As Nathan reached home, the dark cloud of his mood was already looming over the mansion. The maids and guards could feel the tension in the air, and each of them quietly retreated to their posts, avoiding any unnecessary interaction with him. Allision, Nathan's favorite maid, noticed his pale and disturbed expression. Concerned, she brought a glass of water to his room and gently knocked on the door.
"Sir, you must have had a rough day. Please have some water," she said cautiously.
Nathan, who was sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor with a mix of anger and sadness, snapped. "I said GET OUT!" he yelled, his voice sharp enough to make her freeze.
Allision flinched but quickly left the room without another word, her heart pounding. She walked back to the kitchen, still holding the untouched glass of water, and immediately picked up her phone to text Mrs. Reed.
Allision: Ma'am, Mr. Reed is in a very bad mood. He hasn't eaten or rested. I'm worried he might hurt himself. Please advise me.*
Mrs. Reed replied almost instantly.
Mrs. Reed: What? What happened to him? Why is he acting this way?
Allision: I don't know the full story, Ma'am, but I believe it has something to do with Miss Elena. He's been screaming and drinking since he returned.
Mrs. Reed's heart sank. She was genuinely worried about her son, despite their recent fights. She texted Allision back.
Mrs. Reed: Keep an eye on him. Don't let him do anything reckless. Call me immediately if his condition worsens.
Allision sighed as she put her phone down. She peeked into the hallway and could hear Nathan screaming Aria's name at the top of his lungs.
"ARIA! How could you do this to me?!" his voice echoed throughout the mansion, sending shivers down the spines of the workers.
The guards exchanged nervous glances but remained at their posts. Allision kept Mrs. Reed updated while Nathan paced his room, his emotions spiraling out of control. He grabbed his tablet, hoping to find some clue or explanation for Elena's sudden change of heart. As he reviewed the CCTV footage, he saw Aria's visit to Elena's house. He replayed their interaction over and over, piecing together what had happened.
When the truth finally hit him, he slammed the tablet onto the table and buried his face in his hands.
"Aria," he muttered, his voice trembling with anger and heartbreak. "Why? Why would you do this to me?"
Nathan tried calling Elena repeatedly, but each call went unanswered. He sent her countless texts, each one more desperate than the last.
Nathan: Elena, please. Talk to me. I need to explain everything.
Nathan: Don't listen to Aria. She's wrong, Please.
Nathan: Elena, I'm begging you. Don't push me away.
But Elena didn't respond.
Elena, on the other hand, was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. The pain in her chest was unbearable. She clutched her phone, reading Nathan's messages but refusing to reply. Aria's words echoed in her mind, and she convinced herself that staying away from Nathan was the right thing to do.
Nathan spent the entire night drinking whiskey in his room, trying to numb the pain. The maids occasionally peeked in to check on him but didn't dare disturb him. By the time he passed out, still fully dressed, the empty bottle of whiskey sat on the floor beside him.
The next morning, Nathan woke up with a pounding headache and a heavy heart. He splashed cold water on his face, trying to shake off the lingering effects of the alcohol. Determined to make things right, he dressed quickly and left for Elena's house.
As he approached her house, he saw her stepping out, her bag slung over her shoulder. She looked surprised and slightly panicked when she saw him.
"Elena!" Nathan called out, rushing toward her.
She frowned and turned away, walking faster. "Nathan, leave me alone," she said firmly, her voice laced with frustration.
Nathan caught up to her and gently grabbed her wrist. "Elena, please. I need to talk to you."
She yanked her hand away. "I said leave, Nathan! Go focus on your family and stop following me around."
Nathan's heart sank at her harsh tone, but he refused to back down. "Elena, is this what Aria told you to do? To push me away?"
Elena froze for a moment, but she quickly composed herself. "Nathan, this is my decision. Your family is right. I'm not good for you. I don't want to ruin your life like Katrina did."
Hearing her name, Nathan flinched. "Elena, listen to me. I love you. I can't imagine my life without you. I was going to tell you everything once I got back from Australia. Please don't let Aria's words come between us."
Elena's eyes filled with tears, but she shook her head. "It doesn't matter, Nathan. I don't feel the same way about you."
Nathan's chest tightened. "What are you saying, Elena? I know you care about me. Don't do this."
She turned her face away, unable to meet his eyes. "I'm in love with someone else, Nathan. It's Aiden."
