Chapter 63

Nathan was just a man after all. His unkept bedsheets and bed hair served as a reminder of that. His ear tips reddened as he stuttered out apologies for the state of the room. Carina merely smiled as she sat down in the politest way.

"I apologize for interrupting your sleep. But I have some things to discuss."

Nathan's brow arched. Carina Howards, had purposefully entered his room, seeking his help? The thought made his insides warm as Nathan nodded. He took a seat on his bed, facing the girl of his dreams.

"What do you want to discuss?"

"I need your help. I've made a big mistake."

Nathan eyed her warily. This was not going to be easy.

"You've been making plenty mistakes since you stepped in this mansion, sweet girl."

There it was. The arrogant flirtatious rich man was back. Whatever signs of nervousness he had shown before had quickly evaporated with his sleep. His mind was now working like clockwork. Carina needed to be extra careful. She wasn't going to back down. She could do this.

"Your mother and I... We made a deal. A fairly stupid one."

"How so?"

"She agreed to send me away to wherever I pleased... In return, I agreed to give up my claim on your property."

Nathan felt as if someone had splashed a bucket of ice water on his face. His face contorted from surprise to agitation in a second. Carina was going to be sent away... Red flags were all over his brain.

"Why the fuck would you agree to such a deal?!" All modesty was thrown out the window. If Nathan's foul language bothered Carina, he didn't care. The audacity of his mother was burning his mind.

Carina felt as if she had won a war. Nathan was behaving as predicted. Her mother was a mastermind. She put on a neutral facade.

"I was feeling vulnerable. Mother-in-law took advantage of that."

"Of course she did", he grumbled something negatively. "Was that it? Or did you agree to more stupid deals?" Carina shook her head no. Nathan bit his lip as he wracked his brain for all the possible ways out of the mess. His mother was far more clever than him. She wouldn't back out of this easily.

"I need your help." He moved his gaze to her pleading eyes. They mirrored his own, he thought. Full of anguish, conflict and lack of affection... He recalled their last encounter. She looked so broken with tears in her eyes. It was ridiculous how she kept hurting herself for the ones who didn't deserve it. How could he turn her down?

His eyes softened as for the first time in probably forever, his lips curved into a genuine mild smile. Carina's eyes widened as he took her palm in his larger one. It felt warm. In that moment, Nathan Belle felt like a whole different man. Perhaps an introverted shepherd from a distant land. Carina wanted to snort at her cheesy comparison. Her thoughts ceased as he looked at her like no one else ever had.

"I'm willing to do anything for you. "