Chapter 84
Afterpleting their orders, the two of them remained inside the room, exchangingughter and
banter while eagerly awaiting the arrival of Edward
A few minutester, they heard somemotion at the door.
Natalie nudged Sherri beside her, urging her to get up and suggesting going out for a meal first.
Now feeling a hint of unease, Sherri found her smile freezing on her face. “Natalie, I suddenly feel a bit
lightheaded. Please tell Edward that I’m not feeling well”
Natalie raised an eyebrow, her thoughts racing. “She’s going to pull off this act?”
But realizing Sherri’s genuine fear, Natalie decided to y along and not expose her ruse.
She powered down theputer. set it aside, and made her way out of the room. As she caught sight
of the man’s shoulders, still glistening with water droplets, “Has it been raining outside?
Edward’s voice, as soothing as ever, filled the room. “Yeah, it’s pouring out there. Thankfully, I parked
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the car in the basement, so it didn’t get wet.”
Natalie swiftly entered the bathroom, retrieved a dry towel, and offered it to Edward. “Here, give
yourself a quick wipe. Your clothes seem to have gotten a little damp.”
Edward epted the towel with a smile, using it to pat dry his shoulders. He then turned around and
inquired, “Is my back
wet?”
She took the towel from his hands and gently dried his back without hesitation. “All taken care of”
Edward seemed momentarily puzzled but quickly regained hisposure. He asked. “And what about
Sherri?”
Knowing that she couldn’t deceive Edward, known for his kindness and honesty. “Um, well, Sherri isn’t
feeling well.”
Upon hearing her answer, Edward immediately grasped the situation. He called out to the guest room,
lus voice firm and resolute. “Sherri, you have one minute toe out or face the consequences”
Sherri swiftly recovered from her illness and dashed out of the room, calling out in a low voice,
“Edward,” with her head bowed to convey her acknowledgment of wrongdoing, much like a repentant
child.
Natalie stepped in to defuse the impending explosion, attempting to alleviate the tension. “Why don’t
we grab a bite and have a detailed conversation afterward?”
Edward shot Sherri a stern nce. “We’ll discuss thister.”
Behind Edward, Sherri gestured to Natalie, silently conveying that she would be savedter. Natalie
couldn’t help but think that she might also face a lecture. After all, crossing a muddy river was no easy
feat. She shrugged her shoulders, epting the situation.
Unbeknownst to Edward, the two girls engaged in a silent mime performance behind him.
Natalie put great effort into her evening cooking, showcasing her culinary prowess.
A subtle haze of tension dissipated as Edwardid eyes on the tableden with an array of
mouthwatering dishes. Grilled salmon fillet, grilled steak, roasted turkey, buttered lobster, garden sd
with ranch dressing, creamy potato soup. The extensive menu offered ample portions to satiate their
hunger.
Sherri secretly observed Edward’s expression, noting a slight easing of his demeanor. It brought her a
small sense of relief. reaffirming the power of Natalie’s culinary prowess in defusing tense situations.
Natalie warmly beckoned Edward. ‘Please help yourself to more.”
Edward shook his head, a soft smile ying on his lips. “You girls are using sugary ammunition on me,
aren’t you? Is that man who impregnated Sherri, not a decent person?”
Sherri fell into a stunned silence.
Natalie was left speechless.
Sherri tried to diminish her presence, bowing her head and slowly picking at her food, counting each
morsel she brought to her mouth. As long as Edward remained silent, the meal would lose its savory
appeal.
Natalie felt the weight of responsibility pressing on her. She couldn’t let Sherri take all the me or
make decisions on her behalf. She found herself caught in a dilemma.
Determined, she decided to address the issue directly and shoulder the responsibility herself. “Edward,
I need toe clean about something. I’m the one who should be held ountable for what happened
to Sherri”
Sherri wanted to speak up in her defense, but a meaningful look from Natalie silenced her.
Assuming that Natalie was defending Sherri, Edward refrained from speaking up.
Natalie continued, “On January 2nd. I went to the Foster family to retrieve myte mother’s belongings.
Sherri insisted on apanying me, fearing for my safety. However, we were unknowingly subjected
to a malicious act. The culprit tampered with the entire table, drugging all the guests, including older
people and children. We let our guard down, and as a result, we lost consciousness. During that time, I
failed to protect Sherri. It’s entirely my fault.”
She chose not to disclose to Edward that Mia was behind this incident. After all, the matter had been
resolved, and they eagerly anticipated the oue the following day.
Edward had yet to anticipate this exnation. He assumed Sherri had brought a child from some
reckless affair. If that were the case, he would also share the responsibility for not caring for them
properly. Upon his return, he had been preupied. withpany matters, neglecting to offer
sufficient care and attention to the two girls, ultimately leading to the current situation.
Now that Sherri was affected, and Natalie… The realization struck him, causing a moment of hesitation
before he mustered the courage to ask.
“So… were you affected too? Are you alright?”
Each passing moment seemed to stretch as he tightly gripped his fork, holding his breath in
anticipation.
Natalie struggled to find the right words, pausing briefly to collect her thoughts. She had always
regarded Edward as an older brother figure, imbued with a sense of reverence. She wanted to carefully
choose her words before responding.
Sherri couldn’t contain her urgency as she hastily interjected, “Yes, Natalie is pregnant too. We’re both
expecting.”
A thunderous roar reverberated through Edward’s mind, leaving him stunned and motionless. It felt as
if his soul had been wrenched from his body. His gaze remained fixed on the girl before him,
desperately seeking confirmation in her expression.
