Nathan had abandoned me, left me writhing in pain during one of my worst episodes, just to drive across the city in the middle of the night to get her one.
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Chapter 4
+25 BONUS
That warmth and devotion had once belonged to me.
Back when I had just started college–before I had even been diagnosed with my illness–Nathan had pursued me relentlessly.
After witnessing Dad’s death, I had shut myself off to men entirely. No matter how cold I had been to Nathan, he had never given up.
I had been like a porcupine, trying to push him away at every turn. I had told him the truth–the secret that had haunted me for years.
Dad had been cheating on Mom with my classmate’s mother. One night, they had sneaked into her house for a rendezvous, but my classmate’s father had caught them in the act. In the chaos, both men had tumbled off the balcony. Neither had survived.
Mom resented me for it.
She had accused me of knowing about Dad’s affair and keeping it from her. She had blamed me for his death and for leaving her to struggle alone, raising me and my sister.
At school, things had been even worse. The other kids, brainwashed by their parents, had isolated me. Some had outright bullied me.
After he heard everything, Nathan’s eyes had turned red. He had pulled me into his arms, his voice trembling with emotion as he said, “Tegan, you’ve suffered so much. Let me protect you from now on.”
At that moment, my walls had crumbled. I had broken down in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably as I clung to him.
