Chapter 193: The Journey There
On the way to Sparaville, the rain poured. Cecilia, in the passenger seat, unintentionally glimpsed Nathaniel’s strikingly handsome profile. Her breath caught before she quickly composed herself, turning her gaze to the window.
Before knowing him, she'd considered him unapproachable. But now, she had known him intimately. She recalled a saying: even the most aloof man changed with physical intimacy; it altered the dynamic.
Nathaniel noticed her gaze. At a rest stop, he took her hand. "You're unusually quiet," he said. "You used to talk endlessly."
Cecilia offered a wry smile. "Then you've forgotten telling me you disliked my chattiness."
Nathaniel was taken aback. The car fell silent. Cecilia, fearing she'd upset him, changed the subject. "After the rest stop, there's a maple forest. The autumn foliage should be beautiful this time of year."
Early autumn had arrived. Darkness fell quickly, the rain chilling the air. As they drove through the maple forest, evening had settled. Despite the rain-darkened sky, falling leaves were visible. Nathaniel saw a rare smile on Cecilia's face, a glimpse of the charming girl he'd first met.
Beyond the forest, the scenery blurred. Cecilia's phone was dead, so Nathaniel offered his. "Use this. No password."
She hesitated, then accepted. His phone was minimalist—essential apps and communication tools, nothing more. Browsing the news, she saw the sixth trending topic: Stella Ross's public apology for plagiarism.
Disbelief filled her. Just days ago, Nathaniel had urged Vivian to drop the matter. Why the sudden apology? He never let anyone suffer.
As her confusion mounted, they reached Sparaville. Nathaniel had booked a hotel. "Let's rest," he said, stepping out of the car.
In the hotel, Cecilia mentioned the news. Stella had not only apologized publicly but had also had her song pulled and faced significant compensation.
Nathaniel wasn't surprised. He'd arranged for Mason to pressure Stella; otherwise, she would have left Central Media. "You were right," he said. "Plagiarism has a price." He didn't reveal Cecilia's true identity.
Cecilia saw how much he'd changed. At the hotel, she realized he'd booked only one room. "Are we sleeping together?" she asked.
"What else?" he retorted, taking her wrist and leading her to their room. Their luggage was already inside. He swept her into his arms, laying her gently on a bed strewn with flowers.
"From now on," he said, leaning over her, "tell me what you need, and I'll provide it." He aimed to prove, within a month, he was better than Calvin. She'd faked her death to leave; he intended to make her regret it.