Chapter 18
During my last few months of college, William tried to show up and pester me a few times, but after a week or two, he vanished completely.
Later, I heard from Ruby that William had gotten into some serious trouble. He had caused a massive financial disaster for the Thorne Corporati-
- on. It was likely he would never be allowed near the core of the family business again.
As for Melina, it seemed she had been blacklisted by the entire Port Sterling high society overnight.
I had a sneaking suspicion that this was all Nathaniel’s doing. My childish, off–the–cuff remarks… he had taken them all to heart.
But I wasn’t a saint. I certainly wasn’t going to plead their case. I heard the gossip, and then I let it go, not giving it a second thought.
A year flew by in the blink of an eye. I inherited my father’s fishing boat, and I was getting married.
Nathaniel was an intensely private man, but our wedding was the most lavish, high–profile event the city had ever seen.
Just as the entire city’s attention was focused on the wedding, Nathaniel let a quiet statement slip to the press.
“The wedding will be a grand affair with many guests, but there are two individuals who are not on the invitation list.”
“Mr. Vance, would you be willing to disclose who those two are?”
William Thorne, the fourth son of the Thorne family.”
“And a junior cousin from a branch family, a Miss Melina Vance.”
Within minutes, the names William Thorne and Melina Vance were once again the talk of
town.
Afterward, I asked Nathaniel quietly, “If you do this, they’ll never be able to show their faces in Port Sterling again. Melina is still your cousin. Won’t the family think you’re being too ruthless?”
Nathaniel pulled me into his arms, his fingers playing with mine, gently rubbing the thin calluses on my fingertips. After a long moment, he said softly, “I’m already being merciful.”
He was, after all, a man who had fought his way through blood and fire. Simply making it impossible for them to live in this city was, for him, an act of great mercy.
The reason he did it was simple. He, who had never believed in fate, now ‘did. He wanted his wife to live a long, happy life with him, to grow old
together. So, he considered this an act of karmic balancing.
He despised Melina, but he despised William even more. The very thought that William had once held her affection was enough to give him sleep- less nights. Now that they were both far away from Port Sterling, never to return, Nathaniel finally felt a sense of peace.
“I don’t see you as merciful,” I teased. “But I guess it’s for the best. I haven’t forgotten how arrogant Melina was after she hurt me.”
I pulled my hand back and frowned. “My hands are still so rough.”
“But you’re so happy when you’re spearing fish. What can I do?” Nathaniel sighed, shaking his head.
He had a point.
Calluses it is. It’s not like Nathaniel minded. Happiness was more important.
“Sera.”
Nathaniel wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“William Thorne is gone.”
“This entire bay is yours.”
“What would I do with a whole bay?” I turned to look at him. “All I need is one boat and a small patch of ocean.”
“Is that all?”
I paused, and for once, my brain worked quickly. A slow smile spread across my face. “Oh, right. And you!”
Nathaniel burst out laughing. He looked down at me, his eyes crinkling with mirth. He laughed for a good long while before he finally lowered his head to kiss me. “I see you have a heart after all.”
I felt no shyness at all. I hooked my arms around his neck and stood on my toes to meet his kiss.
I felt no shyness at all. I hooked my arms around his neck and stood on my toes to meet his kiss.
“Tonight,” I whispered against his lips, “don’t you dare stop halfway.”
“It’s awful.”
“Every time, I go home and I can’t sleep properly. I just have all these… chaotic dreams.”
Nathaniel’s arms tightened around me, pulling me so close there was no space left between us.
“Alright,” he murmured, his voice a low growl,
“This time, even if you beg me to stop, I won’t.”
“I won’t be the one begging,” I shot back.
He kissed me again, a deep, knowing smile in his eyes. “Good. We’ll see about that, Seraphina Vance.”
(The End)
