75

Suzanne woke up very early, the first ray of sun barely peeking through the window, filling the room with a soft golden light.

Nathan was still sleeping soundly beside her, his face relaxed and serene, whispering Suzanne's name in his dreams.

Carefully, she slipped out of bed, trying not to wake him. However, as she bent to pick up her robe, Nathan opened his eyes and smiled sleepily.

“Do you want me to make you breakfast?” Suzanne asked in a whisper.

Nathan looked at her with a mix of mischief and tenderness.

“Yes, I'd love that,” he said, before pulling her in for a passionate kiss.

The kiss took her by surprise, but Suzanne let herself be carried away, enjoying the moment.

Nathan held her tightly, his hands exploring her body while his lips met hers over and over. Suzanne moaned softly under Nathan's intense touch, feeling her barriers crumble.

Just as the kiss intensified to a point of no return, the babies' cries broke the spell, pulling them apart abruptly.

“I have to tend to them,” Suzanne said, still catching her breath.

Nathan nodded, kissing her once more before letting her go.

He followed her to the babies' room, where Suzanne was already holding them in her arms, soothing them with soft, loving words. Nathan stayed at the door, watching her with admiration.

Seeing her like this, completely devoted to their children, made him feel a deep and renewed love.

“You're amazing, you know that?” Nathan said, approaching to caress one of the babies' cheeks.

Suzanne smiled, her eyes shining with emotion.

“I just try to do the best for them,” she responded, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek.

Nathan leaned down and kissed the babies on their foreheads before heading to the kitchen.

“I’ll make breakfast. You take care of our little ones,” he said with a smile.

While Suzanne fed the babies, Nathan got to work in the kitchen. Moving efficiently, he prepared scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee.

Suzanne appeared at the door with the babies in her arms, watching him with gratitude.

“Thank you, Nathan,” she said, approaching to give him a kiss on the lips. “You’re a sweetheart, but we need to hurry. Visiting hours are at nine, and we only have thirty minutes.”

Nathan nodded, serving breakfast at the table.

They ate together in a warm and harmonious atmosphere, enjoying the tranquility of their home before facing the day.

“I don’t want to leave this house,” Nathan said, sighing. “It feels like heaven here, especially being with you and our children.”

“I know,” Suzanne responded, squeezing his hand. “But we have to go to the hospital for now.”

That “for now” seemed like the promise Nathan needed to smile fully amidst the warm, spacious kitchen.

They arrived at the hospital on time, finding Jarek in his room. The strong, robust man frowned as they practically ran in, but his expression softened upon seeing Suzanne.

“Did you think I’d gone stiff and cold?” Jarek joked, eliciting a nervous laugh from Suzanne.

“Don’t joke about that,” she chided, a smile on her lips.

Nathan observed the camaraderie between Suzanne and Jarek, feeling both relieved and anxious. He knew he needed to talk to his grandfather about his plans and the safety of his family.

“Grandpa, I need to talk to you,” Nathan finally said after a few minutes of pleasant conversation.

Jarek looked at him with curiosity.

“What’s going on, boy?”

“I’m thinking about security measures. Richard is relentless and won’t give up easily,” Nathan said, trying to stay calm.

Jarek sighed deeply, nodding.

“I’ve thought about it too. I want you to take care of Suzanne and the babies while I’m here. I’ve already given orders to my men to reinforce the mansion,” he replied seriously.

Nathan hesitated, feeling a knot in his stomach.

He wasn’t sure he could completely trust his grandfather, but Suzanne’s confidence in him made him reconsider.

“Thank you, Grandpa. I’ll do what you ask,” he said, recalling the previous night and eagerly wanting to relive those moments.

“Nathan,” Jarek called, breaking his thoughts, “are you okay?”

Nathan started, apologizing.

“Sorry, I was distracted,” he said, smiling slightly.

Jarek laughed, a laugh that surprised his grandson because he had seen it so few times.

“Don’t make that face, Nathan,” Suzanne said, amused. “Jarek usually smiles a lot with me.”

Nathan looked at his grandfather, still surprised by the exchange.

“You really care about Suzanne, don’t you?” he asked, somewhat seriously.

Jarek looked at him intensely.

“Yes, Nathan. I care about her a lot. And believe it or not… I care about you too, even if I don’t show it much,” he replied with a firm and sincere voice.

“Take care, Grandpa,” Nathan said hastily, practically running out of the room.

He found himself in an emotional crossroads as he left the hospital with Suzanne. His grandfather’s sincere words echoed in his mind, making him question everything he had thought about him before.

He felt part of a family for the first time in a long while, and although he still had doubts about Jarek’s decisions, he couldn’t deny that the forced marriage had brought an unexpected gift: Suzanne’s love.

As they walked to the car, Nathan took Suzanne’s hand, feeling a mix of gratitude and deep love for her. He looked at her tenderly, realizing how much his life had changed since he met her.

“Are you okay, Nathan?” Suzanne asked, noticing his thoughtful expression.

Nathan nodded, squeezing her hand more tightly.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just thinking about all of this,” he replied with a soft smile.

Suzanne smiled back, feeling comforted by his closeness. They got into the car and drove back home, where they prepared lunch together.

The atmosphere was warm and familiar as they shared food and laughter with the babies.

After lunch, Nathan helped Suzanne clean the kitchen, offering his help with anything she needed.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” he asked, looking at her with affection.

Suzanne looked at him, feeling a lump in her throat. “Tell me that you love me," she thought with a lump in her throat.

Nathan wanted to tell her, but he didn't know if she was ready to hear those words, so he kept quiet.

“Thank you, Nathan. I’m fine for now,” she responded with a somewhat forced smile.
They decided to watch a romantic movie after dinner. When night came, Suzanne asked Nathan once again to stay the night.

He accepted happily, excited to spend more time together as a couple.

They slept together, embraced in the darkness of the room. However, in the middle of the night, Suzanne began calling out for him, shaken by a nightmare.

“Nathan! Nathan!” she cried, visibly distressed.

He woke up immediately, hugging her tightly to calm her.

“I’m here, darling. Everything’s okay,” he whispered, cradling her in his arms.

Suzanne clung to him, trembling slightly. Nathan held her until she finally calmed down, and they both fell asleep again until dawn.

In the morning, Nathan told her he had some pending matters to attend to. Suzanne nodded sadly, understanding but wishing he could stay longer.

“I’ll be back as soon as possible, I promise,” Nathan said, kissing her forehead before leaving.

What Nathan didn’t know was that that night would change everything. He shouldn’t have left her alone, and that decision would have consequences neither of them could foresee.