Chapter 471 I'm Only Good to Natalie
Andrew finished talking, and the room went dead quiet.
Even after all these years together, Chloe still couldn't handle it when he said stuff like that.
She got up, trying to hide her feelings, and brushed her long hair aside. "I'll get you some water," she said.
"I'm not thirsty," Andrew muttered, his voice low.
He grabbed her hand and, with a gentle pull, she ended up in his arms.
She whispered his name softly.
"Shh," he said, pulling her closer and kissing her gently.
The room was so quiet that the sound of their kissing felt super awkward.
Even though he was sick, he couldn't keep still, his hands wandering all over, and Chloe couldn't keep him in check.
Finally, after what felt like forever, he let her rest on his shoulder to catch her breath. Chloe took a moment to recover, her face pressed against his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin and his unique, mature scent, which was pretty intoxicating.
She complained softly, "You should be over it by now after eating just a little bit!"
Andrew looked down at her. He lightly scratched her nose after a moment of silence, "I haven't reached the stage where I need those things to become aroused."
This topic was too much for her, so she playfully bit his shoulder.
"Maybe in a couple of years, it'll be like that!"
Andrew pinched her nose. "We'll see in a couple of years!"
He pinched her nose a bit too hard, and Chloe yelped in pain.
Andrew didn't say anything, just held her close, caring for her like he would for Natalie.
Chloe felt a bit embarrassed, but she used to be his darling too. Half ashamed and half enjoying it, she leaned against him, and later, she just lay on the bed to chat with him.
When she asked him how to deal with Nina, Andrew's face turned dark, and he didn't answer her directly.
Chloe got the hint.
She didn't want to know about those things; no matter how cruel, Nina had brought it on herself.
She stayed with Andrew in the hospital for another day.
On the day of discharge, she thought he would take her back to Syeattel, but Andrew had other plans. He took her on a trip, just the two of them, for a week.
The private jet landed at Syeattel Airport.
Andrew drove back himself, holding the steering wheel and asking her, "Where do you want to go?"
Chloe, sitting beside him, thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to my parents' place first. Natalie has been there for the past two days. We can pick up Gavin from school and go to your place. I haven't seen Adeline in a long time."
Andrew thought that was a good idea.
As he started the car, he couldn't help but glance at her again.
After a few days of rest, Chloe looked particularly good—fresh and vibrant.
Andrew felt a fleeting tremor pass through him, accompanied by a familiar restlessness. He discreetly pressed it down.
They arrived at the Hawkins Mansion.
Laura had already packed Natalie's luggage. The two-and-a-half-year-old Natalie had a pink little suitcase that she loved to drag around, and when she got tired, she would sit on it.
From a distance, Laura saw them.
Andrew was wearing a black shirt and black casual pants, with a light coat over them, looking mature and refined.
Chloe also looked well.
Laura was happy, handing Natalie over to them and giving Chloe some supplements suitable for the elderly. Chloe looked at them and said, "These are great for Andrew!"
Laura laughed, "These are for Adeline!"
She pretended to scold her daughter, "You always say that. Be careful, or Andrew might get mad."
Chloe hugged her arm and said playfully, "He won't get mad at me!"
Andrew exchanged a few polite words with Laura, and it was almost time to go. He carried the gifts in one hand and held Natalie in the other, while Chloe dragged the small suitcase.
The black Maybach slowly drove away.
Patrick walked out of the hall, watching the empty driveway, and sighed, "My darling Natalie isn't home either!"
Laura couldn't help but comfort him.
Patrick looked at the sky with his hands on his hips and asked Laura, "Is today a special day?"
Laura thought for a moment, "No, no one's birthday, and it's not an anniversary."
Patrick felt quite disappointed.
He stood at the door for a long time before saying, "Call Frederick and ask him to bring his wife and kids over for dinner! If he's busy, he doesn't have to come, but Charlotte and the kids must come."
Patrick finished speaking and walked towards the hall, talking to himself, "I haven't seen those kids for days. I miss them so much."
