Chapter 19 chapter 19
Chapter 19
Sean looked at Natalie, his voice low and steady as he asked, “What is wrong?”
Natalie was startled, and only then did she realize that Sean had joined her in the kitchen.
She gawked at him and tried to force a smile, but she couldn’t smile. “When did you come?”
“Just now. The water had already boiled, but you couldn’t even notice. You seem to have a lot on your mind since you came from that place.”
Natalie shook her head, “I am fine. I just… I think I miss her.”
Sean held her by the shoulder and turned her around. They were now facing each other, and Natalie could not hide the emotions in her eyes even if she wanted to. Sean knew her too well.
“Nat, I am still your best friend, and you know that you can’t hide anything from me. Also, with me, you don’t have to put on an act. I can tell from a single glance that it is not just about missing your mom.”
“Sean, I…”
Natalie wanted to say something, but instead, uncontrollable tears ended up falling from her eyes.
Sean hugged her tightly without asking any questions. He encouraged her to let it all out as he gently rubbed her back.
For almost an hour, they stood in the kitchen as Natalie cried in Sean’s arms. She just felt like she couldn’t hold it in anymore.
After she had calmed down, she looked at Sean and apologized, “Sorry, I ended up dirtying your clothes. I…”
Sean laughed, seeing that Natalie could finally smile, “What is there to apologize for? It is an honor for my shirt. You have no idea just how everything about you is precious to me, even your tears.”
Natalie laughed, “You and your teasing!”
Sean looked at her with a serious gaze, “I mean it. I only let you cry today because I know what grief does to people. You never really grieved your mother, so your emotional breakdown is validated.”
Sean and Natalie headed to the sitting room as Natalie said, “You know, I thought that the pain would have lessened after all these years. But the moment I saw her beautiful picture on that tombstone, the wound felt so fresh as if everything had happened yesterday.”
“My mom was the gentlest woman I have ever known, and I never knew that she would depart from this world soon. Every time I think about it, I always feel like it is just a nightmare and I will wake up from it soon. But now that I have come back to Sterling City, I will have to face reality.”
Sean hugged her and assured her, “Nat, you don’t have to carry this burden all on your own. You have me, and I will support you in everything, okay? Anytime you feel like venting, just come to me, and we will do it together.”
Natalie looked at Sean, and something shifted in her eyes. After she had lost her mom back then, this man stood by her, never leaving her side.
He even stayed with Jojo for two days, just so he could give her time to bury her mom without worrying.
Although he was not present at the funeral, Natalie could feel his presence and warmth all over. If not for his support, she would have probably fallen into depression, and she might not have completed her medical course.
He had done so much for her without asking for anything in return. If he really was not a good man, then there were no good men on earth.
Seeing her look at him with such a strange gaze, Sean’s heart skipped a beat, and blood rushed from his brain all the way to his feet.
Her lips looked inviting, and for a moment, Sean just wanted to grab her and kiss the hell out of her and deal with the consequences later, but he stopped himself just in time. Until Natalie gave him the green light, he would never cross some boundaries, no matter how badly he wanted her.
His expression softened as he asked, “Love, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
“Huh?”
Sean chuckled at her cute expression, “What is going on in that little head of yours?”
Natalie came back to her senses, “Uhm, nothing. I… just wanted to say thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?”
“For being such an intentional friend. I always ask myself what good deeds I did in my past life to have gotten such good karma. You have no idea just how much of a blessing you are to me.”
“Nat, you don’t have to thank me. No one forces me to do anything for you. Your happiness is my happiness, and you and Jojo are my family. It is only natural that I take good care of you guys.”
Looking at his handsome face, a thought crossed Natalie’s mind. Maybe it was not too bad to be loved and pampered. After all these years, she was a hundred percent sure that no one would ever love her as purely and as much as Sean loves her.
Maybe it was time she gave him an answer. What if she kept him waiting, and some other woman ended up snatching him away from her?
Natalie’s mind started to run wild. She imagined Sean looking at another woman the way he looked at her, and her heart was filled with jealousy.
Just imagining Sean pampering another woman the way he pampered her made Natalie feel as if she had swallowed a bitter pill.
She would definitely die if she ever witnessed something like that one day.
Seeing a myriad of emotions pass through Natalie’s eyes, Sean was confused. And the way Natalie was looking at him as if she had caught him cheating on her made his blood freeze.
As he was still trying to figure out what was going on in Natalie’s head, she called out his name in a serious voice, startling Sean.
“Sean.”
“What’s up?”
Natalie looked at him and spoke sternly, “You are not permitted to look at another woman the way you look at me.”
“Huh?” Sean was confused.
But Natalie did not explain anything as she continued to list her conditions, “Next, you are not allowed to pamper another woman or treat her well except for me.”
“Never smile at another woman, unless it is absolutely necessary.”
“Never get too close to someone else, or I will skin both of you alive using my scalpel.”
“Lastly, and the most important thing, you are allowed to love only Jojo and me.”
When she finished speaking, Sean could even hear his own heartbeat. He looked searchingly in Natalie’s eyes, trying to figure out if she really meant everything she said.
After getting the answer he had been waiting for, Sean drew Natalie into his arms and hugged her tightly. He has never been this happy in his life.
Natalie broke the hug and looked at Sean. She pointed at her lips and pouted, “Aren’t you going to kiss me?”
“As you wish, Milady.”