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Grace sensed the shift in Nathan’s mood and paused for a moment, unsure of what to say next.
After a moment, she spoke softly, “So, when are you coming back?”
Her voice was barely above a whisper, carrying a hint of nervousness, but she still asked the question.
Nathan frowned slightly on his end of the call, then replied seriously, “Is it payday already? Don’t worry about that. You’ll get every penny you deserve.”
Over the years, as Nathan kept climbing higher, he continued raising Grace’s salary, pushing it far beyond the industry standard.
Just the money she had earned in the past two years alone was enough to set her up for life, more than enough for her to never worry about finances again.
Edward had even suggested that she go live her own life. He offered to hire someone else, someone more qualified, to take care of his mother.
But Grace insisted she was used to this way of living, and Nathan couldn’t bring himself to force her to leave.
Back when things were at their hardest for him, Grace was the one who made sure he had nothing else to worry about, allowing him to focus entirely on his work.
Now that he had made it, he could never bring himself to make her go, no matter the reason.
As long as she wanted to stay, he would make sure she was paid every single day.
At the same time, Nathan had already hired professionals to handle Jennifer’s daily care. So even though Grace was still by her side, she no longer had much to do.
In truth, Nathan was supporting her financially out of gratitude. He was essentially providing for her now.
People inevitably develop feelings if staying together long enough, and as Jennifer’s mind gradually cleared, her affection for Grace became increasingly obvious.
Now, even if Nathan wanted Grace to leave, Jennifer wouldn’t agree to it.
That was why Nathan continued paying her. It was his way of keeping their roles and relationship clearly defined
He knew this was something he couldn’t leave unsaid.
But before Nathan could continue, Grace hurried to explain, “No, that’s not what I meant. Fin not asking for my salary, L know you’d never short me!
“Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?” Nathan asked, rubbing his brow. It’s getting late”
Grace had finally worked up the courage to call him.
But as soon as she caught the chill in Nathan’s voice, her heart sank, and her courage disappeared instantly
They’d known each other for more than nine years.
Back when he was at rock bottom, with no one else to rely on, she was the one who stayed by his side,
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She believed that being there for him all those years would be enough, that her presence alone could outweigh any other feelings.
But now it was painfully clear that Nathan didn’t think any of it was even worth mentioning.
In his eyes, everything she had done was something that could be measured with money. And the person he loved had never changed. It was still the same girl, his first love.
The more Grace thought about it, the tighter her chest felt with jealousy.
Unable to hold it in any longer, she blurted out, “Nothing else, really. I just wanted to see how you’re doing. You came back all of a sudden because of that girl you’ve always loved, right?”
‘So what’s going on with you two now? Did you actually end up together?”
Grace tried to sound casual, but the bitterness in her voice betrayed her.
Yeah, almost,” Edward chimed in. “If it really happens, we’ll make sure you’re invited to the wedding.”
Those words from Nathan pierced straight through Grace’s heart.
She took a deep breath, forcing the bitterness down, and said quietly, “Well, congratulations. Looks like your trip wasn’t for nothing.”
It’s not easy to get back together after ten years.”
Yeah,” Nathan replied. “That’s why I’m going to cherish it even more.”
Every affirmation from Nathan was like a dagger to Grace’s heart, each word cutting deeper than the last.
This time, his responses truly crushed her self–esteem.
In that moment, Grace could not help but wonder why, after standing by Nathan for so many years, he had never felt even the slightest romantic attraction toward her.
It’s not like she lacked anything. People had always told her she was beautiful, even captivating.
Back in those underground fight clubs, her looks often stirred up trouble, so she went out of her way to make herself look plain and rough, just so she could blend in.
But after she started spending time with Nathan, she abandoned the harsh makeup and began dressing more carefully, making sure she looked her best every day.
Yet whether she hid behind a rough appearance or showed her best self, it seemed Nathan never noticed the difference at
all.
She could not understand how she could be so invisible to Nathan, how she never seemed to matter to him in the slightest.
That truth had always hurt her deeply.
Maybe all those bottled–up feelings finally overwhelmed her, but Grace could not hold back anymore, and she blurted out the question she had buried deep inside for years.
“What about me, Nathan? In your eyes, what do I even mean to you?”
The moment the words left her mouth, regret slammed into her.
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She was terrified that by breaking the fragile balance between them, she might lose everything she had now.
But the words were already spoken, and all she could do was grip her phone tightly while waiting for Nathan’s answer.
If he did not answer her right then, Grace knew she would not be able to rest, not even for a moment.
“You’re a friend.” Nathan said at last.
After a long pause, his voice came through, flat and distant.
He still sounded detached, but if Grace listened closely, she could hear a trace of resignation in his words.
“Grace, it’s been nine years. You’ve always been there for my mom. I’m not made of stone, and I could never see you as just her nurse.
“To me, you’re a friend, maybe even family. But I just can’t see you as someone I could fall in love with. Do you understand?”
Nathan had never intended to say this aloud, but now that Grace had asked, he realized this unspoken truth had always hung between them.
Rather than letting it remain unresolved, he chose to say everything clearly and put an end to it once and for all.
“Everything I’ve ever told you was the truth. I wasn’t offering empty words. I’ve loved my first love since I was a kid, and in all these ten years, that feeling has never wavered.”
“Even after she got married and had a child, it still doesn’t change anything for you?” Grace blurted out, her voice trembling. Hearing Nathan speak so calmly shattered her composure completely, and she could no longer hold herself together.
Perhaps it was because the steadiness in his tone made it painfully clear that his mind was made up, that this was something he had already thought through and would never change.
At that moment, Grace’s heart was in complete turmoil. She had never felt so lost or heartbroken, and even her voice betrayed how devastated she was inside.
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.
