CHAPTER 296: CHAPTER 296: FEAR, DESIRE, AND THE FIRST STEP

~Zayn’s POV~

I immediately took up a serious tone. "Evans, if you’re waiting for Nantam to come to you and openly admit his feelings, I hate to break it to you—but that day isn’t going to come."

Evans looked crushed. I met his gaze firmly. "That day isn’t coming. Nantam is genuinely afraid of getting hurt by love, and with everything already complicated between you two, the situation with Nicki and Evric, the family history, he’s not going to trust easily, nor will he openly admit he has feelings for you."

"But if you truly like him, and I can sense that Nantam does feel something for you, you can’t wait for him to confess. You’ll have to take the initiative and make that day happen yourself."

I leaned closer, conspiratorially. "If possible, just force him to confess, just like how your brother did to me."

Evans’s eyes brightened with sudden, eager curiosity. "How? Nantam usually ignores my calls! He only answers if I keep calling nonstop."

"Don’t wait for him to answer," I said, my plan taking shape immediately. "Just go to his house and meet him there."

Evans frowned. "What if he’s not at home?"

"Then you will keep going back until he is at home," I stated, completely serious.

Evans grabbed his keys, already halfway convinced. "Zayn, can you call him now and see if he’s home?"

I smirked. "So you want me to betray my friend’s privacy for you?"

"I’m sure you want him to be happy as well," Evans insisted, a desperate plea in his eyes. "Can you please?"

I sighed, shaking my head at his urgency. "Okay." I pulled out my phone and called Nantam.

He picked up on the second ring. "Hey, you," I said casually. "Where are you? Your voice sounds muffled. Are you sleeping already?"

Nantam answered drowsily. "I’m at home. I’m kind of not feeling fine."

"Is it serious?" I asked, concerned about replacing my teasing tone.

"Not really," he muttered. "Just a headache. I took some medicine and went to bed early since I’m sleeping alone, Nicki isn’t here, and Dean’s away on a business trip."

"Alright, friend," I said, keeping it brief. "Take care of yourself. I’ll come by to check on you at home tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay," Nantam agreed, and we both exchanged goodnights.

I ended the call, and before I could even tuck my phone away, Evans was already on his feet.

"Thank you, Zayn," he said, his expression a mix of relief and sharp determination.

"Bro, seize every chance," I advised with a grin.

With that, I stood up. Evans told me to tell Evric he had already left, then he said quick goodnights to Chrisly and Nuala, and practically sprinted toward the front door.

I went back upstairs, eager to be with my fiancé and my son.

~Nantam’s POV~

I put down my phone, the residual sleepiness fading, and realized I felt thirsty. The brief call with Zayn had successfully woken me up, so instead of attempting to go back to sleep immediately, I stood up to drink some water. I decided to watch a Netflix movie to properly settle my mind before trying to rest again.

After a few moments, I decided to call it a night. I was about to turn off the TV when my doorbell rang. A smile immediately spread across my face; it had to be Nicki, I quickly rushed to the door and opened it, my smile already fixed and welcoming. "I thought you said you were—"

I didn’t finish the word. My smile died instantly. The person standing at my door was not Nicki. It was Evans, holding a small paper bag, a determined smile on his face.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, not even offering a greeting or allowing him to speak first.

"Can you let me in first?" he asked, ignoring my direct question.

"Let you in where?"

"Your house," he replied with a straight face.

I narrowed my eyes. "I’m sorry, but I have a visitor inside and I can’t let another person in."

"Nantam, please," he said, the facade cracking slightly. "Can you just let me in? I lost my house key, and there’s nowhere to go."

I looked at him and couldn’t help but let out a short, incredulous chuckle. "You are such an old liar, Evans. Your house door uses a password, not a key."

He didn’t skip a beat. "It’s true, I forgot the password."

I threw my hands up in exasperation. "What is now my business? Are you planning to come and sleep in my house? Just go to your brother’s house or your father’s house. Leave my house now."

I moved to close the door, but Evans was too quick. He held the door, pushed it open slightly, and slipped inside, closing it behind him.

"I asked you nicely, Nantam, but you refused," he stated, turning to face me. He took a few steps into the room, his presence immediately dominating the quiet space.

"I send you messages, you won’t reply. I call you, and you won’t pick up until I call several times," he pressed, frustration finally breaking through his control. "Tell me, what’s wrong with you? I’ve been nothing but nice, and yet you treat me like this."

I snapped, my patience finally gone. "I never asked you to be nice to me! How is any of this my fault? Just—please, leave my house!" I shouted, gesturing sharply toward the door.

Evans stared at me for a long moment, the anger in his eyes slowly dissolving into a painful realization. Then he looked down at the bag he was holding.

"I brought you some medicine for your headache," he said softly, holding up the paper bag. Then he let it drop and added, "I’ll leave now."

I saw the sudden pain on his face, the pain of being shouted at and rejected. Just as he reached the door, the words slipped out before I could stop them. "I’m sorry... for shouting at you."

Evans froze, his body stiff. He didn’t turn around at first, but when he finally did, his face was a mixture of hurt and disbelief. "Do you hate me that much, Nantam? That every time you look at me, it’s filled with such hatred?"

I rushed toward him, closing the distance between us. "No! I do not hate you. That’s not fair."

He held his ground. "Then do you like me?"

I looked at him, my mouth dry. The question was too direct. "Don’t you get it, Evans? I can’t be in any romantic relationship with you."

He ignored my avoidance, cutting through my fear. He asked again, softer this time, but with absolute intensity: "Do you like me?"

I started stammering, the raw truth trapped in my throat. I couldn’t speak at first, unable to form a denial or an affirmation. My mind raced, flashing back to every shared glance, every secret affection I had kept hidden for months. Yes, a desperate voice screamed inside me. I don’t just like you, I love you. That’s why I’m terrified.

Before I could catch my breath or voice another fear-laden objection, Evans closed the distance between us. Without hesitation, he kissed me.

The impact of his lips was a sudden, molten surge that obliterated every careful guard I had ever built. My heart didn’t just start beating faster; it slammed against my ribs, instantly recognizing the touch it had been craving. I didn’t push away; instead, my hands flew up, clinging to his shoulders, pulling him deeper into the kiss.

He deepened the kiss, guiding me backward with slow, deliberate steps until I reached the edge of the couch. I wanted to tell him to stop, to slow down, but the words caught in my throat. My back met the soft cushions, and before I realized it, Evans had shifted his weight, straddling me, his body pressing firmly against mine.

I felt his hand move from my shoulder to the buttons of my nightwear, expertly unbuttoning my silk pajamas. My mind screamed, No, what is he doing? but the body underneath the silk betrayed me. Whatever this rush of feeling was, I didn’t want him to stop. I questioned myself wildly: Do I really want this? And how did we get to this stage in a single minute?

But the rational thoughts were drowned out by the sudden, overwhelming heat of his presence. Before I could truly gather my scattered thoughts, I felt Evans’s mouth descend, his lips finding and gently suckling the...