Chapter 1993

Mavis took Sheena's wrist and leaned in close. With a calm expression, she whispered, "Nathaniel took away all my communication devices and locked me in the ward. He even threatened to send the baby away…" Sheena had seen it all, but she was still shocked to hear this. "Has Nathaniel lost his mind? How could he treat you like this?" Mavis was already vulnerable due to her pregnancy, and Nathaniel's lack of care and his controlling behavior would likely cause her serious psychological stress. However, Sheena recalled how he had pursued her obsessively in Laubabwe and suddenly understood his behavior. Nathaniel had always been intense and obsessive, a trait rooted in his troubled childhood as an illegitimate child. Despite regaining control of the Nicholls family, he had kept his darker side hidden. Yet, his true nature was revealed through his treatment of Mavis. Sheena asked, "Have you been mentioning divorce or separation with him?" Mavis was caught off guard by the question but nodded. "Yes." Sheena immediately grasped the situation. "Nathaniel is the type who will go to extreme lengths to hold on to something or someone he feels slipping away. Whether through manipulation or force, he'll stop at nothing." He was afraid of losing Mavis and her love, and the situation worsened when Mavis deceived him about the baby's paternity. In his mind, he would resort to any extreme behavior to regain control. This behavior stemmed from Nathaniel's childhood trauma, having been severely mistreated by his stepmother, Vanda. In his world, achieving his goals meant fighting for them by any means necessary. Sheena understood Nathaniel well, but she also recognized how much Mavis had suffered for him. It was clear that Mavis wanted to cut ties completely and leave decisively. "Your issues are quite complicated…" As an observer, there was little she could do to help directly. However, her words made Mavis even more determined to distance herself. "Sheena, my love for him has been worn away. I don't love him like I used to, and I certainly don't have the same determination to be with him despite all obstacles." Her love for him had been shattered over the long year of marriage, leaving her with nothing but a desire to escape and to ensure Nathaniel could never find her again. Perhaps, in some twisted way, this was the best revenge against him. She squeezed Sheena's hand, her voice tinged with desperation. "I'm truly afraid of him. Being locked in this room every day and knowing I'll have to go back to the Nicholls residence after the baby is born, continuing as his wife, is terrifying. I'm losing sleep over this and don't know what to do…" She sobbed silently, sounding despair and desperate. "Sheena, can you help me? If even you can't get me out of this, I'd rather just die here." Sheena's heart ached for her, and she quickly realized that Mavis' mental state was declining. With the hormonal changes and high levels of progesterone during pregnancy, it was no wonder she was feeling so overwhelmed and paranoid. Nonetheless, Mavis' decision should be respected. "No more talk of giving up on life. You have to think about your baby too. Even if you don't care about yourself, you must care for your baby." Sheena wiped the tears from Mavis' eyes and reassured her, "I'll figure out a plan. Just… give me some time to think things through." … When Nathaniel and Elliot returned with the corncakes, they found Mavis asleep, resting her head on Sheena's shoulder.