Chapter 5

Nathan’s POV

I returned to my own villa earlier than usual, the warmth from Lily's shoulder still lingering on my fingertips. The soft touch made me feel a bit dazed, as if I could still smell the faint fragrance on her. As the elevator doors opened, I made an effort to push these thoughts away.

"You're back early today, Mr. Sullivan," Martha's voice came from the kitchen as she wiped the countertop with a cloth. Seeing her busy figure, I felt a twinge of sympathy and sadness. While I knew that being a housekeeper was her job and that she had worked for the Sullivan family even before I was born, I could never imagine myself doing such cleaning work.

"Yes, I had some things to take care of," I replied, a slight smile forming on my lips. Involuntarily, Lily's image came to mind - her pale complexion and those eyes that still sparkled with determination even in weakness. This girl, whom I couldn't be unfamiliar with, but since my father asked me to take care of her, I followed his wishes.

Richard's stern and furious words suddenly echoed in my ears: "I expect you to only keep an eye on her from a distance, not get involved with her." His anger was almost palpable when he found out about the night Lily walked into my office a few months ago and we had that one-night stand.

I didn't know why I chose to have that one-night stand with her, but strangely, I couldn't deny that I was attracted to her. She was a mysteriously intelligent girl with a dual personality, but everyone thought she was innocent, which set her apart from others.

I recalled the scene of meeting her for the first time at Skyline nightclub. Instead of approaching me like other girls, she stood at a distance, cautiously observing me. When our eyes met, she didn't look away but held my gaze, her eyes shining with a light I couldn't decipher. Later, when Derek called her "Chipmunk," I had to admit that the nickname suited her - those round eyes and chubby cheeks made her look both fragile and adorable. Why was I thinking about Lily again?

"I made your favorite creamy pasta!" Martha's voice pulled me back to reality. She warmly took my hand and led me to the kitchen.

I smiled at her, feeling a wave of warmth inside. Knowing that someone cared about my well-being and happiness brought me comfort.

Martha, at 60 years old, had never had children of her own, but during her time working for the Sullivan family, she had seen all the children grow up. After I left the family mansion a few years ago, she had made it her mission to take care of me as much as possible. Martha knew that despite being the heir, I still had many burdens to bear. I had built a wall around myself, giving off an impression of aloofness and indifference, but Martha saw through it all.

"Will you join me for dinner?" I asked, taking a seat at the table. In this luxurious apartment, I often felt lonely. Even with the company of different women, the emptiness never truly disappeared. The same went for my family and friends - either they looked at me with jealousy or flattered me. One day, I would have the power of my father.

Martha nodded, serving us both plates of pasta. The steamy food emitted an enticing aroma, making me realize how hungry I was. As we ate, we shared our stories, and Martha always managed to make me genuinely happy.

"Is Joseph coming tonight?" Martha asked, mentioning my best friend whom I had grown up with.

I shook my head, contemplating our friendship. Despite growing up together, we only met when discussing business now. His father, Antonio, was known to be jealous of the Sullivan family, and although we kept our distance, we still engaged in business dealings for the sake of profit.

"What about Victoria? She hasn't been around for a while," Martha asked, bringing up another childhood friend, Victoria from the Parker family.

Victoria had always had a crush on me, but I never saw her as a sibling or a true lover, just an occasional bed partner. It sounded cruel, but that was my way of life - no commitments, no attachments.

After dinner, as Martha cleared the table, she suddenly asked, "Have you ever thought about settling down, finding a soulmate?"

"I don't believe in soulmates," I replied directly. Thinking of my parents' marriage, despite being married for over a decade, my father might take a bullet for my mother, but I doubted she would do the same.

My mother, Elizabeth, didn't complain about my father's profession because she enjoyed a life of luxury and comfort. If she hadn't met my father, things would have been the same, as Elizabeth came from an educated, powerful family, but she also liked status, which Richard possessed.

"What about children?" Martha asked softly. "Do you want children?"

I scoffed, "I'm not ready, and I refuse to force a child into this kind of life." My voice was firm. I didn't want any child to grow up like me, in a complex family environment, learning to use firearms at a very young age, being taught the cost of betrayal.

I had told Richard that I was willing to take over the family business because I had leadership skills, but I wouldn't give him an heir. I wouldn't bring an innocent life into this world to repeat my fate.

Richard even mocked me, claiming that he was like me when he was young and didn't think he would change so soon.

"I think I'll go to bed," I stood up and said, "I came back early today, so I'll make good use of this time."

Before heading up the stairs, I turned to Martha and said, "Martha, besides my family, you are the only woman I need in my life." Seeing the smile on her face, I felt a warmth spreading in my chest. While I might not believe in the power of love or family, I knew that Martha's care for me was genuine, and that was precious in my cold world.

As I climbed the stairs, my thoughts drifted to the small apartment at the other end of the city, where a troubled girl might be living. Tomorrow, I would find a way to see her again, to make sure she was truly okay. After all, it was my promise to my father, and that was it.