Chapter 5 5

"Your 'sorry' won't fix this," he said coolly, his voice cutting through the chaos of the club. The music, the shouting, the clinking of glasses-all of it seemed to fade as he stared down at her. "And what about the expensive drink you just wasted?"

The accusation hit hard, but it was the detached tone in his voice that unnerved her the most. There was no anger, no frustration-just cold indifference. Sarah swallowed hard, her pulse racing as the weight of the moment pressed down on her.

Sarah's cheeks burned, not just from the embarrassment of the spill but from the way he seemed to be dissecting her with every word. She opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words. This man, with his unshakable composure and air of authority, was nothing like anyone she'd ever encountered.

"I'm sorry," she repeated, softer this time, her voice nearly drowned out by the relentless thrum of the bass. But the apology felt hollow under the weight of his stare, and she knew it.

Nathan didn't let go of her wrist. He just watched her, eyes narrowing as if he were measuring how long it would take for her to crumble beneath his gaze.

"Not used to being held accountable, are you?" His voice was calm, almost casual, but there was an edge to it that cut deep.

Sarah, still reeling from her earlier encounter, felt a surge of anger rise in her chest. She jerked her wrist out of his grip. "Who do you think you are?" she snapped, her voice sharp, raw. "Do you really think you can treat people like that?"

She didn't know who he was, nor did she care. The humiliation, the fear, the frustration-all of it boiled over, and Nathan became the target of her fury.

Nathan's expression didn't change. He stood there, watching her quietly as she raged, his eyes unreadable remained silent as Sarah's anger poured out, his sharp gaze fixed on her, unyielding. His stillness only fueled her frustration. How could he stand there, so calm and composed, while she felt like she was unraveling? The thumping bass of the club pounded in her ears.

"Think your money makes you better than us?" Sarah snapped, her voice trembling with both rage and fear. She hadn't intended to get into a confrontation, not here, not tonight, but the humiliation was unbearable.

Nathan's eyes narrowed slightly, his lips curving into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. There was no anger in his expression, only a quiet amusement that infuriated her even more. As she walked away he held her wrist again.

"You think I'm the one who looks down on people?" he finally said, his voice calm and measured. "From where I stand, it seems like you're the one assuming things about me."

His words hung in the air, cutting through her emotional haze. For a moment, Sarah faltered, her breath catching in her throat. There was something unnerving about his composure, something dangerous. The chaos of the club around them-men shouting, glasses clinking, music thumping-faded into the background as the intensity of their standoff grew.

"Let me go," Sarah finally managed to say, her voice wavering. She pulled her wrist free from his grip and turned to walk away, but his words stopped her in her tracks.

"Running away already?" Nathan asked coolly, his voice carrying through the din of the club. "I thought you were tougher than that."

Her fists clenched at her sides. She was not about to let some arrogant, rich man belittle her. Turning slowly, Sarah faced him again, her chin lifted defiantly.

"I'm not running," she said through gritted teeth. "I just don't have time for jerks like you."

Nathan's brow arched, a flicker of amusement dancing across his features. "Jerks like me?" He chuckled softly, the sound low and deep. "You don't even know me."

"And I don't need to," Sarah shot back. "I know your type. You think you can buy whatever-or whoever-you want."

For a moment, Nathan's face hardened, the playful glint in his eyes disappearing. He took a step closer, and though he didn't raise his voice, the sudden shift in his tone made her stomach twist.

"Be careful with your assumptions," he said quietly. "They have a way of coming back to bite."

Sarah's pulse quickened, her bravado faltering under the weight of his gaze. He was close now, too close. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, the scent of his cologne-woodsy and sharp-mingling with the liquor-soaked air. There was something intimidating about him, something that made her feel exposed, vulnerable.

And yet, there was something else too. A challenge in his eyes that stirred something deep inside her.

Before she could respond, a commotion at the entrance of the club drew their attention. A group of men-loud, rowdy, and clearly intoxicated-burst through the doors, pushing past the bouncer. One of them stumbled forward, knocking into a table, sending glasses crashing to the floor.

