Chapter 796 Gavin, You Have to Bring Clayton Back!
Grant leaned against the car, quietly smoking. Who knows how many nights he had spent like this, keeping watch downstairs.
Clayton often watched him.
Watched Grant reminisce, watched Grant suffer.
In the darkness, Clayton's long fingers held a cigarette, the red ember glowing for a long time.
Since Natalie got pregnant, she hadn't been sleeping well.
She had a habit of kicking off the covers at night, leaving her body exposed to the cold air from the AC, which would wake her up. When she woke up, she couldn't find Clayton.
Natalie sat up, trying to wake herself fully.
Once she was awake, she turned on the light, got out of bed, and looked for her slippers. She used to be quite clumsy, but ever since she got pregnant, she had been very careful, afraid of any accidents.
She walked out to the living room and saw Clayton.
He was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, smoking. There was a faint smell of smoke in the room, but it wasn't strong.
"Clayton."
Natalie called him from behind. Clayton heard her voice, immediately stubbed out the cigarette, opened the window to let the smoke out, and turned around. "Why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing up?"
Natalie walked over, gently hugged his waist, and leaned into his chest.
She was wearing a loose cotton nightgown that hid her growing belly. If you didn't look closely, she still seemed like a young girl.
But on closer inspection, there were a few cute freckles on either side of her straight nose.
Clayton lowered his head and kissed her for a while.
He wanted to take her back to the bedroom to sleep.
But Natalie said she couldn't sleep and wanted to enjoy the cool breeze for a bit. Clayton didn't stop her.
He watched as she bent over, leaning on the railing, and then saw Grant. He saw the smile on her lips freeze instantly.
Clayton watched with understanding.
After a few seconds, Natalie asked softly, "You stay up at night just to watch him?"
He said, "No! It's work-related."
Natalie said, "Okay," with a bit of a nasal tone. Then she enjoyed the breeze for a while before closing the window. She walked over and asked him to carry her back to the bedroom, acting particularly spoiled.
Clayton picked her up in his arms. "You're like a little pig."
Natalie wrapped her arms around his neck and complained softly, "What pig is as light as me?"
Clayton carried her all the way to the bedroom.
The bedroom was dark and cool. After placing her on the bed, he didn't leave immediately. His hand gently caressed her slender waist, a mix of affection and a hint of desire.
Natalie lay beneath him, her whole body soft and her eyes especially bright.
Clayton slowly lowered his head and kissed her.
She didn't refuse, didn't resist, and even actively responded to him.
After a long while, Clayton's eyes were deep, and he said in a low voice, "You're so proactive tonight."
Natalie leaned in and kissed him again.
Clayton undressed her, her skin glowing in the dim light. His kisses moved slowly downward, and they remained silent, only communicating through their touches and kisses.
When he kissed her belly, the baby inside moved gently.
Clayton looked up, his voice low and husky. "The baby's moving."
Natalie arched her body slightly, then held his head, gently tugging at his hair. Clayton pressed his face against her belly, feeling the baby with all his heart.
A small life was growing inside her.
After a long while, Clayton propped himself up and kissed her again. It was still silent, but it was the most straightforward confession between them.
Time flew by.
Summer passed in the blink of an eye, and early autumn in September brought clear, crisp weather.
Natalie's belly had grown large, making it difficult for her to move around. Her feet often swelled, and Clayton frequently massaged them for her.
He said, "According to the due date, the baby should be born around mid-November. Just two more months, and we'll be parents."
Natalie touched her belly. During an ultrasound, the doctor hinted it was a girl.
Natalie liked the idea of having a girl.
After finishing the foot massage, Clayton looked up with some reluctance. He asked softly, "Are you sure you'll be okay staying at Gavin's? Will you be comfortable?"
Last month, Clayton had a business issue overseas that the company's vice president couldn't resolve, so Clayton had to go himself.
But he was worried about Natalie.
Natalie leaned on his shoulder, smiling. "We've lived together for so many years, and you never worried about me being comfortable! It's fine, they're my family—my parents, my brother, and my sister-in-law."
Hearing this, Clayton felt a bit more at ease.
Andrew and Chloe were naturally great, and Gavin had always doted on her.
Molly treated her even better.
Before the baby was born, Molly had already knitted several cute little outfits, all pink and adorable, along with tiny socks and mittens.
Most of the other baby items were also bought with Molly's help.
But Clayton still couldn't bear to leave. The day before his departure, he personally went to the market, bought a lot of Natalie's favorite foods, and packed them into the Devereux family's freezer so she could eat them whenever she craved.
Natalie whispered, "You're only going for a week! People will laugh at you."
