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Chapter 36

"I'm here" she whispered, hugging him.

"Please don't ever leave me," he said shaky, trembling in fear. He grabbed her hand tightly, feeling himself back at hell hole.

His heart beating loudly while constricted in his ribcage, burying his head in between her neck and breathed her heavenly scent which was calming him down. He couldn't wait to get out of the ride, he was scared of it but decided to ride because of her. Because he didn't want to see the sadness in her grey orbs he found himself addicted looking at.

Like God heard his silent whimpers and distress m, the ride came to end and he abruptly stood up, running away from it.

Angelina was biting her lips furiously in guilt when he noticed the change in his beating when he rested his head on her shoulder and caressed his side soothingly. When the ride came to end, the sun was already pinkish-yellow - the sun was setting back to the horizon.

She yanked the seat belt away, quickly waving goodbye to Eric, and ran after Nathaniel. Angelina saw him crouched on the ground with his head in between his thighs as his body shook like he was rocking himself-searching for comfort.

The sun has disappeared from the sky and everything was dark except the twinkling stars and the light that was illuminating to them.

"Nathaniel" she called softly, walking towards him slowly not to startle him, it was like he was in another world of his, beside a big tree. She got closer to him and raised his head to see the rim of his eyes were bloodshot and his hair was disheveled and distress was written all over his face.

He was scared... No terrified.

Angelina's heart tugged worriedly and wrapped her arms around him to comfort him, humming the song her father always sang for her whenever she was done.

Nathaniel's mind was going in and out of memories and reality. Memories were hardest to forget and come when least expected. He least expected them to come rushing back now.

He remembered that unfortunate day which was engraved to his soul like a second body, he was a kid around ten years while Nicholas was twelve years old when he was kidnapped by Nicholas' family rival. All of them- he, Nick, Bella, and other kids were playing in this very playground while little Hayden was with his mother and jasmine at the other side of the park, buying candies for the children.

They were playing hide and seek when it was his turn, he went behind the very big tree, laughing happily as he could hear the kids' cheerful sound and Bell's giggle. He called out the number when the last number was at the top of his tongue, he was grabbed from behind, roughly. His eyes widened in fear, opened his mouth to shout for help when he was chloroformed.

Later, he woke up disoriented, he groaned painfully, his head pounding and throbbing, he tried to raise his hand to ease the pain when he saw he had been tied around a chair. His hands were bound to the seat.

He screamed at the top of his voice panickily, screaming for help, fighting against the restraint when the door was opened. He stopped and stared at three bigger men who entered with the mask on.

"Shut up kid, your voice is irritating me" a man growled, slapping him hard across his face as he tasted the metallic liquid on his lips. He has never been slap or beating before, he screamed again only to be given another slap. He muffled his tears, his body shaking from the pain. Heart beating frantically in fear.

Everything got silent in a minute when his cries turned to a whimper as a man with the air of authority came in. A nasty scar ran through the man's face that gave him an intimidating look.

The man stared at him, analyzing him before shouting orders at his men, "Вы мне другой мальчик!" the man's voice boomed out the empty room which made Nathaniel's flinch from the loud voice. (you got me a different boy!).

"Босс, это мальчик, который был в парке, ни один ребенок не был с ним" a shaky voice response only to have the leader hard gaze on him. The man pulled out his gun and shot him in the head. That was the first time Nathaniel witnessed death, his stomach rumbled and he felt nausea and puke all the content in his stomach on his body m. One minute the man was talking the next he was lying dead in the pool of his blood. (Boss, this is the boy that was at the park, no kid was with him).

"Я дал вам, ребята, только одну чертову работу" he yelled angrily, racking his hand through his long hair, "Ты, блядь, провалил его" he growled, "Просто похитить мальчика ... чертовски мальчик" he smashed his fist on the nearest wall. ("I gave you guys, just one fucking job", "You fucking fail it", "Just to kidnap a boy… a fucking boy").

"Очистите это" the man ordered, looking at the body on the floor. (Clean this up).

"Да босс" they called, "Что нам делать с мальчиком?".( "Yes boss"."What should we do with the boy?).

The man turned his gaze to white sickening Nathaniel who stares was at the dead man, "Просто бросьте его в одну из клеток, пока он не умрет, потому что ребенок чертовски бесполезно" he muttered and left, throwing another glance at the boy (Just throw him in one of the cages till he dies because the kid is fucking useless).

Days turned to weeks before he was saved after months of torture, gores. He was rescued by some children who were playing beside the warehouse he was caged in. The kids were there who called the adults for help. He couldn't even remember their faces but he owned them his life. He was skinny and sick during that time and had several panic attacks. He was introduced to the therapist but no one could erase what he witnessed. But.. Clara was with him, putting him to sleep whenever he woke up from a nightmare. He learned how to fight by himself to defend himself and vowed to have his revenge. And he had grown to have fear of darkness, not spacious environment because it brought him back to the cage.

