Chapter 59 Overprotective
Natalie’s POV
“Rafael! What’s going on here?” The furious question made all of us turn our gazes towards the main door, where Grandma and Aunt Tobi were standing.
“Grandma! Aunt Tobi!” I exclaimed, my voice a mix of surprise and happiness. “You came back!”
“Yes. And I left for just a few days only to hear bad news and come home to this childish scene of two grown men. How disappointed I am,” she said furiously.
“Did I leave responsible adults in the mansion, or just careless children?”
Then she fixed her gaze on Daniel and said sharply, “And you, Mr. Morris. I thought you were a good neighbor, only to find you fighting with my grandson in the middle of my house?”
I was shocked. I was used to her scolding me and Rafael, but it wasn’t her habit to do so with strangers.NôvelDrama.Org owns all © content.
Daniel tilted his head as he stood up and straightened his clothes a little. He mumbled, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Merrin. I didn’t mean to be rude or act like that,” then he turned his gaze towards Rafael. “But your grandson offended me in the middle of your house. Do you accept that?”
“Good job, little boy,” Rafael smirked. “Are you satisfied now, after snitching on me to my grandmother? Shame on you, big man with a beard.”
“Shame on you, Rafael! How can you speak to our guests like this?” Grandma shouted, hitting her stick on the ground.
“Mom, please. Don’t be angry; it’s not good for your diabetes,” Tobi said, trying to calm her mother. Then she looked at Rafael and added, “Rafael didn’t mean to do this. It must be a misunderstanding, right, Rafael?”
“Yes, Grandma,” he said in an apologetic tone, sitting on the sofa. Then he glared at Daniel. “It’s just a small misunderstanding between me and Mr. Morris, and we’ll solve it outside later, shall we?” He finished his sentence with a question directed at Daniel.
“No!” Grandma shouted. “You won’t be solving anything outside. We’ve had enough scandals on social media.” Then she scanned the place with her eyes and added, “A small misunderstanding, indeed.”
She glared at me and asked, “Are they fighting over you?”
I blinked in shock and stammered, “I.. I… No! I was asleep and came downstairs after overhearing a loud commotion.”
Grandma, Tobi and I flickered our gazes between the two men questioningly.
Rafael sat stubbornly on the sofa, crossing his hands over his chest, refusing to say anything, while Daniel’s gaze softened as he said, “I’m here to take Natalie out for dinner. I want her to meet my friend.” Then he spared a glance at Rafael and added, “My friend is a girl, by the way.”
“Ow,” Aunt Tobi muttered, her expression unreadable.
“So?” Grandma inquired, “Why did you end up fighting?”
Daniel smirked, “Rafael refused to let me take her out.”
All our gazes fixed on Rafael, who was sitting there on the sofa staring back at us nonchalantly.
“Go get dressed and have fun with your friend,” Grandma said, smiling tenderly.
Rafael’s eyes turned bloodshot, and he growled, “No! I said NO.”
Grandma walked over to him and sat beside him, gently caressing his hand. She said softly, “She’s not the young girl you used to protect in the past. She’s a grown woman now, with her own life and friends, just like you have.”
Rafael lifted his gaze at me, and I felt he was about to say something. A chill ran down my spine, and sweat covered my palms. Could it be that he might say something about us?
“I have a say in all of this, don’t I?” I interjected, causing all the gazes to turn to me. “Why are you guys trying to decide on my behalf?” I finished my sentence with an amused smile, attempting to alleviate the tension hanging in the air. I stared at Rafael with a pleading look, silently urging him not to disclose anything about our relationship.
Aunt Tobi hugged me from behind and said, “Yeah, dear. But as you know, Rafael is always overprotective!”
Daniel rolled his eyes.
I smiled faintly, then walked over to him and sat on the other side, touching his hand gently. “I’m just hanging out with Daniel. He wants me to meet a friend of his,” I said calmly, locking eyes with him. “I’m not the same little girl you think I am.”
Rafael stared into my eyes, seeming to struggle with what to say. I pleaded with him silently, squeezing his hand. Finally, he spoke through gritted teeth, “Fine.”
Then he fixed his gaze on Daniel, “Hey, you idiot, be aware of the paparazzi. If they saw her, they…” Then, he paused for a second, turned his gaze to me, and asked, “Why did you go to the pharmacy?” He placed his large palm on my forehead and added, “Are you sick?”
He surprised me. How did he know? So, I blinked, then stammered, “Oh, the pharmacy! I… I just had a headache and…”
“You’re so careless, what if one of them saw you and got in your way,” he scolded me.
Tobi unintentionally interfered at exactly the right time. “I bought a big hat and sunglasses that I think will help you hide from the paparazzi,” she said, gripping my hand and gesturing for me to follow her.
…
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing myself. I smiled a small smile and turned to Tobi, mumbling, “Thank you!”
She waved her hand, and said, “Have fun, dear. Don’t listen to the fossilized stubborn head of my nephew.”
Even though she was much older than Rafael, he always scolded her because of her many relationships.
“If Matt was alive, he would encourage you to go and hang out with your friends. I don’t know where Rafael inherited these traits from,” she added.
I smiled warmly. Yes, my stepfather was exceptionally supportive, especially after my mother’s passing.
I went downstairs. Grandma, Daniel, and Rafael were still sitting in the entrance hall, while some of the domestic staff were busy cleaning up the mess.
The atmosphere was tense, and I believe if Grandma hadn’t been there, the two men would have killed each other.
They were like two hawks, poised to eliminate each other.
Once Daniel saw me, he stood up smiling and took my arm in his. Turning to face grandma, he countered, “Don’t worry, It’s just a dinner with a friend, then I’ll drive her home immediately.”
I dared to spare a glance in Rafael’s direction once we reached the main door. He seemed like a caged wolf, his hawk-like gaze fixed on me, while he furiously bit his lower lip.
I knew what would be waiting for me when I got back-so I placed a protective hand on my belly, instinctively.
Shielding myself and the little life growing within me from the impending emotional storm.