Chapter 816 Natalie, Let's Start Over 3
Natalie was momentarily stunned.
But she still walked over to the sink, turned on the golden faucet, and slowly washed her hands.
After washing her hands, she looked up.
Her eyes met Grant's in the mirror.
Natalie smiled slightly. "Long time no see."
Compared to her calm demeanor, Grant seemed much more affected...
He stared at her face, noticing that even with her delicate makeup, she couldn't hide a trace of weariness.
He knew her weariness was because of Clayton. Grant knew this clearly.
He also knew that Clayton had gone abroad for a girl named Gina.
After a while, he asked hoarsely, "How are things with him?"
The water from the faucet was still running, the sound masking their conversation.
Natalie had never imagined that one day she could chat with Grant like old friends.
She could feel his goodwill; maybe letting go of everything really does make one feel lighter.
She said, "Same as always."
Grant knew she wasn't telling the truth. Her relationship with Clayton wasn't going well, and she wasn't telling him... probably to avoid any awkwardness.
After all, he was engaged now, and there was too much history between them.
Grant decided not to push further.
Even though there was still a faint regret in his heart, it really wasn't appropriate to interfere anymore.
He could only watch her from afar, giving Haven a bit of fatherly love that only he knew about.
He was like this, and so was Natalie.
A few minutes of interaction was already crossing the line.
Natalie turned off the faucet and turned around. "Grant, congratulations on your engagement."
He didn't say anything, just quietly watched her.
Natalie brushed past him.
In that moment, he wanted to grab her hand, regardless of everything... but when he looked up, his fiancée was standing on the other side of the hallway, looking at him gently.
Grant's fingers curled slightly.
Natalie was his ideal, his first love, while his fiancée was a very practical reality.
She was great!
Kind to others, and she loved him, even though she had never expressed it.
When Natalie passed by the woman, she paused for a moment.
The woman nodded at her, and Natalie nodded back lightly.
They both knew each other's identity... but in the adult world, people always exercise restraint, and no one points it out.
Natalie thought, this was probably the best ending for her and Grant.
She thought of Clayton again.
The man who said he would be gone for only five days but had been away for over a month without any news.
Natalie never thought about what to do when Clayton returned.
She didn't want to think about it.
When she got to the hotel parking lot and sat in the car, the driver suddenly said, "Ms. Devereux, there's a gift for you in the back seat... from Mr. McCall."
The driver was an old servant of the Devereux family.
He knew what to say and what not to say.
Natalie was taken aback, then she looked beside her and saw a delicate box.
Just by looking at the packaging, she knew it was valuable.
Natalie picked it up and asked softly, "Did he say anything else?"
The driver shook his head. "Nothing else!"
He knew a bit of the inside story, so he lowered his voice. "Will Mr. McCall send a gift to Ms. Haven Devereux every year from now on?"
Natalie smiled faintly.
She didn't know either, but she accepted Grant's gesture on Haven's behalf.
When Haven grew up, maybe she should tell her.
The car started, and she quietly opened the box. Inside was a jade bracelet. The size was suitable for Haven when she became an adult.
Natalie remembered that last year, Grant had sent a set of pink diamond jewelry.
Natalie gently touched the box. Even with her calm heart, she couldn't help but be moved.
She sat quietly.
Half an hour later, the car drove into her villa.
Around nine at night, Haven was still not asleep. Selene was giving her a bath, and the custom-made small bathtub was filled with bubbles.
Haven was sitting in the bathtub, playing with the bubbles.
Her small body was just that big.
But her head was quite big.
Her wet hair was slightly curly, sticking to her thin little neck, looking cute.
Natalie pushed the door open and came in.
Seeing her, Selene smiled and said, "Every night at bath time, she's so happy..."
"Haven, your mom is back. Let's dry off and go to bed, okay?"
Haven opened her arms, wanting Natalie to hold her.
