When Her Death Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel) novel Chapter 2082

Outside, two bodyguards trailed them like silent shadows, arms loaded with crisp shirts, tailored trousers, and ribbon-tied shopping bags that bumped against their knees.

Nathaniel cast a downward glance at Jonathan, who still wasn't tall enough to reach his thigh, and asked, “What business did you have in a men's boutique in the first place?”

Jonathan didn't miss a beat. “Oh. Ms. Kennedy wanted me to pop in and pick out a few outfits for Uncle Zachary. This is just a quick errand on her behalf.”

He added, in the privacy of his own mind. Dad hardly knows Ms. Kennedy, and Mom's best friend would never check up on this, so the story is airtight.

Nathaniel nodded once, expression unreadable. “Your Ms. Kennedy certainly trusts you,” he murmured.

Yet a small, sour note curled inside his chest. Vivian remembers to buy clothes for Zachary, but Ceci never thinks of buying any for me.

His mood darkened like a sky before rain.

Jonathan sensed the cloud. He reached out, hooked his tiny pinkie around Nathaniel's larger finger, and gave a reassuring tug. “Dad, Mom actually asked me to purchase a suit a while back. I'm pretty sure that one was meant for you.”

If Nathaniel had believed the first fib, it was only because Vivian's eccentricity made anything possible.

To Nathaniel, Jonathan appeared more like an adult compared to Vivian.

But Cecelia? She would never delegate adult shopping to a child.

Nathaniel's gaze sharpened. “You've figured something out, haven't you?”

“Huh?” Jonathan blinked, performing innocent confusion.

Nathaniel let out a quiet breath. “When it comes to social-grade lying, you're still rough around the edges.”

Jonathan hadn't expected to be exposed so fast, and the realization sent a tremor of startled admiration through him.

Jon exhaled a theatrical sigh. “Are you feeling unhappy?” he asked, dark lashes lifting so his wide eyes could study every flicker on Nathaniel's face.

Nathaniel rolled his shoulders back and forced a civil smile. “Why would I be?” he countered, voice calm yet edged with fatigue.

“Because Mom bought clothes for me and Elliot, but none for you. She skipped you completely. That proves she doesn't value you,” Jon announced, brutally direct in the way only children can be.

Nathaniel's mouth opened, then snapped shut.Am I showing it that clearly?

Nathaniel's expression tightened. The comment landed like a weight on his chest. If even a child could read him, how had Cecilia never noticed?She really doesn't care, does she?

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