Chapter 804 Clayton, Come Home with Me!
Natalie didn't go back to her apartment; instead, she drove to the Devereux Mansion.
It was quite a coincidence that both Gavin and Molly were home.
Leopold's birthday was in two weeks, and Molly was supposed to plan the party. However, she couldn't make up her mind, so she called Gavin back from the office.
The couple was sitting and discussing the details when they heard a car pull up in the driveway.
Gavin listened for a moment and then asked Molly, "Did you invite someone over? Who could it be at this hour?"
Molly shook her head. "I didn't invite anyone."
When they were alone, Gavin was always playful. As he got up, he teased Molly, "I know what this is. You called me back for some alone time, didn't you?"
Molly's face turned bright red. He was so shameless!
As they were playfully bantering, Natalie walked in carrying Haven.
The housekeeper quickly took Haven from her, exclaiming, "What happened, Ms. Devereux? You look as pale as a ghost!"
"Let me get you something nutritious. Honestly, you haven't taken care of yourself properly since having the baby."
The housekeeper was chatty but genuinely concerned.
Gavin noticed something was off with Natalie. He took Haven and handed her to Molly, then told the housekeeper, "Make Natalie a calming drink."
The housekeeper, realizing she had overstepped, hurried off to prepare the drink.
Once she was gone, Gavin helped Natalie to the couch. He was unusually gentle. "What happened? Tell me."
Under the chandelier's light, Natalie's face was still pale. She looked at Gavin and then at Molly.
After a long pause, she spoke softly, "Gavin, Molly... Clayton isn't dead! I saw him. I really saw him!"
"I've seen him several times. I thought I was imagining things, but today, I saw him clearly. It's him, it's really him. Clayton is alive, but he refuses to come home!"
Gavin was stunned, and so was Molly.
Natalie's voice trembled. "I know no one will believe me, but Clayton is really alive."
After a long silence, Molly spoke first. "I believe you, Natalie. I believe Clayton is still out there."
She choked up. Besides being close friends with Clayton, she was genuinely happy for Natalie. But she held back her tears, fearing Gavin might get jealous.
Gavin stared at Natalie for a long time. He was usually calm and rational, but this time, he believed in the miracle Natalie had seen.
He wanted to believe that Clayton was still alive.
The housekeeper brought the calming drink. Natalie didn't feel like drinking it, but Molly coaxed her into it.
Gavin had hinted to the housekeeper to add a mild sedative, and soon, Natalie fell asleep on the couch.
Molly checked on her. "She's asleep."
Gavin got up, pinched Haven's chubby cheek, and then carried Natalie upstairs. "She's heavier than she looks, but she needs a good rest. She doesn't look well."
Molly played with Haven.
A little while later, Gavin came back downstairs, shaking out his arms.
Molly couldn't help but tease, "Gavin, are you getting old? You couldn't even carry Natalie without getting tired!"
Gavin paused on the stairs, a hint of desire in his eyes.
As he slowly descended, he replied, "You never complained about my age when I carried you. Remember last time? Even the car was shaking."
Molly's face blushed. She covered Haven's ears. "Stop corrupting the child!"
"She doesn't understand! She's still too young!"
Gavin sat beside Molly, placing Haven on his knee.
He didn't say anything, but Molly, having been married to him for years, knew he was thinking about Clayton.
She didn't press him, focusing instead on the birthday plans.
Suddenly, Gavin spoke, his tone thoughtful. "When Natalie came back, she only mentioned Clayton. She didn't tell us about Grant's mother passing away."
"Her secretary called me earlier, saying Natalie went to the hospital and let Haven see Alvina one last time."
Molly was taken aback. "She didn't say anything."
Gavin sighed, brushing her hair. "Maybe she's finally letting go. Since Mom and Dad aren't in Seattle, we should attend the McCall family's funeral. For Haven's sake."
He kissed Haven's soft cheek. Molly watched him.
Gavin smiled gently. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
Molly gathered her courage. "I just think you've become so much more patient. In the past, you would have cut ties with the McCall family. Gavin, you've really grown."
Gavin teased her, "I'm not patient with you? Hearing about Clayton, you were just as excited as Natalie. Should I hold that against you?"
Molly didn't dare provoke him further. She focused on her work, while Gavin quietly watched her.
After a moment, he spoke softly, "I'm just as happy as you are that Clayton might come back."
Molly was momentarily stunned, then whispered, "I understand." Her eyes welled up with tears.
Gavin moved the papers from her lap and pulled her into his arms. Haven, squished between them, babbled in protest.
The scene was heartwarming.
The news about Clayton was kept within the Devereux and Hawkins families. They didn't want to announce it publicly since Clayton hadn't come home yet.
Natalie restrained herself from using their connections to search for him.
As Gavin put it, "If he doesn't want to come back, even if you find him, you can't make him stay. He has to come back on his own."
But Natalie missed him dearly.
On a spring night, she stood on the second-floor balcony, looking at the night sky. Molly joined her.
"The kids are asleep! Leopold wanted to cuddle with Haven, saying she's so cute. But Haven insisted on sleeping with her sister."
Gavin and Molly had two children.
Their eldest, Leopold, was a few years old when they had Mercy Devereux.
Molly had chosen the name. The family knew the reason but never spoke of it.
Mercy... Gavin was God's mercy to Molly.
Talking about her children, Molly's expression was tender. She was loved by her husband and treated well by her in-laws.
