Chapter 841 You are a member of the Windsor family, do you understand?
"Okay."
Natalie kept Flora's words in mind. The ideal situation for her would be if the Hastings family, even upon learning her true identity, remained distant and resistant to accepting her. She no longer desired any connection with them.
After learning about her connection to the Hastings family, Natalie would often find herself lost in thought. She appeared outwardly normal, but those more attuned to emotions could detect that she was not herself.
"Natalie, you're Oliver's wife now, you're part of the Windsor family, not the Hastings family, understand?" Marjorie held Natalie's hand and said gently, "During pregnancy, avoid overthinking, okay?"
"Emma, I..." Natalie began, without much forethought.
But Marjorie was so clever—how could Natalie keep anything from her?
"Emma, I can only say that this whole revelation is so unexpected, and I feel a strong aversion toward the Hastings family," Natalie explained, "But Helen and James gave me life. To speak ill of them feels wrong. I heard that I was kidnapped around six years old before I was found again. I'm sure in my childhood, they must have showered me with love."
Just like they did with Susan.
"Your thinking is too simple!" Marjorie said, as if she had heard a naive joke. She patted Natalie's hand and said, "The Hastings family has wronged you repeatedly. You've already repaid any debt you owed them for your upbringing. Any affection you once received was negated the moment they mistook the current Susan for you."
Marjorie's insight was sharp. "Natalie, you don’t owe the Hastings family anything. You can choose to acknowledge them or not. Your husband will protect you!"
…
Natalie suspected that the Hastings family would come looking for her, whether she acknowledged them or not. However, she did not expect them to arrive so soon.
This time, the Hastings family sent invitations to Rosewood Estate for an event at a top hotel in Paykston.
When Liam returned with the invitation to consult Natalie, Oliver and Marjorie were present.
"I don't want to see them," Natalie said without hesitation.
Any initial hesitation in her heart had dissipated; now faced with the decision, she firmly chose to decline.
Liam observed Oliver and Marjorie as Oliver offered Natalie half a bowl of soup and handed it to her.
"I don’t want to drink anymore." Natalie frowned and refused.
"Just half a bowl," Oliver coaxed, "Do you want me to feed you?"
The underlying message was clear—if she refused to drink, he would feed her.
Natalie felt helpless; she really did not want any soup.
Marjorie smiled from the side.
Liam realized that the trio had no interest in the Hastings family at all. Comparing the current standing of the Windsor family with that of the Hastings, in terms of Natalie’s reputation and status, the Hastings family’s approach lacked sincerity.
Even the servants at the Rosewood Estate whispered about how the Hastings family had failed Natalie when she needed them the most. Now, Natalie did not need them and likely even found them repulsive.
Liam responded to the Hastings family's post with propriety and politeness, saying that Natalie would not participate in social engagements due to her pregnancy. To his surprise, the Hastings family, undeterred by rejection, sent another invitation.
Liam declined three times.
Days later, he received a message from the guardhouse, informing him that the Hastings family wished to visit.
Clearly, it did not matter to them if Natalie could not go out; they would come to her.
"I haven't seen such shameless people for many years," Liam muttered to himself on the way to the guardhouse.
Outside the guardhouse lay a sprawling courtyard of several hundred square meters.
James, Caleb, and Samuel, accompanied by several servants from the Hastings family whose arms were ladened with gifts, stood waiting.
"Liam, long time no see!" Caleb greeted Liam warmly, his eyes eagerly scanning for Natalie behind him.
"Caleb, Natalie isn't here, so there's no need to look," Liam replied, maintaining his smile despite the tension.
Caleb and James fell silent awkwardly.
Samuel, looking indifferent, had long anticipated such an outcome. If the Hastings family came knocking and Natalie was willing to see them, she would not be the Natalie he knew. She knew she was very prideful.
"Liam, could you please inform them about my visit? Natalie is my granddaughter, and I'm her grandfather," Caleb implored, taking a deep breath. It had been many years since he had lowered his head like that.
"Caleb, the Rosewood Estate has responded to you three times before, and I thought by now you would have understood our intentions," Liam explained.
Three replies, all refusals.
He used 'our intention' instead of 'my intention', making it clear that this stance was not only his own but also Natalie’s.
"Liam, I'll be straight with you. If we don't see Natalie today, we're not leaving!" James said darkly.
As the first son of the Hastings family, he was accustomed to being flattered. Despite his lackluster career, he still commanded respect, thanks to his talented son. Today, however, he was actually being turned away by a butler!
Liam raised an eyebrow and looked at Samuel meaningfully.
In return, Samuel looked away with an expression that seemed to say, "It's none of my business, this has nothing to do with me.' He really did not believe his father and grandfather could persuade Natalie to come out and see them, and he also did not think they were entitled to make such demands.
Liam finally met a sensible person in the Hastings family. Indeed, the future leader of the family seemed different—unlike the others who lacked self-awareness and were shameless.
Planning to ignore the group, Liam was ready to leave them there and return to the main building. He knew that any scene they might cause would only embarrass them, not the Windsor family.
Just then, Liam received a call from Natalie.
"Liam, have they left?"
"Nope," Liam replied with a chuckle.
Hearing this, Caleb and James shifted uncomfortably.
"Then arrange for them to meet at the reception building. I’ll come out," Natalie instructed.
Liam was surprised. "Alright, I'll arrange for someone to take them there."
…
"Natalie, why did you suddenly change your mind? You clearly didn't want to meet them," Marjorie asked, puzzled. She continued, "If you're worried about them, there's no need! The Hastings family doesn't hold the status that Oliver does."
Natalie responded with a light-hearted tone, "I haven't changed my mind, I just want closure. They have been persistently sending invitations, and now they've even shown up at our doorstep. Liam went there, but they still won’t leave. Clearly, they won't stop until they achieve their goal."
Marjorie mulled over this and concluded, "If they don't leave, then let them be. There's no need to dissuade them. They deserve it!"
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