101

"When you get this pensive, you scare me," she said with a lump in her throat. "Are you going to tell me what's on your mind?"

"Suzanne…"

"Your gloomy tone doesn't encourage me much, Nathan," she hugged herself, swallowing with difficulty. "I need to know what's going on, why you hadn't come back home to see me or the babies before."

Nathan was between a rock and a hard place. He didn't know how he would tell her the plan and if she was willing to accept the conditions.

He had even thought about not telling her anything, but he was afraid that it would go too far, and Suzanne would hate him forever. He couldn't allow that.

They had children and loved each other, they had had many setbacks, and it was time to be happy… although he knew that with the shadow of his father lurking, that would be impossible.

"Guys, it's time," Jamie spoke, and both were startled, not expecting to find him there.

"Time for what?" she looked at them with fear.

"Suzanne… we need to talk about something," he said with a lump in his throat, trying to appear calm. "Let's go to the living room, shall we?"

She just nodded, unable to take her eyes off him.

He kissed Suzanne on the forehead, and she sighed, hugging him around the waist as if he would leave her side again.

"Hey, we don't have much time," his friend intervened again.

It was time to lay the cards on the table. Nathan was happy to be back, but they needed to be practical and forget about romance for a moment.

"I know, Jamie," he sighed, somewhat annoyed at being interrupted but more at what he would have to do. "Suzanne… if I'm here, it's for a special reason."

"To defeat your father," she said with a lump in her throat, still incredulous at the level of evil of that old man. "I know, darling."

He made a grimace of discontent, but he had no choice but to stick to the plan, as it was the only way they had to finally bring down Richard Quirrell.

Suzanne felt both angry and distressed. The pressure in her chest was constant, and the desperation to escape that hell consumed her.

She longed for a happy life with Nathan and their children, far from the threatening shadow of Richard.

Nathan and Suzanne were in the living room of the mansion. The tension was palpable in the air, and the rays of sunlight coming through the large windows couldn't dissipate the sense of unease that surrounded them.

"Suzanne, there's something you need to know before we start the plan," Nathan began, his voice trembling slightly. "My mother is alive."

Suzanne looked at him, incredulous. She couldn't process what she had just heard.

"What...? How...?" she stammered, trying to find words that made sense of the revelation.

Nathan took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a mix of pain and anger.

"My grandfather had her locked up in a mental institution all this time. He made us believe she was dead. He lied to me my whole life, Suzanne. He lied to us."

Tears filled Suzanne's eyes as she saw Nathan's anguish. Now she understood the resentment he held towards his grandfather.

Old Strong's lies were too thick to process.

"Nathan, I'm so sorry," Suzanne said, her voice broken with emotion. "I understand your pain, and I'm here with you."

He looked at her with gratitude, though his eyes were still clouded with sadness.

"Thank you, Suzanne. I needed you to know this. My grandfather's lies have done us a lot of harm, but we can't let them control us anymore."

Suzanne nodded, feeling a wave of determination.

"So, what's the plan?"

Nathan explained in detail how they would bring Natalia, his mother, to the mansion and make sure rumors reached Richard. It was the perfect bait.

Even if just out of curiosity, Richard would come immediately, and they could catch him.

"I'm scared, Nathan," Suzanne admitted, hugging herself. "Scared for our children, scared of what might happen."

Nathan hugged her tightly, trying to convey security.

"Everything will be fine, Suzanne. Jarek and his men will be here, armed and ready to take down Richard and his henchmen. We'll make sure our children are safe," he kissed her hand. "I won't let anything happen to them."

Suzanne clung to those words, trying to calm her racing heart.

"I trust you, Nathan. But I need you to promise me you'll be safe too."

Nathan kissed her on the forehead, his lips trembling slightly.

"I promise, Suzanne. We'll all get through this, together.”

Jamie, one of Nathan's trusted men, entered the room at that moment.

"Well, I'm leaving," he said, giving them both a meaningful look. "It's time to set in motion the plan that will change our lives."

Suzanne watched him go, feeling a mix of hope and fear.

As she hugged Nathan, she couldn't help but think about everything at stake. Their children, their future, their happiness... Everything depended on this plan working.

"Are you ready?" Nathan whispered, his eyes fixed on hers.

Suzanne took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yes, Nathan. I'm ready."

The arrival of Jarek's men at the mansion added an extra layer of tension to the atmosphere. Nathan watched them enter, each armed and prepared for the upcoming confrontation.

Among them was old Strong, whose presence was enough to tense Nathan's jaw and ignite a spark of resentment in his eyes. However, he knew that if they wanted to stop Richard once and for all, he would have to set aside his grudge, at least for now.

"Nathan," Jarek said in a firm voice, though it was muted by the years. "I know there aren't enough words to apologize for what I've done, but I'm here to fix what I can."

Nathan looked at him, his expression hard as steel.

"I'm not doing this for you, Jarek. I'm doing it for my family."

Suzanne, for her part, couldn't contain her feelings towards Jarek. Seeing him, the anger and pain she had been holding back surfaced.

"Jarek, how could you?" she reproached, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "You told Nathan I was dead, that our babies were dead. How could you lie to us like that?"

Jarek lowered his head, his shoulders slumped under the weight of guilt.

"I'm sorry, Suzanne. There's no excuse for what I did. I was trapped in my own lies and fear. But I promise I will do everything possible to make amends."

Suzanne looked at him intently, searching for sincerity in his words. Although it was difficult to forgive something so painful, she saw a glimpse of genuine remorse in his eyes.

"It will be hard, Jarek, but I will search my heart for a way to forgive you," she finally said, her voice still trembling.

Jarek nodded, grateful.

"Thank you, Suzanne. Truly."

He looked at Nathan, hoping for some kind of acknowledgment, but Nathan was reluctant to forgive so easily. Their eyes met for a moment, and his grandson simply shook his head.

"I don't have the same kind heart as Suzanne, Jarek. But for now, we'll focus on Richard.”