Chapter 257 Listen Up

"Fiona, you can go have dinner first. Don't wait up for me."

Nathan furrowed his eyebrows as he watched Mandy's younger sister retreat to the dining area. He turned his attention back to Mandy, seeing the way she fidgeted under his gaze. What had happened while he was in America?

The two of them took the elevator going downstairs. Once they stepped out of the building, a gust of cold wind blew towards them. As if by instinct, Nathan immediately shrugged off his jacket and put it around Mandy.

The warm clothing embraced her body as she huddled inside his coat, feeling his touch.

It had rained so much in City A, that these last few days had been particularly cool. However, this night had been, so far, the coldest since Christmas.

"Mand, let's get back in the car. You'll catch a cold." Nathan held her hand affectionately, his fingers rubbing against her skin.

"No. Let's talk out here, Nathan. I need to tell you something." Mandy removed Nathan's grip from her hands and pulled away. The moment she did that, it felt as if her heart was breaking into two. She hated this feeling.

"What is it?" From the discomfort of her gaze to the twitching of her fingertips, it didn't take a genius to know that something was wrong. He took a step back as his gaze sharpened, waiting for her to explain to him what had happened.

His deep gaze made Mandy feel even more choked up than she already was. She opened her mouth to speak, but it took her a few seconds before she could actually get the words out, as she was intimidated by Nathan's cold expression.

"Why... Why did you ask the headmaster to fire Bruce?" she slowly demanded, hands rolling up into fists.

"And I thought it was going to be important." Nathan chuckled, crossing his arms.

"Why did you get him fired?" she said again, her own gaze hardening. "What did he do to you to deserve that?"

"How did you get the red spots on your neck?" Nathan brought it up, wanting nothing more than to change the topic. He had noticed the red marks on Mandy's neck

yes.

No one could describe the torturous heartbreak Mandy was feeling at that moment. As the words slipped past her lips, she could do nothing but wrap her arms around her waist, trying to hold herself together. A part of her wanted to jump in his arms and call his name. He was close to her, close enough to touch...but she restrained herself. It was time.

"What?" Nathan blinked disbelievingly, not wanting to believe the words ringing in his ears.

"No reason. I wrote you a break-up letter. You'll find it on your dresser, so you'll know when you get back," Mandy replied, trying to sound as cool and collected as possible.

"A break-up letter?" Nathan's thin lips curved into a sneer.

Was this her plan? His fists tightened. Was he an idiot for not expecting this?

"If you're still angry at him for what happened, then I'm sorry." Nathan stared at her, still gaping at her words. "Look, Mand, stop it."

"No, listen to me. I want to break up with you, not because of that. In fact, I've always been happy with you, but we're two very different people from very different worlds. I'm tired, Nathan. No, actually, I'm exhausted. Let me go." Mandy forced herself to calm down, to keep her voice from shaking. This was what's best for all of them. It was better to end it here than to lengthen the pain they'd both feel at the end of the day.