Chapter 43
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Eliana was really feeling the alcohol now. She followed Nathan out, barely able to keep her balance.
If Logan wasn’t watching, Eliana honestly wouldn’t have gotten in Nathan’s car. But there was no turning back now. She’d made her move, and she had to see it through to the end.
When Nathan opened the car door and gave her that teasing look, Eliana felt her chest tighten with annoyance. But there was no way out now. She just had to suck it up and get in.
She tried to ignore that teasing look and was just about to sit in the car when Logan’s voice called out to her from behind.
“Eliana, pulling stunts like this to get my attention, don’t you think it’s a bit childish? You know I don’t have much patience, so don’t make me repeat myself.
“Come here. We’re going home. Did you hear me?” Logan demanded, not leaving any room for argument.
Eliana wasn’t exactly thrilled about Nathan, but as soon as Logan said those words, she didn’t even hesitate and slid right into Nathan’s car.
She didn’t care about how furious Logan looked. What caught her attention was Nathan’s amused laugh, clear as day in her ears.
Eliana frowned, but before she could say anything, Nathan hopped in next to her, and the driver shut the door.
That would have been bad enough, but just as the car was about to pull away, Nathan rolled down the window.
With Eliana between them, Nathan looked out at Logan and, with a straight face, said, “Don’t worry, Mr. Eliot. I’ll make sure Eliana gets home safe and sound. No need for you to worry.”
And as he said that, it was the first time Eliana saw Logan look that pissed off.
The car started up and pulled away, and Eliana’s head was swimming worse than ever. She couldn’t care less about anyone right now. She just leaned against the car door, hoping to steady herself.
But the moment she did, the alcohol hit her full force, and she passed out cold.
Honestly, Eliana held her liquor pretty well. She didn’t make a fuss or start babbling, just curled up in the corner and dozed off.
Nathan acted all cool and distant at first, keeping his eyes on the window on his side, acting like he didn’t give a damn about Eliana.
But after a while, when she still hadn’t made a sound, he couldn’t ignore it anymore. He turned to look at her. And that was when he realized she was already fast asleep.
Seeing her sweet and quiet, curled up against the car door, Nathan found himself pulled back to memories from ten years ago.
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Chapter 43
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Back then, she was the perfect student, the model child every parent and teacher adored. The most rebellious thing she ever did was agreeing to be his girlfriend back in school.
When she finally said yes, Nathan felt like he was on top of the world, so excited he spent the whole night wide awake. Yet in the end, they drifted apart.
Nathan’s chest tightened with regret. ‘It’s my fault. I never valued her the way I should have, he thought.
Before he realized it, he gently brushed the stray strands of hair falling across her face.
But as soon as he did, Eliana instinctively swatted his hand away.
Watching her scratch her face like a sleepy kitten made Nathan smile, his eyes full of tenderness. But soon, his gaze shifted to her stomach, and a wave of unease washed over him.
Even though he’d been living abroad for the last few years, he’d kept up with everything back home. He knew exactly how much Eliana had to endure in her marriage to Logan.
Nathan had been holding himself back for so long, but he didn’t know what place he had in her life anymore, or how he could step in.
‘Is that all I am to her now? Just the ex?‘ Nathan wondered, letting out a dry, self–mocking laugh. But that smile faded just as quickly.
He didn’t understand why, but he knew Eliana always bent over backwards for Logan. In the six years they’d been together, every argument that broke her down ended with her giving in and making peace.
When Nathan first heard about it, he was so angry he almost called her up. But then he remembered that he wasn’t even there for her when she needed him most. He felt like he had no right to say anything.
‘Is Eliana really going to stand her ground and divorce Logan this time? Or is Aurora right? Is she just doing whatever she wants because she thinks having a kid means she can always crawl back to him?‘ Nathan wondered.
For the first time, Nathan was driving himself crazy. He wanted to know everything, but every time he asked himself, Eliana reminded him that they were just business partners now.
Lost in these thoughts, Nathan’s eyes locked onto Eliana, unable to look away.
As the car rounded the corner, Eliana suddenly slumped against Nathan, her body tipping toward him. Instinctively, Nathan caught her and held her steady, keeping her safe in his arms.
Holding her close again, the feelings in Nathan’s eyes grew even stronger, impossible to hide.
He drew in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tried to bury those emotions.
Nathan held Eliana gently the whole way, only letting go when the car finally stopped in the Lyons family’s villa courtyard.
Sarah walked out as soon as she heard the car pull up. She spotted Eliana out cold in Nathan’s arms.
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Chapter 43
Her expression was complicated as she shot Nathan a quick glance, then hurried to shake Eliaria awake. “Eliana, come on, wake up,” she urged.
Eliana was shaken awake by Sarah, and even as she opened her eyes, she still felt incredibly sleepy. But when she saw Sarah clearly, she cooed softly, “Mom…”
Her gentle voice brushed Nathan’s heart like a feather, making it flutter softly.
But before Nathan could get lost in the moment, Sarah’s voice cut in. “Eliana, if you’ve had too much to drink, you should’ve called us to pick you up.
“How could you just get in a car with strange man? And leaning on him like that?”
It was only when Sarah spoke that Eliana realized she was still leaning against Nathan. Her face burned with embarrassment, and she quickly sat up straight.
Seeing Eliana in her dress, Sarah hurried inside to grab her a coat. The moment Sarah was gone, Eliana turned and shot Nathan a death glare.
Nathan let out a chuckle. “Why are you looking at me like that? You were the one who got drunk and ended up snuggling into my arms. I’m just too much of a gentleman to push you away.”
Then he leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “I haven’t even called you out for taking advantage of me yet.”
AD
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