Laura shook her head and smiled.
Meanwhile, Andrew was driving. Chloe sat in the back seat holding Natalie. Natalie should have been in a car seat, but after a week apart, she just wanted to hold her.
Andrew looked through the rearview mirror and couldn't help but say, "You shouldn't spoil her like this! Kids need to sit in baby car seats."
At the next red light, he stopped the car.
Chloe had to put Natalie in the car seat. At first, Natalie wasn't happy and kept asking for Chloe.
Andrew said softly, "Mom will hold you when we get out."
Magically, Natalie stopped fussing.
Chloe felt a bit upset. She had taken care of Natalie for over a year, and Andrew had only been back for a short while. And he wasn't always with the child!
Her expression was somewhat childish and defiant.
Andrew adjusted his shirt in the rearview mirror, met her gaze, and smiled lightly.
Chloe's cheeks turned slightly red.
When the light turned green, Andrew gently pressed the gas pedal and arrived at Gavin's school on time.
They rarely picked up Gavin together.
Gavin, with his backpack, came out with a group of classmates and immediately saw Andrew leaning against the car.
Compared to other parents, Andrew was quite striking.
Everyone knew he was Gavin's dad, and someone teased, "Gavin, your dad's here to pick you up!"
Gavin said something, and the classmate ran off.
Gavin walked over.
Andrew patted his head and took his backpack, "Get in the car! Mom and Natalie are inside."
Gavin had just finished gym class. His forehead was sweaty, and even the tips of his hair were damp.
He got into the car, called out "Mom," and then touched Natalie's face, asking if she was hungry.
Andrew also got in the car and smiled, "Gavin was such a little gentleman."
Gavin snorted, "I'm not a gentleman! I only care about Natalie, not the other people's kid."
Andrew turned to Chloe, who feigned ignorance of the subtle implications.
Andrew wasn't angry at the words; he touched his nose and chuckled.
Natalie, holding her bottle, drank contentedly.
The car drove towards Andrew's villa. When they arrived, Nathan and his wife were there, and Chloe was momentarily stunned.
She instinctively looked around, but there was no sign of Molly. She despised herself inwardly for being so petty.
At that moment, Adeline was arguing with Nathan because a servant named Lila Bell, who had been with her for decades had left. Nathan told her Lila had resigned and returned to Copenhegan, but Adeline, being sharp, didn't believe him.
Adeline, usually ill, was now full of energy as she interrogated Nathan. "Nathan, if you don't tell me, I'll have to go to Copenhegan myself and ask her! I want to know how she plans to manage without her unreliable children and what she'll do after leaving here!"
Nathan smiled wryly. He patted his thigh and spoke nonsense, "Adeline, you don't know, her son has become successful and filial!"
Adeline shook the item in her hand, "Really? Then what is this?"
Adeline held a bank card.
There was a rule in the Devereux Family Mansion that servants who had some money liked to keep it with Adeline because she could get them interest. In any case, Lila had left, but her money was still with Adeline, which didn't make sense.
Adeline insisted on an explanation.
Nathan felt awkward, and he and Amanda just stared at each other.
Nathan began to act, "Look at you, letting you manage the house, and this is what happens! How am I supposed to explain this to Adeline?"
Amanda, feeling wronged, wiped her tears, "How is this my fault? She was the one who was indiscreet, doing unseemly things for a bit of money."
Adeline, holding onto the table and chair, slowly stood up. "What did she do?"
Nathan and Amanda didn't dare to speak.
Coincidentally, Andrew returned with Chloe and the children. Nathan, as if finding a savior, said, "You're finally back! Adeline is about to scold me; can you plead for me?"
Andrew closed the car door.
Seeing the situation in the courtyard, he knew Adeline was angry.
He walked over with a smile and said, "Don't get angry; it's bad for your health."
Adeline sneered, "Don't try to fool me! Andrew, I'm not senile. If Lila did something wrong, she should be dealt with accordingly. You shouldn't keep it from me."
