Chapter 97: Showdown
Katniss stared straight at Nathan, their faces so close that I believe Nathan could feel Katniss's breath and the faint scent. Nathan's eyes kept avoiding hers, perhaps sensing a special kind of magic in Katniss's eyes. Facing her gaze, one would involuntarily spill out all their true feelings.
Sitting in front of the computer, seeing Katniss's stern and powerful gaze, I couldn't help but tremble. It seemed like not only Nathan but even I, miles away in the office, was hypnotized by her. Why didn't I notice this serious side of Katniss before? It wasn't until Katniss and Nathan started their relationship that I realized I might not have fully understood Katniss before, that there was another side of her I didn't know.
"If Nathan suddenly leans forward now, could he attack Katniss's lips?" I don't know why, but at this moment, such absurd thoughts pop into my head.
"Answer me, look into my eyes," Katniss's voice interrupted my thoughts again. It seemed like she didn't hear Nathan's response, so she asked again, her tone firm.
"I only heard, heard a small part," sensing Katniss's annoyance and firmness, Nathan finally admitted obediently. By now, Nathan, under Katniss's questioning, was getting nervous, his breathing starting to quicken, even blowing Katniss's bangs in front of her forehead.
"Why have you been avoiding me these past few days? And evading me? Haven't I done enough?" After hearing Nathan's affirmative answer, Katniss seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, as if she didn't have to repeat her words a second time.
If Nathan had answered no, would Katniss repeat those words to him again? Thinking about this, I couldn't help but worry, as I had accidentally opened up my own hidden wounds.
Katniss gently placed Nathan's head back in its original position, tenderly adjusted his pillow, and smoothed out the white hair she had just tousled. The anger on her face had disappeared, indicating that her previous anger was probably just an act.
"I, I..." Nathan let Katniss adjust his pillow and hair, nervously unsure how to respond. Seeing Nathan's nervousness, Katniss suddenly showed a hint of hesitation in her eyes, a rare occurrence. Seeing Nathan struggling to speak, Katniss covered his mouth with her hand.
"Nathan, I've already told you everything before you woke up. I don't know how much you heard, or maybe you were aware of everything while unconscious, but I'll say it again just in case you're unsure or think it was a dream, okay?" Katniss removed her hand from Nathan's mouth, sat up straight, looked into his eyes, and with a touch of tenderness, spoke to him. Nathan still hadn't responded to Katniss, his face showing confusion and hesitation.
Initially, Nathan could be more proactive, but after this incident, he seemed to be avoiding, still unable to come to terms with the near-death experience. If I hadn't been there, would Katniss and Nathan have ended up together?
"Nathan, after this incident, I've thought a lot. I don't want to say more than necessary. Just know that I understand you, I know what you want, what you're worried about, and so on. Honestly, we almost faced life and death this time, and I've realized a lot. In the future, don't dwell on things, and I won't hurt you again. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you. Except leaving Kevin to marry you, I can fulfill anything else you desire."
When Katniss said these words, her emotions were completely different from when she said them in the hospital. At the hospital, she was only anxious, even speaking incoherently in her eagerness for Nathan to wake up. Moreover, Nathan was unconscious at the time, so Katniss could speak freely without facing him directly. But when she faced Nathan to reaffirm her promises, Katniss showed a hint of shyness, and perhaps a hint of helplessness. If it weren't for this incident with Nathan, maybe she wouldn't have agreed to this illicit relationship.
"Katniss, I never thought about asking you to leave Kevin , or even thought about marrying you. I really never thought about it. I'm already content that you're willing to be intimate with me. I'm already feeling guilty, I, I..." Upon hearing Katniss's words, Nathan hurriedly tried to explain, sweating profusely in his anxiety.
Sitting in front of the computer, I felt a pang of sympathy. Katniss's intention was to completely open Nathan's heart, to encourage him to open up and not keep things bottled inside. But pushing too hard might lead to an accident, especially since Nathan hadn't fully recovered. At that moment, I even considered calling Katniss, "accidentally" interrupting their conversation.
"Nathan, don't rush. I understand everything. Perhaps all of this was meant to be. Let's consider all of this as another kind of fate. The deed is done, can we go back to the past by avoiding it? You've already..." Katniss sighed at the end, although that night was unforgettable, it was also the night she completely lost her last sanctuary, betraying her love and loyalty, feeling sorry for her husband, and almost on the verge of a breakdown at the time.
Perhaps sensing the heavy atmosphere, Katniss suddenly laughed. Her laughter was natural and carefree, as if she had truly emerged from that shadow. However, as Katniss laughed, tears welled up in her eyes. Whether it was due to excessive laughter or lingering guilt and heartache, it was unclear.
After Nathan woke up, Katniss was visibly happy. After all, nothing could make her happier than Nathan waking up. But facing the now-awake Nathan, Katniss thought of her promises, Kevin , and couldn't help but feel conflicted and torn.
However, after all they had been through, Katniss had almost no resentment towards Nathan. His actions had touched her heart and broken through her defenses. And all the blame shouldn't fall on Nathan alone. Katniss was a kind woman, how could she not understand Nathan's intentions? Even a cold heart would be completely melted by Nathan's actions, and inadvertently, I had given them permission to engage in their relationship.
