Filed to story: The Return Novel (Natalie & Bryce) PDF Read Online Free >>
Bryce was generous with his praise, saying sincerely, “Natalie, you’re an absolute knockout.” Sensing the admiration in Bryce’s eyes, Natalie blushed. As far as Bryce was concerned, he couldn’t take his gaze off her.
Miranda Starr looked from Bryce to Natalie to Liam. Does this mean that Bryce has a child? Miranda looked at Liam again, thinking that the little boy did look a bit like Bryce, especially around the eyes, but the boy was much more expressive. His face was much livelier.
Natalie went back to the fitting room, where she took off the white dress and changed back into her usual clothes. Bryce settled the bill. After the white dress was wrapped, he left with Natalie and Liam.
In the car, Natalie carried the dress bag and sat in the back seat with Liam. She said tentatively to Bryce, “Thank you for helping me choose my dress, but…” She trailed off.
Bryce looked at her and said sharply, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
Natalie said, “Okay. The thing is, I want to give you the money for this dress. You shouldn’t have bought it for me.”
Bryce responded, “Do I look like a guy who can’t afford to pay for a dress?”
“No, no, of course not,” said Natalie. “It’s just that we both understand the nature of our relationship, so you don’t need to treat me as if we are truly husband and wife.”
Bryce didn’t react, so she thought carefully for a moment before she continued, “As you helped me before, I owe you a favor, and I’ll repay that favor when I can. But with regard to money, we should retain our separation, our independence.”
He said with his usual coldness, “Sure, then you can pay me back for the dress if you like. It’s $15,000.”
Natalie’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? Fifteen grand?”
Bryce said casually, “Yeah, that’s right.” Then he smiled and said, “As we’re husband and wife, I’m letting you have it at the wholesale price. The market price is $20,000.”
She was stunned. She had used up most of her money paying for Gina’s treatment. Where would she get $15,000? In any case, this was a ridiculous price for a single dress, especially as she wasn’t likely to wear it more than a few times. She couldn’t spend money without blinking as Bryce did.
She said carefully, “Is it too late to return the dress?”
Bryce responded with irritation, “Of course it’s too late. I can’t just return it on a whim; it would make me look bad.” Then, seeing the pained expression on Natalie’s face, he continued, “Look, as you want to pay me back so badly, I’ll let you pay it back in installments. How about that?” He took out a pen and started to write a legal note to that effect.
Natalie knew that she didn’t need to pay him the money right now, but she still trembled as she thought about accepting this debt. He handed her the note, and she signed it. She instantly felt poorer. Liam looked at his mom, wondering what she was getting into.
It was already noon, and they were all hungry, so Bryce took them to a high-end restaurant to eat. Natalie was distracted, her mind fixated on how she was going to repay Bryce’s $15,000. Bryce also looked absent, a vacant expression on his face. Only Liam looked excited. He had never been out for a meal with his father and mother before, and it was such a nice restaurant. He’d never been in one like this.
The contrast between Bryce’s cold expression and Liam’s animated temperament made for an amusing spectacle. There were people around who would occasionally glance at them, but most were intimidated by Bryce’s aura and didn’t dare to look too hard.
During the meal, one woman in particular noticed Bryce. A shock of recognition flashed across her eyes, and she stood up and walked over to Bryce’s table. When she got closer, the woman said, “Bryce, is it really you? Oh, what a coincidence! I was going to visit your family in a few days, but I didn’t expect to meet you here.” The woman’s eyes were full of excitement and happiness. The music in her voice made it clear that she was thrilled to see Bryce.
Bryce raised his head. He looked surprised, but he quickly regained his composure. “Vivian, when did you get back? Why didn’t you notify me?”
Vivian said, “I just arrived yesterday. I wanted to give you guys a surprise visit after I got over my jet lag, but it’s such a coincidence to see you here.” Her gaze never left Bryce. Her poise and good manners made her seem distinguished, as if she was comfortable in these plush surroundings.
“Oh, I see,” Bryce said indifferently. His face looked blank. He had known Vivian from his childhood. They had been best friends during their college days before she went overseas for her further studies. She was really close to the Clares; even her parents considered Vivian a part of their family.
A hint of disappointment flashed across Vivian’s face in response to Bryce’s coolness, but she continued, “So Bryce, aren’t you wondering why I’m here?”
Only then did Bryce raise his head and look at her properly. He said calmly, “Well, what are you doing here?”
Vivian smiled and said, “Well, your mother told me a few days ago that she liked a bracelet she’d seen online in a store in New York, and I asked my friend to bring it to her especially. I was here to thank my friend and also to meet my parents.”
Bryce said, “Mom has put you in a lot of trouble.” His face finally relaxed a little as he smiled politely at Vivian.
Natalie, meanwhile, had continued eating. Her expression hadn’t changed, but she was feeling annoyed by the woman’s obvious attraction to Bryce and by the familiarity with which she spoke to him. Just then, Vivian seemed to register Natalie’s presence for the first time, as well as the child at her side. Vivian looked at them both doubtfully and asked, “Bryce, aren’t you going to introduce us?”