What began as a joyous family gathering had swiftly morphed into an impromptu tribunal, with Nathan at the heart of the inquisition.
With a stern gaze on Sonny, Nathanâs voice was tinged with threat.
âExplain this now, Sonny.
â
Sonny offered a deal with a grin.
âKeep my salary intact, add a two-month bonus, and youâll get my help.
â
Nathanâs response was swift and dire.
âWithout a proper explanation, youâll forfeit your bonus and risk your salary for the next six months.
Do you doubt I wouldnât do it?â
Luisa swiftly defended Sonny.
âNathan, the fault is yours, not Sonnyâs.
After all, you were the one who strayed.
â
Sonnyâs reaction was immediate, his hand clamping over Luisaâs mouth.
âQuiet! Youâre only fanning the flames.
This isnât about infidelity.
Are you trying to ruin me?â
Lucinda, cool and collected, set her fork down with poise.
Casting a few glances at Sonny and Nathan, she offered a challenging smile.
âALL right, whoâs going to clear the air?â
Sonny looked at Nathan with a timid expression.
Nathan adopted a gentlemanly stance, but his words were sinister.
âThe problem youâve created is yours to solve.
If you canât manage it, I have a hundred ways to handle you.
Care to test them?â
Sonny, visibly shaken, quickly turned to Lucinda to clarify, âLucinda, I have overstated things.
It wasnât as severe as I made it sound.
Nathan was leading a team at the border when they rescued a young woman from college who had been kidnapped by terrorists.
She was there on a trip.
She developed feelings for Nathan and lingered around him for a few days at the border.
But donât worry, Nathan only has eyes for you and wasnât swayed by her at all.
He firmly rejected her multiple times and eventually had Larry escort her back to her hometown.
â
Sonny exhaled deeply, relieved by his own explanation.
Nathan also felt a sense of relief, believing the explanation was comprehensive enough to prevent further misunderstandings.
However, Lucinda remained composed, her eyes reflecting deep thought.
After a long pause, she asked seriously, âWhy didnât you mention any of this to me when you returned? If nothing improper occurred, why hide the truth from me?â
Nathan was at a loss for words.
Seeing his reaction, Sonny quickly interjected, âPlease donât be upset, Lucinda.
Nathan probably didnât tell you because he didnât want to worry you.
But I swear on my life that heâs completely faithful to you.
No matter how much attention he gets from other women, he remains indifferent.
â
Lucinda remained silent, her eyes fixed on Nathan.
She noticed every subtle movement he made, including the nervous bob of his Adamâs apple and the guilt apparent on his face.
Considering there were others with them, Lucinda held back further comments and instead offered Sonny a gentle smile.
âDonât worry, I trust him.
â
Then, she served some food to Nathan.
âHoney, youâve cooked so much today.
You must be exhausted.
How about a massage tonight?â