Chapter # 38

One fine morning, Zariah was with Nathaniel who was sleeping peacefully. Her fingers ran through his smooth locks with an everlasting smile. Drowning in him, in his words, in how much he cared for her, she sank and lost her way to the surface nor did she want to in the first place. 'My, so handsome," Whispering, her fingers caressed him, earning a smile from the man who whispered back. 'And all yours," 'You were awake?" 'Just now, heard an angel calling me handsome which I know I am," He chuckled, fingers intertwined with hers to feel the perfection of it as he kissed them as a finest method to start a day. 'Yes, Sir," 'Ah, you smile for me, this is my world, my happiness, you know? What more could I possibly seek?" He smirked, plopping on his elbow before opening his eye-catching emerald eyes and meeting her gleaming black ones. 'You and your dreamy words will be the end of me," She giggled, kissing his head before getting out of the bed. Since it was his day-off yet he had to go to work so she decided to do laundry to pass time while he must be working hard. 'I have buried them in my heart for a painfully long time, if they won't be liberated now then when?" He chuckled back, yawning while stretching his strong arms, regaining senses after a peaceful slumber. 'Yes, yes," He was getting ready to leave as Zariah came, holding his shirt with a frown plastered on her face. 'Nathaniel," 'Hmm?" 'Your shirt has fresh blood on it," 'Oh, it must be from the surgery or somewhere else. Give me another shirt," He smiled, not bothering to inspect. '... But, you had no surgery, only follow ups yesterday. You said it-" He laughed nervously, waving her hand to shrug it off, 'Darling, come on, I work in a hospital, getting blood on my shirt is no big deal," She opened her mouth- ‘How come you have it when you told me you didn't leave your cabin in the first place?' Her chest clenched, she didn't want to be paranoid and endeavored to trust him wholeheartedly. Although after witnessing his extremity of wrath, she knew he might have given her empty consolations. It hurt her but forcing a smile and nodded, 'Yeah, I must be worrying for nothing," 'Exactly. Relax. Take care." He grinned, giving her a side hug before kissing her head. 'You too," She had questions in her heart and to erase them, on Monday, she went to see De Villiers who was astonished at her unannounced presence. 'Oh, Hey," 'He did it again, didn't he?" She asked emptily only to receive silence as she hit his chest. 'Don't say silent, talk to me, De Villiers," 'So what? He is good with you, no? Whatever he does behind doesn't matter," He argued, rolling his eyes. 'Doesn't matter? That man is hurting my Nathaniel constantly, he is making him ruthless and it's not my concern?" Her lips quivered, not wanting Guru's appearance on their beautiful reality. They had attained happiness, she couldn't allow a past trauma to ruin their future. 'Don't I have obligations to do the least for him?" Upon her desperation, his frown deepened, folding his arms before leaning against his desk. 'You are blindly devoted to him, leave him be, however he is, you are flaring him," Her mouth gaped, 'What does it have to do with our situation?" 'Remember, Zariah. Never tell Nathaniel your weakness. He will use it. I bet he cried and you melted, no?" A shred of horror dropped but she attempted to suppress it and held her head high, not creating wrong perceptions out of it. 'So what? He was feeling bad and apologized, it's a common thing-" Only to be cut off by De Villiers. 'And that is why he always wants you to be away from him," He told her the harsh truth Nathaniel carried until distances became unbearable for him. 'To keep you away from him because he never wanted you to witness this side of him." She was stiff in appall as he stood before her, jaw clenching before speaking in a furious tone. 'Realize, Zariah. Nathaniel is a selfish man. He can't give up on either you or him. Love and hate coexist, he needs both," Her body shivered, hating for being so impotent to do anything for him. Eyes shrinked out of dismal when De Villiers continued. 'That man is a monster who rips cures, even if they shatter. He is selfish, he doesn't care, nothing matters to him." And by pointing his finger at her, he severed her sensitive spot. Words she buried to never dig again. Words she could ‘never' utter. 'And you are the one at fault for that," Tears sprang, shaking her head in denial, not accepting that she led him to a heartless point where his path was darkness and consumed by heartily desires. '… But, why? What happened? He was fine when he left. Prince shot him, not me. Why are you blaming me?" She asked in a crying tone. 'Don't forget that one gunshot for what he is hating on Prince was fully planned not just a petty attempt," De Villiers growled, piercing her heart by his next words. 'And. Your. Fault," A tear rolled down her cheek, body immobilized to be forced to confront the mess created years ago that devastated their future. 