Clayton busied himself. "Who would laugh at a man who loves his wife? They'd only be jealous."
It was the weekend.
Gavin came downstairs after his nap, wearing casual clothes. He heard their conversation and leaned against the wall lazily. "Clayton, don't overdo it! If you keep this up, Molly will compare me to you again, saying I don't care about her and my cooking isn't half as good as yours."
He emphasized "Clayton," clearly a bit jealous.
Clayton chuckled.
It had been years, but Gavin was still hung up on it.
But jealousy was a good thing; it showed he cared.
Clayton arranged everything meticulously, even folding Natalie's underwear neatly, eight pairs in total, so she wouldn't have to do laundry until he returned.
Natalie teased, "They'll be stinky by the time you get back."
She called him a neat freak.
Clayton picked up his suitcase, then put it down again. They were in her private room, very intimate.
He sat on the bed, legs spread.
His long legs made it easy for Natalie to sit beside him.
Clayton kissed her for a long time, then had her lie down. He listened to the baby. "The baby has grown. By the time I get back, she'll be even stronger! Doesn't seem like a little girl."
Natalie didn't want him to leave either.
She gently touched his handsome face. Clayton had lost weight from all the work stress.
She whispered, "We have enough money. Don't work so hard."
Clayton's heart softened. He said, "Okay, next year will be better. I'll move all the overseas business back, so I won't have to travel so much. I can focus on you and the baby."
Natalie placed her hand on his, looking at him quietly for a long time.
From the doorway, Gavin's lazy voice called out, "Are you two done yet? You've been married for so long and still act like newlyweds! If you don't leave now, you'll miss your flight."
Natalie blushed.
She quickly got up, but Clayton held her back. "Rest a bit, don't go downstairs."
Natalie still wanted to go down.
Gavin laughed. "Don't worry, I'll take Clayton to the airport and pick him up in a week!"
He was teasing her again.
Natalie couldn't help but hug Clayton again. She didn't know why, but she just wanted to hold him.
Clayton kissed her forehead, his voice hoarse. "I'll be back soon."
Clayton picked up his suitcase and went downstairs.
For a long time afterward, Natalie regretted not being more stubborn that day, not stopping Clayton from going overseas, or even just going downstairs to see him off.
She remembered clearly that the weather was great that day. When Gavin returned after taking Clayton to the airport, he brought her a pudding, saying it was specially bought by Clayton at the airport because she had been craving it lately.
After that, Natalie never ate pudding again.
Because every time she did, she thought of Clayton and regretted it all over again.
Six days later, at dusk, the light in the villa was dimming, and the distant calls of night hawks could be heard.
Natalie and Molly were sitting on the couch in the living room. Molly was teaching Natalie how to knit baby socks.
Outside, the sound of a car pulling up could be heard. Gavin jumped out of the car.
He walked quickly, his expression colder than ever.
"Gavin!"
Molly stood up when she saw him. "Weren't you supposed to have an important meeting tonight?"
Gavin's eyes were on Natalie, but he spoke to Molly. "Get my passport. Nothing else. Kingsley and I need to go to Arcturus."
Molly was stunned.
Gavin repeated himself, and she snapped out of it, immediately going upstairs to get it.
She usually kept these things, but her legs were weak as she came back down. She knew Gavin well; he wouldn't act like this unless something serious had happened.
And if Kingsley was going too, there was only one possibility—Clayton was in trouble!
Molly didn't dare ask, afraid of upsetting Natalie.
Downstairs, Natalie was also in a daze.
When she came to, she asked softly, "Gavin, did something happen to Clayton?"
Gavin hesitated.
In the end, he didn't hide the truth completely because it was impossible to hide. The news was already everywhere.
He controlled his emotions and said, "Clayton's helicopter crashed in the mountains, but they haven't found him yet. There's still hope. Kingsley and I are heading there right away. Molly will stay with you, and our parents are on their way from Copenhagen."
Natalie's lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face.
Gavin gently pressed her shoulder, his voice hoarse. "Clayton cares most about you and the baby. Natalie, don't let anything happen to you or the baby. I beg you."
Natalie forced her tears back.
She didn't ask to go with them because her belly was too big. Any accident on the way would be a burden. She just held Gavin's hand tightly. "Gavin, you have to bring Clayton back."
Gavin's eyes were moist. He said, "I will."
Then he looked at Molly.
Molly hugged Natalie, also looking at Gavin. They had been married for years and understood each other without words.
Gavin left.
As he got into the car, he remembered what he had told Natalie six days ago. He had said, "I'll take Clayton to the airport now and pick him up in six days."
But now, could Clayton still come back?
He didn't know.
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