Woven from time

Chapter 31. Katherine

Blinded by anger, I got into Tyler's car, but after a block, I moved to Nate's car. No one explained anything, but the navigation system on the panel pointed to Agatha's country house address. The guys consulted about something. Nate got into the car but waited for Tyler to leave first. He drove in the opposite direction. I didn't ask any questions because I couldn't handle the emotions flooding over me. I was grateful that Nate didn't try to start a conversation.
Soft music filled the car as we hurriedly left Boston, leaving behind the events of the past hours. No matter how much I wished it, the discussions somehow resurfaced in my mind. Victor never bowed down to anyone, and his persistent attention to the Shainy family combined with Eres's translation raised some unsettling thoughts. Victor wanted me to get close to Eres, but why? None of my father's businesses had anything to do with construction. And even if they did, there were hundreds of firms in the world that would gladly bask in his glory. So, why did he orchestrate this farce, spending hundreds of millions and securing a place at Bolford for Eres?
Since childhood, I'd been taught that my marriage wouldn't be for love. It would be a cold calculation to increase wealth and capital and open up new prospects. And even back then, I knew that my parents could go to hell with their desires. Marriage would only be for love and strictly my own choice. Victor could threaten me with jail endlessly and spew venom in an attempt to make me close to Eres. But I'd rather lock myself up on Alcatraz with my own hands and spend my life on the island. He had nothing on me except pathetic threats. So, he could shove his idiotic ideas up Charlotte's ass.
Nate's fingers intertwined with mine. He hadn't revealed himself at the ball, but for some reason, he stayed in the hall. Questions were likely buzzing in his head. Nate deserved answers. But each answer was somehow tied to my childhood. To bare my soul, not my body, to him? A rhetorical question.
I retreated into myself, hoping that I wouldn't completely fall apart upon arriving at Agatha's. The evening could improve with alcohol, cigarettes, and Tyler's silence. Speaking of him.
"Where did Tyler go?" I asked with a hoarse voice.
"He's convinced that Jeff went to meet someone from the golden five."
"Why did he switch me to you?"
"Because he loves you," Nate said it without reproach, but in the depths of his black eyes swirled another emotion that I couldn't identify.
I leaned my head against the window, feeling like the heroine of a tearful melodrama. The monotonous road was lulling.
I only woke up in the room that I didn't have a chance to examine last time, and which, probably, Agatha had prepared for me then. However, tequila had voted in favor of her bedroom. I was still wearing the dress. Someone had draped a knitted blanket over me and dimmed the lights. I was still sleepy as I shuffled into the bathroom and found a pajama set and a cosmetic bag. Probably, Tyler had come over, as my things were in his car.
I didn't bother washing my hair, just took a shower and washed off my makeup, which felt like dirt on my face. I no longer wanted to sleep, but I did want something strong to drink. But before I could leave the room, the door swung open, and Nate entered. He had changed into loose gray pants and a t-shirt. Tranquility rippled in his black eyes.
"Everyone went to bed," he said, guessing that I was planning to go downstairs.
"I want to drink."
Nate silently left the room and returned a few minutes later with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. I briefly scanned the room: light walls with a floral print, a double bed on white metal legs with a canopy. Elaborate yellow nightstands stood on both sides, adorned with decor and artificial flowers. A cozy chair was placed by the door, and next to it was a small bookshelf filled with books. Opposite the bed was a fireplace with Christmas stockings hanging on it and small red ornaments. Right, Christmas.
Nate handed me a glass of whiskey, then filled his own and settled into the chair. The first sip burned my throat. It crashed down with the weight of lead onto my empty stomach. The room swayed. I took another sip, my eyes not leaving Nate's glass. He wasn't drinking. He just watched me attentively, his fingers resting against his lips. Warmth and silence enveloped us. But someone had to start the conversation.
"Why do they treat you like that?" My words pierced my chest, tearing it open and exposing my heart. I emptied my glass and extended it to Nate for a refill. Perhaps it was time to entrust him with the dirty story of my life. Otherwise, why were we here?
"I'll tell you. But I swear to God, Nate, have pity on me, and this will be the last conversation."
He nodded silently. Unbridled tranquility danced in his eyes, as if we were discussing plans for the next day. Such an arrangement suited me.
"No one knows that Charlotte was pregnant with twins. After the endometriosis diagnosis, pregnancy seemed like a miracle and a blessing from God, but twins? It was unreal. All the doctors shrugged and only showered us with congratulations. But no one warned that the pregnancy would be difficult and risky. We were born prematurely in the seventh month. Either I or my brother couldn't wait to see the light. Healthy baby, weighing 3.5 kg and measuring 53 cm. Another miracle, no doubt. Then my brother was pulled out, already lifeless. And it was him that we were waiting for. Not me. Because Andre Fox was supposed to inherit the Fox empire. To continue the lineage. To cement our place at the top of the Forbes list. Victor couldn't bear it, just like Charlotte couldn't. No one celebrated the birth of a healthy baby. Everyone mourned the dead."
