Chapter 149 An Unexpected Visitor

Chapter 149 An Unexpected Visitor
Nathan: POV

I was completely lost in the moment, in her. Mia's lips were soft and warm against mine, exactly how I'd imagined them countless times. My hand instinctively moved to cup her cheek, feeling the heat rising beneath her skin. Time seemed to slow down, every sensation amplified.

I'd spent months denying this, fighting it, telling myself it was wrong. But now, with Mia in my arms, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. We might as well have been the only two people on the planet.

The shrill ring of the doorbell cut through our private bubble like a knife. I reluctantly broke the kiss, my forehead still pressed against Mia's.

"Let me see who that is," I whispered, my voice hoarse.

Peering through the peephole, I felt my stomach drop. Celeste stood in the hallway, her posture rigid, her expression determined. Shit. This was the absolute worst possible timing.

My mind raced back to our breakup. Her final words echoed in my head: "If I find out you have feelings for that so-called 'niece' of yours, I'll make sure neither of you comes out unscathed."

At the time, I'd dismissed it as angry parting words. Now, with Mia just feet away, still flushed from our kiss, those words felt like a genuine threat.

My protective instincts kicked into overdrive. Mia was already dealing with her mother's cancer diagnosis—the last thing she needed was to face Celeste's wrath. If I didn't answer, Celeste might make a scene in the hallway. If I let her in with Mia present, things could get ugly fast.

I glanced back at Mia, her eyes still dreamy from our kiss, a small smile playing on her lips. My chest tightened. I couldn't let Celeste hurt her.

The doorbell rang again, more insistent.

I hurried back to Mia. "Hey, there's someone at the door I need to deal with. Would you mind going upstairs for a bit?"

Confusion clouded her face. "Who is it?"

"It's just... it's not important. I'll handle it quickly." I hated lying to her, but telling her Celeste was here would only complicate things.

Mia frowned. "Why do I need to go upstairs? Is something wrong?"

"Trust me, okay? It's just not a good time right now," I said, gently guiding her toward the stairs. "I'll explain everything afterward."

I could see the hurt beginning to register in her eyes, and it killed me. But I genuinely believed I was protecting her from something worse.

"Nathan, what's going on? Why are you suddenly acting like this?" Her voice had an edge now, the warmth from our kiss rapidly dissipating.

A third ring, longer and more aggressive. Celeste wasn't going away.

"Please, Mia. Just for a few minutes." I was practically begging now.

After what felt like an eternity, Mia reluctantly headed upstairs, Nash following at her heels. The look she gave me before disappearing was a mix of confusion and hurt that made my stomach knot.

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

Celeste didn't wait for an invitation. She practically launched herself at me, attempting to embrace me. I instinctively stepped back.

"Nathan, I've missed you so much," she said, her voice dripping with calculated vulnerability. Her eyes, though, remained sharp and assessing. "I know we broke up, but I just can't stop thinking about you."

I maintained my distance. "Celeste, what are you doing here?"

She moved further into my apartment, her gaze sweeping the space for any signs of another presence. I silently thanked whatever gods were listening that Mia had taken her coffee mug upstairs.

"Can't I visit an old friend?" Celeste asked with practiced innocence. "I've been doing a lot of thinking about us. I think we could try again, start fresh."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "We've been through this. It's over, Celeste. I think you should go."

She stepped closer, her expensive perfume filling the space between us. "Do you have someone new already? Is that it?"

I hesitated a fraction too long. "No, that's not it. We're just not right for each other."

Celeste's eyes narrowed at my hesitation. "Then why not give us another chance?" She reached out, trailing her fingers down my arm. "We were good together, Nathan."

I moved away from her touch. "Look, this isn't a good time. There's someone going through a really difficult situation right now, and they need my support."

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I'd made a tactical error. Celeste's expression sharpened.

"What person? Who needs your support?" she demanded, her façade dropping.

Before I could answer, Nash came bounding down the stairs, straight toward Celeste. The cat arched his back, fur standing on end, and let out a menacing hiss. He positioned himself between me and Celeste, as if protecting me.

Celeste jumped back, startled. "What the hell? Since when do you have a cat?"

Nash continued to stare at her, making low growling sounds I'd never heard from him before.

"The cat doesn't like you. Maybe you should take the hint," I said.

Celeste wasn't amused. She raised her foot slightly, as if considering kicking Nash aside. I quickly moved to block her, shielding the cat.

"Don't," I warned, my voice dropping dangerously.

Mistaking my movement for an invitation, Celeste pressed herself against my side. "Are you defending a cat over me now, Nathan?"

I stepped away again. "We're done, Celeste. Completely done. Please respect that and leave."

Celeste's expression hardened. "It's that girl, isn't it? The one you call your 'niece'?" Her voice dripped with disdain.

I kept my face expressionless, though my heart rate spiked. "This has nothing to do with anyone else."

"You've always been a terrible liar, Nathan," she scoffed. "I can see it in your eyes. You're different." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "When I find out what you're hiding, you'll regret treating me this way."

I opened the door wide. "Goodbye, Celeste."

After a tense staredown, she finally walked out. I locked the door behind her, exhaling heavily.

Nash meowed up at me, as if offering approval. I bent down to scratch his head. "Thanks for the backup, buddy."

Then Nash's ears perked up, and he turned toward the stairs. I followed his gaze and felt my heart sink.

Mia stood on the staircase, her expression a complex mix of hurt and anger. How long had she been there? How much had she heard?

"So you two really broke up, huh?" Mia's voice trembled slightly. "Am I such an embarrassment that you had to hide me away like some dirty secret?"

"Mia, it's not like that—"

"My mother might only have months to live," she continued, her eyes filling with tears, "and you made me hide upstairs like I'm something shameful."

Nash padded over to the stairs, moving between us as if trying to mediate.

I reached out toward her, but she took a step back. "I was trying to protect you," I said weakly.

"From what? The truth?" Mia shook her head, a tear escaping down her cheek. "I trusted you, Nathan. I thought... I thought I meant something to you."

The distance between us felt insurmountable. Nash continued to move anxiously between us, sensing the tension.