Chapter 1980

Sheena and Elliot dropped Mavis off at the ranch and waited until she was safely inside before leaving. … The following evening, Nathaniel was released from custody, thanks to prior arrangements. Troy had personally apologized for the incident with Gavin and covered triple the medical expenses and compensation. No one would say no to more money, and Gavin eventually dropped the charges. Moreover, the domestic violence accusations against Nathaniel were dismissed due to lack of evidence, so his release from custody went smoothly. That night, Troy came to pick him up, and Nathaniel's exhaustion was evident. His stubble had grown out, and his tired eyes showed how grueling his 24 hours in jail had been. "Mr. Nicholls, are you alright?" "I'm great," Nathaniel replied coldly, his blue eyes icy. "Where is Mavis?" "Mrs. Nicholls is at the ranch. By now, she should be resting. Don't worry, our team has been keeping an eye on her. We won't let anything happen to her or let her run off." Nathaniel coldly averted his gaze, got into the car, and ordered, "Let's go back to the ranch." Late into the night. Mavis could not sleep well. With her growing belly, her body felt heavier, and even turning over in bed was becoming uncomfortable. Sometimes, the lively baby inside would kick her, jolting her awake from her dreams. However, things felt different that night. A soft blanket wrapped around her legs, and warm fingers traced her pale calves, moving slowly upward. The sensation was strange. Groggy from sleep, Mavis felt an itch on her calf and shifted slightly in bed. The hands did not stop their touch, sliding up her calves until the fingertips rested on her swollen belly. The sensation was very real. While the touch on her legs had not fully awakened her, the contact on her stomach did. Mavis instantly jolted awake, grabbing the hands and looking up. In the darkness, she could only make out a tall silhouette. Although his face was hidden in the shadows, Mavis could clearly feel the cold aura emanating from him. She quickly recognized the figure. "Nathaniel, is that you? You're out of jail?" The man responded with a hoarse, "Yes." An overwhelming pressure followed. Nathaniel seemed like a storm ready to break, and Mavis felt a surge of fear. Instinctively, she moved back, trying to distance herself from his touch. "I locked the door. H-How did you get into my room?" He remained silent. Mavis glanced at the open window and realized Nathaniel must have climbed in. As she continued to retreat, Nathaniel grabbed her calf with a chilling smile. "Why are you avoiding me? You must feel guilty for sending me to jail. Is that it?" "I…" Before she could explain, Nathaniel turned on the bedside lamp. The warm, yellow light illuminated his handsome profile, but it could not warm the coldness in his deep blue eyes. He moved to the head of the bed, pinning Mavis's hands firmly against the bedframe and gazing at her intently. "N-Nathaniel, please don't do this." He chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You haven't seen what real abuse looks like. Well, should I show it to you?"