Chapter 83 Twice The Price
The world seemed to move in slow motion as Christina lost her balance. The bright headlights of the oncoming car loomed closer, and her heart skipped a beat in terror. Her mind raced, but her body refused to cooperate, frozen in shock as she felt herself toppling forward.
But in the blink of an eye, a powerful hand gripped her arm, yanking her back with force. The sudden movement threw her off balance in the opposite direction, but the man’s strength kept her from falling completely. Christina gasped for air, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
“Are you alright?” the deep voice came, steady and commanding.
She blinked, finally focusing on the person who had saved her. Standing in front of her, tall and imposing, was Nathaniel. His face was taut with concern, his sharp gaze never leaving her as he steadied her with a firm grip on her shoulders.
Christina’s breath was still erratic, but she nodded, unable to say anything at first. Her mind raced to catch up with reality. Nathaniel? What is he doing here?
Before she could process the situation fully, he spoke again, his voice low and intense. “Are you hurt? Did that person push you?” His eyes searched the crowd, but the culprit had disappeared, vanished into the sea of people.
Christina’s voice was shaky as she answered, still a little dazed from the scare. “I… I think I’m fine. Just a little shaken up.” She glanced at the street, her legs still unsteady. “I don’t understand what just happened.”
Nathaniel didn’t say anything for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a quiet command, he guided her out of the flow of traffic. “Let’s get away from the street. You need to calm down.”
As they moved away from the danger zone, Christina could feel her heart rate slowly returning to normal. She looked up at him, still processing his sudden appearance. “How did you… find me here?”
Nathaniel gave her a sharp, almost imperceptible glance, but he didn’t answer immediately. He only said, “I’ve been keeping an eye on you. I wanted to make sure you were safe.”
Christina frowned, a mix of confusion and frustration bubbling inside her. “What do you mean, ‘keeping an eye on me’? I didn’t even know you were in Jadeborough.” Her voice rose slightly, a sense of unease creeping in. Had he been watching her all this time?
He didn’t seem fazed by her words, but his jaw tightened as he looked at her, his eyes softening slightly. “I came here to talk to you. There’s something I need to ask, something important.” He paused for a moment, clearly weighing his next words. “But first, are you sure you’re okay?”
Christina swallowed, still shaken, but she nodded. “I’m fine. I just need a moment to catch my breath.”
Nathaniel studied her for a moment longer, as if trying to gauge her mood. Then, with a brief nod, he pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ll make sure you’re safely back to your hotel,” he said. “I’ll handle everything else.”
She started to protest, but his firm demeanor left little room for argument. As he called for a car, she remained silent, her mind swirling with questions. What did he mean by ‘keeping an eye on me’? And why was he so determined to find her tonight?
As the car arrived and they both got in, the tension between them was palpable. Christina leaned against the window, gazing out at the city lights, lost in thought. What was going on with Nathaniel? And why did he always seem to show up when she least expected it?
Nathaniel glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “Christina, there’s something I need to say. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.”
She turned her head slightly, her heart beating faster at the seriousness in his tone. “What is it?”
Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed slightly, his voice lowering. “I don’t want to push you, but I need to know… Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to Jadeborough?”
Christina’s breath hitched, her chest tightening at his question. She could feel the weight of his words, and suddenly the space between them felt even smaller. She glanced out the window again, avoiding his gaze. “I didn’t think it was necessary.”
Nathaniel’s lips tightened, clearly unsatisfied with her answer. “That’s not enough, Christina. I need to understand. There’s more going on here, and I can’t keep pretending I don’t see it.”
She bit her lip, torn between wanting to explain herself and not wanting to drag him deeper into the mess she had made. What could she say?
The car slowed as they reached the hotel, and Nathaniel turned to her, his eyes fixed on her face with an intensity that made her feel exposed. “We’re not done talking about this,” he said, his voice firm.
Christina nodded silently, unable to voice the turmoil inside her. As the car came to a stop, Nathaniel stepped out first, then turned to offer his hand to her. She hesitated before taking it, feeling the weight of his concern and his unresolved questions hanging between them.
As they entered the hotel, she knew that the conversation they’d just begun was far from over. And this time, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to face the consequences of what had been left unsaid.