Rejected: A love story-Chapter 84: You didn’t come down. I didn’t want the food getting cold

Chapter 84: You didn’t come down. I didn’t want the food getting cold

A knock sounded at Fiona’s door. "Let me call you back El"

She quickly ended her call with Ella and sat up.

"Come in."

A maid stepped inside. "Good morning, Miss Fiona. Breakfast is ready. Mrs. Anne asked me to call you."

"Thank you. I’ll be down soon."

The maid nodded and left. Fiona quickly showered, brushed, tied her hair neatly, and put on comfortable clothes before heading downstairs.

The dining room was already lively. Anne sat at the head of the table with Gabriel beside her. Natasha sipped some juice quietly. Caleb scrolled through something on his phone. Leo swung his legs happily while eating pancakes.

"Good morning," Fiona greeted, sitting next to Leo.

"Good morning, dear," Anne said warmly. She gave Fiona a soft smile. "Nathan is still working upstairs. He woke up early."

"Oh." Fiona nodded.

They began eating. Anne kept the conversation warm, light, and gentle. Fiona smiled when needed but occasionally glanced at the staircase.

Anne noticed, of course. "You’re looking for Nathan?"

Fiona blinked quickly. "No—well, I just thought—"

Anne laughed softly. "Relax, sweetheart. He’s only working and honestly," she added, lowering her voice warmly, "you’re already part of this family. Nathan hasn’t been this happy in years."

Fiona’s fork paused halfway to her mouth, but she forced a small smile. "Thank you..."

"You’ve softened him," Anne continued, completely unaware of how heavy her words were. "It’s a blessing. Truly."

Gabriel nodded. "He even stayed home today. I’ve never seen him skip work unless he’s sick."

Fiona looked down at her plate, every word made everything harder.

Across the table, Caleb glanced at Natasha, almost expecting her to scoff or roll her eyes at the praise Fiona was receiving.

But Natasha didn’t react at all, she calmly ate her food, her expression neutral—almost composed.

Has she truly changed? Caleb wondered.

After breakfast, the maids began clearing the table.

Fiona cleared her throat. "Please... can someone dish Nathan’s meal? I want to take it up to him."

"Oh, that’s sweet," Anne said, smiling like a proud mother. "Of course."

The maid quickly arranged a tray: pancakes, eggs, fruit, juice, and water.

"I’ll take it from here," Fiona said gently, taking the tray herself.

Fiona carried the tray gently into Nathan’s office with both hands, trying not to spill anything.

"Come in," Nathan said.

She pushed the door open.

Nathan lifted his head, still in his robe, his hair slightly messy from working early. He looked surprised. Fiona stared at his tired but handsome face.

Nathan looked up from his laptop, surprised, then slowly stood.

"cupcake ... what’s all that?" he asked, surprise softening into warmth.

"It’s your breakfast. You didn’t come downstairs."

She walked in slowly and placed the tray neatly on his desk.

"You brought it yourself?"

"Yes."

He stepped closer—not too close, but enough to make her aware of his presence.

"You didn’t have to," he said.

"I wanted to," she replied.

Nathan smiled—the slow kind he only gave her. "Come here."

She stepped closer.

He pulled out another chair. "Sit."

She obeyed without arguing. Nathan took the tray, pulled his chair next to hers, and sat facing her.

"You didn’t come down. I didn’t want the food getting cold."

The morning light coming through the window made his expression even warmer. He lifted the fork, cut a piece of pancake, and held it toward her.

She frowned. "Nathan, I already ate."

"I know," he said simply. "This is not because you’re hungry. It’s because I want to do it."

She hesitated.

"Open," he added.

Fiona sighed but obeyed, opening her mouth as he fed her a small bite.

Nathan waited for her to finish chewing, then smirked a little. "That makes two times now."

Her eyebrows lifted. "Two?"

"Mm." He leaned on the table casually. "The first time you brought me food... remember?"

Her heart paused, of course she remembered.

Nathan chuckled. "Your stomach was grumbling so loudly that day, It always exposes you."

Fiona’s eyes widened. "Nathan!"

"I’m serious," he teased. "You were trying so hard to refuse to eat, but your stomach said otherwise."

Fiona covered her face, mortified. "I can’t believe you remember that."

"I did. And I decided not to tease you about it" he said, cutting another bite. "Open."

She opened her mouth again, her cheeks warm.

He fed her, watching her closely, more softly this time.

Then he took a bite for himself.

"I thought you didn’t like me then," Fiona muttered shyly.

Nathan’s movements slowed, and he set the fork down.

"I did," he said simply. "I liked you a lot."

Fiona blinked.

He leaned closer, his elbow resting on the desk then lowering his voice. "I kept trying to deny it. I told myself it was nothing, that it would pass."

"But the day you made my favourite meal and brought it to my office... something clicked." He looked at her directly. "I knew for sure"

Fiona lowered her gaze. "Why didn’t you say anything?"

Nathan smirked faintly. "Because you would have panicked and I wasn’t ready to love anyone...but you changed that."

’Why is today making it harder for me’ she thought.

He lifted the fork again to fed her once more, but she stopped him.

"It’s my turn to fed you."

She scooted her chair closer, cut a small piece and lifted the fork to his lips. Nathan leaned forward and took the bite, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Good," she said with a low hum.

"Again." he said softly.

So she fed him, and he let her.

"You do too much for me," he said softly.

"You deserve it."

Nathan held her gaze. "I don’t think anyone has ever taken care of me the way you do."

Fiona swallowed. Her voice was barely a whisper. "I don’t do anything special."

"You do," he corrected. "And I’m grateful for having you."

Her chest tightened painfully, she forced a small smile.

Nathan took another sip of juice, then set the glass down.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"For what?"

"For this. For coming into my life"

His eyes softened, almost vulnerable. "You always show up for me."

Fiona looked down at her hands.

If only he knew how little time she had left with him.

Nathan reached over, gently lifting her chin with two fingers.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing," she said quickly.

Nathan didn’t push. He studied her face for a moment, then kissed her forehead gently.

"Stay a little longer," he murmured.

"I will."

He continued eating while she sat beside him, handing him the juice when he needed it, and listening to him talk about a meeting later in the day.

He leaned back slightly, but his hand remained on her knee. Fiona watched him quietly, unable to hide how fond she looked at him.

After a moment, Nathan turned his chair toward hers and gently cupped her cheek.

"Did you sleep well? I forgot to ask earlier" he said.

"Yes."

"You didn’t wake up when I left. You looked peaceful and beautiful."

Fiona swallowed. Her heart felt too heavy for her chest.

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "You’re always taking care of me these days. I like it."

She looked away. "It’s nothing."

Nathan tilted her chin back toward him. "It’s not nothing."

Fiona blinked fast, steadying her voice. "I just wanted you to eat."

Nathan smiled quietly, then pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

"You’re perfect." He said and suddenly paused looking at her.

"What?"

"I noticed something about the pancakes" he said.

"What’s that?" She asked.

He took a piece with the fork and held it close to her mouth.

"Taste it"

She looked at him unsure, but went with it anyway. As she moved her mouth close to the fork, Nathan pulled it away and replaced it with his mouth. She kissed him instead.