Natalie was wearing a dress, and it was quite expensive. Selene tried to coax Haven.
But Natalie didn't mind. She handed the gift to Selene. "Put it on my nightstand. I'll bathe her."
Selene liked seeing them close.
When Natalie bathed her, Haven was very happy.
At her age, she could almost speak in full sentences and even hum a little... and she loved being pretty.
After the bath, she smelled nice.
Natalie wrapped her in a towel, then dressed her in cute floral pajamas.
When she carried her back to the master bedroom, Haven clung to Natalie's neck, unwilling to let go. Natalie couldn't help but kiss her.
In a few days, Haven would be two years old.
Back in the master bedroom, Haven rolled around comfortably on the bed. After playing enough, she lay on her back, showing her little belly.
She looked a lot like Natalie when she was little.
Natalie kissed her belly, then showed her the bracelet. Haven didn't understand its value, only thinking it was shiny and pretty... she put it on her hand to play.
Natalie looked at her gently. "An uncle gave it to you."
Haven called out "uncle" in her sweet childlike voice.
Natalie thought she was a little fool.
At that moment, Max pushed the door open and came in. It didn't do anything, just lay by the bed... and looked at Natalie with those dog eyes.
All creatures have feelings.
Natalie guessed it missed Clayton. With no news, Max was hoping she would tell it something about Clayton.
But she had no news of Clayton either.
It had been about a week since their last contact, but Natalie had learned from Dorinda about Clayton's situation.
He was accompanying Gina for surgery, for hereditary breast cancer.
When Natalie heard this news, she was slightly stunned.
For such a surgery, with Clayton, a man, accompanying her... the doctors and nurses at the hospital would assume he was Gina's husband!
Natalie didn't call to question him.
She had no right, and it wasn't necessary.
If a man truly cared about you, he would be mindful of your feelings and keep his distance from other women.
She thought, if Clayton goes abroad in the future and there's no one to take care of the dog, she would be willing to keep it.
At least Haven liked it very much.
Natalie leaned over and petted the dog's head.
Max barked a few times, as if to say, "Clayton is a jerk!"
When Haven's birthday came, Andrew and Chloe made a special trip from Copenhagen.
Besides celebrating Haven's birthday, they also wanted to ask about Natalie's love life.
They had heard that Natalie and Clayton had gotten back together... but recently there had been no news.
When they asked Gavin, he didn't say anything for a long time. Finally, Molly couldn't resist and told Andrew.
Andrew couldn't sit still.
Before leaving, he told Chloe, "Set her up with someone. If there's a suitable match, let her meet him. It doesn't have to lead to marriage, just a relationship if it works out!"
He added, "She waited for Clayton when he was presumed dead, and now she's waiting for him while he's alive! Even the strongest feelings will wear out."
Chloe felt the same way.
So, after celebrating Haven's birthday, Chloe showed Natalie a photo.
A professor from a well-known university in Seattle, a PhD who had studied abroad, and he looked good.
He was divorced but had no children.
The divorce was because his ex-wife wanted to stay abroad for her career, and after five years of long-distance, they finally divorced...
His family had business ties with the Devereux family, and his hometown was also in Copenhagen. In all aspects, he was a good match for Natalie.
His mother had mentioned it to Chloe a few times.
In the past, Chloe hadn't agreed, but this time she wanted to see Natalie's attitude.
She thought Natalie would refuse.
But after looking at the photo, Natalie said softly, "Set up a time to meet. If it works out, we can see where it goes."
Chloe was afraid she was forcing herself.
Natalie picked up her coffee, took a small sip, and said quietly, "Mom, there's no forcing. I just want to move forward."
After saying that, she put down the cup and said goodbye to Chloe.
In the afternoon, she planned to take Haven to an early education interview.
As she sat in the car, about to start it, her phone rang. She picked it up and looked.
It was a message from Clayton, a simple sentence that brought tears to her eyes.
[Natalie, I'm back.]
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