hapter 15
The window pane suddenly shattered under the force of the storm, letting in a blast of cold wind and soaking the floor with rainwater
Martin hurried to block the rain with the curtain, but his efforts were futile. The other rooms in the homestay were damaged as the storm carried
Huddling together in a corner of the bed, Martin and Natalie piled on blankets, barely keeping warm.
In the darkness, Natalie leaned into Martin’s shoulder, eyelids growing heavy, just as she dozed off, she heard him sofily ask, “You’re falling asleep?”
“Almost. You!” she murmured.
Martin’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably. “Getting there,” he said.
Thinking he might be getting sick from the cold, Natalie lifted the blankets over him.
“Don’t, I’m feeling a bit hot,” Martin said, a hint of tension in his hoarse voice,
Confused, she thought. The cold wind’s blowing through the room. Why is he feeling hot?
Natalie reached to feel his forehead for fever, but he grabbed her hand quickly, tucking it back under the covers. “Don’t move around, you’ll catch a
cold, he said.
Natalie sensed Martin was acting strangely, but exhaustion drowned out her cunosity.
Soon, she fell asleep to the sound of his breathing. Beside her, Martin faced a difficult test of his self–control that night.
In the end, he stayed awake, relying on his mental discipline to ward off distracting thoughts. Only in the early morning did he finally fall asleep.
Early in the morning, Natalie woke up to find Martin still asleep.
The storm from the night before had finally passed. The morning sunlight poured in, and its delicate rays cast on Martin’s face, lending a softness to his typically rugged features.
Feeling her gaze. Martin’s eyes slowly blinked open, finding her face mere inches away from his own.
“Oh, you’re awake?” Natalie exclaimed, her reaction like a startled deer as she pulled herself away from his arms, feeling flustered
She hadn’t noticed how close they were in the night. A blush rose to her cheeks.
Martin:
riin also shifted awkwardly to the edge of the bed, clearly unaware they had ended up so close. As he moved, he nearly slipped off the mattress.
Natalie Instinctively grabbed for him, but they both tumbled off together instead, Martin breaking her fall as she collapsed on top of him. They lay in a heap on the floor, eyes locking again. Tune seemed to stand still as Natalie became hyper aware of Martin’s body beneath her, their erratic breathing the only sound echoing in the room.
Her mind went blank, her startled eyes staring at the face j
just inches from le
her. An intimate atmosphere filled the air around them.
The morning breeze drifted in through the shattered window, gently stirring Natalie’s hair and brushing against the slight stubble on Martin’s chin.
Natalie’s heart pounded wildly like a drum against her ribs. She licked her lips nervously, and they glistened, suddenly moist and inviting. like dewdrop–kissed petals tempting one to look closer. Martin’s breathing grew quick
Natalie tried to get up, but the blanket held them together, making her unable to move.
Suddenly, Martin turned over and pressed Natalie down beneath him. His tall frame eclipsed the sunlight above, casting her in shadow.
Wide–eyed, Natalie watched as his face loomed nearer,
those h
handsome features of his beginning to blur.
Her heart thrummed faster, threatening to burst forth with each frantic beat, only to be thrust back inside.
The very air thinned around them as Natalie’s body tensed, pulled out like an archer’s bowstring drawn to its limit.
Suddenly, a knocking on the door interrupted them. “How is the cake, Ms. Lewis? Is it good?”
Natalie quickly pushed Martin away, and he stumbled back, the spell broken. Shame washed over him as he pondered, What had come over me? Did 1 just lose all my self–control overnight? Martin hurriedly straightened his clothes, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Just then, the owner’s daughter peered through the broken window and realized she had intruded on an intimate moment. She scurried away, flustered,
Without exchanging a single word, they packed their things. After packing up, Martin opened the door, and they left the homestay.
Chapter 15
The homestay was situated not far from the pier, and Martin had parked in the nearby parking lot.
As the two walked toward the car, a stylishly dressed woman emerged down the path, her hands lugged with shopping bags.
“Mr. Scott! What a surprise to see you here,” she greeted Martin with enthusiasm. –
Martin tensed. That old saying was proven true. The more one dreaded something might happen, the more likely it would come to pass.
He recognized the woman. It was his classmate from elementary school, Annie Zimmerman. Reluctantly, he greeted her, “Small world indeed. Just visiting?”
“Oh, don’t even get me started. I started seeing this guy who I thought was some rich heir, but turns out he’s just a big phony, Annie lamented. “He said he’d take me on his private yacht yesterday, but he showed up in a beat–up fishing boat instead. I was pissed off, and I sent him packing”
Noticing Natalie behind Martin, she said, “Oh, this must be your girlfriend, Mr. Scot
Martin frowned. “She’s not my girlfriend, she’s my wife.”
“No way. That was quick. Mr. Big Boss Annie exclaimed, eyeing Natalie enviously. “You’re so lucky to be his wife.”
“Why does she call you Mr. Big Boss?” Natalie asked quietly, but Annie heard her clearly
Annie overheard. “Don’t you know your husband’s Foronix Group’s…”
“I used to manage a department there,” Martin clarified, then signaled Annie to stop talking.
“You worked at Foronix Group?” Natalie said, amazed. “Why did you leave?”
“It’s complicated. I’ll explain later, Martin said.
Oblivious, Annie rambled on, “Martin, aren’t you still with Foronix Group? I heard you were
—
Martin wished he could shut the blabber–mouth Annie. He cut her off abruptly, Annie, have you eaten a lot today?”
Annie looked confused. “Who said that? I haven’t eaten anything, Hey, are you inviting me to breakfast”
“You should probably head home if you haven’t” Martin said coldly,
“Yeah, I was just thinking how I’d get
I’d get back to the city. Can I catch a ride with you two?” Annie asked hopefully.
Martin was about to refuse when Natalie chimed in to say, “Sure, we’re heading that way anyw
Natalie was actually worried that Martin might feel awkward about offering a ride to Annie because of her, so she took the initiative to invite Annie herself. However, she had tocally misunderstood the situation.
Annie was overjoyed when she could join the two. She ran up to Natalie to link arms with her and Launched into a string of embarrassing stories
about Martin
“Did you know? Martin’s been popular with girls since he was a kid. There was this super pretty girl in our dass who even passed him a love note,” Annie started. “He was a natural at everything he did. We thought he was some kind of superhuman. But, you know, there were those times when he messed up, like that one time…
Martin was left speechless
Annie prattled on enthusiastically as she walked with Natalie.
Natalie was thoroughly entertained, though utterly clueless about Martin trailing behind them with a grim expression.
Martin held Natalie’s bag in his left hand and Annie’s bags in his right.
Annie could barely contain her glee at finally being able to tease perfect, noble Martin thanks to Natalie’s presence.
Once inside the car, Annie happily took a seat in the back but continued her relentless chatter. “Marin, how much do you make in a month?” Annie intentionally probed.
Martin kept a straight face and pretended not to hear.
Worried that Annie might be left hanging awkwardly, Natalie jumped in to respond on Martin’s belulf. “He makes 10,000 dollars a month.”
10,000 dollars?” Annie burst into laughter.
Natalie couldn’t see the humor, and her fondness for Annie took a dive.
*10,000 dollars is nothing to laugh at What’s so funny!” she asked.
Chapter 15
“Don’t be mad, Natalie. I’m just laughing because he’s definitely hiding some extra cash, Annie remarked. “You should look into it. I bet he makes more like 30,000 dollars a month.”
Martin nearly lost it. ‘She’s really pushing it, he fumed silently.
