Chapter 11
**Chapter 11: Comfortable p>
Comfortable?
Serena felt as if her heart had leapt into her throat when she bolted upright in bed. The sudden realization that Nathaniel was lounging beside her sent a jolt of panic through her. “Nathan! Why are you here? And why am I here?” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief.
They were ensconced in their matrimonial home, in the very bedroom that had once been a sanctuary for their shared life as a couple.
This was the last place in the world Serena wished to find herself.
Nathaniel, however, remained unfazed. With a tranquility that infuriated her, he reached for the lamp and flicked it on.
The soft, golden glow flooded the room, illuminating Nathaniel in his casual pajamas.
Serena’s breath hitched in her throat, a mixture of confusion and dread swirling within her.
He appeared nothing like the distant, cold CEO who had turned his back on her. Instead, he resembled the man she had woken up to every morning for four long years, a ghost of the past that sent a sharp pang through her heart.
As he ran a hand through his tousled hair, his voice emerged steady and calm. “You fell asleep in the car and wouldn’t stir. I had to carry you inside. Even the rain couldn’t wake you p>
Serena blinked, her throat constricting painfully. “You-why am I wearing different clothes p>
His response was nonchalant. “We both got drenched in the rain. I had to change you,” he replied, as if nothing had shifted in their world.
Fists clenched tightly at her sides, she shot back, “You shouldn’t have brought me here p>
“Where else would I take you? This is your home,” Nathaniel frowned, his expression darkening.
Outside, the rain lashed against the windows, and thunder rumbled ominously. Yet, all Serena could perceive was the relentless thudding of her own heart, a drumbeat echoing the unspoken tensions between them, a chasm neither dared to cross.
“This is not my home anymore!” she retorted, her voice rising in intensity. “This is a home built on lies p>
With an emphatic gesture, she pointed at herself. “I’m already living with Alice. I’ve even enlisted an agent to help me sell this house p>
She noted the way Nathaniel’s brow furrowed, his jaw tightening, and his eyes narrowing in disbelief. He stood, arms crossed defiantly against his chest, challenging her words. “Sell the house? Why would you want to sell it? It’s in a prime location! This place was designed with your needs in mind. I left it for you to live comfortably, even without me p>
Serena’s eyes widened in shock at his words. Was he truly serious? Disbelief washed over her, and a bitter laugh escaped her lips.
“Oh, how very thoughtful of you, Mr. Thorne! I had no idea you still possessed a heart!” she shot back, her voice laced with sarcasm.
“Do you think comfort is merely about marble floors and prime locations p>
She stepped closer, her fury igniting her voice. “Let me enlighten you. This house, your so-called perfect, custom-made house, is filled with memories of you in every corner. Memories I’d rather burn to ashes than share a bed with p>
Nathaniel stiffened at her words, but she pressed on.
“You act as if you’ve done me some grand favor she barked. “To me, this place feels like a graveyard, a tomb for everything you’ve destroyed. So no, this house is no longer mine. How on earth am! supposed to live comfortably’ surrounded by the ghost’s you’ve left
in your wake p>
Nathaniel lifted his chin defiantly. “Is that why you burned the wedding portrait? Your wedding gown and p>
“Yes!” she interrupted, her voice sharp as a knife. “That’s exactly it p>
Frustrated, Serena turned her back to him, her eyes drawn to the rain-soaked windows. But as she contemplated leaving, the storm outside reminded her that escape was impossible. Instead, she stepped out of the master bedroom, seeking solace away from the memories that haunted her.
The guest rooms lay untouched, their beds covered in dust and
sheets. Serena hadn’t bothered to clean them for the past two months since Nathaniel had started ghosting her Rerhaps that was why he had
beside her. beside her. As for
chosen to slee the house She
why he remain remained in
could only assume the relentless weather had trapped him here.
Though they were both confined to the same space, it didn’t mean she had to
endure the torment of sleeping next to him.
It was still only three in the morning,
and hours loomed ahead before
dawn would break. Serena curled up on the living room sofa, one hand resting protectively over her
ver
stomach. She had to be strong. She was pregnant, and regardless of the chaos Swirling within her the weff-being of her child had to take precedence.
But the weight of her emotions crashed down on her like a tidal wave.
Nathaniel’s actions left her reeling, while his words echoed coldly in her mind, making everything painfully clear.
“I made sure to leave you the house so you could live comfortably, even without me p>
“Comfortably,” she repeated bitterly to herself, as if a roof could ever replace the love he had shattered.
“One day, Nathan. I swear I’ll get over you. I’ll thrive just fine without you p>
“Please, let it be soon p>
With a silent plea, she reached out to the universe, to God, fate, or whatever force might be listening-she didn’t know.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, a cathartic release until her body had nothing left to give, and the exhaustion finally pulled her into a deep slumber.
Unbeknownst to her, the heavens had indeed heard her. Her strength would return, her heart would mend… but not before a few unexpected twists along the way.
The following day, Serena awoke to find Nathaniel engaging in activities that further scrambled her already tumultuous thoughts.
Her jaw clenched tightly, teeth grinding in frustration. “Nathaniel Thorne, just what kind of sick game are you playing p>