Hidden Passion
Chapter 22

It had slipped down her left arm, revealing her inscription but Nathaniel had covered his eyes childishly. "No, no, no. It's okay. Wear it, please. You can return it later," Nath suggested.

She smiled at his childish behavior and put back the suit very well. "Open your eyes," she said, and he obeyed and saw her smiling. "Are you a baby? Why did you do that? It's not like I'm getting all my clothes off," she said with a broad smile which he returned. She had managed to crawl out of her sad mood with his help.

Nath only managed to laugh. "I am glad that lighten your mood. I don't like seeing you sad," he said. He had decided to be nice and tolerate her rudeness, if she ever decided to do that again, until he got a feedback from the agent he had asked to make a background check on her.

She sighed. "I am only worried about my mother," she said while meeting his eyes.

Nath turned to her and held her shoulders, which made her look at him in the eyes with lots of unread emotions, but love was obviously among. "You don't have to worry about your mum, Lilly. She will be fine," he assured and smiled. Lillian nodded, but said nothing as she looked away.

He cleared his throat. "I have been wondering about something." She faced him as that left his mouth with full attention. "Why are you suddenly okay with me calling you Lilly? I know you were very... uhm...I mean, you didn't like me nor anyone, not even that investor, calling you that. And if I'm not mistaken, you once said that only your special man would be allowed to call you that," he uttered and waited for her to answer his question.

Could it be possible that he was now special to her? That would be hilarious, considering the type of person she was. She could not in the least fall for a person such as him. That, he knew for sure.

But, what of he was proved wrong? What if she actually loved him and that was why she helped him with the investors? Of course not. She had made it clear that it was because she did not want her mother to seem incompetent. "Lillian?" He called, reminding her that he was still waiting for her response when she said nothing.

The elevator door opened, and she quickly got off and he did the same. He showed her to her mother's ward and told her he would wait by the seat which was some steps away from the reception.

As she entered her mother's ward with a glum expression as she put her thought about Nath's question aside. She became so worried about her mother. She looked so frail that she was so afraid for a moment, but surprisingly, his words came back to her mind to soothe and console her.

It was getting harder for her to keep up her pretense that she hated him, but she had no other choice.

Her mother gave a weak smile as she sighed her daughter and wrapped her hands around her when came into her hands.

"How are you doing now, mum?" She asked as she sat beside her mother on the bed and held her hand in hers, careful not to touch the part she was being given treatment.

"I am fine, dear. You don't have to worry about me," her mother said as she brought her other to her daughter's cheek.

"How can I not be worried about you? I was even thinking of calling dad after I leave here," her daughter said.

"No, please don't. I don't want him to get worried and started coming here," she said, still caring for her ex-husband. Even if he had divorced her he felt ashamed of himself of being unable to fulfill his duties as a father since everything he was doing seemed to be nothing compared to his wealthy wife.

Perhaps if she had not been too harsh on her husband, he would not have ended up divorcing her since that was what she least expected. Nevertheless, she still loved him. She only acted like she no longer cared since she knew he would not be coming back to her.

"No matter how much you deny it, mum, I know you still love dad. I don't know why you are being hard on yourself when..." "Let's not talk about him. Now is not the time," her mother mentioned.

Lillian nodded. She was right. That was not the right time. She needed to get well first before anything else.

"Was it the rush of coming here that made you dress like that? How could you put on a suit that short?"

"Actually, this is not mine," she said, touching the black suit on her. "It's for Nathaniel. I only come here in this top and shorts."

Her mother's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you came all the way here on that top? What about your arm?"

Lillian looked confused for a moment before it all dawned on her. Her palms flee to her open mouth to cover it from flies. Her inscription! "Oh, my God! I swear I forgot all about it. How could I have been so stupid?" "What if someone had seen it? What if Nath..." Her mother was saying.

Lillian shook her head. That was not possible. "No one saw it, that I am sure of. I put this on as soon as I got to the reception because of the cold. Not that I was actually very cold, though."

Her mother nodded and changed the subject. "Concerning Nath and you, for how long do you plan on not telling him the truth?" She asked, but her question was neglected.

"You will have to stop working from now on. You are old enough to retire anyway," she said, pretending as if she did not hear her mother.

"I am also old enough for a grandchild, Lillian. No matter how much you deny it, I know you love Nathaniel. You desperately wanted me to accept him as an in-law and now that I have given it some thoughts since he seems to be the only person who you love, you're denying."

"Mum, please, stop. I don't love Nath. I don't even like him anymore. And in case you don't know, he has a girlfriend," she blurted out furiously and a hint of jealousy could be sensed in her tone.

"Oh...Now I know. But that should not stop you from telling him who you are. You can be friends, if not couples," her mother advised.

Ignoring her mum, she said, "I think I should go and see the doctor now."

"Lillian..."

"There is a saying that says, 'If you love someone, let them go. If they come back, they are yours to keep.' Do you understand me?" She said and without waiting for her mother's response, she added, "Okay then. See you in the evening. I will go home to bring you some clothes after leaving the doctor."

She went out of the ward and took the elevator back to the main reception without a word to Nath. She was glad he did not hear what she discussed with her mother because he was calm and collected and did not look confused or cynical. "I am very sorry that I can't take this off now. I will have to give back the next time we see," she said as she stood by her car in the hospital's parking lot.

Nathaniel did not look bothered. "It's fine. I am just wondering why you're suddenly resistant to taking it off. You were so willing a while ago," he pointed out.

"I am sorry," she said with a sad expression.

"It's fine. Just be careful on your way home," he told her.

"I will, thank you," she said and got into her car and drove off.