Chapter 809 Grant Is Actually Engaged
Natalie had a pretty good idea why Byron was there, so she invited him to sit down.
Sienna noticed they had something to discuss and took Haven out to play, saying they wouldn't be back until dark.
Natalie couldn't help but laugh.
Once Sienna and Haven were gone, Natalie sat back down and took a slow sip of her coffee. "So, Mr. Reyes, what brings you here?"
Byron gave a wry smile.
He didn't really want to handle this troublesome matter, but orders from his boss left him no choice.
He placed a document on the table.
After some consideration, he said, "Mr. Percy set up a trust fund for Haven. If you sign here, she'll get $6 million a year for living expenses."
He added, "I know your family doesn't need the money, but Haven is a shared responsibility and needs to be co-parented."
Natalie looked down at the document.
After a moment, she smiled. "No! I don't need him to co-parent! Haven is mine alone."
Byron thought she was just venting and smiled along. "But the child is both of yours!"
Natalie's smile faded.
Seeing her firm stance, Byron didn't push further. He quickly gathered the documents and left for the office.
Natalie remained seated, slowly sipping her coffee.
The sun set.
Byron returned to the office to report back. Clayton had just finished a batch of paperwork and was resting in his leather chair.
Byron knocked and entered.
Clayton opened his eyes and, seeing Byron, sat up slightly. "How did it go?"
Byron placed the documents on the desk.
He sighed lightly. "It's tough. Ms. Devereux is very firm and won't accept your offer."
Clayton looked down, quietly staring at the document.
He had anticipated Natalie's decision.
Since she moved out, they hadn't seen each other for two months. Clayton missed her and Haven, but he restrained himself from visiting them.
Byron, seeing Clayton's expression, thought he regretted the divorce and mentioned, "Haven has grown taller. Last time I saw her, she was still unsteady on her feet. Now she can run! She looks beautiful, just like her mom!"
"By the way, Ms. Devereux hasn't been well. I heard from the staff that she's been sick for two months and hasn't gone out much."
Clayton's hand clenched slightly.
Byron stopped there, finding an excuse to leave.
Clayton walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and stood quietly.
The sky darkened.
The office lights were on, and the city lights outside were bright, but none belonged to the home shared by Clayton and Natalie. Their home was always dark.
He hadn't been back there.
He was afraid that if he went, he would regret it. But now... wasn't he already regretting it?
Clayton took out his phone and dialed Natalie's number.
The phone rang, but Natalie didn't answer. He called several times, but she never picked up.
She must... hate him.
In early September, Natalie started focusing on her magazine company.
The company was streamlined, leaving only two departments: the magazine department and the comic department.
Sienna did a free photoshoot for a magazine cover. Although it was a second-tier magazine, Sienna's charisma and figure outshone all the top-tier magazines. That issue brought in millions in advertising revenue.
Natalie gave Sienna $200,000 as a reward.
Additionally, she set aside $100,000 as a bonus for the month. The previously disheartened employees suddenly saw hope and became very motivated.
In October, they had another successful campaign.
Natalie's magazine company quickly gained a reputation, even attracting interest from top-tier actresses.
Natalie had more social engagements, but she prioritized taking care of Haven and delegated less important tasks to her secretary.
This evening was different; there was someone she wanted to meet.
She had been eyeing this opportunity for a while but hadn't found the right moment.
Grace knew she wanted to meet this person and informed her that he would be attending tonight's event and offered to introduce them.
The person was the largest book agent globally.
Natalie had a comic she wanted him to represent.
It was a challenging task, but Grace had a good relationship with him. After a few glasses of champagne, the deal was easily settled.
Halfway through the event, Grace left with the agent to enjoy the Seattle night view.
Natalie had a bit to drink and stood in the hallway outside the banquet hall to sober up before leaving.
Her solitary figure was reflected in the floor-to-ceiling window.
Someone approached her. Tall and handsome, it was Grant from Granatal Nexus Technologies Group.
"Natalie!"
Grant called her from behind. His familiar voice made Natalie momentarily think it was Clayton.
But when she turned, it was Grant.
The loneliness and disappointment in her eyes didn't escape Grant.
He felt a slight sting in his heart.
But he still smiled gently and asked, "Why are you standing here alone? Where's your secretary?"
Natalie smiled lightly. "She went downstairs to get the car. The company is small, so we don't have a driver to save costs."
The air was silent.
After a while, Grant softly asked, "You and him..."
Natalie didn't want to talk about her and Clayton, especially with Grant, because the reason for her divorce from Clayton made her uncomfortable.
She didn't answer directly and instead smiled lightly. "We're still friends, I guess."
Grant's gaze deepened. "Like us?"
In his eyes, Natalie saw a hint of probing. At their age, no one was naive. She knew Grant was asking if there was still a chance for them.
Natalie looked down and thought for a moment. She honestly told him, "It's different."
Grant's face showed a hint of sadness.
After a while, he asked softly, "How's Haven?"
Natalie replied, "She's doing well."
With no one else around, Grant's voice was low. "Natalie, if you don't have anyone suitable, you could consider me. Even if there's no love, at least we..."
He couldn't finish the sentence.
Once said, it couldn't be taken back.
Natalie thought for a moment and seriously told him, "Grant, I don't want to lie to you. And I don't want to force myself."
Grant understood her meaning.
He didn't push further. They stood silently side by side. Natalie talked a bit about Haven, and Grant shared some updates about their college friends.
They had once been in love, but now they talked like old friends reminiscing about the past.
