His name was Nathaniel

86

At first, Adaliya didn't think much of it.

Nathaniel was a busy man—she knew that. His schedule had always been packed with meetings, business trips, and responsibilities that came with being a Donovan.

But lately, things felt... different.

It started with little things.

A missed call here. A late-night text saying he had to work late. Meetings that stretched longer than usual.

None of it was unusual for Nathaniel, but the frequency was new.

At first, Adaliya brushed it off. They had spent a lot of time together recently, and she figured he was just catching up on work.

But as the days passed, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

⸻

One evening, as she sat curled up on her couch with a book, her phone buzzed.

Nathaniel's name flashed on the screen, and she immediately answered. "Hey, stranger."

His voice came through, lower than usual. "Hey. Sorry, I can't talk long. I've got back-to-back meetings."

Adaliya frowned. "Again?"

There was a pause. "Yeah. Things have been insane lately."

She bit her lip, debating whether to say anything. "You've been really busy."

"I know," he sighed. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

She forced a smile, ignoring the slight unease in her chest. "Alright. Don't overwork yourself."

"Wouldn't dream of it," he said lightly before hanging up.

She stared at the screen for a moment before setting her phone down.

It wasn't a big deal.

Except...

The last time she saw Nathaniel, he had looked exhausted. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he seemed distant—even when they were together.

Something was weighing on him.

And for the first time, Adaliya wondered if it had anything to do with her.

⸻

Days passed. Then weeks.

The late-night texts continued. The missed calls increased. Whenever they did talk, Nathaniel sounded distracted.

Adaliya tried to be patient, to remind herself that he had so much on his plate.

But the distance between them felt heavier with each passing day.

Even Violet had noticed.

"Has Nathaniel always been this bad at balancing work and relationships?" she asked one afternoon when they met for coffee.

Adaliya stirred her drink absentmindedly. "I don't know. I mean... he's always been busy, but lately, it feels different."

Violet raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"

Adaliya hesitated. "Like... like he's pulling away."

Violet studied her, then leaned back. "Have you talked to him about it?"

"I tried. He just says he's busy."

Violet exhaled, shaking her head. "Classic Nathaniel. That man would rather drop dead from stress than ask for help."

Adaliya smiled slightly, but the uneasy feeling in her chest didn't fade.

Something was wrong.

She just didn't know what.

⸻

One evening, as she was scrolling through her phone, a new headline caught her eye.

"Nathaniel Donovan Spotted in Late-Night Meeting with Mystery Woman."

Her heart stopped.

She clicked on the article, and immediately, her stomach twisted.

There it was.

A blurry but unmistakable photo of Nathaniel—seated across from a woman in an upscale restaurant. The caption beneath it was vague, but the implications weren't.

"An exclusive source tells us that the Donovan heir has been meeting privately with an unidentified woman from high society. Could this be a simple business engagement, or is there something more going on?"

Adaliya's blood ran cold.

She stared at the image, her mind racing.

She wanted to dismiss it. To believe it was just another fabricated story, another way for the media to stir drama.

But deep down, the little voice in her head whispered:

Then why didn't he tell you about it?

Her hands trembled slightly as she locked her phone.

She needed answers.

And she needed them now.

⸻