Chapter # 55

The second Nathaniel entered his apartment, he saw Zariah on a call who stopped instantly the second her eyes fell on him. 'What is your prob-" Cutting the call, she sighed, throwing her phone away and curled her lips downwards to show discontent. Failing to apprehend the reasoning behind her glare, he asked casually. 'What happened? Who are you talking to?" 'No one, leave it. You're finally home after two days?" 'Not now, Zari, I am exhausted," He sighed when she scowled, putting his coat away only to hear a scoff from her. 'Are you?" 'Is that supposed to be a taunt?" Stopping in his tracks, he glanced over his shoulder, baffled to perceive what happened to her or what he did to earn this grimace. 'Is it?" She chuckled dryly, rolling her eyes that made him stop. 'Okay, what happened? Why are you in the mood to fight?" 'Yes, I am in a damn mood to fight because my man hasn't been home for days." She hissed, grabbing his shirt angrily. He paused, eyes cascading down to her hand gripping onto him and back to her face with a strange sensation brimming in his chest. While she was surrounded with an emptiness, the lack of activity was disturbing her too much, she was not used to it. 'And here I am, Zariah Ezekiel, who used to work 24/7, always engrossed in it. Now look, I lie and watch the ceiling fan turn and washing machine spin, how exciting," He didn't react, merely staring at her face that enhanced her wrath, leaving his shirt roughly, she ended up yelling. 'I don't even have any responsibility like taking care of a child if- Are you listening?!" He blinked, realizing he fell into a daze, he apologized sweetly, scratching the back of his neck. 'What? Sorry I stopped listening after hearing ‘my man', it sounded too sexy," Her mouth gaped in disbelief. A hint of fury flashed and before she could stomp her feet, the sound of his melodious chuckle vanished her wrath. Eventually relaxing her shoulders, she shook her head, holding her sides from frustration and whining. 'I am going insane here, Nathaniel, I have nothing to do," He smiled, pinching her cheeks playfully, 'Baby, you died in a plane crash in this country. Your visa has expired now. All your IDs and cards are fake. You are an illegal immigrant here," 'Is that supposed to make me better?" Her frown deepened, slapping his hand away. 'I guess not. I am just reminding you that you are locked, Darling," Winking, he went back to their room with her following his trails to burst all her complaints and ease herself. 'But, don't worry, I know you are done being here, I have arranged for us to return," Ruffling his hair, he unbuttoned his shirt to leave and have a shower for relaxation. 'Oh, for me or your term with Sebastian is ending in two months?" His jaw clenched, cursing De Villiers, 'So that asshole told you about it?" 'Why are you making it seem like you are doing it for me when you are not?" She asked nonchalantly, taking out his casual clothes, hanging them to him. 'I don't get it. Why are you doing this to make me feel better?" 'Because I want to love you better, Zari," She stopped, 'Come again?" He stole a glace worriedly, not comfortable mentioning it, leaving her perplexed for doing something unasked for. Curling his hand powerlessly, a desperation flickered in his eyes, holding complaints with his own self which went over her head as he continued softly. 'I want to love you better, live better, behave better. Not extremely, not mindless, blindly or whatever shit… Just better." Displaying a confused expression, her head adorably tilted to the side, failing to comprehend the context of his talks. 'I am sorry, my brain is too tiny to understand, elaborate," He frowned, bringing her closer and when his hand placed on her neck, sending a beautiful shiver down her spine. 'You have done everything for me," Eradicating distances with an affectionate movement, she patiently waited as she feasted her gaze by his handsome body. 'You chose me under all circumstances, you have never hurt me on purpose, couldn't even kill me thrice." He chuckled dryly, carrying a hint of anguish in his resonance. 'And I, on the contrary, did everything wrong to you," He whispered earnestly, expressing his ashamed perception. Placing his thumb over her chin to ensure she focused more on his words than his body but those eyes refused. 'I love you to the extreme already." 'Now I just want to love you better… how I should. And thank you, Zari, for being here with me, for always choosing me," Ending in a sigh, he took a moment to get her attention but gained none and whistled to break her from her compelling rhythm. 'I am sorry, I stopped listening the second I saw your body, it's too sexy," Blinking, she followed the same gesture of sweet apology that made the man leave her instantly with a disapproving gasp. 'Are you done mocking me?" He hissed that to all his in-depth and mellow words, all he received in the end was a wink, ruining his whole endearing moment. Giggling, she poked his cheeks, 'Just kidding, I heard everything. And I will always chose you over this world, Nathaniel," He was about to argue but realized he couldn't get angry and groaned. Following the same gesture of her frustration. 'Oh Lord, you have seriously put me under your spell," Shaking his head, he pulled away. Knowing two more moments in her vicinity would attract his soul to latch their bodies together and pretend the world never existed for them. 'I know," Shaking his head, well aware both of them were too fragile for each other, he went to freshen up. Later, they had dinner together and were getting ready to sleep until she embraced him from behind. 'Hey," Providing warmth to his cold body, soothing him with one contact. He laughed a little at their reflection in the mirror, perfection of this imprisonment dropped to their core. Staring how those hands imprinted on his as if it was meant to be. 'Isn't that too perfect?" He whispered, indulging in the heartwarming sight when he kissed his shoulder. Her body rested against him to display the longing knitted in her desolation, how madly she prayed those hands never part from his. Lost in him, she whispered sincerely, honestly, in-depthly. 'You cannot imagine how much you mean to me and that is why, believe in me too, in my actions too. ‘Anything' I do, I do it for us," 'I know," Smirking, he smoothly snaked his hand around and pressed her body into his muscular one. 'If there is anyone I trust with my life after De Villiers, it's you. Brushing his nose against her, he found himself drowning in her all along with a soft murmuration. 