Chapter 378 Ever Thought About Me
Nathael felt a subtle shift in his throat, his grip on her waist tightening momentarily before his heart found its rhythm again.
In that fleeting moment, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was about to lose her forever.
“I’m done playing along with your schemes,” Nathael’s voice came out hoarse, each word deliberate.
Maggie cast her gaze downward, a solitary tear tracing its path down her cheek.
Her thirst for vengeance against Sierra remained a mystery to everyone. The Camerons had shattered her world, and Sierra’s malevolence cut deeper than most. Yet she refused to let bitterness consume her.
Maggie hugged Nathael tenderly, finding comfort in the subtle aroma of cedar enveloping him.
“I appreciate it,” she murmured softly.
Everyone else would think her determination—bordering on obsession—was madness. Putting herself at risk was pointless, but she just wanted to be saved.
In her previous life, she endured unfathomable despair, yearning for redemption. At times, she even prayed for a swift end, yet it eluded her grasp.
No saviour appeared, and Sierra’s cruelty persisted, leaving deep wounds and enduring betrayals.
Each rainy night became an agonising ordeal, with her scars throbbing and aching, a haunting reminder of past torment.
The abandoned warehouse, its air thick with cold and must, resembled hell to her – a realm where her deepest wounds and painful past came to the forefront.
All she yearned for was to atone for the regrets of her prior existence, longing for salvation to arrive.
In response, Nathael wordlessly gathered Maggie into his arms, bearing her away from that desolate place.
Sierra was whisked away in a car, leaving behind a flurry of military and police personnel for evidence collection.
Inside the vehicle, Nathael tenderly draped a thin blanket over Maggie’s shoulders, directing the driver to crank up the heat.
The faint red marks on Maggie’s cheeks served as a stark reminder of the cruelty she had endured at Sierra’s hands.
Sierra’s nails were sharp as knives, and she had accessories on. Though inadvertent, her ruthless attacks left small gashes on Maggie’s face.
Nathael clasped her hand firmly, his heart heavy with unspoken emotions and his demeanour distant and impassive.
After returning home, Maggie sought solace in the shower, finding comfort in the warmth that chased away the chill from her heart. Though the wounds may have closed, the scars endured.
Nathael told the servants to cook up a big feast. Seeing that Nathael wasn’t looking happy, Maggie grinned, poking fun at him as they wrapped up their meal. “You worry about losing me?”
Already in a foul mood, Nathael shot her a look. There was no smile or twinkle in his eyes. There was only shadowy darkness.
Maggie gulped and quickly squeezed onto his lap. She held up a finger. “It won’t happen again.”
Nathael’s touch was gentle as he looked into her eyes, curious about her intentions.
Solemnly, Nathael asked, “Why did you do this?”
He mulled over the whole incident. This wasn’t quite like the Maggie he knew. She didn’t seem like herself back then.
If it was just an act, she should have a different look on her face.
Maggie paused, deliberating, before revealing a recurring dream she harboured – a narrative crafted for Sierra.
“Go on,” Nathael settled onto the couch, Maggie nestled close, her voice a gentle murmur.
“In the dream, I toiled endlessly for the Camerons, regarded you with enmity, nursed resentment, showed kindness to Joseph, endured Sierra’s whims, and obeyed Ronald’s every command…
“But then, one day, I found myself kidnapped, my eyes torn out, and my face slashed.” Maggie’s tone softened, her words carrying the weight of a vivid recollection, a tale spun from her subconscious.
Though it felt like narrating fiction, she couldn’t fathom another means to convey it to him.
“In the dream, it all felt achingly real, haunting me like a relentless nightmare, jolting awake bathed in cold sweat, trapped in its grip.”
Maggie turned to Nathael, her voice barely above a whisper. “At first, I didn’t recognise her. But when I learned it was Sierra, I felt compelled to show that dreams and reality don’t align, and they crumble on their own.”
Nathael’s throat tightened as he gently kissed her forehead, his voice deep. “How are they different?”
Maggie fell silent, then spoke softly. “From now on, fear won’t hold me back.”
Nathael said nothing, but his actions spoke volumes as he grasped her chin, lifting her face and kissing her deeply, savouring the sweetness of her lips.
With a gentle yet firm touch, he guided her to the sofa, showering her with kisses that travelled from her lips to her chin, neck, and collarbone.
Closing her eyes, Maggie surrendered to the sensation, her breath quickening, overwhelmed by the intense waves of pleasure coursing through her body, relinquishing control of the moment.
This was one of the last moments of bliss she could share with him.
Christmas Eve was in two days. Come Christmas, their time together will be in countdown.
The idea pierced Maggie’s heart, leaving her with a sense of emptiness and tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
She made no move to stop him, subtly sidestepping to conceal the lingering bruises on her arms.
As Nathael drew closer, his presence enveloping her, Maggie felt a flutter in her lashes, a profound connection sparking between their souls.
Maggie’s breath hitched, yearning to lose herself in the moment.
Yet, the aftermath left her feeling achy and worn, every inch of her body protesting.
By nine in the evening, Nathael gently lifted Maggie into bed, their shared shower an intimate prelude to rest.
Maggie’s touch was light, as if she had no regard for boundaries, her fingers tracing the contours of his abdomen.
“You never answered my question. Are you secretly terrified of losing me?” Maggie sat up, studying the man by the headboard, her tone a mix of curiosity and inquiry.
Nathael gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his voice carrying a weight of reassurance. “Why do you dwell on such thoughts? We’ve got a lifetime ahead, plenty left to experience together.”
Maggie responded with a serene smile, opting for silence.
In Nathael’s eyes, she glimpsed a shared anticipation of the future, a vision too precious to disrupt.
With a gentle gesture, Nathael tousled her hair, his voice resonating deeply. “What if we tie the knot next May?”
“Ever thought about a future without me?” Maggie mused, resting her chin on her hands and swinging her legs casually, as if the idea were merely fleeting.