Lydia gave Natalie a massage with essential oils. Natalie had to admit that the oils here were truly excellent. All her weariness of the journey disappeared once it was used on her.Natalie fell asleep while Lydia was giving her a massage.Just as Lydia was thinking about how to turn Natalie over, the wooden door of the room creaked open. Lydia looked towards the door and saw Cedric wearing a casual gray lounge outfit!Cedric gestured for silence, but Lydia's heart tightened. Just as she was about to say something, Irwin appeared at the door and gestured at her.Lydia was reluctant, but she respectfully left.In the room, only Natalie and Cedric remained. Natalie lay peacefully on the bed, her hair falling softly over her shoulders. With her eyes closed and her curled eyelashes, she looked so beautiful, like an angel!During this time, Irwin had been very attentive to her. Although she had been taking traditional medicine all along, her dainty face had regained some meat.Gi
The past... really hurt.It hurt... and it was suffocatingly!That was why many people were unwilling to face it, whether it was beautiful or not. Because alongside the beauty, there was also the ugliness.The past between Cedric and Natalie was too heavy for them. It was the kind of heaviness... that suffocated a person."In fact, I could...""Irv!"Irwin fell silent.The word shattered all his resentment completely at this moment! How long had it been? How long had it been since they had addressed each other like this?What kind of presence were they in Wexford once?If they hadn't broken apart because of Blair, would Wexford be in its current state?No one could disrupt their alliance! No one could gain any despicable benefits from it.However, now...!"Take care of her." After a long while, Cedric fiercely finished his cigarette and pressed the butt into the ashtray.Cedric knew very well what Irwin's intentions towards Natalie were. Because he knew it so well, he
Irwin's already suffocating heart felt even more stifled upon hearing Natalie's words. Regardless of the role he played in Cedric and Natalie's lives in the past, he couldn't help but offer an explanation for Cedric."Nat, the thing is...!" Irwin began."When I found out that both of you approached me because of Blair, do you know what was going through my mind?" Natalie interrupted."Nat!""Nothing! My mind was blank!"Indeed!At that moment, Natalie's mind went blank, overwhelmed by tumultuous emotions that left her unable to react. She couldn't bring herself to believe that everything was real!How could it be real?How could things turn out that way?She couldn't believe it! She couldn't believe that things could be like that."For seven years, do you know how he treated me during those seven years?" At this moment, instead of speaking of hatred, she spoke of love.But was there love between them?Now, looking back, even saying 'yes' felt ironic!Natalie scoffed, "
Natalie fell silent. At this moment, she sat quietly in place, and even Clyde couldn't discern what was going on in her mind.The man pulled a wicker chair and sat beside her."Things in Simeria are chaotic right now.""And?" Natalie responded indifferently."When you go back this time, it can't be like last time." There was a hint of exasperation in Clyde's tone, and Natalie fell silent.Last time?Was he referring to her entanglement with Malcolm last time? It had indeed been a cause for concern in the Jarvis family. Stephen had never wanted to get involved with the Entes family, so they definitely wouldn't want Natalie to be entangled with them.And with Natalie's current resentment towards Irwin and Cedric, nobody knew what she might do in such circumstances. That was the most worrying aspect."Alright, I understand what you mean, Cly," Natalie said gently.Her words relieved Clyde."It's good that you understand. Dad has been worried about you, and everyone is wa
Clyde's embrace made Natalie feel secure and warm. So, this was the charm of family strength. Since returning to the Jarvis family, this warmth had been everywhere."When is the surgery scheduled?" Clyde asked."Tomorrow.""Then I'll stay here with you.""Okay," Natalie replied.Hearing that Clyde would accompany her, Natalie felt even warmer inside. She felt much more reassured by his presence.Clyde tightened his arms around her. He didn't ask Natalie what darkness truly looked like! Even if the surgery succeeded, it was probably a pain she wouldn't want to face in her lifetime.-In a wooden building not far away, Cedric and Irwin stood together. They watched as Clyde held Natalie.At that moment, Cedric's eyes held more than just sadness and bitterness. He spoke in a hoarse voice, "I once thought that her world revolved around me.""So, at one point, you also believed that she could never live without you, right? You thought that no matter what happened, she could never
The coconut juice from Evergreen Peak was famous. It was even available in Simeria. Heather often drank it, claiming it was excellent for the skin."It's so fresh and has a subtle taste," Natalie remarked."Authentic juices tend to be like that," Clyde said.Natalie nodded. "Yes, it's very nice."The taste was indeed pleasant, something she had grown accustomed to. She used to dislike coconut juice for its thick, cloying taste, but this one had a refreshing sweetness. It was the taste of nature.Not far away, Cedric and Irwin stood on a wooden platform, watching the bonfire party in the square. Irwin asked, "Are you leaving now?"Cedric nodded. "Yes, I'll go ahead.""..."Irwin hesitated, feeling a tightness in his chest."Why aren't you over there?" Cedric inquired."Clyde is there. Also, she's likely happier without my presence."As he said this, Irwin's voice carried endless bitterness.Cedric said he felt trapped and that there was no way out for him and Natalie.W
The night passed peacefully.Natalie was happy because of Clyde's presence, and her lingering discontent towards Irwin and Cedric dissipated. Due to that, she was able to sleep well.Although Heather had been calling her, expressing her desire to be by her side, Natalie had been hesitant to accept for fear of revealing her vulnerability to her family. Deep down, however, she longed for their company.Girls were like that. They wanted their family by their side during the toughest times. They didn't want to show their vulnerability, but they craved their family's presence more than anything.-Natalie slept soundly, but for a few, sleep evaded them throughout the night.The next morning, Lydia and Xyla hurriedly finished their breakfast before Natalie woke up. As Natalie couldn't eat due to her surgery today, they had to finish before she woke up."Let's go," Clyde's voice rang out.In the next moment, he scooped Natalie up in his arms."Are you going with me to the surgery?"
Clyde kept comforting Natalie, "Don't be afraid. Listen to me and relax. Take deep breaths. It's okay...!"After a long time, Natalie finally relaxed under Clyde's reassurance. Those horrible memories gradually faded away.Her heart also calmed down completely, and Clyde felt somewhat relieved when he saw her like this.Then, the surgery began.Just as they were about to administer the anesthetic, Natalie asked, "Can you tell me whose corneas are being used?"At her words, Clyde subconsciously glanced in Cedric's direction, and Cedric was also looking at him!The two men locked eyes, sparks of tension and resignation flying between them.Finally, Clyde looked away. "I don't know. They were donated.""And the person?""Deceased."Natalie fell silent, and Cedric said nothing.Clyde's straightforward answer indicated his unwillingness to dwell on the issue any further, so what else was there to argue about now? Perhaps this was the best resolution for all of them!At that mo