Chapter 4

The most adorable gap in their personalities was revealed on a rainy day.

For the next few days, I really committed to playing the part of a delicate, helpless woman.

Whenever Nathan said I couldn't go out, I'd stay put in the villa like a good girl.

If he had the kitchen whip up something I didn't like, I'd force down a couple of bites with a miserable look, then claim I was full.

Every night when Nathan came home, he'd wear that same stern expression and bark orders at me. "Idiot, you can't mop the floor right."

Actually, he was thinking, 'Emily looks so adorable mopping the floor, like a hardworking little hamster.'

He'd scold, "Useless, you can't pour a glass of water properly."

Actually, he was thinking, 'Did she burn herself? Why is her hand so red? This is all my fault. I should've poured it myself.'

"Get out of here. You're an eyesore," Nathan would bark.

Actually, he was thinking, 'She's prettier today. I really like her. If I keep staring, I might not be able to control myself.'

Every day, I was caught up in this wild back-and-forth, getting scolded by Nathan one moment, then hearing his secret confessions the next.

Sometimes I found his childishness hilarious, but at the same time, there was something oddly sweet about it.

That weird sweetness made the tragic ending in the story feel more and more unreal to me.

But then, one afternoon, the weather suddenly turned, and it started pouring rain.

Staring out at the downpour, I had a daring plan in my mind.

I slipped into a thin white dress, grabbed an umbrella, and headed out into the garden.

The rain drummed softly against my umbrella, filling the air with a steady patter.

The gravel path in the garden was extra slick from the downpour.

I took a deep breath, made sure I was in full view from the living room window, and let myself accidentally slip.

I cried out. I crashed into the mud, and my umbrella went flying.

The icy rain soaked my dress in seconds, and my knee burned with pain.

I lay there, tears welling up from the sting, but in my head, I was silently counting down.

Three. Two. One. The villa's door burst open, and Nathan stormed out into the rain.

He didn't bother with an umbrella. His black shirt was drenched in seconds, clinging to him and revealing every line of his toned muscles.

His expression was stormy. "Emily, are you out of your mind?"

He yelled at me, his voice trembling with barely suppressed rage.

I flinched at his shouting and started crying harder. But inside, I couldn't help feeling secretly delighted.

Because I could hear his inner panic screaming in my mind. 'Oh, my god. She fell. She's really hurt.

'She's bleeding. Her knee is covered in blood. Call an ambulance. No, send a helicopter.

'Where did she get hurt? My heart aches so much. It's worse than getting stabbed myself.

'This is all my fault. Why did I put such slippery stones in the garden? Tomorrow, I'll have them all torn out and replaced with grass.

'She's barely dressed. She's definitely going to catch a cold. I'm such an idiot.'

The next second, Nathan rushed out into the rain, reaching me in a few quick steps.

He gently lifted me out of the mud, cradling me in his arms with awkward care, terrified he might hurt me.

Raindrops dripped from his hair onto my face, icy cold against my skin. But his embrace was so warm, it almost shocked me.

As he carried me, Nathan kept complaining, grumbling nonstop, "You're so dumb, and heavy as a sack of potatoes."

I pressed my face against his solid chest, listening to his heart pounding like crazy, and his useless inner monologue playing in my head.

He thought, 'She's so soft, and she smells so good.

'Her dress is soaked, clinging to her.

'No, Nathan, you can't be thinking like this. You're supposed to be a decent guy.

'God, but I really want to kiss her so bad.'

I couldn't hold it in. I let out a little giggle.

Nathan paused, looked down at me, his brows knitted tightly. "What's so funny?"

He thought, 'She's laughing? Why is she laughing?

'Does she think I'm a joke? Because I can't walk steadily.

'Great, my image is totally ruined.'

I shook my head, burying my face in his chest, and mumbled, "It's nothing. You're holding me really tight."

His whole body went stiff in an instant.

His thoughts were flying a mile a minute, practically flooding his mind. 'She... she's actually snuggling up to me, acting all soft and sweet.

'Is she not upset that I yelled at her?

'She's so sweet, so adorable. My heart is melting.'

He strode into the living room with me in his arms, shouting at the startled maids, "Call a doctor. Now."

Then he carried me straight upstairs, kicked open my bedroom door, and gently laid me down on the bed.

He turned to leave.

I grabbed his hand. "Where are you going?"

His hand was practically on fire, and when I grabbed it, he flinched like he'd touched a live wire.

"I'll grab you some clean clothes," he said, his tone gruff.

He thought, 'I can't look. If I keep staring, I'm gonna get a nosebleed.'

I watched him bolt out of the room, laughing so hard I rolled around on the bed.

The doctor showed up in no time, patched up my knee, checked me over, and said it was a minor scrape and maybe a little chill. There was nothing to worry about.

Nathan stood off to the side the whole time, looking like thunder. When the doctor finished, he grunted coldly.

Once the doctor and the servants left, it was just the two of us in the room.

He came to my bedside, looking down at me from above. "Emily, you'd better give me an explanation."

I knew this was my chance.