Chapter 868 Natalie, It's My Fault!
Natalie said she didn't want to.
Clayton didn't get upset. He gently put his arm around her and said, "Alright, how about we catch a movie and grab some lunch out? By the time we get back, Chance will probably be fussy."
Since giving birth to Chance, Natalie hadn't been out much.
But she was always worried about Chance. After thinking it over, she softly said, "Let's just have lunch at home."
Clayton knew she wanted to go home to feed Chance. Although Chance drank formula, it was never as good as natural milk. Natalie usually preferred to feed him herself.
They agreed and went to see a movie together.
Clayton was full of enthusiasm.
Natalie was calm and composed, especially in public, so they seemed like an old married couple...
While they were waiting in line to have their tickets checked, the girl in front of them quietly complained to her boyfriend, "The cup I just bought is missing a handle. It looks bad!"
Even though the movie was starting in two minutes, the young boyfriend still went to get her a new one.
He came back, sweating profusely.
Natalie watched quietly.
She suddenly remembered when she was younger, how many times she had followed Clayton around, and he had treated her the same way. Not caring about the outcome, just to fulfill her small wishes...
But now, they couldn't even compare to an ordinary couple.
Clayton noticed her eyes were wet and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Natalie shook her head gently. "Nothing."
But during the movie, in the dim light, her eyes stung.
The memories of her youth with Clayton, like dead recollections, replayed over and over, making her eyes well up with tears.
Clayton turned to look at her.
After a while, he handed her a tissue to wipe her tears and then led her out.
The driver from the Devereux Mansion parked the car at the mall entrance and handed the keys to Clayton.
Clayton opened the passenger door for Natalie.
After getting in himself, he didn't start the car right away. Instead, he turned to her and asked softly, "Are you thinking about the past? Natalie, if you're feeling sad, you can talk to me about it... even if it's about him."
He thought the young couple reminded her of her first love, of Grant.
He thought she was sad because of Grant.
Natalie was silent for a long time, so he said, "If you're really unhappy, next time I'll send Haven over, and you can stay home with Chance and work on your comics. Natalie, you don't have to be perfect."
Natalie shook her head and said softly, "It's not him."
Clayton's eyes deepened.
He gently held her hand, interlocking their fingers. After a while, he asked softly, "If it's not him, then who?"
Natalie's eyes showed discomfort, and Clayton realized it was him.
He didn't mock her or comfort her. He just said softly, "Natalie, it's my fault."
In the end, he didn't take her back to the Devereux Mansion for lunch. She was in no state to be seen by the family...
He noticed that as she got older, she cared more about her dignity, becoming more like Gavin.
He couldn't say if it was good or bad.
But she needed to be comforted, and Clayton liked comforting her.
They had a quiet meal in a secluded garden, the food light and nutritious, and quite tasty. But they didn't talk much.
That morning, they had been so close.
But the past was too heavy to be erased by one moment of intimacy, to make everything right again.
After lunch, they went home.
Natalie went to feed Chance, and Clayton had a meeting with Gavin, returning only at nine at night, smelling faintly of alcohol.
Natalie was already asleep, with Chance in the crib beside her.
The light was dim.
Clayton bent over to look at Chance for a long time, then looked at Natalie. "Can I stay here tonight?"
Before Natalie could respond, Clayton climbed into bed.
He kicked off his shoes, didn't take off his clothes, and just wrapped himself around her, burying his face in her neck...
Natalie couldn't push him away, so she let him be, thinking he was drunk.
Just when she thought he was about to fall asleep, he whispered in her ear, "Natalie, it's been so long, and our child is born, but you still keep your distance from me and our relationship. It's not that you can't forgive me; you can't forgive yourself, right? You think if you hadn't forgiven me the first time, you wouldn't have been hurt later."
That afternoon, he had seen a therapist.
The therapist said Natalie's behavior was a form of psychological avoidance. She felt that as long as she didn't reconcile with Clayton, she was in a safe zone, so they never took that step.
But people are emotional beings; how could they not feel anything after being together for so long?
That's why Natalie felt so much pain.
Clayton tightened his hold on her.
Natalie looked down. "I haven't thought that much! Clayton, you're overcomplicating things!"
Clayton didn't argue.
He was a man, not one to argue with a woman.
From now on, everything she said would be right, every word she spoke would be the truth! He had caused her psychological issues; he was a jerk!
But even so, Natalie didn't push him away.
She allowed him to stay by her side, to take care of Chance, to spend the Fireworks Festival together.
But he knew nothing of her pain.
Clayton held her tightly, making it hard for her to breathe.
She couldn't help but say, "Clayton, it's really not as serious as you think! I'm just not interested, a bit indifferent, that's all. It's the same with everyone."
Indifferent, not interested... Clayton sobered up.
He started doubting Natalie, then doubting himself. The whole night was wasted!
Near dawn, Clayton finally figured it out. He whispered in her ear, "Even if it's an illness, we'll face it together! After the holidays, I'll move in with you."
Natalie was speechless. "You're going to freeload? I'm not providing food and shelter for free."
Clayton snuggled into her neck. She was warm under the covers. He whispered, "I'll hand over all my assets. From now on, I'll earn money to support you, Haven, and Chance... Just leave me some gas and cigarette money."
Natalie looked at his coat. "Then when you want to buy clothes or flirt with young girls, you'll regret it!"
Clayton, feeling sleepy, whispered, "At my age, I don't have the energy for that."
He fell asleep, but Natalie couldn't.
She still wasn't used to having someone beside her, but Clayton seemed determined to stay with her, to live with her.
She couldn't find a reason to refuse. She thought, why not give it a try?
The kids needed a dad, the house needed a man.
She didn't want her parents to worry.
Life wouldn't be that bad.
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