Chapter 199 No Such Thing as Should or Shouldn't


After Natalie sent Charlotte a heart emoji, her phone immediately started lighting up with notifications. It was one transfer after another—her mom sending her money over and over again without stopping.

Sitting across from her, Shawn could hear the constant pinging of her phone. Curiosity got the better of him.

"Nat, are you texting with a friend?" he asked.

"It's my mom," Natalie replied quickly, typing a message asking her mom to stop sending money.

She already had plenty-Lincoln had given her an additional card tied to his account, and Mason, despite his modest allowance, gave her everything he had. Hector and Timothy also sent her money regularly, as if worried she'd starve without it.

When Natalie's message reached her mom, it finally stopped the barrage. Her mom then sent a voice message instead. "Sweetie, don't be shy with me. I have plenty of money, and it's all yours-none of them are for your brothers!"

Since Shawn was nearby, Natalie didn't play the voice message out loud. She held her phone to her ear to listen, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

She thought if her brothers heard that, they'd probably be devastated.

Still, there was a strange warmth in her heart. It was a new, comforting feeling-a mother's unconditional love.

Charlotte didn't expect her to compromise, didn't ask her to trade anything for affection, and didn't make her endure hardships to earn care. She simply loved and protected her. It was something Natalie had never experienced at the Langleys.

Without realizing it, Natalie's initial resistance toward Charlotte had melted away.

"Nat, do you want to take a walk outside?" Shawn asked, noticing her faint smile. His lips curved into a warm grin. "Celeste will be wrapping up her shoot in about 20 minutes. Do you want to watch her up close?"

After a moment's thought, Natalie nodded. "Sure. Let's go."

lounge and toward the set. By now, Celeste had changed into a high-end couture gown with a fresh hairstyle and carefully chosen jewelry to match. She stood on the rocks, effortlessly posing as waves crashed around her, sending perfect sprays of water into

snapped away, capturing frame after frame of

spray, and Celeste's elegance was

umbrella. He took it and held it over Natalie, shielding

gentle smile. "You're Celeste's cousin. Taking extra care

Haines, but there's no such thing as what someone should or shouldn't do," Natalie replied, reaching out to take the umbrella. "I can hold it

she did prefer not to tan. Her fair skin didn't tan easily, but she

it," Shawn insisted, holding the umbrella. He maintained a polite distance while holding it

with a self-deprecating chuckle, his smile softening into a

argue further. She wasn't the type to overthink or refuse kindness when

without care and ran barefoot to Natalie, her face

exclaimed, throwing an arm

"Sure," he replied easily.

came with a friend," Natalie said, trying to distance herself from Celeste's tight embrace. Celeste,

know how many girls would kill to hug me?

pressed her cheek against Natalie's, grinning

Natalie's skin was ridiculously soft and smooth. It must be those amazing Kennedy family

Kennedys were naturally fair. Charlotte and Celeste had enviably pale complexions, but

himself, the Walker brothers

finally understood why Emma was so tan. No matter how much foundation or whitening cream she used, it couldn't

course, Celeste kept these thoughts

aside any bias, Emma wasn truly tanned-she just wasn't as pale as the rest of them. After all, she was a girl carefully raised by the Walker family. With her upbringing, refined tastes,

to join us for dinner!" Celeste said

had been able to approach earlier, thanks to Shawn's intervention. Meanwhile,

attention. Though the beach wasn't crowded,

most of the people present were older adults or families with children-not the type to

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