The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 127

Not Letting Go.

“Good morning.”

Serena’s face went pale when she turned to Nathaniel. He was already smiling, far too pleased with himself.

“How did you get here?” he asked in his bedroom voice.

Her mouth fell open. Even she didn’t have an answer. She looked at the bed. Then the floor. Then back at him.

“You carried me down here,” she said flatly.

Nathaniel raised a brow. “How could I?”

“Nathaniel, no one knows me like you do,” Serena said, pointing at him. “Once, I slept through an earthquake! You carried me down here knowing I wouldn’t notice.”

He folded his arms across his chest, utterly unapologetic.

“Well, if you didn’t notice,” he said calmly, “what proof do you have that I carried you down here?”

Serena: “…”

“I—” Her frown deepened.

Then she clenched her jaw.

She stood up and said, “Forget it. You need to go to Sebastian’s room now. The sun is almost up.”

Nathaniel folded the comforters and placed them in her laundry basket while Serena checked outside the window. There was no one around. It was safe.

“You have the strength now?” Serena asked.

Nathaniel flexed his muscles and even dared to flaunt his biceps. “I’m recharged. I can climb all the way back to my room. No need for me to stop in Sebastian’s room.”

Serena: “…”

He opened the window, but before leaving, he glanced at her. “Thanks for letting me stay. You don’t know how much it made me happy.”

And just like that, he climbed outside.

Serena peeked through the window and watched the entire time. A wide stone ledge, decorative and continuous, and just deep enough for a careful sideways step, allowed him to make the walk, his hands gripping carved concrete moldings that were barely two or three inches thick.

She swore to God that if he ever fell, she would scold him for the rest of his life.

Thankfully, after minutes of carefully choosing where to hold and occasionally taking deep breaths, he made it into his room.

Serena sighed. She returned to bed and slept for a few more hours.

When Serena woke up, it was already ten. She had overslept.

She checked her phone and saw that Nathaniel had sent her a text:[Swimming with the kids. They’re looking for you, but no rush. I’ve got everything covered.]

Serena hurriedly washed up and changed into her swimsuit. She settled on a sporty two-piece bikini that was neither too sexy nor too conservative, just enough to show her curves.

She slipped into a light cover-up before heading to the pool.

The pool was huge, with a smaller section designated for kids. Serena found them in the kiddie area, laughing and chasing one another.

“I’m coming!” Nathaniel declared.

Alisa screamed. She was so loud it startled Serena.

Celine, who had been watching the whole time, laughed heartily. When she noticed Serena, she said, “Ali has been very expressive today. You wouldn’t believe it!”

“No!” Alisa tried to swim away from Nathaniel. She had her floater on to keep her afloat. “No, Daddy! No!”

“Ahhh!”

“Catch Bastin!”

Sebastian laughed so hard. He was much faster than Alisa. Between the two of them, Sebastian had learned how to swim earlier and no longer needed a floater.

“Serena, good morning,” Celine greeted. “Your dad and Silas are in the study. They called an emergency meeting with the board to address Stella and Charles’ shares.”

“Mommy, what about Daddy?” Sebastian complained. “You’re not catching him!”

“Not fair!” Alisa chimed in, making Serena blink in surprise.

“It is not fair,” Nathaniel agreed, holding their daughter.

“Fine,” Serena said. “I’ll catch your dad.”

She swam after Nathaniel as the kids shrieked. He didn’t even try to swim away.

Nathaniel was... so easy.

“It’s my turn to be the shark,” Nathaniel announced, a slow, dangerous grin spreading across his face. “But this time, I only want to catch Mommy.”

“What? No!” Serena protested as the kids burst into laughter.

She swam away, splashing wildly, but it was pointless. Nathaniel was faster. Stronger. He closed the distance with ease and caught her around the waist.

Serena laughed as he pulled her back, breathless and warm from the chase.

At first, she thought it was all just a game.

Then Nathaniel turned her to face him.

The noise of the pool seemed to fade. His blue-gray eyes locked onto hers, intense and unblinking. His arms tightened slightly around her waist, no longer playful, no longer pretending.

“I caught you,” he said quietly.

Her laughter faltered. Her heart skipped a beat.

“And this time,” he added, his voice lower and steadier, “I’m not letting you go.”

***

Later, Serena brought Nathaniel to Alice’s home. The conversation left him shaken, wounded, and burning with an anger he didn’t yet know how to name.