"No, it's just a dream. It's not real. Nina, he's so gentle, so kind, he could never hurt anyone," Nathalie kept telling herself.

Nina clung to Nathalie's neck, her voice trembling. "Mom, I'm scared. Is he going to lock me up too?" Nina curled up into a little ball, trembling.

Nathalie pulled her in, holding her close. "Nina, it was just a dream. Dreams aren't real."

"But Mom, it wasn't a dream. It was real."

Nathalie let out a breath that was half a laugh, half a sob, as she cradled her daughter's face gently. "Cameron saw you just the other day, and he was perfectly fine. Not a scratch on him. Nina, your dream was just a dream..."

Nathalie's eyes were wide with sincerity. "Mom, it's true. I saw it myself. In the basement of the McCoy family's mansion, there was this enormous room with all sorts of terrifying instruments."

A chill ran through Nathalie.

"Nina, how do you know about the McCoy family?"

"I've been there."

Nathalie's heart skipped a beat. "When?"

"Mom, don't you remember? You took me there because I was sick. You heard the McCoy family had developed some miracle cure, so you brought me along. But the gatekeeper wouldn't let us in, so you left me at the gate while you went to figure something out. Right after you left, Nathan came over and just picked me up without a word."

"And then?"

"I was too weak and passed out. When I came to, I was in the basement, and Nathan was whipping Cameron with a long whip."

Nathalie's face went pale.

What Nina was describing really did happen, but not in this lifetime. It was from another time. Back then, Nina's illness had reached its worst, and Cameron was always off with Greta, ignoring them. Desperate, Nathalie had sought help from the McCoy family, not telling her daughter...

If Nina's story was true, then Nathan's polished exterior hid a darker side. How could she ever face him now?

"Nina, you mustn't tell anyone about this. I'll get to the bottom of it," Nathalie assured her.

Nina nodded earnestly. "Okay."

Holding Nina close, Nathalie felt a heavy weight settle in her heart.

Late that night, Nathan returned home.

For two nights straight, Nathan had been coming home late. The previous night, Nathalie had waited up for him, made him a late-night snack, and only went to bedOnce she knew he was asleep.

But tonight, Nathalie didn't wait.

Nathan was surprised not to see her.

"Where's Nathalie?" he asked the maid.

"She went to bed early tonight," the maid replied.

A flicker of confusion crossed Nathan's face. He didn't say much but felt a vague sense of loss as he headed toward Nathalie's room.

He almost knocked but decided against disturbing her sleep. Instead, he returned to his own room.

That night, Nathan smoked until dawn.noveldrama

It wasn't until his computer's notification chimed softly that he reluctantly stubbed out his cigarette and sat down at the desk.

Seeing the blinking icon, Nathan's expression hardened for a moment. He let out a long, resigned sigh.