"Do you expect me to be thankful to you?" Nathan stared at Serena, who now sat in the same spot his mother had occupied just minutes earlier, his eyes glittering with anger instead of gratefulness.
Serena shrugged. "Depends. Do you want to thank me?"
Nathan looked away, his expression hardening. He knew he should thank her. But the humiliation of her having seen him like this did not sit well with him. He’d rather have not been saved than have her discover this humiliation.
Serena couldn’t help but wince at the bright red mark on his face as he turned his head. Really? What was wrong with Charles Hawk? Did he have a particular fondness for violent women? His current wife seemed to think she could slap Aiden anyway she wished, and his ex-wife treated Nathan, her own son, like a punching bag. And she had yet to meet Aiden’s biological mother.
Serena gestured to the waitress, who had been watching the entire scene unfold from a distance and when she approached, whispered something in her ear. Moments later, a glass of ice-cold water was placed in front of her. Without a word, she picked it up and noticed Nathan flinch slightly. Shaking her head, she sighed.
"Relax, I’m not about to throw water at you," she said, extending the glass. "It’s cold. Just hold it to your cheek. You flinch at water but were ready to take a slap? Seriously?"
Nathan mumbled something that sounded like thanks as he took the water and carefully held it against his cheek and she could not help but sigh.
She could feel the anger radiating off him as he sat there, stewing in the moment.
"You think this changes anything?" he finally muttered in a cold voice. "I didn’t need your help. The last thing I wanted was for you to see me like this."
Serena raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Oh, I gathered that."
Nathan turned his gaze back to her, his anger flashing hotter. "Is this fun for you? Watching me get slapped around? Maybe you’re just waiting for your chance to get in a hit of your own. Who knows? You did have fun the other night, throwing water at me."
Serena leaned back in her chair, her expression cool as and unbothered. "You deserved that. Also, if that’s your best shot, Nathan, you’re gonna have to try harder. Is that really what you think? That I’m sticking around just to rub salt in your wounds? And I enjoy this kind of violence?"
"Why else? I remember what you did in the hospital when Aiden was hit..."
Serena smiled," Is that the treatment you wanted me to deal to your mother as well?"
Nathan looked up, horrified and shook his head to which Serena finally mumbled, " I’ll tell you what. I would not have helped you just now, if not for what you said. You defended my right in front of your mother so of course I had to return the favour..."
Nathan frowned," When did I defend you?"
"Well, you said that I was not an outsider. Not an outsider means I am part of the family. So, how could I let her hit my family?"
"I didn’t mean it like that," he muttered, feeling his face flush slightly. He tried to shake it off, returning to his usual guarded self. "You’re twisting my words."
Serena smirked, clearly amused by his discomfort. "Am I? Or are you just uncomfortable with the idea that maybe—just maybe—you don’t hate me as much as you pretend to? Anyway, let’s stop this right here. What was it you were saying? You plan to pursue a career in music? Can you sing? Do you play any instruments?"
Nathan shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with the change in conversation but also, in a strange way, relieved. Music was safer ground, something familiar that didn’t involve messy emotions or family drama. He absentmindedly traced the rim of the glass with his finger, his gaze falling to the table.
"I play the guitar," he muttered. "And a bit of piano, but that’s more for composing. Singing’s... just something I picked up along the way."
Serena tilted her head, her interest piqued. "Composing, huh? That sounds serious."
"I just mess around."
"Doesn’t sound like ’messing around’ to me if you want to make a career out of it," she teased lightly. "You any good?"
For a moment, Nathan’s guarded expression slipped. He hesitated, then, almost reluctantly, let out a soft chuckle. "I guess I’m not bad. One of my compositions was picked up for an OST 1in the movie and got offered to join Julliard on a scholarship, so I must be doing something right."
"A scholarship? That is impressive. So, when are you planning to join?"
Nathan’s lips parted, almost ready to answer, but then it hit him—who he was talking to. His face stiffened, and he quickly looked away again "Does it matter?" he said tersely, his voice suddenly flat.
Nathan clenched his jaw, annoyed at himself for slipping. He hadn’t meant to talk about it, especially not with her. This wasn’t supposed to be some heart-to-heart moment where they bonded over music. He needed to keep his distance.
"It’s nothing," he muttered, his voice growing colder. "Just a stupid scholarship. I’m going to refuse it and then join grandma and you for business training. My grades are good so I should be able to get into business school as well."
After a long pause, Serena spoke again, her voice softer this time. "You know, Nathan, you don’t have to act like I’m the enemy here."
’Aren’t you? You are Aiden’s wife. I am a threat to him. So of course I am your enemy."
Serena scoffed," You are a threat to Aiden? That is a joke! Nathan, you do not have the heart to go against your ’enemy’. Now I know why you did what you did the other day. All that anger and accusations all because you wanted to warn Aiden...about your father meeting Sidney. Wasn’t it?"
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