Nate's POV
Nate stared at Allyson, his heart pounding as she stood before him, looking fragile and worn. The usually strong and composed woman he knew now seemed so vulnerable, and it broke his heart to see her like this. But he couldn't ignore the storm of emotions swirling inside him—anger, betrayal, confusion, and a lingering love that refused to fade.
"Allyson," Nate began, his voice trembling with emotion, "I need answers. I need to know why you hid this from me. Why didn't you tell me who you really are?"
Allyson took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She had known this moment would come, but it didn't make it any easier. "I wanted to tell you, Nate. I tried so many times, but… I was scared. Scared of how you would react, scared of losing you."
Nate's fists clenched at his sides. "So, you decided to keep me in the dark? To let me think I was marrying someone I truly knew, only to find out it was all a lie?"
"It wasn't all a lie!" Allyson cried, her voice breaking. "I never lied about my feelings for you. I love you, Nate. I always have."
"Love?" Nate scoffed, his anger flaring. "You call this love? Keeping secrets, letting me believe in something that wasn't real?"
Allyson wiped away a tear that escaped down her cheek. "It was real, Nate. Everything we had, everything we shared—it was real. But my family… they've always been complicated. I've been groomed to take over Spark Empire since I was a child, and I hated it. I wanted to live a normal life, even if it was just for a little while. That's why I didn't tell you."
Nate shook his head, his mind reeling. "You could have trusted me, Allyson. I would have understood. But now… now I don't even know who you are."
Allyson's heart shattered at his words. She had feared this moment, but hearing the pain in Nate's voice made it unbearable. "I'm still the same person, Nate. The woman who loves you, who married you. Please, you have to believe me."
Nate looked into her eyes, searching for the truth. He wanted to believe her, wanted to hold onto the love they once shared. But the weight of her deception, combined with Rachel's manipulations, had created a wall between them that seemed insurmountable.
Before he could respond, Richard stepped forward, his face stern. "Nate, I think it's best if you leave. Allyson needs to rest, and this conversation isn't helping."
Nate's jaw tightened. He knew Richard was right, but he wasn't ready to walk away—not yet. "This isn't over, Allyson," he said, his voice low and intense. "We're going to finish this conversation."
Allyson nodded, her heart aching. "I know, Nate. But please, just give me some time."
Nate gave her one last look, his emotions a turbulent mix of love and anger, before turning and walking away. As he left the hospital, he couldn't shake the feeling that everything he had known was slipping through his fingers, leaving him more lost and confused than ever.
Allyson's POV
As soon as Nate was out of sight, Allyson felt the strength drain from her body. She leaned against the wall for support, her heart heavy with the weight of their confrontation. She had wanted to tell Nate the truth on her own terms, but now everything was unraveling in the worst possible way.
Richard placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression softening. "You did the right thing, Allyson. Nate needs time to process this, and so do you."
Allyson nodded, though the pain in her chest didn't lessen. "I just… I just want him to understand," she whispered, her voice filled with despair. "I don't want to lose him, Uncle Richard."
Richard sighed, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "I know, sweetheart. But sometimes, love is complicated. You've been through so much, and if Nate truly loves you, he'll find a way to understand."
Allyson buried her face in her uncle's chest, trying to find solace in his words. But deep down, a part of her feared that the damage had already been done, and there might be no going back to the way things were.
Rachel's POV
Rachel watched from a distance as Nate left the hospital, his expression dark and conflicted. A sly smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Her plan was falling into place, and she relished the thought of finally getting what she wanted. Allyson's downfall was near, and soon, Nate would be hers.
She sauntered over to her car, her mind already plotting her next move. She needed to keep the pressure on Nate, to ensure he didn't waver in his resolve to divorce Allyson. The truth about Allyson's identity had shaken him, but it wasn't enough. She needed to push him further, to make him believe that walking away from Allyson was his only option.
As she drove away from the hospital, Rachel's thoughts were filled with one goal—destroying Allyson and claiming Nate for herself. But little did she know, the seeds of doubt she had planted in Nate's mind were beginning to take root in a way she hadn't anticipated.
Later that night, Nate sat in his apartment, the weight of the day's events pressing down on him. He had been trying to drink away his thoughts, but the alcohol only seemed to heighten his confusion. He couldn't stop thinking about Allyson—about everything she had said, everything Rachel had told him, and everything Kelvin had hinted at.
As he stared at his phone, debating whether to call Allyson or just let it all go, it buzzed with an incoming message. His heart skipped a beat when he saw it was from an unknown number.
*Meet me at the warehouse tonight. There's something you need to know.*
Nate's breath caught in his throat. The warehouse? The place where Allyson had been shot? His instincts screamed that it was a trap, but his curiosity and need for answers overpowered his caution.
Without a second thought, Nate grabbed his coat and keys, heading out the door. He had no idea what awaited him at the warehouse, but something told him that whatever it was, it would change everything.
**To be continued…**