Chapter 436 How He Longed to Hold Natalie in His Arms
Frederick's eyes were heavy, like he was carrying the weight of the world.
He squeezed Chloe's hand and whispered, "Alright, alright! I won't call!"
The delivery room was all white, with that blinding incandescent light above.
Chloe, in crazy pain, stared up at the light, tears pooling in her eyes.
Tears slid down her cheeks, catching the light and making it sparkle.
She kept saying Andrew's name in her head. It wasn't that she didn't wanna hear his voice; she was just scared someone else might pick up, or worse, he couldn't even talk.
She missed him like crazy, but she also hated his guts.
Chloe fumed, 'Andrew, I really hate you! Do you even know Gavin thinks about you? And how pumped I was when I was to ask you to come to the prenatal checkup that day? You know nothing.'
The pain hit her in waves, leaving her numb and empty, too drained to even miss or hate him.
On New Year's Day, the Hawkins Family got a new member.
Natalie Devereux, born at 3:10 AM. Frederick picked the name!
.
It snowed all year at Frostpeak City, so sipping hot cocoa inside while watching the snow was kinda special.
But being stuck inside all year? Even the best view gets old.
Andrew stood by the window, his hospital gown hanging loose, looking gaunt and cold.
The docs had almost given up.
But he was still hanging on, two months longer than they thought.
Nathan stood behind him, holding a cup of water and some meds.
He said softly, "You should take your meds now!"
Andrew acted like he didn't hear.
He just stared at the blizzard outside and mumbled, "Today's New Year's Day! Bet it's lively back home!"
Nathan forced a smile, "Yeah, if it were any other day, the Devereux Family Mansion would be buzzing, and Adeline would've made a ton of delicious food, all your faves."
Andrew said softly, "Also her faves!"
Nathan didn't know what to say. After a bit, he cautiously said, "How about calling Chloe to check in? She should've given birth by now."
Andrew hesitated all day but didn't make the call. He'd rather be dead to her.
"Better not!"
Why give her hope?
Nathan felt super sad and tried to persuade him, "Take your meds! And get some sleep."
Andrew took the meds.
He lay flat on the bed, and a nurse came in to hook him up to the medical equipment.
He turned his head to the tubes.
Surprisingly, Andrew managed to fall asleep, and he had a dream about Chloe in the hospital.
It was when Charlotte was giving birth to Lola. He dreamed he was still strong, and Chloe was still young.
She was so much like Lola.
She'd look at him intently, call him Andrew, and then sneak glances at him.
The people in the dream were so real.
She was in his arms, gently stroking his face, saying, "Andrew, I don't blame you anymore!"
He woke up.
The room was still stark white, and outside was just endless white.
Andrew gently closed his eyes.
He figured he should try to catch some more Z's.
The room was warm, but he felt cold to the bone. Without Chloe, his life felt like it was over.
In the room, there was just a foreign nurse, kinda chubby.
Andrew really wanted to go back to the States.
He missed the wisteria flowers at the Devereux Mansion, Adeline's cooking, and the apartment on Broadway, which was his and Chloe's real home.
But he couldn't.
He refused to give up as long as he was still breathing.
Even if Chloe hated his guts; even if he went back alive and could never have her again.
No regrets.
Andrew couldn't sleep.
He got up, leaned against the headboard, and started folding paper planes one by one, the kind Gavin liked. Gavin once told him that when he grew up, he wanted to invent a plane that could get to Copenhegan as soon as he opened your eyes. Andrew's pale fingers trembled, "That silly boy."
Nathan came back through the snowstorm, brushing the snow off his coat. "You're awake!"
He came in and saw the paper planes.
Nathan pressed his lips together.
Andrew smiled faintly.
He squinted at the outside and said, "I wish I could spend another New Year back home."
"You definitely will." Nathan looked at him, knowing he was uncomfortable.
He was about to say something.
Andrew's phone rang; it was Frederick.
