A Love to Die For (Nathaly) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

When Nathaly woke from the pain, Elijah’s close friend-Steven Robinson, the hospital’s deputy director- had just finished changing the bandages on her wounds.

Her gaze drifted calmly over the jagged 30-centimeter scar across her now-flat stomach. Nathaly’s voice was hoarse as she spoke.

“Does Elijah know?”

Steven looked guilty, searching for an excuse, but the moment he met her clear, lucid eyes, he gave up.

He shook his head.

“…Nicole swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills. After they saved her, she hasn’t stopped crying. Eli’s been so worried she might try again, he hasn’t left her side.”

“Can’t come, can’t even ask?” Nathaly thought bitterly.

She found it laughable, but didn’t care enough to argue.

“About the baby… could you wait until the day after tomorrow to tell him?”

She had just received word from Casper-the plan was set. She would fake her death at midnight tomorrow.

Steven didn’t think much of it and agreed before leaving.

Not long after, Elijah burst in, breathless, and pulled Nathaly into a fierce embrace.

“Honey, I thought I was going to lose you!”

He was shaking with relief, his voice trembling with joy.

“Thank God, you and the baby are both safe!”

As he spoke, he reached to lift Nathaly’s hospital gown to check her wounds, but she pushed him away.

He fought Nathaly

was just beings Ill, so he

tried to expla pateat

“I know I’ve neglected you these past few days, so I’ve cleared my schedule for the next month. I want to take you on vacation, help you recover. Is there anywhere you want to go?”

Nathaly remembered the options Casper had given her for the fake death and made up her mind.

“I want to take the cruise we went on for our honeymoon.”

She gazed out the window, her dark hair clinging to her pale, thin cheeks, and her voice barely above a whisper.

0.0 %

06:58

The next evening, Elijah wheeled Nathaly onto the ship.

The cruise had been custom-built for Nathaly by Elijah, and now, aside from the essential staff, there were over a thousand professional performers on board, all there to entertain her.

Knowing she’d soon be free, Nathaly found herself in good spirits, watching every show with genuine enjoyment.

Seeing her happy, Elijah generously handed out $20,000 bonuses to every performer.

The entire theater erupted in cheers.

At 9:30 that night, Elijah pushed Nathaly’s wheelchair back to the penthouse suite. On the way down the corridor, they ran into the captain, who had been waiting for them.

“Mr. Tuckett, to make it in time for the fireworks show you arranged for Mrs. Tuckett, we need to depart now.”

Elijah nodded. “Let’s go.”

But before they could continue, his bodyguard rushed over, phone in hand, face grim, and whispered urgently in his

ear.

“…Ms. Fridley is missing. The suspect matches the description of the man who attacked Mrs. Tuckett. A nurse saw people from the Keeton Group lurking near the hospital…”

Elijah instinctively turned to leave, but stopped short when he remembered Nathaly behind him.

“Go find her,” Nathaly said softly.

For the first time in a long while, she gave him that bright, radiant smile-the same one she used to wear when they were deeply in love.

Elijah’s eyes reddened, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he finally made a promise.

“This is the last time. Once you’re well, I’ll send Nicole overseas. From then on, it’ll just be the two of us.”

Nathaly nodded.

But as soon as Elijah left, the smile vanished from her eyes.

“Elijah, there is no future for us,” she thought.

Elijah mobilized nearly the entire city’s police force and finally rescued Nicole from a cabin in the woods, 40 kilome- ters from the port.

Minutes later, photos of him carrying Nicole onto a helicopter, cradled in his arms, shot to the top of the trending

searches.

Ten minutes before departure.

Nathaly asked her bodyguard to leave, saying she was hungry.

Five minutes before.

38.4 %

06:58

Nathaly neatly placed the abortion paperwork, a torn-up marriage certificate, and the USB drive containing the truth about Brenda’s death on the coffee table in the suite.

Three minutes before.

Nathaly recorded a video on her phone, set to send to Elijah on a timer.

One minute before.

Nathaly stepped onto the empty deck, the sea breeze whipping her black hair around her face.

She lifted the hem of her white dress and climbed barefoot onto the railing.

Looking down at the dark, churning waves, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

As the clock struck midnight, Nathaly leaned back and let herself fall into the sea.

At that exact moment, fireworks exploded across the sky.

The dazzling bursts and Nathaly’s slender, falling figure were reflected in Elijah’s eyes as he raced toward the cruise ship in a speedboat nearby.

In that single instant, his soul shattered.

“No-!”