Natalie's POV “Rafael! What's going on here?” The furious question made all of us turn our gazes towards the main door, where Grandma and Aunt Tobi were standing.“Grandma! Aunt Tobi!” I exclaimed, my voice a mix of surprise and happiness. “You came back!”“Yes. And I left for just a few days only to hear bad news and come home to this childish scene of two grown men. How disappointed I am,” she said furiously. “Did I leave responsible adults in the mansion, or just careless children?” Then she fixed her gaze on Daniel and said sharply, “And you, Mr. Morris. I thought you were a good neighbor, only to find you fighting with my grandson in the middle of my house?”I was shocked. I was used to her scolding me and Rafael, but it wasn't her habit to do so with strangers.Daniel tilted his head as he stood up and straightened his clothes a little. He mumbled, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Merrin. I didn't mean to be rude or act like that,” then he turned his gaze towards Rafael. “But your grandson o
Natalie's POV“Gosh! As if I pulled you out of the lion's den, Natalie. What a man of yours is he?” Daniel exclaimed.I smiled faintly and stared out of the car window. All I could think about was the life growing inside my womb. Everything else seemed pale and easy to solve compared to this dilemma.I had to think things through clearly. I had to study all the possibilities and consider the consequences of every decision carefully. Facing the family with this wasn’t a good option, but it was the only right option. If Rafael didn’t want this child, I could raise him by myself. I placed my hand protectively on my flat stomach. Whatever happened, abortion was not an option at all.“What are you thinking about?” Daniel asked, glancing at me from time to time as he drove. “Why are you so quiet?”I sighed. “Nothing important,” I lied. “So, tell me, who is this friend you want me to meet?”He smiled, his eyes shining, and said, “Maya. Her name is Maya.”I raised an eyebrow, noticing his shi
Natalie’s POVI felt like I had difficulty understanding right now.With a frown, I stammered, “Wh... What do you mean?”He smiled patiently and replied apologetically, “I’m sorry, Natalie. I should have told you earlier.”“My father is alive? Where is he? Where does he live?” Questions flooded my mind like a rushing river, as I knew nothing about him. Mum never mentioned him, and on the rare occasions she did, it was only after I insisted and cried for her to tell me. All she would say was that he wasn’t a good man, not someone I should be proud to know, and that he didn’t deserve me. He didn’t even know I existed!“Yes, he is. But he’s living in an addiction treatment clinic. He married once after your mother left him, but his second wife dumped him for the same reason—his addiction,” he mumbled, sadness all over his face.I opened my mouth slightly, trying to digest the heavy information I had just learned.From the corner of my eye, I saw Maya patting Daniel’s shoulder, as if she w
Natalie’s POV"I’m ready to face society," I reassured him when he remained silent.I saw the confusion in his eyes caused by my sudden decision. He didn't understand the reason behind it—his flesh and blood growing inside me.His features softened as he cupped my face and whispered between our lips, “As I told you before, I need some time to end things with Debbie.” Then, as if he was reading my expression, he searched my face with his gaze and added something that shocked me, “We’re facing a big problem with our last shipment. Some of my employees are involved in a drug deal.”I frowned. So he knows! Why was Debbie insisting that Rafael didn’t know anything yet? I hesitated, unsure whether I should tell him about my upcoming meeting with Debbie and her friend or not.He stayed silent, just glaring at my face, but I felt the change in his aura—a cold, furious glint in his eyes.I thought he was angry because of the shipment and the betrayal by his employees.He cupped my face again a
Natalie's POV I wasn't ready. Suddenly, I felt I didn't want to do this. I couldn't.I stared at him wide-eyed as he waited for me to move or act. The atmosphere in the room was heavy and full of desperation."Raf!" This was the tenth time I called him, but he didn't respond, as if he were in another world, unable to hear me.“Raf! Stand up, please!” All he replied was, “I’m ready for my punishment, ma'am.”"What punishment, for God's sake?!"The silence continued, lifting the tension even higher.I gulped, feeling very hesitant. Why did I even ask him to do this? Yes, I wanted to control our relationship, but not in this way!But what if I made him understand my feelings during our intimate time in the way he treated me, just this once?This wicked thought shined in my eyes.However, as much as I called him, he didn't move. He stayed in the same position.My eyes fell on the whip. I lifted it with trembling hands, staring at it for a little while, unable to summon the courage to do
Rafael’s POV“Raf! Can I ask you a question?” Natalie said, her voice stammering a little.I patted her head and smiled. "Sure!"She stared at my face, hesitant about whether to ask or not. So, I encouraged her, "You can ask me whatever you want."However, I thought she might ask me about the drug deal. Her previous reaction when I mentioned it suggested she knew about the issue and was somehow involved. But she shocked me by asking a completely different question than what I had in mind.She asked with a faint smile, "Why did you choose to be sadistic? Is there any chance you could be normal... I mean, do things in a normal way without all this punishment stuff?" Her voice was tinged with curiosity and anxiety.I let out a deep sigh. Even though I didn't like talking about this and disliked anyone interfering in my ways, she, as a partner, had the right to know.“If I tell you the truth, won't your view of me change? Wouldn't you hate me?” I asked, staring into her eyes while a surge
Natalie's POV My heart was racing uncontrollably inside my chest, almost bursting out of my ribs.All his words and actions showed me he loved me, but I needed to hear it from his lips.I needed to hear it to believe it. I didn't want to live in a delusion.However, it seemed too surreal to be true. All my dreams shattered before my eyes when he said in a sharp tone, “I told you from the beginning, Nat, I don’t believe in something called love.”Against my will, my eyes welled with hot tears. I lowered my head to avoid letting him see my misery. He gently lifted my chin and mumbled with a softer tone and a faint smile, "Natalie, I’m an inpatient man. Don’t be fooled by my outwardly shiny appearance; inside, I’m a distorted person. If a mother doesn’t love her own son and considers him an obstacle to her success, how could that child grow up to give love?”"But I loved you and still love you," I said desperately, tears streaming down my face.I never expected to confess my feelings to
"What are you doing here?" Rafael growled."Hey, son. Is that how you welcome your mother after so long?" Nicol retorted with a smile and a hint of pain in her expression.Rafael gently guided me to a chair beside him after I froze upon seeing his mother. After sitting down, he said, "It's not like you were trying to reach out all these months, Mom."Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she smiled confidently. "Oh, Raf, you know how busy I am," she said, lifting a strand of her stunning hair with her carefully polished hand."Yes, I know," he replied simply, sipping his coffee nonchalantly.Silence filled the room. Even Grandma and Tobi were quiet.I felt sorry for her; after all, she was a guest here. Even though I knew she didn’t like me or my mother in the past, I still smiled at her and said, "It's nice to see you here, Nicol."She hadn't been here since Dad Matt's funeral.She glanced at me, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Oh, sorry, I didn’t notice you before, dear. Are you