Chapter 323: Can You Stop Pissing Me Off?

Maggie's heart skipped a beat. A sudden wave of tension washed over her as she glanced at the man standing before her. Clearly, Nathael was testing her.

The flicker of panic in her eyes didn't go unnoticed. His gaze deepened with probing intensity, and he examined her with suspicion. He gripped her chin, and said in a low, serious voice, "You're hiding something from me." The intensity in his eyes was unsettling, making her heart clench.

Maggie couldn't hold his gaze, fearing she'd reveal her repressed feelings and secrets. She also feared their rare moments of warmth and sweetness could end in a fight.

She deliberately put on a cold expression and pushed him away. Jumping off the desk, she asked coldly, "Are you testing me?"

Nathael's brows furrowed, and his complexion darkened.

Without turning around, Maggie said with irritation, "If you don't trust me, maybe we should just…"

Before she could finish, a sharp pain shot through her wrist. Nathael stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her back. He loomed over her, his darkened eyes filled with barely suppressed rage. He confronted her, asking, "Maybe we should…"

The words "break up" stuck in her throat, too painful to utter. Maggie met his now-cold gaze but couldn't bring herself to speak them. She averted her eyes, afraid she might break down and cry.

"I just don't like you testing me," she said softly.

Nathael's lips pressed into a thin line. He said nothing, yet he knew what those unspoken words were. She wouldn't have almost said them if she hadn't thought them.

He gripped her wrist tightly, lowering his gaze to hide his turbulent emotions. He suppressed his growing unease and anger. He didn't want to scare her. He reassured himself that she simply didn't love him that much yet—at least, he'd gained so much compared to before.

He slowly released her wrist and said in a deep voice, "Let's go."

Maggie watched his back, her eyes welling with tears. His straight posture and somber silhouette ached her heart, filling her with suffocation and despair. She knew he'd been happy when he came home, but was probably heartbroken now. Maybe this was for the best; at least he'd be mentally prepared. When the day arrived, it wouldn't be as hard to accept.

The atmosphere in the car was tense; neither spoke.

Half an hour later, they ate at a restaurant near the amusement park. They barely spoke throughout the meal. Maggie had little appetite, taking a few bites before putting down her spoon.

Nathael picked up some fish for her, carefully removing the bones and placing them on her plate. "Eat a bit more," he said.

Maggie turned from the window to face him, meeting his dark eyes. His gaze was calm, like a dark night hiding emotions beneath the surface. His face was cold, his jaw clenched. He was clearly upset, but he cared enough to… They stared at each other in silence.

It seemed he would wait forever if she didn't pick up her spoon.

Finally, she looked away, picked up her spoon, and resumed eating. The food tasted good, yet bitter in her mouth.

After forcing down a few more bites, they headed into the amusement park.

Standing at the entrance, Maggie looked at the dazzling lights and heard the cheerful laughter. She felt she'd stepped into a different world. She'd never been to an amusement park before, or at least, had no memory of it. She had no recollection of her life before the orphanage, and her time there lacked such pleasures. The Camerons had taken her in and treated her decently. Joseph was a typical rich playboy, preferring extravagant parties and nightclubs. Sierra liked the idea of amusement parks, but always found excuses not to go. As an adopted child relying on the Camerons, Maggie knew to be sensible and polite. As she grew older, she stopped caring about amusement parks. Even though she’d never been, she lacked the fantasies and excitement many children have.

Now, surrounded by vibrant colors, rides, and joyful atmosphere, filled with the sweetness of candy and laughter, she found herself liking it more than she expected.

She turned to Nathael. He stood with a stern expression, glum, as if someone owed him millions. There was no hint he wanted to talk.

Maggie's heart softened. She knew it was her fault. Nathael was perceptive and must have sensed something was wrong.

She cleared her throat and asked, "Did you bring me here just to stand here and stare blankly?"

Nathael glanced down at her. His expression remained cold, his dark eyes holding a mix of complex emotions—restraint, irritation, uncertainty, anger.

Maggie didn't dare meet his gaze. Instead, she reached out with her pinky, hooking it around his finger. "Can we let that go now?" she asked, wanting to make peace. She didn't want to waste their limited time fighting.

The moment she touched his hand, he grabbed hers tightly, as if he'd been waiting for this moment, afraid she'd let it slip away.

He lowered his eyes, his throat tightening. His deep voice held a touch of helplessness and affection. "Can you please not make me mad so often?"

Maggie smiled. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him gently. "I've never been to an amusement park before. What made you bring me here?"

Nathael wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Then he bit her lip ferociously.

"Ouch! That hurts!" Maggie struggled, but the sharp pain brought tears to her eyes.

Nathael replied in a low voice, "I thought maybe, if it hurts a little, you'd remember not to throw those two words around." Hearing that, Maggie fell silent. She didn't make a habit of threatening to break up, but once she made a decision, it was difficult to keep it from affecting her subconscious.