Chapter 848 Long Time No See
The assistant picked up the phone and immediately had a strange expression. "Mr. Egan, this call seems to be for you."
The receptionist had called to say that someone specifically wanted to see Nathaniel.
Nathaniel frowned.
He certainly wouldn't meet with just anyone who asked to see him. If he did, he'd be busy all day, every day.
But just as he was about to refuse, the assistant slowly added, "She said her name is Azalea."
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp glint flashing as he looked up. "Let her come up."
The assistant nodded.
Nathaniel then headed straight to the guest room.
A moment later, a woman pushed open the door.
Nathaniel's gaze fell on her face, and he was slightly surprised. "Your face..."
The person standing before him had the same build as Azalea, and her features were similar, but there were significant differences from the real Azalea.
It was mainly her aura.
The old Azalea never had such a sharp presence. Just now, at first glance, he almost thought he saw an unsheathed sword.
Azalea sat down nearby.
Up close, the differences were even more apparent.
Her collarbone was prominent, her shoulder blades noticeable. Azalea had lost a lot of weight and had become much sharper, dressed in a black dress like a rose blooming in the night.
"It's been a long time. I didn't expect you to still remember me," Azalea said, her tone complex.
This was an acknowledgment of Nathaniel's recognition.
Nathaniel's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he let out a deep breath. "It really is you."
Azalea nodded. "Yes, it's me. As for why I look different from before, it's because I was severely burned back then. Seventy percent of my skin tissue was replaced."
She spoke of her past trauma so easily, something unimaginable for most people.
But Azalea didn't seem to think so.
She was so calm, as if she were talking about someone else's experience.
Nathaniel's eyes grew darker.
"George, I'm really glad you can still recognize me," Azalea smiled.
Nathaniel interrupted her, his voice cold and detached. "I'm not George anymore. Don't call me that name."
His tone was unmistakably distant.
Azalea's face stiffened, and her heart chilled as she looked at Nathaniel's stern expression. "I thought after surviving and coming back, you would be happy to see me, or at least not so cold."
This was not the reunion she had imagined.
Nathaniel pointed out sharply, "That's just what you think. You always live in your own imagination, including now."
His words, though not heavy, made Azalea's heart bleed.
She lowered her eyes, her hands clenched into fists.
"I know you're about to marry Saskia."
"So that's why you came to see me today?"
Azalea stared at him, as if trying to etch Nathaniel's image into her heart, her gaze stubborn. "I want to know if you would have chosen me if Saskia hadn't been there."
She held onto a tiny sliver of hope.
Azalea didn't want to compete with Saskia; she just wanted to confirm if there was even a small possibility.
She always believed that Nathaniel's refusal to accept her was because she came later, and someone else had already left a significant mark on his heart.
But what if Saskia had never appeared? Would she and Nathaniel have had a different outcome?
Nathaniel's words shattered Azalea's fantasy. "No."
"Why? If there were no Saskia, I would be the one who understands you best, the one who always stands behind you," Azalea's tone was urgent.
Nathaniel looked at her deeply. "You don't even know why. That's the reason."
Azalea was stunned.
After a couple of seconds, her straight posture suddenly collapsed, as if she had finally let go of a long-held breath.
Nathaniel's words were harsh, but sometimes harshness is the most effective. Hesitation only makes it harder to let go.
Just like Azalea said.
After surviving a near-death experience, she was no longer the same.
Rather than saying she still had a crush on Nathaniel, it was more of an obsession, which is why she asked. Nathaniel's words broke her obsession.
Azalea took a while to stand up slowly. "I understand."
As Azalea reached the door, Nathaniel's voice came from behind. "Are you really not going to see Saskia? She's still your sister."
They both knew who he was referring to.
Azalea's lips curved into a faint smile. "I'll be there at your wedding."
With that, she pushed the door open and left.
Nathaniel thought about it, considering Saskia's emotional turmoil, and decided not to tell her about Azalea's visit.
He would wait until Saskia had sorted out her thoughts. If the wedding were to happen, it wouldn't be too late for the sisters to meet then.
So Saskia remained unaware.
Saskia was preoccupied with Nathaniel's question, her mind elsewhere.
Benjamin couldn't help but notice. "Mom, you seem really unhappy these days."
Saskia looked at his worried little face and knelt down to gently hold him. "Benjamin, I want to tell you something, but first you need to tell me if you want to see your dad."
Benjamin thought for a moment. "I do, but not really."
Saskia was stunned.
Then Benjamin explained.
Saskia realized that he had already started to see Nathaniel as his dad, so he wasn't as eager to know about his biological father anymore.
"What if I told you that Mr. Egan is actually your dad?" Saskia said, her palms sweating.
She watched Benjamin nervously, afraid to miss any expression on his face, ready to reject Nathaniel if Benjamin couldn't accept it.
But then she saw Benjamin's face freeze for a few seconds.
Saskia sighed, deciding to apologize to Nathaniel. "Just pretend I was joking."
"Mr. Egan is really my dad? Mom, you're not lying to me?" Benjamin suddenly jumped into her arms, excitedly grabbing her.
Now it was Saskia's turn to be stunned.
This wasn't what she had expected.
Benjamin was thrilled, running around the room. "That's great, Mr. Egan is my dad!"
After a while, Saskia took a deep breath to calm down and pulled him over to ask, "Are you happy?"
"Of course I'm happy. I've wanted Mr. Egan to be my dad for a long time. I've helped him several times, but he always messes up with you..." Benjamin quickly covered his mouth, his eyes sparkling.
He had accidentally let it slip.
Saskia's smile became more gentle, and she pinched Benjamin's cheeks several times to vent her feelings.
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