Chapter 390 How Long Have You Been Planning

Maggie tried to speak, but words failed her for a moment.

The room felt stuck in a standstill, the air heavy, making it hard to catch a breath. Even though Nathael held her tightly, there was no hint of joy in the moment.

After a long silence, Maggie spoke softly, “Maybe we should take a break for a while. I need some time to think things through.”

Nathael scoffed, his gaze piercing. “So you can go find that person you supposedly fell for later?”

Maggie’s heart sank as she tried to push him away. “Yes, it was just a dream, but even if it was...”

Maggie’s words were cut short by Nathael’s cold interruption, his voice laced with hostility. “Did Timmothy pressure you? Or did Grandpa say something to you?”

Maggie was taken aback, meeting his reddened eyes, and then said softly, “Timmothy did approach me, but I won’t break up with you just because of him.”

“So, then why?” Nathael’s grip on her wrist tightened, his jawline tense, his whole demeanor becoming intimidating, far from the gentle calmness he had shown before.

Maggie lowered her gaze, her voice gentle. “Nathael, I do love you. Anyone would love a man like you.”

A few seconds passed before she looked up at him with a wry smile. “But your affection, your love, it’s just too heavy for me to handle.”

Nathael’s expression grew even more unpleasant, his pale pink lips pressed tightly together as he stared at her coldly, as if she were a stranger. Maggie’s eyes filled with tears, a hint of sadness in their clear depths as she forced a smile and said, “Funny how things work out, isn’t it? You value me so highly, but I can’t handle it.”

“For me, you can calmly break your fingers without flinching. Do you know that since that day, I’ve been haunted by nightmares? You make me feel like I’ve been a burden to you, like I’ve caused you harm. The weight of what you’ve given me is just too heavy, too deep.”

Her voice faltered halfway through, and Maggie looked at him with a pained smile, whispering, “And I can’t handle it.”

She didn’t want to admit that being with him was just a scheme, nor did she want to deny that the happiness they shared was all fake.

She didn’t even believe it herself, so how could she expect Nathael to believe it?

So she tried to come up with some seemingly reasonable excuses, some past events that had made her uneasy and doubtful.

Maybe only this way would he believe her.

Nathael didn’t say anything, just looked at her with darkened eyes, his beautiful gaze almost on the verge of tears.

Tears welled up in Maggie’s eyes as she let out a soft laugh. “It’s kinda like that dream I had. When I’m head over heels for you, life’s peachy, but when I’m not, it’s like we’re just oil and water.”

“And now, you can’t even handle the idea of us breaking up. Nathael, despite your cool facade, deep down, you’re stubborn as a mule and downright possessive. Your stubbornness is scary, and your possessiveness is overwhelming.”

Her voice choked as she continued, speaking slower and softer, “So, maybe we should take a break for a while. Perhaps we need to think about our personalities.”

Maggie couldn’t find any other reasons.

He was just too good, everything was too perfect.

His stubbornness and possessiveness were real, and so was his ability to hold back. These were never reasons for her not to love him, but now, they were what she was using to hurt him.

Maggie felt guilty.

But she couldn’t just be all lovey-dovey with him for a couple of years, then suddenly die when things were good, leaving him to live like a zombie.

Now, even though they’re apart...

At least she can still keep an eye on him from afar for a while.

Nathael let out a mocking laugh, his eyes burning with anger. He couldn’t understand how she could say such things. He felt an urge to strangle her.

“Maggie, do you even have a heart?”

His voice was deep and hoarse, like a lion about to roar, yet he was still trying to hold himself back with whatever bit of sanity he had left.

Maggie didn’t dare to meet his gaze, keeping her eyes lowered in silence. She felt like her heart was being ripped apart with pain, almost unbearable.

Turns out, there are things in this world that are even more painful than death.

“I’m sorry.” At last, she just whispered, stepping aside to walk past him, intending to leave.

Nathael grabbed her wrist tightly and forcefully pulled her back, his voice carrying a hint of anger. “So what do these days even mean?”

Maggie tilted her head back, giving him a slight smile as she tried to act nonchalant. “Haven’t you also been happy these days, Mr. Harris?”

Nathael clenched his teeth, glaring intensely at the woman before him.

It was still the same pretty yet distant face, the one that had been so affectionate with him not long ago, but now, it seemed cold and distant.

In that instant, Nathael suddenly felt like he had never truly understood her.

“How long have you been planning this?” Nathael asked slowly, his expression dark.

Maggie avoided his gaze and replied, “Does it matter? Nathael, I never actually thought you’d marry me, but at least, thanks for everything you’ve done for me.”

Nathael let out a bitter laugh, and just then, his phone on the table rang. He grabbed it and angrily tossed it away.

With a loud crash, the phone hit the coffee table, then bounced onto the floor, shattering into pieces and falling silent.

“Mr. Harris…” Alex outside heard the noise and promptly knocked on the door, ready to come in.

“Get out!” Nathael’s voice boomed with anger, his tone sharp as ice.

Maggie’s heart skipped a beat. She had never witnessed him losing his temper like this before. In all their years together, even amidst her coldness, he had remained mostly silent.

Nathael let out a bitter laugh, his eyes piercing with coldness. “Who the hell needs your thanks?”

“You’ve been planning to break up. That’s why you always stayed silent whenever I mentioned marriage. That’s why, even though my stuff was at your place, you never bothered to unpack it. That’s why you casually brought up breaking up.”

In the next moment, Nathael’s grip tightened on her chin, his demeanor shifting abruptly, his voice now laced with frost. “Maggie, what did I do that made you unhappy?”

Maggie winced as he pinched her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

But right then, she didn’t feel like saying anything more. Each word she uttered seemed like it would turn into a dagger, piercing both him and herself.

They seemed like an unsolvable puzzle, both in their past lives and now.

Sometimes, Maggie couldn’t help but wonder if missing each other was destined to be their fate. Why else would things turn out like this?

“Come on! Say something!” Nathael’s voice was filled with anger.

Maggie’s eyes welled up with tears as she met his gaze and said softly, “Nathael, we’re just breaking up. Tomorrow, the sun will rise again, and life will continue as usual.”