Andrew smiled wryly.
He looked around and saw several servants watching the commotion. He waved them away gently.
Adeline knew something was up.
Andrew turned back, and Chloe stood by the car with the two children.
He walked over and said to her, "There's something to deal with. Take the kids upstairs."
He wanted to give Adeline some dignity.
After all, she was used to having Lila around.
But Adeline disagreed. She said in a steady voice, "Chloe is your future wife; she doesn't need to leave."
Andrew was helpless.
Adeline was sharp. She kicked Nathan, "Bring her over. How long are you going to keep her locked up?"
Nathan's leg hurt. He grimaced and smiled, "Adeline, you're so sharp! I'll bring her over right away."
Sure enough, Lila was brought over in a moment.
After being locked up for several days and treated roughly by Nathan, her face didn't look good.
Lila didn't dare to look at Adeline, her eyes darting around.
Andrew asked Amanda to take the two children away because the topic was too unpleasant.
Once most people had left, Andrew quietly told Adeline about what happened in Pearl City and how Lila had been bribed by Nina to switch out Adeline's meals every day.
Adeline almost fainted upon hearing this.
She pointed at Lila, heartbroken, "You are so foolish!"
Lila knelt on the ground, crying and begging for forgiveness.
She pleaded, "I just thought of changing the dishes every day. That lady seemed decent and admired Andrew. I never thought she would do something so outrageous!" Her voice grew softer and softer until she finally broke down in tears from shame.
Adeline pointed her cane at her, tears streaming down her face, "You are not like others! You know best the hardships I endured giving birth to Andrew and Victoria! Victoria left early, and Andrew has been through so much! He is not just a member of the Devereux Family; he is Chloe's husband and the father of two children. If you had killed him for a bit of money, how could I face the Hawkins Family and my two grandchildren?"
Lila knelt on the ground, crying bitterly.
Chloe's lips moved, but Andrew gently held her back.
Adeline wiped her tears for a while, then looked up and made a decision, "You must have suffered enough these past few days! From now on, you can no longer work for the Devereux Family. Our master-servant relationship is over. If you work elsewhere, you must not mention the Devereux Family. Lila, you know my temper."
Adeline finished speaking and slowly sat down.
She looked at the bank card in her hand and asked Nathan to return it to Lila.
Lila cried, not wanting to leave.
Adeline, with tears in her eyes, smiled and said, "You receive a fixed salary here, but I've set aside a pension for each of you. You have $680,000 in total; and six months ago, I had Amanda deposit $400,000 into your account from mine!"
She finished speaking, feeling heartbroken, and waved her away.
Lila, holding the bank card, knelt on the ground, crying and apologizing to Adeline and Andrew.
Lila begged Adeline not to send her away.
Adeline, feeling sad, still waved her away.
When the courtyard finally quieted down, Adeline lowered her eyelids, looking exhausted.
After a long time, she called Chloe over. "I didn't manage well, and you suffered."
Chloe held her hand, not knowing how to comfort her.
Andrew, trying to cheer Adeline up, said to Chole, "You see, the big decisions at home still need Adeline. You start crying as soon as something happens! Adeline needs to live a long life to teach her more."
Adeline was coaxed into a smile.
She hit him lightly with her cane and scolded with a smile, "You're so mouthy! How much experience does she have at her age? Alright, you have to cook tonight's meal. I've given the servants a break."
Andrew looked deeply at Chloe, "I can cook all the meals from now on! It just depends on whether she wants to eat here every day."
Adeline dismissed him, "If you don't bully her, why wouldn't she want to?"
Chloe, feeling a bit spoiled, leaned against Adeline.
Adeline, having just lost a trusted person, found some comfort in this.
Andrew looked at Chloe, smiled, and went to cook.
The setting sun sank into the evening. Adeline leaned back in her chair, quietly calming down. Although she had been talking and laughing earlier, she was still scared when she thought about it. Andrew had almost been in trouble.
She gently patted Chloe's hand, "Tomorrow, accompany me to a place."
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