Chapter 349 I Need You
Nathaniel gently drew from her lips, kissing her with earnest tenderness, as if reminiscing the past and making up for the lost years bit by bit.
In the thousands of nights over these four years, he couldn't count how many times he dreamed of this moment. Upon waking, he was met with lonely nights and an unshakable sense of loss, finding solace only in cigarettes, one after another.
But now, he was truly holding Aurelia in his arms, with his two children sleeping in the nursery upstairs. He felt that his life was complete at this moment, and in his thirty-two years, he had never felt so happy and fulfilled.
He suddenly remembered something Zack had said: a loving wife, happy kids, and a warm home – that was what every ordinary man dreams of. But for him, a CEO, wasn't it the same?
Aurelia was completely stunned; she hadn't expected things to develop this way after coming downstairs.
She didn't respond, her mind unable to process, not knowing how to face the situation.
Nathaniel's kiss, initially tentative, gradually became more passionate. Noticing the slight tremble of the person in his arms, he stopped, releasing his large hand from the back of her head and instead wrapping it around her slender waist.
"Aurelia, let's not be apart anymore, okay?"
Afraid of waking the two children upstairs, he kept his voice very low, which, under the bright moonlight, added an inexplicable sense of allure.
Not getting a response from Aurelia, he leaned closer to her ear and asked again, "Let's remarry, okay? We can settle down wherever you want. Aurelia, can you give me a home?"
He said he wanted a home, a home with Aurelia.
For the past few years, Nathaniel had been more of a wanderer than truly living. The idea of home had lost its meaning. Often, after working late, he would sleep in his office or find a nearby hotel after a business dinner. His house was just a place to stay, no different from a hotel, lacking any warmth.
With no one waiting for him at home, he buried himself in his work, trying to drown out his longing for her. But he discovered that these efforts only provided temporary relief; in the quiet of the night, he still missed her deeply.
Aurelia lay on him, taking a long time to come to her senses. Hearing him talk about remarrying made her throat tighten, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She had never dared to imagine that he would one day propose to her; that was something out of a fairy tale.
Now, hearing him earnestly and devoutly asking her to give him a home, she found she wasn't as excited as she once thought she would be.
If this had happened any day four years ago, she would have agreed without hesitation and treated his proposal day as a significant anniversary.
But now, she was no longer the naive girl fresh out of college. After everything she had been through, she understood that marriage wasn't a game, nor was it as simple as saying 'I do.'
Thinking of past experiences still made her heart race with fear; she couldn't face them calmly.
"Nathaniel, let go first."
Aurelia calmed down; their current posture made her uneasy. She hadn't thought about starting a new relationship in the past four years, let alone reconciling with him.
Nathaniel's gaze deepened as he looked at Aurelia. He didn't want to let go. Having finally found her, he couldn't bear to lose her again.
"Aurelia, the teacups in Bloom Villa have been untouched for four years. The paper and pens you used for drawing are still in the study drawer. The safe where you kept your jewelry is gathering dust. Without you, the house is just a shell. Without you, my world stands still."
Nathaniel's expression was sincere. Such sentimental words didn't seem out of place coming from him; they were indeed heartfelt.
During the four years she was gone, he felt like a shadow of his former self. Whether days turned into nights or seasons changed, his life seemed devoid of meaning.
Aurelia's breathing was shallow; their posture was too intimate. She knew how sensitive he was, afraid that in a moment of passion, they would lose their reason again.
She wasn't ready to deal with this relationship. His words today had caught her off guard, throwing her into disarray.
Nathaniel could feel her body's resistance. They had been married for three years, and no intimate posture was new to them. But never had she been so stiff, so eager to escape, to get away from him.
"Aurelia, why are you trembling?"
Aurelia couldn't answer that question; she didn't know why her body was trembling either. She couldn't control it.
After a while, Nathaniel placed her on the sofa and went to the kitchen to pour a cup of warm water, placing it in her hands.
At this moment, Aurelia felt her fingers were numb.
She couldn't explain what was happening to her. It seemed she was somewhat afraid of being too close to him, as it would remind her of unpleasant memories, causing uncontrollable trembling.
Holding the cup, Aurelia felt the warmth spreading from her hands, gradually warming her up.
"Nathaniel, do you really need me? I've seen many divorced families, and as long as the parents love the children..."
She wanted to say that if the parents really couldn't get along, they shouldn't force themselves to stay together for the sake of the children. Such a family atmosphere could also harm the children. It would be better to separate decisively. As long as the love from both parents was not lacking, the children would understand when they grew up.
Before she could finish, Nathaniel interrupted, "Yes, I need you!"
Then he added, "I want to live and die with you!"
Aurelia suddenly thought of the tombstone he had made for her, where he had tied the sleeves of their pajamas into a knot and buried them together.
He said it, and he meant it.
Aurelia believed in his sincerity, but she didn't dare to accept it easily. Everyone was an individual. She had relied too much on him mentally in the past, losing herself completely.
When she longed for a home, he appeared.
Now, as he begged her for a home, Aurelia felt she couldn't give it to him.
"Nathaniel, calm down."
Nathaniel took her hand in his, gently squeezing her slender ring finger. During the years she was married into the Heilbronn family, she never took off her ring. Now that finger was bare, and his heart felt empty too.
"Aurelia, do you think I'm not calm enough now? If I weren't calm, I would have gone crazy long ago."
It sounded like a joke, but behind the joke was a past he didn't dare to reveal.
His psychologist, Mark, was right. If it weren't for Mark's encouragement and treatment over the years, he would be in a mental hospital now, not sitting here having a heart-to-heart with her.
"Nathaniel, actually, I think life is short. Just living like this is fine. As long as the kids are happy, that's all that matters to me. I've gotten used to my current life and don't want any more surprises."
The surprise in her life now was Nathaniel.
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