Chapter 9
·
By the time Natasha returned home, a table full of food was waiting for her.
• The moment she walked in, Denise threw herself forward. "Nat, you're home!"
•
•
•
Just when Natasha was expecting a big hug, Denise stopped in her tracks abruptly before scrutinizing the former with knitted brows. "Mommy, your outfit today is really ugly." Natasha was speechless.
No wonder my tastes has been improving by leaps and bounds. I have a fussy daughter who inspects every aspect of my life.
• "No, it's not. I think she looks good!" Anthony joined them. From his perspective, his mommy was the most beautiful woman in the world.
•
Unexpectedly, Denise gave him a contemptuous look. "Clueless boys like you know nothing!"
•
Anthony was stumped.
• "The problem is that I, too, feel that it looks good," Benjamin added. "With her porcelain-white skin and long slender legs, she wouldn't be out of place as a movie star." • "You're both equally clueless," Denise scoffed.
"All right now, your mommy is tired after a long day. Let's eat as we chat, shall we?" Terence suggested from behind them.
• "Looks like Grandpa cares about me the most!" Just as she spoke, Natasha removed her heels and entered. "I'm going to wash my hands and get changed first."
By the time she was ready, the children were already seated at the table, waiting for her.
• In truth, all Natasha wanted was for them to grow up safe and healthy.
• She walked over and sat down. "Let's eat."
⚫ Terence threw Natasha a glance without saying a word.
·
"Mommy, how was work today? Was it tiring?" Anthony asked.
• "It's all right. It's not that different compared to working overseas. Hence, it wasn't tiring," Natasha answered.
•
"Mommy, are there any handsome guys in your office?"
·
Cognizant of what he was up to, Natasha shook her head. "No."
• "Looks like a big company such as yours can't even compare to our school." Suddenly, Denise had an epiphany. "Mommy, there's a new director of school affairs in our school who's young and handsome. In fact, he resembles Yohan Yamaguchi, the famous celebrity. Would you like to see him?"
•
Having heard the conversation, Terence instantly knew that the children were trying to find a partner for Natasha, who was open to the idea.
•
•
•
"Really? I should go and check him out one day."
"I've already asked about him. He only had one girlfriend before who married a foreigner and migrated overseas two years ago. Currently, he's still single and doesn't fool around." Denise giggled. "On top
of that, I've found out what he looks for in his partner, and you fulfill all his requirements. However, he has no expectations when it comes to looks, but I figure that you will definitely blow his mind." Benjamin stared at Denise. "No wonder you have been sticking to Mr. Lynch all day long."
• "Of course, I'm not like both of you who only know how to play." Denise rolled her eyes at him.
•
•
Anthony pondered upon it. "Mr. Lynch is a wonderful person indeed. He's dashing, chivalrous, and has a kind heart."
From Anthony's perspective, he had all the characteristics of a good man.
Having heard what they said, Natasha was intrigued. "In that case, I'll pick all of you up tomorrow and see this Mr. Lynch that all of you have such high praise for. Denise, you'll be in charge of leading him out tomorrow, understood?"
. "Yes, madam!"
•
·
Watching how Natasha interacted with her children, Terence felt that it was unabashed yet amusing at the same time.
They are like a group of friends more than mother and children.
• After dinner, the children asked to help with the chores. Terence was initially reluctant to let them do so. Nevertheless, after he saw how well-trained they were and recalled Natasha mentioning that they were responsible for taking care of her overseas, he decided to let them try.
• Inside the living room, Terence walked up to her. "What's wrong? Is something bugging you?"
• Natasha didn't hold back. "Kenneth came to see me today and asked me about the children."
⚫ Terence was stunned. "And then?"
"I lied to him, saying that I had aborted them."
• "Did he buy it?"
• "For the time being, but I know I won't be able to hide the fact forever."
•
•
Something suddenly occurred to Terence. "There's something I forgot to tell you. Before you left back then, he found out that you were pregnant and came to see me once."
Natasha gave Terence a look of surprise.
"During that time, I wasn't aware that you were pregnant and even gave him a good scolding." Terence added, "However, he did look pretty anxious back then."
• Natasha cracked a mocking smile. "We aren't even sure if he was worried about the children or the fact that he was being lied to. Besides, nothing would have changed even if he knew. He might agree for me to have the children, but I don't want them living under his shadow."
• As there were just no forgiving Kenneth's despicable actions back then, Terence didn't want to dwell on it. Instead, he asked, "What do you plan to do then?"
•
•
•
·
Natasha smiled. "Grandpa, since it isn't easy for him to find any evidence, I would like to remind you to be more vigilant, for he will likely come and see you again."
Terence nodded. "Understood." Thinking about the matter caused him to sigh. "Recently, I didn't even dare to meet Liam when he invited me for a game of chess." "Sorry for the trouble, Grandpa," Natasha responded.
"For the sake of the children, it's no trouble at all. I'm just worried Liam might suspect something given how well he knows me."
Natasha chuckled. "If I can resolve my problems with Kenneth, you can then bring the children to visit Old Mr. Hamilton."
• "He is indeed unfortunate to have the supposed happiness of his old age spoiled by that brat, Kenneth." Terence felt indignant for his old friend's sake.
• Natasha merely smiled in response.
•
•
Meanwhile, Thea had sent someone to investigate Natasha's background but the investigations yielded nothing.
"Why couldn't you find anything?" Thea was filled with disbelief.
• "We're not sure. I believe someone must have wiped their tracks clean. Otherwise, with our skills, we would definitely have dug out everything about her past."
• Thea didn't believe that Natasha had the capabilities to do something like that. As a result, she knew that there was more to the matter than met the eye.
• "Are you telling me this in an attempt to demand more money from me?"
• "Oh please, Ms. Jarman. We have already worked together many times. Since when have we tried to get more money out of you with such unscrupulous methods?"
• Thea realized that they had a point. "If you can't find any information on her, you should think of a different way. Perhaps you can investigate the people around her. No matter what, I want to know everything about her past."
•
"In that case, our fees-"
• "Since when have I left you short?"
•
"Just hearing those words alone feels reassuring." The opposing party relented at once.
•
After ending the call in exasperation, Thea knitted her brows.
•
Who in the world is this woman, to be able to drive Kenneth to the edge so easily? After so many years, I have never seen him behave that way before.
A sense of unease crept into her heart.
•
"Natasha..."
• As Thea repeated the name, it echoed through her mind with a vague sense of familiarity.