Chapter 13

UNEDITED


Sabrina climbed the stairs slowly very aware of Nathan's big presence behind her. When she reached halfway up she stops.

Alyssa running with what looks like a book in her hand catches her eyes. She was coming from the long hallway downstairs.

When their eyes meet, Sabrina knew she was looking for her.

Nathan's hand grabs her hips. "What's wrong?" He was standing on the step directly below her.

"Auntie Sabrina!" Alyssa calls.

He looks back realized. "Can I have your aunt for a moment? He asks as his niece climbs the stairs to meet them.

"Can I just ask Auntie Sabrina something? She reaches steps before.

"Of course you can sweetie." Sabrina walks around Nathan and moving down.

"Look." Alyssa gives her a blue ray copy an animated kid's movie. "Can you watch it with us in the theater room?"

She could hear Nathan taking a deep breath.
"Of course I will. Can I meet you there in a minute I would like to talk to your Uncle for a second."

"Yah!" She shouts and skips her way in the direction she came from.


Nathan grabs her hand and pulls her to walk in front of him.

As soon as they enter the room Sabrina hurries into the bathroom. She was filled with anticipation. She couldn't handle it. Once he puts his hands on her, she became lost in a world designed by him, not being able to think straight.

Vivian and Desmond are the ones her father blackmailed not Nathan, but He has to deal with all the consequences.
Now she knows for sure that he didn't deserve his unwanted wife, and she felt horrible for being that burden.


She washes her makeup off and ties her hair in a bun. When she exits the bathroom, he was laying on the bed with his eyes closed. He was still dressed in his suit and shoes, and his hands were crossed behind his head.


She remembers how incredibly stressed out he was in the office. Then coming home to his mother's questioning and crying. He looked so calm compared to his normal tension-filled self. She wanted to undress him and massage all of it away.


She stops herself immediately from fantasizing anymore. Nathan may be touching her and calling her his wife, but could he love her? She would rather be alone forever than be with a husband that didn't love her.

After staring for longer than she intended, she decided against waking him.

She comes out of the closet dressed in sweats and a t-shirt. Nathan was still laying in the same position when she looks over at him.
She then grabs her phone and heads down to the theater.
It's just as big as a real theater, located under the mansion. Along with a pool, gym, basketball court, etc.

The was air cool, and the movie has already started. All the chairs might as well be called beds. They are big enough for 3 people and are all a few feet away from each other.

All the way in the back in the very last row. Two seats are taken, one with Kate and the kids and the other with Clarissa and Jacob. They were snuggled up close with their eyes on the screen.

Sabrina goes over and takes the seat a few chairs over.

Emmie immediately runs over and sits near her. She gives her a kiss and then begins watching the movie.

They were hugging for about 10 minutes when Nathan is suddenly standing over them with his hands in his pockets.


"Can I seat near Auntie Sabrina?" He asks Emmie politely.

Emmie was already moving away and trying to see the screen.

Wasn't he sleeping?

She shifts to the middle letting Nathan sit beside her. When he sits, he pulls her to lean on him. He hugs her around her shoulder letting a hand fall on her stomach.

Emmie runs to her mom and dad losing her comfy spot. He takes advantage of the space pulling Sabrina closer.

Now she was laying on his chest, on the buttons of a crisp white shirt, inhaling his deep scented cologne.
She was too comfortable. She tried to watch the movie but, all she could focus on was his chest moving beneath her.

Then suddenly his arms begin to feel like dead-weight. She peeks over at him to confirm that he was sleeping.

He came in here to sleep?
Why was he doing this to her? Why couldn't he ignore her again? Why did she let him affect her?

She adjusts her body a little making Nathan's hold tighten on her suddenly.

"Nathan." She whispers. "Do you want to go upstairs?"

