MasukIt was already late at night when I opened my eyes. The clock on the bedside table showed half past one.Nathaniel was lying on his back, one arm folded under the pillow, the other still loosely wrapped around my waist, as if even in his sleep he was afraid of letting me go.His black hair was tousled across his forehead. His long lashes cast soft shadows on his cheekbones. His lips were slightly parted. He looked so handsome. More handsome than when he stood at the altar earlier that day, more handsome than when he filled me on the sofa, more handsome than every photo that had ever appeared in business magazines.I stared at him for a long time.Slowly, I slipped his arm from around my waist. He murmured softly but didn’t wake. I climbed out of bed, my bare feet touching the slightly cool wooden floor.The wardrobe was open. Inside were several dresses prepared by the villa staff.I chose the simplest one—a champagne-colored silk nightdress, thin, loose around the chest, the length o
The next day or more precisely, that night, our private jet finally landed on a small island in the Indian Ocean. The lights of the private airstrip barely illuminated the short runway. Warm air greeted us the moment the jet door opened. Nathaniel held my hand tightly, as if afraid I might vanish into the salty sea breeze.“Welcome to our honeymoon,” he said.I only smiled, my heart still racing from the ceremony that morning. The plain gold ring on my finger felt warm, as if it pulsed in time with my heartbeat. We stepped down and were met by two villa staff waiting with an open-top vehicle. The drive took only twenty minutes along a sandy path flanked by gently swaying coconut palms.And then the villa appeared.It wasn’t an ornate luxury mansion, but a two-story white stone house perched on a low cliff facing the sea. The front garden was filled with frangipani and bougainvillea, while at the back an infinity pool seemed to merge with the horizon.I stopped in front of the entrance
The next morning we didn't talk much about the hospital. Nathaniel had woken up first, sitting on the edge of the bed with his phone in hand, arranging something in a low voice. I was still wrapped in the blanket, my body still warm from his touch last night.He turned when he felt me move."Wake up. We have a lot to do today."I rubbed my eyes. "What?""The wedding." He said it so casually, as if discussing a business meeting. "I've already contacted someone at the church. There's a slot this afternoon. Just the two of us. No invitations, no guests, no media notification. After that we go straight to the airport for the honeymoon I've arranged."I sat up, the blanket falling to my waist. "That fast?""That fast, before your father can send you to America. I've prepared all the documents. The lawyer will be waiting there. I also picked up the rings from the safe this morning."I was silent for a long time. My heart pounded. Part of me wanted to say this was too rushed, too crazy, too
Nathaniel stared at Derek, who was still kneeling on the cold, dirty hospital floor. For a moment, time seemed to stop.I stood beside him, our fingers still intertwined, feeling the tension radiating through his entire body. Behind Derek, Anita was crying quietly, her body shaking. The baby they couldn’t see behind the emergency room door seemed to be the only reason they were still holding on.“Get up,” Nathaniel said.Derek lifted his face. Tears and snot were mixed on his cheeks. He looked destroyed. Completely destroyed. The man who had once shoved me in a motel, who had called me a whore, who had thrown my clothes out the mansion window, was now crawling on the floor of a public hospital for the sake of his child’s life.Slowly, Derek stood up. His legs were trembling. Anita immediately held his arm, as if afraid he would fall again.Nathaniel let out a long breath. He took out his phone, dialed a number, then spoke in the tone he usually used when handling major affairs.“Dr. A
After lunch at a quiet little restaurant on the outskirts of the city, Nathaniel held my hand on the table and looked at me with a gaze that was hard to read."There's one more thing I haven't told you," he said."What?""The honeymoon."I raised an eyebrow. "Honeymoon? We're not even married yet.""That's exactly why I've already prepared it." He smiled faintly, then pulled out his phone and opened some photos. "I booked everything yesterday, after you fell asleep."He handed me his phone. On the screen were photos of a villa by the beach, with a private pool facing the sea, a bedroom with a large bed and white curtains floating in the breeze, and a wooden terrace jutting out over the water."Where is this?""A small island. The villa belongs to an acquaintance. I rented it for two full weeks. Just the two of us."I stared at the photos, imagining myself there by the sea, without burdens, without secrets, without Father watching my every move. It felt like a dream."When do we leave?
"Are you sure?" he asked."I can't stay in that house anymore. Every time I see Father, I'll think about that video. Every time I see Ethan, I'll feel guilty for hiding something from him. And Sophia, I can't pretend in front of her."Nathaniel nodded slowly. "Fine. Tomorrow morning we'll handle everything. I've already contacted the lawyer. We can submit the marriage documents. The process can be expedited if there are connections.""You have connections."He smiled faintly. "I have many connections."That night, I didn't go home to Father's house. Nathaniel took me back to his mansion, and for the first time in days, I slept soundly—maybe from exhaustion, maybe from the warmth of his body holding me all night.Morning came too quickly. The sun shone through the thin curtains in Nathaniel's room, and I woke up with his arm still wrapped around my waist. He was already awake—I could feel his steady breath on the back of my neck—but he didn't move, just enjoying the morning silence."W







