Chapter 481
Mr. Hastings, knowing how perceptive Samuel was, knew he could not keep it a secret. However, but he still asked, “How so?”
“You were staring at Natalie quite a few times,” Samuel replied, “Moreover, you were particularly kind toward her. You treated her almost like you would Susan…”
Mr. Hastings entered his study, retrieved an old photo album, and opened it to a black-and-white photograph. Pointing to the woman in the picture, he asked, "Doesn’t she look familiar?"
"Is that... Natalie?" Samuel exclaimed in surprise, before correcting himself, "This can't be Natalie..."
"That’s your grandmother in her youth. Notice the resemblance?"
Mr. Hastings caressed the black and white photo with his wizened hand. His touch was gentle, and his fingers trembled.
"The last time I saw Natalie, she was heavily made up, and I didn't examine her closely. She appears to have lost weight recently, and without makeup – I momentarily wondered why my wife appeared so young."
Mrs. Hastings possessed a more delicate bone structure, so Natalie resembled her even more after losing weight.
Mr. Hastings started to speak at length about his late wife, indifferent to whether Samuel was paying attention or merely talking to himself.
Samuel was merely four or five years old when Mrs. Hastings passed away. Mr. Hastings's wife had been in and out of hospitals since Samuel was younger than four, leaving him with no memories of his grandmother's appearance.
It was well-known to Samuel that his grandfather and his late grandmother shared a deep love; they never quarreled after their union, and any occasional disagreements were taken in a spirit of jest. Following her death, his grandfather never entertained the thought of remarrying, choosing instead to spend his days surrounded by his late wife's possessions. It was no surprise then that he experienced such a profound reaction upon seeing Natalie today.
"Come to think of it, Oliver's wife looks somewhat like you," Mr. Hastings observed.
"You... Grandpa, what are you implying?" Samuel was jolted back to the present.
"She looks like you. I’ve heard people say that Natalie and Susan could pass for twins, but in my eyes, she resembles you more closely." Mr. Hastings let out a sigh as he spoke of his granddaughter, "She truly disappoints me."
Samuel had the feeling that he was missing something important, but as he mulled over the conversation again, that elusive insight failed to return.
…
By the time James hurried back, tranquility had been restored in the Hastings household.
Susan and Helen had withdrawn to their respective rooms.
Helen was sitting anxiously in her room.
However, as soon as James entered, she was enveloped by a burst of rose-scented perfume—a distinctly feminine fragrance that was not easily acquired through casual contact.
She had a particular aversion to rose perfume and was well aware that James had a close friend who was fond of that scent.
"James, did you visit her again?"
Helen stood abruptly, her prior guilt giving way to a surge of anger.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
