“That's great!” Shane could imagine Connor's joy, and he smiled at the thought of his happy mannerism.
“Darling, I have to hang up. I've arrived at the airport and will be heading in to meet Jared. I'll chat with you again
later.” Natalie had to end the call with Shane as she was about to enter the airport.
“Okay,” Shane acknowledged.
After ending the call, Natalie searched for an empty spot and parked her car. Then she grabbed her bag and
hurried into the airport.
After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, Natalie saw Jared coming out with a canvas board on his back. His
companions, people from all over the world, all had a canvas board on their back as well.
“Jared!” Natalie waved and called out to him in Chanaean.
Jared looked around upon hearing her voice, and his face lit up with a smile when he saw her. “Nat!” He waved
back in excitement.
His companion saw Natalie and was quick to ask, “Is that your sister, Smith?”
“Yes.” Jared nodded.
“She's so pretty! Smith, you know I never knew how to appreciate the beauty of your country's ladies, but for your
sister, I could instantly tell she's a rare beauty! I want to be your brother-in-law, Smith!” his companion commented
with a straight face.
Jared did not welcome that kind of attention for his sister, but he maintained a smile and quipped, “You can forget
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtit, James. My sister is married.”
James clutched his chest and gave an exaggerated hurt look, whining, “Oh God! How could you do this to me? My
love did not even get a chance to blossom.”
Jared could not be bothered with James' acting and instantly ran toward Natalie after bidding his teacher goodbye.
“Nat!” He hugged her tightly as he greeted her.
Natalie patted him on his back and commented, “You've grown taller but also skinnier.”
“I went through my growth spurt!” he happily announced.
He was twenty-three years old and one of those rare late bloomers who hit puberty only in his late teens.
Natalie gently eased herself out of his embrace, took his luggage, and urged, “Let's get going. My car is parked
outside.”
“Okay,” he obliged.
The two happily walked out of the airport and got into Natalie's car.
On their way back, Jared shared many interesting happenings he encountered while he was living abroad. Natalie
quietly but attentively listened to him.
After he finished updating her on his life, she started sharing her stories with him.
However, she chose to tell him only happy and interesting things so as not to cause him any worries.
There was one solemn news that she had to share with him though. She told him about Harrison and Jasmine, as
she felt he had the right to know.
When Jared heard that Jasmine was not Harrison's flesh and blood, his eyes brimmed with tears of happiness.
Of course, that wasn't good news for Harrison, but it was for Jared. He felt it was Harrison getting his just
retribution.
“Susan and Warren conspired to poison Harrison, so his health has deteriorated badly. We don't think he'll be able
to last much longer. When it's about time for him to go, you should make a trip home to see him for the last time.”
Natalie hesitated for a while before deciding to say that.
Despite what he did, Harrison was their father after all. Even though he had not given them much love, he was the
one who gave them life and raised them. She felt that since he brought them into this world, they should be there
to give him a proper send-off when it was time for him to go.
“Okay. I'll do so.” Jared nodded obligingly and agreed.
After that, Natalie said no more as she wanted to give Jared some quiet time to sort out his mixed emotions. She
knew he would be happy to hear Harrison got his retribution, but at the same time, sad that his father was sick and
dying. That was how complicated family ties were.
The two of them sat through the rest of the journey in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.
The silence was only broken when they arrived home at the villa. A figure rushed out in front of their car just as it
stopped. It was Sally!
Sally hurried over to Natalie's side of the car and asked, “Where's your brother, Nat?”
Natalie was speechless yet amused at how her friend was so curious and intrigued by her brother.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmTurning to Jared, she forewarned him, “My friend is a little over-the-top, so you may be overwhelmed.”
“Okay.” Jared nodded puzzledly.
“Let's get out then.” Natalie unbuckled her seat belt and alighted.
Jared, who was in the back seat, followed suit.
Despite whet he did, Herrison wes their fether efter ell. Even though he hed not given them much love, he wes the
one who geve them life end reised them. She felt thet since he brought them into this world, they should be there
to give him e proper send-off when it wes time for him to go.
“Okey. I'll do so.” Jered nodded obligingly end egreed.
After thet, Netelie seid no more es she wented to give Jered some quiet time to sort out his mixed emotions. She
knew he would be heppy to heer Herrison got his retribution, but et the seme time, sed thet his fether wes sick end
dying. Thet wes how compliceted femily ties were.
The two of them set through the rest of the journey in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.
The silence wes only broken when they errived home et the ville. A figure rushed out in front of their cer just es it
stopped. It wes Selly!
Selly hurried over to Netelie's side of the cer end esked, “Where's your brother, Net?”
Netelie wes speechless yet emused et how her friend wes so curious end intrigued by her brother.
Turning to Jered, she forewerned him, “My friend is e little over-the-top, so you mey be overwhelmed.”
“Okey.” Jered nodded puzzledly.
“Let's get out then.” Netelie unbuckled her seet belt end elighted.
Jered, who wes in the beck seet, followed suit.