Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me
Chapter 177
Nathan looks like an angel of vengeance–chest heaving, eyes burning.
And not the soft green I love. No, these are darker, stormier.
He says nothing at first, but the tension in the room instantly shifts.
Lucas’s hand falls from my waist. I still can’t move.
“Brother,” Lucas says lightly, like he’s not been caught mid–assault. “What a surprise.”
Nathan steps in, slow, lethal, still not speaking.
His eyes flick to me, briefly–enough to see the fear, the brimming tears, the bruised wrist. I see the way his jaw clenches. The way his fists curl at his sides.
Lucas lets out a mock sigh. “This is why you’ll always be the spare,” he says casually. “Running around playing rescuer while I make decisions that matter.”
“I warned you,” Nathan says, deathly quiet.
Lucas tilts his head. “Did you? I must’ve been distracted by April here throwing herself at me.”
The snap of Nathan’s restraint is almost audible as he lunges.
It happens so fast, I barely clock it.
One moment, Lucas is smirking.
The next, he’s on the floor–hard–from the impact of Nathan’s punch. I hear the sickening crack of cartilage, and blood spurts from Lucas’s nose.
He groans, trying to rise, but Nathan grabs him by the collar and slams him back down again.
“This is over,” Nathan growls. “You come near her again, you even think about her again–I will end you.”
Lucas coughs, blood staining his teeth. “Dad will-”
“I don’t give a FUCK!” Nathan roars, spittle flying in Lucas‘ face. “You touch her again and I swear to God, Lucas–I won’t stop next time.”
For once, Lucas stays down, but his eyes are hard with loathing.
Nathan straightens slowly, breathing hard. He turns to me and reaches out.
I take his hand without hesitation.
And for the first time since Lucas stepped into the room, I breathe.
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18:47 Thu, Oct 16
Chapter 177
Nathan wraps an arm around my shoulders and leads me out, his presence like a shield.
As we step into the hall, the door creaks behind us, and Lucas’s quiet, muffled curse trails after us like a dying echo.
Wordlessly, with gentle firmness, Nathan leads me through the halls, down a flight of stairs, and out a staff exit at the back.
I blink against the bright sunlight, raising a hand to shield my eyes. My gaze catches on the purpling ring around my wrists, and I swear softly.
Nathan’s arm drops from my shoulder, and a shiver runs through me.
I turn to him, and my breath catches in my throat.
He’s trembling, the rage still so obviously coursing through him.
“Nathan-”
“What. The. Fuck. April?”
I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling cold. “I can explain,” I say softly. “It’s not what it looked like.”
He laughs sardonically, the sound so unlike him. “Oh? I didn’t just walk in on you pressed against my brother with your heart practically beating out of your throat because you were so fucking terrified?”
“I can explain—”
“Don’t bother!” he snaps. “Lara gave me the summarized version of your harebrained plan when she pulled me aside, panicked because she couldn’t reach you.”
My mouth parts. “Oh. That’s how you found me.”
“Yeah, April, that’s how I found you! What would have happened if I didn’t?”
“I had it under control-”
“Don’t fucking say that!” He kicks a trash can so violently that it flies into the wall and crashes to the floor, spilling out scraps of fabric and an empty Starbucks cup.
I flinch, recoiling slightly. “Don’t…yell at me.”
“Then don’t do stupid shit!”
“Don’t yell at me!” I scream.
Nathan blinks, his eyes widening.
“You think I wasn’t berating myself enough? You think I don’t feel fucking stupid for letting it get to that point?”
“Then why? April.” He sounds much calmer now, if a little stunned. “Why would you do something like that?”
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18:47 Thu, Oct 16
Chapter 177
“Because someone has to.” I inhale. “Pummel him to the ground all you fucking want, Nathan, but that changes nothing.”
“Oh yeah? And what did you achieve by your brilliant plan, other than-
He curses sharply, running a hand through his hair. “You had no idea how fucking terrified I was when Lara told me what was going on, April. I thought…”
He trails off, but the sentence doesn’t need to be finished. I thought so, too.
“Thank you,” I whisper, dropping my gaze.
He sighs.
Silence blankets the alley, heavy with the weight of all the things unsaid.
I don’t want to fight with him about his dickhead brother. I want to go into his arms, I want him to hold me and kiss me and-
“You should go back in,” I whisper, turning away before I do something even more reckless. “Valerie’ll be looking for you.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not leaving you.”
I scoff. “Is that a joke?”
He frowns. “What?”
“You’re not leaving me? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“April, let’s not-”
“You’re right,” I say bitterly, my fear and longing giving way to anger. “Let’s not.”
I stab a finger at the door behind me. “Your bride is waiting inside. Best not test her nonexistent patience.”
Nathan’s hands flex at his side, and I know him well enough to know he’s fighting with himself. Holding himself back.
“I-” He clenches his hands into fists, and the rest of his sentence is choked out. “I never meant to hurt you.”
I throw my head back, a sound between a laugh and a bark tearing out of me. I stare up at the clouds, blinking back the sudden onslaught of tears.
“Hurt me?” I whisper.
“April-”
“You didn’t hurt me, Nathan.”
When I feel the pressure in my eyes recede, when I’m sure I won’t turn into a bawling baby, I look back at him, my eyes narrowing. “You eviscerated me.”
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18:47 Thu, Oct 16
Chapter 177
His expression cracks as I continue. “You reached into my chest, yanked out my heart, and stomped it into a bloody mess all over your fucking carpet!”
It seems he loses control over himself, and he moves towards me. My eyes widen as I stumble backward. “Don’t touch me!”
He freezes, stunned by my outburst.
My broken heart is fluttering around in my sternum, wild and wounded. “Don’t-”
I have to stop to gather myself, to make sure all the barely glued–together pieces of me don’t crumble all over this alley. “Don’t ever touch me again.”
“April-
The sound of the door opening cuts off whatever he would have said, and I’m thankful for the interruption.
“April!”
I smell Lara’s perfume before she turns me away from Nathan, sweeping me into her embrace. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry, April.”
“It’s okay,” I exhale, hugging her. “I’m the one who should be sorry.”
She pulls back, frowning. “Why would you be sorry?”
I groan. “He turned off my phone and took the lipstick. I couldn’t get anything.”
Instead of the disappointment I expect from her, her lips curl as her eyes drop to my chest.
She reaches out and gently taps the brooch she gave me. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
