Chapter 141 BOOK 2: CHAPTER 31

Chapter 141 BOOK 2: CHAPTER 31
—Amira—
Tears streamed down my face.
The more I tried to stop them— the more they came spilling as my heart wrenched.
Nathaniel pulled back and cupped my face, his gaze tender, brows creasing as they searched my gaze.
“Is everything okay, baby?”
I sniffled. “I missed you so much.”
He kissed my forehead. “I missed you more, my love.”
“Eloise left,” I murmured. ”She said she has an appointment in an hour.”
“That's typical of her. Very business-minded,” he said.
A smile passed between us.
“Come.” He took my hand. “Dinner is ready.”
He led us into the penthouse to find a three-course meal laid out on the dining table, its aroma filling the room.
There was a bottle of champagne too.
Nathaniel pulled out a chair. “Please, sit.”
Lowering my bag on the table, I sat down, then watched him round the table and settle in his chair.
Nathaniel signaled the housekeepers, and they stepped forward—serving us our food. To my surprise, I managed to eat more than three spoons of my food.
A popping sound echoed as a housekeeper opened the champagne.
“No, thank you,” I said as she was about to pour into my glass.
Nathaniel blinked. “Is everything okay?”
“I don't feel like drinking tonight,” I replied with a smile.
It wasn't just about tonight. Having known about the little miracle growing in my womb, I couldn't continue to consume alcohol.
Nate chuckled. “I see what you're doing there,” he drawled, pointing at me with his fork as the housekeeper filled his glass. “You want me to make a smoothie for you.”
A faint smile curved my lips. He had no clue, did he?
“Of course,” I mumbled.
Nate was already on his feet.
One minute he was gone and the next... he was walking in with a glass of coconut-banana smoothie.
He handed it to me and waited. I gulped to my satisfaction and set the glass on the table.
“It's delicious.”
He smiled. Then scooped me into his arms.
My laughter rang across the house.
“Nat! What are you doing?”
“Oh, you'll see.”
A beat passed as we stared into each other's eyes.
Then he headed to our room, kicked the door shut and set me down in the bathroom. I didn't realize until then that he had hidden speakers in the place.
“Lynx,” Nate called. “Play something soft.”
“Playing soft music,” Lynx replied, as gentle jazz filled the space.
Nathaniel lingered behind me. He peeled my T-shirt, my canvas and jeans. Then he stepped out of his clothes and carried me to the bathtub.
Our laughter echoed.
He offered to scrub me. When he finished, I returned the favor.
Then he pulled me closer until I was straddling him. Our lips met in a passionate kiss. I didn't know what that was—but something deep inside me ached for him.
“You're in charge,” he husked.
I sat on him, inch after inch, until he was fully buried inside me.
“Nathaniel,” I gasped.
“Will you marry me?” he asked.
I paused, my brows creasing with disbelief.
“What?”
“I said, will you give me the honor of being your husband? To spend the rest of my life cherishing and loving you.”
My vision blurred.
Was he pulling a trick on me or something? Just a few hours ago, his sister talked about him playing his role in the family. How could he be asking for my hand in marriage?
“You're kidding, right?”
He took my hand and placed it on his chest so I could feel his heartbeat.
“Feel that?” he murmured. “That’s my heart beating for you. It's not a game.”
He was saying that because he didn’t know about the baby growing in my womb.
Would he still look at me the same way if the child wasn’t his?
“E–mm... can you give me three days to think about it?” I asked. Hopefully, the DNA results will be out by then.
Nathaniel smiled and cupped my face. “Take your time, baby.”
I swallowed hard as he kissed me, my body yielding to the heat of his embrace and the unhurried rhythm he set.
We matched each other—pace for pace, rhythm for rhythm.
When we came together, it felt like the collision of two worlds. I collapsed onto his shoulder and panted...
Back in the bedroom, we stepped into our pajamas and slid under the covers.
He wrapped his arms around me, stroking my hair while I rested my head on his chest.
“How was the outing with Eloise?” he asked.
My breath hitched. “It w-was fine.”
“Where did you go? Mind sharing?”
“We stopped by a five-star restaurant. The view was amazing.”
He chuckled. “Eloise is trying to steal you from me. Guess what? I won't let her win.”
“What if she has won already?” I teased.
He gasped dramatically. “Traitor. I leave you alone with my sister for five minutes, and she turns you against me?”
I burst into laughter.
He kissed my cheeks, my temple, and gathered me closer in his arms.
“I got an email from the FBI,” he said.
A chilling silence followed. I adjusted so I could meet his gaze.
“About what?”
“About your ex. They believe he may have left the States—possibly days before we even knew we were closing in.”
I sat on the bed. “H–how's that possible?”
“He might've noticed unfamiliar cars, questions from the bank... experienced criminals often assume the clock is ticking.”
“So where's he now?”
“And that's exactly why they reached out. They think he's headed to Nigeria, so they want us to be cautious and prepared.”
My head spun.
I slipped out of bed and grabbed my phone.
“What are you doing?”
“I need to speak with my grandma. I need to make sure they're okay.”
Nate jumped out of bed too, his eyes worried. “Alright. But be calm lest her blood pressure shoots up.”
I dialed her number. It rang twice, but she wouldn't pick up.
Nate called with his number. Yet no response.
“Why is she not answering?” I cried.
“Calm down, babe,” Nate soothed. He dialed her again, still nothing.
Then he dialed the hospital and, luckily for us, they picked up at the speed of lightning.
“Mr. Rivera?” Dr. Hassan's voice echoed, filled with awe from the other end.
“Hello, Dr. Hassan. I would like to speak with Mrs. Nwosu. Can you put her through?”
“Mrs. Nwosu has been discharged, sir. She's no longer with us.”
“When was she discharged?” Nate asked.
“Today. I personally walked her to the cab.”
I staggered, but Nathaniel was faster. He caught me before I could reach the floor.
“Please, take me home,” I whispered. “I need to see my family.”
Nathaniel turned to his phone, and within an hour we were changed into our clothes and headed to the airport.
The flight back to Nigeria was the longest I’d ever taken. I was shaking, and Nathaniel held me through it.
He laced his fingers through mine and gave me a reassuring smile.
The moment we landed in Nigeria, we literally raced to the convoy and steered for the first place I could ever think of.
Home.