Nathan staggered back as if she had physically struck him. "Aiden?" he whispered, his voice cracking.
"Yes," she lied, her heart breaking with every word. "He's the one I want to be with."
Nathan stood there, his world crumbling around him. His fists clenched, his jaw tightened, but he refused to lash out. Instead, he stepped back, his eyes filled with pain.
"If that's how you feel," he said quietly, "then I'll leave. But I want you to know this, Elena I'll never stop loving you."
He turned and walked away, his shoulders heavy with defeat. Elena watched him go, tears streaming down her face. She leaned against the wall for support, her knees threatening to give out.
Inside his car, Nathan punched the steering wheel, his frustration and heartbreak boiling over. He wiped his face, took a deep breath, and drove away, vowing to uncover the truth and fight for the woman he loved.
Back inside her house, Elena collapsed onto the couch, sobbing uncontrollably. She replayed Nathan's words in her mind, his pain and vulnerability tearing her apart.
Mia called her, worried about how she was doing. Elena didn't answer at first, but eventually, she picked up and told Mia everything. Mia was furious when she heard what Aria had done.
"Elena, you can't let Aria manipulate you like this! Nathan loves you, and you love him too. Don't let their family issues ruin your happiness."
Elena wiped her tears but didn't respond. She wasn't ready to face the truth, she was scared.
As the day dragged on, both Nathan and Elena were left to wrestle with their pain, unsure of what the future held.
Apologies for missing that earlier. Let me rewrite the chapter, incorporating every detail you've provided, including when Nathan gets to the office. I'll ensure it flows naturally and sounds complete.
Nathan arrived home from Elena's house, his entire being weighed down by sadness and heartbreak. The mansion, normally buzzing with activity, was eerily quiet as the maids and guards quickly returned to their posts, knowing from his mood that it wasn't the right time to cross him.
Allision, the head maid, noticed his pale face and the heavy steps he took as he ascended the stairs. Concerned, she quickly prepared a glass of water and knocked gently on his door.
"Sir, it's Allision. I brought you some water."
Nathan's voice, laced with frustration, boomed from inside. "Leave me alone, Allision. Just go."
She hesitated for a moment, then quietly turned away, her heart heavy with worry. She pulled out her phone and sent a message to Mrs. Reed.
Allision: Ma'am, Nathan is not doing well. He's locked himself in his room, hasn't eaten, and won't talk to anyone. I'm worried about him.
Mrs. Reed, who had been anxiously waiting for an update, immediately responded.
Mrs. Reed: I'll handle this. Keep an eye on him and let me know if anything changes.
Inside his room, Nathan paced restlessly, his mind replaying Elena's words over and over again. "I'm in love with Aiden," she had said. The words cut through him like a blade, each repetition driving him deeper into despair. He collapsed onto his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as he whispered her name.
"Elena… why? Why would you say that? Why?"
His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was Kelvin, his younger brother.
"Nathan," Kelvin greeted cheerfully, though his tone changed as soon as he heard Nathan's voice. "What's wrong? You sound off."
Nathan hesitated, unwilling to share his pain. "Nothing's wrong, Kelvin. I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine," Kelvin replied, unconvinced. "Are you fighting with Mom again?"
"No, we're fine," Nathan said flatly, eager to end the conversation.
Kelvin sighed, sensing his brother wasn't ready to talk. "Alright, I'll let you go. But Nathan, if something's wrong, don't keep it to yourself. Call me."
As soon as the call ended, Kelvin dialed their mother.
"Mom, what's going on with Nathan?" he demanded.
Mrs. Reed sighed. "Aria told Elena about Nathan's past, including everything about Katrina. Now, Elena is trying to stay away from him."
Kelvin's voice rose. "What? Why would Aria do that? What was she thinking?"
"She thought she was helping," Mrs. Reed explained, frustration evident in her voice. "But instead, she's caused more damage. I'll talk to Aria and make her fix this."
"You'd better, Mom. Nathan isn't doing well, and I don't want him to spiral."
The following morning, Nathan woke up early despite barely sleeping. He still hadn't eaten or spoken to anyone. He dressed for the office, trying to bury his feelings in work, but as he headed down the stairs, he heard a commotion outside.
"Nathan! You have to let me in!" It was Mrs. Reed, standing at the gate, shouting for him.
Nathan stopped in his tracks and walked outside, his expression cold.
"Mom, go home," he said bluntly. "I don't want to talk to you."
