Chapter 12

UNEDITED



Cloud nine really is all people make it out to be. Sabrina stayed there until she thought about his words "I needed that."
What did he think she was, a toy? Why couldn't she break the spell he put her under? She has to be stronger, she has to find a way to find clarity around him. If Nathan needed release, he was going to have to find it somewhere else.

When she arrived back at the shelter, she texted him. "I'm back." Sent. She then tells Tony good news.

Tony squeezes her in excitement. She jumps up and runs to all the dogs and cats giving them individual kisses. "Did you hear that guys? We're getting another chance."


Sabrina's overjoyed that she could actually do something. Then she realized. Whoa! Wait a minute. Nathan just agreed likes it was nothing. Why? The thought worried her but she pushes it aside.

Then suddenly, she feels warm air brushing against her face. Tony opened the back door and released the animals to play.

Sabrina giggles as she watches her throw herself on the grass and lets them lick her face.

Ding! Text message. "I should be home around 6:30 I would like you home by then."
She blushes which is highly unlike her. Oh no, This is going to be harder than she thought.

"Ok." Sent.
She plants herself on the grass and also plays with the animals. Even they look happier.
They could tell the happiness was back.

Tony looks over at Sabrina, and her smile fades she squints her eyes. "Is that's a bug bite or a love bite?" She laughs.

What? Sabrina smiles obviously oblivious to the joke.


Tony sits up and folds her legs. "It looks like you had to do some persuading." She points to her neck.

"Crap!" A hickey.


Later, the limo pulls up in front of the mansion. Sabrina thanked Elroy and says goodbye. The time on her phone was 6:27.
On her way up the stairs, Vivian's on her way down and gave her a dismissive glance and then double-takes.

She grabs Sabrina's arm stopping her as she was about to pass as closely inspects her neck.

Vivian's eyes crinkle as she smirks

It took Sabrina a moment to realize that she was looking at the hickey on her neck.
What she was thinking was wrong.


After pulling her arm away she walks straight upstairs for a shower.  She listened for the children playing but didn't hear them, so she assumed they weren't home. After her shower, she discovers that she's famished.

She greeted Ned in the kitchen and asked him what the chef cooked today.

"Roasted chicken with potatoes and pumpkin soup." He calls out the menu.

She sits at the table with her meal. "Nathan isn't home yet?" She asks him.

He shakes head. "No Ma'am."

She questioned him about his grandkids. His eldest just started school. He looked like a proud Grampa.

That was until Vivian walk in the kitchen with Nathan behind her. She dismisses Ned and stands in front of the table glaring at Sabrina.

"What's this about mom?" Nathan pulls up a chair next to his wife.

Vivian sits across from them. She folds her arms together and smiles. "Do you notice anything different with Sabrina?" She asks.


He looks over at her running his eyes up and down. His eyebrows almost touch he scrutinizes so hard. Sabrina's insides tingled.


"No." He looks back at his mother." What's this about?"


"I seen her before she left this morning, she didn't have a hickey on her neck then."

He looks at her neck and puts his fingers through his hair. "Mom."

Vivian interrupts "According to law. If a marriage ends because of illicit affairs, then the party who cheated is not entitled to anything earned by the other party."


Sabrina had a revelation. They didn't sign a prenup. So if they did divorce, she could take half of everything Nathan owns. Was that part of her father's blackmail? That couldn't be all of it. She grew more confused day by day.
She turns her head from Vivian to Nathan's who was pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Mom." He sighs. "Sabrina isn't having an illicit affair."

"I don't understand." Vivian shakes her head. "You were at work all day. Weren't you?"

"Yes." He grabs the hand Sabrina had resting on the table and pulls her up with him. He starts tugging her out of the room when.

"Nathan!" His mother snaps.

His fist grew tight. He turns, looks at her, and with clenched teeth, he asks. "You want to hear that I put it there?"

"Nathan, how could you?" Her eyes welled up with tears.

"What?" He loses his temper. Veins pop out the sides of his forehead. "How could I what? Be with my wife? I did what the two of you asked me." He pointed to his mother and the direction of his father's study. "I married her, just like you wanted me to do so." He pauses "Why is it so wrong now that I'm taking what's given to me.

The words he spoke sounded resentful. He was angry.

"Nathan It was her father!" Tears pour out Vivian's eyes.

He lets go of Sabrina's hand and approaches his mother. "Oh yeah. How'd he managed to do that?"

Revelations were coming in twos today. Nathan knew as little as Sabrina did.
Vivian and Desmond are the ones being blackmailed, and Nathan married her to save them. From what? Was the frustrating part.


Her mother-in-law doesn't respond to her son's question. As luck would have it.

"Gramma!!" Emmie interrupts and runs into her grandmother's arms."Why you cry?"


The sounds of Alyssa and Dylan come from behind Sabrina. She turns her head to see the whole family on their way in.


Clarissa stops and looks at the scene. "What's going on in here?"

Her mother wipes her eyes. "Nothing. She squeezes Emmie forcing a smile. "Where's your sister?


At the second Baylee emerges. She realizes the tension in the room immediately upon looking at her mother. "What's going on in here?" She looks at Nathan. Out of all to the question, she decides it should be him.

Braver than most.

Sabrina turns her head when she hears the fridge door open. Jacob grabbed a bottle of water and sat at the table. A sign he was clearly staying out of it. She focuses her attention back on Nathan. He turns glaring and jaw clenched. "None of your business!"

Then Kate walks in with Matthew making everyone's head turn. Her smile slowly fades.
"Should I go?" She took everyone's silence as a yes calling Emmie, Dylan, and Alyssa to follow her.

As soon as they leave Baylee glares at her brother. "My mother is crying? How is that not my business?"

He lets out an exasperated breath.
"Fine. She's your mother, right? Question her then." He waits.

Baylee looks at Vivian. "Mom." She walks over and leans on the counter. "Why are you crying?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing. I'm just. She leans into Baylee's ear. "Menopause." It was barely a whisper. Nathan couldn't hear it. Sabrina read her lips.


A quiet Clarissa sits at the table across from her husband. "Can we buy one of the houses we've seen today?"


Jacob laughs. "Which one? The one with the mold or the one with closet-size rooms."


She tilts her head at him with a dazzling smile. "Any, let's just leave."

He smiles at her cuteness and strokes her face.

Sabrina looked away from their intimate moment and clashes with Nathan's eagle eyes on her. Chills ran down her spine. His gaze was so fierce it made anticipation rise in her.

He looks back at his little sister and mom in and hushed argument. He shakes his head in annoyance. Then proceeds to approach Sabrina.

She takes an involuntary step back. Her mouth opens. Air rushes to her lungs. Whoa! Calm down.

Nathan's eyebrows furrows and his head tilts a little to the side. Why are you running? His eyes say.

She physically stops herself from moving. Nathan reaches her. "Let's go." He grabs her wrist.


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