His name was Nathaniel

50

Nathaniel stood in the living room, going through his mails on his iPad, waiting for Adaliya to finish getting ready. When she stepped out of the guest room, he glanced up and, for a moment, forgot to breathe. She looked stunning. The dress she had chosen was simple yet elegant, hugging her curves in all the right places. Her makeup was subtle but enough to enhance her natural beauty, and her neatly styled box braids framed her face perfectly. Nathaniel felt his heart skip a beat.

Trying not to be too obvious, he quickly composed himself and cleared his throat. "You look... ready for the day," he said, a bit too casually, but his eyes couldn't help but linger for a few more seconds.

Adaliya smiled softly, feeling her own nerves flutter, but also satisfied with his reaction. She could tell he had noticed the effort she put into her appearance, and that was exactly what she had hoped for. "Thank you. I'm excited for today," she replied, picking up her purse.

Nathaniel gestured toward the door. "Shall we?"

They stepped out together, with Nathaniel's bodyguards trailing behind at a respectable distance. Their first stop was the park, a peaceful place nestled between the towering skyscrapers and the busy streets. As they walked, Nathaniel felt a calmness settle over him, something he hadn't felt in a long time. He turned to Adaliya, who was admiring the trees swaying gently in the breeze.

"I haven't had the chance to tell you everything that's been happening over the years," Nathaniel started, his voice soft but serious. Adaliya glanced at him, giving him her full attention. "After you helped me escape from the island, there was a lot of... fallout, especially with my family. My father, he... well, we've never been close. But after the whole incident, things between us got even worse."

Adaliya nodded, sensing that this wasn't easy for him to talk about. She remained silent, letting him explain.

"My mother's parents, my grandparents, they fought hard for custody of me after what happened. They won in the end, but the battle was messy. My father didn't take it well. He refused to give up his rights over me, even though he had... let me down so many times."

Nathaniel paused, glancing at her. "It got to the point where he either has to willingly give me the company or I have to wait until... well, until he's gone. And we've barely spoken since then. The few times we do see each other, it's all business. It's like I'm just waiting for the inevitable, but honestly, I don't even know if I want the company anymore."

Adaliya frowned, sympathy written all over her face. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. It must have been so hard, especially feeling like you couldn't rely on your own father."

"It was," Nathaniel admitted, his tone laced with pain. "But I had my grandparents. They've been my rock, especially Victor. He helped me get through all of it."

"Sometimes I think that he sees me as a chance to make up for the time he lost with my father" Nathaniel adds.

They walked in silence for a moment, the sounds of the park around them. Adaliya's heart went out to him. She couldn't imagine how difficult it must've been to grow up with such a fractured family dynamic.

"I'm glad you have them," she said softly. "You deserved to be surrounded by people who care about you."

Nathaniel gave her a small smile, appreciating her understanding. "Thank you, Adaliya."

---

After their walk, Nathaniel's bodyguards escorted them to a waiting Rolls Royce parked nearby. As they drove to the art exhibition, Nathaniel couldn't help but glance at Adaliya, still captivated by her presence. She seemed to fit so naturally into his world, yet he knew there was still so much about her he didn't fully understand.

At the exhibition, Adaliya's eyes lit up as soon as they stepped into the grand hall. The walls were adorned with incredible works of art, each one telling its own story. She was immediately drawn to the vibrant colors, the intricate brushstrokes, and the variety of styles on display.

"This is incredible," she whispered, taking in the sheer beauty of the space.

Nathaniel smiled, watching her. "I thought you might like it. Some of these artists are just starting out, but they have a lot of potential."

As they walked through the gallery, Nathaniel subtly began asking Adaliya about her own aspirations. He'd always been curious about where she saw herself in the future.

"So, what are your plans after college? Do you think you'll stay in art and fashion design?" he asked, keeping his tone casual but genuinely interested in her response.

Adaliya smiled, looking up at one of the paintings. "I'm not entirely sure yet. I definitely want to pursue my art, but I also have a passion for fashion. I guess I'll see where life takes me." She turned to him, her gaze thoughtful. "What about you? Do you have any big plans, aside from waiting for your father to step down?"

Nathaniel chuckled softly. "That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? I suppose I'll have no other choice than to keep building the Donovan legacy, but... I'm not sure. I want more than just business. Maybe something more personal."

Adaliya raised an eyebrow. "Personal?"

He hesitated, wondering if he should bring it up. Then, with a steady voice, he asked, "What about family? Do you see yourself getting married? Having kids?"

The question seemed to catch Adaliya off guard. She blinked, then smiled softly, considering her answer. "I think... yes. Someday. I want a family. I've always wanted that, but only if it's with the right person, you know?"

Nathaniel's heart skipped a beat. Her answer gave him a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could have a future together. He wanted to say something more, something about how he could see a future with her too, but he held back. This wasn't the time to push. He needed to be patient.

They continued to explore the gallery, but Nathaniel's mind was racing. He'd learned something important today—Adaliya wanted the same things he did. Maybe, they were on the path to rebuilding what they had lost.

Later, as they exited the gallery, Nathaniel's bodyguards were waiting to drive them back. Adaliya, still in awe of the art and the day, felt a sense of contentment, not fully understanding yet how much this day had meant to Nathaniel.