A Cue for Happiness

Samuel glanced at Natalie briefly with a meaningful look in his eyes. With his lips slightly raised, he said, “Ms. Nichols, your vigilance is truly over-the-top. However, what are you afraid of? Are you worried that I’d want something from you?”

Natalie was feeling extremely uncomfortable under his gaze.

The man’s eyes were focused on her face as if he was trying to stare right through her soul.

Finally, she understood why he was rumored to be an immensely dominant and difficult-to-deal-with man. None of the people who were once targeted by Samuel was able to escape from his clutches.

It wasn’t that she didn’t take him seriously before this, but she simply didn’t want to be associated with such a dangerous person in any way.

At that moment, Gavin came in and reported, “Sir, the meal is ready.”

Samuel’s lips were slightly curved upward when he said, “Ms. Nichols, let’s dine together. Have a taste of my chef’s work.”

Natalie didn’t try to reject, merely following Samuel into the dining hall to have their meal.

The dining table was laden with all sorts of delicacies. Right after she took her seat, she began digging in. Although she was pleasantly surprised by the chef’s cooking, she still managed to control herself while she ate. Thus, she survived the session without any incident.

Right as she was almost done with her food, Samuel’s phone began vibrating.

“Please excuse me,” he said.

“Go ahead.”

When Samuel left, Natalie was finally able to relax for a bit.

be possible that I was the one who was being too paranoid? Did

just about to finish her food when she felt something cool

What the hell?

to see a snow-white snake twirling itself around her calf, slowly inching its way up her leg. Its eyes were clear and amber-colored, and it kept flicking its tongue

city. Before she turned nineteen, Natalie had been living in the countryside. There would always be snakes in the fields and rivers, so she wasn’t afraid of the snake. She had even caught snakes

came to the city, she rarely

in front of her face. Then, she caressed the snake’s head gently while saying, “Hello, little guy. You look special. Are you

snake home with her if it didn’t have an owner. Xavian would

Moony?” A

“M-Moony?”

sight shifted from Moony to a little boy, who was standing

his dark eyes were fixed intently on her. His good looks were even comparable with that of Xavian and Clayton’s. Upon closer observation, she noticed that the little boy looked somewhat similar to Xavian and Clayton.

toward Franklin before squatting down in

was smiling when she looked into the little boy’s dark eyes. “Is

brave. At

return it back to you.” Natalie placed Moony on Franklin’s small

her face. “I called you unattractive

her face to make her appear ugly,

me to be mad about it.” She rubbed Franklin’s head, which was bristly because of his short hair, while she spoke. “Moreover, I’m already ugly. Won’t it just make me uglier if I still get angry

five years old. Still, his head had never been touched by anyone

others wouldn’t even dare to think about it. Even the woman who gave birth to him would be frightened by a few words from him. Thus,