When Her "Death" Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel)

Chapter 2041

She ended the call, already turning on her heel to tell Charlotte.

The moment she pivoted, she collided chest-first with Nathaniel, who had just stepped into the corridor. His hands flashed up, steadying her before either of them could gasp.

"Easy." His brow furrowed as he searched her startled face. "Who were you talking to? You look like the building's on fire."

"No one important," she said, brushing past him. "I need to see Charlotte."

She hurried down the hall, skirt whispering around her knees. Charlotte was alone, and Sven's disappearance had left her friend in a knot of panic.

Nathaniel watched her retreat, then noticed her phone abandoned on the coffee table. With a small shake of his head, he scooped it up and followed, intent on returning it before she reached the courtyard.

The handset chimed in Nathaniel's palm.

A new message from Calvin lit the screen: "Ceci, take good care of yourself. If anything troubles you, especially if Nathaniel treats you poorly, you must tell me. I will always be your strongest shield."

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed, storm-grey and unreadable. He attempted to unlock the phone, only to find the passcode had changed. After a tense beat, he exhaled, locked the screen again, and started toward the garden path, her phone still warm in his hand.

had just soothed Charlotte's nerves when she spotted

come all the way here?" she

forgot your phone." He extended it

she had left it behind

across the space between them. "Calvin messaged you

the device

the phone, the corners of his mouth drawn tight. "Just look for yourself," he

unaware of the ice

the glowing screen. One swipe

against the dark mode of the

s

good care of me. Thank you." A gentle tap

again. Nathaniel's jaw had turned to granite. Grinning, she reached up and gave his

the matter

his head a fraction, gaze fixed on some invisible point beyond her shoulder.

gloomy," she teased, stretching the last three

He lifted one hand, the pad of his index finger brushing the velvet curve of her cheek. "I'm