<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Chapter 1228 How Do You Like The View</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nathaniel’s impressive physique was hard to ignore, and despite herself, she found her gaze drifting in his direction. She stole a nce, then another, feeling her checks heat up.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As if sensing her eyes on him, Nathaniel wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom. Startled, Cecilia quickly averted her eyes, pretending to focus on her phone.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nathaniel, noticing her flustered reaction, walked over with a teasing grin. “How do you like the view?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Cecilia’s face flushed with embarrassment. “What are you talking about? I wasn’t looking at you!”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Oh?” Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “I was talking about your phone. Were you looking at me earlier? Hm?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Realizing she had just exposed herself, Cecilia stammered, “I noticed the door wasn’t closed all the way, that’s all”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She stood up quickly, trying to cover her nerves. “It’s not like I haven’t seen it before. There’s nothing new. to look at.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nathaniel smirked, clearly amused. “Is that so? Then why can’t you look me in the eye?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Determined not to back down. Cecilia lifted her gaze to meet his, though her heart was racing. Nathaniel’s hair was still damp, and the droplets clung to his skin, making him even more irresistible.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">His intense gaze held hers for a moment before she quickly looked down again.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">After emerging from the bathroom, Nathaniel was wrapped only in a bath towel, his well–built upper body on full disy.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“What’s there to be afraid of seeing? I’ve seen it before. Cecilia muttered, trying to sound nonchnt.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As she spoke, she impulsively lifted her hand and ran her fingers over his abs, feeling the solid muscles beneath her touch. “Feels pretty good, hasn’t changed much,” shemented, her voice slightly shaky.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">After her bold move, her heart raced. Trying to escape the awkwardness she’d created, Cecilia quickly headed toward the bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower. Don’t disturb me.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nathaniel watched her retreat, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The spot where she’d touched him still tingled.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Once alone, he settled back onto the couch and absentmindedly picked up Cecilia’s phone. A new text message caught his attention.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The sender was Eric, and the message read: Ms. Ceci, be arriving in Tud tomorrow afternoon. Do you have time to pick me up from the airport?</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nathaniel’s face darkened instantly. Without saying a word, he switched off the phone and ced it back where it had been.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Meanwhile, Cecilia stayed in the bathroom far longer than usual, too hesitant toe out. She was hoping that by the time she finished, Nathaniel would have left</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">But despite everything, he remained seated on the couch, asionally calling out, “Ceci, do you need any</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“No, you -No.</font></font>
should leave now,” she called back, her voice shaky. From behind the ss door, she could see his tall figure still there, which made her even more nervous.
Only after Nathaniel had finally left did her heart begin to calm down. Yet, as she sat in the quiet, she wondered when this strange feeling toward him had crept in
She thought back to their early days of marriage–she had never felt this anxious around him. Back then. she had been filled with excitement and joy at marrying the man she loved.
But now, everything was different. She felt fearful, unsure of herself, and avoiding Nathaniel’s gaze had be second nature..
“Could it be that I’ve fallen for him again?” she asked herself, almost in disbelief.-Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.
Quickly, she shook her head in denial. “No, that’s impossible. I was in love with Nichs, not Nathaniel. And after all the pain he caused me… my feelings for him disappeared a long time ago.”
Lost in her thoughts. Cecilia didn’t even realize how much time had passed. By the time she looked up. half an hour had already slipped by.
A wave of dizziness hit her, and she hurriedly turned off the water, searching for a ce to sit down.
As she leaned against the wall, her elbow identally knocked over a bottle of bath supplies. The sound echoed with a soft “pop!” through the bathroom.
Even though the noise was faint, Nathaniel, sharp as ever, heard it immediately. He jumped up from the couch and rushed toward the bathroom without hesitation.
Because Cecilia was about to exit the bathroom, the door had been left unlocked. Nathaniel pushed it open with ease and stepped inside, his face filled with concern. “What’s wrong?” he asked urgently.
Startled by his sudden entranceia felt a surge of embarrassment. Without thinking, she raised her hand and pped him across the