I covered my mouth, concealing my sobs from exploding while running back to the cottage where Steve was. I didn't look back from the party. I could still recall how they clenched and laughed their ass off while pointing at me. My heart was shattered into pieces, and everything fell apart when Harry was laughing with them, pretending that he didn't know me. I moved my jaw, gritting it tightly while my vision was blurry from the tears.
I bit my bottom lip, stopping for a moment to catch my breath. I caressed my chest where my heart was because I couldn't breathe properly. I swallowed the lump in my throat when I saw up ahead the cottage where Steve was sleeping. Steve woke up when I finally reached my destination as if on cue.
"Huh? Is it time for breakfast?" he asked, yawning while stretching his whole body when he halted himself, seeing me drenched with tears and beer. Steve jumped off his seat, taking a step forward to look at my situation.
"What the fuck happened?" he asked, clenching his jaw. Instead of answering him, I quickly hugged him and poured all of my cries on his chest. Steve was speechless for a moment. He doesn't know what he will do because my screams echo throughout the whole cottage. Steve slowly wrapped his arms around me, tapping my back slightly.
"It's Harry, isn't it?" he asked, and I nodded in response.
"Natasha…" Steve sighed, pushing me a little so he could look me in the eye. Steve wiped off the tears from my cheeks, fondling them softly. His quirky personality was thrown away, and he seems serious right now. I could see the concern in his eyes as he observed me beneath his lashes.
"He's drunk, and if he's in a normal situation, he wouldn't have done this thing. Believe me…"
I swallowed, not saying anything. Steve guided me back to the hotel, holding my arm firmly. While riding the elevator, I saw from the side that Steve was dialing someone on his phone. The person answered him, so he spoke.
"Find your boss. He's drunk, and take him here back in our suite." Steve exclaimed briefly before ending the call. He leaned on the elevator, sighing in distress.
"The mother fucker, what is he thinking? He knows how out of control he is when he's drunk…." Steve mumbled under his breath, and it was loud enough for me to hear.
I was quite the whole time, and I knew Steve was ashamed of what his friend had done to me. I closed my eyes, recalling everything that had happened earlier. They took pictures of me and recorded a video of how Harry poured the beer on my head. All those people are drunk and high, and they find their target. I was unfortunate to go there at the wrong time; now, someone could have posted those pictures and videos online. My face will be around on social media again.
I tried to stop them and take their phones away, but they pushed me and kicked sand all over me. I couldn't do anything but run away with all my strength. This is what I fear. I know that I have already changed my appearance. Still, if someone with excellent observation skills would notice I have similar features to the woman they are looking for and found out it was me, then my life would be over. They will haunt us, and this time we don't stand a chance against them, especially me.
Ethan is still in a coma. He can't fight in a situation like that. And even if he's awake, he still needs to regain his energy. I cracked the joints in my fingers and didn't realize that I was staring out of nowhere. I shouldn't have come with them in the first place. I should have set my boundaries high and ignored what would they think as long as I won't say a word. I put my life at risk.
"Natasha,"
I resurfaced to reality when Steve snapped his fingers in front of me, shaking my shoulders a little. I blink, looking at him when I notice that the elevator is open and he is waiting for me to go out. I hurriedly followed him inside our suite. I haven't said a single word ever since. I headed straight to the bathroom, locking myself in. Steve was calling my name, but I didn't answer him. Instead, I opened the shower and let it pour down on my body, even when I was still wearing the clothes Harry had bought.
I pursed my lips, immediately taking off these clothes before throwing them across the corner. I hugged my knees, pushing my head between them.
Harry is friendly, and I know he's intoxicated, but he put my life in danger. Soon enough, he would know about our past and call the authorities and chase us. The thought made me shiver and bail my eyes out. I need to devise a plan for how to escape from his grasp as soon as Ethan wakes up.
I flinched when I heard a loud thud coming from outside. I thought it was my imagination at first. Still, when I heard it again, I quickly stood up from the floor, took the robe, and wrapped it around my body securely before getting out of the bathroom to see what was happening.
"Fuck you, Harry! You humiliate Natasha!"
My eyes widened in shock when I saw Steve was punching Harry, who was almost unconscious on the floor. Blood was all over the place, and Steve must have been beating up his friend for an hour now. I rapidly went to their spot and pulled Steve away from Harry, who coughs and spits some blood while clenching his stomach.
"Steve! Stop!" I hugged his side body, pushing him away in the corner so he could stop beating Harry. Steve's eyes are flaming with rage while pointing his finger at his friend, who could barely stand up. Even if I wanted to help him, I stopped myself because it was really his fault.
"Do you know how drenched her face is with her tears?! How she fucking cried on my shoulder because of you?! You can't hear someone you like if she's really that important to you!" Steve roared, making me pause from my spot. My breathing hitched when Steve realized what he had said. He cursed and slapped himself. Suddenly he was under pressure when I was staring at him.
"Steve, what did you just say?"
Steve shakes his head, looking at his friend one last time before leaving the hotel suite. I was left there, blinking and trying to comprehend what had just happened. I snapped back to reality when Harry coughed; this time, he was seriously injured. I planned to ignore him, but I couldn't leave him looking so hopeless on the floor. Steve did pull out his strength on his friend to pull Harry back from his senses.
I bit my tongue, letting out a violent sigh before kneeling on the floor to wrap Harry's hand around my shoulder. I grunted because he was heavy. I inhaled before pushing myself to drag Harry towards a room. It was arduous because he was half unconscious and half his weight clinging to me. Since Harry is tall and muscular compared to me, it was a nightmare drag before I finally reached their room. I kicked the door open and lay Harry on the bed.
I left him to get warm water, a towel, and alcohol to clean his wounds. When I gathered everything, I quickly went back but stopped in my tracks when I saw Harry was awake. He's leaning on the headrest, crossing his arms while staring out of nowhere. Harry must have felt my presence because he lifted his face, looking at me straight in the eyes. I averted my eyes, looking in the opposite direction before walking up next to him. I placed all the materials on the side table before sitting on the edge of the bed.
Harry was quiet the whole time. When I started cleaning his wounds, I didn't look him in the eyes. He flinched and winced, snatching his hands back since it must have stung because of the alcohol, but if he wanted to treat his wounds, he should not move.
"I'm sorry, Natasha."
I stopped mid-air when he finally spoke after an hour of being muted. Instead of saying something, I continue cleansing his wounds. Harry breathed out.
"I know what I did was childish, and I shouldn't have pushed you away or humiliated you. You were just concerned to me-"
"-and look what has bought me just because I am interfering with another person's life," I grumbled, making Harry speechless for a second.
"Look, it was messed up. I am sorry, Natasha. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was drunk and was out of control-"
"You know I have a husband, Harry." I look down on the floor, playing with my toes. Harry held his breath, so I continued.
"You know how much I love Ethan; nothing or anyone in this world can replace him."
A tear poured down once again on my cheeks, so I had to wipe it away.
"You don't know what's our story. You don't know why I am so scared whenever I closely see a guard or police. You don't know anything, Harry."
I stood up, placing the towel on his lap. Harry was about to say something when I turned my back on him, heading straight outside the door. I bit my bottom lip, wiping off the tears. I didn't mean to say mean things to him, but I had to. We will separate soon.
"You should know nothing." was my last words before leaving him there.