"From the moment I first saw you, you reminded me of someone I''d loved for years. But then, Sally returned, and everyone in the Hoffis family imed she was their granddaughter.


    "We hadn''t seen each other in a decade, so I had no clue what had be of you. I never questioned your family. After all, how could close rtives not recognize their own granddaughter?" Nathan exined.


    M''s somber mood lightened a bit. "So, did you fall in love with me at first sight?"


    "Not exactly. It was more like a strong sense of familiarity. Some inexplicable feelings drew me to you back then," Nathan replied.


    M gazed at him, feeling thankful. "Nate, thank you for not wanting to divorce back then, and for your persistence. That''s why we didn''t drift apart."


    Nathan gently cupped her face and looked at her intently. "Regarding your painting, we can''t just ignore what happened. Even if you''re not upset, I am." Curious, M asked, "What do you propose?"


    Nathan pointed toward the corner where the surveince camera was and firmly said, "Adults should take responsibility for their impulsive actions.


    "If she dares to damage your painting now, who knows what else she might do in the future."


    M smiled softly, feelingforted.


    She thought about Nathan''s feelings and didn''t want to make things tough for his friends. Meanwhile, Nathan was worried about her and was determined to make things right for her.


    "Okay, you take care of this," M said. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tiptoed, and pecked his lips.


    Nathan was ready to respond passionately, but her lips left him before he could. He felt a strong desire surging within him. He asked in a rough voice, "Finished kissing?"


    M nodded and responded with a hum.


    Nathan took her wrist and led her outside.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Let''s go back to the room."


    M''s cheeks turned crimson as she responded, "Nate, your leg is injured, and it''s still daytime."


    "It won''t matter."


    Back in their room, Nathan locked the door and drew the curtains closed. The room plunged into darkness.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    M smiled bashfully. Nathan''s previous restraint had astonished her, but now he seemed different. She approached him.


    Nathan wrapped his arm around her slender waist, his hand cradling her head as he whispered in her ear, "Want to take a shower?" "Sure, but you go first."


    "Together," Nathan said huskily.


    M blushed instantly and declined. "No, it''s fine. You go ahead. It would be too awkward for both of us to shower together."


    Nathan''s breath turned warmer. He kissed her fervently while slowly removing her clothes.


    M assumed he was skipping the shower and about to dive into bed Yet, amid his passionate kisses, her clothes slipped away, and he carried her toward the bathroom. S


    She spotted the bandaged wound on his leg, but he didn''t seem bothered by it. They weren''t just taking a shower. It marked another phase in M''s exploration of intimacy.


    She surrendered herself to Nathan''s


    passionate affection. Later, they went from the shower to the bed. It seemed he was releasing all the


    desire he had bottled up for the past month.


    M understood she would need time to get used to Nathan''s high level of intimacy.


    He was robust and had ample endurance from working out regrly, whereas she was naturally fragile and not used to such physical exertion.


    After their intense encounter, My on the bed, feeling drained of energy. She struggled to keep her eyes open.


    Nathan gently used a warm towel to cleanse her body before enveloping her in his arms, and they both drifted off to sleep, feeling content.