Chapter 801 Clayton's Back 1
Grant finished speaking, his eyes glistening with tears.
These things, he had only recently learned... It turned out that during the eight years he had harbored hatred for Natalie, she had paid a heavy price for their relationship.
He could imagine that the child back then must have been lost due to a miscarriage.
Otherwise, Natalie would have kept the baby.
In reality, they had eight years—eight years of opportunities to reconcile, but they didn't...
Whether they loved each other or not was no longer the most important thing. The most important thing was that they had both given up on each other.
Even without Clayton, they were destined not to be together.
In the spacious living room, both of them remained silent for a long time.
Finally, Alvina spoke, but instead of mentioning Natalie, she asked him, "Grant, you haven't eaten, have you? Let me make you something to eat!"
After Alvina spoke, Grant's eyes stung even more.
Back when they were at their poorest, Alvina was so busy making ends meet that she couldn't take care of him.
A sandwich before school in the morning was about all the motherly love she could give him, and it was the best she could offer at the time.
He didn't respond.
Alvina quietly wiped away a tear and went into the kitchen to cook.
While she was cooking, Grant remained in his seat, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and lighting one.
From the kitchen came Alvina's slightly suppressed voice.
She said, "Grant, I'm sorry."
Back then, she had found Natalie and said many harsh things.
She had called Natalie shameless, accused her of clinging to her son, and berated her for being disgraceful, saying that of all the men in the world, she had to sleep with her son...
She could still clearly remember Natalie's expression at that time.
Back then, Alvina had felt a sense of satisfaction!
She hated the Devereux family so much that seeing their daughter in pain brought her a twisted sense of pleasure.
She knew Grant liked Natalie.
During that time, he seemed happier than ever, but she thought that it wasn't only Natalie who could make Grant happy.
Besides... a man should be strong and not be entangled in romantic affairs. She believed Clara was more sensible and gentle, more suitable for Grant.
But over the years, Grant never fell in love with anyone else.
His love for Natalie had even been twisted by the hatred she had instilled in him. He loved Natalie... but this twisted love was suffocating.
A living child was gone!
Alvina was heartbroken. If she hadn't confronted Natalie back then, if she had silently endured it all...
Would Grant have had children by now?
Would he have been happier?
Half an hour later, a sandwich was ready and placed on the dining table.
Grant stubbed out his cigarette and sat down to eat.
He ate quickly, chewing mechanically, like a lifeless shell.
Alvina's legs weren't very agile, and standing for a long time had made them ache. She sat down and quietly massaged them.
After a while, she spoke softly, "Grant, I'll go and beg her, beg her to reconcile with you."
She actually wanted to say that now that Natalie had lost her husband, there was still a chance.
But she was afraid Grant would be repulsed.
As for the newborn child, Alvina still suspected it was Grant's, as the resemblance was too strong.
After she spoke, Grant paused and said, "No need."
Alvina wanted to say more.
He gave a bitter smile, "It's too late."
But Alvina still wanted to try. She secretly went to see Natalie and the child.
A month after the child was born.
After being discharged from the hospital, Natalie didn't move back to the Devereux Mansion. She continued living in Clayton's apartment.
Clayton's parents stayed in the country for half a month before flying away again.
Andrew and Chloe were worried about Natalie.
But Natalie felt she needed to be independent. She was a mother now and couldn't always rely on her parents and siblings. She hired two capable servants to help.
With the servants' help, Natalie began to manage the company's affairs while taking care of the child.
She took it slow, learning as she went.
The first Fireworks Festival after giving birth to Haven was spent in the apartment.
The day after the festival, she went to the Devereux Mansion for a few days, then returned home with Haven.
Haven was almost a hundred days old and even more adorable.
On an early spring afternoon, the sun was warm.
Natalie was pushing Haven in a stroller, basking in the sun. The doctor had said she was a bit deficient in vitamin D and that sunlight would be good for her.
After a short while, Haven started kicking her legs; she had wet her diaper.
The servant laughed and said, "She eats well, sleeps well, and is growing up healthy!" Then she turned to go upstairs to get a new diaper.
Natalie wiped Haven's bottom and gave her a gentle pat, "Such a little rascal!"
At that moment, a familiar voice sounded in her ear.
"Kids this age are always like this, eating, sleeping, and pooping."
Natalie froze.
She slowly looked up and saw Alvina standing not far away. Despite wearing festive and expensive clothes, her face showed no joy, and she looked much thinner.
Natalie didn't want to have anything to do with her.
She placed Haven back in the stroller and was about to leave when Alvina hurriedly called out to her.
Alvina's tone was a bit nervous, "I know it's a bit presumptuous of me to come here! I brought a gift for the child for the Fireworks Festival, just a small token."
