Chapter 25
Kieran's POV
I wasn't trying to listen.
I had followed Grace, after I saw her leave after him.
I stopped before turning the corner when I heard voices.
"…Why do you keep ruining everything?"
I frowned slightly.
Nathan's voice came softer.
"It's not like that."
Then Grace again—
"That's exactly what you said before everything went wrong."
Silence followed.
I should have left.
Instead, I stayed.
"I won't let you ruin my life again."
My jaw tightened slightly.
"Because that's all you've done ever since you were born."
Silence.
And then—
"I wish I never had you."
Fuck.
For a second, there was no response.
Then Grace spoke again, colder this time.
"You need to stop this before Chris notices."
I looked away briefly.
I heard footsteps approached.
I stepped back behind the wall before Grace rounded the corner.
She walked past me without noticing.
She didn't look back.
Silence filled the hallway after she left.
Then—
a broken sound.
A sob.
My chest tightened unexpectedly.
I closed my eyes briefly.
Nathan.
I stayed there for a few seconds longer.
Giving him time.
Giving myself time.
Then finally, I stepped around the corner.
He stood there covering his mouth, shoulders shaking violently.
The moment he saw me, he immediately wiped at his face.
Like he was embarrassed.
Like he thought he needed to hide it.
Something about that irritated.
I knew that feeling. Feeling like a disappointed to the person that matters the most to you.
Neither of us spoke.
I reached into my pocket and held my handkerchief toward him.
He stared at it for a second before taking it quietly.
I sat down on the bench nearby.
Still saying nothing.
I didn't know what to say.
I wasn't good at this sort of thing.
Comfort.
Feelings.
Whatever this was.
Nathan stood there awkwardly before slowly sitting beside me.
His eyes were red.
His breathing uneven.
And for some reason—
seeing him like that pissed me off more than it should have.
I looked away before I did something stupid.
But then I noticed the tear still clinging beneath his eye.
Before I could stop myself—
I reached out and wiped it away with my thumb.
Nathan froze instantly.
So did I.
What the hell was I doing?
I pulled my hand back immediately and shoved it into my pocket.
"You should wash your face before going back," I muttered.
He nodded quietly and stood up.
I watched him walk into the restroom.
Then leaned back against the wall exhaling slowly.
Why did seeing him cry feel so unbearable?
I hated that feeling.
And somehow—
I hated even more that I already knew if he cried again—
I'd still stay.
----
Third POV
Chris smirked the moment he spotted the man stepping out of the black car.
Mr. Finn.
Finally.
"Mr. Finn," Chris called warmly as he approached.
The older man looked up.
"Mr. Leo."
"I see you accepted my invitation."
Chris stretched out his hand.
After a brief pause, Finn shook it.
"Yes. Thank you for inviting me."
"It's no big deal," Chris replied smoothly. "I felt we may have started off on the wrong foot. Thought we should change that."
Finn only smiled politely.
Chris gestured ahead.
"Come. Let me introduce you to a few people."
The two men walked together through the elegant crowd.
The riding club buzzed with quiet luxury. Wealthy families sat beneath shaded canopies while attendants moved around serving drinks. In the distance, horses raced across the field as applause rose from the spectators.
Chris stopped beside a small group.
"This is my lovely wife, Grace."
Grace smiled gracefully and extended her hand.
"Nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine," Finn replied politely.
"And this," Chris continued, "is Patrick Grey. I'm sure you've heard of him."
Finn's expression brightened slightly.
"Ah, yes. Of course." He shook Patrick's hand. "I've heard quite a lot about you."
Patrick laughed lightly.
"Hopefully nothing too terrible."
Finn smiled faintly.
"I'm actually a fan of your wife's books."
Patrick's brows lifted.
"Really now?" He chuckled. "Erica's going to love hearing that."
The atmosphere remained light, polite.
A horn sounded in the distance announcing the next race.
Finn glanced toward the field.
"If you'll excuse me."
"Of course," Chris replied smoothly.
Finn nodded politely before walking ahead toward the spectators.
Chris was about to follow when Patrick suddenly grabbed his arm.
"What are you doing?" Patrick asked quietly.
Chris looked at him calmly.
"What do you mean?"
Patrick scoffed softly.
"Inviting him here. Trying to charm him." He lowered his voice further. "You really think a few drinks and horse races are going to make him hand over the Grantham estate?"
Chris smiled faintly.
"If he wanted money," Patrick continued, "he would've accepted your offer years ago."
Chris said nothing.
Patrick studied him for a moment before shaking his head slowly.
"I really hope you're not planning to do something stupid."
That finally made Chris laugh.
"Come on now, Pat," he said lightly. "I don't do those things anymore."
Patrick gave him a look that clearly said he didn't believe him.
Chris straightened his cuff calmly.
"I'll be playing by the rules this time."
"Hm." Patrick folded his arms. "Why does that sound unbelievable?"
Chris only smiled.
"You need to have more faith in me, old friend."
And with that—
he walked toward Finn once more.
-----
Nathan's POV
I sat away from the others, staring at the race ahead of me, but my mind was somewhere else entirely.
The horses thundered across the field.
People cheered.
Glasses clinked.
Yet everything sounded distant.
"Nathan."
I looked up.
Zane walked toward me with a smile.
"Hey, babe. I've been looking for you." He sat beside me. "Why are you here all alone looking this.... sad?"
He touched my cheek gently.
I forced a smile.
"I'm just tired."
"Hm." He studied my face carefully before sitting back. "You know you can tell me if something's bothering you, right? Sharing might help."
I looked at him and smiled faintly.
"It's nothing."
"If you say so." He smiled softly. "But I'm always here if you want to talk."
I nodded.
He reached for my hand resting on my lap and intertwined our fingers.
"I've been meaning to tell you something," he said.
I looked at him.
"And ask something too."
His expression suddenly became strangely nervous.
That alone surprised me.
"I don't want to pressure you or anything," he continued quickly, "but… I told my parents about you."
I paused.
"What?"
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I know you said you wanted to take things slow, but my parents noticed something different about me lately. They kept asking questions and eventually I just…" He laughed nervously. "I gave in."
I stared at him speechlessly.
"And now they want to meet you." He looked at me carefully. "Like… properly meet you."
My chest tightened instantly.
I didn't know why.
Maybe because suddenly this felt real.
Too real.
"I…" I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," he said quickly. "Seriously. I just thought I should tell you first."
Before I could answer—
a sudden commotion rose nearby.
People began murmuring.
I looked up instinctively.
Several luxury cars had just arrived near the entrance.
Servants hurried forward immediately.
Then a couple stepped out.
The woman wore an elegant yellow dress that flowed around her beautifully. Her dark hair rested perfectly against her shoulders, diamonds glittering at her neck.
She looked royal.
The man beside her looked just as refined.
The attention of almost everyone shifted toward them immediately.
Even the atmosphere seemed to change.
"She actually came," Zane muttered beside me.
I looked at him.
He suddenly stood up smiling.
"Come on."
He stretched his hand toward me.
"Let me introduce you to my sister."
I blinked.
Then looked back at the elegant woman again.
People they passed greeted them respectfully.
Some even bowed slightly.
Servants lined behind them carefully.
My stomach tightened.
That was his sister?