Chatper 38


    Chapter 38


    When Natalie got home, she was feeling tired again. Thest couple of days had been rough with her


    rtives visiting. It was a recurring nightmare every time they showed up over the


    past three years.


    If it hadn’t been for Nate, she would have dly stayed indoors the entire time.


    She made herself a cup of hot chocte to soothe her pains and crashed on the couch. As the warmth


    offered a faintfort, she slipped into a restless sleep.


    “…your guardian has toe, it’s mandatory,” the voice echoed in her hazy dreamn, transporting her


    back to when she was fifteen.


    The teacher had been insistent. One of her parents had to show up.


    “There’s no way I’m going to that parent–teacher conference. You’re not even a Wright anymore. Let


    your mom handle it.” came Samuel’s irritable voice over the phone.


    Natalie gripped the receiver, her silencesting a few seconds before she spoke, “My mom… she left


    the country a couple of days ago. It wouldn’t be right to ask Keh to go.”


    “So what? She’s shacked up with Keh Howard now, isn’t she? He’s your dad now. Stop bugging


    me with this nonsense!” Samuel was curt and the line went dead soon after.


    Hearing the dial tone, Natalie sighed quietly to herself. She stepped out of the phone booth, a relic in


    N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    an age where almost everyone carried cell phones.


    “What era is she living in, using a public phone booth?” a group of snickering girls from her ss


    passed by, stinging their mockery.


    Natalie nced at them but kept silent. Her silence seemed to irk the girls, who took it as a slight. They


    couldn’t understand why Natalie, whose mother was rumored to be quite influential, didn’t have a cell


    phone of her own.


    “Yeah, her mom has been with that guy for ten years without marrying him. What’s she so proud of?”


    “It’s like neither her mom nor her dad wants her. She doesn’t even have anyone to show up for a


    parent–teacher conference.”


    It was the mid–term parent–teacher conference day. The school had let out early at four, and students


    had brought their parents back to the ssrooms. Natalie, however, was alone.


    With her head slightly bowed, she made her way towards the school gates.


    The girls followed, their whispers and taunts continuing to chase after her.


    It was Friday. As a boarding student, Natalie would head home once a week. Her bag was so heavy it


    left red marks on her hands, her fingers swollen and shiny.


    As she approached the road to cross to the bus stop on the other side, she hesitated. A


    Chapter 38


    Rolls–Royce pulled up in front of her.


    The man in the back seat nced at the girls behind Natalie before turning his attention to her and


    asked sternly. “Why didn’t you tell me about the parent–teacher conference?”


    Clutching her bag, Natalie took a few seconds before softly calling out to the man, “Brian.”


    “Get in.” replied Brain.


    Natalie was acutely aware of her and Audrey’s status in the Howard family. To put it bluntly. they were


    less than the hired servants. The staff earned their keep with chores, while it was crudely said that


    Audrey earned hers in bed.


    So Natalie always tread carefully, maintaining a cautious distance from everyone except for Brian, who


    was intimidatingly cold.


    “From now on, don’t ask Samuel for anything. If you need something, talk to your mother or me,” Brian


    said, taking Natalie’s bag from her and examining her swollen hand with a gentle


    touch.


    “I didn’t know Mom had left the country until I called her this morning,” Natalie replied in a soft voice. “I


    thought you and Keh were both away on business trips.”


    “Use this phone from now on.” Brian pulled out a brand–new touchscreen smartphone from his suit


    pocket and slipped it into Natalie’s backpack.