Nathan's phone buzzed, insistent. He glanced at the screen-Jasmine. His jaw clenched as he shoved the phone back into his pocket without answering. Sensing his momentary distraction, Sarah gave him a look of discomfort before rushing toward the ladies' washroom.

He watched her retreat with a soft scoff. He knew she was avoiding him. That amused him, the way she couldn't bear to stay in his presence. But before he could linger on the thought, his phone buzzed again, more urgently this time.

Annoyed, he pulled it out and answered. "What?" he snapped, his patience fraying.

"Where are you?" Jasmine's voice was tense, agitated.

Nathan sighed, rolling his eyes. "What's wrong with you today? Let me remind you-that's none of your business."

There was a long pause, then Jasmine's voice dropped, tight with emotion. "Your father passed away."

Nathan froze. The bustling noise around him faded, the world narrowing into that single sentence. He stood there, unmoving, as the words sank in. His grip tightened on the phone, but no immediate sadness came. Just disbelief.

"I'm expecting you at the funeral," Jasmine continued, her voice strained. "There'll be a lot of people, and-"

He pulled the phone from his ear, no longer listening. His mind felt foggy, like the air had thickened around him. He wasn't sure what he felt-if he felt anything at all.

Later that night, Nathan found himself standing in the middle of a party he had no business attending. It was lavish-over-the-top, really-the kind of event he usually avoided.

The farmhouse was a playground for the rich and the restless. Beautiful people danced in careless abandon under flickering lights, the scent of expensive perfume and liquor filling the air. But for Nathan, it all felt distant, like he was watching from the other side of a glass.

Nathan Gray, the only son of billionaire Fabian Gray, hadn't attended his father's funeral. Instead, he was here, surrounded by laughter, booming music, and the shallow noise of the city's elite.

His thoughts were leagues away, buried beneath the weight of secrets that had shaped him. He'd seen things as a child that no one should witness-things that lingered like shadows in the corners of his mind. He carried the weight of those memories, unspoken and unresolved, but their grip on him was tighter than ever.

"Nathan Gray!" A voice broke through the haze.

He turned to see the host, a man in his late twenties with a grin too wide, approaching with open arms. "I wasn't expecting you here. You never come to parties. What's gotten into you?"

Nathan forced a smile, something stiff and unnatural. "This one I couldn't turn down," he replied, but his voice lacked conviction.

The host shot him a curious glance but didn't push for answers. Everyone knew Nathan wasn't the type to enjoy these gatherings. For him to show up tonight of all nights was unusual. Nathan drifted through the crowd, drink in hand, forcing himself into small talk. His body moved through the motions, but his mind was miles away. He tried to immerse himself in the party, tried to bury the thoughts of his father's death, but the harder he tried, the more it gnawed at him.

His phone buzzed again-Jasmine. Her name lit up the screen, just as it had all day. He stared at it for a moment before turning the phone off, silencing her calls, silencing the part of his life that had any real meaning. He didn't want to feel. He just wanted to escape, even if it meant losing himself in distraction.

Meanwhile, at the funeral, the mood was somber. The loss of Fabian Gray, known for his kindness and generosity, was deeply felt. Mourners dressed in black gathered, their faces etched with sorrow as they paid their respects-but also with confusion. Where was Nathan Gray?

Jasmine Walker, poised and elegant in her long black dress, felt the weight of Nathan's absence like a stone in her chest. Every missed call had only fueled her growing frustration, but here, among the guests, she kept her composure. Her voice steady as she made polite excuses for her husband.

"He's... dealing with things in his own way," she said to the curious whispers, though inside, her anger simmered. How could he abandon her like this? Abandon his father's funeral? She was left alone to face the curious stares, the questions she couldn't answer, and the growing embarrassment that gnawed at her.

The silence Nathan left at his father's funeral was louder than any of Jasmine's excuses.