CHAPTER 247: I’M NOT BREAKING UP WITH HER.

Nathaniel felt the urge to disfigure the geography of Ian’s face. But he held his temper back, eager to know what Ian had to say. He lowered his raised hand and stood rigidly.

"Go on. What is it you want to say?"

"I’ve identified the man who was lurking around the civil affairs bureau," Ian began, his tone suddenly grave. "Turns out, he works for your friend Liam. He was sent to keep tabs on Miss Riya."

Nathaniel’s brows furrowed. The revelation caught him off guard, and at the same time, piqued his curiosity. "Liam sent someone to follow Riya?"

He couldn’t stop the uneasy thoughts that followed. If Liam had already discovered something, he might act impulsively, and that could jeopardize everything, even Nathaniel’s own plan to take down Zachary.

"Did the man reveal anything?" Nathaniel asked.

"Not much," Ian replied. "He knows about Riya’s affair with Zachary. Fortunately, he has no idea the marriage certificate is fake."

But Nathaniel didn’t feel any relief. That single piece of information was dangerous enough to make Liam call off the engagement. Yet, strangely, the Lawsons hadn’t taken any step so far.

’What is Liam planning? Is he waiting to expose her at the party?’ Nathaniel’s thoughts grew uneasy.

"I’ve already handled the man," Ian added, sensing Nathaniel’s tension. "He’ll only share what we want him to."

But the reassurance barely eased Nathaniel’s concern.

"I’m worried about something else," he said darkly. "Liam already knows about her affair, but hasn’t ended things yet. Maybe he is planning to expose Riya at the party."

"I don’t think so," Ian said. "The Lawson couple seems happy, excited about the engagement. They didn’t seem to be planning something against the Grants. But we should be careful. I’ll look into it. If I find something unusual, I’ll inform you right away."

Nathaniel waggled his finger. "There is no time for this. I’ll speak to Liam myself. Take care of things here."

"If that’s what you want." Ian nodded shortly and left.

Nathaniel called Liam.

"Hello," Liam answered.

"Meet me," Nathaniel said. "Come to the old spot by the school. I need to talk."

There was a brief silence, then Liam agreed, "Alright, I’ll come."

The call ended.

Nathaniel tightened his grip on the phone, his expression hardening. "If you are plotting against my family, you’ll have to deal with me."

A few minutes later...

Nathaniel arrived at the café. The moment he stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia washed over him.

This was their favorite hangout spot, where he and Liam had spent countless afternoons together. They had always taken the same corner table, shared coffee while finishing homework, and talked about school, games, and their dreams for the future.

Remembering those moments made his chest tighten. Time had changed everything. What was once a cozy little place was now a stylish café-bakery. The worn-out wooden tables were gone, replaced by sleek new ones. Back then, a single barista managed the counter; now, a few waitresses move briskly between tables.

It wasn’t just the café that had changed; so had their friendship. Once inseparable, he and Liam had slowly drifted apart.

Nathaniel sighed and sat at their old spot. He had never wanted to end their friendship, but ego and misunderstandings had left scars between them.

’Maybe there is still a chance to fix this,’ he thought quietly. ’I don’t want to lose him completely.’

He decided to stay composed and speak calmly, no matter how the conversation went.

A few minutes later, Liam arrived. His eyes swept over the café until they landed on Nathaniel sitting at the corner table. He strode over to him.

Nathaniel paused mid-sip of his coffee when he noticed him approaching. "Have a seat," he said, motioning to the chair across from him. Setting his cup down, he raised a hand to call a waitress. "A coffee for him," he ordered before turning back to Liam.

Liam sat down, his gaze fixed sharply on Nathaniel. "So? What’s this about? Why did you call me so urgently?"

Nathaniel studied him quietly for a moment before replying, "The engagement is tomorrow. I thought we should talk before that."

Liam let out a half-smile. "Are you speaking to me as Riya’s brother or as my old friend?"

"What if I say the second?" Nathaniel countered calmly.

That caught Liam off guard. He had expected a lecture, a warning not to hurt Riya, but Nathaniel’s words threw him off balance.

"What’s this, then?" Liam scoffed. "You want to relish the past! Planning to throw a bachelorette party for me?"

Nathaniel’s expression hardened. "Cut the jokes, Liam. I know you’ve learned about Riya’s affair with Zachary. So tell me—why haven’t you broken up with her yet?"

Liam froze for a moment, Nathaniel’s words echoing in his head. He instantly remembered what his informant had told him — that someone had been secretly watching Riya. At the time, he had suspected it was Nathaniel, though part of him had also wondered if it might have been Zachary keeping tabs on her. But now, Nathaniel’s admission cleared all doubts.

’So I was right,’ Liam thought grimly. ’It was Nathaniel watching her all along.’

A mocking smile tugged at his lips. "I’m honestly amazed," he said coldly. "You’ve been spying on your own sister, discovered she is tangled up with your enemy, and still kept quiet. Yet you expect me to follow your words? What are you really playing at, Nathaniel?"

"You don’t get it," Nathaniel replied, his frustration flaring. "Zachary isn’t someone you can take lightly. He is dangerous. He can ruin anyone who crosses him. You need to stay away from both him and Riya. It’s for your own good and your family’s."

Liam could see Nathaniel’s sincerity. His tone, his tense expression, the intensity in his eyes—all made it clear how much the man was troubled. Still, Liam couldn’t afford to break up with Riya. He had his own reasons. But revealing them would only drag Nathaniel deeper into danger.

"I’m not breaking up with her," Liam said firmly, leaving no room for argument.