Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 218

Chapter 218: Do You Still Envision Us Together?
The villa was quiet, save for the two pairs of footsteps echoing in the hallway and the distant echoes of waves crashing against the shore. Neither Nathaniel nor Elsie talked as they left Lorianne’s bedroom.

The little one was sound asleep in the unfamiliar yet cozy bedroom. She didn’t even stir as they crawled out of the bed, afraid of accidentally waking her up.

“Let’s talk in my study,” Nathaniel glanced behind his shoulder, looking at Elsie who walked behind him, “Tristan should be in his room already, but… it’s better to be safe.”

Understanding what Nathaniel meant, Elsie nodded, “Wherever you feel right.”

Both of them couldn’t predict how their conversation would be despite knowing what kind of issues they would bring up. The shadows of the past loomed over their heads, haunting like a phantom.

Nathaniel led Elsie to his home study. The hallway was brightly lit by the lamps hanging from the ceiling. Pushing the wooden door open, the lights inside showered on them.

“Please have a seat.”

Nathaniel gestured at the seating area, acting a bit stiff. Elsie quietly lowered herself on the two-seater couch while the man walked to a table by the shelves. She saw a jug of water and glasses there.

As Nathaniel grabbed the glass pitcher to pour some water into the glasses, Elsie swept her gaze around the home study. Her eyes were locked on the tree-shaped bookshelf that the man got for Lorianne.

The children’s bookshelf, including the colorful illustrated storybooks, looked out of place in this study.

Ironically, seeing them flooded her heart with warmth. She felt the same when she saw the frames of their old photos.

Not only did this unfamiliar study have the traces of her, courtesy of him, but he also included items with their daughter in mind.

Pursing her lip, Elsie reminded herself to stay calm during this conversation. It would inevitably reopen the old wounds, no matter whether they wanted it to happen or not.

Nathaniel returned with two glasses of plain water. He put one on the coffee table, right before Elsie, “Feel free to drink it. I think we’re going to have a long chat.”

“Thank you.”

Nodding once in response, Elsie fidgeted with her pleated skirt. She lowered her gaze, seeing the slight trembling of her hands.

‘Stay calm. You can do this.’

Elsie exhaled softly. She tried giving herself encouragement. As her eyes remained on her hands, she didn’t notice Nathaniel’s gaze was locked onto her.

How long would this conversation be?

What would be the outcome?

Nathaniel hoped the results would favor not only him, but also Elsie. Still, that would only happen if they shared the same goal.

If not…

Would their already delicate relationship be strained further?

No. Please… Anything but that.

He didn’t want to get farther away from her. Not after they were finally reunited after years of separation—only because she returned to his life.

“Niel.”

Nathaniel blinked, his eyes regaining clarity. Elsie was openly staring at him now. She appeared less nervous, but the air around her still seemed guarded.

“Yes, Elsie? You may start first if you want. I’ll listen to you.”

Nathaniel unconsciously straightened his back. He also grabbed his knees, tightly gripping them. The pounding of his heart spiked as he nervously waited for Elsie to speak.

The air inside the study was thickened with unspoken tension. Both sides shared the same uncertainty. The momentary silence seemed too loud, until Elsie’s voice echoed above the stillness.

“I’ll be direct,” Elsie resumed. She sensed her heart trembling out of uneasiness, but she persisted as she spoke, “What do you imagine for the future? Do you still envision us together?”

The questions hung in the air as Nathaniel froze, his breath caught in his throat. His eyes remained on Elsie, but his expression evidently showed how stunned he was.

Despite already foreseeing such questions, hearing them spoken by her still overtook him by surprise.

“Y-you… do you want to know what I think… of our future?”

Nathaniel’s voice became raspy, trembling from the rapid thumping of his heart. He clenched and unclenched his hands, unable to stay still.

Elsie nodded. As if dark clouds hung over her head, her expression dimmed. Seeing her look made Nathaniel more nervous.

Elsie parted her lips, enunciating each word, “Before we start with our conversation, I hope to know what you think about us, Niel.”

Nathaniel pursed his lips. A frown marred his forehead, before the lines softened. When he answered Elsie in the next second, the traces of his jitters unexpectedly vanished.

“I’ve always seen you in my future, Elsie, not anyone else. Even when you were gone for years, my heart never changed. I still wish that you’ll be by my side.”

Like how she penned in her last letter for him, his heart was also hers.

Elsie was quiet, too stunned to speak as Nathaniel revealed his feelings. Her chest tightened with pain despite his words, his earnestly spoken words, shrouded her heart with happiness.

Then, what he told her back in the flower garden a few weeks ago echoed again in her mind[01].

“…you don’t have… anything to apologize for. It’s me. I’m the one who… owes you an apology.”

“All that matters is… you’re safe. Both you and our child.”

From the first moment they met again, Nathaniel’s actions were obvious. He had regrets from missing the first five years of Lorianne’s life, but he had never held her accountable for hiding until now.

Elsie knew where she stood in Nathaniel’s heart—at the apex. Despite being aware of it, her doubt and fear still made her question everything.

That was the reason she had to openly ask about his thoughts regarding their relationship. She needed a clear answer to ease the uncertainties in her heart.

Hot tears pooled in Elsie’s eyes, blurring the sight of Nathaniel’s calm look. Her heart trembled, and so did her lips, but she forced herself to ask the most important question.

“If you’re fine with it, of my flaws and cowardice, may we start again, Niel?”

The smile on his lips was the softest, and the warmest she had ever seen.

“I’m the one with flaws and cowardice, Elsie. I’m more than grateful… if you can look past them and accept me again in your life. I swear, I’ll do better for you and our child.”

Elsie’s breath caught in her throat. Closing her eyes, she felt the rush of tears, streaming down her face. What she felt next was the familiar pair of arms, enveloping her in an embrace.

Nathaniel tenderly held Elsie in his arms, the soft echoes of her cries pricked into his heart. He gently caressed her back with one palm, his fingers occasionally entangled with her soft blond locks.

Trying to keep himself together, Nathaniel wondered how many times Elsie had wept by herself. He knew how much she often tried to show how strong she was, only to cry alone in the dark.

His precious beloved was just like that. He still remembered the times he caught her sobbing in a dark corner, or the rarely used storeroom back in the orphanage.

Since then, he became the shoulder for her to cry on as she did to him.

———-

Reference:

1 – From Chapter 144 and 146