"Alright, Nathan, there's plenty of time ahead. Take care of yourself, and we'll talk about the future later," Katniss stopped laughing, turned away from Nathan, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her hand, smiled, picked up a bowl, and walked out of the room, leaving Nathan lying alone on the bed, lost in thought.
Nathan hadn't fully processed what had just happened. His face showed a hint of disbelief and confusion, and all his unanswered questions turned into a deep sigh. I knew his awakening had taken him by surprise. He thought he could finally be free, but the fact that the Grim Reaper didn't take him away left the reborn Nathan in deep conflict, unsure of how to choose and decide.
On one hand, Nathan loves Katniss deeply. He was willing to die for her, showing the depth of his feelings. On the other hand, Nathan also loves me very much. From childhood to now, he has sacrificed so much for me, beyond words. How can he choose between the two?
Katniss started cleaning up the kitchen, then moved on to tidy up the living room. As I watched the time pass, it was already past three in the afternoon, and soon Katniss would be preparing dinner for me.
The office remained quiet, a rare tranquility for me. As I looked at the calm surveillance footage, I fell into deep thought. Katniss and Nathan had laid their cards on the table. Katniss was proactive, while Nathan was passive. Although their exchange was simple and short, the essence of their current relationship lay in their conversation.
To be honest, during this time, I had been avoiding my own feelings. I dared not touch the wounds left in my heart that night, trying hard to suppress the memories of that night in the hospital. I didn't want to recall the words Katniss said to Nathan. I didn't know how much of what Katniss said was sincere, and how much was just to wake Nathan up. But one thing was certain, when Katniss and I made love during our trip, she was thinking of Nathan at the climax. This I could confirm now, because our lovemaking with Katniss followed a fixed pattern, with little variation in content, duration, and intensity. However, Katniss would climax occasionally, mostly due to Nathan's efforts.
There was a sentence Katniss said that stuck with me: "Actually, if you had waited a little longer, during that time, I was considering it every day, encouraging myself, and in the end, I had decided to give myself to you. If you had waited a little longer, I believe I wouldn't have been able to resist and would have given myself to you willingly."
Was that statement true? I had thought that if I hadn't drugged her, Katniss would have held her ground and not crossed the line. At that moment, I realized I couldn't accurately judge Katniss's inner thoughts. What would have been the outcome if I hadn't drugged her? Unfortunately, time couldn't be turned back. To comfort myself, I decided to consider those words as lies.
Should I give Katniss and Nathan another chance? Although I had already decided to completely open up my heart when Nathan was unconscious, to let go of any jealousy, could I really be at peace when facing them again? The complex mix of excitement and heartache, the alternating feelings of joy and sadness, weren't they the reasons for my excitement?
Nathan had awakened, fulfilling my greatest wish during this time. Consider it a gift to Nathan as he recovered from his illness, and let Katniss help heal Nathan's soul as well.
I decided to give Katniss and Nathan another chance. But how should I create this opportunity? Suddenly, an idea struck me - tonight. Taking advantage of Katniss and Nathan's recent confrontation, with Katniss firm in her resolve and Nathan still hesitant, would it be successful? It was worth a try. With a mix of complex and excited emotions, I took out my phone and dialed Katniss's number.
"Honey, what's up?" Watching Katniss on the screen, she put down the cleaning cloth, answered the phone, and ran her slender hand through her bangs.
"I have to work late tonight at the office, so I won't be coming home. I've accumulated a lot of work during Dad's illness, and now that Nathan is back home, I need to catch up on it. Take care of Nathan at home, and call me if you need anything." My tone wasn't as calm as I had imagined, but I tried to keep myself composed, although the trembling phone revealed my inner conflict.
"Working late tonight? Okay, rest early, don't overwork yourself. Do you want me to bring you dinner? I was planning to make your favorite roasted sea bass tonight." Katniss was a bit surprised to hear about my late work, as it was normal for me to work late. However, my sudden late work seemed too coincidental, leaving her momentarily surprised before quickly understanding. In the end, she didn't forget to show concern for me.
"No need to bring dinner, I'll be eating out with my colleagues later. I have to go now, starting to get busy. Bye, dear." I didn't want to continue the conversation with Katniss. Since I had made my decision, there was no need to hesitate. Hearing Katniss's caring words might trigger feelings of reluctance in me, jeopardizing tonight's plan.
"Goodbye, dear, I love you." After Nathan recovered, Katniss's spirits had returned to normal, even better than before. She ended the call with a teasing remark to express her love.
After hanging up the phone, I stared at the computer screen. What would happen tonight? If nothing happened tonight, wouldn't the opportunity I had prepared go to waste? I kept my eyes on the surveillance footage, observing Katniss's expressions. With me not at home tonight, would she be happy and joyful with this perfect opportunity?
After ending the call, Katniss didn't show any signs of happiness. She sighed slightly, a hint of annoyance in her expression, perhaps because the family gathering for tonight had fallen through. Katniss continued tidying up the room, muttering to herself.
As she cleaned, Katniss's gaze inadvertently swept over Nathan's bedroom. Her eyes suddenly stopped, fixed on Nathan's door. I didn't know what she was thinking, but as she stared at Nathan's bedroom door, her brows furrowed slightly. Standing in the middle of the living room, her expression changed constantly, showing hesitation and a faint sense of anticipation, lingering in her eyes.
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