Chapter 182

Did breaking her spirit bring him this much satisfaction?

Nathaniel leaned against the balcony railing, his black silk robe fluttering slightly in the night breeze. A cigarette dangled from his elegant fingers, each drag sharp and impatient. Smoke curled around his chiseled features, but the tension in his jaw was unmistakable.

The cigarette burned angrily between his fingers. Ash fell in quick bursts, glowing embers scattering across the marble floor.

He was losing control.

The Executive Suite had been perfectly fine. He'd personally ensured that. But the thought of Harrison and Alexander alone together made his blood boil.

Those lingerie and condom purchases haunted him. Visions of what they might be doing together tormented his thoughts. The jealousy consumed him.

In the quiet darkness, Nathaniel faced a terrifying truth. The idea of Harrison with another man was unbearable.

This wasn't love. Just insatiable hunger.

It was supposed to be temporary. But he wasn't done yet. How could he let her go when he still craved more?

Suddenly, warm arms encircled him from behind.

"Nathaniel, why are you smoking?"

Isabella. She rarely saw him indulge in cigarettes.

Nathaniel turned slowly, about to respond, when the bathroom door opened. Harrison emerged, freshly showered.

Alexander approached her immediately.

"Harrison, finished with your shower?"

She nodded.

Then she saw them. Nathaniel and Isabella on the balcony, her arms wrapped around him, his cigarette glowing between his fingers. The intimate picture made her stomach twist.

After publicly humiliating her, he was now cozy with Isabella.

Harrison quickly looked away. "I need to dry my hair."

She sat at the dressing table and picked up the hairdryer, the warm air ruffling her damp locks.

Alexander moved closer. "Let me help you with that."

Nathaniel watched Harrison. The white lace nightgown clung to her damp skin, making her look impossibly delicate.

The vanity lights cast a soft glow on her porcelain skin. She smelled like jasmine and vanilla.

Alexander stood behind her, fingers combing through her hair as he worked the dryer.

Nathaniel's grip tightened on his cigarette when he saw Alexander's hands in her hair. The way she smiled up at him sent a sharp pain through his chest.

A sudden sting made him glance down. The cigarette had burned his finger. He crushed it violently in the ashtray.

"Harrison," his voice cut through the room like ice. "Are your hands broken? Do it yourself."

Harrison had been about to refuse Alexander's help, but Nathaniel's words froze her.

Nathaniel's cold gaze pinned her in place, his lips twisting into a cruel smirk. "Can't manage basic grooming without a man's help? Or do you just enjoy being touched?"

Harrison's face went pale.

Alexander stepped forward, furious. "What the hell is wrong with you? I offered to help. Why are you treating her like this?"

Nathaniel stood rigid, his voice glacial. "She has hands. She can do it herself."

Harrison reached for the dryer, but Alexander blocked her hand. He glared at Nathaniel.

"You're looking for a fight tonight, aren't you?"