Ch. 211..215: Forbidden Heat R18 Chapter 211-215

Chapter 211: Déjà vu

We filled the time alone in the car together with idle chat which I always found so relaxing and today was no different. The traffic was surprisingly light today and I looked forward to the rest of the evening even though I didn’t know where we were headed.

“Are you hungry?” Reiner asked, his eyes still on the road.

“Not really...” I replied lazily. It was sort of true.

“But?” Reiner prompted.

“But...I should always eat on time,” I replied with what he wanted to hear.

“Good girl,” Reiner complimented as he smiled softly.

I found it so adoringly cute when he shows such care for me. He can be strict sometimes, but I couldn’t help falling in love with his caring actions. I leaned over and gently kissed his cheek causing him to blush a little in surprise.

“Let’s stop by for dinner,” Reiner said as he took a turn.

“Did you already pick a place? What cuisine is it?” I asked with anticipation.

“A friend of mine recommended this place. I’ve never been there before. It’s Mediterranean food,” Reine said casually.

“Sexy...” I replied with a teasing smile.

Soon we arrived at the restaurant, and I have to say that I was impressed with the very private and luxury vibe that the place emanated. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that this place was members only and surprisingly we were the only guests that evening.

“It’s a pleasure to serve you. My name is Richard, and I am the manager,” the manager greeted us warmly. His face creased into deep lines as he smiled widely at Reiner and me.

“It’s a pleasure,” I replied politely.

After being seated and having ordered our food, we were left alone at last to enjoy each other’s company. The atmosphere was so relaxing and calm as Reiner and I chatted about random things that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that we could enjoy the moment together and the peace that was rare to come by.

“Your friend has good tastes. This place is perfect,” I commented as I looked around the restaurant from where I was seated.

“He does. I’m glad that you like it,” Reiner replied smoothly.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Reiner has friends. It’s just that he never speaks of them or anything much from his private life, so it felt a little surprising to hear him mention his friend. I mean, of course he’s got friends.

The food tasted amazing, but I enjoyed Reiner’s company much more. I told him about my work, my boss, and colleagues. I realized in the middle of it all that I was enjoying my new phase in life much more than I first thought I would.

“I didn’t think things will turn out like this at first, but I find work so fulfilling even if it can get very tiring. I’m always excited to learn something new or do something new,” I explained excitedly.

“That sounds good. You’ve always wanted to be more independent,” Reiner commented with a smile.

“Yes, and I think this is the start of a new phase in my life, you know? Like...I feel like I can achieve so much more and that there’s so much more out there,” I tried my best to put my feelings into words.

“Should we order some champagne for a toast?” Reiner suggested.

I would love to...but thankfully, I caught those words before they left my lips. Pregnant women are not supposed to drink, right?

“No, it’s ok. I’d prefer something a little healthier like some cold pressed juice instead,” I said smoothly.

“It’s good to see that you’re taking care of your health seriously. I can imagine Lucien or Edward forcing you to quit work if they see your health deteriorating. Frankly, I would do the same...” Reiner said thoughtfully.

Being forced to quit work when I have just started my career would be such a big disaster that I bet I couldn’t mentally handle. I really enjoyed my work and I felt like my career was heading in the right direction. I can picture myself working in more advanced roles in the years to come.

“It’s getting a little late, we should go,” Reiner said as he took a look at his watch.

“Ok...” I readily agreed.

We continued our conversation in the car as we headed for our next destination. Reiner was still tightlipped about where we were going, and I stopped asking. Looking outside as our conversation came to a pause, I realized that we were approaching that hill again and I felt a sinking sensation in my stomach.

“Do you know what’s up on this hill?”

I heard Edward’s voice so clearly in my head that I felt the small hair on my neck stand up on ends. Reiner took me up that hill once and then Edward did the same. Are we headed to that hill again?

I glanced over at Reiner who offered no explanation of what was going on. His eyes were fixed on the road in front and his jaw was set sternly. One turn of the car and my suspicion was confirmed, we are driving up that same cursed hill again.

Perhaps Reiner wanted to take me stargazing again like we once did. However, my gut told me that there was something more to this. Something much darker.

“Are we going to the same spot that we went to before?” I asked hopefully.

