Chapter 167 Face to Face

Chapter 167 Face to Face
Mia：POV

Sunday morning light filtered through the curtains as I carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Nathan. He was sleeping peacefully, his breathing deep and steady.

I couldn't help but watch his face for a moment—the strong jawline, the slight stubble, those ridiculously long eyelashes. My chest ached with a mix of love and fury as I thought about the angry welts crisscrossing his back beneath the sheets.

I brushed my fingertips across his cheek and kissed his forehead softly. "I love you," I whispered.

Moving as quietly as possible, I scribbled a quick note: [Gone to take care of something at school. Love you.] I couldn't tell him where I was really going—he'd drag me back to bed kicking and screaming if he knew.

I called a car and felt my pulse racing as we drove through the wealthy neighborhoods toward the Sinclair estate. Each mile made my stomach clench tighter, but I kept reminding myself why I was doing this. Nathan had taken a beating for us. The least I could do was face his parents myself.

The Sinclair mansion appeared ahead, all imposing stone and old money intimidation. I took several shaky breaths before walking up to the massive front door. My finger actually trembled as I pressed the doorbell.

A butler in formal attire opened the door, his expression shifting from polite professionalism to obvious surprise.

"Miss Lawrence?" His eyebrows shot up.

"Yes. I need to see Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, please." My voice sounded steadier than I felt.

He hesitated, clearly caught off guard by my unannounced visit. "I'm not certain if they're available for visitors this morning..."

"It's about Nathan," I said firmly. "It's important."

That got his attention. He led me into an intimidating waiting room filled with antique furniture and stern-faced portraits. While I waited, I paced nervously, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans.

When Cassius and Anastasia Sinclair walked in together, I felt my newfound courage wobble. Nathan's father was tall and commanding, with the same strong features as his son but harder, more weathered. His mother was elegant and poised, her expression unreadable.

Cassius cut straight to the point. "Mia, I assume you've seen my son's back."

His bluntness caught me off guard. My throat went dry, but I managed to nod. "That's exactly why I'm here."

I forced myself to look directly into Cassius's eyes, drawing on every bit of courage I had. "There's something you need to know. I was the one who confessed to Nathan first."

The surprise on his face was unmistakable.

"From the beginning, I was the one chasing him," I continued, my voice getting stronger. "Nathan kept trying to maintain boundaries. He was the responsible one. I was the one who wouldn't give up."

"Mia—" Cassius started, but I couldn't stop now.

"I know how this looks. I know the age gap seems huge. But what I feel for Nathan..." My voice cracked. "I've never felt anything like this before."

Anastasia moved to a nearby sofa and gestured for me to sit. I perched on the edge, still tense.

"You're very young," Cassius said, remaining standing. "You have your entire future ahead of you."

"And I want Nathan to be part of that future," I shot back.

"You could be with someone your own age. Nathan has lived through things you haven't experienced yet."

Frustration flared in my chest. "Age doesn't matter when two people truly understand each other."

"What about public opinion? The media? Society's judgment?" Cassius pressed.

"We'll handle whatever comes," I said stubbornly. "Together."

Anastasia finally spoke, her voice gentler but somehow more penetrating. "Dear," she said, touching Cassius's hand lightly, "maybe we should respect what these two have decided."

She turned to me with a small smile. "Love belongs to the people involved. Everyone else is just watching from the sidelines."

Cassius didn't look completely convinced, but his expression softened a bit.

"Mia," Anastasia said, standing up, "would you walk through the garden with me? The roses are gorgeous right now."

I glanced at Cassius, who gave a slight nod before turning away. Taking that as permission, I followed Anastasia through French doors into a breathtaking garden.

"Nathan was always so serious," she said as we walked. "Even as a little boy. Always taking responsibility for everything."

I hung on every word, hungry for these glimpses into Nathan's past.

"He's dated before, you know," she continued, pausing to examine a particularly beautiful bloom. "I never even met most of them. He never seemed truly invested."

We turned down a path lined with white roses. "Eventually, Cassius decided it was time Nathan settled down, so he arranged the introduction to Celeste. Nathan went along with it, but I could tell his heart wasn't in it."

She looked directly at me then. "Until you came along, I'd never seen him willing to fight like this. To take punishment and refuse to back down."

Tears stung my eyes as I pictured Nathan standing there, taking those lashes without complaint.

Anastasia led me to a greenhouse bursting with flowers. "I heard you have a good eye for design. Want to help me arrange some flowers?"

I nodded, grateful for the distraction. She showed me to a work station with various flowers, vases, and tools. I chose some unusual combinations—deep purple anemones with bright yellow ranunculus and eucalyptus sprigs. Working with my hands helped calm my nerves.

"You have a natural touch," she observed, watching me wrestle with a stubborn stem. "Nathan mentioned you were talented."

I felt my cheeks warm at the thought of Nathan bragging about me to his mother.

"Mia," she said quietly, setting down her clippers, "I've known you since you were little. You've always been a good kid with a kind heart."

She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "What my son feels for you is real. He's willing to endure a lot to be with you."

"I feel the same way," I whispered, fighting back tears.

"I can see that," she smiled. "I hope you two will be happy together."

As we finished our arrangements, Anastasia slipped a silver bracelet off her wrist. It was beautiful, with intricate Celtic knots and tiny sapphires.

"This has been in the Sinclair family for generations," she said, holding it up to catch the light. "When I saw my son willing to take a beating for you, I knew he'd made his choice." She held it out to me. "I'd like you to have this."

I stepped back, stunned. "I can't—it's too valuable—"

"If you don't take it," she said with a teasing smile, "I'll assume you're not serious about Nathan after all."

After hesitating for a second, I stuck out my wrist. She clipped the bracelet on, and I watched the silver gleam in the greenhouse light. It felt like being accepted, like I actually belonged here—stuff I never thought I'd get from Nathan's family.

When we returned to the house, Cassius was waiting by the door. His expression had softened considerably.

"Since you're both determined," he said with a resigned sigh, "I won't fight you. Just... take care of each other."

In the car back to Nathan's apartment, I kept touching the silver bracelet, barely believing what had just happened. I'd expected a fight, maybe outright rejection. Instead, I'd found understanding and real acceptance from Anastasia.

I couldn't wait to tell Nathan. I imagined his surprise, his relief, the look on his face when he realized he didn't have to choose between me and his family.

For the first time, I felt like I wasn't just the one being protected—I was a true partner, standing beside him, facing the world together.