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Novel Catalog
Chapter 6 Traditional Medicine
Apart from the work-related messages, Cecilia hadn’t called or sent any word of apology all day.
“Let’s see how long you can hold out.”
Nathaniel tossed his phone aside with a sharp motion and stood up, walking toward the kitchen. When he opened the refrigerator, he froze.
Inside, amid the usual food, there were various packets of traditional medicine, stacked haphazardly. He picked one up, the label catching his eye—Five packets a day, specifically for treating infertility.
Infertility…
A sickeningly pungent aroma rose from the packet, and suddenly, he recalled the faint medicinal scent that had clung to Cecilia lately. His realization hit him like a wave.
So this is the source of her recent behavior.
Nathaniel smirked bitterly. The two of them had never been intimate, so no matter how much medicine she took, it would be impossible for her to conceive. He tossed the packet back into the refrigerator and shut the door with more force than intended, feeling a strange lightness in his chest.
Suddenly, everything clicked. He understood why Cecilia had been acting out lately. And, for the first time in days, Nathaniel felt a sense of relief—like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Without a second thought, he went back to the master bedroom, eager to rest. With Cecilia gone, he no longer had to tiptoe around her. For the first time in years, Nathaniel found peace in the quiet of the house. He slept soundly.
The next morning, he had plans to meet Zachary for a round of golf. After changing into his sportswear, Nathaniel walked through the living room, ready to leave. Out of habit, he began to speak to Cecilia, intending to tell her he wouldn’t be home for the day—but stopped mid-sentence. There was no need anymore.
At the golf course, Nathaniel’s spirits were high. The white sportswear suited him, and his usually cold expression softened. His presence was commanding, like a movie star on the course. He swung his club with precision, sending the ball into the hole with a clean shot.
Zachary, who had been watching, called out to him with a grin.
“Nathaniel, you’re on fire today! What’s the secret? Got some good news you’re keeping to yourself?”
By now, the news of Cecilia’s desire for a divorce had already spread. Zachary was curious to hear it directly from Nathaniel, perhaps so he could share it with Stella, who had been waiting nearby.
Nathaniel took a sip of water before casually answering, “Nothing much. Just getting ready for a divorce with Cecilia.”
Zachary blinked in surprise. “Wait, really? You two have been married for three years. Why now?”
Nathaniel’s eyes darkened for a brief moment, a flicker of something passing through him. “She’s the one who brought it up.”
Zachary snorted. “Oh, she’s playing hard to get. I’ve seen women like her before. Trust me, she’ll come crawling back soon enough.”
Grinning, he added, “But hey, I’ve got a surprise for you today.”
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “What kind of surprise?”
Zachary shot off a quick text. Not long after, Nathaniel noticed a figure approaching from the distance. Dressed in a stylish pink athletic outfit, Stella waved playfully at him. Her eyes glinted with excitement.
Soon, she reached them. Zachary, ever the considerate friend, smiled knowingly. “I’ll leave you two to chat. Don’t want to be the third wheel.”
As Zachary walked off, Stella turned to Nathaniel with a bright smile. “How about a walk? You know, to the university we both went to?”
Nathaniel didn’t respond right away, his gaze lingering on her. Stella, with her carefully chosen words and practiced charm, didn’t mention Cecilia at all. Instead, she spoke of their past.
“Nathaniel, do you remember this path? We used to walk along it when we were dating. You’d hold my hand and promise me we’d walk it together forever.”
She paused, extending her slender hand toward him with a hopeful smile. “Will you hold my hand now, and walk with me?”
The moment her hand brushed against his, Nathaniel instinctively pulled back. It wasn’t a harsh rejection, but enough to make Stella pause, her smile faltering for just a moment.
Nathaniel’s expression remained cold, his voice steady. “I don’t remember anything from the past.”
To him, everything—studying, falling in love, getting married, working—was just part of the journey. A series of tasks to check off. His relationship with Stella, his first love, was no more significant than any of the rest.
Stella’s face twisted with a hint of pain as she spoke, her voice trembling. “Are you still angry with me? Back then, I had no choice. I didn’t want to leave you, but I had to. I love you, Nathaniel. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. All those years… alone. The memories of us kept me going. I wanted to be worthy of you.”
Her words tugged at Nathaniel’s chest, but his face remained unchanged. I’m already married.
Stella’s eyes shone with fresh tears. “I know,” she said quickly, trying to regain control. “But now, she wants a divorce, right? I’ll be forever grateful to her for giving you back to me.”
Tears welled up in Stella’s eyes as she clung to Nathaniel’s waist, her voice thick with emotion. “Do you know how much I hate Cecilia? I hate her! If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have been apart all this time.”
I hate her…
The words rang in Nathaniel’s ears, but they weren’t his thoughts. Instead, another image appeared in his mind—the memory of Cecilia’s face, so serene yet filled with sorrow. He remembered the night her father died, how she had looked at him through her tears, asking softly, “Nathaniel, can you hold me?”
Back then, he had walked right past her, offering no comfort, nothing at all.
The image lingered, and Nathaniel instinctively pulled away from Stella’s embrace. Before she could say anything, Zachary rushed back, holding a stack of documents.
“Nathaniel,” Zachary said, handing them over. “Cecilia’s lawyer sent this. It’s supposed to be compensation for your three years of marriage.”
Nathaniel took the documents, his curiosity piqued. As he flipped through the pages, his brows furrowed.
It wasn’t a settlement. It was a property transfer agreement. Cecilia was transferring assets to him. One hundred million.
Nathaniel’s disbelief turned to laughter. “One hundred million? She thinks this is enough for me to let go of the Smith family? To forgive her?”
Zachary, now understanding what was happening, chuckled. “Little Miss ‘innocent’ has been hiding quite a fortune, hasn’t she? Does her brother and that greedy mother know about this?”
Stella, standing quietly, watched the exchange. She had been worried that Nathaniel might still harbor some feelings for Cecilia. But seeing him so unaffected, so dismissive, reassured her. He wasn’t pining for Cecilia. She wasn’t even worthy of being my rival.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit motel room, Cecilia slowly opened her eyes. Her head throbbed painfully. The silence surrounding her was suffocating, and she knew her condition was deteriorating. The pain in her chest, however, was the least of her worries. The world outside felt far away, but she couldn’t help but think of Nathaniel.