'The accident after Alice's death. Losing his memories took a toll on him. She still thinks Amanda's ex, Brandon did this," 'He doesn't know about it… Yet?" 'Do you want me to tell him?" He scoffed. 'No!" Losing her strength, she could feel a sob at the back of her throat, an agonizing sensation she was incapable of suppression. '... I didn't mean to create a monster. I didn't do it purposely, De Villiers, it's all my fault he is like this today," She whispered hoping it could fix anything. It couldn't. He also rolled his eyes, ignoring her miserable state as she tried to ask expectantly. 'Or… he is just like his mother, Valencia, right?" De Villers' back was facing her and these words made him glance over his shoulder with shock. 'Who says he is like his mother? He looks like her but in terms of mind, he was ‘never' her." He hissed. 'Then…?" 'Nathaniel Alroy is just like his ‘Father', Silas Alroy," 'How-" 'He doesn't know nor realize it. And it would be better if he doesn't. His father was his ideal after all," He warned her to not open that mouth. He could find all souls corrupted but never his father's. And going there means damaging her bond with him. 'And don't you dare to ever tell him that. He respects his father mindlessly, don't break it," De Villiers ordered strictly. 'I.. understand." 'What should I do now, De Villiers?" Exhaling, she wiped her tears. She had never found herself so powerless, she was willing to grasp redemption for him from anywhere. ‘Can she do what none of us can…? Nathaniel will forgive her, at least, right?' De VIlliers thought and asked softly, 'Why don't you drop by some other time? When will he have to do a long surgery?" 'Okay-" Nodding, she wiped her tears and was about to leave but Nathaniel came engrossed in some dealings, just returned from work. He hadn't even taken off his doctor's coat. 'De Villiers, Zaviyaar's shipment have been delivered and- Zari? What are you doing here?" 'I was looking for you," She forced a smile, rushing to his side, holding his arm. 'Let's go to the hospital," Closing the file, he gave it to the person beside him and held her waist with one hand and checked her neck hastily if she was okay or not. 'Why? Are you okay? Are you sick? Your don't feel-" 'I want to do another pregnancy test. This time I am having a feeling it will be positive," She beamed, creating an excuse, pulling his arm that made him groan. 'Again? Didn't your period end just last week? Plus why go to the hospital? Let's get a test and do this at home," 'Why not? Come on, I want to see your reaction, we can go out too," He shook his head, certainly not in the mood but she whined, pulling his arm and before that adorable shine, he found himself helpless. 'Fine, give me a moment," She grinned. For that, he accepted defeat and discussed some work with De Villiers, 'Okay, De Villiers? And watch out for it, if possible hire someone trustworthy,." 'I got it, Boss, you go," 'Thanks," Waving his hand, his large hand settled on his woman's shoulder, 'Come, Madam," Pressing her firmly against his chest as they gleefully left for the nearby hospital. 'See. It's negative." Nathaniel smirked, poking her cheeks. 'Next time, it won't be," She winked. 'Yeah, yeah, we will see," 'Well, hospital was an excuse, I want you all by myself, I was missing you too much," She whispered, placing her hand over his heart, surprising the man too much. 'Really?" 'Mhm," Gripping his shirt, she forgot herself when her eyes latched with his, confessing her most innocent yet important wish. 'When you are this close, I don't want to leave you," Smiling back, soothed to find her so lost in him, he held her hand and kissed them sincerely. 'I won't let this happen either, I have gained this moment by endless manifestations, I won't anything steal it from me," 'Me too," Placing her hand on his chest, she demanded in a honeyed voice, leaving the man wondering what happened to her. 'Promise me, Nathaniel, you won't place anything above me," 'Why promise? Nothing is above you," 'Ah, now it feels good when you are this close else I was burning when you were angry," He whispered, giving her a side hug as they got out of the hospital. 'Don't be furious with me again, we will talk, we will mend hearts but won't leave each other, okay?" She giggled, 'Where else am I supposed to go apart from you?" 'Good point- Ah, do you want some cotton candy?" 'Sure," He was determined to not disappoint her- he knew he did by hollow words. He didn't want to break her trust- he knew he did. He knew he fucked up… but, how could he tell her that? 'Zari…" Sitting on the bench, they were having cotton candy, fulfilling the desires that were once left hanging. Staring at each other until Nathaniel broke the comfortable silence with beautiful words. 'You are my longest, most beautiful, most heartwarming dream," Leaning her shoulder against his, clicking heads, spending a heartwarming together, she grinned. 'I know,"