He swallowed the sweet words he had wanted to say to her.
âLucinda, can I talk to you alone for a while?â
Lucinda considered and didnât refuse.
She looked at the nurse then said, âOnly if you do what the nurse asks first.
Otherwise, I will leave and not return.
â
In a soft, pained voice, he murmured, âOkay.
â
The nurse approached the bed, only to find that he was holding Lucindaâs wrist too tightly for her to insert the needle into his hand.
Lucinda noticed the problem too.
Frowning, she said, âLet go of me so the nurse can attach the drip.
â
Without saying a word, Nathaniel changed hands so he could still cling to her wrist while the nurse treated him.
In the basement, when he had been drugged and was floating in a trance, his only wish had been to hold the woman he had once abandoned.
No matter how hard he tried, the distance between them made it impossible to reach her.
It tortured him more than any drug.
Now he could think straight, he refused to let her go ever again.
While he was considering this desperate need to be close to Lucinda, he felt a counterforce push his hand away.
Lucinda was pulling away.
The nurse had hooked up the drip.
Lucinda asked everyone to leave.
Her skin was red where he had gripped her so tightly.
âYouâre hurting me.
Let go.
I promise I wonât leave until you say what you have to say.
But if you keep grabbing me, Iâll have to go.
â
After a momentâs hesitation, Nathaniel buckled under her cold gaze and withdrew his hand.
She sat down on a chair in front of him and got straight to the point.
âYou are an arrogant man, Nathaniel.
And thatâs exactly why I donât understand why you agreed to sign the contract so decisively.
Is it worth humiliating yourself like this just to pay off your debts?â
Nathaniel gazed up at her.
âYou used to love me.
You would have done anything for me, but I didnât cherish you.
Now, I realize I cannot Live without you.
I know how I hurt you and I know how unhappy you were, because I feel that way now.
â
He paused.
His eyes brimmed with sincerity.
âLucinda, I was not a good husband to you.
I said a lot of things to insult you, but from now on, you can scold me every day, and I wonât talk back.
I wonât complain.
I want to make it up to you! Will you give me one last chance?â
Scold him every day?