Part 3I Gave Up the Throne for Him

Staying with him was absolutely not part of my plan.

And yet, somehow, I'd ended up following Nathan home.

The place belonged to him. He'd bought it himself. It wasn't particularly big, but it was warm and comfortable, the kind of home that felt lived in.

It didn't quite match his appearance. He looked like the sort of man who belonged in a penthouse overlooking the city, not in a modest apartment with mismatched furniture and a cozy little kitchen.

He seemed completely unconcerned about my decision to move out.

"Throw your tantrum if you have to," he said. "I'll take you back tomorrow. Nobody's going to say anything to you, and nothing is going to change. You can keep living your life as the heir to the Reed fortune."

He took a bottle of water from the refrigerator, twisted off the cap, and drank more than half of it in one go. Then he grabbed another bottle, this one at room temperature, and shoved it into my hand.

"Are we clear, Oliver?"

I didn't take the bottle.

I met his gaze stubbornly.

"I said I'm not moving back, and I meant it. That's your home, not mine anymore. I've been a thief, stealing your life for all these years. Now it's time to give it back. You're the one who should be moving home."

I tightened my grip on the handle of my suitcase, preparing to say goodbye.

I couldn't go back to the Reed estate, but I could find a hotel somewhere.

Anything was better than continuing to burden Nathan.

"Thanks for everything today," I said. "I'll get going."

"Oliver, do you seriously not understand? What happened back then wasn't your fault."

I turned to face him. His expression had grown impatient, and I could tell he was getting angry.

"How can you say it has nothing to do with me?"

"How does it have anything to do with you? Did you switch us yourself? Did you deliberately hide who you were? Were you the mastermind behind everything that happened all those years ago?"

I hadn't even opened my mouth before Nathan answered his own questions.