Chapter 11
face darkened in an instant. His grip tightened around the glass in his hand, the pressure making it creak. He whipped his head around and glared at Toby sharply.
Nathan’s fa
His voice was cold as ice. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Toby flinched at the look in Nathan’s eyes but quickly bristled.
He raised his chin in defiance as he retorted, “And why wouldn’t I? Didn’t you just treat Annabelle like a tool for practice? That’s all she was to you. Now that you have Evie, you won’t want her anymore. Or do you expect her to be stuck with you forever?”
“Say that again! I dare you!”
Nathan shot to his feet, slamming his glass onto the floor. The shards flew in every direction.
His eyes burned with an anger no one had ever seen before, like someone had just hit his last nerve.
Toby didn’t back down either. He grabbed Nathan by the collar. “Am I wrong? You were just messing around with her! Now you wanna play the devoted lover?”
The next second, fists started flying. The dull thud of punches landing mixed with the crunch of broken glass underfoot. The place erupted into chaos.
The others jumped in to break them apart while shouting, “Enough! You two have been friends for 20 damn years, and now you’re throwing punches over a woman? “And not just any woman. It’s Annabelle we’re talking about! She’s gone. She left Vexford and isn’t coming back. What the hell are you even fighting for?”
Nathan was held back by his friends. His chest rose and fell sharply, but his eyes remained locked on Toby. He looked like he was ready to rip him apart with his bare hands.
An older friend let out a long sigh and clapped Nathan on the shoulder and said earnestly, “Nate, we planned Evelyn’s birthday party tomorrow as your big confession scene. You need to figure out who you really want before it’s too late.”
Nathan’s breathing slowed, but his mind was a mess.
He shut his eyes. And all he saw was Annabelle.
The way she’d smile while fixing his tie. The way she curled up in his arms, fast asleep. The way she moved around the kitchen. The way her eyes turned red when they were being intimate. The memories played in his head like a film reel, each frame hitting him straight in the chest.
But when he opened his eyes, the words that left his mouth were, “I love Evie. That’s never changed. I just had too much to drink.”
Then, he turned and walked out of the club. His steps were rushed, almost like he was running.
When he got to Annabelle’s apartment, he pulled out his key and slid it into the lock, only to realize it didn’t fit.
He froze. Then, he knocked hard on the door.
It swung open a moment later, and a stranger stood there, frowning. “Yeah? Who are you looking for?”
Nathan’s expression darkened. “This is Annabelle’s place. Who are you?”
The guy, Carson Holmes, paused for a moment before responding impatiently, “Oh, you mean the previous owner? She sold the place to me. It’s mine now. Any problem?” Nathan felt something sink deep in his stomach. A ringing filled his ears.
Suddenly, he remembered Annabelle packing her things a few days ago. It turned out that she’d been preparing to leave all along.
He took a slow breath, then pulled out a card and handed it over. “There’s one million dollars on this. Let me stay the night.”
Carson stared at him, stunned. Then, his eyes gieamed with excitement as he snatched the card. “Sure, man. It’s all yours. I’ll head out.”
Nathan stepped inside and shut the door behind him. He leaned back against it and slowly slid to the floor.
Everything inside hadn’t changed. The furniture was still arranged the way she liked, and the faintest trace of her scent still lingered in the air.
He walked over to the couch and sank down. Closing his eyes, he let the memories of Anizatsite and their time here wash over him.
She’d set on the couch, smiling as she’d watched him eat. She’d curled up in his arms, blushing at his teasing. When she’d busied herself in the kitchen, he’d pulled her into his embrace from
behind
And then there were the countless nights of intimacy on this very couch. Her scent was intoxicating, her body was so soft, and her voice sent shivers down his spine.
Nathan’s breathing grew unsteady. His hand instinctively moved to his belt.
Even now, his mind flooded with images of Annabelle–her soft moans and her tears. He couldn’t help but seek release, as if it would let him hold on to the warmth that had already slipped
away.
But the moment he found release, the pleasure was instantly swallowed by an overwhelming emptiness.
Annabelle was gone, and she wasn’t coming back.
That thought sliced through him like a blade, sharp and merciless.
