Chapter 200: Do You Not Love Me Anymore?

Nathaniel’s bloodshot eyes frantically searched the house, his desperation growing with each empty room. He almost called someone to check the airport, but just as he was about to, he spotted her sitting in a backyard chair. The sight of her eased his tense heart, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

Unable to sleep, Cecilia had stepped outside for a breeze. She noticed Nathaniel approaching, his face flushed and tense. She’d assumed he wouldn't return that day. Their eyes met, and without a word, he pulled her into his arms with desperate urgency. In the dim light, Cecilia stiffened slightly, oblivious to the redness of his eyes and his earlier anxiety.

“Why aren’t you in the room at this hour?” Nathaniel’s voice was deep and husky.

Cecilia blinked, genuinely puzzled. “Why should I be in the room at this hour?”

Nathaniel was taken aback, momentarily speechless. He didn’t understand his panic at her apparent disappearance. Before he could gather his thoughts, Cecilia broke the silence. “Is Stella okay?”

“Her neck was slashed. She’s still in the hospital,” Nathaniel replied honestly.

Cecilia couldn’t help but marvel at Stella’s tenacity. The woman was truly willing to go to any lengths to achieve her goals. “Did they catch the attacker?” she asked.

Nathaniel’s expression hardened. “No. The investigation implicated Calvin’s bodyguards, along with an obsessed fan.”

Cecilia slowly lifted her head, still nestled in his arms. “What are you implying?”

Nathaniel’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Did you tell Calvin anything?” He didn’t believe Cecilia would harm Stella, but Calvin might act on her behalf.

A lump formed in Cecilia’s throat, her eyes welling. “So, you think I asked Calvin to hurt her?” After all these years, she’d convinced herself she’d moved on from Nathaniel, but this accusation stung more deeply than she anticipated.

Her sorrowful gaze pierced Nathaniel’s heart. He struggled to find the right words, his voice barely audible. “Stella saved my mother. I can’t let her die here. If you have a problem with her, tell me. But don’t involve other men.”

Cecilia pushed him away, her gaze hollow. “Why would I have a problem with her? Why would I harm her, or get Calvin to do it? Where’s your proof?”

Before Nathaniel could respond, she continued, “Any animosity between Stella and me was because of you. But now…” She paused, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “After five years, what makes you think I’m still in love with you—enough to hurt another woman for your sake?”

In the pitch-dark night, the cold wind howled. Nathaniel felt the chill seep into his bones, as if the warmth had drained from his soul. He stepped closer, his voice tight with disbelief. “What did you just say?”

Cecilia met his icy gaze, enunciating each word clearly. “I may be foolish, but I’m not foolish enough to harm someone over a man.”

Nathaniel’s breath hitched. In a flash, he cornered her, his fist crashing into the wall beside her with a resounding thud. Cecilia flinched, fear trembling through her.

Nathaniel, himself startled by his actions, leaned closer, their breaths mingling in the tense silence. “Are you saying you don’t love me anymore?” His voice was laced with disbelief.

Cecilia’s heart pounded. If she pushed him now and he uncovered her true intentions, everything could unravel. Her hands trembled as she forced herself to say words that contradicted her deepest feelings. “I don’t know how to keep loving someone who doesn’t love me back.”