His name was Nathaniel

88

Adaliya wiped at her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time.

She wasn't even sure why she was crying anymore—was it because of their argument? Because of the silence that followed? Because Nathaniel hadn't even tried to reach out after she hung up on him?

It had been two days.

Two long days without a single call, a single message.

She told herself she wouldn't be the first to break. That if Nathaniel truly cared, he would be the one to reach out first.

But as more hours passed with nothing but silence, doubt crept in.

What if this was it? What if she had pushed him too far?

The thought sent another wave of emotions crashing over her, and before she knew it, she was curling into her blankets, a fresh round of tears slipping down her cheeks.

What she didn't know was that Nathaniel had never intended to fight over the phone.

He was coming to settle things in person.

⸻

Nathaniel had never handled emotional turmoil well.

And this situation? This was an absolute nightmare.

Two days.

Two miserable days of nothing.

No texts. No calls. No Adaliya.

He had barely slept, barely eaten, his patience wearing thinner by the hour. The more he thought about their fight, the angrier he became—not just at her, but at himself.

At how quickly things had spiraled.

At the fact that she had doubted him, even for a second.

At the fact that she thought he could ever love anyone else the way he loved her.

By the time the second day rolled around, Nathaniel had had enough.

He canceled his meetings without a second thought.

Ordered his jet to be prepared.

And before anyone could question him, he was already on his way to her.

⸻

Adaliya froze when she heard the knocking.

It wasn't gentle. It wasn't hesitant.

It was firm. Demanding.

She already knew who it was before she even looked through the peephole.

Nathaniel.

Standing at her doorstep, jaw tight, eyes burning with unspoken emotion.

She took a deep breath, gripping the doorknob but not opening it.

"Nathaniel," she said, her voice quieter than she intended. "Why are you here?"

"Open the door, Adaliya."

His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

She hesitated. "I don't think that's a good—"

Nathaniel exhaled sharply. "I didn't come all this way for you to shut me out."

Her heart pounded, but she still didn't move. "I just... I need time to think."

A pause.

Then—

"Too bad."

Before she could react, the door was pushed open with a force that made her stumble back.