Filed to story: The Return Novel (Natalie & Bryce) PDF Read Online Free >>
As Bryce went downstairs and turned the corner, he saw a scene through the half-open door. Liam was sleeping peacefully on the bed while Natalie sat beside him with tears in her eyes. Seeing Natalie so upset, he suddenly felt depressed. Gently walking to the door, Bryce reached out his hand to push it open but stopped at the last second. He thought of how Natalie had always pretended to be strong and figured she probably wouldn’t want anyone else to see her upset like this. So Bryce turned around and left in silence.
Natalie, having cried herself out, felt relieved. She had been repressing her feelings, but now that she had let them out, she really felt much better. She tucked Liam in, gave him a light kiss on the forehead, and left the room. Seeing Liam sleeping soundly made her feel more at ease, but she was also angry and determined. She definitely wouldn’t let the people who’d hurt Liam get away with it. She swore to find out everything about this matter.
Bryce, meanwhile, took a call from his assistant after taking a shower. His expression was cold as he said in an intimidating tone, “Well? What happened? Come on, tell me.”
The assistant stammered, “Mr. Clare, I managed to access the surveillance footage you asked me to locate. I’ve copied it and emailed you.”
Bryce sat in silence, breathing hard and slow to control his emotions. He said, “All right,” and hung up. He went straight to his study and turned on the computer. He opened the surveillance video the assistant had sent. In the video, Liam’s small figure looked even more vulnerable and frail than in real life. The video showed Liam standing at the top of the stairs, looking around eagerly, probably waiting for his mother to pick him up. Suddenly, a second child, Donnie Barnard, appeared in the frame. While Liam wasn’t paying attention, the other child reached out and pushed Liam down the stairs from behind.
Bryce’s anger erupted inside him. His eyes narrowed. When he replayed the video, he saw that the second boy’s parents were hovering in the shadows at the edge of the shot. It seemed obvious to Bryce that the Barnard child had been told to push Liam. As Bryce watched the video again, he trembled with fear as Liam fell down the stairs. Even though he knew that the little guy was okay, he noted that even though Liam had tumbled down a long way, he hadn’t cried out. Maybe he was just like his mother, pretending to be strong. Bryce suddenly thought of Natalie crying in Liam’s room earlier, and the anger in his heart stabbed at him again.
He frowned as he took out his phone and called the assistant again. “Now that the evidence is in our hands, tell the principal that I want an explanation. Otherwise, he’s toast.”
The assistant received the order and hung up. Bryce’s anger was still not quelled. He began to formulate a plan in his heart.
Meanwhile, Natalie had been taking a shower. Just as she came out of the bathroom, Tony Bovel called her. She felt a sting of guilt that she had been preoccupied with her own affairs. She quickly asked, “Tony, how is Gina’s surgery? I’m so sorry I’ve been busy with some domestic issues here.”
Tony couldn’t contain his excitement. “Natalie, the operation was a success! Gina’s going to be okay!”
“Really? That’s great! I’m so pleased. So how is Gina now?” Natalie asked, hurriedly deciding to visit the young girl first thing in the morning.
Tony said, “She is currently under observation in the ICU. The doctor said that she’ll be fine as long as she follows the recovery program.” Tony’s voice suddenly became choked with emotion as he said, “Natalie, thank you so much for your help. You saved her. I don’t know how to repay you.”
Natalie, hearing him sob at the other end of the line, comforted him gently. “It’s alright, Tony, it’s alright. I’m just so happy to know that Gina is going to be healthy and happy. Don’t cry, just go and be with her. When she is well, you can throw yourself into your work. ‘The Crossing 2’ is your shot at mega stardom.”
Tony vowed, “I know, Natalie. After all that you’ve done for me, I won’t let you down.”
She nodded. After hanging up, her face wore a worried yet gratified smile. With Gina cured, Tony could be at ease.
At that moment, Natalie’s stomach suddenly started to growl. It was almost midnight, and she had been busy the whole day. She hadn’t eaten for a long time, so it was no surprise that she was hungry. Mrs. Perkins was already asleep, so Natalie decided not to trouble her. She went downstairs to the kitchen to find something to eat.
She rummaged around in the kitchen, but there was only raw food in the fridge. As there was no other choice, Natalie took out the ingredients and started to cook.
Fortunately, her cooking skills hadn’t deteriorated with disuse, and she soon had a nice meal coming together. Natalie wondered if Bryce was still awake.
Maybe she should calm him down with some food. Otherwise, he’d probably just drink water and call that nutrition. That made Natalie laugh. Although Bryce seemed to be a very powerful man, the truth was that he didn’t really know much about how to take care of himself.
Coincidentally, Bryce was just then on his way downstairs to the kitchen to get some water. As he reached the doorway, he saw Natalie in her apron cooking at the stove. He stopped in his tracks, and a strange feeling surged up in his heart.
He was accustomed to being alone, accustomed to living a comfortable bachelor lifestyle. The sudden appearance of this woman in his house should really have been an annoyance and upset to his routine, but at this moment, all he could feel was an indescribable warmth in his heart.