Chapter 140: I Really Like It

Nathael frowned, turned, and quickly walked toward the bathroom. She knocked on the door, her knuckles slightly bent.

"Maggie!"

Perhaps due to agitation or the effects of alcohol, Maggie's legs gave way the moment her name was called. She barely had time to react before slipping and falling to the ground. Her buttocks hit first, and a burning pain shot through her tailbone.

Pain filled Maggie's eyes, blurring her vision. Tears welled up.

"It hurts so much!" she cried. "Damn! It hurts like hell!"

Maggie wondered if she was cursed—by bad luck or Nathael.

"Knock knock!" The knocking came again, just as Maggie was about to speak. Nathael pushed open the bathroom door.

Inside, a woman sat on the floor in thin clothing, her eyes red-rimmed, looking pitiful and aggrieved. Her fair skin was exposed, and in the lingering bathroom mist, she appeared hazy and alluring.

Nathael hesitated, clearly startled.

Maggie, regaining her composure, instinctively covered her chest. "Get out!" she snapped, irritation filling her eyes. "This is so embarrassing! I'm not shameless!"

Nathael didn't move. His lips pressed together as he approached and crouched beside her. "Where are you hurt?"

His voice was low, his eyes still dark, but the hint of tenderness seemed lessened.

Maggie's lips pursed; indignation filled her demeanor. Tears misted her eyelashes, betraying her anger and frustration, but she refused to cry. What is this? she thought. Did he call me over just to tease me? To see me embarrassed?

"Get out! Who let you in?" Maggie felt incredibly uncomfortable, her cheeks burning.

Nathael asked no further questions. He wrapped a towel around her, lifted her, and carried her to the bed.

Maggie turned away, avoiding his gaze. The movement sent a sharp pain through her tailbone, making her want to cry. The fall had felt particularly heavy, and even the slight tipsiness she'd felt earlier vanished in the face of the pain.

Nathael frowned. "Let me take a look," he said in a deep voice.

"No!" Maggie blurted, pulling away and wrapping the towel tighter. It hurts and it's embarrassing!

Nathael pulled her back into his arms. "I've seen it all," he whispered. "What's there to be scared of?"

This enraged Maggie further. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, leaving light marks on her cheeks. She looked vulnerable and alluring, stirring a desire to comfort her. "You're so proud of yourself, huh?" she glared, furious.

Without warning, Nathael pressed her onto his lap. With the towel between them, his hand landed on her body, applying slight pressure.

Maggie felt incredibly embarrassed, shaking with anger. When he touched the sore spot, she trembled, tears falling rapidly.

Feeling the warmth of her tears on his pants, Nathael was momentarily stunned. The warm tears, through the thin fabric, felt like they were burning his skin, as if they landed on his heart.

"The bone's fine," Nathael said, his voice low.

Seeing him stop, Maggie quickly got up and moved away, wrapping herself in the towel and saying nothing.

A knock sounded at the door. Nathael furrowed his brow and answered it.

"Sir, I'm so sorry," a female attendant said, her voice uneasy and embarrassed, tinged with worry. "I accidentally delivered some clothes to the wrong room."

Maggie perked up her ears. Clothes? Delivered to the wrong room? What clothes? She glanced at the row of flamboyant outfits on a rolling rack, stunned. Are those the clothes?!

Realizing this, Maggie almost choked. Were they not arranged by Nathael? Was it an accident?

"The clothes have been sorted out," Nathael said firmly, preventing the attendant from entering.

The attendant quickly bowed again. "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. I'll be more careful next time."

As the door closed, Nathael turned back to the bedroom, meeting Maggie's teary gaze. Her bright red lips sparkled, tears streaking her fair face, as if she had been deeply wronged.

"Those clothes weren't your idea?" Maggie finally asked.

Nathael raised an eyebrow. "I'm not that weird."

Maggie's anger flared. "Then why did you seem to enjoy it so much?"

"I didn't want to let you down by not being interested," Nathael smirked, realizing the misunderstanding.

Tears glistened in Maggie's eyes as she clenched her teeth. "If you didn't arrange it, why didn't you speak up?"

Nathael's voice was calm. "I thought you had prepared it."

Those words left Maggie speechless. She had unfairly accused him, and she had foolishly believed he was deliberately teasing her.

Maggie's vision darkened. It would be better to just drop dead on the spot, she thought. I don't want to face anyone ever again. Nathael, that heartless jerk, was deliberately messing with me!

The thought made her tailbone ache even more. She felt a mix of embarrassment, frustration, and anger. Tears streamed down her cheeks like scattered pearls. Nathael stood there, momentarily stunned. He had seen her cry before, but never like this.

The physical pain was one thing, but the embarrassment was worse.

Sniffling, her nose red, her lips pressed tightly together, her vision blurred with tears, she felt increasingly upset. Nathael was toying with her! Not only did he not believe her, but he also kept making sarcastic remarks and challenging her. Despite her determination to retaliate against the Camerons, he kept hindering her and causing unnecessary trouble.

After finally mustering the courage to take action, she realized it was all a misunderstanding. The more Maggie thought about it, the more she felt like a fool, putting on a show while he watched and chuckled.

The more she dwelled on it, the harder she cried.

"Are you feeling that upset?" Nathael furrowed his brow, pulling her back into his arms and gently wiping away her tears. Maggie turned her head away, ignoring him.

Nathael's eyes were piercing and intense as he held her chin, meeting her gaze directly. He whispered, "I like it."