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

Terror flooded Felix's eyes. He nodded so quickly his brown curls quivered. "Understood."

Only then did Nathaniel let the matter drop.

Felix was not born a terror. With proper guidance, he could have been an ordinary, even likable, child.

When Nathaniel kept the boy near, Felix's worst fault had been harmless pride. Under Miranda's indulgence, that pride had swollen into reckless arrogance.

Miranda's palms were slick with sweat. Afraid Nathaniel might actually make good on his threat, she hurried forward and scooped Felix into her arms.

“Nathaniel, he's only a child. Don't frighten him like that."

The smug curve that had owned her lips minutes ago was nowhere to be found.

At that moment, Elodie, the store manager, finally placed the face to the name. The boy was Nathaniel's son.

A cold wave sluiced through her chest, as though the air-conditioning had been switched to winter.

Offending Miranda could at worst cost her business its lease. However, offending Nathaniel meant packing her bags and leaving Tudela forever.

"M-Mr. Rainsworth..." Elodie's voice cracked, her composure crumbling fast.

Seeing their manager unravel, the salesgirls who had pinned Jonathan a moment ago felt dread seep into their bones.

They had only followed orders. At that instant, they prayed those orders would not invite retribution.

spotted his son and a fellow clerk restrained by several attendants. "Who authorized this boutique to lay hands on my son and strip him of his

spine turned to glass. She shot Miranda a silent plea, eyes wide with

allowing that plea to

she behave in

this is all a misunderstanding. I

was Nathaniel's relative. Exposing Miranda was not

it would make no difference since Nathaniel would never punish Miranda for a stranger's

not possibly further offend

imagine one flimsy apology

the length

Please Mr. Rainsworth.

a little mercy," she

whispered, vorce

intact.

s

our manager acted only because that woman forced her hand,"

Elodie was not a

If it weren't

Ivy wouldn't have

opportunity to

ork at such &

high-end place.

s