His name was Nathaniel

93

Adaliya stared at the sleek, jet-black credit card resting in her palm, its weight heavier than it had any right to be.

She glanced up at Nathaniel, who was casually fixing the cuff of his shirt as if he hadn't just handed her what was essentially a golden ticket into a world she still wasn't sure she fit into.

His voice was calm, smooth. "Get whatever you want."

She hesitated. "Nathaniel..."

He met her gaze, tilting his head slightly. "What?"

She sighed, rolling the card between her fingers. "You do realize this thing could probably buy a house, right?"

Nathaniel smirked. "And yet, I'm asking you to buy a dress."

She exhaled sharply, shifting her weight. "I don't know. This just feels... weird."

Nathaniel stepped closer, gently tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "You're attending a business dinner with me, and I want you to feel comfortable." His voice softened. "You're a part of my life, Adaliya. That means this—" he gestured toward the card, toward the extravagance it represented—"is something you'll have to get used to."

Adaliya chewed on her lip, conflicted.

She didn't want to get used to this.

But she knew that being with Nathaniel meant walking into a world where spending thousands on a single dress was nothing.

So, with a reluctant sigh, she nodded. "Fine."

Nathaniel's lips twitched. "That's my girl."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile forming on her lips.

____

The restaurant was lavish in a way that felt excessive, even by Nathaniel's standards. Private dining, gold-trimmed décor, waiters in crisp suits moving like shadows across the room.

It was the kind of place where money wasn't just spent—it was flaunted.

And yet, the most expensive thing in the room wasn't the wine, the chandeliers, or the rare imported dishes being plated before them.

It was the weight of expectation.

Expectation from Elena's family, who saw this dinner as something more than a business negotiation.

Expectation from Edward, who had made his opinions on the matter painfully clear.

Expectation from the silent, watching eyes of the staff who had likely seen countless power plays unfold in rooms like these.

Adaliya shifted slightly in her seat, forcing herself to keep her posture perfect. The dress she had bought—a stunning emerald-green gown that made her skin glow—felt too expensive, even if it had been chosen under Nathaniel's insistence.

She had done everything right.

And yet, as she sat at this table surrounded by power and old money, she still felt like an intruder.

Nathaniel, ever composed, sat beside her. His grandfather occupied the seat to his left, an unmoving force of quiet authority.

And then there was Edward, positioned directly across from them, watching. Waiting.

On the other side of the table, Elena Harrington sat with her parents, all smiles and polished elegance, exchanging pleasantries with Nathaniel as if she belonged in this world beside him.

Adaliya already knew where this was going.

And as the conversation slowly shifted, her stomach tightened.