Chapter 156: You Remind Me of a Friend

“I… I… Who said I’d give birth to a child for you? I was just joking!” Maggie stammered, feeling she’d gone too far. She’d tried to annoy Beth, but why had Nathael taken it seriously?

Nathael’s gaze swept over her delicate, fair face. Her head tilted slightly, long eyelashes drooping, soft lips pursed with a hint of tension and unease, like a rosebud waiting to bloom.

“But I took it seriously.” Nathael’s voice was hoarse, insistent. He felt a surge of something unleashed by the thought.

“But… but I’m still just a child!” Maggie blinked, bewildered and innocent. She felt she could overcome any obstacle with enough shamelessness; clearly, she hadn’t reached that point yet. She would continue working on it.

Nathael was dumbfounded.

Maggie looked at him earnestly, her eyes moist. “Mr. Harris, I advise you to be kind…” But before she could finish, Nathael lowered his head and kissed her.

His lips were cool yet soft, possessing an irresistible dominance and forcefulness. Maggie was enveloped in his familiar yet unfamiliar scent, her legs weakening, her mind going blank amidst the faint smell of cedar.

“Ugh, it hurts…” Her breath hitched. Her eyes misted over with annoyance. “It hurts… It hasn’t even healed from yesterday…”

Beth, having already left, realized something was wrong and turned back. She’d flown thousands of miles and wouldn’t be dismissed with a few words. She hadn’t come to witness this; now, she felt like a defeated rooster, tossed aside and slinking away.

She tried to ignore Maggie, but as she walked down the corridor, she saw Nathael pressing Maggie against a dimly lit wall, kissing her. Beth stopped, bitterness filling her eyes, her heart feeling tightly gripped and twisted. The kiss she’d never dared to hope for was easily given to that woman. She lost the courage to approach and left, dazed.

Some time later, Maggie felt weak. She swallowed hard, her breath unsteady, whispering, “Mr. Harris, if you keep this up, others might think we can’t afford a room.”

A hint of warmth touched Nathael’s stern face. His piercing eyes, dark with desire, met hers. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Shall we?” he invited.

Maggie pushed him away. “No.” Why should she? He’d promised dinner; she wouldn’t be devoured before they even ate. Besides, there was a table full of untouched food. “I’m going to the restroom,” she said, intending to tidy her clothes and lipstick.

Leaning against the wall as she walked, she felt her legs grow weak. Nathael remained still, forcing himself to calm down. When he opened his eyes again, the desire was lessened, replaced by clarity, yet they still held a restrained patience.

In the restroom, Maggie touched up her makeup, trying to calm herself. There were wrinkles in her clothes she couldn’t fix. Sighing, she gave up. Looking at her flushed face, she felt on the verge of losing it.

A few minutes later, she left the restroom, intending to return for dinner. Taking a few steps, she bumped into someone holding a toy robot. The robot scattered on the floor.

Maggie quickly crouched to help. “I’m sorry.”

The person, a slender young man, was bowed, his face hidden. Maggie saw his long, fair hands. He picked up the pieces and looked up, thanking her.

Maggie saw his delicate, pale face, beautiful yet frail, with clear, innocent eyes—a youthful charm.

“Can this be put back together? Do you need me to compensate?” Maggie apologized.

“It’s possible, but it’ll take some time,” he replied gently.

Maggie breathed a sigh of relief. She knew it must be cherished. “I’m really sorry,” she apologized again.

“It’s okay.” He smiled shyly.

Feeling it inappropriate to leave, she suggested, “How about we exchange contact information? If any parts are broken, you can contact me.” He nodded. “Sure.”

They exchanged numbers. He spoke gently, “My name is Timothy Yonathan.”

Afterward, as Maggie started to leave, Timothy called out, “Ms. Adam, have we met before?”

Maggie couldn’t recall him. “You look like a friend of mine,” Timothy smiled, “but she’s not as beautiful as you.”

Maggie nodded. “That’s quite a coincidence.”

Timothy sighed. “But she can’t see, and someone ruined her appearance.”

Maggie was stunned. Blindness and disfigurement? “Is she… has she had vision problems since birth?”

Timothy shook his head. After a silence, he said slowly, “She offended enemies and had her eyes gouged out.”

Maggie felt a strange unease. Timothy suppressed his negative emotions and smiled, apologizing, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have compared you to her. It wasn’t my intention to offend you. It’s just that she really looks a lot like you.”