He doesn't bother to open his eyes and shakes his head no in reply.

~~~~~~~~

Sabrina wakes to Emmie on top of her again. She looks around the room seeing Alyssa and Dylan near her. She has no recollection of how she got in bed. The last thing she remembers was being in the theater. She up and lifts Emmie.

Clarissa is in the kitchen waiting "Hey."


Emmie jumps out of her arms and runs to her breakfast on the table.

"Thanks for keeping the kids at night. I feel like I've been on vacation."

"It's no problem."

Clarissa laughs. "I'm sure it's a problem for my brother."

Sabrina smiles. "No, he's a good uncle."

"I could tell you one good thing he is good at, being a husband. "

She looks down at her purple-painted toenails. "Ah...Um."

"Your blushing." Clarissa moves around the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.

"Can I ask you something?" Sabrina asks.

"Sure." Clarissa sits at the table across from Emmie.

"What was Nathan like before I met him?"

She takes a sip of her coffee. "Pretty much the same. Only he actually cares about something other than himself now."

She takes another sip "You." She points with her cup before setting it down.

She wished she could confide in Clarissa. Tell her she was starting to feel more than just an attraction to her brother. She didn't know how to figure him out. What was his game? What did he want? Why couldn't he act like an asshole instead of touching her sweetly? Instead of making sure she didn't have to walk to the shelter. Instead of giving her a bank card and a phone. How was she going to survive this? She could see herself giving in to him, taking advantage of every moment he would give her.

"To be honest Sabrina. You probably know more than any of us. Nathan wasn't much of a talker growing up. He always had a bad temper that did him more damage than it did well. He fought with my father a lot. After awhile they rarely spoke to each other. I'm sure you've noticed."

She hadn't noticed. She wonders why Nathan let himself be forced to marry without an explanation at least.

She wanted to ask if he could ever love her. If he could accept her as a wife. If he could look at her as an individual not connected in the web of secrets that made their bed for them.

"Nathan doesn't talk about it." She didn't have to lie.

"Yeah, I didn't think he would. The softest I've ever seen him was last night."

"All done." Emmie interrupts.

Clarissa lifts her out of her high chair and sets on the ground.

"What about last night?" Sabrina couldn't hide her interest.

"I've never seen Nathan hold anything so delicately before. Not even when he held my newborn children for the first time." She laughs.

Sabrina looks at her confusingly.

"I woke Nathan up when the movie is already finished. He didn't want to wake you so he just lifted you delicately. I've never seen such a soft look in his eyes before. He really loves you. It's like you casted a spell over him."


Sabrina fake coughed to hide the shame on her face. She hated lying or leading someone to believe a lie. Clarissa must be so in love she's seeing it everywhere.
She knew right now she was a female body who has been moved to a male's room. Tension is likely to occur between them.
"I'm gonna go upstairs."
When she turns, she bumps into the hard chest of her husband.

"You ok?" He puts both hands on her face.

She gasped. "Yeah. Why?"  She tries not to be affected.

He moves his hands around her waist. "You were coughing." His eyes were tender and soft just like his sister said.

"Nathan didn't eat any dinner last night," Clarissa says as she leads Emmie's out of the kitchen.

The statement caused Sabrina to turn in his arms.

Sabrina ate and didn't even think about Nathan. She hated herself right now.

Nathan's chest comes in contact with her back. "You sure you ok sweetheart?"

She turns and pushes him gently. "You should eat." She gets out of his hold smoothly and makes her way to the intercom system.

"Which one of these is the chef's room." She asks inspecting all the white buttons.

He stood in the same spot and studied her. Her hair was loosened and slightly messy. Her cheeks were still a little swollen from just waking up, and she even looked cute in a pair of sweats. He was irritated that she kept running from him. "Don't bother. I don't have time."

She turns back to him. "To eat?"

He continues to watch her without answering.

"Please eat something? She begs.

He shakes his head. "No."

"You have to eat something. How could you do a good job at work today if you don't eat your food?" She said it like she was talking to Emmie.

He couldn't help the humor in his eyes. She was talking to him like a child because she felt like he was acting like one.

"Are you going to feed me." He watched her freeze.

He squeezes his eyes tightly and mutters a silent curse. He hated it when she tenses up like that.

He takes a few quick steps toward her. "You know I don't understand you. What did you expect when you got married, Sabrina?


What? She asked herself. What is he talking about? I don't know what you mean?"


"Keep pretending." He starts walking away.

"Nathan!" She calls. It seriously bothered her that he didn't eat.

He stops in the doorway and looks back too her.

"Please, eat something." She pleads.

He lets out a frustrated sigh, turns around, and approaches again.
"Sabrina. I have to go. I really don't have time." He puts his hands behind her neck and pulls her forehead to his mouth for a kiss before leaving.

Her insides jolt.


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