I've Had Enough, CEO

Chapter 8 Like Reckless Teenagers

Nathaniel's lips tightened, his brow furrowed deeply, but instead of pressing the issue further, he threw out a cold warning. "Until your sister's situation is resolved, I trust you'll handle things wisely."

Elena clenched her teeth. Of course she knew the urgency of Lily's condition and what she needed to do. She didn't need Nathaniel to remind her.

But Julian did nothing wrong. She couldn't just walk away from someone who had been nothing but kind to her. So the next day, despite everything, she headed to the airport.

In the airport terminal...

Julian stood in the middle of the busy hall, a beacon amidst the crowd. The moment he saw her hurrying toward him, his eyes softened with that familiar warmth. "I knew you'd come. Careful now—you've got a little one to think about."

"I'm sorry about yesterday, I—" Elena's words faltered as she stood in front of him, guilt weighing down her voice. She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes.

Julian just smiled, shaking his head. "No need to apologize. You made your choice, and I understand. But just remember, Nathaniel's not the right man for you. You've got to start thinking about yourself."

Elena's chest tightened. She knew Julian was right.

Nathaniel had Gwendolyn, and keeping her around was just a game to him—a fleeting distraction.

But she was trapped. Lily needed help, and the clock was ticking.

"You don't need to worry about me. I'll manage. I'm sorry I couldn't go with you abroad as we planned. I hate to break my promise." Her voice dropped as she bowed deeply in apology.

Julian's smile faded, and he quickly stepped forward, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Don't. You've done nothing wrong."

Their moment of closeness was caught by a hidden camera, and though they didn't know it, the scene was already being twisted into something it wasn't.

When Nathaniel received the video from Gwendolyn, his eyes turned ice-cold. He didn't wait for his driver—he grabbed his keys and drove straight to the airport.

Meanwhile, in the airport, Julian and Elena were still talking, unaware of the storm brewing. Julian sighed, resigned. "Well, I guess this is goodbye. Before I go, can I ask for one last thing... a hug?"

Elena blinked in surprise. After all they'd been through, a hug didn't seem like much to ask. So, without thinking twice, she opened her arms.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

A harsh voice sliced through the air, and before they knew it, Nathaniel stormed toward them, fists clenched at his sides.

In an instant, he grabbed Julian and threw a punch, sending him stumbling back.

Julian caught his balance, his eyes narrowing in fury.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Elena rushed forward to check on Julian, but he raised a hand, stopping her.

"I'm fine," he muttered, wiping the blood from his lip. "Honestly, I've been waiting for an excuse to punch him."

Nathaniel scoffed, disdain dripping from his tone. "You think you can take me?"

Before either could say more, they were at each other—punches flying, each blow landing with the raw force of their anger.

Elena's heart pounded as she watched in horror. They were in the middle of a crowded airport. Both men had reputations, yet here they were, brawling like reckless teenagers.

"Stop it, both of you!"

"Nathaniel, do you want to make tomorrow's headlines? This is a public place!"

"Julian, please, calm down—"

Her attempts at reasoning fell on deaf ears. Nathaniel only grew more enraged at hearing her plead with Julian, landing harder punches in his jealousy.

Julian wasn't backing down either, every punch meeting its mark. The crowd around them thickened as curious bystanders watched the scene unfold.

At this rate, they were bound to be all over the news.

Elena's anxiety spiked, realizing her words weren't enough. She ran toward them, desperate to stop the fight. "Enough! Stop this!"

In the chaos, Nathaniel's arm swung out, catching her unintentionally. Elena lost her balance, panic flooding her mind.

'My stomach...'

Instinctively, her hands flew to her abdomen as she braced herself for the impact of the cold, hard floor.

Julian's eyes flashed with alarm. Without a second thought, he reached out, grabbing her wrist just in time to pull her back. But not before taking another hit from Nathaniel.

"Ugh..." Julian groaned, his grip tightening around Elena as he pulled her into his arms, shielding her from further harm.

Elena's heart raced, but relief flooded her. "Are you okay?"

Julian smiled through the pain, his voice soft. "As long as you're alright, that's all that matters."

Their quiet exchange—so intimate, so filled with concern—ignited another wave of fury in Nathaniel. His hand shot out, grabbing Elena's arm and pulling her harshly into his chest.

With a rough yank, she was forced away from Julian and into Nathaniel's grasp. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she spat, anger flashing in her eyes.

Nathaniel's voice was low, his tone laced with possessiveness. "Do you need me to remind you who you belong to?" His grip tightened. "I've been more than generous with you, Elena. Don't forget about your sister."

Elena gritted her teeth, her mind racing. 'Generous?' He was the one who had caused this mess—nearly making her fall. But now wasn't the time to argue. She had no choice but to play along, for Lily's sake.

"Enough, Nathaniel. Let's go," she muttered, her voice strained.

Nathaniel didn't move. His gaze had drifted downward, landing on something on the floor.

In the scuffle, none of them had noticed the piece of paper that had slipped out.

Elena followed his gaze, and her stomach dropped in fear.

It was her pregnancy confirmation.

The white paper lay on the ground, the bold words "Pregnancy Confirmation" glaring up at them.

Nathaniel's face darkened, suspicion clouding his eyes as he stared at Elena.

"Pregnancy?" His voice was thick with disbelief as he crouched down, picking up the paper. His gaze darted between the report and Elena, the question hanging in the air between them.