Chapter 1381
No.1
Nathaniel sat on an ornate European sofa, conducting a meeting with several blond businessmen.
They seemed to be discussing something important.
Vivienne sat patiently on a nearby sofa, occasionally checking her wristwatch.
Her elegant face showed clear signs of displeasure.
Isabella felt a flicker of surprise.
Had Nathaniel really scheduled meetings for the entire three hours of Vivienne's mandated visit?
"Ha!" Oliver whispered triumphantly. "Only twenty more minutes! Then we won't have to see her anymore!"
"Why don't you like her?" Isabella asked gently.
This woman would likely become his stepmother.
No.2
Oliver pouted. "I don't like her at all. I only want you as my mommy. Anyone else is just pretending! And nobody is as beautiful as you!"
Isabella couldn't help but smile at his words.
Objectively, Vivienne was just as beautiful as she was.
This child certainly knew how to charm.
Down in the lobby, Vivienne finally reached her limit.
She approached the group of businessmen and addressed them in flawless French.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I need to speak with Mr. Blackwood regarding urgent matters concerning our future together. Please resume your discussions another time."
The men exchanged reluctant glances but eventually departed.
Now only Nathaniel and Vivienne remained in the spacious lobby.
No.3
Vivienne seated herself elegantly opposite Nathaniel.
"Nathaniel," she began, her voice soft and persuasive. "I understand your reluctance. But this is your parents' decision. I genuinely wish to help you raise Oliver. Every child deserves a complete family."
Nathaniel remained impassive.
He stood abruptly. "Oliver and I value our peace above all else."
The dismissal was clear.
He turned to leave without another word.
Vivienne moved quickly, grasping his wrist to stop him.
"Nathaniel," she said, her tone turning urgent. "We've known each other for years. I am your best option. No other woman in the world matches your status. Whatever you dislike about me, I will change."
Nathaniel stopped walking. “Ms. Delacroix is certainly accomplished, but I dislike women who cling to me. Chasing after someone relentlessly gives the impression of a desperate puppy.”
No.4
He pulled his wrist from her grasp and walked off. He took out a handkerchief and wiped his wrist clean before tossing it into a nearby trash bin. The gesture was cold, dismissive, utterly devoid of warmth.
Vivienne stood there, her face pale with humiliation. Did Nathaniel just compare her to a dog? She had lowered her pride to pursue him, and this was his response? How could there ever be a romance if she didn't make the first move?
He was deliberately making things difficult for her, insulting her openly. It didn't matter that his parents approved of her. It didn't matter that she visited their home for hours every day. Nathaniel remained completely indifferent.
Inside the storage room…
Isabella was equally confused. Had she just witnessed Nathaniel being cold to another woman? His method of rejection sounded strangely familiar, reminiscent of how she had once rejected him…
After collecting herself, a dejected Vivienne stepped into the elevator. Once she was gone, Oliver cracked the door open and whispered excitedly, “Daddy! Daddy! Come quick! Mommy was so moved by what you did! She wants to marry you now!”
Isabella was baffled.
Since when had she said that?
It was too late. Nathaniel turned and looked directly at her. She hadn't even had a moment to school her expression. Her face probably did look somewhat… touched.
No.5
Nathaniel began walking toward her, each step deliberate. Oliver vanished instantly, disappearing like a wisp of smoke.
Isabella was stunned.
Did her own son just betray her like that?
She tried to step out of the room, but Nathaniel was already inside, closing the door behind him. The storage room was small, only a few square meters, crammed with bookshelves. The space felt cramped and confined. His large, imposing frame made the atmosphere instantly intense.
Isabella raised an eyebrow. “You don’t actually believe the words of a five-year-old, do you?”
“Of course not,” Nathaniel replied, his voice deep and resonant.
Isabella sighed in relief. “Good. Then let me pass. I’m leaving.”
Instead of moving, he swept her up into his arms and placed her firmly on a small table against the wall.
Her heart hammered against her ribs. A flush crept up her neck. “What are you doing? Don’t you dare do what I think you’re about to do, or I won’t be responsible for my actions!” She cracked her knuckles menacingly for emphasis.
No.6
Nathaniel remained utterly unfazed. “Don’t move,” he commanded, his voice a low, serious warning.
His large, cool hands settled on her upper arms. He applied gentle pressure, his palms slowly sliding down the length of her arms, over her wrists, and then carefully, deliberately, he began tracing each of her fingers.
A jolt, like an electric shock, shot through Isabella. His touch was cool and deliberate, and every inch of skin he contacted made her nerves sing with tension.
She hadn’t been this close to a man in years. No man had touched her like this. Yet here was Nathaniel, methodically touching her arms, caressing each of her fingers…
She should have punched him immediately. But he wasn’t exactly taking liberties; his actions were oddly clinical. Frozen on the table, she could only watch. “Nathaniel,” she gasped, “what are you trying to do?!”
His large hands moved down and settled firmly on her thighs.
Isabella raised her fist, ready to strike.
Nathaniel caught her wrist with a firm grip. "I'm examining you," he growled. "Stay still."
Examining her? What did he mean?
No.7
Confusion flickered across Isabella's face.
Nathaniel remained focused as his hands moved with practiced precision. He applied gentle pressure along her thighs. Then he checked her knees. Finally, he examined both her legs thoroughly.
After professionally assessing her feet, his tense expression gradually softened. "You're unharmed this time," he stated. "But never pull such a reckless stunt again!"
Isabella frowned, trying to process his words.
It took her a moment to understand. He must have seen the footage of her jumping from the building. He was worried about potential injuries. That's why he was checking her body so carefully...
A sudden warmth spread through her chest. An unfamiliar emotion stirred within her heart.
This man who seemed so cold-hearted was being incredibly gentle with her. Yet he had been utterly ruthless with Vivienne just moments earlier.
If this continued, things could spiral out of control. She might not be able to maintain her composure much longer...
Isabella looked up at him with weary eyes. "Nathaniel," she said softly. "The person you should care about is Vivienne, not me. Didn't you always want to know what happened to me five years ago? I should have told you this afternoon. Listen carefully now."