chapter2231

Nathaniel told the bodyguards, "Keep him awake all night. Go easy enough to avoid real damage, and have a doctor check him. I want him alive."

He had promised to let Nicholas taste a living hell, and he intended to keep that promise.

Dying would be far too easy, and, twins or not, Nathaniel would not grant him that release.

The next morning, a shrill ringtone dragged Cecilia out of sleep.

Without opening her eyes, she groped across the sheets, movements slow with

fatigue.

Nathaniel's longer reach beat her to it. "It's my phone," he murmured, "Mom's on the line."

"Oh," she mumbled.

He accepted the call, and Elena's anxious voice spilled out, "Nathaniel, your brother is missing. I can't find him anywhere."

The speaker volume was high enough for Cecilia to hear every word, and she looked toward Nathaniel on reflex.

She already understood this disappearance could only be his handiwork.

"Mom, he's an adult," Nathaniel said, voice even. "If he's gone, he's hiding from you on purpose. Let him."

"But his health is fragile," Elena pleaded. "How can we leave him out there alone?"

"Then keep searching, Mom. My schedule is packed; I don't have time to babysit a man past thirty," he replied.

With that, he ended the call.

Cecilia couldn't help asking, "Isn't that a little harsh?"

Nathaniel met her gaze. "Harsh? Nicholas chose his fate the moment he acted."

She nodded.

"Alright."

Conflict still tugged at her; part of her wanted Nicholas to pay, yet blood ties made her worry about everyone involved.

Nathaniel drew her into his arms.

"Stop overthinking it. I won't regret a single step," he said.

After a beat he added, "And don't dream of mercy. If his victim

you, the law would have show feet

none."

A faint, brittle smile slipped onto her face.

"Given the circumstances, he'd serve maybe a year or two at most," she murmured.

It had been only an attempt; she suspected he might not even see the inside of a

cell.

"Exactly why I'll handle it my way," Nathaniel said, a dark glint in eyes as he brushed a kiss to

brow. benet

The gesture settled her nerves, and she wrapped her arms around him in return.

"Come on-breakfast, then off to work together," he said.

"Mm-hmm."

Cecilia had assumed they would split for their respective offices, yet he climbed into her car again.

"Why are you—" she began.

Nathaniel cut in, "Is it so terrible that I want to work beside you?"

"And your own company?" she countered.

"There are plenty of executives. If they need me for every task, why am I paying them?" he said.

She had no real comeback.

"Fine."

He then asked an assistant to forward any pending work directly to him.

Cecilia teased, "Looks like my senior staff are freeloaders-mountains of work left for me and now for you." Gontent belongs to swis

Nathaniel lifted his head with a grin. "Hire me then; I'll waive the salary."