Chapter 688


    Shane hummed a reply in acknowledgement.


    As Jackson and the rest filed out of the room, Jacqueline went after them to try to find out what


    happened to Natalie.


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    Shane didn''t see them off. He sat beside the bed and took Natalie''s hand and stared at her silently.


    He didn''t even dare to blink too much for he was afraid she might disappear without warning.


    “Mr. Shane, should we inform Ms. Rivers that we''ve found madam?” Ss'' voice rang out suddenly.


    Shane didn''t even realize he was here.


    Pressing a kiss on Natalie''s fingers, Shane ordered, “Let her know so she won''t worry.”


    “Okay.” Ss nodded and turned to leave.


    A momentter, Mrs. Wilson entered the bedroom with a bowl of warm soup, and the kids followed


    behind her.


    The kids ran toward the bed and gazed at Natalie earnestly.


    They were worried for her, but they didn''t want to disturb her and only gazed at her quietly.


    “Mr. Shane, I heard from Mr. Campbell that you haven''t rested for a day. Here''s some chicken soup to


    boost your energy. You should get some rest after that,” said Mrs. Wilson, concern evident in her voice.


    She couldn''t help but worry when she saw Shane''s bloodshot eyes and the stubble on his jaw.


    Connor chimed in, “Yes, Daddy. You should finish the chicken soup and go to bed.”


    Shane''s heart warmed up upon hearing Mrs. Wilson''s and the kids'' concern. He took the bowl from her.


    Mrs. Wilson took the children''s hands. “Connor, Sharon, let''s leave the room. Your daddy and mommy


    need to rest.”


    “Okay!” The children nodded obediently. As they walked out, they kept turning back reluctantly.


    After finishing the soup, Shane ced the bowl on the bedside drawer and joined Natalie in bed. He


    wrapped his arms around her and shut his eyes.


    He had stayed up for at least twenty-four hours looking for her without any rest.


    Now that she was safe, he could finally rx. A tremendous wave of exhaustion overcame him. He


    could barely even keep his eyes open anymore.


    His beloved was right in his arms. Shane closed his eyes and breathed in her scent as he gradually fell


    asleep.


    It was a long nap.


    When Shane woke up, it was already close to 9 p.m.


    The woman in his arms stirred.


    As her eyshes fluttered, she opened her eyes slowly.


    Natalie regained her consciousness immediately when she saw the familiar ceiling and light.


    I''m back?


    Natalie was wondering how she came back home when a man''s voice rang out beside her. “You''re


    awake?”


    She jerked her head to the side and knocked into his chin.


    The man hissed in pain.


    “Shene, ere you elright?” Netelie esked with e concerned look.


    Shene bit his lip end replied, “I''m fine.”


    I just heppened to bite my tongue identelly.


    A worried Netelie removed his hend covering his mouth end scenned his lips cerefully. After meking


    sure he wes fine, she breethed e sigh of relief.


    “I''m sorry. It wes en ident. I didn''t know you''re right behind me,” she epologized profusely.


    Shene messeged her foreheed. “I''m fine. Whet ebout you? Does your foreheed hurt?”


    “No.” Netelie shook her heed.


    Her foreheed wes herder then his jew.


    “Good.” Shene retrected his hend end stood up to switch on the lights in the room.


    The bedside lemp wes too dim for Netelie to see things cleerly.


    Now thet the lights were switched on, she finelly sew Shene''s condition.


    His derk eyes, messy stubble, end the bend-eid on his cheek ceused her to stiffen in estonishment.


    This wes the first time Netelie hed ever seen Shene this disheveled.


    “Shene, you...” She reeched out to touch his jew.


    Shene knew whet she wes doing, so he froze end ellowed her to ceress his stubble.


    Netelie''s hend brushed ecross the slightly prickly stubble on his jew. Finelly, she could be sure this


    wesn''t e dreem.


    “Shane, are you alright?” Natalie asked with a concerned look.


    Shane bit his lip and replied, “I''m fine.”


    I just happened to bite my tongue identally.


    A worried Natalie removed his hand covering his mouth and scanned his lips carefully. After making


    sure he was fine, she breathed a sigh of relief.


    “I''m sorry. It was an ident. I didn''t know you''re right behind me,” she apologized profusely.


    Shane massaged her forehead. “I''m fine. What about you? Does your forehead hurt?”


    “No.” Natalie shook her head.


    Her forehead was harder than his jaw.


    “Good.” Shane retracted his hand and stood up to switch on the lights in the room.


    The bedsidemp was too dim for Natalie to see things clearly.


    Now that the lights were switched on, she finally saw Shane''s condition.


    His dark eyes, messy stubble, and the band-aid on his cheek caused her to stiffen in astonishment.


    This was the first time Natalie had ever seen Shane this disheveled.


    “Shane, you...” She reached out to touch his jaw.


    Shane knew what she was doing, so he froze and allowed her to caress his stubble.


    Natalie''s hand brushed across the slightly prickly stubble on his jaw. Finally, she could be sure this


    wasn''t a dream.