Chapter 80: I Want to Stay

Nathael glanced at the time. "It's getting late," he said. "I'll head back."

Maggie watched him silently, offering no protest.

He rose and walked to the window, gazing at the rain. After a moment, he said, "It's hailing."

Maggie was speechless. She couldn't believe it. Leaping from the sofa without her shoes, she joined him, pulling the curtains wider to get a better look at the large hailstones.

"Mr. Harris," she exclaimed, "do you know how easy it is to get struck by lightning on a rainy day? People who talk nonsense will get struck!"

Nathael remained silent for a moment, then gestured calmly. "Look," he said. Maggie followed his gaze. "There are whirlpools in the puddles, and white clumps in the rain curtain. It's a hailstorm." Maggie wanted to laugh. You big liar! she thought.

"I'll call Alex," Nathael said, his composure unwavering. His clean white shirt, freshly laundered, smelled fresh and looked perfect on him.

Maggie pursed her lips, glancing at him. This man doesn't want to leave! she thought. He's so serious about his nonsense. A man's mouth is a deceitful ghost! She wanted to see how he'd talk to Alex.

Alex, listening to music with his eyes closed, saw Nathael's incoming call. "Yes, Mr. Harris?"

"It's hailing," Nathael's deep voice said. "Can you come over?"

Alex was confused. Where is he going if he's waiting here? And what about the hail? Has it started hailing?

"I can," Alex mumbled, half-asleep. "I'm in Ms. Adam's neighborhood."

Nathael stood close to Maggie, his voice clear in her ear. Maggie stood beside him, gazing at the night sky, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

After a few seconds, Nathael said softly, "The rain is too heavy. You won't make it."

Alex, finally understanding, said quickly, "Oh, yes! The hail just smashed my car! I need to fix it. The roads will be jammed. Why don't you ask Ms. Adam if she can accommodate you for the night?"

Maggie struggled to suppress her laughter at the blatant performance. Nathael, however, remained serious. "Okay," he replied calmly.

After hanging up, Maggie feigned ignorance. Wrapping a shawl around herself, she turned to him. "What did he say?"

"He asked if you could accommodate me for the night." His eyes, dark and deep, were surprisingly sincere. Despite their coldness, they conveyed a deep affection when he looked at her seriously.

Maggie smiled gently. "And what if I refuse, Mr. Harris?"

Nathael stared at her, sighed, and resisted the urge to embrace her. He whispered, "I want to stay."

Maggie smiled. I knew it. I knew it from the beginning. "Then you sleep on the couch," she said, walking into the living room, her back to him, a knowing smile hinting at her amusement.

Late that night, the rain poured, the wind howled. Maggie slept deeply, but not peacefully. She dreamt again of her past life, the heartbreaking pain of her kidnapping seemingly etched into her bones. She dreamt of the day Joseph strapped explosives to her, using her as bait for Nathael.

"Joseph, have you lost your mind? Nathael despises me! He won't come!" she cried in her dream, blindfolded and bound, trapped in a strange place.

"Maggie, you're foolish!" Joseph laughed. "Nathael is all-powerful. Do you think he married you for revenge? Ridiculous!" They were cornered, yet Nathael had spared their lives.

Because she didn't need him to say it, she already knew. But she deceived herself, unwilling to admit it. To admit it meant denying her existence for the past twenty years; her life a joke, herself a fool. She had always been strong-willed and didn't want to believe it. Besides, she didn't want Nathael to come. But he still came.

Joseph, feeling he held her life in his hands, laughed. "I never thought the ruthless Mr. Harris was romantic! It's ridiculous!" His jealousy and hatred were palpable; the former Maggie had never wanted his touch.

"Let her go, take me instead," Nathael said coldly, his gaze fierce.

"Get lost!" Maggie spat, her eyes red. "I don't want your fake goodness!"

Nathael's throat tightened. His sharp gaze softened when it fell upon her. He forced himself to look away, then back to Joseph.

"I promised to release her," Joseph said. "Take her. But defusing the bomb is your problem, Mr. Harris."

After receiving the transfer contract, Joseph left the abandoned factory. Nathael ignored him, rushing to Maggie's side. He untied her, frowning at the bomb.

"Leave me alone! I don't need your pity!" Maggie tried to push him away. She had caused him too much harm.

"Don't be silly," he comforted her softly, focusing on the bomb, with only fifty seconds left on the timer. He showed no intention of leaving.

Tears streamed down Maggie's face as she grabbed his hand. "Nathael, please leave! I beg you!"

This cleaned version improves grammar, punctuation, and flow, removing redundancies and clarifying ambiguous phrasing. The narrative is also tightened for better pacing.