Chapter 144

Once upon a time. Natalie recalled being just like Nate, stubbornly waiting for Brian who hadn’t come home on time. No matter how much Sadie tried to convince Natalie, Natalie would insist on waiting just a bit longer for him to join us for dinner, to come to bed and rest together.

Back then, Brian was always busy.

Perhaps it was more accurate to say he was perpetually caught up in a whirlwind of work.

But in those days, even if Brian exchanged just a few words with Natalie at the dinner table, or said “Goodnight” and told her not to stay up too late with her book, she’d secretly be thrilled for hours.

Looking back, it was like searching for sugar in a pile of shattered glass.

A cool breeze wafted in, carrying the faint scent of wilting roses and the robust aroma of the gardenias, a surprisingly pleasant yet piercing fragrance.

“Nate, are you cold?” Natalie asked, breaking the silence.

Nate

e sprang up from the ground, dashed over to where Natalle was, and snuggled into her embrace, his little hands chilly to the touch.

shrimp on the menu tonight,” Natalie coaxed, a blend of fibs and enticement that finally got Nate

and

refrained from calling to check in,

starving.” Natalie said

much food…” Sadle

all the same.” Natalie cut in before she could finish. “He must be busy. Let’s not wait

downcast. Without both Mom and Dad, it just didn’t feel complete But thankfully, this was the first birthday he was spending with

the time they finished dinner, it was late. Natalie took Nate straight upstairs

before sleep, Nate was still asking,

you wake up in the morning,

on the balcony, staring

had that irritable demeanor and grumpy face.

Chapter 144

when Robert was nothing but sweetness and

say what was right or wrong. When you liked someone, you just

was five or six, she had liked Brian, dreaming that one day she could marry him and become his wife. Now at twenty–eight, that belief hadn’t changed. Madelyn still wanted to

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