His name was Nathaniel

41

Nathaniel wasn't used to being ignored. In his world, things happened because he willed them to. The business world bent to his determination, but with Adaliya, none of that mattered. After she stormed out of the restaurant, he felt the familiar pang of regret and frustration gnawing at him, but it was more than that. It was the guilt of leaving her years ago without a word, thinking he had done the right thing-thinking it was best for her.

Now, Nathaniel couldn't stand the idea of her hating him. He had tried to do things the right way, the gentle way. Sending flowers to her lecturers, small, thoughtful gifts to her home-he thought these gestures might soften her heart. But with each passing day, he received no word from her. Nothing.

Adaliya threw everything away.

At first, Nathaniel was patient, telling himself that she just needed time. But after weeks of being ignored, frustration built within him. He was angry at himself, but more than that, he was angry at the wall she had built between them. It was as though all of his efforts, everything he did to show her that he was truly sorry, were being thrown back in his face. And deep down, he knew why-he had hurt her, deeply, and the pain she felt wasn't something flowers or gifts could fix.

But Nathaniel wasn't ready to give up.

It was one late evening when he made the decision. He had found out where she lived, a small, cozy flat tucked away in the quieter part of the city. It was nothing like the luxury penthouses he was accustomed to, but it was uniquely hers-a reflection of the simple yet creative life she lived. He had never been there before, but tonight, he was going to see her, and this time, she wouldn't be able to walk away.

He wasn't going to be ignored anymore.

---

The door to Adaliya's flat swung open, revealing her surprised and immediately guarded expression. "Nathaniel, what are you doing here?!" she asked, her voice firm with annoyance and a hint of exhaustion.

Nathaniel didn't wait for an invitation. He stepped forward, gently pushing past her into the small space. "We need to talk, Adaliya."

She frowned, stepping back as he entered but not fully resisting his presence. "There's nothing to talk about," she said, trying to stay composed. "I've said all I needed to say at the restaurant."

Nathaniel closed the door behind him and turned to face her, his eyes pleading. "You didn't let me finish. You didn't even give me a chance to explain."

Adaliya crossed her arms, her posture defensive as she stood by the tiny kitchen counter. "Nathaniel, I don't need to hear excuses. You abandoned me. You left without a word, and for years, I've been wondering why." Her voice trembled slightly, betraying the anger she was trying so hard to keep under control. "Now you show up out of nowhere, thinking you can fix everything with flowers and gifts?"

He took a step closer, his voice low but full of emotion. "It's not about the gifts. It's not about the flowers. I know I can't undo what I did, but please, Adaliya, hear me out."

She shook her head, her eyes welling with tears. "You don't get it, do you? You can't just walk back into my life like nothing happened."

Nathaniel's patience was wearing thin, but he couldn't let his frustration show. This was his fault, all of it, and he needed to make her understand. "I know I can't erase the past. I know I hurt you-deeply. But leaving you was the hardest thing I ever did. I thought... I thought I was protecting you."

"Protecting me?" She let out a bitter laugh, the tears now falling freely. "From what? From yourself?"

"From my father," Nathaniel said, his voice cracking as the weight of his words fell on him. "From the chaos my family brought into my life. I thought that if I left, you'd be better off without me, without all the Donovan drama. I thought I was doing you a favor, Adaliya."

She shook her head, wiping away her tears furiously. "You don't get it, Nathaniel. I didn't care about your family's problems. I cared about you! I..." She paused, almost saying more but catching herself. "I cared for you."

Nathaniel took another step closer, his hands trembling at his sides. "There's no apology that could show how deeply and truly sorry I am, but please... hear me out. I've thought about you every single day since I left. I never wanted to hurt you, and I swear, if I could go back, I'd do everything differently."

For the first time since he had entered her apartment, Nathaniel saw a crack in her armor. Her shoulders slumped, and she looked away, unable to meet his gaze.

"I know you hate me," Nathaniel said softly, his voice pained. "But I couldn't stay away any longer. I had to try... I had to see you. Because I... I still love you, Adaliya."

At those words, Adaliya's resolve broke. The anger, the frustration, the years of pent-up emotion, it all came crashing down. She turned toward him, her face contorted with hurt. "Why now, Nathaniel? Why did it take you so long?"

Her voice was a whisper, full of anguish, and before she could stop herself, the tears began to fall harder. Nathaniel reached for her, his hand trembling as it hovered near her arm. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry for everything."

Adaliya stepped back, her breath hitching as she tried to contain the storm of emotions inside her. But Nathaniel didn't back away. He couldn't. He took another step forward and gently reached for her again, this time pulling her into his arms. She resisted at first, pushing against his chest, her sobs shaking her body. But as the weight of everything became too much to bear, she gave in, letting herself collapse against him.

Nathaniel wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she cried into his chest. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the sound of her sobs filling the small apartment. Nathaniel buried his face in her hair, his own eyes stinging with unshed tears. He held her tighter, as if afraid that if he let go, she would disappear again.

"I'm sorry," he whispered over and over again, his voice barely audible. "I'm so sorry, Adaliya."

She didn't respond, her face pressed against his chest, but the way she clung to him told him everything he needed to know. For the first time in years, they were both vulnerable, exposed. And for the first time, there was no hiding from the pain they had both endured.

Nathaniel held her as she cried, knowing that this was only the beginning of their healing.