Emily bit her lip as she felt the older man's arms tighten around her small body as he carried her back down the staircase and into the living room after they had spoken up in the master bedroom. Her heart was still racing from the conversation she'd had with her boss only moments ago, and she shook her head slightly before wrapping her arms around her captor's neck.

Nathaniel dropped the brunette onto the couch and immediately sat next to her, taking both of her delicate hands in his as he angled himself to face her way. "Are you ready Mable?"

Emily's eyebrows furrowed as she shook her head. "Ready for what?"

The older man let out a smile before leaning forward, his nose brushing hers before feeling a shiver rise from her body. "It's almost time for our special moment, Mable." He grinned as he watched the brunette's eyes widen. "I'm going to make it so special for you."

Emily shook her head as she backed away slightly, pulling her hands from her captor's palms. "Nathaniel, I-"

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?" His hard eyes bored into the woman's before him, grabbing onto her hands once more and tugging them forward. "Enough with the rule breaking, Mable!"

The younger woman let her chin tremble slightly before she let her eyes close, her captor's foul breath inching its way up her nose. "I-I'm sorry, Nathaniel. I didn't mean to."

Nathaniel gave a shake of the head, his fingers tightening around the younger woman's before smiling at the pain that began to etch on her face. "I don't think you are, Mable. If you keep doing it, then you DO mean it!"

"No Nathaniel, I really don-"

"QUIET!"

Emily's mouth immediately snapped shut, her eyes stinging as the older man let go of her hands and took her chin between his fingers, his eyes trailing over every feature of her face and body. She shook her head, her teeth grinding before Nathaniel's thumb roughly wiped a tear from her eye. "I apologize, Nathaniel. I'm sorry."

The older man's face contorted into an evil grin before he pressed his lips to hers, his fingers trailing down the brunette's slender, ivory neck. "I know you are, sweetie. You will apologize every time you go against me, do you understand?"

Emily fought her instinctive nature to yank away from the man and give her point of reason, but she just simply nodded her head. Her teeth bit down into her lip as she heard the voices of the children getting closer and closer. "I understand Nathaniel."

Nathaniel nodded before standing, grabbing Emily's hand and pulling her up to stand at his side. They watched together as the children made their way into the living room from the backyard, and Emily quickly put on a brave face. "Hi you guys. Did you have fun outside with Hampton?"

Hadley gave a nod, his smile bright as he tugged on his little sisters hands. "We played rope!"

Emily smiled softly at the kids before her, their blond hairs tousled from the wind. "Wow, that sounds like so much fun."

Eva jumped beside her brother, her lips curving upward to form the smallest and most darling of smiles. "Hampton even skipp'd with us!"

Nathaniel smiled down to his children, his hand gripping the woman's beside him as Hampton locked up the back doors. "That sounds great, kids." He knelt down in front of the three, his hand letting go of Emily's before he took Bailey into his arms. "Are you all ready for lunch with me and your mother?"

Emily's eyes widened as she looked from the older man to the children, watching as the girls let their faces brighten before their eyes made their way to hers. She sucked her lips into her mouth so she could let out no words or cries, letting Hadley's hard gaze land on her.

He didn't seem at all surprised.

Nathaniel turned back to her, his hand going up to grab onto hers once more. "They're ready. Are you?"

"Miss Mayabell!"

Emily nodded slightly as she let herself hobble over to the kids, her hands going to Bailey's underarms and scooping the little girl up and into her arms. "Let's eat."