Chapter 4
Lily’s POV
Nathan’s piercing green eyes locked onto mine, his question hanging heavy in the air. “Lily, why are you always vomiting? Are you pregnant?” My heart lurched, panic clawing at my chest. I froze, my mind spiraling into collapse. Pregnant? The word felt like a bomb detonating in my skull.
“N-no,” I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. “I… just ate something bad recently. Bad stomach.” My hands trembled, and I lowered my gaze to my shoes, praying he’d drop it. The lie tasted bitter, but I couldn’t face the truth—not here, not now.
James, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. “You’re letting her take an Uber alone this late?” he asked Nathan, his tone laced with concern. “It’s not safe, especially with her looking like that. Right, Nathan?”
Nathan’s gaze didn’t waver from me, his expression unreadable, though a faint softness flickered in his eyes. Concern? No, it couldn’t be. Not for someone like me. “Go change your clothes,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I’ll take you home.”
My eyes widened. Nathan was the last person I wanted near me—every glance from him reminded me of the pregnancy scare. “No need, really. I can manage.”
His eyes flashed with irritation. “James is right. It’s late, it’s dangerous, you’re sick, and you look like a mess.”
“You look like a mess.” My heart fluttered inexplicably at his words. Was he actually worried? No, I was reading too much into it.
“I don’t want to trouble you. I can get home—”
“I’ll take you home,” he cut me off, his patience thinning. “It’s an order.”
I nodded silently, knowing resistance was futile. Nathan’s decisions were final.
“Go change. I’ll be at the back door,” he said, turning away before I could respond.
James grinned, looking smug. “Well, Chipmunk’s in good hands now.”
I hurried to change, grabbing my bag and heading out. Through the glass door, I saw Nathan leaning against the wall, smoking, phone pressed to his ear, his face tense with focus. I hesitated, not wanting to interrupt or eavesdrop, but his voice carried.
“Either you come to me, or I’ll come to you, and you’ll pay the price!” he barked into the phone.
My stomach dropped, a chill running through me. The Sullivan family’s world was dangerous—who was he threatening? I took a step back, heart racing.
“Do you want to know why? Because you can’t steal from my fridge!” Nathan’s tone shifted, a chuckle breaking through. My tension eased. He was joking? I blinked, stunned, as a rare smile curved his lips, softening his sharp features. It was so human, so unlike his usual cold demeanor, that I couldn’t help but smile too.
“Alright, Joseph, see you tomorrow,” he said, hanging up and tossing the cigarette. He caught me standing there. “You’re here,” he said, his face calm again.
I nodded, feeling caught. Did he know I’d overheard? He didn’t say more, just led me to his car. He opened the passenger door, but as I moved to get in, his hand grazed my bare shoulder. The touch sent a jolt through me, freezing me between his legs. His eyes deepened, holding mine, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The air crackled, pulling me back to that night three months ago in his bed. My cheeks flushed.
He draped his leather jacket over me. “You girls always dress like it’s summer,” he muttered.
“T-Thank you,” I stammered, sliding into the car, both relieved and disappointed as he stepped back.
How had I ended up in a car with the one person I was avoiding?
He drove to my apartment, but instead of dropping me off, he insisted on coming inside. “I want to see what you ate that’s making you this sick,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Inside my cramped apartment, the silence felt heavy. Soft music from my neighbor’s radio drifted through the thin walls. I stood awkwardly in my tiny kitchen, Nathan’s presence overwhelming the small space. Three months ago, he’d barely spoken to me that night. I’d stared at him too long, drawn to his mysterious allure, his dominance stirring something in me. When he caught me, he’d pulled me into his office. I thought I was in trouble, but instead… I shook off the memory. I was just another girl to him, nothing special, yet his ignoring me afterward stung.
“I hope you take better care of yourself,” Nathan said, breaking the silence, his voice low as he leaned against my counter. “I’m responsible for you, and if anything happens, my father won’t spare me.”
“I’m fine,” I lied, my legs trembling.
“I don’t like you lying to me,” he said, his tone sharp.
My heart skipped. Did he know? Could he sense I might be carrying his child? The thought spiked my anxiety. I needed a pregnancy test to end this torment.
“You’re my father’s favorite,” he continued, “and if something happens to you, he won’t let me off.” Guilt hit me. Richard had always been kind, and if I was carrying his grandchild… I pushed the thought away.
“You work hard,” he said, scanning my tiny apartment, his expression unreadable. “But if you don’t feel well tomorrow, stay home. See a doctor.”
It sounded like a dismissal. “Thank you. I feel fine,” I lied again, moving toward the cabinet to avoid his gaze.
I stepped onto a stool to reach for a glass, my mind churning with thoughts of pregnancy tests I’d buy tomorrow. My foot slipped, and I gasped, tumbling backward. Before I hit the floor, Nathan’s arms caught me, strong and steady, pulling me against his chest in a princess carry. My heart raced, the air between us electric. His green eyes locked onto mine, sharp yet softened with a flicker of warmth, his face so close I could feel his breath. The strength of his hold, the way his arms cradled me—it sent a shiver through me, my body alive with a dangerous, thrilling pull.
“God, Lily, why are you always so damn careless?” he said, his voice a low growl, laced with exasperation but softened by a trace of indulgence that made my pulse stutter. His high-cheekboned, stoic face held a glint of something tender, and I melted under his gaze, my heart pounding as I drowned in the intensity of the moment.