Chapter 7
Was i
The next morning, Nathan
awake by Emelia’s delighted squeal. He grabbed a silk throw, draped it over his shoulders, and followed the sound out of the bedroom.
Katie’s door stood wide open. Emelia, her back to him, was practically. glowing with excitement as she gazed at the wall lined with handbags. and jewelry.
Nathan recognized every single piece. In fact, he knew them intimately.
Back in his teens, he’d noticed how the girls at school loved to talk about. these things. After asking around, he learned that every girl dreamed of owning them. Naturally, his thoughts had gone straight to Katie–his one and only, sweet little sister.
Katie had only been ten at the time, but Nathan had already started studying every designer brand and style for her sake. From then on, he’d made it his mission to supply her with every luxury item she could ever
want.
Just one glance brought back memories of how he’d painstakingly
researched each item, imagining her reaction when she opened each new gift.
He was surprised to realize those memories were still so vivid.
“Do you like them?” Nathan asked in a low, even voice.
Emelia nodded enthusiastically. Any one of these bags was a priceless, limited–edition piece.
She couldn’t help but admire Katie’s taste, but at the same time, she was
17
burning with jealousy. Why did Katic get to have such a charmed life, always protected and adored?
“If you like them, take them all,” Nathan said, his voice flat and emotionless.
Emelia was overjoyed, but she pretended to hesitate. “Really? But these are Katie’s things. Shouldn’t we at least ask her first?”
Nathan frowned, about to respond, when a clear, calm voice cut him off. “I’ve already cleared out my room. Take whatever you like.”
Katie stepped in, meeting Nathan’s cold gaze. “Nathan said those were gifts for his sister, not for me. I have no right to interfere.
“Isn’t that right, Nathan?”
She smiled–a sweet, lovely smile that never quite reached her eyes.
For a moment, Nathan realized that the woman in front of him truly wasn’t his little sister anymore.
His sister used to pout, complain, her eyes always sparkling with life. But now, Katie’s eyes were like a still, lifeless pond.
Only then did Nathan notice that, aside from the gifts he’d given her, everything else in the room was gone.
The housekeeper, Macy, stepped out of the walk–in closet, looking apologetic. “Mr. Morley, I’m so sorry. Ms. Morley asked me to pack her things overnight. I’m afraid I wasn’t fast enough to finish before now.”
“Overnight?” He thought.
Nathan glanced at Katie, suspicion flickering in his eyes. Katie’s lips curved in the faintest of smiles, her voice steady. “You two are so in love. It really isn’t appropriate for me to stay next door.”
Chapter 7
Her words were subtle, but anyone with experience could read between
the lines.
Emelia’s cheeks flushed pink. She gave Nathan’s shoulder a playful punch. “We’ll have to be more careful next time. I can’t believé Katie. overheard us.”
She turned to Katie with a shy smile. “You have no idea–Nathan is just. insatiable.”
Katie’s stomach twisted. The images from the night before flashed through her mind. “Insatiable” didn’t even begin to cover it–he was relentless.
Nathan’s face went cold as ice. Without another word, he turned and left.
“Nathan.”
The word stopped Nathan in his tracks. He paused, almost unconsciously, waiting to hear what Katie would say next.
Katie slipped the shawl from her shoulders and draped it over Emelia’s. “This one matches Nathan’s. He’s always liked it. Now that he’s getting married, it’s not really appropriate for me to wear it anymore.”
. With that, she turned and walked
Only then did Nathan remember–the silk shawl was the very first birthday gift Katie had ever given him. She’d said so much that day, but now, all he could recall was the way she’d called him, softening his heart every time.
He found himself echoing her final words, almost mechanically. “Okay, for a lifetime.”
But watching her so easily give it away, Nathan couldn’t help but sneer.
“So much for a lifetime. For her, it had only lasted a few short years.”
