Chapter 409 Taking Care of a Child
Natalie picked up a can of toddler formula, bottles, bibs, and, at the last moment, remembered she needed diapers. When she carried her haul back to the Windsor Group, she noticed the curious looks from people passing by.
Natalie half-expected to find Oliver and the little guest in a standoff, but instead, she was welcomed by laughter echoing through the office.
Oliver was seated on the sofa with Tina, playfully lifting her into the air, much to her delight.
Tina, showing no fear of heights, laughed with each lift. She cheered, "Fly! Fly!"
When Natalie heard Tina's French accent, she could not help but sigh in relief again. After all, there was no way Tina was her child.
At the same time, upon noticing Natalie, Oliver gently set Tina down but kept her on his knees, carefully supporting her to prevent any falls.
The little one, unaware of Natalie's presence, continued to bounce and said, "Fly! Fly!"
Initially, Natalie did not think much of it, but seeing Oliver's efforts to conceal his earlier playfulness, she burst into laughter. She teased, "Why did you stop?"
Oliver, clearly uncomfortable, explained, "She wanted to play."
"Blaming the child, are you?" Natalie laughed. There was no shame in playing with children, after all. She could not resist teasing Oliver a bit more. After regaining her composure, she called Tina over.
"Time for your bottle, sweetie."
Tina got down from Oliver's lap and walked over to the counter, looking up in anticipation as Natalie prepared her bottle. She waited patiently.
Oliver watched them with a hint of sadness in his eyes, thinking that Tina was not his to keep.
The lounge was equipped with modern conveniences, including a water dispenser that made boiling water unnecessary.
Natalie, experienced in making formula from her time with Lucas, mixed the bottle with skill.
Oliver, watching her, asked, "Why not just stir it?"
"No, it’ll make bubbles!" Tina interjected in her cute and childish voice.
"Tina is correct," Natalie confirmed, sharing with Oliver that bubbles might cause discomfort in a baby's stomach.
"My brother told me!" Tina declared proudly.
Oliver looked puzzled. "Does your mom have other children?"
"No! Brother, next door!" Tina said.
'So it's not her biological brother…' Oliver thought.
"Did you manage to locate her family?" Natalie whispered to Oliver.
"She'll be with us for the time being. Her father will pick her up later," Oliver explained, affectionately ruffling Tina's hair.
Tina did not usually like people touching her hair, but she was too focused on her bottle at this time.
Natalie looked at Tina curiously. It was unexpected that he would take in a child from a stranger, bringing her all the way to Rosewood Estate. Moreover, Tina’s family seemed rather unreliable, entrusting her to others.
'Well, at least, her family is coming to pick her up…' Natalie thought.
"What about her mother?" she asked, seeking more information.
"I don’t know," Oliver confessed.
Natalie felt a sense of relief that Tina had ended up in their care; the idea of such an endearing child being with the wrong people was distressing.
Tina happily drank from her bottle while sitting on Oliver's lap, swinging her legs.
Natalie gently asked, "Tina, who brought you here? Do you know me?"
Tina looked up at Natalie, blissfully unaware of the question, her attention solely on the bottle.
Natalie sighed, realizing it was best to drop the subject.
After her bottle, Tina became drowsy, her eyelids heavy. Remarkably, she did not fuss or cry for attention. She nestled into the sofa and quickly fell asleep, her head tilting to one side.
"Are there any more tasks for this afternoon?" Oliver asked, checking his watch.
"No," Natalie replied.
The interview that morning had concluded sooner than anticipated. The team had told Natalie to have lunch with Oliver.
Oliver silently appreciated their understanding and made a mental note to return the favor in the future.
"Then, let's go home," Oliver suggested, bending down to pick up Tina.
Seeing Oliver clearly not know how to hand a sleeping child, Natalie stepped forward to guide him on how to carry Tina without waking her.
"Why do you seem so... strange today?" Natalie asked, searching for the right word.
It was strange that he was so affectionate to a child who was not his.
"It's nothing." Oliver quickly dismissed her inquiry. He was not a father, but he saw no harm in playing the role for a while. Moreover, he thought that gaining some experience for the future was a good idea.
As they made their way to the exit, the wind began to pick up.
Natalie asked an employee for a small blanket to protect Tina from the cold air.
Onlookers watched as Oliver, often referred to as the 'human iceberg', delicately balancing Tina's lower body with one hand and her back with the other.
Natalie, for her part, wrapped Tina in the blanket, instructing Oliver on how to adjust his grip to keep her asleep while he paid close attention to her guidance.
Several bold employees captured the tender moment, sharing pictures discreetly within the company chat.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
