In the morning, Natalie was fumbling around in the small courtyard. She was trying to find her way, but then someone grabbed her wrist.The man gently held her and pulled her into his arms. "You don't need to do all this."In their previous life, she was accustomed to struggling in the darkness. However, in Cedric's eyes, she didn't need to make such efforts in this life."Will my eyes really get better?"Up to this point, Natalie couldn't help but doubt whether she could truly get better. After all, what was it?The medicine was so bitter! It seemed impossible to think she could recover by just taking that kind of medicine!Cedric replied, "Yes!"On this point, Cedric was confident. Regardless of the cost, he was determined to make Natalie better!Natalie was silent.Really?In her previous life, she spent her time in darkness until she reached the end! During that time in darkness, what she felt the most was pain.Undoubtedly, she was afraid.Despite trying to ada
When Cedric heard Natalie's words, a storm brewed in his eyes, and the strength of his arms around Natalie intensified. If that had happened... what kind of despair had she experienced at that moment? Cedric couldn't help but tremble.Nat... his Nat...! "Nat, things aren't like that! I didn't want that!" Cedric said in a somewhat hoarse voice.How could he? Even if he had to endure such pain himself, he would never let Natalie go through it. The situation back then was definitely not like that!"Nat, believe me."Cedric was anxious.More than that, he felt heartbroken for Natalie.Damn him!At that time, how desperate must Natalie have been! They had ten years between them...!What kind of pain and despair did she feel when such information was given to her? What did she feel as she left the world...?Cedric couldn't bear to think about it at this moment. He knew that if he had been in Natalie's place, he would feel the same pain and despair."But you know what
At that time, how could he have forced Natalie?Looking back on it now...Yes, he had forced Natalie. He did it because Isabella ultimately sacrificed herself for Natalie in their previous life.So, he arrogantly assumed that Natalie had to accept Kayla and take good care of her in this lifetime.But now, he reflected on it...!After he heard what Natalie said, Cedric knew that Natalie had never owed anyone anything...!It was no wonder Natalie always said that Isabella deserved everything she had endured!It was her retribution.After all, Natalie had died in such despair back then."I was wrong. I'm sorry!" Cedric repeated."And you not only wanted me to accept Kayla but also wanted me to admit that I owe Isabella?"Actually, Natalie could overlook those things.However, Cedric felt his throat tightened!He had no right to demand anything from Natalie. He had no right at all!Natalie continued, "You even want to use Luna to save Kayla!"Her words were filled with u
After all was said and done...Because she wasn't Blair, she ultimately didn't receive Cedric's love and favor.Without Blair, to whom did all that favor go? Isabella, then Kayla...Everyone but Natalie.Even during these twenty-plus days, Natalie had the same thoughts. If Blair were here, Cedric's favor would probably be entirely on Blair. No matter how Isabella schemed, in the end... Yes.In the end, this favor was never given to Natalie because she was just a substitute. So, every time something happened, naturally...!"Nat, things are not as you think!""Cedric, that's enough," Natalie said, interrupting Cedric. Enough.Let all of this end.Really, it was enough!"Nat." Cedric's throat had tightened at Natalie's words, and the stifling feeling in his chest became more painful.Enough? Why did she have to say such things? In fact, she...!"Nat.""I can handle the doctor on my own. You should return to Wexford."Things between them had already reached th
The calmness in Natalie's tone caused Cedric's world to collapse in an instant. His mind went blank as if his entire world had shattered.This feeling was unbearable, and Cedric was now bearing everything that Natalie had once endured.This woman had started out from hysteria to her current calmness when dealing with him. It happened because she must have accumulated enough disappointment and pain to reach such a state."You're not, Nat. You never were..." She wasn't and never had been.Cedric knew very well who Natalie truly was. From the beginning, he recognized that she wasn't a substitute for anyone.Natalie smiled.Everything before her eyes was black. She couldn't see anything. How could she see through people's hearts? She... couldn't see.Perhaps, when she wanted to see clearly in the past, she never really saw anything. So now, she just didn't want to see at all.Cedric tightened his arms around her. "Nat, you never were! I won't allow you to say such things
"Nat." Finally, Cedric broke the silence.His voice was tense as he looked at Natalie.Natalie carefully set down the small bowl she was holding on the dining table. Despite Cedric's numerous assurances that her eyes would surely get better, Natalie still persevered in adapting to this darkness.In her previous life, she had given up hope for life in the end, but things were different this time. She had too many important people in this life—parents, a brother, and even a child. No matter what, she was determined to live.Whether it was Edward's medical skills or the surgery, success was not guaranteed. She didn't put her hope entirely in anyone. So, no matter what was waiting in the future for her, she would strive to adapt to the darkness.As for the man by her side... He had never been the pillar to hold up her world.He was never someone she could entirely rely on.Not in her previous life, and certainly not in this one. Natalie was well aware of this fact."A
In the end, Cedric left. Despite his apparent anguish in front of Natalie upon hearing about Kayla's relapse, he still left.The dining room fell into a long, profound silence.Lydia and Xyla turned to Natalie with heartbroken looks on their faces."Miss," Lydia stepped forward, wanting to give Natalie a comforting hug.Natalie replied, "Now, have you learned what favoritism truly means?"Favoritism!Indeed...If one wasn't the only one in someone's heart, they often had a form of favoritism. No matter how important they were in someone's heart, they would ultimately face hardship if that favoritism wasn't directed toward them.The old Natalie didn't understand these dynamics, but now, she understood. Did she have a place in Cedric's heart? Yes, undoubtedly. Even as a substitute, she occupied a position. However, she was still just a substitute, and substitutes could never gain a man's favoritism."Miss, can we just ignore him from now on?" Lydia said as her heart ac
Cedric was unforgivable, and the same applied to Irwin in her eyes. Irwin didn't directly answer her question. He waved his hand before her eyes and asked, "You really can't see anything?"Natalie replied, "It's none of your business!"She didn't want to entertain the man's questions. Irwin pulled out a chair and sat beside her. Lydia and Xyla had carefully prepared the soup on the table. It was nutritious and met Natalie's dietary needs.It had to be said that the Jarvis family took good care of her wherever she went."I'm sorry," Irwin said, referring to the incident at Mount Elven. At that time, he only wanted to keep her from knowing about Blair. He hadn't realized the extent of the harm that Mount Elven's snow and sun would cause her.Natalie responded, "It was inevitable."She took Irwin's apology with a calm attitude. After experiencing so much, she became less inclined to dwell on such matters. In the past, she might have been hysterical about the things happening