Chapter 125
Good Night.
Serena was feeling strange.
She felt warm, despite the cold temperature in Nathaniel’s room. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, “You should have used butterfly bandages for your wounds p>
Serena and Nathaniel were sitting next to each other on the bed.
She could feel the man’s gaze on her. It was intense and unyielding.
“I didn’t want the kids to see,” he reasoned. “Didn’t want them to worry p>
Nathaniel had one deep cut on his knuckles and two smaller ones. His hand badly needed proper care.
As Serena proceeded to put bandages on him, the two fell silent again. When she was almost done, Nathaniel suddenly held her wrist.
“I missed you so much,” he whispered.
Serena blinked.
Nathaniel then touched the bracelet he had given her. “Thank you for wearing this p>
She didn’t respond to the bracelet comment. Instead, she rechecked his hand. “You’re done p>
She smiled at him and added, “Thank you for helping today p>
Nathaniel nodded. “Anything to ensure you don’t marry another man p>
Serena stilled for a second.
Nathaniel smirked, slow and knowing.
She didn’t respond. Serena simply stood, intending to put distance between them, but her foot caught on a strip of gauze on the floor. The thin bathroom slippers offered no traction. She slipped.
Nathaniel moved instantly.
His hand caught her waist, but instead of merely steadying her, he turned with the momentum. The world tilted, her breath left her lungs, and suddenly she was falling backward.
Onto the bed.
The mattress dipped beneath her, and before she could react, Nathaniel followed. One knee between hers, one hand braced beside her head, the other still firm at her waist. He caged her in completely.
Half-naked.
Damp hair.
His sharp features were half-lit.
And… let’s not forget, he was still in a towel.
He hovered over her, close enough that she could feel his warmth, his breath, the
restrained tension coiled beneath his skin.
For a split second, neither of them moved.
This.
This was not how someone caught a person from falling.
Nathaniel’s gaze dropped to her lips, then lifted back to her eyes, dark and dangerous.
“Careful,” he murmured quietly. “You almost fell p>
Serena: p>
11
“Nathaniel Thorne, are you trying to seduce me?” Serena said, raising her voice.
“Seduce you?” Nathaniel pulled back, giving her space. “I simply caught you. I thought it would be safer to land you on the bed p>
“Just a hypothetical question,” he continued. “If you think I’m seducing you… Is it working p>
“No!” she shot back, getting up, flustered. She was about to say more when someone knocked on the door.
“Serena? You’re in Nathaniel’s room?” It was Sterling. “What are you two doing p>
Panic surged through both of them. Nathaniel swiftly grabbed a change of clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. Meanwhile, Serena straightened herself before slowly opening the door.
“Ah-hey, Dad,” Serena greeted. “I was cleaning up Nathaniel’s wound. Remember? He punched Stefan earlier and got injured in the process p>
Sterling’s eyes narrowed as he
scanned the room. He spotted the
medicine kit on the bed, then
returned his attention to Serena
“There are safer places for that, like,
the lounge or the living room p>
“Right,” Serena replied, making a face. She gestured at the bed. “It’s just more convenient here, Dad p>
Just then, the toilet flushed. Nathaniel stepped out of the bathroom, now dressed in his sleepwear.
He waved politely. “Mr. Vander. Good night p>
Sterling’s gaze never left him. He raised his chin and said, “Nathang allowed you to stay overnight so you can spend more time with the kids Remember, you must respect my daughter. You are not… married p>
“Yes, sir. Of course,” Nathaniel replied smoothly. “Serena was just helping me with my hand p>
Then Sterling pointed toward the ceiling in the hallway. “There are cameras in my home p>
Serena felt her cheeks heat up. She understood exactly what her father was implying. “Dad, we’re not doing anything inappropriate p>
“Just laying out the rules,” Sterling said. “You should go to your room now, Serena.” “Yes,” she answered.
Nathaniel helped her gather the
contents of the medicine kit that had spilled onto the floor. After that, she left. She noticed Nathaniel was. about to say something, but with her father still standing by the door she didn’t turn around.
Serena’s room was four doors down, right next to Sebastian’s. Before she went inside, she noticed Nathaniel and Sterling were still engaged in a serious conversation.
She didn’t know what they discussed, but from where she stood, she saw Nathaniel breathe out a sigh of relief. He mouthed the words, ‘Thank you p>
Serena walked into her room and locked the door behind her.
For the next half hour, she tried to sleep. But if she were honest with herself, that encounter with Nathaniel had thoroughly stirred her.
“Great,” she muttered.
She tossed and turned, frustration building… until she heard a knock.
On her window.
“What the—” Serena froze, heart racing. ‘Who in the world would knock on her window p>
The knock came again, louder this time, followed by a familiar voice.
“Serena p>
She cautiously approached the window and yanked open the curtains.
It was Nathaniel!
She opened the window just as he climbed up and sat on the window frame. He was panting slightly as he steadied himself.
“Did you just climb along the outside?” Serena asked in shock. She even peeked outside her window to see how far he had climbed.
Nathaniel was still catching his breath as he swung himself into her room. “I didn’t get to say good night p>
Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight, his warmth caging her. They were so close, she could feel the drumming of his heart and his uneven breathing against her.
“Serena,” he murmured against her hair, “what do I do? Coming to you, I used all my strength. I’m afraid I might fall if I climb back p>
Serena: p>