantly entered her mind. She looked around, and her eyes widened as she realized where she was.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Do you recognize this ce?¡± asked a voice, making her turn her head. She couldn¡¯t turn it far enough to see where the owner of the voice was. A shiver ran down her spine. She knew she wouldn¡¯t be okay. She knew there was no chance of survival. Yet, she still wondered what would happen to her.


    ¡°I truly regret bringing you into the midst of my family,¡± the man said, still sounding quite distant to the woman. ¡°I should have just epted my daughter¡¯s departure. I¡¯m sure we could have faced it together, just as I would see my wife fine now and still with me if I hadn¡¯t brought you into our lives.


    ¡°I know I¡¯ve been greedy. I didn¡¯t want to lose the woman I love, so I did everything to make her happy. But instead of bringing happiness to my wife, I brought her disaster,¡± he continued, his tone t, causing Loretta to snort.


    ¡°If only you didn¡¯t treat me like a puppet,¡± she said without a hint of remorse.


    ¡°Well, if only you had a human side to you. Taking you out of the orphanage and treating you like a princess, where others would kill to be in your position, should have made you grateful and thankful to us,¡± he said, his voice rising, anger slipping into his words.


    ¡°I never asked for any of this from you. I just wanted to be myself.¡±


    ¡°Yes, to be a criminal and a low-ss prostitute and drug dealer,¡± he said loudly. ¡°But let¡¯s not discuss that now,¡± he added, his voice closer this time. Loretta could feel the man¡¯s aura approaching, and then he circled her until he stood in front of her.


    ¡°You want to kill me?¡± The woman challenged with her gaze.


    The middle-aged man in front of her, who she should call father again, looked at her with a t expression. ¡°What do you think?¡± He asked, with a smirk on his face. There was no tenderness that Loretta used to see when the man was with his wife. When she used to be a good and sweet daughter to him.


    ¡°Do it. I¡¯m not afraid.¡± Loretta looked at the man with a challenging look and tone.


    The corner of the man¡¯s mouth lifted. ¡°Of course, but not so easily, dear.¡± He said sarcastically. ¡°You made the woman I love die slowly, in excruciating pain,¡± he said, causing Loretta¡¯s eyes to widen. ¡°I regret beingte to know about it. But I swore in front of the graves of my wife and child that I would make you pay for all the pain you¡¯ve caused to my wife.¡± He said with a threatening tone.


    Loretta still looked at the man in disbelief as he reached for something on the side of the wall. The man wore leather gloves and then wrapped them again with another rubber glove before grabbing a bottle not far from where the gloves were ced.


    ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± The man asked. He opened the cork made of cork pieces and brought it close to Loretta¡¯s nose, instantly making her frown and cough due to the strong acidic smell.


    The man in front of herughed and showed a happy grin. ¡°Imagine if this liquid touches your throat. It would feel very hot and burning. You might never be able to speak again. And after that, I will pour this liquid little by little all over your body until you regret treating the person who truly loved you so badly. If you ruin my wife from the inside, then I will ruin you from the outside.¡± The man then poured a bit of the liquid onto Loretta¡¯s bare feet. Screams of pain echoed in the room, which was entirelyyered with ss. ¡°Wee your painful death,¡± he said before gripping Loretta¡¯s chin, tilting it up, and pouring the liquid little by little into her mouth, turning her screams of pain into heartbreaking howls.

 Epilogue

    A few yearster, shouts were heard in the backyard of Chayton¡¯s residence. A heavily pregnant woman sat on a chair, watching her children jumping on the four-meter-diameter round trampoline,ughing. asionally, she yelled, asking her kids to be careful and not to fall.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    She felt the side of her seatpress and saw her mother-inw sitting there, cing warm milk in front of her. ¡°G said he¡¯s going to fly straight to America,¡± the woman whispered.


    Haisley turned to her mother-inw and smiled. Since her brother-inw made the startling announcement about his choice to convert, she knew her mother-inw was disappointed. Although in the end, her mother-inw epted her son¡¯s decision.


    ¡°Gilbert is an adult; he knows what he¡¯s chosen,¡± said his father-inw in support of his youngest son who chose to convert. ¡°You must be confident in your choice, G. You¡¯re not doing it just for a woman, right?¡± the father asked.


