Chapter 247
Gregory frantically opened the door to the master bedroom to find Anathea lying on fier side on the chaise lounge.
+25 BONUS
She was still wearing the clothes he’d torn, and even though she’d straightened her hair, it still looked mussed. A red flush had crept over the fair skin of her face.
Gregory hurried over to her. He reached to place a hand on her forehead. It was burning hot to the touch.
His breath hitched, and he immediately called Mateo and urged the latter to come as quickly as possible. After that, he grabbed a nightgown and helped Anathea change into it.
Anathea’s consciousness was on the verge of slipping when she sensed someone taking off her clothes.
Mustering what little strength she had left, she gripped the collar of her jacket. When she opened her eyes and saw Gregory before her, she shot him a wary look and demanded hoarsely, “What are you doing?”
“What do you think I’m doing?” He leashed his temper and exasperation, and though his voice was hard, he softened his tone as he coaxed Anathea.
“You’re sick. I already called Mateo, but you’ll have to change out of those clothes, okay?”
Anathea wanted to say no and that she didn’t want him to touch her, but she was completely sapped. She raised her arm to smack his hand away, only for it to drop weakly to her side. She closed her eyes, not wanting to look at him.
Gregory brushed off her icy demeanor and gently loosened the jacket from her frame. Guilt filled his eyes when he saw the marks he’d angrily left across her shoulders, collarbones, and chest like scattered stars.
“I’m sorry, Nat.” He lowered his head.
“Don’t call me that,” Anathea said feebly but coldly. “I’m not Natalie’s replacement. The idea of it makes me sick.”
Gregory froze, then countered, “You’re not her replacement.”
Why would she think that? She and Natalie were nothing alike.
But Anathea didn’t believe him at all. She snorted. “So you’re going to call me ‘Nat‘ just like how you call Natalie ‘Nat‘? Is this fun for you, Gregory?”
“I don’t call her that.” Gregory helped Anathea into the nightgown and slid his arm under her lower back, circling her waist.” I’ve only ever called you that.”
“Yeah, right. You even saved her contact as ‘Nat‘ on your phone,” Anathea pointed out sullenly. She made to smack his hand away, but he held her tighter.
“I changed her name on my phone to piss you off because you were suddenly being so cold and detached, not to mention dismissive of me… But I changed it back to ‘Natalie‘ not long after that. I can show you if you don’t believe me… I’ve only ever called you that, Nat.”
Gregory’s voice was gravelly as he buried his face in the crook of Anathea’s slender shoulder. He belatedly realized that he’d only behaved so childishly in the past to get Anathea’s attention.
As it turned out, love could make a person juvenile, and he was capable of loving someone.
Now that he knew he had feelings for Anathea, he wanted to tell her. But for some reason, the words died on his tongue before he could even express them.
It was as if there was a lump in his throat. The more he wanted to make a sound, the more suffocated he felt
Gregory bit his lip. Only two words escaped him in the end. “I’m sorry…”
Unfortunately, Anathea didn’t have it in her to believe him anymore. She kept her eyes tightly closed and didn’t reply. For a while, neither of them said anything.
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Chapter 247
+25 BONUS
The silence stretched on until Mateo hurriedly arrived and knocked on the door.
“Mr. Sinclair…” Mateo began, but Gregory immediately had him tend to Anathea.
“103 degrees. I suggest she be put on a drip to bring her temperature down,” Mateo recommended as he glanced at the thermometer. He was about to administer the drip when Gregory stopped him.
“She’s pregnant,” Gregory said.
Mateo paused, his gaze darting to where Anathea lay on the bed. When he inadvertently saw the marks on her neck that weren’t hidden by the collar of her pajamas, he blinked and cleared his threat.
He pointed out, “In that case, Mr. Sinclair, you’ll want to exercise some self–restraint.”
Gregory pursed his lips, shame and regret welling up in him.
He had no idea why he had such a hard time controlling himself around Anathea or why she could so easily bait his emotions. Perhaps she’d already found her way into his heart and made a home there without him realizing it.
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