“You think you can manage to walk there on foot yourself through the forest this time?” Reiner asked back confirming my suspicion. Great. So, we are going there.

“Perhaps...” I answered without much confidence. Sure, my phobia of dark forests has subsided somewhat, but I wasn’t sure that I could walk through one without freaking out.

“I’ll carry you on my back. No need to worry,” Reiner said reassuringly.

...

I felt a strong sense of déjà vu as Reiner parked the car at the same spot as the last time we were here. If I remember correctly, we have to walk through the forest that way. The nagging question at the back of my mind was: why are we here?

“Want to get on?” Reiner asked before crouching down with his back turned towards me.

Chapter 212: Reiner’s Story

“...Sure. Thank you, R” I thanked him softly as I climbed on to his back.

This really was the exact repetition of what happened the last time we were here. Reiner carried me on his back into the forest; however, this time I had the courage to keep my eyes opened. The forest was quite dark, and the main source of light was the flashlight that Reiner held. This time the walk felt shorter than the last and it felt like we arrived at the grassy clearing at the edge of the forest in no time.

“Wow. The stars look just as beautiful as the last time we were here. Remember?” I asked as I pointed to the starry sky above us.

Reiner also looked up at the starry sky as he nodded in agreement. It was a magical moment as we stood there side by side just gazing at the stars in the silence. The road below was empty and only rarely did a car pass by.

The strong gust of wind blew by causing me to shiver even though it wasn’t that cold. Reiner wrapped his arm around me to hug me close to him. I sighed in bliss as I relaxed my body and enjoyed his warmth.

“This is not a bad date spot, honestly,” I said after a short period of silence had passed.

“I guess...” Reiner replied vaguely.

“Let me pick the spot for our date next time, ok?” I said as I smiled at him.

Reiner was silent as if in deep thought as he gazed up at the stars.

“You think this is a great date spot because we can see the stars, right?” Reiner said almost absentmindedly.

“...Yes, that’s right,” I answered, feeling a little confused.

“You once asked me why I came here...” Reiner continued, his eyes now focused on the road below.

“Yeah, you said you were here for work, and I didn’t believe you,” I replied with a small laugh.

“For my line of work, this is a great spot. Not because you can see the stars but because you have a clear view of that road,” Reiner said as he pointed to the curve in the road below.

“What do you mean?” I asked, the knot inside my stomach tensing tighter as I had a sense of foreboding.

“Around ten years ago there was a car crash right at that bend in the road,” Reiner said as his eyes focused on the road below.

“There was an accident here?” I asked in shock.

“Well, it wasn’t exactly an accident...” Reiner said as he turned to face me. His face was grim.

“What do you mean?” I asked in a whisper. I didn’t like where this conversation was going. I wanted to go home.

“Save...Na...ta...lia...” Reiner said in a strained voice.

“What?” I asked in confusion, my voice barely a whisper.

“Those were your mother’s last words,” Reiner said softly.

“No...wait...how do you know that?” I asked, unable to believe my own ears.

“Your mother died here, Natalia,” Reiner said with a sorrowful expression.

“So, it’s true? My mother was really murdered?” I asked in a whisper. I didn’t doubt Lucien’s words but hearing it from another person made it more real.

“That’s right,” Reiner stated emotionlessly.

Wait...

“How do you know this location? I didn’t even know. It was never disclosed and...how do you know my mother’s...last words?” I asked in a shaky voice. I didn’t know when it started but I had started crying.

“Listen well, Natalia. I killed your mother,” Reiner stated slowly and firmly. His eyes locked with mine without hesitation. His blue eyes were clear as water in a lake and I was forced to believe his every word.

“You...killed my mother?” I repeated. It wasn’t a question, but I had hoped that I had misheard.

Reiner...killed my mother...ten years ago...right here...

I felt everything around me went completely still and silent as if the world around me had caved in completely into darkness. My hand and feet felt numb, and my head throbbed. Am I about to...faint?

“I was hired as a sniper to shoot a car and ensure that the driver was killed. The job was simple. With information from the client, I scouted the area and found this exact location to have the best vantage point for sniping the target. Everything went smoothly as planned. I shot the car and cause the accident. I then went down to check that the driver was dead and that was when I heard your mother’s last words,” Reiner recounted the event of that day in a completely detached manner.