Syeattel time, 4 AM.
Andrew looked at the phone, feeling a pang of homesickness, and didn't react for a moment.
Nathan gently urged, "Answer it! Maybe Gavin misses you!"
Andrew smiled slightly, "Silly boy."
He picked up the phone, but the voice on the other end was faint; it was an international call.
Frederick's voice was also slightly tired. He said, "Chloe had a girl! Her name is Natalie."
She had given birth, and her name was Natalie.
Andrew's hand holding the phone trembled violently, so much so that he couldn't speak for a long time.
Frederick paused, "Andrew, Gavin misses you a lot."
Andrew closed his eyes slightly.
Frederick continued, "Charlotte will fly over next week. I'll have her bring photos of the baby."
Andrew softly said okay.
Frederick was silent for a while, "No matter what, I hope you can live well."
Andrew was a good person. He had sacrificed too much in the first half of his life and didn't deserve such a bleak ending.
Before he hung up the phone, he didn't even dare to humbly ask to speak to Chloe.
Nathan couldn't hear clearly from the side.
He asked, "What happened?"
Andrew held onto the edge of the bed, slowly sitting down. After a long time, he looked up and softly said, "I'm a father again. Chloe had a baby girl named Natalie!"
Nathan immediately became happy too. "That's great!"
Andrew picked up a paper plane and gently stroked it.
He wished he could fly back to see them.
Nathan gently said from the side, "You miss Chloe, don't you?"
Andrew nodded.
He hadn't seen her for a long time, almost half a year. He hadn't even heard her voice. She must hate him so much, and Gavin must also hate him.
Nathan went over to pour a glass of water.
He pondered for a while and then smiled, "Today is a day of great joy. Coincidentally, I also have something to share with you."
Andrew smiled faintly, "What makes you so happy?"
Nathan placed the glass in his hand and said mysteriously, "My wife's always wanted a daughter. Now that Molly's here, isn't it perfect? I'm planning to adopt her in the next couple of days!"
Andrew's eyes got a bit misty.
He knew Nathan was adopting Molly for his sake.
He felt bad for Nathan.
If Nathan had stayed in his original job, his life would've been easy, but he followed Andrew to this freezing foreign land for New Year's, and now he was adopting Molly.
Seeing Andrew not speaking, Nathan hurriedly said, "Why can't I adopt her? Don't I care about Luke's kid? That kid was bruised all over by the nanny; don't you think I'm worried?"
Andrew gave a bleak smile.
After a long time, he said, "Alright then!"
Nathan helped him lie down. "Just focus on getting better. Once you're well, we'll go back to see Chloe, Gavin, and Natalie. Don't worry about anything else; I'm here."
Andrew lay down. He smiled faintly.
Once he was better, he would go back to see them.
He was sure he would get better.
He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The doctors often had to give him sedatives, but today he refused. He lay on his side, eyes fixed on his phone.
He hoped the phone would ring.
He couldn't help but want to call; but the doctor's assessment flashed through his mind.
Andrew raised his hand.
He gently pressed the call button for the doctor and calmly said, "Give me the sedative."
When Chloe woke up at Syeattel Private Hospital, it was already afternoon.
The snow had stopped, the weather had cleared, and sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Beside her bed was a pink baby crib.
The baby was sleeping soundly.
Natalie, inheriting the Devereux Family's striking genes, was a vision of beauty.
Patrick was amusing the baby, feeling a bit discontented, "Among all the kids, only Sienna takes after our Hawkins Family. The rest, from Lola to Gavin to Kingsley, all have the Devereux Family's genes!"
As he spoke, he glanced resentfully at Frederick.
Frederick bent down, looking tenderly at the baby. He gently pinched the baby's cheek and casually asked Patrick, "You don't like them?"
Patrick rubbed his nose.
How could he say he didn't like them? Lola would be the first to not let him off.
Chloe lay there quietly.