    Gilbert looked at his family and shook his head. ¡°G has made this decision carefully. I¡¯m sorry if G¡¯s choice disappoints you,¡± he said sincerely.


    Both his mother and father shook their heads. ¡°We ept you, whatever your choice, G.¡±


    And that happened a year ago. ¡°Do you think Abigail is the reason Gilbert decided to convert?¡± Mrs. Monica asked.


    Haisley smiled and shook her head. ¡°Haisley doesn¡¯t know, Ma.¡±


    Mrs. Monica lowered her head sadly. She then took a deep breath and exhaled sharply, staring at her two grandchildren who were still happily ying on the trampoline in front of them.


    ¡°Mom really likes your two friends, Haisley,¡± the woman said sincerely. ¡°via is a gentle and sincere girl. Abigail, she¡¯s a more expressive and straightforward girl. Her personality is simr to Gilbert¡¯s, and Mom has liked her since forever. Mom would be happy if they end up together someday. But if not? Didn¡¯t you say your friend is already married? Do you think she would leave her husband for Gilbert?¡±


    Haisley looked at her mother-inw with a sad look. She knew the disappointment her mother-inw was feeling now. She had told her mother-inw about Abigail¡¯s feelings for Gilbert since their youth, even though both were sure that Gilbert and Abigail wouldn¡¯t be together due to trust issues. But a year ago, when they found out about Gilbert¡¯s choice, their hopes began to change.


    Haisley continued to keep an eye on Abigail, trying to gauge her feelings towards her brother-inw. However, she hesitated to inform Abigail about what was happening with Gilbert because she wanted Gilbert tomunicate it directly to Abigail. But some time ago, she received surprising news that her friend was going to marry a man who had been arranged for her.


    ¡°If Abigail doesn¡¯t love the man her father chose, Mom hopes she still has feelings for Gilbert so that she can leave her husband and be with Gilbert, and they can live happily together,¡± her mother-inw said hopefully.


    Haisley reached out and touched her mother-inw¡¯s hand. ¡°Haisley also hopes for the best for G, Ma,¡± she said sincerely.


    The sound of footsteps made the two women from different generations turn. Nathan appeared in his work attire, still looking neat even though it waste in the day. Her husband of almost ten years smiled and approached.


    ¡°Good evening, dear,¡± he greeted before gently kissing Haisley¡¯s forehead and the top of her head. ¡°How¡¯s the baby today? Any rebellions again?¡± he asked with concern.


    Haisley smiled and shook her head. ¡°Today, he¡¯s calmer,¡± she replied to her husband.


    Nathan sighed. ¡°Because he always rebels at night. As if he doesn¡¯t like seeing his parents enjoy a peaceful night,¡± he said with a frustrated expression, to which Haisley responded with a smile.


    Haisley watched her husband walk away, calling out the names of their two children while waving and approaching the trampoline. He always demanded kisses from their two kids on many asions. Although the eldest sometimes refused, Nathan always insisted, eventually making the eldest give in.


    Yes, after years of living together, Nathan began to show his true character. A warm and caring man, just as Haisley wanted him to be. His gaze was always gentle and full of love, no longer cold as it was before they got married. Her husband¡¯s face was always adorned with a smile, leaving fine lines at the corners of his eyes as evidence of the sincerity of that smile. He became an attentive man, always there when Haisley needed him.


    Disagreements? Of course, they were always there, be it for small or big things. But they could always resolve everything well because, as it turned out, Nathan was extremely patient behind the cold demeanor he had shown for so long.


    Yes, Nathan was the best husband for her. And also the best father for their children. Because he always prioritized the needs of their children over work. One thing they learned from the kidnapping ordeal was that children are a precious gift from God.


    As for Loretta, years ago, after their wedding reception in Manhattan, they also held one in Ennd, inviting Nathan¡¯s colleagues, his father, and his college friends, including Gilbert, who had be his senior. At that time, she had asked if any of them knew about Loretta. However, none of them knew the whereabouts of that woman.


    Until now, Loretta seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Meanwhile, her adoptive father, her father-inw, said that the man had decided to retire from his job and live in a residence far from the city. In her heart, Haisley prayed that the woman would no longer cause suffering to others.


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