<h4>Chapter 471: Sad Meira</h4>


    Natalie and Julia were taking a stroll outside in the evening, enjoying the pleasant weather caused by the rain the previous night.


    "Mother has gone to Belvorn, and Dad and Justin are busy helping her in taking care of the enemies," Natalie said. "While I feel bored here. I wish I could go there and see Charlotte’s face when she gets what she knows is the truth."


    "I will ask James to record it all. I am sure he will do it for his daughter happily," Julia said.


    "Sounds like a good idea," Natalie said, and then looked towards Meira’s residence. "Is she going to bete today as well?"


    "You should be wondering how her time with Noah was," Julia said yfully. "I wonder if there’s something cooking—or already cooked—between them, since Noah is especially so caring towards her."


    "Grandma, I don’t think Noah is that kind of a person. He knows she is still so young and naive. I am sure he won’t scare her away," Natalie said. "The reason I trust him with Meira so blindly is because I know he is a good man."


    Julia hummed, "You are right. I forgot she is still young, but I was carried away by the air of a new love story forming. I have observed Noah for a while now since he has been with Justin. I can tell he is a good man—the kind I would even want to marry off my own daughter to."


    Natalie hummed in agreement.


    As they were close to Meira’s home, Julia noticed a car parked. "Isn’t that Meira’s car?"


    Natalie nodded. "Seems like she has returned early today."


    "How about we go ask her... I mean, just to know where those two stand..."


    Natalie agreed and went to the residence, where the servant greeted her. "Is Meira home?"


    "Yes, Madam," the servant replied politely. "Ms. Meira returned at noon, and she has been in her room since then."


    "Noon?" Natalie realised that meant Meira didn’t attend all the sses. "Is she alright?" Natalie asked the servant.


    "I am not sure. Ms. Meira didn’t talk much, but she did look a little pale. I brought her snacks, but she didn’t eat."


    Natalie and Julia looked at each other, wondering what had happened.


    Both of them went to Meira’s room, where they entered after knocking on the door. A delicate figure was sitting in the high-backrest chair with her legs folded up, making her body appear small in that oversized chair. She was seemingly lost while looking ahead toward the view of the mountain, their tops appearing foggy after the rain.


    She was so lost that she didn’t even realize the arrival of the two women.


    "Meira?" Natalie called her softly.


    Meira finally sensed something and looked toward the source of the voice.


    Natalie noticed her pale face; her eyes held sadness, which worried her. She wondered if something had happened. Julia stayed back, letting Natalie talk to her.


    Natalie went closer and asked, as she sat on the center table next to Meira’s chair, "What happened? Why do you look so down?"


    "It’s nothing... Sister-inw..." her voice was low. "It’s my periods."


    Natalie observed her face for a while longer. Her eyes, in particr, told that something else was there. "Anything else that’s troubling you and you might like to tell me?"


    Meira shook her head. "I’ll be fine once my periods are over. It’s always like this."


    As she didn’t wish to talk, Natalie didn’t force her. "Do you want me to call the doctor?"


    "No. I had medicine in the morning."


    "Which one?"


    "I’m not sure... Umm... Mr. Noah gave it to me... painkiller, I guess..." she replied awkwardly.


    Natalie hummed and asked, "Were youfortable at Noah’s home?"


    Meira nodded and said nothing else.


    Natalie let out a light sigh and said, "You should rest instead of sitting here. The servant told me you ate nothing."


    "I wasn’t hungry," Meira said.


    "Alright,e with me. I will personally make a tasty porridge for you that you won’t be able to resist," Natalie stood up and offered her a hand. "Come with me."


    "Sister-inw, brother won’t like it. He wants you to rest," Meira said.


    "He won’t say anything. Now don’t make me wait."


    Meira couldn’t say no and went downstairs. Natalie made Meira sit in the chair and started to order the servants around with what she needed.


    Julia and Meira watched her from outside, as it was an open kitchen.


    "She makes tasty food," Julia said, seemingly excited. "Now because of you, I’ll get to taste it again."