“Why did you do it?! My mother...she didn’t do anything wrong!” I shouted at him as I beat my clenched fists against his firm chest.

I felt hot tears stream down my fast. I trusted him. I loved him so much. I wanted him to be with me forever...

I can’t believe it. This man killed my mother. He took her away from me...

“Have you ever considered that every person that became a sniper’s target...had a good reason why someone wanted them dead?” Reiner asked rhetorically.

“What are you saying?! Tell me this is a bad joke!” I wailed as I continued crying.

“That job was easy, but it earned me a high level of trust with the Rosenhall. A few years later, I started working for the Rosenhall family as a butler. The Elders paid so much money to cover up this incident. Most family members don’t even know that the crash happened here,” Reiner went on emotionlessly as if he was telling someone else’s story.

“It’s a lie. It must be a lie, right? R? Reiner?!” I pleaded for all of this to be a dream.

“My name isn’t Reiner. It’s an alias I use while serving the Rosenhall family,” Reiner stated flatly.

“...what?” I whispered in shock. There were just too many things to take in and I couldn’t keep up.

My eyes hurt from all the crying, and I was finding it hard to breath. My head felt like it was going to explode, and I felt like throwing up. This can’t be true...this can’t be happening...

“You didn’t have to put it that way, Reiner,”

Suddenly a low and familiar voice cut through the mayhem. I suddenly realized that Reiner and I were no longer alone.

Chapter 213: Waking Up from a Nightmare

“Ed...ward...” I whispered his name in shock.

Edward sighed as he strode towards us until he was standing firmly at my side.

“Are you ok? Stupid question, I guessed you’re not...” Edward said as he wrapped an arm around my waist to provide me support.

I wanted to ask how he got here. What else he knew? Was Reiner telling the truth?

However, I didn’t have the strength in me to speak anymore. I just looked blankly between Reiner and Edward as my mind struggled to phantom what was going on. I felt my body slowly going numb and then my whole face...and then...

“Natalia!” I heard someone call my name, but I couldn’t see, and I couldn’t respond.

...

**Beep Beep Beep**

The constant beeping sound of some machine that I was unfamiliar with was the first thing I sensed when I came to. The bright light in that white room was blinding when I slowly opened my eyes. The room was big, way too big for one person and a medical bed.

The smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils confirming that I had just woken up in a hospital. Glancing to the side of my bed I saw that I was hooked up to a machine and IV bag where transparent liquid dripped slowly into the tube that was connected to the vein in my arm.

I felt tired and stressed but apart from that I didn’t feel too bad. I wonder how long I was out for. The clock read sometime midafternoon.

“Natalia...you’re awake,”

I turned to see a tired-looking Edward come in through the door with a relief look on his face. His suit was wrinkled and didn’t match his usually impeccably perfect image. I wonder how long he’s been with me in this hospital.

“Hi, Edward,” I greeted him plainly because I didn’t know what else to say. I smiled a little at him instead.

“Sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up. I went out to get some clothes and some other stuff for you...” Edward explained as he piled a few bags onto the already crowded sofa.

“It’s ok. I just woke up...” I said as I continued to look around the room.

“How are you feeling?” he asked as he came to stand next to my bed.

“Not too bad...” I replied honestly.

“Oh...I should call for the doctor to check up on you,” Edward said as he reached over to press the button near the bed.

Soon after the button was pressed, a young nurse with hazel brown hair popped into the room with a cheerful smile on her lips.

“I see that you’re up...let me see,” the young nurse said before coming to the side of the bed and started going about checking up on me and the machine that I was hooked up to.

Edward and I watched her go about her task wordlessly. I admired how proficient she seemed at her job.

“Excuse me, Sir. Could we have a minute?” the young nurse said to Edward as she gestured for him to follow her.

“Sure...” Edward replied.

I watched their backs as they left the room. It was clear that they were going to discuss my condition and I hated that they didn’t do it in front of me.

After being led outside by the nurse, Edward was led to the doctor’s room where the conversation would take place. After a soft knock on the door, the doctor called out for them to enter.

“Hi, Edward. It’s been a while...” a middle-aged woman with graying hair greeted Edward warmly.

