Chapter 500: What If I Am Jealous?

Upon hearing footsteps, Nathaniel looked toward the door. Cecilia didn't call out but approached him, asking bluntly, "Did you hurt Calvin?"

Nathaniel inhaled deeply. "Don't lie," Cecilia added immediately.

Unease washed over him as he mumbled, "Hmm."

"Hmm? Did you really beat him up?" Cecilia exclaimed, incredulous that a blind man could severely injure Calvin. She punched his shoulder.

A frown creased Nathaniel's brow, astonishment evident in his demeanor. He hadn't expected this reaction from Cecilia. Though the punch wasn't hard, it upset him. He thought, Isn't he just a man? So what if he got beaten up? He's lucky I didn't bury him. He kept this thought to himself.

"It's normal for men to disagree, especially as rivals," he said. "A little fight doesn't matter."

"A little fight? Sven said Calvin's still in danger!" Cecilia, agitated, threw another, harder punch. Nathaniel didn't dodge. Seeing Cecilia's fervent defense of another man strangely fueled an urge to attack Calvin.

"It won't happen again," Nathaniel said.

Cecilia, realizing the futility of hitting him, grabbed his arm fiercely. "It hurts, Ceci," Nathaniel said.

"I barely pinched you, and you felt pain. What about Calvin?" she retorted.

"He helped me so much," Nathaniel explained. "If it weren't for him, I would have died overseas. But what about you?"

Cecilia, unsatisfied, continued pinching him forcefully. Nathaniel, experiencing a novel sense of injustice, blurted, "But what if I'm jealous?"

Cecilia was startled. "There's absolutely nothing going on between me and Calvin."

"Nothing?" Nathaniel scoffed. "That child..."

Before Cecilia could explain the child's parentage, Elliot called. Remembering him alone at home, she answered. "Elliot?"

"Mommy, where are you? You said you'd be back in two hours! Why aren't you back yet? Did you ditch me to eat good food?" Elliot's feigned anger masked his fear; he believed his stepmother had complained about his plans to trouble Elena.

"Sorry, sweetheart, Mommy will be back soon. I bought you treats," Cecilia rushed to assure him.

"Okay, hurry back." Elliot sighed with relief.

Cecilia, no longer wishing to explain to Nathaniel, ended the conversation. Any affection she'd felt vanished. "Let's go home."

Nathaniel rose without protest. "All right."

An unusual silence filled the car ride back. Sven felt Nathaniel's chilling gaze. Cecilia remained silent, creating unease, especially for Nathaniel, who felt her lingering anger. Back at Daltonia Villa, Nathaniel profoundly understood Calvin's importance to Cecilia.