Chapter 295 I Don't Have Kids
Zack grabbed the noodles from the fridge, headed to the kitchen, and tore open the package. The noodles were all stuck together.
Knowing how picky Nathaniel was, Zack couldn't help but wonder if this was even edible. The takeout menu said it was noodle soup, but there wasn't a drop of broth left. The noodles had soaked it all up and turned into a thick mess.
He regretted saying, "A hot bowl of noodles will make your stomach feel better."
Zack glanced back at the dining room. No other choice, he had to add some water and re-cook them.
In the dining room, Reed finally noticed Nathaniel hadn't touched his chopsticks and was just sitting there like a statue.
"Why aren't you eating?" he asked.
Nathaniel felt wronged. Zack had just come over to ask him something, and Reed hadn't heard a word, showing no concern for his health. Yesterday, Reed almost lost his grandson!
"Grandpa, my stomach's acting up. I can't eat this."
He thought Reed would feel bad for him, but instead, Reed's eyes shifted to the plate of shrimp on the table and said, "That's nice. You could put on some disposable gloves and peel the shrimp for Aurelia."
Nathaniel's mouth twitched, but he obediently put on the gloves and started peeling shrimp.
Zack brought out three bowls of noodles, and in front of Nathaniel was already a small mountain of shrimp shells.
Zack said, "Mr. Heilbronn, your noodles are ready."
Nathaniel glanced at the row of noodle bowls and then looked up at Zack, his face showing clear displeasure. If those noodles hadn't been bought by Aurelia, they would've been trashed.
After peeling the last shrimp, he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. Those noodles were terrible; he had never eaten anything so awful.
The noodles had absorbed so much water that they practically melted in his mouth.
Even though his stomach was upset, he didn't need to eat something that required no chewing.
Aurelia had been secretly watching him; it was the first time she had seen him look so pained while eating.
Aurelia asked, "Do the noodles taste awful?"
Nathaniel paused and replied, "They're okay."
Aurelia ate the peeled shrimp and remembered the days when she used to make him midnight snacks in various styles. She followed recipes, learning bit by bit to make the food exquisite, but he wouldn't even glance at the dishes she brought to his study.
Looking at these three bowls of plain noodles, anyone would think he's hit hard times.
She suddenly felt that Nathaniel was quite pitiful.
Reed pushed the plate of shrimp towards Aurelia.
"Aurelia, eat up. Don't worry about him. He's been picky since he was a kid, and it's a bad habit that needs to change. He's around thirty, who's going to pamper him now?"
Aurelia didn't say anything and lowered her head to eat.
Nathaniel's already wounded heart took another hit, but he felt a bit better thinking that at least she stayed for a meal.
After dinner, he finally brought out the jewelry he had collected over the years.
"Aurelia, take a look. These are all the pieces I've collected over the past four years. Some are from auctions, some from jewelry shows, and some from markets. I thought you would like them, so I bought them," he said.
Nathaniel brought out his treasured jewelry box and placed it on Aurelia's lap. It was filled with precious items. He hadn't been idle for the past four years; he attended every major jewelry show.
She used to love going to exhibitions, so he went in her place to fill the void in his heart.
Aurelia looked at the dazzling box, feeling unbelievable.
She was a pro at jewelry and could quickly sort through the items in the box: some worth a fortune, some rare, and some just average, clearly picked up from a night market.
Back in the day, she had a jewelry box just like this, filled with her favorite pieces.
He used to scoff at the stones she bought from night markets. Aurelia couldn't picture him in a high-end suit picking out jewelry at a street stall; it was just too weird.
Aurelia stayed quiet for a bit, then handed the whole box back to him.
"I don't want it," she said.
Nathaniel's face went stiff. He was terrible at making people feel better.
"Aurelia, these were all bought for you. Honestly, I was planning to take them to the grave, but now I don't need to. They're all yours," Nathaniel said.
Reed walked in with a glass of water and heard Nathaniel's blunt words, sweating in anxiety. He couldn't understand what was in his grandson's head. Look at other people's kids; they could make their wives happy and have a united family.
His own grandson couldn't even give a gift properly, wasting that handsome face.
"You fool, why would you say something so unlucky? What do you mean by taking them to the grave?" he said.
Nathaniel quickly shut his mouth and thought to himself, 'What did I say wrong?'
He pondered, feeling he was right. What was wrong with telling the truth? Four years ago, he thought Aurelia was dead, so the things he bought for her were indeed meant to go into the coffin.
Now that she was standing here, of course, he had to give them to her in person.
Was there anything wrong with that?
Nathaniel felt conflicted. He wanted to give her the items but didn't dare to persuade her further, fearing he might say something wrong again and get criticized. He could only look at her with eyes full of grievance.
Aurelia thought, 'If I sell this big box of items, I can probably buy a villa in Imperick. Given our current relationship, I can't accept such expensive gifts.'
Aurelia said, "Nathaniel, I'm not a recent college graduate anymore. These flashy things are no longer suitable for me. You keep them, you might need them someday, or give them to someone you care about."
Reed sighed and said, "Be more thoughtful. When your wife liked jewelry, you didn't give her. Now that she's past the age of liking this kind of thing, what's the point of giving her these? The toys you wanted as a child but didn't get, even if you have them now, can they make up for the regret?"
Nathaniel felt another stab in his heart. He hadn't given her any less jewelry in the past. The jewelry box in the safe at Bloom Villa had half its items from him.
His perspective was somewhat biased.
However, what pained him the most at the moment was that Aurelia wouldn't accept his gifts.
Nathaniel said, "Aurelia, tell me what you like now, and I'll buy it for you."
Aurelia smiled thoughtfully and said, "Instead of wasting money here, why not save the money for your children?"
She thought to herself, 'When the two kids grow up and need money, they'll definitely have to get it from him. I can't let this jerk off the hook, all his money have to go to the kids!'
Nathaniel thought she was thinking about Chelsea again. He had played the recording for her, but he didn't know if she believed it.
He was now anxious and explained weakly, "Aurelia, I don't have any kids."
Aurelia thought, 'You do have kids!'
Her lips trembled, almost blurting it out.
Aurelia had been afraid he would find out about the kids because she thought he was with Chelsea and feared he would take the kids away, leaving them with a stepmother.
Seeing his miserable state, she felt a bit sorry for him.
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