“Yes, it has, Doctor Elena,” Edward said pleasantly as he sat down on the chair on the opposite side of the doctor’s table.

“Well...let me get to it. Lucien is not here but I guess you can act as her guardian, right?” Doctor Elena asked to make sure.

“Yes. Please go ahead...” Edward said with a smile.

“There isn’t much to be concerned about her condition in general. She fainted due to stress and accumulated fatigue. She was asleep for three days to allow her body to recover both mentally and physically. We will have to do a few more tests but I believe that there would be no permanent damage to her body,” Doctor Elena informed.

“That’s a relief to hear. Thank you,” Edward replied, relief clear in his voice.

“Oh...but...there is one thing...” Doctor Elena went on.

“What is it?” Edward asked with worry.

“It’s still in the early stages but...Miss Natalia is pregnant,” Doctor Elena stated with a tight smile.

“...Excuse me?” Edward said in disbelief.

“You heard right, Edward. Miss Natalia is with child,” Doctor Elena repeated, more clearly this time.

For a moment Edward look conflicted as he seemed deep in thought. Doctor Elena watched her friend take in the news.

“Do you think...she knows?” Edward asked after a long moment of silence.

“That she’s pregnant? Maybe...maybe not. I’m not sure. As I said, it’s still in the early stages,” Doctor Elena answered honestly.

Doctor Elena went on to express how fortunate it was that the recent incident didn’t have any negative impact on the baby and that the baby was still safe. After that the doctor outlined the summary of future tests that she planned to run for Natalia’s check-up.

However, all that information was lost to Edward as his mind blocked out all the doctor’s words. His attention focused solely on one key piece of information: Natalia is pregnant.

...

I lay in bed as I watched the young nurse in her pure white uniform tinker around with the machine next to my bed. She tried to make small talk to which I responded with vague answers and a polite smile. To be honest, I appreciated her efforts, but my thoughts were elsewhere.

“How long was I out?” I asked the top question in my mind.

“You’ve been sleeping for around three days...but there’s nothing for you to worry about. You will be as good as new in no time,” the nurse replied with a gentle smile.

“I...see...” I said vaguely. I knew I was asleep for a long time, but three days was way over my own estimation.

I wonder...where Reiner is right now. Did he ever come back?

If I asked Edward, would he know? Would he tell me?

Chapter 214: Comforting Each Other

Deep down, I believed that I already knew the answer. Reiner was gone and he wasn’t coming back. It would be a miracle if I ever got to see him again.

“Umm...is my baby...safe?” I asked hesitantly. I wasn’t sure if they knew that I was pregnant.

“Yes, of course. Congratulations Miss!” the nurse replied cheerfully.

“...Thank you,” I said with relief.

Reiner was gone but our baby is still with me. I guess that was more than I could ever ask for.

“All done. I must leave now. Good luck, Miss!” the nurse said with a bright smile as she opened the door and walked out of the room.

At the same moment, Edward returned to the room. I wonder what the doctors told him about my condition. Hopefully they did not disclose to Edward that I was pregnant. It’s not that I didn’t want him to know but I wanted him to hear it first from me and not some random doctor.

“Oh...Edward, you’re back,’ I said as I smiled at him.

“How are you feeling?” Edward asked as he stood at the side of the bed.

Before I could reply he placed a bouquet of red roses into my arms and bent down to kiss me softly on my forehead.

“I feel ok...these roses just made me feel better too. Thank you,” I said as I looked back and forth between Edward’s tired yet still handsome face and the dark red roses.

“If they make you feel better then it was more than worth it. Should I place them in the vase over there?” Edward suggested as he gestured to the vase placed on the windowsill.

“Sure...how much longer do I need to stay in hospital?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

“The doctor says that you’re fine. You were just shocked and tired from accumulated overwork, so your body needed a couple of days to rest. They’ll do some final checkups and that’s it. You should be able to go home in two to three days,” Edward explained slowly.

Reaching out for my hand, he held my hand tenderly as he stroked my wrist softly and comfortingly. His touch was warm and caring. In that moment, I couldn’t imagine what I would do without his man. I bit my lower lip lightly to stop myself from crying.

