Chapter 34

Angela POV

I met Nathan's gaze, doing my best to stay calm despite the unease creeping in my chest.

"The exact time hasn't been set yet, but it'll be soon."

His brows furrowed even more at my response, his lips pressed into a thin line.

I could see the gears turning in his mind, calculating, analyzing.

"I told you before, you can always consult with me before making any big decisions," Nathan said, his tone more serious now, but there was an edge of concern beneath it.

I shrugged, forcing a smile. "I only decided a couple of days ago. It's not really a big deal."

Nathan's gaze softened, but only for a moment. He nodded, though his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.

"Nathan, what's going on in that head of yours?" I asked, unable to bear the silence any longer.

He blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and looked at me, a flicker of sadness in his eyes that I hadn't seen before.

"I..." He hesitated.

"You're not thinking about resigning, are you?"

Nathan had come to work at Sean's company because of me, and I knew he'd follow my lead in everything-even quitting if I decided to leave. The thought of him leaving without a second thought hit me hard, a mix of protectiveness and guilt.

But instead of answering, Nathan raised an eyebrow and gave me a half-smile-one that didn't reach his eyes.

"Don't worry, that's not what I'm thinking about."

"Alright," I said, "but don't forget about your own situation. Are you really planning to leave?"

"Yeah, I've already made up my mind." I nodded, trying to keep my tone light.

"Angela, I'm not criticizing you," Nathan said, his voice softer but still laced with frustration. "But Christina's back, and you're just going to walk away? Is it really that easy to push you around?"

His words stung, but I didn't flinch. I knew it wasn't just about Christina-it was about me, about how Nathan saw me giving up, how he thought I was weak.

There was a pause, and his voice dropped lower, his brow furrowing.

"Angela, you weren't always like this. Why is it when it comes to Sean, you just... give up?"

I lowered my eyes, feeling a lump form in my throat.

If it had been anyone else, I might've fought for them. But Sean didn't love me-not the way I needed him to. And I couldn't keep holding on to something that would never be mine.

"You didn't come here to talk about Christina, did you?" I asked, trying to shift the conversation.

Nathan glanced down at the folder in his hands, clearing his throat.

"Oh, the project Sean had us working on before your vacation? I've already handled it. Take a look." He placed the folder gently on my desk.

I picked it up, impressed.

"You finished it a week ahead of schedule?"

"It was easy." Nathan grinned, his usual cocky smirk back in place.

His pride was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile.

The afternoon wore on, and soon the warm rays of the setting sun filtered through the office window, casting a golden glow on Nathan's hair. Time had passed faster than I realized.

"To reward you, I'll take you out to dinner tonight." Without thinking, I ruffled his hair, a playful gesture that always felt natural between us.

But this time, Nathan didn't just let it happen. In one smooth motion, he grabbed my hand, his grip firm, and lifted his head, closing the space between us.

His eyes were darker than I'd ever seen, and his voice dropped low as he whispered, "Stop treating me like a kid."

There was something in his gaze-something unspoken-that made my heart skip a beat. I quickly pulled my hand back, stepping away, suddenly aware of the distance that had grown between us.

"To me, you'll always be like a little brother," I said, laughing to hide the awkwardness.

Nathan didn't answer, his eyes lingering on me as if he was considering the space I'd put between us.

I closed my laptop with a soft click and pushed it aside.

"Let's go. I know a great restaurant. You'll love it," I said, offering him a smile.

Nathan glanced at me, and we both made our way toward the door. The office was quiet now, with most of the employees having left for the day.

But as we stepped out of the office, we came face to face with Christina and Sean, who were walking toward us. The air shifted instantly, thick with unspoken tension.

Sean's gaze flicked briefly to mine, and then, almost instinctively, his eyes landed on Nathan. His expression hardened, and I felt an odd chill pass between them.

Christina, always ready to stir the pot, didn't miss her chance. "Angela," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness, "It looks like you and Nathan are pretty close. I hear you've known each other for years?"

I didn't answer immediately, and I could feel Nathan's stance shift beside me-his posture stiffening just slightly.

Christina wasn't done. "I also heard that before your family went bankrupt, Nathan worked at your family's bank. Your father even planned to arrange your engagement, didn't he?"

Before I could respond, Nathan spoke up, his voice sharp with sarcasm.

"How do you know so much about Angela's family? Did you have someone dig into her past?"

Then, taking a small step forward, he added, "And by the way, Angela and I are colleagues. We talk about work. But you, Christina-what's your excuse? Why are you always hanging around someone else's husband?"

Christina went silent, her face flushing with anger, but she quickly turned to Sean, hoping he'd step in to defend her.

But Sean didn't move. Didn't speak. He just stood there, his face an unreadable mask, his gaze icy. Finally, he turned to me, as though Christina had disappeared.

"The workday's over. Let's go home together."

"We already have plans for dinner," I said, my voice steady.

Sean's expression darkened even further, his jaw tightening as if my words had struck a nerve. I couldn't understand why he was so upset. I was just having dinner with Nathan-there was no reason for this hostility.

Is this what they call possessiveness?

Even if Sean didn't have feelings for me, was I not allowed to be around another man as long as I was still his wife?

I didn't wait for Sean to say anything else. I wasn't asking for permission anymore.

Grabbing Nathan's arm with finality, I smiled and said,

"Let's go! The restaurant is really popular, and if we're late, we won't get a seat."