Chapter # 15

A few days passed and too much workload due to the collapse of his building kept him engrossed at the hospital. He barely had time to go home and check up on Zariah. He was even sleeping in the hospital while gathering his thoughts to know what he must do next. He was rubbing his temples after working on a series of patients and becoming exhausted because of it. 'Are you alright?" Keith asked, watching how his eyes were heavy with dark circles. 'Hmm," 'You don't look like it. You need rest," 'Hmm," Sighing at his lack of response, he shook his head and walked away. Leaving the man alone in his worrisome thoughts which were soon broken when Zariah called him. For a few seconds, he simply stared at the number with a smile adorning his features indicating he was not alone anymore. There was someone waiting for him. Someone who would care if he was home or not. If he was tired or not. He had someone to consider as his compassionate partner. His smile converted into a grin, staring at the number for a prolonged period getting lost in the mesmerizing sensation until the call was about to end. 'Oh, shit, shit," Chuckling inaudibly, he picked he call hastily, leaning back to hear her voice that could soothe all his distress. Smiling to himself, he hummed as her timid resonance came. 'When will you come?" He smirked impishly, 'Why need me there?" 'What do you mean?" 'Don't I live in your heart? Why meet?" 'You have lived in my heart for too long now I need you physically. Be home tonight, Mister," She giggled, not taking much of his time and cutting the call. To her demand, he knew he must go so rising from his seat, he walked up to Keith who was engrossed in his work. 'Keith," 'Yeah?" 'Can you cover up for my shift today? I am exhausted," Nathaniel yawned. 'Of course, you had been staying in the hospital for the past few days due to the blast, no worries. You need some rest," 'Thanks," Upon reaching home, before greeting Zariah, he was going through a trial of facing the wrath of his sister first. Cinzel was holding a vase at Nathaniel, fumes emitting from her with a popped vein for daring to lie to her. 'Asshole!" 'Cinzel, listen-" He chuckled nervously, putting his hand in the air defensively but she refused to listen to his useless justifications. 'How could you lie to me!? I was so worried about you! And you didn't think twice about your sister, dammit!" She yelled, throwing the vase which he thankfully got away from. 'Cinzel, no!" 'Hey- hey, it was a plan- I-" 'I don't fucking care about your plan," She growled, coming closer to grab Nathaniel who ran back. Glancing at Zariah who giggled at the biggest criminal escaping his sister. 'Cinzel, sweetheart, kids are watching," Prince called while enjoying the sight deep down. 'No, Prince, how dare he," 'Yeah, think what a wrong impression it will imply on the kids, Cinzel, stop," Zariah came too because how could she allow anyone to hurt him, even his sister, even playfully… Taking a deep breath, Cinzel glared at Nathaniel for a few seconds before gathering her composure to not create further drama. 'Only because Zariah is saying else I would hit that damn malicious head of yours," 'Love you too, dearest sister," He blew a kiss to which she hissed and walked away with a yelling sound. 'Fuck you!" 'Darling, language!" Prince laughed, going after his wife to soothe her lava as Nathaniel couldn't help but to chuckle at her wrath. Shaking his head, he got up and saw Zariah who had lowered her gaze, enticing him to grab and push her to him. But he couldn't because she was holding his nephew. Setting his form, he smiled at Zariah. 'Hey," She rolled her eyes and walked away while holding the six months old Adam who was laughing at his Aunt. 'Come on, I came on your words and now you're angry?" 'I don't know what to feel honestly, Nathaniel," 'What happened?" 'Nothing. Come, let's have dinner together. I was waiting for you," She sighed, not wanting her thoughts to disturb her. 'You didn't have to," 'But I wanted to," 'Okay, as you wish," They were having dinner and he couldn't help but to stare at her, watching how she was grinning while playing with Adam. Resting his elbow on the table, a smile adorned his lips, immersing in the shine she emitted wholeheartedly. Zariah, who was eating and also playing, noticed how Nathaniel's eyes were affixed on her. Lowering her gaze shyly, she took a bite. 'What? Why are you looking at me like this?" 'You look absolutely gorgeous while playing with kids," He chuckled, pointing his fork playfully at her before continuing eating. 'I adore children. And my misfortune that I don't have one of my own," She mumbled, not realizing her words came as a deride towards Nathaniel. 'Is that a taunt towards me?" He frowned, arching an eyebrow. She remained silent, it was not yet she wanted to see how he could react. To her ache, he leaned back after eating, folding his arms at his chest firmly. 'And do not expect that from me either. I have seen what happened to my mother and her children. Consider me out," He enunciated, rolling his eyes. Her mouth gaped in disappointment, 'That doesn't mean we will have the same outcome, Nathaniel. Sebastian also-" She attempted to argue only to be cut off by him seriously. 'I don't care about what Sebastian has. Don't compare us to them. We are nothing like them," 'Do you not want a happy ending for us?" She asked desperately but he slammed his hand on the table, earning a flinch from her. 'I do but I don't trust my fate. It was never on my side," Her mouth gaped but not wanting to argue further, he walked away, leaving her in her worrisome thoughts. When he went to the room with a deep frown, she couldn't help but to sigh. He was not wrong either. Moments he cherished were close to non-existent. Just a few years he clung onto that purloined his trust on happiness. Zariah gave Adam back to her parents and came to see Nathaniel. He was staring outside the window with a clenched jaw, hands enclosed behind him. Sinking into thoughts that were disturbing him yet he was powerless to reveal them and allowed them to gobble him. 'Nathaniel-" He cut her off softly, 'Night is beautiful, isn't it?" Walking closer, her head inclined against his arm, wrapping her arms around it while he stood stoic. Closing her eyes, she found a homely sensation in his vicinity because…. He was not the only one with barely minimum happiness- she was too. And two seconds with him compensated her loneliness and grief and questioned- why couldn't he do the same? But, not wanting to ruin his mood, utterly hopeless for him, a smile flashed a gentle smile at him. 'Don't worry," 'Hmm?" He was so close that she cared about nothing and none except him- there were no strings to pull her back after all. 'Everything will be alright soon, Nathaniel," When she murmured it, kissing his arm, leaving him staggered briefly. He was well aware of her devotion towards him but when she displayed it. It was much, so much, deeper than he anticipated. He couldn't help but to smile and place his hand over her shoulder to keep her pressed against him with a heartfelt desire too. 'I hope so,"