Chapter # 66

Nathaniel gave his best attempt to remain infuriated and not talk to her but not caring for her was never included. He successfully displayed wrath but to discard her from his life knowing he was all she ever wished for- He could never do this. Subsequently, vulnerable by feelings, he came to her the next day. "Zariah," "Yes?" Her low, depressed tone came, afraid to look into his eyes. Finding her hugging her knees close to her chest, disturbed, that obviously pricked him as he placed the medicines and the reports on the table. "Here, don't forget to take them on time. Don't miss the report or rip again. We need it for the follow up and I have send your car for maintenance," "Okay, thank you," She nodded innocently. "Also, do you have a pack of cigarettes?" He asked, grabbing her purse and going through it. "Y- Yeah, why?" "Give it," He sighed when he couldn't find it and gave it to her. "Here," "Take a look at it," He said sternly. Stopping the box at her face, distressing her. She worriedly scanned the box before stopping at him. "And you are never seeing it again," Enunciating, he took it away from her for her betterment, knowing if she continued any further it would damage her lungs beyond repair. "But-" "The last thing I want you to have is cancer, I am not going to live this shitty life all alone," Walking away as she stared at him with eerie sensations brimming uncontrollably. She started smoking when he left and never stopped since. It developed into a habit and she knew it would be hard to give up but she was determined to not smoke for her baby too. Smiling feebly to herself, she looked down. He gave the cigarette to one of his workers and saw Cinzel coming with her kids. "Uncle!" Sky rushed to him that lightened up his mood and brought a glow on his arresting features instantly. "Oh, hey Princess, how are you?" "Good. How are you? I am so sorry to hear about De Villiers," She said innocently, hugging him, patting his back to reduce his pain. He smiled sorrowfully, hugging her back, "That's life, Princess," Pulling away, he turned to Cinzel as Prince was holding his twins with one arm each. "Hey," "Did you teach Adam?" "Well, I tried, let's hope he won't disappoint us," She shrugged her shoulders. Nathaniel nodded and turned to Adam, patting his head, pointing towards the lounge where Zariah was immersed in dejection, not noticing them. "Hey, hey, champ, go and hug your Auntie, okay?" He did not forget how excitedly he requested Cinzel to teach him how to hug her. She was looking forward to that moment. "kay," And as much as she adored babies, he knew his hug would diminish her ache. "Auntie!" Grinning, Adam did as taught and ran to Zariah, opening his hand to her, steps almost stumbled. Her face lifted up immediately, shifting to her knees and opening her hands as well when the tiny Adam ran to Zariah and hugged her firmly. "Ah! How adorable, how are you, little man? Walking with these cool shoes huh?" She grinned. Forgetting her grief and heftiness briefly and pinching his cheeks, pulling him into her laps. "He, he," He laughed, not letting go of her, warming her heart. Leaning against the frame by the shoulders, his eyes captured her smiling. She was lost in playing with him as he stared intensely. A warmth encasing him as an indication all his fury was futile before her smile. His rage defeated when she was smiling. An unknown smile adorned his lips. The couple behind noticed his tranquility and faked a cough to get his attention. "How are you guys doing?" "Don't ask, but, we will manage like always," He replied, not parting his eyes from Zariah. "Nathaniel, listen, I heard you are going back," "Yeah... Time to go back to the filth I ran away from, back to being who I truly am, I completed my dream of becoming a doctor. That's enough," "Um... there is something I want to give you then," Cinzel cleared her throat. He finally broke the gaze and turned to her, "What is it?" "Here. Our... Mother's diary." "How do you have it?" "Valencia entrusted this to me to give you when the time comes and it never did but Cinzel read it long ago," Prince replied vaguely. "But you never gave it to me, Lord, how many things have you hidden from me?" Nathaniel frowned. "And now I think you should read it too," Cinzel interrupted before he could grab his collar. "What's in it?" "Our parent's love story," "I see, I think I will read it with Zari," Perplexed, he took the diary, not considering it important anymore nor caring, all he knew that they were dead after all- They didn't have a happy ending, right? "Okay, but, after you read it, do know that I am here for you and I love you, My Brother, no matter what," She whispered, placing her hand over his, increasing his bewilderment. "How bad could it be?" "... You wouldn't want to know," "Can't be worse or worthwhile than mine," Chuckling dryly, he turned back to Zariah who was lost in playing with Adam, placing his hand over his heart. "Guess I will find out myself," Later, after Cinzel and others left, he was holding onto the diary, becoming intrigued by each passing second to read what must be in it. He was searching for Zariah but she was nowhere to be found. He checked his cabin, "Zariah?" The lounge, "Zari?" Basement, "Zariah?" The two rooms as well but to no avail, there was no sign of her. He saw Elton struggling to fill the gap for De Villiers' absence and working hard. "Elton," "Yes, Sir?" He smiled. Nathaniel smiled when he saw him, finding a glimpse of him in Elton no matter how unfavorable it was, he knew they must forge a perfect image. Else their enemies were prepared to devour him the second they found him vulnerable. "Where is Zariah? Have you seen her?" "No," "Dammit, where has she gone?" Growling, he slammed his hands down, standing beside him to help him work too. "Relax, she must be out to empty her mind, she will be back soon," "Hmm, I guess you are right. Anyways, here let me help you," He smiled, showing him how to work. Elton chuckled nervously to be treated like a little brother from him. Although he hand handled smaller level work, he knew how it must be done. They worked till late and when there were no signs of Zariah, Nathaniel grew frustration, scowling, he was pacing around. "We were supposed to leave for my place. Where did she go?" Amanda asked with a frown when Zariah disappeared. "Okay, now I am getting anxious, her phone is here too, dammit," "Relax, Boss, she will be fine," Elton attempted to soothe the man who was growing disturbed by each passing second when she was nowhere to be found. "Fine? That woman left her medicines here, she barely eats, she can't take care of herself without me. She can't sleep until I hold her hands anymore," Overflowing with dismay, he sat down, rubbing his temples to wonder where she must be gone and it made his head throb. Filled with stress about her wellbeing, he accidentally called- "De Villiers- Argh, fuck," But then realized he was no longer here and he was too used to sharing his problems with him that when De Villiers was absent, his dismal doubled. "My heart is bursting from stress already and she decided to disappear too," He hissed under his breath. Elton and Amanda exchange nervous glances, not sure what to say for his consolation nor knowing how to handle him in the first place. "That's it, I am going to look for her. Where she could possibly be anyways," "Where are you going to search?" Elton asked vaguely. "My apartment, yours, graveyard and that bakery she likes and park," "Shall I come along?" "No, no, it's alright," Shaking his head, he quickly left to find Zariah and bring her back.