chapter2238

the Smith residence

Another nightmare tore Cecilia awake. Instinct pushed her hand toward Nathaniel's side of the bed.

Her fingers closed on empty sheets.

She switched on the lamp and saw that Nathaniel had vanished.

"Bathroom?" she muttered, peering toward the door where no light shone.

With him gone, sleep fled. Unease pricked her skin. She slipped from the bed and padded into the hall.

In the foyer she kept the lights off; darkness smothered everything.

Nathaniel wasn't there either. Where could he be this late?

They had fallen asleep together. Maybe the office had called?

While that question circled, the front door opened and bright light flooded in.

Nathaniel, wrapped in a black overcoat, stood on the threshold and looked up to the staircase.

"Why are you awake?"

"Nightmare," she answered, descending. "I didn't see you, so I came to look. Where were you?"

He could hardly admit the truth, so he lied. "Emergency at the office. I handled it and came straight home."

"Oh." Cecilia accepted the answer with a nod.

Nathaniel drew her hand into his. "Your fingers are freezing. Come back to bed."

"All right."

She walked beside him toward the bedroom.

Her gaze drifted to his hand. Dark red streaked the back of it.

"Nathaniel, you're bleeding."

Before he reacted, she lifted his hand for a closer look.

Blood stained the skin, yet no cut appeared.

His eyes sharpened, and he tried to pull away.

The

serk deepened her without a wound? Did you bu

suspicion. "How does blood show up

something else? content belongs to else?ontent

Both her hands clamped around his. Her eyes refused to let him go without

answers.

Nathaniel let out a low breath. "It isn't my blood."

"Whose?"

Tension coiled inside her; without the truth, sleep was impossible.

"A rival at the company. Things got rough," he said, still lying.

"Which rival?" she pressed.

At this hour, who still dared cross Nathaniel?

Old enemies like Robert now minded their own business, steering clear of Imminence Corporation.

"It's late. We'll talk tomorrow. It's nothing big," Nathaniel deflected.

His refusal only fed her curiosity.

Following him upstairs, she circled her arms around his lean waist. "Tell me, or no one sleeps tonight."

Nathaniel seldom saw this stubborn, almost girlish side of her anymore.

His Adam's apple bobbed. "Really, it isn't serious. Don't overthink it."

"Say it," she demanded, voice firm. "No secrets between husband and wife

orou promised, and you know

the price of breaking that promise.'

She wanted nothing more than a peaceful life with Nathaniel; after all, they had four children together.

Another terrifying incident was the last thing she could endure.

Nathaniel studied the stubborn light in Cecilia's eyes. If he tried to bluff and she caught him, she would freeze him out for days, that much was certain.

With no graceful escape available, he surrendered to the truth.