25

He quickly ran towards her with a pounding heart, and as soon as he reached her, he hugged her tightly, forgetting his anger.

"Oh, God, I can't believe I almost lost you," he whispered, holding her tightly.

She trembled in his arms, with adrenaline coursing through her bloodstream. But when they both calmed down, he reproached her for her recklessness.

"Are you crazy? How the hell could you think of crossing the street without looking? Damn idiot!"

She looked at him in shock, but tears started streaming from her eyes again, unable to stop them.

"No, don't cry, baby," he asked uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, you just scared me. Let's go back to the car, okay?"

"Let me go..." she whispered, hurt, but he ignored her.

He helped her to her feet, and Suzanne felt a horrible pain in her right foot, but she didn't say anything; she didn't want him to get upset again.

Nathan carried her to the car and laid her down in the back seat, looking at her attentively.

"Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" he asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, just a little scared," she lied.

"Don't ever do something crazy like that again. I don't want to think about what would have happened if I hadn't seen the truck in time," he swallowed at the thought.

"I might not be alive," she said, touched by his concern.

"And I'd be in prison for burying that guy," he joked, though he knew it wasn't a joke.

She was so moved that she kissed him without preamble, being enthusiastically reciprocated. Nathan returned to the front seat and started the car, both in silence.

They had been on the road for several minutes when he stopped, and she sat up in her seat, thinking they had arrived home, but she was surprised to see they were back at the entrance of the event venue.

She was about to ask what they were doing there when she saw Angela get into the car and sit next to Nathan.

"Thank you so much for coming for me, handsome," she said flirtatiously. "I really had no way to get back to my apartment."

Suzanne opened her mouth in disbelief and wondered why the hell taxis existed.

"You're welcome," he said curtly, not very pleased.

"Oh, who is this girl?" Angela said, looking at Suzanne disapprovingly.

"Nobody," she said, annoyed.

"How rude you are."

"And you are a..."

"Don't you dare," Nathan warned, interrupting her before she could say anything else.

"Nathan, why don't you take her home and then you and I can go to my apartment? My offer still stands," she smiled dazzlingly, ignoring the brunette.

He looked at Suzanne, who crossed her arms and glared at him. He half-smiled at that gesture but didn't say anything.

"Don't worry, Mr. Strong, I can take a taxi, and you can go with this... wherever you want," she said coldly.

Then he deduced that she was jealous of Angela.

He grimaced because he didn't want her to fall in love with him, so he told himself he had to come up with a plan to prevent her from getting her hopes up.

"Suzanne, shut up," he snapped harshly, "and Angela, the last time we talked, I was very clear with you."

"Well, handsome, if you change your mind, you know where to find me," she winked.

"Offering slut," Suzanne muttered, but only Nathan heard her and shook his head, amused.

After several minutes, they arrived at a luxurious residential area, and Suzanne sighed with relief, finally not having to see that harpy anymore.

But apparently, fate had other plans.

"I can't find my keys!" Angela exclaimed. "Nathan, it looks like I'll have to keep bothering you. Can I stay at your place? It'll just be for tonight."

She looked at him with puppy dog eyes, and Suzanne had to look away, completely disgusted by her pathetic act.

"Sure," Nathan said, letting out a sigh.

Suzanne gritted her teeth and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, glaring at him with the desire to kill him.

"If he thinks I'm going to stay under the same roof as this little woman, he's very mistaken," she thought, clenching her fists.

The journey was anything but silent, as Angela didn't stop talking. When they arrived, Nathan opened the door for the redhead and then approached Suzanne to do the same, but she didn't move.

"Aren't you going to get out of there?" he asked.

"No, I'll call a taxi to take me home," she said seriously.

"Who says I'll let you go? You're staying here, Suzanne."

"There's no way I'm staying with your little whore in the same house," she crossed her arms.

"My... little whore?"

"I'm not staying here, it's humiliating," she said, her throat tightening.

"I've spoken, remember you belong to me and you must obey me, so get out of the damn car now," he growled.

She glared at him and quickly got out of the car. When she put her injured foot on the ground, she lost her balance, but before she touched the floor, he caught her.

"You've hurt yourself," he said, seeing her wince in pain.

"It's nothing," she pulled away from his grip, but this time she fell to the ground before he could hold her, her face contorting in pain.

"Damn it! You call this nothing? You can't even walk!"

He picked her up in his arms, and she looked at him with murderous intent. Nathan, on the other hand, smiled amused, thinking she looked more beautiful with her furrowed brow.

"Come on, Angela," he said for her to follow him.

She looked at the girl in his arms with anger, but she followed him. Nothing had gone as planned, and she told herself she had to get rid of the cripple.