The door was carefully pushed open, and Charlotte came in with a thermos, followed by Gavin.
She opened it, revealing fresh fish soup which was perfect for a new mother.
Chloe smiled faintly, "Smells great! I could drink two bowls."
Charlotte smoothed her hair, "Drink slowly; there's more every day!"
Chloe lowered her head and sipped slowly, her eyes downcast.
After she finished the soup, Natalie was hungry and cried delicately.
The nanny handed the baby to Chloe.
The Hawkins Family members left to give her privacy. Patrick had to leave for work.
Frederick wanted to smoke. Seeing Charlotte, he changed his mind, sat on the bench with her, and rubbed her hand, "Thank you for working hard to make the soup this morning! How's Sienna? Still behaving?"
Charlotte leaned on his shoulder.
She softly said, "Natalie is very cute."
Frederick knew she missed Andrew. No matter what, Andrew was Charlotte's uncle; she couldn't help but worry. He gently comforted her, "I'll take you to see him next week."
Charlotte nodded.
Frederick took out his phone and showed her photos. All of Natalie. He sent these photos to Charlotte.
Charlotte looked at him, and Frederick stroked her golden hair, pulling her close and whispering, "Send them to Andrew. Maybe seeing Natalie will lift his spirits."
Charlotte didn't speak. She just gently hugged her husband's waist.
Frederick was now truly a perfect husband and father.
Frederick went to smoke.
She carefully selected a few photos, including some of Gavin, and sent them to Andrew. [Happy New Year, Uncle Andrew.]
She hoped that seeing them would cure all his ailments and grant him a long life.
On the other side, Andrew woke up and received the photos from Charlotte.
In the photos, Chloe was asleep. Beside her lay a pink baby, with features and complexion very much like the Devereux Family. Andrew quietly looked at them, with Gavin standing nearby.
"Silly boy!" Andrew looked at the photos and smiled sweetly. But his eyes were full of tears.
Nathan joined in, "So cute! She looks just like you."
Andrew reluctantly stroked the screen.
He softly said, "The child is still young; maybe she'll take after her mom when she grows up. And she'll definitely be blessed."
Nathan timely suggested, "Why don't you call Chloe? She just had a baby; she must be longing to hear from you."
Andrew looked at the phone.
After a long time, he smiled and slowly said, "Alright!"
Just then, the door opened, and a young doctor walked in, "Mr. Devereux, I'd like to discuss your condition with you."
A shadow fell over Andrew's face as he received the report.
Nathan also fell silent.
The young doctor said, "We have a new treatment plan. The course will be longer, about a year! The process will be very painful, but the success rate can increase from 5% to 30%. I'd like to get your opinion, Mr. Devereux. Of course, the cost is significant."
Andrew didn't hesitate, "I agree."
The young doctor handed over some documents for Andrew to sign.
Andrew didn't have the energy to read them. He let Nathan read them. After reading, Nathan was silent for a long time.
The treatment plan was harsh and painful. Most people would give up, but Nathan knew how much Andrew wanted to live, so he softly said, "No problem! I'll be with you."
Andrew signed the papers.
After signing, he slowly put down the pen and softly said, "Hopefully, next year, we can go back home for New Year's."
Hopefully, by then, he would still be alive.
A year and two months later, it was spring; everything was coming back to life.
Chloe finished a magazine shoot and drove back alone, thinking about Natalie.
The 14-month-old baby was not yet fully weaned.
As usual, she opened the car door, holding a bag of bread. Kingsley's favorite.
She walked slower and slower. Today, the Hawkins Mansion felt different. She saw several black Audi cars parked at the villa entrance, and the fountain, which hadn't been used in a long time, was on.
Finally, she stopped.
She saw a familiar figure standing in the garden. Still slender, but looking much healthier.
In spring, he wore a dark brown sweater with a light wool coat over it.
The bread in Chloe's hand fell to the ground.
She looked at the man in front of her and softly said, "Andrew."
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