“Lucien is worried sick by the way. I knew it would turn out like this, so I gave him a lighter version of your condition, but it didn’t work out. He’s still worried sick and making a super big deal out of this. We’re lucky he’s tied up in a business trip abroad otherwise he’ll be causing a scene here for sure,” Edward continued to explain the situation with a sigh.

“I don’t want it to impact my work...” I whispered softly. Above all else, I was scared that Lucien wouldn’t allow me to work anymore.

“I know. So, you should concentrate on your recovery instead of worrying about anything else. Let’s get you out of hospital before Lucien comes back. I also let Zak know. He’s also abroad at the moment but he should be calling you soon,” Edward said encouragingly, and I nodded in agreement.

Silence enveloped the room while I thought of how to approach the next topic. Edward sensing that I needed some time just sat next to the bed and played with a loose strand of my hair as he patiently waited.

“Edward...where is Reiner?” I asked hesitantly.

Edward suddenly looked ten times as tired as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. I could tell that whatever news he was about to disclose wasn’t good. Still, I wanted to know.

“I’m sorry, Natalia. Currently, we don’t know where he is. My team has not been able to locate him since that day,” Edward said apologetically.

“I see...” I managed to say in a whisper. This was what I had expected but it still came as a shock.

“I dispatched a team to search right after I made sure that you were in safe hands at the hospital but...” Edward said followed by a loud and disappointed sigh.

“You couldn’t find him...” I finished the sentence for him.

“It’s been more than twenty-four hours now so to be honest, the chances of finding him are very slim. It is highly likely that he has left the country...” Edward admitted honestly.

“I see. It’s ok. Don’t be too hard on yourself, ok?” I said as I gave his hand a squeeze.

“Natalia...” Edward whispered my name.

That was when I realized that I had started crying openly. Warm and wet tears streaking down my face. Reiner was gone and it made me feel so empty and lost inside. In the next instant, I felt warmth envelop my body and realized that Edward had pulled me into a loving hug. He stroked my back, patted my head, and then kissed my wet cheeks softly.

I knew he wanted to comfort me but for some reason I started crying harder than before. My tears flowed out like my eyes were an open dam and through it all, Edward was constantly by my side. His presence gave me more strength than I ever thought possible as he wordlessly comforted me in his embrace.

I didn’t understand it very well at the time but perhaps it was his ability to accept me for all that I am without passing judgement that made me so attracted to him. I cried so hard that I fell asleep in the middle of it all.

When I woke up, I could tell that morning had arrived. I can’t believe I fell asleep for that long. Is this the effect of the medicine they’ve been giving me?

As expected, Edward was by my side the moment I opened my eyes. I didn’t have to ask to know that he cleared his whole schedule to be by my side during my recovery. The laptop that lay on the sofa in the room was evident enough that he had handled his necessary work right here in this room.

“Edward...” I whispered his name, my voice sounding embarrassingly hoarse.

“Water? You sound like you need a drink,” Edward said as he got up to fetch me some water.

When he returned, he softly pressed the rim of the mug to my lips so that I could slowly sip the water. I was fit enough to drink water by myself but having him pamper me like this felt wonderful. More than anything, I knew that Edward needed this too. He needed to feel like he was useful and that he could make me feel better. Reiner’s disappearance also had an immense impact on Edward, although he was not willing to openly show it.

“Thank you...” I whispered after I had finished drinking.

Chapter 215: That Day

I watched Edward’s tired and sleep-deprived face a bit before speaking up.

“Reiner...he’s not ever coming back, right?” I asked, sounding braver than I felt inside.

“I don’t know...but he clearly doesn’t want to be found,” Edward replied solemnly.

“I see...” I replied, clearly saddened and disappointed.

“Natalia...I don’t want you to think too badly of Reiner. It’s true that he took your mother’s life, but he’s felt guilty about it all this time. He probably didn’t phrase it like this, but he did join the Rosenhall household to find you and to find a way to save you just as your mother asked,” Edward said seriously.

I didn’t believe that Reiner was the villain he made himself out to be. However, everyone agreed that Reiner did kill my mother, but the real question was...who ordered him to do it and why?

“No one actually knows much about Reiner. Even I don’t know the real him. As he’s told you, Reiner isn’t his real name. Other information provided were all fake as well. His name, nationality, birthdate, and everything else. You might think it’s selfish for him to disclose nothing to you but perhaps this is the best way for him to keep you safe,” Edward explained.

