His name was Nathaniel

45

Nathaniel sank into the plush leather seat of his family's private jet, staring blankly out the window as the plane ascended into the clouds. His thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions-confusion, guilt, longing, and something else he couldn't quite place. Adaliya's face was still fresh in his mind, and despite their rocky reunion, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination.

He leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. The past few days had been a whirlwind, filled with emotions he hadn't confronted in years. His heart ached, but there was also a strange sense of relief-like a door he thought had been locked forever had been opened just a crack.

When the jet finally touched down at the private airstrip near his grandfather's estate, Nathaniel steeled himself. He knew Victor would be waiting, and it was never pleasant to deal with his grandfather when he was angry. As soon as he stepped off the plane, he saw Victor standing near the car, arms crossed and an irritated expression firmly set on his face.

"You've certainly taken your time," Victor said, his tone icy but laced with sarcasm. "I hope, for your sake, you used protection."

Nathaniel froze mid-step, his eyes wide in shock. Heat rushed to his face, and he nearly stumbled as he turned to face his grandfather. "Wha-what?" he stammered, his voice higher than usual. His hands instinctively went to rub the back of his neck as his face flushed a deep shade of red. "Grandfather, we-we didn't... it wasn't like that!"

Victor raised an eyebrow, clearly amused at his grandson's flustered state. "Oh?" he said, his tone almost mocking. "Then perhaps you'd like to explain what, exactly, you were doing with her all night?"

Nathaniel cleared his throat, struggling to find the right words. "We talked. That's all. I swear," he managed, still embarrassed. "I just... I wanted to see her. To explain everything."

Victor's eyes narrowed, and he sighed, gesturing for Nathaniel to follow him to the waiting car. "Get in. I'm not done with you yet."

The drive back to the Donovan estate was filled with a tense silence, Nathaniel feeling like a child being scolded after breaking a rule. Once they were inside the grand sitting room, Victor finally turned to face him, his expression stern but more measured.

"I don't mind you pursuing this woman, Nathaniel," Victor began, folding his arms across his chest. "But your behavior-flying off without telling me, ignoring your responsibilities here-is reckless. You've been given a second chance with your health, and you need to take that seriously. Your body isn't invincible."

Nathaniel lowered his gaze, knowing his grandfather was right. The stress of everything had been weighing heavily on him, and the late nights, the emotional rollercoaster with Adaliya-it was all starting to take its toll.

"I know," Nathaniel muttered. "I just... I didn't want to let her slip away again."

Victor studied him for a long moment, his expression softening slightly. "I get that," he admitted. "But you need to be smarter. Balance the two. Don't throw yourself into a situation where you jeopardize everything because of emotions."

Nathaniel nodded, grateful that the lecture was starting to ease up. "I understand. I'll be more careful."

Victor gave him a sharp nod, signaling the conversation was over for now. "Good. Now get some rest. You look like you haven't slept in days."

Meanwhile, across the city, Adaliya was trying to keep a low profile as she slipped into the art building for her afternoon classes. The events of the night before had left her feeling emotionally drained, and all she wanted was to focus on her work and avoid questions. But the moment she stepped into the hallway, she saw her friend, Kendra, making a beeline toward her.

"There you are!" Kendra exclaimed, linking her arm through Adaliya's as they walked toward the classroom. "You cannot escape me today, girl. Spill everything."

Adaliya gave her a confused look, trying to play dumb. "Spill what?"

Kendra rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh, come on! The whole school saw you being dropped off in a freaking Maybach this morning. That is not just any car, Adaliya. Who is this mystery man?"

Adaliya felt her stomach flip at the mention of Nathaniel's car. She had forgotten how noticeable such a vehicle could be. "It's... it's complicated," she said, trying to deflect.

"Complicated?" Kendra scoffed, giving her a playful shove. "Girl, I saw that car, and I'm telling you, there's nothing complicated about a man who drives a car like that. He's loaded. And you're telling me you didn't swoon just a little bit?"

Adaliya laughed, shaking her head. "It's not about the car, Kendra. It's just... someone from my past."

Kendra raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "Oh? A past lover, maybe?"

Adaliya blushed at the question, biting her lip. "It's not like that. We... we knew each other a long time ago. And then he just... disappeared." She hesitated for a moment, her voice growing softer. "He hurt me."

Kendra's teasing expression melted away into something more serious. "Oh. I didn't know."

"It's okay," Adaliya said quickly, not wanting to delve too deeply into the pain of the past. "He's trying to explain himself now, but... I don't know. It's all very overwhelming."

Kendra squeezed her arm. "Well, if you need to talk, I'm here. And remember, no matter how much money or charm he has, you don't owe him anything."

Adaliya smiled gratefully, appreciating her friend's support. "Thanks, Kendra."

They made their way to class, but Adaliya couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just gotten a lot more complicated. Nathaniel's sudden reappearance had thrown her world off balance, and as much as she tried to focus on her studies, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen next.

As they settled into their seats, Adaliya pulled out her notebook, her mind drifting back to the previous night. Nathaniel's words, his presence, the way he still looked at her with that intensity-it was all too much to process. She wasn't sure if she was ready to let him back in, but deep down, a part of her knew that their story wasn't over yet.