Chapter 14 - GRACE AND NATHAN FACED THE FIVE LOST YEARSOnce the immediate danger passed, Nathan and I had to face something harder.
Us.
He asked:
“Why didn’t you come back sooner?”
I wanted to say:
Your father.
Your family.
The threats.
All true.
Instead:
“I was afraid.”
He looked down.
“I would have believed you.”
“Would you?”
He looked hurt.
I continued.
“Twenty-four-year-old Nathan?”
Silence.
“Against your father?”
More silence.
“I don’t know.”
He finally admitted.
That honesty mattered.
Then I said:
“I still should have tried harder.”
Not because Henry did not coerce me.
He did.
Not because Peter did not betray me.
He did.
But eventually fear became routine.
I raised Lily alone without checking whether Nathan had changed.
That was my choice too.
Nathan nodded.
Then:
“I spent five years hating you.”
“I know.”
“I thought you killed our child.”
My eyes filled.
“I didn’t know he told you that.”
We cried.
Not romantically.
May you like
Not yet.
For the years stolen by people who believed they had the right to decide our lives.