'I know my worshiper can never hurt me, can never do anything that could disappoint me," She grinned, the pride shining in his eyes boosted her confidence, overflowing her chest with felicity of how much faith he held. 'I love you, Nathaniel, I love you so much," 'I love you too, Zariah," Tightening his grip over her, his keen eyes linked to the point she lost her composure with palm rigidly pressed against his chest as out of the blue, he declared. 'Let's grow old together and live happily ever after," 'What…?" 'The first thing I want to do the second we reach America is sign the marriage license papers. Let's get married and have kids," He repeated his words, inducing a high level of satisfaction. Heart thumping at a rapid rate, breaths turning unstable, her grip on him tightening with overwhelming delight. Her face brightened, the moment he uttered what she was manifesting as her profound wish. 'Really…?" 'Yes," Breaking into a laugh with tears, she ended up jumping out of felicity, beaming endlessly at the anticipation of it. 'Oh, you have not the slightest imagination of the wild rampage inside my chest with your oh-so-calm words," Smirking, he seductively grabbed her shirt, scanning her from top to bottom. 'Why don't you open this top and let the doctor inspect-" 'No, thank you," Poking his nose, she laughed and sat on the bed followed by her man who jumped as well, the grin not wiping. He had provided her solace. She was finally going to build her home after all, the home of dreams, of adoration, of love. As they were laying in bed, engrossed in each other, eyes locked to stare and believe it was not a deception of eyes but reality. Hands caressing as her fingers were tracing over his chest, leading to under his shirt to touch his abs that made him laugh. 'Hey, don't do that," 'Why not?" She winked, licking her lips before leading her hand upward. Grabbing her wrist and taking it out of his shirt playfully, he spoke what shifted her mind instantly. 'Also we have to pay Cinzel a visit. Adam took his first steps. Any idea what we should get for the kids?" Nathaniel knew if he was going to bring a gift, he would bring it for all of them so they won't feel left out. He loved them all equally and did justice to them as they adored their Uncle too. 'Really? Ah, how cute. Do you have the video?" 'Sure, it is in my phone," Grabbing his phone, she quickly saw the video, letting out shrieks when she failed to control herself that made him raise an eyebrow. 'Ee! So cute! These tiny feet! Oh my God! So adorable!" He stared at his woman going crazy over one video, repeating it, explicitly showing how much she adored kids. After seeing the video ten times, she chuckled, opening his and Cinzel's chat. 'I am sending a voice message from your phone to her, Nathaniel," 'Sure," 'Hey Cinzel, it's me, Zariah, congratulations on Adam's first steps. We will pay a visit soon, tell the little man to better greet me by running into my arms, okay?" Sending the message, she gave the phone back, not before sending her the video as well. The merest idea of one day she would celebrate such tiny moments too induced tranquility, she couldn't wait for it. Stretching her hands out, she fell on the bed, on his strong arm, displaying a toothy grin. Pinching her cheeks, he couldn't help but to etch these reactions into his core. 'Ah, I am so happy. One day, we will have the same life," She whispered, cuddling with him. 'And your happiness is my happiness," After sharing a beautiful moment, they went to sleep. The next day, Nathaniel was about to leave for work and gave her a side hug, kissing the top of her head, 'Take care, Darling," 'You too and try to be home, even late but be here for me," She said expectantly. 'I will try my best," 'Bye," Waving him goodbye, the second he left, she abruptly found everything empty. The grin on her face gradually vanished. Without him, she felt incomplete. Sighing, she thought about doing some chores to pass time, watch TV shows yet the time was not passing. 'Argh…" Doing anything without him was not as entertaining, she was becoming addicted to him, to his demeanor. Used to being teased while doing chores, or asking too many questions during the shows to the point she was irritated. And watching peacefully was unfavorable, it didn't feel good. 'Huff… what should I do now?" Holding her sides, she saw it was still time for his return and thought about baking some cookies until her phone rang and it was that unknown number again. 'Fuck you," Cursing, she declined the call but that one hand turned her hands cold, it drained her energy in dread. She didn't want that shadow anywhere near her upcoming delicious life and ravaged it. With a frown, she was about to go back to her baking but it rang again. And again, until she grew exasperated and picked it up outrageously. 'What!? What is your problem!? What do you want?" Only to hear a nonchalant but threatening resonance from the other side that dried her throat with anxiety. 'Not only you got me that fucking file, you failed to keep the end of our bargain," Pushing her hair back, she whispered weakly, 'I was desperate," 'Oh please, it would only take me a few statements to break this delusional happy world of yours," He scoffed, pushing her farther into distress by his warning. 'One agreement paper and his pride in you will shatter," And by all means, she couldn't allow that to happen. Shutting her eyes, finding herself so defenseless, she fell back on the seat, pulling her hair that her voice broke in anguish. 'What do you want, Zoran? Leave me," 'You know what I want. We made a deal." 'But-" 'I take you to your beloved Nathaniel, you get him and you keep the end of our bargain. Give me what I want," He demanded openly. She whispered, 'I can't. How am I supposed to do it? I can't hurt him," 'We both know how, all of them trust you blindly. Only you are capable of it unless you don't want me to tell Nathaniel everything," 'Don't," She panicked, 'Don't you dare to do that," 'Think, Zariah, think, how terrible he would feel to know you are working with the man he resents the most," 'You won't do that, Zoran," 'I can and might will. Depending on ‘your' actions so complete your fucking deal," With a final threat, he cut the call. With her heart immersed in dismal, her lips quivered. The second she believed she had escaped the storm of turmoils, he attached fetters and dragged her back to the darkness. ‘Fuck… What should I do now?'