Let’s Start All Over Again, Shall We?

Chapter 389 We Need Some Time Apart

“Yeah,” Nathael replied, not denying it.

A slight curve tugged at the corner of Maggie’s lips, her smile somewhat hard to contain.

Nathael wasn’t sure if what he felt back then could be called love. He just felt like he had started caring about her.

He found himself keeping tabs on her from time to time, unable to resist the urge to bump into her by chance.

But maybe it had been too long, or perhaps life in the Camerons was great enough that she seemed to have forgotten about him.

And the ones by her side were a guy named Joseph, along with Leo and Sabastian.

Her life was way more interesting than his, and now that he was back at the Harrises’ residence, he had to make the most of every moment to get stronger fast.

Charlie’s death hit him hard.

Grandpa’s expectations and all the plotting from every direction felt like invisible threats, leaving him no choice but to wade through a world of chaos and danger.

Sometimes, late at night, he just couldn’t help but remember them crammed into that tiny storage room together.

In the afternoon, Maggie tagged along with Nathael to the office. But as the sun set, it was like a switch flipped, turning off all her earlier good mood.

She sank into Nathael’s chair, closed her eyes, and rocked back and forth gently.

The phrase “breaking up” danced on her lips, rehearsed countless times.

Yet, it always felt bitter.

Before she could utter a word, Maggie felt the weight of saying something without meaning it, but she kept delaying. She had to go see Iris for treatment.

Maybe, breaking up right now is for the future. If there was a future.

That was the only way Maggie could comfort herself, even though she couldn’t shake off the feeling of gloom.

Actually, she deliberately chose to have the conversation at his workplace; she feared that at home, he wouldn’t let her go.

As for her stuff, Maggie had it all figured out. She planned to get her brother to help with it later. She doubted she’d ever go back to that villa.

Just then, the door swung open.

Maggie’s heart skipped a beat, feeling like it was squeezed tight, trembling with nerves.

Nathael glanced up, his voice serious. “Tired? Why not crash on the bed?”

His office had a lounge area where Maggie often lounged around and played games.

“My back’s killing me from lying down, I’ll just sit for a bit,” Maggie said, then fell silent again, not sure where to start.

Nathael set aside the papers in his hand and asked gently, “Hungry? I can have something ordered.”

Maggie wasn’t really in the mood to think about food. She stood up, looked at him, and said slowly, “Nathael, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Maybe it had been a while since she spoke to him so formally, or maybe her expression was just too serious and tense.

Nathael paused, looking at her. “Go ahead.”

Their eyes met, and Maggie’s heart raced in her chest. His long, deep-set eyes were intense and mysterious, both beautiful and shadowed.

Maggie felt her throat tighten, but she tried to keep herself looking composed as she spoke slowly, “I think we need some time apart.”

The words felt stuck in her throat.

When they finally came out, there was no sense of relief. Instead, they brought an invisible weight. The office suddenly felt colder, and the relaxed atmosphere vanished. It was like stepping into the depths of winter, with dark clouds looming overhead, making it hard to breathe.

Maggie’s hand at her side curled up slightly as if she was forcing herself not to retreat.

After all, when discussing serious matters, she needed to keep a serious tone. She couldn’t afford to falter at the start. Otherwise, how could they continue the conversation?

Nathael’s once captivating eyes visibly dimmed, his black pupils resembling cold obsidian stones.

He locked his gaze onto Maggie, intent on catching any hint of her emotions as if there was already a vast distance between them, yet he maintained his calm demeanor.

“What do you mean?” Nathael’s thin lips parted slightly as he spoke, his voice still gentle, almost like he was asking a casual question.

But the gentler he seemed, the more unease Maggie felt.

It was like the calm before a storm, as if chaos could erupt at any moment.

Maggie’s throat tightened as she looked at him and said slowly, “Remember when you asked if I still had those dreams?”

Nathael stayed quiet, patiently listening.

Maggie spoke slowly, “I dreamt that I fell for someone else, and dealing with your feelings… made it even harder for me.”

Her words came out slowly, each one feeling like a stab in her own heart.

But she knew that asking for a breakup out of the blue wasn’t enough to convince him.

That dream was the perfect excuse.

And Maggie planned to approach it a bit more gently.

“We need some time. I need to clear my head, okay?” Maggie looked at him cautiously.

Nathael didn’t reply, only asking, “Anything else in your dreams?”

Maggie stayed quiet for a moment before speaking softly, “A lot of things.”

“I dreamed that we ended up resenting each other, you stopped loving me but refused to let me go. You… you drove away the person I later fell in love with, and we were both in pain.”

Maggie couldn’t help but marvel at her ability to fabricate stories.

But she knew deep down that what she was saying would resonate with him the most.

Nathael was possessive and intense, which was why she worried he wouldn’t easily let her go.

Hearing this, Nathael stepped closer, and Maggie’s heart skipped a beat as she instinctively backed away.

She knew she shouldn’t be afraid of him. Even though everyone else might hurt her, he wouldn’t. But at that moment, she couldn’t shake this inexplicable sense of unease.

Maggie had nowhere else to go, her back against the edge of the bookshelf, her breaths coming in irregular spurts.

Nathael reached out and pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her neck, and asked softly, “Nana, who was the person you loved later?”

Maggie pressed her lips together as his warm breath washed over her neck, sending a strange tingling sensation down her spine, making her shiver for no apparent reason.

His voice was low and husky, devoid of any anger or rage, even carrying a hint of coaxing. But his hand on her waist was tighter than ever.

Maggie was held tightly in his embrace, her gaze lowered, unable to utter any name, nor would she.

“That was just a dream. I won’t let you have the chance to fall for someone else. Plus, didn’t you say we’d always be together?” Nathael murmured against her neck, his voice filled with restrained emotion and a hint of pleading.

Maggie’s eyelashes fluttered lightly, a touch of moisture forming at the corners of her eyes.

“I lied to you. In the dream… we didn’t end up well.”

Nathael let out a bitter laugh. His gaze darkened beneath his long lashes, feeling a heavy weight in his chest.

His voice was hoarse as he spoke, “It’s not fair. It was just a dream.”