Chapter 262: What Do You Take Me For?

Maggie clenched her teeth, her eyes reddening. "You're right," she said, looking at him. "I don't like having no privacy in front of you. It makes me feel like I'm just a possession, expected to follow your every arrangement."

Nathael was taken aback, a surge of uncontrollable disappointment washing over him. But wasn't this the normal reaction? His dark, beautiful eyes, as always, held an extreme restraint.

Maggie didn't dare meet his gaze, knowing the disappointment and hurt in his brooding eyes would be too much to bear.

"Or," she said, trying to find some middle ground, "Nolan can stay by my side, but if he chooses to stay, he has to follow my arrangements and commands."

As soon as the words left her mouth, they seemed even more hurtful. Nolan's presence seemed to bother her more than Nathael's did. Maggie didn't dare look at him. She sat on the bed, hugging her knees, and stared blankly at her ankles. She really hated this upsetting mess.

But should she tell him she's dying soon? Could she? In her previous life, he hadn't lived more than a month or two after her death. After avenging her, he'd taken his own life at her grave. How could she say it aloud? After all, she wanted him to live and experience the life they'd never had, to resolve their regrets. To see the world decades later, or perhaps find another woman to grow old with.

At this thought, tears formed in Maggie's eyes. She didn't want to, nor was she willing to—if possible, she wanted to be with him for a lifetime, indulging in his tolerance at will. But it seemed fate always mocked her, unwilling to grant her such an opportunity.

"Alright, as you wish," Nathael finally broke the silence, speaking slowly.

As his words fell, Maggie's tears uncontrollably spilled over. She looked up at him, smiling. "You're clearly not happy. Why agree so readily?" she asked. "I'm nothing special; you don't need to degrade yourself like this. If you wanted, there are plenty of women out there, like Beth, who would obey your every—"

Nathael sighed softly, reaching out to wipe the tears from her face. "Why are you crying? I've already granted your wish." His voice was soft and hoarse, deep, yet carried a trace of coaxing.

Maggie turned her head away, but cried even harder. It was precisely because he'd granted her wish that she felt so sad. Just like countless times before, even though he knew she had ulterior motives and schemes, he still indulged her every whim and fulfilled her desires. And then he was disappointed again and again, hurting over and over. But even so, he never once let her go.

Nathael gently turned her head back, carefully drying her tears. "Don't cry; I can't bear to see you cry," he said softly.

Maggie sniffled. "Aren't you angry at me?" she asked.

Nathael fell silent. Of course, there was anger, but compared to his rage, perhaps sorrow and disappointment overwhelmed him. Since he remained silent, Maggie knew he must be upset.

Just then, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. The caller ID, Timothy, flashed across the screen. Nathael's jaw tightened, and the lines on his face hardened. Maggie silently cursed Timothy as she quickly ended the call.

The room returned to its eerie stillness. Anything she could say seemed weak and futile. Then, WhatsApp notifications rang repeatedly. Without looking, Maggie knew it was Timothy.

Nathael's eyes darkened. "Can you not see him?" he asked solemnly.

Maggie averted her gaze, offering only silence. She understood that, if she agreed, Nathael could provide considerable protection. But would that ensure her safety forever? Living in a golden cage wasn't a permanent solution, and even such luxuries weren't always safe. Besides, if Timothy was determined to cause trouble, how could he give up so easily?

After a prolonged silence, Nathael finally spoke. He adjusted the blanket over her. "Call me if you need anything. If cooking becomes a hassle, have Nolan get something for you." He seemed hesitant to say more, withdrawing his gaze and turning to leave.

A sense of emptiness settled in Maggie's chest. Despite his cold and mocking demeanor in her previous life, Nathael's current behavior was surprisingly considerate. Yet she couldn't shake off a profound sense of misery, as if she were on the brink of losing him. Was she disappointing him after all?

In the somber silence of the room, laden with gloom, Maggie felt suffocated. As Nathael prepared to leave, she instinctively reached out and clasped his hand.

Nathael met her gaze, observing the tear tracks on her face and the moisture in her eyes. Despite her tears, her eyes were bright and clear, and her lips were rosy and unconsciously pursed. Their eyes met. Maggie found her courage and pulled him back down onto the bed. Before Nathael could react, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. They had never truly been together before, and in that moment, she suddenly wanted to be with him. With so many regrets in their past lives, if time was short in this one, why not seek bliss sooner? Maggie didn't want to admit it, but perhaps she sought to ease her own uneasiness. She was an egoist, a complete and utter self-serving rascal!

Maggie closed her eyes and savored the kiss. In her past life, he had kissed her many times, but mostly they weren't fond memories. Often it was when she'd infuriated him, and with her body in a broken state, he'd had no other way to vent. And she was always full of resentment; she would resist and struggle. She never really took the time to enjoy it, let alone respond to him.

Maggie reached to unbutton his shirt, her fingers tracing his toned abs; her touch was green yet provocative. She failed to notice that Nathael hadn't moved. He just watched her with a murky gaze. It wasn't until Maggie reached for his belt that Nathael looked down and captured her hand. "That's enough," he said with a deep voice.

Maggie paused, staring at him in a daze. With a complex look in his eyes, Nathael met her gaze…

(The passage ends abruptly.)