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

Cecilia opened her mouth to offer to accompany Elliot, yet Nathaniel's low voice arrived first, cutting gently through the clatter of dishes. “You're not a toddler anymore. Off you go on your own.”

Elliot answered with an obedient little hum before slipping off his stool and padding toward the restroom corridor, the tassels on his monkey mask bobbing with every determined step.

The moment he disappeared around the corner, Cecilia's shoulders stiffened. She turned to Nathaniel. “Would you mind trailing the kid? If some creep sets eyes on him, what then?”

Nathaniel met her gaze, calm and steady. "Relax. Security here is airtight, and he's got a bodyguard shadowing him. Nothing will happen."

Assured that a guard was in tow, Cecilia allowed a breath she hadn't realized she was holding to ease out.

Only then did she notice how tightly Nathaniel's jaw was set. “You look upset. Something wrong? Work trouble?"

"No. I'm perfectly fine," Nathaniel replied, voice even, expression unreadable.

Across the table, Jonathan squinted at his father. "Dad, your face is darker than a chalkboard. Drop the act."

Nathaniel's brows knitted, a tiny storm cloud passing over his features.

Cecilia leaned in, worry softening her tone. “Talk to me. What's weighing on you?”

"I'm just working through a single question,” Nathaniel said, choosing each word with maddening care.

"Which question?"

He locked eyes with her. "What suit I should wear for New Year's."

straight

tried

look the same," she answered,

around in Nathaniel's chest,

caught the

his dad deserved

restroom too," Jonathan announced, already sliding off his

brushing a

private room, shoulders

gone, the silence between husband and wife

and laid a generous slice of braised sea bass onto Cecilia's plate. “Eat a little more. Good

a bite and mumbled, "I'm already putting on weight. How

new outfits yet never once considered her fully-grown husband. He swallowed the complaint

the unsuspecting bodyguard and stole up the escalator to the

the little boy in a monkey mask stood

polite smile edging into concern. "Hello there, young man. Why are you here all by yourself? Where's your

lifted his chin,

his eyes to meet the sales associate's curious stare. "I'd like to see the figest suits you carry formen," he

froze, surprise flickering across her perfectly

belonged to serious

s