Rejected: A love story-Chapter 97: Don’t leave me

Nathan wasted no time. "Where’s Fiona? Is she here?"

Ella hesitated, her hand gripping the doorframe. "She doesn’t want to see you right now."

Nathan stepped forward, his voice urgent. "Please, Ella. I just need to talk to her. I need to understand what’s going on."

Ella glanced over her shoulder, then sighed. "She’s inside. But I’m warning you, Nathan—she’s upset. Don’t make things worse."

Nathan nodded, his jaw tight. He stepped past Ella and into the apartment, spotting Fiona sitting on the couch, her face buried in her hands. She looked up when she heard him, her eyes red and swollen.

"Nathan," she said, her voice shaking. "What are you doing here?"

Nathan froze, his heart breaking at the sight of her. "Fiona, please. Tell me what’s wrong. What happened?"

She shook her head, her expression hardening. "You shouldn’t have come. I told you I needed time."

"Time for what?" Nathan asked, his voice cracking. "To leave me? To walk away without even explaining why?"

Fiona stood, her hands clenched at her sides. "Nathan, we’re from two different worlds. You don’t understand me, and I don’t understand you. This isn’t working."

Nathan stepped closer, his desperation spilling out. "Fiona, don’t say that. I love you. I can’t lose you."

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "Love isn’t enough, Nathan. We’re too different. I’ve tried, but I can’t do this anymore."

Nathan dropped to his knees, his emotions overwhelming him. "Fiona, please. Don’t do this. I’ve never begged for anything in my life, but I’m begging you now. I’ll do whatever it takes. Just don’t leave me."

Fiona stared at him, shocked. She’d never seen Nathan like this—vulnerable, broken, on his knees. She turned away, unable to bear the sight. "I’m sorry, Nathan. I can’t."

Nathan’s voice cracked as he spoke again. "Fiona, you’re my everything. I’ll change. I’ll fix whatever’s wrong. Just tell me how. Please."

Ella stood silently in the corner, watching the scene unfold. Caleb, too, was frozen, unable to believe that his brother—the cold, unshakable Nathan—was crying over a woman.

Fiona wiped her tears and turned back to Nathan. "You can’t change who you are, Nathan. And I can’t change who I am. We’ll never fit."

Nathan reached for her hand, his tears falling freely now. "We do fit, Fiona. I know we do. Who put all these thoughts in your head!. Don’t throw us away."

Fiona hesitated, her resolve wavering. But before she could respond, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, then turned to Ella. "I need to go."

Nathan stood, grabbing her arm gently. "Go where? Fiona, don’t walk away from me."

She pulled away, her expression pained. "Goodbye, Nathan."

And with that, she walked out the door, leaving Nathan standing there, broken.

Nathan stood frozen in Ella’s apartment, staring at the door Fiona had just walked out of. His chest tightened, and his legs felt like lead, but his mind was racing.

"Where is she going? Why won’t she just talk to me? He turned to Ella, his eyes burning.

"Where’s she going?" he demanded.

Ella flinched, her back pressed against the wall. "I—I don’t know," she stammered. "She didn’t tell me."

Nathan’s jaw clenched. "Don’t lie to me, Ella. You know something."

Ella shook her head quickly. "I don’t! She doesn’t tell me everything, Nathan. She just needed a place to stay."

Caleb, who had been silently observing, stepped forward. "Nathan, let’s not scare her. She’s clearly freaked out."

Nathan ignored him, his focus locked on Ella. "If you know where she’s going and you’re not telling me, so help me—"

"Nathan!" Caleb cut in, grabbing his shoulder. "Enough. Let’s go."

Nathan hesitated, his fists clenched, before storming out of the apartment. Caleb trailed behind him, shooting Ella an apologetic glance. "Sorry about him," he muttered before closing the door.

Outside, Nathan scanned the street, spotting Fiona in the distance. She was walking quickly, her arms wrapped around herself as if shielding herself from the cold—or something else. Without thinking, Nathan started after her.

"Bro, what are you doing?" Caleb called, jogging to catch up.

"She’s hiding something, Caleb," Nathan said, his voice low and urgent. "I’m not letting her walk away again."

Caleb sighed but didn’t argue. "Alright, but don’t make it worse. She’s already upset."

Nathan didn’t respond. His focus was solely on Fiona. She turned a corner, and he quickened his pace, determined not to lose her. Caleb followed reluctantly, muttering under his breath about how he always ended up in Nathan’s messes.

As they rounded the corner, they saw Fiona standing under a streetlight, her phone pressed to her ear. She looked tense, her free hand clenched into a fist at her side. Nathan slowed, motioning for Caleb to stay quiet.

"Yes, I got your message," Fiona said, her voice trembling. "I’m here. What do you want?"

Nathan and Caleb exchanged a glance, their curiosity piqued. Fiona’s tone wasn’t just upset—it was scared.