— After Charlotte gave birth, her uterus was removed. She couldn't have children anymore. And after this news, their relationship deteriorated. Because Victor craved a son, he dreamt of one. But fate's a bitch. I didn't receive even a drop of their love or care. I grew up surrounded by nanny's attention and staff. Meanwhile, these two ignored my existence. The truth came out when I turned ten. Yet, already from the age of seven, I was raised with belts and slaps. She didn't hold back. Until I turned eighteen, I listened to accusations. After all, who else could've killed their precious son except for Katherine. The crazy Katherine, who day by day embarrassed her parents, couldn't sit still, and wrecked everything in her path.
It seemed Nate wasn't breathing. My own lungs were ablaze, and my eyes stung. I didn't plan on crying. I didn't want to let Charlotte ruin another day for me.
"But how can a baby kill? A person who took their first breath, who saw the light and the world for the first time? And call me an idiot, but those two really blamed me for his death. You know what I regret? Not running away from those bastards sooner. Damn laws and my age limited my movements."
"In all this situation, I'm glad you don't blame yourself."
"Because there's no way I'm to blame for it. And if Charlotte wanted to hear me apologize, saying that I would have been better off dead that day, then she can go to hell now. Because I'll never say that. And that's exactly why she deprived me of a simple celebration. I only celebrated my birthday twice, and both times it was outside the Fox mansion walls. Those two would leave precisely at midnight and return only the next day. I don't know what it's like to blow out candles or unwrap gifts. To welcome guests and wear a silly hat. Charlotte and Victor deprived me of everything."
Nate's jaws tensed. I didn't know exactly what he was feeling, but I was grateful that there was no regret reflected in his eyes.
"On my eighteenth birthday, Tyler staged a fire near the house to distract all the staff and have them put out the fire. I cleaned out my father's safe and escaped, climbing down from the third floor. We fled to Hawaii. And there, I fell apart. Couldn't eat, drink, or believe that those two wouldn't control every breath of mine anymore. And they didn't care." My lips stretched into a predatory smile. "I did everything to give the media front-page material. Only I didn't take into account that Victor was ready to buy off his reputation as a shitty father and didn't mind spending millions on it. If not for Tyler, I wouldn't have crawled out of the shit my life had turned into. We talked. A lot. For a long time. Until this situation lost its power over me. A year and a half later, we returned to Boston. Six months of silence and calm, until the devil tempted me to cause a commotion in the club. Victor Fox pulled my ass out and sent it to Bolford. That's the truth, Nate."
I moistened my dry throat and extended the glass to him again.
"Now Daddy understands he can use me. The arrival of Eres and his family is not a coincidence. He wants to bring us together. We just need to figure out why and dismantle all his plans. And please, don't try to talk sense into me and drill into my head that I should love them because they gave me life. Bullshit."
Nate's face didn't show any emotion. He looked detached, as if he wasn't listening at all. But I knew Nate paid attention to every word and was undoubtedly shocked. Because no one suspected what horrible parents Victor and Charlotte were. To many, I was a spoiled girl blinded by money and privilege, and that only reiterated how foolish people could be.
"I didn't even have a clue," he said.
In response, I gave a sad smile, holding back sobs that were pushing up from my throat. Crying in front of Nate because of my crazy mother wasn't part of my plan.
"You have to promise me one thing," Nate began, leaning toward me. "If Victor Fox starts crossing the line and tries to force you into a marriage with someone, you'll come to me. Don't stay silent and hide."
My heart raced. Everything in front of me blurred. I squinted, trying to focus on Nate's face.
"You won't be able to do anything. If Victor finds out that something's going on between us, he'll put you behind bars."
I could swear the corners of Nate's lips lifted menacingly. Or perhaps my drunk mind conjured that up. In any case, the threat didn't impress Nate.
He placed the untouched glass and the bottle on the nightstand, then pulled his shirt off.
"This night won't end with sex, will it?" I clarified, studying his toned torso and angular muscles. Heat surged through my body, pooling between my legs. To hell with this winter ball and the Fox couple, I just wanted to relax.
"This one—no," he replied, taking the glass from me. I couldn't move from my spot, continuing to explore Nate with my gaze. "Go to sleep, Katherine."
"You're not staying?" The words slipped out so quickly I couldn't stop them. Staying the night with a man in bed was taboo if that man wasn't Tyler. And I was surprised by how much I wanted Nate to stay.
He arched an eyebrow, as if my question was the dumbest thing he had ever heard.
"Come to me."
I dove into his embrace, relishing the warmth of his body and his strong muscles. All thoughts vanished from my mind. Only desire remained, growing more intoxicating with each passing second. My palm slid across his abdomen. Nate tensed and let out a deep exhale.
"Katherine."
"Nate. Don't you have health issues?"
"Move your hand lower and find out," he said completely seriously. I was tempted to do just that, but I understood that tonight wasn't the right night. Instead, I swung my leg over his thigh and nuzzled into his chest, inhaling his woody scent. All problems seemed so unimportant and meaningless. And this realization didn't scare me tonight.