Chapter 38

Nathaniel, cigarette in hand, tilted his head, scratched his scalp with his pinky, and walked slowly toward her. "Still, I must be courteous enough to make the stakes clear. Since you insist on being stubborn and disobedient, I have no choice but to calm you down first. Then we can talk."

He raised his chin, glanced at his men, and turned. Such a simple matter didn't require his personal intervention. He immediately heard the whirring wind and faint sounds of fists and feet impacting bodies behind him. Nathaniel frowned, about to tell his men to be more discreet, wondering why they had so much trouble with one woman.

He froze, however, as he turned. A sharp wind cut across his cheeks; simultaneously, he felt a blade at his throat. Its frigid gleam and cold steel sent shivers down his spine, sweat beading on his temples. "W-What are you doing?!"

"That depends on your next move," Lily said coldly, showing no weakness, utterly unrelenting.

"H-How do you…" Hesitant to move, Nathaniel felt increasingly confused. These past few days had been nightmarish, the worst of his life. A woman he'd known for five years, loved for three, had become a stranger, utterly unfamiliar. He doubted himself, wondering if this was the Lily he knew and loved, or someone else entirely. Could it be a mistake?

"What? How do I know how to fight?" Lily echoed his confusion, sneering. "Of course I do. It's all because of you."

Nathaniel didn't understand, but the chill at his throat was real. He had no time to ponder. "Don't do anything rash! This isn't a game. Let's put the blade down."

"Nathaniel, my request is straightforward: return what belongs to me, and we're even!" Seeing his sweat and nervousness, Lily felt disgusted.

"Okay, I promise." The pressure on his neck eased. Regaining his composure, he turned to see Lily already some distance away, his two bodyguards moaning on the ground, no match for her.

"What the heck?" Nathaniel muttered, feeling frustrated and uneasy. He'd planned to coax Lily with sweet talk, believing it the easiest, most effective method. He'd never expected her to be so unruly. This had become far more complicated.

Lily shook her sore wrist as she walked, planning to take a taxi home. It had been a while since she'd practiced boxing; her hands ached from dealing with the two thugs. She seemed to have sacrificed much for Nathaniel over the years, but from this day forward, she was reclaiming herself. Searching for a taxi, she saw a car flash its headlights nearby. The bright light dazzled her; she shielded her eyes, squinting. Recognizing the car, her tense heart relaxed. He had arrived!