Chapter 2237
Nathaniel watched her, hesitation flickering across his face before he finally relented. “All right. I’ll look for him. You should head home for now.”
“Okay… okay.” Elena loosened her grip and walked back to the car that had brought her, one step at a time.
The vehicle pulled away, its taillights fading into the dark.
Nathaniel remained where he was, unmoving.
Cecilia stepped up beside him. “Let Nicholas go.”
She believed the past few days had been punishment enough. Surely he wouldn’t dare lay a hand on her again.
She expected Nathaniel to agree—but he turned sharply. “Let him go just like that? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Nicholas acted worse than an animal. The fact that I haven’t killed him already is mercy.”
Cecilia hesitated. “But… your mother…?”
“I’ll deal with Mom.” His voice hardened. “All you need to remember is this—no matter who hurts you, I’m always on your side.”
He paused, then added, quieter but firm, “Everything I told Jon and Elliot earlier was the truth. You’re the most important person in my life—the one I’ll walk with until the end.”
Cecilia’s chest tightened.
“Thank you… for valuing me that much. You’re my forever too.” She took a steady breath. “But please… let Nicholas go.”
She didn’t want others thinking Nathaniel would cripple his own brother just to satisfy her.
“Absolutely not.” Nathaniel’s refusal was immediate, unwavering.
Cecilia couldn’t understand it.
Why was he still so set on this… even after she’d agreed to let it go?
“Nathaniel…”
He gave her a faint smile. “Enough about him. Let’s keep walking.”
Cecilia studied his face. Something felt off—but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
She walked beside him, unaware of the storm raging inside him.
Later that night, after Cecilia fell asleep, Nathaniel slipped out again and headed straight for Nicholas’s makeshift prison.
Nicholas lay sprawled on the ground, battered from head to toe—barely conscious, barely recognizable as the refined man he once was.
Nathaniel stepped inside and, without a word, drove a kick into him.
Nicholas groaned, forcing his head up to glare at him.
“Well, look at you—coming by again.” His voice was hoarse. “So… is tonight the night you finally let me go?”
He let out a ragged laugh. “I’ve been gone this long. I bet Mom and Dad are losing their minds by now.”
In that moment, Nathaniel understood.
That calm—Nicholas was counting on their parents to come and save him.
Nathaniel lowered his gaze and slammed his fist into Nicholas’s face.
Nicholas winced, his head snapping to the side as blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
“Nicholas… you’re not worthy of being my brother!” Nathaniel growled through clenched teeth.
Nicholas swallowed, wiping the blood from his lips.
“If I had a choice… I’d never be your brother.” His voice trembled with bitterness. “Always second in everything… even the woman I loved ended up with you.”
His glare burned into Nathaniel.
Nathaniel grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up. “All you ever do is blame everyone else. What kind of man does that make you?”
With that, he shoved Nicholas away like something repulsive.
Nicholas hit the ground hard, curling in on himself from the pain. He didn’t make a sound.
Nathaniel stared down at him, anger and disgust twisting together.
“Don’t even think about walking out of here,” he said coldly. “Even if our parents find out… I still won’t let you off.”
With that, he turned and walked out.
Outside, the night wrapped around him—cold, heavy, and silent.
Nathaniel stood under the dark sky, exhaustion weighing on him.
No amount of violence had cooled the fire burning inside his chest.
His thoughts drifted back to Cecilia.
He didn’t know how to erase the shadow that still lingered over her.
She never complained—but on nights when he came home late, he sometimes heard her whimpering in her sleep, her words slurred and broken by nightmares.