98

"What do you mean you saw Nathan?" Suzanne's incredulous voice echoed throughout the place.

Where was Nathan? Why hadn't he appeared in front of her yet?

So much uncertainty was killing her; she needed to understand what was happening. She was completely lost and hurt by it all.

"Exactly what I said, Nathan was in his apartment for several days," Jamie said, grimacing with discomfort. "I must say he looked pretty rough and bearded, and he reeked of a dive bar."

Suzanne looked at him incredulously; she couldn't understand anything that was happening, and it was precisely because of that expression on her face that Jamie decided to tell her everything that had happened.

He and his friends had gone to look for him because they couldn't understand why he was in hiding and why his grandfather had released him after so many days in captivity.

It was simply unbelievable to them.

"Listen, Enzo Mancini is an expert in disguises and camouflage. Thanks to Richard's words, he was able to find the place where Nathan was being held," he explained, recalling their plan. "He managed to get into the place where he was confined, and the guards said he had escaped a while ago and assured that he was back to his old life, safe and sound."

"How long ago?" Suzanne murmured quietly.

"About five days ago," Jamie clicked his tongue in displeasure. "I understand it can be frustrating for you, but we've tried to convince him..."

"Frustrating?" she stood up, pacing back and forth in clear desperation. "That word falls short. How do you expect me to feel knowing that my fiancé and the father of my children hasn't come to see me... or the babies?"

"Suzanne..."

"Does he intend to stay away from me again? Was it his own decision, or does it have to do with his grandfather?" she was talking more to herself. "What happens now? And Richard Quirrell?"

"Suzanne!"

"What?!"

"You need to listen and try to understand everything, please," Jamie pleaded, on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

It hadn't been easy for him to see Nathan in that state, and worse, to have had to convince him to form an alliance to defeat his father... especially when they had to confess the truth about his grandfather.

To Nathan, he was the man who had locked him up like a filthy animal, supposedly to protect his family, who always demanded but almost never showed love, and of whom Richard said was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

He no longer knew what to think.

...

Days earlier...

“Do you think he'll open the door?” Jules asked Enzo, who had traveled from Italy as soon as he learned of his friend's condition.

“I don't know, but one way or another I'll get into that damn place,” Enzo replied.

“The last time I saw him, he told me to go to hell,” said Jules.

“He said something similar to me the last time I called him,” said Lawrence, who had traveled from the United States when Enzo called him.

“It's obvious he'll be in a foul mood, but we have to try,” said Jamie.

While they continued talking about how they would enter the apartment, the sound of breaking glass was heard.

Enzo, Jules, and Jamie looked at Lawrence, who was still holding the stone with which he had broken the glass window.

“Nathan won't like this,” said Jamie.

Lawrence shrugged nonchalantly. He was a man who took things calmly and enjoyed life without complications.

When they managed to get into the house, it didn't take them long to locate him; he was sitting in the study with a glass in hand. They were all surprised to see the state the great Nathan Strong was in.

When he saw those four men, he stood up, staggering a bit with a look of displeasure.

“What are you doing here?” he growled.

He didn't like being seen like this, in such a deplorable state.

“We just decided to visit an old friend,” Lawrence said with irony.

The others poured themselves a drink and settled on the largest couch, while Nathan glared at them furiously for the interruption.

“Lawrence, you were supposed to be in North America and you, Enzo, in Italy. Jules, you have patients to attend to and you, Jamie, I left you in charge of the company. What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded, furious.

"To prevent you from sinking further into misery," said Enzo.

"I can take care of myself," he growled.

"Yeah, that’s evident," said Jules Harper with irony. "Your grandfather had you locked up, and after escaping, you didn't go to see Suzanne or your babies. Are you sure you know what you're talking about?"

"Why do you care?" he spat, too tired to argue.

"Not much, but considering even the press is worried about the fact that the great business magnate Nathan Strong has been missing for almost a month, we decided to check if you were still alive," Lawrence spoke this time.

Nathan opened his mouth, but Enzo interrupted him.

"Listen, you have to help us take down your father," he said with determination. "We have a plan that will surely make him fall flat and you can get your family back."

Those words made him regain his sanity, despite his body being filled with alcohol.

His friends noticed how hope reflected on Nathan's face and how his somber expression disappeared.

"Damn, he really is in love!" exclaimed Lawrence.

He didn't deny it. Why would he, when it was already an open secret?

"What’s the plan?" he finally said, letting out a sigh. "It won't be easy to beat that bastard. He knows everything and has contacts everywhere."

He seemed resigned, tired of everything, and ready to throw in the towel, but his friends wouldn’t let him give up on the only good thing that had happened to him in many years.

He knew his friend was going through a hard time, he had finally come to his senses and shown determination, but Richard had done something to keep him away from Suzanne, despite having obtained his freedom.

How painful was it? They didn't know, but from Nathan's condition, they knew it was like being headfirst in hell.

"And? Is no one going to tell me?" he had insisted they tell him what it was about, but Jamie simply said he wanted to talk to Nathan Strong, not the shadow of a man standing in front of him.

Nathan glared at him before storming out, muttering something about firing Jamie for being disrespectful.

His friends knew that compassion didn't work with him, so they had opted to behave with feigned indifference.

Before getting into the shower, Nathan saw his reflection and didn't recognize the man in front of him, that defeated man with dark circles and a pale face.

He had caused all this; he could only think about how different things would be if he had accepted his paternity and feelings for Suzanne from the beginning.

“There’s no use in regretting it now,” he told himself.

It was time to take back his life, to be the man he had been, although not entirely, because without her and now their babies, he felt that a huge part of him was missing.