Chapter 35

Chapter 35

“A stroke of good fortune can turn things around. You marrying into the Foster family might just lift Matthew’s spirits, and… his health may improve”

What kind of bullcrap are you talking about?” Natalie snapped, frustration etching her features as she turned to face him.

“You… Samuel was taken aback by her sharp retort.

I’ve said it before I am not marrying Shawn. Since you agreed to it, you can figure out a solution!” With those final words, Natalie slammed ine door of the doctor’s office, leaving Gracia and Samuel in the corridor.

Matthew didn’t need this kind of aggravation right now. She didn’t want to be the cause of any more stress for him.

“How dare she, Samuel muttered, his face darkening to the color of storm clouds as he exchanged a glance with Gracia.

“Dad, you’ll have to think this through on your own,” Gracia sighed softly, “If Natalie marries out, then there might still be a chance for me to get into the Howard family. If she doesn’t, she’ll be a curse that lasts a millennium.”

When Natalie returned to her apartment that night, it was already late, and she was so exhausted she could hardly think straight. The moment her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, she was barely awake when her phone began to ring incessantly.

On the second ring, Natalie groggily picked up and mumbled, “Who is it?”

“Hello, is this Mrs. Howard?” The cautious inquiry came from the other end of the line.

The words “Mrs. Howard” jolted Natalie to full alertness. She paused for a few seconds before responding, “No, you’ve got the wrong person.”

She glanced at the caller ID. It was an unfamiliar number from back home.

“Then… may I speak with Ms. Wright?” the voice continued politely.

Twenty minutes later, Natalie rushed breathlessly to the kindergarten and immediately spotted Nate and a few other children standing by the principal’s office.

Nate had a bruised face, and the other children didn’t look much better. It was clear there had been a fight.

While the other kids were crying, Nate stood defiantly silent, his eyes rimmed with red.

“What happened?” Natalie quickly approached Nate and knelt in front of him, gently taking his small hand.

Nate initially tried to pull away, but when he saw that it was Natalie, he threw himself into her arms the next second, burying his face in her chest as he began to cry.

For some reason, though Nate’s cries were soft, they tugged at Natalie’s heartstrings. She held him tight with a surge of protectiveness.

“Look at you, crying now after what you did to our kid. We all have only one child. What if something serious had happened? How would you make it right?” a parent nearby chided sharply.

Natalie remained silent, lifting her gaze to look at the father and son pair.

The boy was head and shoulders taller than the other pre–schoolers. Both he and his father had a tough and intimidating appearance, not the kind of family that looked like they would reason things out.

“Exactly!” another parent chimed in.

Hearing the commotion, the principal came out of the office along with the other parents and asked Natalie, “Are you Nathan Howard’s parent?”

Nathan Howard, the full name of Nate.