Chapter 853 Has Natalie Admitted It?
Caleb and James did not deny what Oliver just said, which meant Olive and Natalie did not come today as descendants of the Hastings family?
The crowd fell silent and looked at each other, thinking it was not a good start.
Caleb composed himself, changed his face slightly, and then casually walked in, with Natalie supported by Oliver, following Caleb into the Hastings family.
"Helen, what was your attitude just now? That's your daughter, you spoke to her as if she were a stranger!" a dissatisfied member of the Hastings family said to Helen.
"Yeah, Helen, didn't you notice Oliver's reaction just now? It was so scary, he cherishes Natalie like the apple of his eye, but you still gave him a cold look."
"Helen, we're not here to nag you. You used to treat that impostor in prison so well, why you treated your real daughter in a stark different way? Think about what you've done to your own daughter before. Now that Natalie kindly brought you back here, you should at least show some kindness!"
"I wonder what's going on in your head!” A group of Hastings family members criticized Helen one after another.
In the past, they wouldn't dare speak to Helen like this. They would usually just agree and flatter her. But things were different now. During the time Helen was gone, the things and rights that originally belonged to Helen, the matriarch of the family, were divided among several close relatives of the Hastings family.
Although their authority couldn't compare to the former Helen, they now had the confidence, unlike Helen who had just returned from abroad with no real power.
"It’s none of your business! Mind your own business!" Helen frowned unhappily at them and walked into the old mansion with a stern face.
She knew Natalie was her biological daughter, not Susan.
But seeing Natalie's face, so similar to Emma's, she felt disgusting!
If it weren't for the paternity test results in front of her, Helen would never believe that Natalie could have such a face that she disgusted!
"Natalie, look at this place, you used to love playing there when you were little. Have you seen that peach tree? Your brother planted it for you the year you were born, saying he would teach you to climb trees and pick peaches in the future. And that rockery, you used to invite kindergarten friends over to play hide and seek and you loved hiding behind it!"
This was Natalie's third visit to the Hastings family's old mansion.
Caleb introduced the mansion to Natalie, sentence by sentence.
With Caleb, the elder, present, James, the father needn’t to say in the conversation.
"Caleb," Natalie interrupted him, "I've already forgotten about the Hastings family. It's pointless for you to say more."
Caleb was taken aback, with instantly deflated excitement. And he felt too disappointed to speak anymore.
Samuel looked at Natalie and sighed.
Natalie spoke harshly to the elders, showing she had no hope for the Hastings family. Considering their past actions, her attitude was understandable.
Natalie lowered her eyes and leaned against Oliver.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Oliver lowered his head and asked gently.
"No," Natalie shook her head, "just a bit tired."
Visiting the Hastings family's old mansion was more tiring than she had imagine with exhausting mind.
She just wanted to pay her respects to Emma and didn't want to talk to these people.
"Natalie tired?" James immediately said, "Your room is ready, why don't you and Oliver go rest first?"
Although James had already positioned himself as Natalie's father, he still didn't have the courage to call Oliver his son. He thought it would be too impertinent to do so.
"When does the worship begin?" Oliver had an unscrupulous look, seemingly saying, “Let's get on with it, say more, and you'll see”.
Oliver was known for his lack of patience.
James looked at Samuel in distress, hoping Samuel could say a word or two.
Caleb and James didn't just invite Natalie to worship Emma today and they mainly wanted to bond with Natalie.
Pretending not to notice James's hint, Samuel looked at Caleb's attitude and sighed silently, "The worship ceremony hasn't officially started yet, but with Natalie's arrival, we can make it special. Follow me."
The worship site of the Hastings family was at the far east of the old mansion.
Emma was in a separate small room, with photos hanging on the walls and a wooden plaque below them inscribed with a name completely unfamiliar to Natalie.
She had no recollection of it at all.
But it made sense, she was so young when she left the Hastings family that she probably hadn't even heard of Emma's name.
Natalie placed a bouquet of flowers.
"Natalie, come, observe a moment of silence." James handed the token of silence to Natalie and Oliver, "Oliver, this is for you."
Natalie glanced at it and didn't take it. "Observing a moment of silence is something that should be done for our family."
Oliver smiled, "I'm not the kind of person who does that."
James felt a chill from within.
James almost forgot that Oliver was the one who destroyed the Windsor family. His father Henry, sister Victoria, brother Edwin, and Victoria's two children, all met a bad end.
Oliver was a ruthless demon. He couldn't possibly observe a moment of silence devoutly.
Seeing Natalie supported by Oliver as they walked away from the worship site, Caleb's face turned extremely grim, feeling a dull pain in his heart and breathlessness.
Caleb looked at Emma's portrait on the wall and tears welled up in his eyes.
He blamed himself of not bringing Natalie back to Emma.
James wanted to follow and continue persuading Natalie but was stopped by Samuel.
"Father, Natalie doesn't want to be disturbed right now," Samuel said.
James frowned, somewhat displeased, "I'm Natalie's father, her real father! I’m not disturbing her! Samuel, are you really a member of the Hastings family? Why aren't you helping us?"
"Natalie's father, has Natalie acknowledged it?" Samuel couldn't help but smile. "And, think about what you just said, do you subconsciously consider Natalie as a member of the Hastings family?"
James finally realized the implication of Samuel's words and then slightly changed his face.
"But I am Natalie's father!"
"Is that so?" Samuel asked, "What about Susan? I mean, the Susan in prison."
After walking a few steps, Natalie found that James and the others hadn't followed. She was inexplicably relieved.
"Oliver, I actually remembered something just now."
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