Chapter 15: His Ways

Nathaniel's POV

"Drink, huh? Can someone explain why we're downing strong liquor at this hour?" Hugh grumbled, setting his empty glass on the table with a loud clink before motioning for another. "It's eight o'clock, for crying out loud, and we're in a bar like a couple of heartbroken teens."

I barely heard him over the noise of the bar. The place buzzed with life—laughter, clinking glasses, muffled conversations blending into a chaotic hum. But none of it reached me. My focus was on the glass in my hand, its amber contents swirling like the storm inside me. I took a slow sip before leaning closer to him, lowering my voice. "Do you remember the girl I told you about?"

Hugh looked up mid-swig, his brows furrowing as he tried to recall. "The one who just… what did you say? Randomly spawned into your life?" He smirked. "Like some NPC character in a game, right? And now she's got you all tied up in her little web?"