    Soon it was ready, and the servants served it for them. "What a lovely aroma," Julia said. "I might end up eating it all."


    Meira felt the same. Indeed, she felt her appetite hade back all of a sudden.


    The three enjoyed the porridge while talking. Meira smiled at both their funny talks and enjoyed eating. Her mood, which had been down, was finallying back to normal.


    ’They are such nice people to treat me like this. I shouldn’t let them worry about me. I should do my best to live a good and happy life.’


    After they made sure Meira was fine, both Natalie and Julia left.


    "I feel like there is something she is not telling us," Julia said.


    "I felt the same, but there’s no use in forcing her when she doesn’t want to tell us," Natalie replied as the two returned to the main residence.


    Meira returned to her room and decided to rest. Lying in bed, she was thinking about signing the divorce papers. She knew she was disappointed and felt hurt for some reason.


    When she got married or when she divorced, it was never her decision—someone else had made it for her. She needed to make the best out of her life and be capable enough to make her own decisions for her own life.


    From the next day, it would be the real start of the independent life she had decided to seek.


    -----


    Late in the night, Justin returned home. Natalie was waiting for him, despite knowing she shouldn’t—or she’d get an earful.


    "Why are you still awake?" Justin asked while removing his jacket.


    "I tried, but couldn’t sleep," she replied, sitting on the bed. "How’s everything at Belvorn?"


    "Everything is set. Tomorrow, your mother will show them what she is," Justin replied.


    "With the help of someone like my husband, everything is possible," Natalie said with pride as she excitedly watched him changing his clothes. "Such a perfect body," she mumbled.


    "Don’t tempt me, Natalie," he looked at her.


    "Did I do anything? Weren’t we just talking about Belvorn and your help?" she acted nonchnt.


    "Everything was your mother’s n. I just have to provide some help with the strong manpower," he replied.


    "So humble," she said in an amused tone and then watched him enter the bathroom.


    When he returned and started to put on his clothes, she said, "Clothes can be a real nuisance in stopping a perfect view."


    Hearing her, he stopped putting on his clothes and went straight to bedpletely naked.


    He leaned down toward her, "So what kind of view are you willing to watch?"


    Natalie sank back into the bed, "I was just joking. You can put on your clothes."


    He smirked yfully, seeing her scared, and retreated. Teasing her more meant putting himself in trouble—and then going for a cold shower.


    As Justin started to put on his clothes, he asked what she did during the day. She exined everything, only to hear him say, "Instead of resting, you were cooking."


    "It didn’t take much time, and the servants did most of the things," she added. "Meira didn’t look good, so I thought to cheer her up by spending some time with her."


    Justin hummed, and she said, "Last night she was with Noah, and he seemed to have taken good care of her. I wonder..."


    "They signed the divorce papers today," Justin said before Natalie could dream up anything more about them.


    "What? Why? Does he not like Meira?" Natalie asked in shock. "No wonder she was upset and tried to hide it behind the excuse of having her periods. Didn’t you say anything to him? "


    "Their life, their decision," Justin said calmly, busy putting on his clothes.


    Natalie felt frustrated. "I truly can’t believe it. The way he cared for her and was always there to look after what she needed—how in the world can anyone believe he wanted the divorce? Where will he find a sweet girl like Meira?"


    "Calm down," Justin went to her. "It’s not good for you to be so hyper in this situation."


    "But, Justin—"


    "Shh." He put a finger on her lips. "He must have thought about it carefully and found it the best decision. Noah is not an unreasonable or irresponsible person. Let them be."


    Natalie was not calm at all. "He can go to hell. In fact it was a good decision. Now she can live her university life free, without worrying she even have a husband. She can date and fall in love with a boy of her age. If not, once my girl is all grown up, strong and independent, I’ll find the best man for her. "


    "Sure. Now calm down," heforted her. "If you have so much energy to be this hyper, you can use it on me." He leaned in to kiss her.


    Natalie didn’t stop him and indeed enjoyed a long, passionate kiss with him before they finally decided to sleep.