He felt a drop of water on his shoulder and raised his head to find Angelina crying, he did not even know he said all out. He never told anyone what happened during those times, he was afraid of the look and pity. His parents got him the best therapist in the state but didn't get him to talk but just a hug from her, he told her everything and felt his heart at ease for the first time.

He raised his palm and wiped the tears from her face, "don't cry" he whispered, "It's been long" He tried to soothe her only to find her crying more.

"I'm sorry" she blurted out her chest heave with tears.

"Why are you sorry?" he smiled softly.

"I wasn't there, no child supp…." she was cut off by Nathaniel who kissed away the tears that were escaping her eyes ducts till it stopped beside her trembling lips.

"What matters now is you, being with me and never leaving me," he said and descended his lips on her, kissing all the pain, anguish, weakness away and Angelina responded with the same fervor.

And fireworks exploded.

___***___

After watching the fireworks together, Nathaniel rested his back at the tree while Angelina sat at his front with her back resting on his chest and his arms around her. Watching the fireworks and relishing each other's warmth.

Their comfortable silence was interrupted with a call from Nathaniel's phone, he placed it in his ear to hear his friends when he was coming. And he responded they are coming soon.

"There's no need to go there again," Angelina said, constantly staring at Nathaniel who was driving and was in a perfect mood after the fireworks.

"It's okay, I'm alright now" he responded, tapping the steering as he smiled at Angelina.

He felt light and was happy after saying everything out, he has been avoiding them and he thought this was the time to face his past. Well… he was already facing it since the moment he stepped his foot on the island.

"Okay," Angelina beamed at him and peck his cheek.

They got home, showered, and changed their attire. Angelina wore an eight-piece Ankara gown that stopped at her knees, the bodice was tight, showing off her bosoms and heels.

They got to the restaurant a minute past nine. The restaurant was big and fancy and Angelina checked her dress if she was alright with her dress.

If I'd known, I would have put on an English dress, she lamented looking at the people in the restaurant.

Nathaniel noticed her sullen face and pecked her, "You look beautiful whatever you put on" he grinned, kissing the side of her doughnut hair, inhaling the strawberry shampoo she used.

"Thank you" she spoke shyly, batting her eyelashes adorably.

Everything about her was tantalizing.

"No need to thank me, love," he whispered in her eyes, making her shivered as he pulled her closer, making their chest touch each other as their breathing rhythmically, "It's my job to compliment my beautiful wife," he said in a husky voice, staring at her lips. He bent his head to give her a breathless kiss when a man circled his arm around Nathaniel's neck.

"Yo bro" the man grinned while Nathaniel grunted, hating how he was interrupted. "We've been waiting for you" The man wore a grey tank top with baggy trousers, the man said, blatantly ignored Angelina who stood a foot behind Nathaniel. The man held his hand to pull but he didn't budge and turned to his Angel, touching her forehead with his before holding her and told the man to direct them.

Others were already sitting on the booths but when they saw Nathaniel, they stood up and shook his hand, greeting him.

Nathaniel winced, remembering the last time he saw these people but was retrieved back by Angelina who put a discreet touch on his back for support.

"Yeah, it's been long" Nathaniel muttered while snaking his arm around her waist bringing her to the spotlight.

"This is my wife - Angelina" he introduced her to his friends who were already checking her out, staring at her with judgemental eyes, she could see the dislike in their eyes but quickly changed to pretend.

She fiddled with her fingers anxiously, biting her lips furiously as Nathaniel took her hands, kissing them then, pulling out a seat before sitting down beside her.

The waiter came to serve them what they ordered and they dug in, without much talk while Angelina ate uncomfortably under their eyes. The waiter came to serve them the dessert when Nathaniel stood up to pick up his call.

"A minute," he said, standing up, turning to Angelina, smiling reassuringly at her before going out to pick the call.

"Sir, Mr. Emanuel rescheduled the meeting to next week" he heard his PA voice at the other side.

He massaged his temple, he came here to relax but now, his job was catching up to him, "Okay," he responded.

"Fix the meeting to be around 5:00 pm by Tuesday," he ordered, "and bring with you all the important documents so that I can review them," he said, hanging up without waiting for his PA response.

He went inside quickly, couldn't wait to see his Angel only to find her, standing up and, giving his shocked friends courtesy in a shaky voice as she turned around his eyes met hers and saw them glassy with unshed tears.

What the fuck happened?!.

~**~

Hello Royhans 💕

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No song lyrics but I recommend "Lonely" by Justin Bieber ft benny because I listened to it through writing this chapter. I love it 😍.

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And this is what I pictured our Angelina... I've not see Nathaniel, still searching for him 😁.

Brown skin lady ✔️

Grey eyes ✔️

Brown hair ✔️

Blush ✔️

Nosering ✔️

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