He moistened his parched lips and felt a constriction in his throat. “Is what… Sherri saying, truly
happening?”
Now it was Natalie’s turn to resemble a child caught in a transgression. She lowered her head, her fork
idly twirling in her hand, and gave a solemn nod.
As the weight of the revtion settled upon Edward, a suffocating sensation enveloped his chest.
Though he was not an avid smoker, he stood up to gather his thoughts and maintain a facade of
Edward pushed the balcony door open, seeking sce and a moment to gather his emotions in
solitude.
Left alone in the dining room, the two girls exchanged perplexed nces, unsure how to proceed. They
shared amon understanding. Edward’s apparent anger stemmed from both of them being
pregnant. Their minds were consumed with the belief that he was struggling to ept this unexpected
news without delving into other possibilities.
Feeling a sense of unease, they found it difficult to continue eating without Edward’s presence. Instead,
they chose to wait for
him.
Sherri turned her gaze toward Edward, who was engrossed in his cigarette on the balcony. Then, she
leaned toward Natalie and asked, “Do you think Edward will confront uster?”
Natalie shook her head, witnessing Edward in such a distracted state for the first time. It was genuinely
uncertain what actions he might take next. All they could do was wait for his return and gauge his
reaction. Hence, she shook her head, indicating herck of certainty.
Sherri slumped back in her chair, deted like a balloon losing air. “What do we do now? If Edward
refuses to help, it will be quite a predicament. I truly wish that Mia would also face the consequences,
but not at the hands of Trevon. Let her taste the helplessness we’re experiencing That vindictive
woman.“
Natalie concurred wholeheartedly. That woman had no moral boundaries, showing no mercy to the
young or the elderly. At this point, she was too overwhelmed to care about anyone else. Natalie knew
she wasn’t perfect, struggling to navigate her life’splexities.
Life was a jumble ofplications.
After a brief pause,
Edward regained hisposure, returning to his usual refined andposed demeanor. He calmly sat
as if nothing had transpired and casually inquired, “What are your intentions moving forward?”
He casually speared a piece of food with his fork while posing a fair question.
However, his discontent was palpable as he ate, indicating ack of pleasure in the dining experience.
Both girls perked up instantly upon being addressed. Natalie took the initiative, asserting, “I’ve decided
to keep.”
Edward’s hand slowed its movement as he delicately picked up a piece of food, his throat tightening as
he swallowed. There was a hint of emptiness in his eyes, “Have you considered telling that man?”
Natalie paused, momentarily taken aback by the inquiry, before regaining herposure. The child is
mine, and he has no connection to it. I desire to have a family of my own.”
Edward’s response burst forth before he could contain it, his voice filled with hope and desperation,
“We can be your family if you wish 1
Sensing Edward’s building excitement. Sherri hastily interjected, “Edward, Natalie wishes to have a
blood rtive, a family of her own. She doesn’t want to be alone”
Edward yearned to assure her she wouldn’t be alone and could have a family whenever desired.
But he understood Natalies strong-willed nature Once she had decided, it was nearly impossible to
sway her. She possessed
inwavering determination that others words couldn’t easily influence.
Edward refrained from any further persuasion.
He discreetly tightened has grip on the hand under the table and turned his attention to Sherri “And
what about you? Do you have any ns to keep it as well”
Sherri w
momentarily stunned, unused to Edward’s genuine interest in her desires Juana had long dictated their
familial mics, with Edward acting as the authoritative figure. The decisions were made without much
consultation, assuming was best for her had already been determined. However, at that moment, she
couldn’t help but recall the genuine care and asional warmth Edward had shown her over the years
Edward, noticing her hesitation, perusted with a touch of impatience “Come on, don’t be tongue-tied”
Sherr took a deep breath, contemting Edward’s past acts of kindness. Although he could be strict
with her, she recognized his underlying care and concern I think I want to keep it
Edward wasn’t surprised by Sherri’s decision. He had long known her kind-hearted nature and her
passion for newborns, so he had anticipated this oue. He had seen how she treated other people’s
children with the utmost care, never willing to harm even a hair on their heads. It was only natural that
she would make such a choice for her child.
It seemed tasteless as Edward looked at the table filled with delicious food. He put down his fork and
gently rubbed his temples. “Alright, I understand. You’ve grown up, and it’s not my ce to make all
your decisions. When ites to important matters in life, it s your call. But I hope you’ve thought it
through thoroughly and won’t regret your choice. Being a single mother is far from easy, and it should
not be taken lightly
It was
moment of rare patience and understanding from Edward as he spoke to Sherri For the first time, he
was letting go and allowing her to make her own decisions. Natalie couldn’t help but notice that Edward
and Sherri’s eyes were moist. reflecting the weight of their emotions and the ugnificance of this
moment.
They conversed for halt an hour, and Edward barely touched his food before abruptly leaving. As he
reached the doorway, his hand hesitated on the doorknob, and he left them with a parting statement. Tll
handle your ns of going abroadter tonight. Please be careful and avoid any slip-ups with Juana. I’ll
gradually break the news to her without causing unnecessary distress
Natalie’s eyes welled up with tears, observing Edward’s departure, while Sherri, ovee by emotion,
began to sob inconsbly.
“Natalie, do you think Edward is deeply disappointed in me? I could sense his heaviness when he
walked away.” Natalie held her close, offeringfort without uttering a word, as both of them
recognized the profound sadness that resonated with Edward’s departure. They were acutely aware of
their immaturity and the need for growth