"Nathan, listen to me!" she pleaded. "I'm sorry for what Aria did, but you need to know"
Nathan cut her off. "Save it. I'm sure you put her up to it."
Mrs. Reed's eyes widened in shock. "I didn't, Nathan. I had no idea until it was too late. You have to believe me."
"Believe you?" Nathan laughed bitterly. "That's the hardest thing for me to do."
Mrs. Reed's face softened as tears welled in her eyes. "I just want to help you, Nathan. I'll do anything to fix this."
"Fix it?" Nathan said, his voice rising. "You've done enough damage already. Just stay out of my life."
Mrs. Reed wiped her tears. "Fine, Nathan. If that's what you want, I'll leave. But I won't stop trying to protect you."
She turned and left, her heart heavy. Allision, who had been watching from the shadows, felt torn. She wanted to help both Nathan and his mother, but she knew better than to cross her boss.
Nathan arrived at the office later that morning. The staff immediately noticed his distant demeanor. He barely acknowledged their greetings as he walked to his office, his head down.
Sharon and Jessie, who were gossiping near the water cooler, froze as he passed by.
"Something's wrong with him," Sharon whispered.
"Yeah," Jessie agreed. "He hasn't yelled at anyone today. That's not normal."
In the boardroom, Nathan sat silently as the meeting began. He barely paid attention, his thoughts consumed by Elena.
"Mr. Reed?" one of the board members prompted. "Are you okay?"
Nathan forced a smile. "I'm fine. Let's continue."
But his distracted state didn't go unnoticed. After the meeting, Thomas followed him to his office.
"Boss," Thomas began hesitantly, "I know you're going through a lot right now. But please, don't let this destroy you. You're stronger than this."
Nathan looked up at him, his eyes hollow. "Thomas, I'm strong when it comes to business. But when it comes to Elena…" He shook his head. "She's my weakness."
Thomas placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You'll figure this out, sir. You always do."
Nathan nodded but remained silent. Thomas left the room, but not before scolding Sharon and Jessie, who were loitering outside, eavesdropping.
"You two need to stop gossiping and get back to work before I report you to Mr. Reed," he warned.
They scurried away, whispering about Nathan's unusual behavior.
Back at Mrs. Reed's mansion, Aria returned from school, her backpack slung over her shoulder. She barely had time to greet her mother before Mrs. Reed grabbed her wrist.
"You've disappointed me, Aria," Mrs. Reed said sternly.
Aria's eyes widened. "Mom, what did I do?"
Mrs. Reed's voice rose. "You told Elena about Nathan's past! How could you interfere in something so serious?"
"I was trying to help," Aria said defensively. "I thought if she stayed away from Nathan, it would fix everything."
Mrs. Reed shook her head. "You've made things worse, Aria. Nathan is a mess because of what you did. You need to make this right."
Aria burst into tears. "I didn't mean to hurt him, Mom. I just wanted our family back together."
Mrs. Reed sighed deeply. "If you care about Nathan, then you'll fix what you've broken."
She walked away, leaving Aria sobbing in the hallway
That evening, Nathan decided he couldn't stay away from Elena any longer. He drove to her house with Thomas, his heart racing as they approached.
As he arrived, he saw Elena and Aiden outside, talking and laughing. He clenched his fists as he watched Aiden hand Elena a gift. Jealousy surged through him, but he stayed in the car until Aiden left.
Once Aiden's car disappeared down the road, Nathan stepped out and approached Elena.
"Elena," he called out.
She turned, surprised to see him. "Nathan, why are you here?"
"I came to check on you," he said softly.
Elena sighed. "I told you, Nathan. I want to be alone."
"Because of Aiden?" Nathan asked, his voice filled with pain.
Elena avoided his gaze. "That's none of your business."
"Are you in love with him?" Nathan pressed.
"Yes," Elena replied, though her voice wavered. "I love him, Nathan."
Nathan's heart broke. "You love him… and you're happy without me?"
Elena nodded, though tears threatened to spill. "Nathan, please. Just leave me alone."
Nathan took a deep breath, his voice trembling. "If that's what you want, Elena… I'll go. But I'll never stop loving you."
He turned and walked away, his shoulders slumped in defeat. Elena watched him leave, her tears falling freely.
As Nathan returned home, he locked himself in his room, consumed by heartbreak. Meanwhile, Elena curled up on her bed, crying herself to sleep, unsure if she had made the right decision.