Chapter 259


    Chapter 259 Secrets in the Photo


    Inwin looked at Natalie, then he reached out to ruffle her soft hair affectionately.


    His movements were incredibly gentle as he said, “It’s because Uncle worries about you that you


    shouldn’t let him be so concerned. What do you think?”


    Natalie was silent.


    Upon hearing this, her heart sank.


    She h


    Irwin was right. She had been causing Stephen constant worry.


    But at this moment…


    She took Irwin’s hand and said, “You’re right. I’m trying.)


    “Okay.” Irwin nodded.


    Without saying more, they continued with their meal. Seeing no unusual expression on Irwin’s face,


    Natalie secretly breathed a sigh of relief and discreetly looked at Stephen.


    Her gaze, however, held a sense of doubt.


    Stephen had always liked Irwin and had great confidence that Irwin could take care of her. He had


    been


    trying to match them for the past two years.


    But in recent times….


    Upon careful reflection, Natalie found that Winona was not the only one who was acting weirdly in the


    past two years. Stephen was also the same.


    A meal that Natalie initially thought would be easygoing concluded under the current confusing


    circumstances.


    Afterward, Natalie apanied Irwin to the door. “What did you and Uncle talk about in the study just


    now?


    Intuition told her that Stephen’s noticeable change had urred after the conversation with Irwin in the


    study.


    However, when she asked Irwin, he only smiled slightly and sald, “Nothing.”


    See, it was like this again!


    Now, It wasn’t just Stephen and Heather. Even Irwin was avoiding her questions!


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    Natalie pursed her l*ps, “Alright then.”


    She wasn’t the type to dig into someone’s privacy. If Irwin didn’t want to answer, then it wasn’t


    convenient for her to know.


    Even if their rtionship was close, some things were best kept at a distance.


    Irwin looked at her disappointed expression and chuckled. “If you were my wife, I would naturally be


    open and honest!”


    “You’re always not taking things seriously.” Natalie cast a reproachful nce at him before turning


    around. and leaving in a huff.


    Irwin might seem gentle and refined on the outside, but at times, hecked seriousness when teasing.


    people.


    However, he never seemed to disy this side publicly.


    After Irwin left, Natalie entered the house. She watched as the servant brought a bowl of dessert to


    Heather. It was her dining habit.


    “Aunt, where’s Uncle?”


    Not seeing Stephen’s figure, Natalie asked Heather.


    Heather replied. “In the study.”


    “Oh, then I’ll go see him.”


    After saying that, Natalie rushed upstairs. At the staircasending, she received a call from Karina,


    discussing work matters.


    This was her current life–even after working hours, there was no guarantee of real downtime.


    After ending the call, she wasn’t in a hurry to return to her room. So, she went directly to the study as


    she


    had previously intended.


    Knocking on the door and then entering, she didn’t see Stephen’s figure, even though Heather had just


    said he was in the study.


    Originally, Natalie was about to turn and leave. But then she thought of something and entered the


    study.


    Then, she walked to the bookshelf.


    Spotting a book, she smiled and took it out.


    Thud!


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    Another book fell.


    Natalie picked it up, and a photo sl*pped out from between the pages.


    Picking up the photo, she intended to tuck it back into the book. However, when she saw the familiar


    faces in the photo, she paused and carefully examined it.


    “This is… Cedric and Irwin?”


    The two of them looked very young. They stood shoulder to shoulder and appeared exceptionally


    close.


    Natalie frowned…


    Did Cedric and Irwin use to be close? Based on what she knew about the two, it didn’t seem likely.


    Running her fingers over the photo, she noted that it was slightly worn. It looked like perhaps they were


    about in their twenties.


    Did Irwin and Cedric really have such a good rtionship back then?


    “What are you looking at?


    Just as Natalie was lost in thought, Stephen’s voice suddenly came from behind her.


    When Natalie turned around, she still held the photo in her hand. Upon seeing the photo, Stephen’s


    expression couldn’t help but change,


    He approached and took the book from Natalie’s hand. Incidentally, he also took the photo from her.


    “Where did you get this photo, Uncle? Natalie asked directly.


    She had always been straightforward, asking whatever was on her mind,


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Despite changing this habit to some extent over the past two years in the business world, she remained


    blunt before her family.


    “I got it yesterday,” Stephen replied.


    “Was this what you and Irwin were discussing in the study just now?”


    Natalie was an extremely intelligent person. Once a gap opened up, her questions would follow the trail


    of investigation.


    Stephen walked to arge chair on the side. He took out a cigarette box from the drawer and grabbed a


    cigarette. Then, he lit it and took two deep puffs.


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    His brows were furrowed tightly.


    Natalie knew this was probably rted to herself and Irwin.


    “Uncle, what did Irv say about it?” Natalie asked, shifting the question but still centered around the


    issue.


    Finally, Stephen looked at her and said, “What do you think Irwin said?”


    Natalie was momentarily stunned,


    What did she think Irwin would say about it?


    Previously, whether she was by Cedric’s side or in her rtionship with Irwin, neither of them had ever


    mentioned having a good rtionship.


    But from the smiles in the photo, the purity in their expressions didn’t seem like those of enemies or


    strangers.


    What could this mean?


    And ording to what Irwin might have told Stephen, Natalie had a vague idea.


    “So, you don’t believe what he said?” Natalie turned to consider this aspect


    Stephen looked at her, his expression bing even more serious.


    He took a deep breath and asked, “What’s your take on Irwin?”


    “Me?”


    “Yeah.”


    Natalie said, “You and Irwin are very good friends. I’m more interested in knowing what you think,


    Uncle.”


    Faced with thisplex question, Natalie directly threw it back to Stephen.


    Indeed, Stephen and Irwin had been friends for many years. Good friends usually sharemon


    interests


    and mutual trust, forming a strong rtionship.


    But looking at it now…


    “Irwin has a resilience that ordinary people don’t. Being the master behind Maple Peak shows that he’s


    not an ordinary man.”


    Natalie remained silent.


    “There’s nothing he can gain from you… But Nat, you’ve been hurt once. So, I don’t want to tie you


    down


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    Many elders often believed that their arrangements were for someone’s good, but it wasn’t always the


    case. Stephen thought highly of Irwin


    He was the master behind Maple Peak, and everyone in Simeria knew what Maple Peak meant to the


    city.


    As the master behind Maple Peak, there was undoubtedly something extraordinary about him,


    perhaps.


    even some e secrets.


    Some secrets were not to be probed, while others were chilling and frightening!