One had already moved on, while the other, perhaps, would never forget.
Natalie turned her head and smiled softly. "I heard you went on a date recently. Did you find someone suitable?"
Grant paused for a full two minutes.
He looked into her eyes and slowly began, "There's a woman who just returned from studying abroad. Her family is in the textile business. She's in her thirties and seems quite suitable. She has a good personality... we might start dating."
Natalie wasn't surprised.
Grant was good-looking and successful; finding a suitable wife would be easy for him.
She felt a bit wistful, realizing it wasn't Clara.
She congratulated him.
Grant suddenly asked, "Natalie, if Clayton wasn't in the picture, would we have had a chance?"
Natalie was taken aback.
She hadn't expected Grant to bring up Clayton again. When she regained her composure, she looked out into the night... her voice low.
"Grant, once you're married and have kids, you won't ask me this question anymore."
Grant thought for a moment and understood her answer.
He didn't say anything more, just stood beside her.
He thought this would be the last time they were alone together like this.
After more than a decade of entanglement, they were finally going to move on with their separate lives.
As he was about to leave, Grant's voice was slightly hoarse, "If you need anything, call me. No matter what, I..."
He wanted to say that he would always be Haven's father.
But like before, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
As Grant left, he saw Clayton.
Clayton was also attending the event, but in a different hall. He had stepped out for some air and unexpectedly ran into Grant and Natalie.
Grant quietly looked at Clayton for a few seconds before leaving in another direction.
The sound of his leather shoes echoed in the hallway, gradually fading away.
Natalie saw Clayton too.
It had been two months since they last saw each other.
Seeing him again stirred her emotions, but she thought their current relationship was only suitable for a nodding acquaintance.
Natalie gave a faint smile and was about to leave.
Clayton grabbed her hand. Her wrist was slender, and he easily held it.
Natalie looked down at his hand.
After a long moment, she blinked lightly. "Clayton, let go."
Clayton didn't let go. He looked at her with a gaze full of longing.
Natalie had dressed up for the evening.
She wore a pale pink mermaid gown that accentuated her slender figure and perfect waist-to-hip ratio.
There was no sign she had ever had a child. Her beautiful and enduring face made Clayton want to hold her.
Clayton pulled her closer, his voice husky. "What did you talk about with him?"
Natalie found it laughable.
She tried to pull away but couldn't, so she looked up at him and asked, "Didn't you divorce me so I could consider being with Grant?"
"Clayton, we're divorced. Do I need to report to you what I talked about with him?"
Clayton's gaze tightened. "That's not what I meant!"
Natalie looked down and sneered. "Then what do you mean? Clayton, stop acting like you care about me."
"If you cared, you wouldn't have treated me that way! You lived with that woman, Gina, without considering my feelings. What is this now?"
The ones we care about the most often hurt us the deepest.
That was how Natalie felt at that moment.
Grant had gone on a date and might soon get married. She could have told Clayton... maybe he would have said, "Then let's be together."
But how humiliating would that be for her?
They had been so good together once.
Now it was just as humiliating.
Natalie finally pulled away from him and said softly, "What happened between us has nothing to do with Grant."
She didn't want to cry because of him.
She was long past the age of crying for love.
But seeing Clayton always made her want to cry, and Natalie wouldn't allow herself to do that.
She walked away, but after a few steps, she saw Gina.
Gina was young and beautiful, wearing a white evening gown.
Natalie turned back to look at Clayton... he was dressed in a classic black and white suit, looking very handsome.
They matched well.
Natalie looked down and smiled faintly... but this calmness didn't last long.
In the elevator, she couldn't control herself and slowly crouched down, feeling so uncomfortable that she started to dry heave.
When she reached the first floor, her secretary, Lyanna Patel, was there.
Lyanna was startled. "Ms. Devereux, are you okay? Let me take you to the hospital!"
Natalie leaned against the elevator wall and shook her head lightly. "I'm fine. I just need some fresh air."
Lyanna quickly helped her outside.
The night breeze was cool with a hint of chill. Natalie hugged herself lightly... she looked up and saw a building not far away.
The top floor was once her home.
Now, there were no lights on... Natalie just quietly watched.
After a long while, she asked Lyanna, "Do you know which is more unforgettable, love at first sight or love that grows over time?"
She already knew the answer.
Her feelings for Grant stemmed from a young girl's crush.
But her feelings for Clayton were those of a woman for a man.
Her best years belonged to Grant.
But her most unforgettable feelings were for Clayton... only, he didn't want them anymore.
That night, Natalie felt miserable.
Lyanna called Sienna to come over and stay with her. Sienna cursed Clayton out... perhaps only close family knew who Natalie truly cared about.
After that night, Natalie returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
A week later, Grant got engaged.
His fiancée was the woman he had mentioned to Natalie, and their engagement photos looked perfect!
Natalie quietly looked at the photos, feeling calm inside.
She was at the villa's lawn. After summer, her health had improved, but the doctor said she still needed to take good care of herself.
Haven was already two years old.
Adorable Haven was playing with a small ball on the grass, accompanied by a servant.
Natalie smiled as she watched.
The phone on the small table rang. Natalie saw it was Clayton calling... she didn't answer or hang up, just let it ring softly.
She picked up a notebook and continued drawing her comic, "The Three Little Bears."
Meanwhile, Clayton was at his office, repeatedly dialing Natalie's number.
He had seen the news of Grant's engagement.
Natalie must have known last week, but she didn't tell him...
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