Chapter 17: I Heard I'm Not Good?

Nathael paused, gazing at the sleeping woman in his arms. Her long, well-defined eyelashes drooped slightly. Her lips, perhaps rosy from the wine, were translucent, giving her an innocent appearance. He knew the words whispered earlier weren't meant for him.

Suppressing his thoughts, he dressed her in loose clothing and gently placed her in bed. The dimly lit room held a faint warmth. Nathael sat beside the bed, listening to her even breathing, his eyes darkening.

Maggie's phone rang again. Nathael almost hung up, but paused, seeing the caller ID: "Joseph." The phone continued to ring. He frowned and answered.

"Hello, Maggie? Why aren't you responding to my messages? Are you sure the data you copied from Nathael is accurate?" Joseph's voice, though gentle, held a harsh edge.

Nathael's lips thinned, his eyes cold and dark. The Camerons were masterful manipulators. Even as a prestigious family, they relied on a woman to achieve their goals.

"Maggie? Are you listening? I don't mean anything else. The Adams family is always against us, and our situation is precarious. We need to be cautious."

Receiving no response, Joseph repeated himself. "Maggie"

Nathael, uninterested, interrupted coldly, "She's asleep."

The unfamiliar male voice startled Joseph. He hadn't expected a man to answer. He glanced at the time: eleven o'clock.

"Who are you? Why are you with Maggie? What have you done to her?" Joseph's voice was agitated.

Nathael hung up before Joseph could finish. Annoyed, he switched off Maggie's phone and tossed it aside. Why Joseph or Ericko, but not him?

Desire surged, wild and unstoppable. Nathael's long lashes cast shadows in the moonlight. His gaze fell on her rosy lips. He bent down, restraining himself, and lightly kissed her hair. "Goodnight, Maggie."

Maggie slept soundly, but woke feeling groggy in an unfamiliar room. The simple, spacious bed, the high-quality silver-grey bedding, the stark decor… it wasn't her house. She sat up, stunned. What had happened last night? Her memory was hazy after the wine, but she remembered this was Nathael's house. Had she spent the night here?

She looked at her oversized pajamas, confused. Had they slept together? Or not? The uncertainty was maddening.

Maggie got up, found Nathael absent, and quickly showered. Afterward, she turned on her phone, ignoring Joseph's messages, and video-called Mia.

"Maggie! Where the hell were you? You didn't answer my calls all night!" Mia's voice boomed through the receiver after a delayed connection. Mia had tried calling back last night but Maggie's phone was off. Mia's ears hurt from shouting, so she moved the phone away. She walked to the window, opening the white curtains, letting sunlight flood the room.

"I'm at Nathael's house." Maggie paused, unsure how to explain.

Mia, removing her eye mask and sitting up in a seductive silk nightgown, frowned. "Did Nathael sleep with you?"

Maggie hesitated.

"Mia! Watch your language! What do you mean 'sleep with him'?"

"Then what?"

"It's more like I slept with him!" Maggie retorted.

Mia chuckled, lazily tousling her hair. "Take a look in the mirror. See how pale and lifeless you look after being intimate. Tell me, how many times did you force him to call you 'daddy'?" Maggie was furious.

"Mia, I solemnly declare you've lost your little sweetheart forever!"

"Alright, alright. You had your way with him. You were in control, he was submissive. You trained him to meow like a cat. The mighty Mr. Harris cried and begged for mercy!" Mia corrected herself, smirking. Maggie was speechless.

Damn it! Why was she so embarrassed? She felt ashamed despite her innocence.

"So, how was Nathael's performance?" Mia's eyes twinkled with curiosity.

"He wasn't very good," Maggie said seriously. Apart from last night, she hadn't felt much during their night at the hotel. She remembered Nathael saying in her previous life that he hadn't touched her that night. But last night, he hadn't denied it. If they had slept together, he wasn't skilled.

Before she could elaborate, Mia continued, "It seems the rumors are true."

"What rumors?" Maggie asked, startled.

Mia gathered her hair and went to wash up. "The rumors said he's not good, has problems in that area…" The sound of running water muffled the end of Mia's sentence. Maggie guessed the meaning.

Was Nathael not good? Maggie stared out the window, dazed. Could their lack of intimacy in her previous life have been due to his inability?

"Maggie, think carefully. Nathael may have an enviable face, but consider your own happiness."

After the call, Maggie was shocked by the news that Nathael "wasn't good." One shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Who would have thought the powerful Mr. Harris…

A touch of sympathy filled Maggie's eyes. She shook her head, intending to get water. As she left the room, she collided with a strong embrace. "Ow!"

The scent of cedar filled her senses. She looked up into dark, intense eyes that narrowed slightly, causing her throat to tighten. Maggie forced a smile, unsure how much he'd overheard.

Damn it! He'd eavesdropped.

Nathael's hand gripped her chin. He smirked, "So I heard I'm not good, huh?"