Natalie's voice was cold, "I told you, the child is mine and Clayton's."
Alvina still held onto a glimmer of hope.
But she didn't dare mention it, instead saying softly, "Even if it's just to apologize, for myself and for Grant! If it weren't for me back then..."
Natalie cut her off, "There's no 'if'! It's all in the past! Besides, I'm married now!"
At that moment, Haven started crying.
Natalie picked her up and gently soothed her, speaking softly, "Please don't come again! I don't hate you, but I've forgotten the past with Grant. There's no need to bring it up again."
Alvina felt a pang of sadness.
She insisted on giving the gift, but Natalie refused to accept it.
After all, this child was the one Grant didn't want, and despite taking medication, the baby was born anyway. The child had nothing to do with the McCall family.
Natalie's attitude was firm, and Alvina was deeply disappointed.
After returning home, she fell seriously ill. Despite seeing many doctors, no one could diagnose her heartache.
Alvina left, and Natalie held Haven close.
Haven's face was warm, and Natalie's eyes were moist. She whispered, "Mommy hopes you grow up quickly, but also fears you grow up too fast."
Because she was still waiting for Clayton.
The faster Haven grew, the quicker Clayton would be forgotten.
Natalie continued living alone with her child, as the seasons changed and another spring arrived.
She took over Clayton's company.
She completely shed her girlish demeanor, growing into a strong woman, navigating the competitive world of Seattle.
Haven had learned to walk and was now 16 months old.
Grant often came to see them.
But he never went upstairs, just watching from a distance when Natalie took Haven out for a walk...
Natalie didn't stop him, but she never spoke to him either, treating him like a stranger.
Over time, Grant found this arrangement acceptable.
At least, they were still in each other's worlds.
On a cool March night, Natalie attended a business dinner and had a bit too much to drink.
When she came out, her steps were unsteady, and her secretary couldn't find the driver and had gone downstairs first.
Natalie leaned against the glass elevator, holding her head and frowning slightly.
The alcohol was strong!
With a ding, the elevator stopped on the 26th floor, and someone entered.
It was Grant.
Grant hadn't expected to see Natalie in the elevator, and she was alone. She was wearing a slightly formal outfit that fit her well, highlighting her good figure.
After giving birth, her body seemed more sensual, very alluring!
If Grant claimed he had no feelings for her, it would be a lie. After all, they were each other's first sexual partners, and even though they had only been intimate twice, he still remembered the sensation and the tightness of Natalie's vagina.
His voice was slightly hoarse, "Natalie, you've had too much to drink."
Natalie opened her eyes and saw Grant, someone she didn't really want to see.
How to put it, she had indeed loved him.
But love wasn't like in novels, where just being in love was enough. Their families and their backgrounds meant they were never meant to be together.
Over the years, she had moved on, but Grant hadn't.
She couldn't understand why he was still holding on when she was already married.
With no one else in the elevator, Natalie was willing to take this opportunity to make things clear.
She spoke softly, "Grant, find a woman and get married. I don't hate you, but I don't love you anymore."
Grant looked at her quietly.
His eyes were deep and unreadable, and Natalie didn't want to understand. She just wanted to go home and sleep; there was so much to do tomorrow!
As the elevator descended, she swayed slightly.
Grant reached out to steady her, but Natalie tried to avoid him, though he still managed to grab her arm, "Natalie! You've had too much to drink. Let me help you to your car!"
Natalie softly insisted she didn't need help.
But he was frighteningly persistent, and they struggled... From outside the elevator, it looked very much like an intimate moment between lovers.
Someone stood in the darkness, silently watching.
It was Clayton. He had returned!
Not tonight, but three months ago on Christmas Eve. He should have embraced Natalie and comforted her, telling her he was back and hadn't died, just suffered a concussion...
That night, he had seen Grant standing in the snow, keeping watch all night.
As dawn broke, a servant came downstairs.
Grant handed her a beautiful gift bag, presumably for Haven.
The child... right, how could he forget, the child was Grant's!
So much time had passed, had Natalie accepted his death and slowly accepted Grant, thinking it would be better for the child to grow up with her biological father?
Clayton couldn't be sure.
He didn't go home; he watched from the shadows, always hesitant.
Before the plane crash, he had jumped into the sea.
The height had caused multiple fractures all over his body, and he was now full of metal pins...
He wasn't the same Clayton anymore; he couldn't even run, let alone anything else.
And Natalie had become completely independent, doing an excellent job.
She no longer needed his protection... Clayton watched quietly, and before Natalie came out, he turned and left.
On that early spring night, his departing figure seemed lonely and drawn out.
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