Chapter 86

Chapter 86

“Mr. Nate has waited for you for hours that evening, caught a chill, and then fell ill, battling a fever on and off. The doctor said it was pneumonia,” Reid cut off Natalie’s words with a cold retort, not waiting for her to finish.

Natalie blinked, taken aback, and quickly asked, “Is he doing better? Has he been discharged?”

“He’s just been discharged, but there’s still a risk of relapse,” Reid replied after a pause.

Unaware of this until now, Natalie was swamped with guilt. No one had bothered to inform her.

After a few seconds of silence, she spoke softly, “I heard from Gavin that Brian had…”

“Yeah, Mr. Howard went to Bluestar for you, and he… Never mind. You probably don’t care about him,” Reid said, his tone neutral. As an outsider, he hadn’t initially taken sides.

But Nate’s pneumonia and Brian’s minor injuries from an explosion were all because of Natalie’s whimsical breach of trust. Reid couldn’t help but feel sorry for Nate and Brian.

Besides, that Kellan guy was nothing compared to Mr. Howard. Reid couldn’t fathom why Natalie would abandon Mr. Howard and Nate for someone like Kellan.

Natalie knew too well what had happened. The explosion was under her control. She had accidentally hurt Brian, but she could never reveal her true identity. She had to play dumb.

She took a few seconds to consider her words and continued cautiously, “Can I visit Nate?”

Reid wanted to tell Natalie not to bother and that any emotional compensation at this point was futile.

“Natalie…” Nate, sleeping on a nearby bed, mumbled in a daze. Even in his dreams, he was thinking of Natalie.

Reid looked at Nate, wrestling with his emotions, before finally replying softly. “We’re at Majestic Meadows Manor.”

Natalie hadn’t figured out how to face Brian and Nate, but hearing Nate call out to her, she couldn’t bear it. She immediately rushed over.

An hour later, she stood before the gate of Majestic Meadows Manor, peering through the ornate ironwork at the brightly lit English–style cottage beyond.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she mustered her courage and pressed the doorbell. After half a minute, a gentle voice came from behind the door, “Who is it?”

Natalie paused, surprised. Then, she saw Madelyn in an oversized white shirt, revealing long. slender legs, open the door and descend the staircase.

Madelyn was just as surprised to see Natalie there, stopping mid–step.

Chapter 86

They locked eyes, and Natalie came to her senses first, whispering to Madelyn, “I’m here to see

Nate.”

“I don’t think you should be here right now,” Madelyn replied with a faint smile, her voice soft. “Brian probably doesn’t want to see you.”

“I just want to see how Nate’s doing. I heard he was sick,” Natalie replied, her lips tightening.

Madelyn looked at her, a hint of mockery in her eyes, and retorted, “Honestly, who wouldn’t be concerned about their child? But…”

Her stance was clear that she didn’t want Natalie inside.

Natalie stared at Madelyn for a few seconds before suddenly remembering the rumors. People said that Nate was the child Madelyn had given birth to during her time away from the spotlight.

“I’m sorry. I was presumptuous,” Natalie said after a pause, addressing Madelyn. With that, she turned to leave.

As she turned, something in her bag snagged her attention. She stopped, pulled out a velvet box, and turned to place the item on the steps inside the gate with her head down.

“Please give this to Nate and tell him it’s a birthday present,” she said, her voice laden with regret and hope.