Chapter 100
To my surprise, Nathan didn’t flinch at the sight of Alex Instead, he greeted him with a nod, his voice calm and neutral as if this wasn’t the man who constantly tested his patience. He crouched down, his focus shifting entirely to the kids
“Hey, Liam. Hey, Awa, Nathan said, his tone softening. His hand gently ruffled Liam’s hair. “How’s it going, buddy?**
Liam’s face lit up. “Hi, Mr. Nathan! Look what I made! He held up a drawing a chaotic mix of crayon lines and shapes.
Nathan smiled, studying the paper as though it were a masterpiece “Wow, that’s amazing. Is that a dragon?”
“No, it’s a spaceship!” Liam corrected with a laugh, and Ava joined in, chiming excitedly about her own drawings
Nathan’s warmth was undeniable, and for a moment, I let myself take in the scene This was a side of him I hadn’t seen in werks–kind, attentive, and completely unbothered by Alex’s. presence.
Alex, however, wasn’t as composed. His jaw tightened visibly, his hands clenching at his sides as he watched Nathan interact with the kids.
“Nathan,” Alex Finally said, his tone clipped
Nathan glanced up, unruffled. “Alex”
I could feel the tension thickening like an impending storm, but Nathan didn’t bite. His demeanor stayed calm, almost infuriatingly so
Alex turned to me, his expression hardening, “We should get going,” he said pointedly.
“I’ll meet you outside,” I replied, my voice firm but polite. Alex hesitated, but with a deep breath, he turned and walked out, his shouldres stiff
As the door closed behind him, turned to Nathan. He stood slowly, his gaze meeting mine.
Before I could speak, Nathan stepped closer, his eyes earnest “I don’t want to lose you,” he confessed. The past month without you made me realize my life is empty without you. Please, go on a proper dare with me.”
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I hesitated, every reason to say no swirling in my mind. But then I saw the sincerity in his eyes, and something in me cracked “Okay,” I said finally, my voice quieter than I intended. “But there’s a condition. I need to take my kids somewhere, and Aloxx is coming with us
Nathan didn’t even blink “Fine. Whatever you need.”
And just like that, we were all at the amusement park. The kids ran ahead, their laughter blonding with the sounds of rides and excited crowds. I wanted to focus on them, on the simplicity of their joy, but Alex wouldn’t let up.
He waited until we were away from the kids, then cornered me near a concession stand. “Did you even bother to read the files I sent you?” His tone was low, but the tension in it was unmistakable
I sighed, already tired of this conversation. “Alex, let it go. I’ll figure things out on my own.
His expression darkened, and his voice rose, though he was careful not to draw attention. “Let it go? Are you serious right now? Do you have any idea how reckless you’re being?”
I crossed my arms, trying to shield myself from the storm I knew was coming “I’m not reckless.”
was your safety or Liam’s–on the line? Nathan is dangerous,
“Not reckless?” His laugh was bitter, almost cruel. “Would you be this nonchalant if it was yo Raina. You need to know who he really is before you start throwing yourself at him.”
The words hit me like a slap, and before I knew it, I was returning the favor. My palm connected with his cheek in a sharp crack that seemed to cho loader then the screams from the nearby roller coaster.
“How dare you,” I hissed, my voice trembling with fury. “The only reason I’m even speaking to you right now is because of Liam. But now? There’s nothing left to talk about Leave.”
Alex stared at me, his hand lightly brushing his cheek where I’d struck him. For a moment, I thought he was going to say something else, but he just shook his head and stormed off
I stood there, trembling, my hands balled into fists. My chest burned with anger and hurt. His words kept echoing in my mind, each one digging deeper. Reckless. Throwing myself at Nathan. A whore
I refused to let anyone define me like that. If Alex thought I was weak or careless, he was dead wrong. I wasn’t about to let his judgment—or anyone else’s–stop me. Right then and there, I made my decision. I would expose Eliza in court. I’d expose everything she had done to Liar, no matter how messy or painful it got
And as for Nathan? I’d find out the truth on my terms. Not Alex’s. Not anyone else’s. Mine.
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