He immediately turned his head to look out the window and let out a long breath after that, for the person whose face was pressed against his car window was none other than Nate, the person he was looking for!
Xavier lowered his car window before asking Nate, “Why are you here, and when did you come back? Do your parents know you’re back?”
Nate looked pale, his hair disheveled. Instead of answering Xavier’s question, he asked urgently, “Do you have water? I’m so thirsty!”
Xavier glanced at Nate’s chapped lips and frowned.
“Wait a moment. I’ll find some for you. Get in the car first.”
“No! I don’t want to get in!” Nate was currently traumatized by dark and cramped spaces, so he needed an open area and fresh air at that moment.
Xavier noticed that Nate looked a little off, so he did not force him.
Quickly, he took out an unopened bottle of soda and handed it to Nate.
The latter took it from him and downed the entire bottle in one gulp.
Despite finishing the drink, he still felt that it was not enough. “Do you have more, Xavier?”
Xavier was stunned for a moment. If I’m not mistaken, Nate said my name politely just now. I haven’t heard him address me in such a manner for many years.
Finding it a little strange, he raised his eyebrows and said to Nate, “There is none left in the car. You’ll have to go upstairs to my office to get a drink. Do you want to go there?”
“Yes. Right now! Do you have any food in your office?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Let’s go there now.”
Xavier nodded before unbuckling his seat belt and getting out of the car.
He did not detect it in the car earlier, but as soon as he got close to Nate, he could smell the foul odor emanating from the latter’s body.
Judging from the dirt on Nate’s clothes, Xavier discerned that the other man probably had not taken a bath for many days.
He frowned and strode ahead, with Nate following closely behind.
However, they had just taken a few steps when they heard the sound of a bike honking behind them.
As the two looked back at the same time, Xavier immediately recognized that it was Josiah’s bike.
Seeing that Nate looked a little nervous, he said casually, “It’s Josiah.”
Josiah noticed Xavier waiting for him at the same spot, so he immediately found the nearest place to park his bike.
After that, he ran over and stopped right in front of Nate.
“You’re back? What happened to you? How did you end up in such a state?”
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Nate’s face as he mumbled, “Let’s head over to Xavier’s office first. I want water.”
“Okay,” Josiah mumbled, then turned to look at Xavier.
They exchanged looks, and Xavier said, “Come up with us.”
Soon after the three of them entered Xavier’s office, Nate hurried inside to hunt for water.
Taking in his frantic behavior, Josiah could not help but slap Xavier’s arm.
“Why is he acting this way? Did he just come back from begging in Alendor? Must he make himself look so pitiful being this thirsty?”
While taking snacks and pastries from the cabinet in the pantry, Xavier said, “I don’t know. He didn’t say anything. As for you, why did you come over all of a sudden?”
“Because I care about you!” Josiah said. “I asked Louis, and he said you might still be working overtime. I just happened to pass by and noticed that the lights in your office were still on, so I came over. Oh, by the way, does your aunt know that he has returned?”
Xavier furrowed his brows slightly. “It looks like she doesn’t know yet.”
While they were conversing, Nate had already finished his second bottle of water.
Xavier pushed the food beside him in front of Nate when he noticed that. “Eat,” he said curtly.
“No, thanks.” Nate was already full from drinking so much water. “I remember you have a lounge here. I want to go wash up first.”
Before Xavier could speak, Josiah pointed him in a direction, as he could not tolerate the smell.
“Go on! Hurry up! It’s over there. Your cousin’s clothes are in the room. Remember to change into them after cleaning yourself up.”
Twenty minutes later, Nate finally came out.
He was wearing Xavier’s clothes that looked a little ill-fitting on him, as they were one size larger.
Contrary to him, Xavier and Josiah were well-groomed, and even the ties around their necks looked neat.
As Nate observed the two smartly dressed men in front of him, a strong sense of shame suddenly surfaced in his heart.
He stood in front of Xavier and cleared his throat before saying in a hoarse voice, “I’m sorry, Xavier. I know I was wrong. I should have been able to discriminate between right and wrong. I shouldn’t have been stubborn and aided Yulissa in harming our family.”
Xavier sat in front of Nate, crossed his long legs, and scrutinized the latter wordlessly. After a moment, he slowly furrowed his brows.
“Have you truly realized your mistake? If you make the same mistake again, Nate, I’ll never forgive you even if Aunt Beatrice cries and begs me to.”
Nate clenched his fists and nodded. “I have! This time, I’ve truly ascertained Yulissa’s character. I helped her in any way in the past, hoping to get her love. But after this trip to Manchernius, I’ve finally seen right through her. She has no love for me, not even a hint of affection!”
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