Massage?


    The mention of a massage made Nathan tense up; his hand clenched as he anticipated what felt more like an impending interrogation, or even a rebuke rather than rxation.


    He sighed silently, mentally bracing himself for what mighte after dinner.


    As Lucinda shifted the conversation, the dinner table once again erupted withughter and the cheerful clinking of sses.


    The dinner stretched on.


    The gathering finally wrapped up around nine thirty.


    Sonny, appearing intoxicated, started rambling.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    He reminisced about his ten years living alone on the fringes at the border, shedding tears and expressing his gratitude towards Nathan.


    Luckily, Sonny’s vi was just a short walk away, and Luisa sweetly guided him home, her arm threaded through his.


    Graham, Hilliard, and Cyrus, along with their partners, made their way to the Payne family’s spacious garage to head home.


    Nathan was left to clean the chaotic kitchen alone.


    In the past, such a task would have been shared; Lucinda would chat with him and help tidy away the dishes.


    But tonight, after dinner, Lucinda retreated to her room, leaving Nathan to deal with the aftermath of the evening alone—a clear signal that she might be using this task as a subtle form of punishment.


    Feeling guilty, Nathan quietly resigned himself to cleaning the kitchen withoutint.


    Half an hourter, he cautiously returned to the bedroom.


    The door was slightly open, casting a sliver of light across the hallway.


    He gently pushed the door wider and saw Lucinda sitting cross-legged on the bed, absorbed in her phone, without any sign of the stern demeanor he had feared.


    Nathan was perplexed.


    Had she really forgiven him? Was she not going to interrogate him?


    Did she genuinely intend to give him a massage?


    With hesitation, he pushed the door open and slowly approached Lucinda.


    Tentatively, he leaned in to hug her.


    “Honey.


    ”


    Lucinda didn’t move away, but she didn’t respond either.


    He could sense something different about her demeanor and sneakily nced at her phone screen.


    It disyed their MSN chat history.