Ahead lay the path to visiting his grandfather first.
A turn would lead him to rescue Lucinda from police custody.
A decision beckoned.
Nathan paused briefly, a mere thirty seconds, before springing into action.
His first move was to dial the police station, seeking clarity on Lucindaâs arrest.
The discovery that Lucindaâs belongings had been left at Nortonâs place, leading to her extended detainment for questioning, raised his concern.
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With this knowledge, he and Sonny set off for Nortonâs residence.
Upon arrival, they found Norton under the attentive care of Hilliard and the Payne familyâs medical team, already showing signs of recovery thanks to the IV drips.
Leaving Sonny to oversee Nortonâs recovery, Nathan took Lucindaâs phone and purse in hand and headed to the police station to collect Lucinda himself.
Meanwhile, Lucinda was growing irritated by her prolonged detention.
She criticized the inefficiency and suspected a deliberate delay in her release, mulling over the policeâs respect for Daniloâs high status in Zephyria and the diplomatic niceties it necessitated.
The police officersâ delay in retrieving her personal items from the Paynesâ house appeared to Lucinda as a tactic to prolong her confinement.
Her frustration grew as she waited, her mind wandering through the intricate web of events since the day she had detained Nala at the basement of the Simmons familyâs old villa.
It dawned on her that the trap she thought she had set for Nala might very well have been a trap for her instead.
Amidst her contemplation, the interrogation room door swung open unexpectedly.
Lucindaâs frustration led her to purposefully ignore the presence of the newcomer.
Then, the person knelt before her, a gesture of devotion, and whispered, âLucinda, Iâm back.
â
That deep, yet unmistakably familiar voice caught her off guard.
Lifting her gaze, Lucind
a was met with Nathanâs darker complexion, a sight that both surprised and delighted her.
It had been days since their last meeting, and the sight of him filled her with an indescribable joy.
âDarling, has the sun at the border been harsh? Your skinâs caught quite the tan,â she remarked, her fingers gently tracing his face before leaning in for a ki*s, their lips meeting in a tender embrace.
Nathanâs eyes, warm and affectionate, met hers as he replied, âThe sun was unforgiving, but I worried you might find the tan unappealing.
So, I brought your sunscreen along.
Thankfully, Iâm not as bronzed as Sonny.
â
With a soft laugh, Lucinda caressed his cheek.
âClever man.
It seems my lessons have served you well.
â
Their joyful banter continued for a moment longer before Nathan stood, embracing Lucinda with firm arms.
âHoney, letâs get you out of here.
â