Chapter 866 This Is Just the First Battle
After setting the time, Saskia picked up Benjamin and headed to Pearl's house.
A lot had happened recently, and Pearl looked a bit worn out. She opened the door and poured Saskia a glass of water.
"Take a seat."
"I'm really sorry I couldn't be there for you during such an important time," Saskia said, feeling both sad and worried as she looked at Pearl.
Pearl gave a small smile and sighed as she sat down next to her. "I get it. Let's not be so formal with each other; it feels weird."
Saskia offered some comforting words.
Pearl didn't say much, instead, she played with Benjamin for a bit.
Benjamin blinked and said, "I heard Christopher is feeling down. I came to play with him, and I brought a gift."
"He's upstairs," Pearl pointed towards the stairs and sighed. "He spent the most time with his grandpa, and now..."
Saskia understood everything and patted Benjamin's head. "Why don't you go upstairs and find Christopher?"
Benjamin nodded and went upstairs on his own.
Saskia watched him go up before asking, "What are you planning to do?"
"I've taken care of all the immediate issues," Pearl said, rubbing her forehead in frustration. "We'll deal with the rest later."
Seeing that Pearl didn't want to talk about it, Saskia didn't press further. "Alright, if you need any help, just let me know."
"I won't be shy about it," Pearl smiled, then seemed to remember something and picked up her phone. "Did you enter that competition?"
"Yeah, I did. I didn't expect you to notice," Saskia shrugged.
Pearl looked delighted. "You're finally moving on from the past and getting back to your career."
"Yeah, I hope it's not too late," Saskia said, feeling a bit emotional.
"It's definitely not too late," Pearl said with admiration in her eyes. "I thought you'd be all about family after getting married, but you're doing better than ever!"
"Well, there's not much holding me back now. We should always look forward," Saskia took a deep breath. "Actually, I have to thank Nathaniel. If it weren't for his encouragement, I might not have taken this step."
Pearl's eyes twinkled with amusement. "So you two are that close already?"
"Alright, stop teasing me," Saskia shook her head helplessly.
Just then, the two kids came downstairs.
"Where are you going?" Pearl asked.
Christopher greeted Saskia and then said, "We're going to play in the garden."
Benjamin grinned and took out the gift he had prepared. "This music box is really cool. It changes in the sunlight. I want to show it to Christopher."
"The fresh air will do you good. Go ahead," Pearl nodded, watching them leave. She then turned to Saskia. "You've really helped me out. Christopher has been so withdrawn since his grandpa passed away. He hasn't wanted to talk or leave his room. I've been so worried."
She sighed heavily. Sometimes, the loss of a loved one came so suddenly.
"The kids are about the same age, so they'll naturally get along. Don't worry, with time, he'll come around," Saskia reassured her.
The kids played happily, running around the garden and laughing.
Pearl felt relieved. "Christopher has always been reserved. It's good for him to be with kids his age."
"I'll bring Benjamin over more often," Saskia said with a smile.
"Thank you, but let's wait until after your competition," Pearl appreciated her kindness but didn't forget that Saskia had other commitments.
As dusk fell, they said their goodbyes and headed home.
Benjamin was in high spirits, chattering away about everything that had happened that day.
"It seems you and Christopher get along well. How about we visit more often?" Saskia asked.
"Of course! Christopher and I are friends now. We should see each other more," Benjamin said earnestly.
"It's rare to find a friend you get along with so well. I'll definitely bring you over more often," Saskia patted his head, feeling relieved. She hoped Benjamin's company would help Christopher heal from his loss.
As they reached home, Nathaniel came out to greet them.
"Why are you so late? I've been waiting for you."
"Why were you waiting for me?" Saskia asked as they walked inside.
Nathaniel smiled. "I prepared a celebration dinner for you."
"It's just a preliminary round, not a win. Let's not celebrate too early," Saskia sighed.
Even though she had kept up with her studies over the years, she was still a newcomer with no practical experience. The road ahead would be tough.
"Every step forward is a victory," Nathaniel said, trying to comfort her.
After handing Benjamin over to the nanny, Nathaniel led Saskia to their room.
A candlelit dinner was already set up, the soft light creating a romantic atmosphere.
Saskia was pleasantly surprised.
"Nathaniel, thank you!"
"Have a seat," Nathaniel said, pulling out a chair for her like a gentleman.
The wine swirled gently in the glass, releasing its best aroma.
After clinking glasses, Saskia tasted the steak. "Did you make this yourself?"
"It doesn't look as professional as a chef's, does it? You figured it out right away," Nathaniel admitted with a smile.
"It's the thought that counts. It's a special taste," Saskia said, taking a small bite. "Too bad I already ate. I don't have much of an appetite. I should have come home earlier."
Nathaniel put on a record and took her hand. "No worries. Let's dance."
They danced in the moonlit and candlelit room, moving gracefully to the music.
Saskia looked into his eyes, her face full of gentle smiles.
After a while, Saskia felt a bit tired. "I want to take a bath."
"Alright," Nathaniel nodded.
The bathroom was ready with hot water and rose petals, smelling sweet and looking romantic.
Nathaniel stood at the door, not leaving. "This tub looks big enough."
He was hinting at joining her.
Saskia pretended not to understand and pushed him out, closing the door. "You know me well enough. I need a long soak to relax."
The warm bath was very comfortable.
After soaking for a while, Saskia felt much better. When she came out, Nathaniel was gone, probably using the other bathroom.
There was still a long way to go, and she couldn't afford to slack off. She headed straight to the study.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
