جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 8

Nathan's POVI pulled my cap lower over my eyes as usual and set a dozen bottles of beer on the table. The next second, Claire Finley's icy fingers closed around my wrist."Nathan?"The private room fell dead silent. Every pair of eyes locked onto me.I lowered my cap further, but someone snatched my cap off before I could react. Just like that, my face was exposed for all to see."It's really you, Nathan. What are you doing working here?" Claire asked, her eyes so fervent that they made my cheeks burn.I could still see her face from three years ago, frozen in my mind as she thrashed desperately in the river. By the time I broke free of the debt collectors and jumped in after her, she had already stopped breathing.I genuinely thought she was dead. Every month, I scraped together 50 dollars to visit her grave with cakes and flowers. Yet here she was, alive and well, standing right before my eyes.I felt nothing.I set the drinks down, but Dad grabbed me and yanked me toward h

Nathan's POV"What the hell did I ever do to deserve this?" Claire screamed. "Until Victor gets better, you won't earn a single penny!"I wanted to explain that I had nothing against Victor, but before I could say a word, a black van pulled up in front of me. The men from the underground casino climbed out, brandishing clubs as they closed in."Can't make money, yet you're always finding ways to cause me trouble! I got you a job serving drinks, yet you still managed to get yourself fired. You want to go back to taking punches or what?""You owe the casino 300,000 dollars in breach-of-contract fees. Get the money together now!"My face was bereft of color. "I swear I don't have any money…"All I got in return was a brutal beating. I knew the feeling of a club slamming into my body all too well. So, why did it hurt so much more this time?When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the home I had dreamed of returning to for so long. It was as luxurious and warm as I remembered.Ap

Third-Person POV"So, Nathan Gray was the homewrecker this whole time? He really got me with that victim act. What a way to take advantage of everyone's kindness.""And his brother was still sticking up for him. That's how he repays him? What a disgusting, shameless man."The computer screen was filled with scathing comments about Nathan. Claire couldn't bear to read another word. She shut the laptop and rubbed her temples.Nathan's father, Bernard Gray, sighed beside her. "This is strange. He used to be so stubborn and proud. Why did he agree so easily to take the blame for being the homewrecker?"And all that over 300,000 dollars? He wouldn't have given that kind of money a second thought before."Doubt surfaced in Claire's eyes. She shook her head, as if it could dispel her unease. "Maybe he's finally learned his lesson. Maybe he's willing to accept my relationship with Victor."She stared blankly into the flames dancing in the fireplace, her thoughts drifting back to three y

Nathan's POVHonestly, I had prepared myself for the worst when I knocked on Lorrie's hotel room door.All I had to do was sell my body for some money and give myself the most dignified ending I could afford. It wasn't as if I hadn't done this before.Out of habit, I took off my jacket, unbuttoned my shirt, and sat down on the luxurious king-sized bed.Lorrie stood nearby, arms crossed, watching me with a teasing smile. "Are you sure about this?"I closed my eyes for a second and nodded. Then, she took my hand and carefully buttoned my shirt back up, one at a time. "Just tell me how much you need. And don't ever do this again."For a moment, I sat there, confused. Without warning, tears spilled from my eyes. "Why are you helping me?"Lorrie settled lazily beside me and chuckled. "Looks like you have a pretty bad memory, Mr. Gray."I froze, my mind drifting back to two years ago. I was at the end of my rope when I walked into the underground casino alone, desperate for anything