Chapter 142

Chapter 142

“If only every morning could start with brushing my teeth together with Natalie side by side.” Nate thought.

Natalie rinsed her mouth. Right on cue, Nate set down his toothbrush cup and pouted his cherubic face towards her, waiting for his morning face cleaning.

As she dabbed his rosy cheeks, Natalie was reminded of the first time she met Nate. He could barely string a full sentence together without stumbling over his words.

“You’re getting so smart, Nate,” she said with a warm, encouraging smile.

Sadie, who was bringing in a basket of laundry, overheard from the next room and chimed in, “Nate is indeed getting more talkative. Kids just soak up language like sponges.”

Nate, taking the conversation seriously, responded without hesitation. “I don’t like talking to them, and they don’t like talking to me.”

Was ‘them‘ a reference to the people of the Howard family?

Natalie recalled a line from a psychology book that a child who grew up in a love–deprived environment often had delayed expressive abilities, which could lead to severe cases of autism or, in milder situations, to speaking late.

It seemed Natalie fit this description. Moreover, Madelyn neither wanted him nor showed him affection.

But lately, Nate’s mood had improved. He was speaking more fluidly and becoming quite the chatterbox around her.

Natalie understood what Nate was trying to express.

She halted momentarily, then continued cleaning his face with a gentle smile, saying, “Soon, no one at preschool will be calling our little Nate a silly goose.”

“Yeah, even Mr. Howard, when he gets impatient, would say Nate is slow like a little mute. But Nate is just a late talker. In every other way, he’s exceptionally clever…” Sadie added from the next room, though her voice trailed off.

The room fell silent. Sadie felt awkward as she stood by the door, while Natalie finished helping Nate with his morning routine and dressed him for the day.

“It’s alright,” Natalie reassured her with a smile as they walked out together.

Sometimes Sadie, and even Brian himself, would compare Nate to Natalie as a child. Although Nate was the spitting image of Brian, his personality seemed to take after Natalie more.

Genetics were powerful. Nate was raised by Brian and Sadie, yet he should have had a temperament more like Brian’s.

Sometimes, without even mentioning Natalie, just by observing Nate’s every move and word,

Chapter 142

they were constantly reminded of who brought him into this world.

Occasionally, Sadie would catch Brian staring at Nate for hours on end. She believed that what people saw on the surface wasn’t always what their eyes beheld.

In her heart, Sadie felt that when Brian gazed at Nate, he was actually seeing Natalie.

But Natalie was unaware of Sadie’s thoughts. Sadie assumed the concern was due to the mention of the word “mute“, fearing it might have caused offense.

“Mr. Howard should be home for dinner tonight. Reid mentioned yesterday that they had a short. flight to a neighboring country for a meeting. It shouldn’t take long.” Sadie quickly shifted the subject to alleviate her embarrassment.

“Perfect timing. Since Nate doesn’t have school today and we missed the birthday party last time, why not have a little celebration tonight right here at home? What do you think, miss?” Sadie asked cautiously.

Natalie exchanged a glance with Sadie, then looked down at Nate in her arms and asked, “What do you think, Nate?”

Nate nodded earnestly and replied with the utmost sincerity. “I want a vanilla buttercream cake.”