CEO's Passion: Love by Mistake

“Follow me to the courthouse later.” At the dining table, Natalie took a sip of milk before saying to Jared who was

cutting into his omelet across from her.

“I will,” Jared responded without missing a beat.

Shane, who was seated at the head of the table, put down his coffee and looked at Shane. “Are you feeling better?”

Natalie knew that he was asking about her emotional status. Arching her lips into a smile, she replied, “Mm-hmm. I

am. It's time to move on instead of allowing myself to be overcome by grief. Mom's death can't be undone. Being

sad about it isn't going to change anything, so I might as well step out and continue living my life.”

“I'm glad you think that way, madam,” beside her, Mrs. Wilson commended with a smile.

Shane felt relieved that Natalie managed to pull through so quickly.

Natalie turned her attention back to Jared. “You too, Jared. Don't make me worry about you. Your heart...”

“Don't worry, Nat.” Jared cracked a soft smile at her. “I know.”

“Good.” Natalie nodded.

After breakfast, Shane brought the two children to kindergarten.

Meanwhile, Natalie and Jared made their way to the courthouse to end the lawsuit between Yulia and Harrison.

Initially, their lawsuit would have dragged on for a long time, but since Yulia already passed away, there was no

need for it to go on.

The two of them arrived at the courthouse the same time Harrison did.

Ever since Yulia's death was concluded to be an accident, Harrison and Susan were cleared of all charges and

released.

Hence, Natalie sent Harrison a message the previous night, telling him to come to the courthouse the next day, but

she never expected to run into him right outside.

“Nat,” Harrison called out.

When Natalie stopped in her tracks, Jared followed suit.

Harrison did not recognize Jared at first, but his eyes widened in surprise when he walked over. “Jared? Is that you?”

He reached out to Jared with trembling hands.

However, Jared frowned and moved a step toward Natalie, obviously avoiding him.

“Mr. Smith.” Jared nodded in greeting.

Even though he was smiling, it was formal and distant.

Harrison's expression froze. After a good few seconds, he awkwardly withdrew his hands that were hanging midair.

“It's really you, Jared. You're all grown up now. I still remember how little you were seven years ago.”

Both Natalie and Jared looked at him expressionlessly, with neither of them responding to what he said.

Harrison felt like a clown talking to himself.

Thus, he clamped his mouth shut and stopped talking altogether.

Natalie looked away from him and said, “Let's go in, Jared.”

Jared nodded and was about to follow her into the courthouse.

Ever since Yulio's deoth wos concluded to be on occident, Horrison ond Suson were cleored of oll chorges ond

releosed.

Hence, Notolie sent Horrison o messoge the previous night, telling him to come to the courthouse the next doy, but

she never expected to run into him right outside.

“Not,” Horrison colled out.

When Notolie stopped in her trocks, Jored followed suit.

Horrison did not recognize Jored ot first, but his eyes widened in surprise when he wolked over. “Jored? Is thot you?”

He reoched out to Jored with trembling honds.

However, Jored frowned ond moved o step toword Notolie, obviously ovoiding him.

“Mr. Smith.” Jored nodded in greeting.

Even though he wos smiling, it wos formol ond distont.

Horrison's expression froze. After o good few seconds, he owkwordly withdrew his honds thot were honging midoir.

“It's reolly you, Jored. You're oll grown up now. I still remember how little you were seven yeors ogo.”

Both Notolie ond Jored looked ot him expressionlessly, with neither of them responding to whot he soid.

Horrison felt like o clown tolking to himself.

Thus, he clomped his mouth shut ond stopped tolking oltogether.

Notolie looked owoy from him ond soid, “Let's go in, Jored.”

Jored nodded ond wos obout to follow her into the courthouse.

However, Harrison abruptly grabbed his arm.

Jared looked over his shoulder with displeasure. “Mr. Smith, what are you doing?”

Upon hearing this, Natalie glanced behind as well.

Harrison's weathered face twitched slightly before he asked, “You're both here to end the lawsuit between your

mother and I, right?”

“Yes. Now that Mom's gone, naturally, there's no need for the lawsuit to go on.” Jared pulled his arm back.

With his eyes fixated on him, Harrison stated, “In that case, follow me back to the Smith residence.”

“Excuse me?” Jared was dumbfounded.

Natalie narrowed her eyes into slits and pulled Jared behind her. “Why should he go back with you?”

“Why?” Harrison looked at her as though she had asked a stupid question. With furrowed brows, he continued,

“Because your mother is dead and I'm your only living blood relative. Where else should Jared go if not back to the

Smith residence?”

“You're wrong.” Jared stepped out from behind Natalie, and his usually gentle voice hardened. “You're not our only

blood relative, Mr. Smith. Nat and I have Connor, Sharon, and Shane. I won't go back with you.”

Harrison's face fell. “Who's going to take care of you then?”

“I don't need anyone to take care of me. If you haven't noticed, I'm not sick anymore. I can take care of myself,”

Jared countered with a smile.