Even though she was no longer young, she still looked youthful, like a woman in her twenties.
Natalie felt at ease knowing Haven was with Mercy. Mercy's temperament was much like Molly's.
Privately, Natalie always thought Gavin was stricter with Leopold but more indulgent with Mercy, probably because Mercy resembled Molly.
The spring night was beautiful but carried a slight chill.
Natalie pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, her beautiful face glowing faintly in the night.
Molly looked at her and suddenly felt that something had changed. There was a light in her eyes!
The McCall Mansion was hosting a funeral. Most of Seattle's high society attended, ostensibly to pay their respects, but it was also a social event.
Grant was surprised to see Gavin and Molly there.
The McCall family and their friends glared at the Devereux family, but Gavin's status kept them from acting out. They could only watch in silence.
Gavin stayed for a while before leaving. Grant walked him out.
Their past interactions had been tense, and now they stood in awkward silence.
Finally, Gavin spoke softly, "Mrs. McCall's biggest concern was probably your marriage."
He added, "Grant, stop waiting for Natalie. You need to move on."
Grant, dressed in mourning clothes, stood by the car, his fists clenched.
He understood Gavin's message but didn't know why Gavin chose this moment to say it.
Gavin leaned closer and told him the truth, "Clayton isn't dead. He's still alive."
With that, he left with Molly. Gavin couldn't bring himself to look at Grant's reaction.
Once in the car, Gavin held Molly close, his lips brushing her hair as he whispered, "Molly, Grant and Natalie remind me so much of us."
"But unlike him, I had understanding parents, and he didn't. That's why he's been living in pain all these years."
Molly leaned against his shoulder. After a while, she said softly, "He'll find someone else eventually, right?"
Gavin smiled faintly. "He should."
But the feelings from one's youth would be hard to replace.
They left.
Grant stood there for a long time before mechanically pulling out his phone.
He scrolled to a photo he had taken of Natalie in college—the first picture he ever took of her.
Even during their worst times, he couldn't bring himself to delete it.
Clayton wasn't dead. He was alive.
Grant thought he would feel jealous or upset. But now, he only felt relief.
As he turned to walk back, he thought, thank goodness that during the time without Clayton, Natalie didn't turn back and end up with him.
Otherwise, their past feelings would have just turned into a compromise.
Maybe, in the future, he would resent her for having been married, for having been with another man.
And if Clayton returned, it would feel like a thorn in his side.
Maybe he would hurt her again.
Gavin was right. Things were better as they were.
Ahead, Clara appeared. Grant looked at her calmly.
After a moment, she spoke softly, "That child is yours, isn't it?"
Grant didn't confirm it.
Clara tilted her head back, tears falling as she laughed. "Still protecting her, huh? Don't worry, Grant. I won't do anything to her. I know my place. She's a Devereux now, running Clayton's company. I wouldn't dare cross her."
"I just didn't expect that after all this time, you and she still aren't together."
With that, Clara turned and left.
She had let go. The compensation she received had eased her resentment. She had moved on, found someone through a matchmaker, and was ready to start a new life.
Natalie still hadn't seen Clayton come home.
Spring turned to early summer, and Clayton hadn't appeared again.
Natalie grew anxious. She missed him and worried about his well-being.
The Devereux and Hawkins families were discreetly searching for him, but Clayton always managed to stay hidden.
In early June, Natalie received a key and an address in an envelope. She recognized the location as a villa in a nice area.
Holding the key, she felt a sudden tremor and immediately called Dorinda. "Can you check if Clayton owns a villa at this address?"
Dorinda quickly confirmed, "Yes! That property belonged to Mr. Percy years ago when he was Mrs. Devereux's manager."
Natalie hung up, clutching the key. She guessed Molly had sent it to her secretly, fearing Gavin's reaction.
She drove to the villa. Half an hour later, she arrived at the gate.
The wooden door was ajar. She pushed it open and walked across a small lawn to the front door. A Labrador ran out, wagging its tail and barking happily.
Inside, a male voice called out, "Gina, is someone here?"
The voice was familiar—her husband, Clayton.
Clayton appeared in the doorway, stunned to see Natalie.
She was already in tears, but she forced a smile and said, "If I didn't know Gina was a dog, I'd think you were hiding a woman for the past two years."
She stood there, tears streaming down her face.
Clayton sighed, "Natalie."
He stepped forward, but Natalie backed away. Her lips trembled as she asked, "It's been two years. Didn't you miss me? Didn't you want to see Haven?"
Clayton grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. Natalie cried uncontrollably.
"Clayton, do you know how worried I was about you!"
"Why didn't you come home? Haven is old enough to say 'Daddy,' but I never taught her because I wanted her first 'Daddy' to be you."
"Clayton, you're such a jerk! You're so heartless!"
She bit his chest. What used to be firm muscles were now thinner, and Clayton winced slightly. Natalie noticed and lifted his shirt, revealing scars and surgical marks.
Her fingers trembled as she touched the scars. "Is this why you didn't come home?"
Clayton's voice was hoarse. "No."
How could it not be?
Natalie, though only having experienced two relationships, wasn't naive. She could guess Clayton's thoughts—he probably thought she would be better off with Grant.
Natalie didn't confront him. She gently touched his body and whispered, "Clayton, come home with me."
Clayton's gaze deepened. He gently removed her hand and asked, "Natalie, are you sure?"
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