“You might not believe this but...I guessed as much...” I said trying to tease him. I appreciate Edward’s effort to defend Reiner, but I figured as much.

This was the real reason why he didn’t tell me anything about this private life and evaded all of my questions. He probably thought that it was better to not answer me at all instead of feeding me with loads of lies. I understood that he didn’t want to lie to me but in the end, I didn’t know anything about Reiner at all.

“You know what really happened that day, don’t you?” I asked Edward with pleading eyes. I really wanted him to tell me the truth.

“I do. However, I’m not the right person to tell you what happened,” Edward stated firmly.

“Then who should I ask? Who will tell me?” I asked in frustration.

“Relax. Don’t overexert yourself. I’ll take you home soon...and you can ask Lucien when you get home,” Edward replied with a tight smile.

“Lucien?” I said curiously. There are still things Lucien hasn’t told me even after all this time?

...

After the results of my check-ups returned, the doctor decided that I was healthy enough to return home. With Edward making a fuss out of everything, we rode home together in an ambulance. I felt so embarrassed to be lying down in an ambulance on the way home when I was perfectly fine. I sucked it up and didn’t complain just to please Edward. It was the least I could do considering the effort that he’d put in while taking care of me these past few days.

Later that day, Laura popped into my bedroom to announce that Lucien was home and that he would be visiting me soon.

“Thank you, Laura,” I said as I smiled sweetly at her.

“It’s late so Master Lucien has already eaten as well. Do let me know if you want some snacks later in the night,” Laura said before she disappeared through the door.

I waited patiently for Lucien to arrive. I pondered how I would start the conversation with him and what I wanted to ask him. The truth of the day my mother died that had stayed hidden for so long was about to be revealed.

“Natalia. Sorry, I’m late. How are you feeling?” Lucien said the moment he stepped into my room and headed for the bed.

“I’m ok. The doctor said I just needed to rest. That’s all. Nothing serious and now I’m as good as new,” I replied cheerfully.

“I see. I heard...about what was going on from Edward,” Lucien said as he sat down on the chair next to my bed.

“Reiner...he said that he killed my mother...” I said softly with my eyes casted downwards. I watched as my fingers played with each other awkwardly.

“He’s right. He killed your mother,” Lucien stated bluntly.

“Isn’t there something more to it?” I asked as I looked up at Lucien’s magnificent green eyes.

“So, Edward did say some stuff. I’ll tell you if you promise me one thing,” Lucien said as he looked down at me.

“What is it?” I asked a little suspiciously.

“Promise me that you will never go looking for Reiner. You won’t be able to find him and neither do I want you to. It’s ok if you can’t let anything or anyone go...but you need to let that man go,” Lucien stated his condition sternly. His warning was clear.

It might be hard for Lucien or Edward to believe but I had always intended to let Reiner go. Never once since he had left had I thought about following him. I merely wanted to know that he was safe and doing well. That was all I truly wanted.

“I promise,” I said with resolution.

“Deal, I’ll tell you...that day...” Lucien began telling me his version of the story that was more than ten years overdue.

...

“Are you coming over to see me later tonight?” Edward spoke through the phone.

“I will. I already told you. The documents are strictly confidential and important, so I’ll be handing them over to you myself,” Lucien answered his brother reassuringly.

Looking down at the files of paper in his hand, Lucien grimaced with pure disgust. He couldn’t believe that the long-lost files from David’s time performing illegal human trials were now in his hands. Lucien didn’t want to remember the extensive effort, time and money that went into retrieving these files after the death of his friend and mentor. Finally, he had it.

With Edward’s help, they would together uncover the ugly truth behind the Rosenhall’s company rise to fortune and destroy the company and this cursed family, hopefully, once and for all.

“I’ll see you later. I’m taking the files out of the country tonight for safe keeping. You better turn up on time,” Edward said sternly.

“It’s not a habit of mine to turn up late. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up,” Lucien said before hanging up.

Of all the places that Edward wanted him to deliver the files, he had chosen the old lab hidden on top of the hill where David used to perform those taboo trials. Lucien took out some medicine and gulped them down with water in hope that it would cure him of his fever. This was not the time to be sick.