"I told you I’d do whatever you wanted," Fiona continued, her voice breaking. "Just leave them alone. Please."

Nathan’s stomach dropped. ’Who the hell is she talking to?’

He took a step closer, trying to hear more, but Fiona suddenly turned and spotted him. Her eyes widened in panic.

"Nathan, no!" she shouted, hanging up the phone and shoving it into her pocket. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Nathan shot back, his voice sharp. "Who were you talking to?"

"None of your business," she snapped, trying to push past him. "Go home, Nathan."

"Not until you tell me what’s going on," he said, blocking her path. "You’re scared, Fiona. I can see it. Who was on the phone?"

"Let it go, Nathan!" she yelled, tears streaming down her face. "You can’t fix this!"

"Fix what?" Nathan pressed, his voice softening. "Fiona, talk to me. Please."

But she shook her head, stepping back. "I can’t. Just... go."

Caleb just turned around, giving them privacy.

On the other hand, Fiona took another part. Nathan didn’t hesitate. The second Fiona turned and ran, he bolted after her, his heart pounding as fast as his footsteps on the pavement. The cold night air bit at his skin, but he barely felt it. All he could think about was catching up to her, stopping her, saving her from whatever was tearing her apart.

"Fiona!" he shouted, his voice echoing down the empty street. She didn’t stop. She didn’t even look back. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, her head down as she hurried away.

"Fiona, please! Stop!" Nathan’s voice cracked, his desperation spilling out into the night. He pushed himself harder, his legs burning as he closed the distance between them.

Finally, she reached a small park and stopped near a bench, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Nathan slowed, his own breathing ragged, and approached her cautiously, like she was a fragile bird that might take flight again.

"Fiona," he said softly, his voice trembling. "Please. Talk to me."

She turned to face him, and the sight of her broke him. Tears streamed down her face, her eyes filled with pain and something else—something she was trying to hide. She shook her head, stepping back as he moved closer.

"Nathan, you shouldn’t have followed me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nathan took another step forward, his hands outstretched like he was trying to reach her through the invisible wall she’d built around herself. "How could I not? Fiona, you’re running from me, and I don’t even know why. I can’t just let you go like this."

"You have to," she said, her voice cracking. "You don’t understand. You can’t fix this."

"Then help me understand!" Nathan’s voice rose, his frustration and fear bubbling over. "Tell me what’s going on, Fiona. Tell me why you’re doing this. Please."

She turned away, wiping at her tears. "I can’t, Nathan. I can’t tell you. You just... you need to let me go."

Nathan’s chest tightened, and he felt the sting of tears in his own eyes. He took another step closer, his voice softening. "Fiona, I love you. Do you hear me? I love you. Whatever this is, whatever’s happening, we can face it together. Just don’t shut me out."

Fiona’s shoulders shook as a sob escaped her lips. She turned back to him, her face a mixture of anguish and regret. "I love you too, Nathan," she said, her voice breaking. "But love isn’t enough. Not this time."

Nathan’s heart shattered at her words. He reached for her hands, holding them tightly despite her attempts to pull away. "Fiona, don’t do this. Don’t push me away. I can’t lose you."

She shook her head, her tears falling faster. "You don’t understand, Nathan. If I stay with you, people I care about will get hurt. I can’t let that happen."

"What people?" Nathan asked, his brow furrowing. "Who’s threatening you? Fiona, tell me, and I’ll take care of it. I’ll protect you. I’ll protect them. Just tell me what’s going on."

"I can’t," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You don’t know what they’re capable of."

Nathan’s grip on her hands tightened, his own tears spilling over now. He dropped to his knees in front of her, his head bowed as he sobbed. "Fiona, please," he begged. "Don’t do this. Don’t leave me. I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll fight whoever I have to fight. Just don’t walk away from us."

Fiona stared down at him, her heart breaking into a million pieces. She’d never seen him like this—so vulnerable, so broken. She knelt down in front of him, cupping his face in her hands as her tears mingled with his.

"I’m sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "I’m so, so sorry."

Nathan looked up at her, his eyes searching hers desperately. "Fiona, I need you. You’re my everything. Don’t take that away from me."

She leaned in, pressing her forehead against his. For a moment, it felt like time had stopped. Nathan closed his eyes, savoring the closeness, the warmth of her touch. He tilted his head slightly, and their lips met in a kiss—soft, desperate, filled with all the love and pain they couldn’t put into words.

For a fleeting second, Fiona let herself sink into it, let herself feel the love she was trying so hard to leave behind. But then reality crashed back in, and she pulled away, her tears falling harder.

"I’m sorry," she whispered again, her voice breaking as she stood. "I have to go."

Nathan scrambled to his feet, reaching for her. "Fiona, wait—"

But she was already walking away, her arms wrapped around herself as if trying to hold herself together. Nathan stood there, frozen, his heart shattering into pieces as he watched her disappeared.