Chapter Thirteen
Nate
How could he beat her? She’s the sweetest and kindest woman in this world. She has a heart of gold.
Pray to God that you and I never meet or you won’t get out of the encounter alive.
"Nathan?" She walks up to me, I'm nervous, and I know she hears it, but I'm too pissed off.
"I'm sorry," I say, hugging her.
"It's okay. It's part of my past. Now it's your turn to answer."
"What was the question?" I ask her as she settles in my arms on the sofa.
"Why were you never engaged?"
"I’m now with the most important woman in my life."
"What a flatterer. Thanks. I meant before me."
"In a world like mine, it’s difficult to find someone to trust. I grew up in boarding school. I wasn’t pampered and loved either, as a child or obviously as a teenager. Consequently, today, I’m not even sure what I’m looking for. Something I've never seen or heard. The attraction is a passing thing, and when the magic ends, it all ends. And then nobody wants to be with a soldier. We’re often away, even for long periods. "
"So no one has been able to win your heart?"
I smile and take a sip of wine. “You’re the one and only.”
"Not yet."
"Never say never."
"We have to go home tomorrow, and I'm sorry. I had a good time here. I thought ... would you come and live with me?"
"Live together?"
"Yes, but not at my parents' manor. I was thinking of buying a house. Sooner or later, I'll have to do it. What better excuse?"
"I know ... it's just that ... living with you...” She seems embarrassed, hesitant.
"You won't have to sleep in my room with me."
"Oh, stop it. That's not the problem. I feel safe with you. Of course...”
"Go on, baby."
"That if you want to see other women, I won't be able to stay with you. I know we haven't talked about our agreement yet, but we need to be clear on many aspects. To avoid misunderstandings."
"I don't need other women, Isabel. I know this is going to be a fake marriage and a fake relationship." Just saying it makes me feel bad. I hoped she would see me and how important she is to me. "Until the marriage is canceled, I won't be dating anyone."
"Nate, I'm just this, I don't have much to offer you."
Say it now or never.
Her cell phone rings, ruining the moment. She comes back after a while, looking sad.
"What is it, baby?"
"It was my father. He has a meeting tomorrow night, and I'll have to be there, too. He said he'd send us a jet in the morning to take us home."
