Chapter 115


    Hazel eased herself into a chair, still in a daze. Her breaths were shallow and ragged. She didn’t want


    her kids to see her like that, she really wanted them to leave.


    Nathan extended an offer, “Do you want to grab some snacks from the vending machine at the


    reception? They’ve got games there,” he suggested, gently cing Daisy on her own feet and


    squatting beside them.


    “But Ethan,” Liam interjected, ncing backward. The yful address of “Mr. Princess” was noticeably


    absent, reced by a somber and serious demeanor.


    His eyes darted between his mom, Nathan, and the door, in a silent contemtion.


    “Okay,” he finally agreed with a resigned sigh. “Come on, Daisy,” he stated, taking her hand and


    leading her out of the room.


    Nathan took a seat beside Hazel, the air heavy with tension of the confrontation that had just


    transpired.


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    “What happened?” He asked her calmly.


    “Ethan’s found out,” Hazel murmured, her voice carrying the weight of regret and sadness.


    “He thinks you’re the twins father.”


    you


    “Nathan, do you remember the day I gave birth? I had a medical emergency, and filled in Liam’s and


    Daisy’s details as their father. Ethan found out. He went digging into the dates, time, and ce,” she


    exined.


    “Thank goodness,” Nathan muttered, surprising Hazel. “I lied to him, again,” she mumbled, wondering


    why he seemed pleased about it.


    “To protect your kids, Hazel,” Nathan rified. “Now, he’ll get off your backpletely.”


    Hazel stood up and paced around. The conflicting emotions overwhelming her. This was what she


    wanted, to have Ethan fooled totally so he never returned, she should be happy, but at the same time,


    her heart was breaking. The image of Ethan’s face haunted her, the disbelief in his eyes. He looked like


    he was In pain. Her words had been sharp and brutal. None of that was true.


    “It’s all for the best,” Nathan calmly affirmed, meeting Hazel’s conflicted gaze. She bit her l*p, wrestling


    with her emotions, and turned away.


    “We can make it real, Hazel/I don’t have to be their dad in records only,” Nathan proposed, closing the


    distance between them and gently holding her hands. Hazel’s face contorted in surprise.


    “What do you mean by that?” she questioned, her eyes searching for rity.


    13:03 Fri, 5 Jan


    Nathan took a deep breath. “I’m saying, Hazel, we could be a real family. I don’t have to be their dad in


    records only, I could be a real one.”


    “Nathan,” Hazel interrupted, her voice hushed.


    “I’m not finished,” he said tenderly, holding her arms again. “I love your kids, Hazel. From the moment I


    brought into this world.” Nathan’s words carried sincerity, his eyes brimming with genuine emotion.


    “And slowly, I began to fall for you,” Nathan admitted,ying his feelings bare.


    “Your wife,” Hazel whispered, still bewildered by the revtion.


    Nathan sighed. “She would have wanted this, for me to move on. There’s no closure if that never


    happens. I can’t continue living like that, running around in circles. She would have wanted this for me


    too,” he added, referencing histe wife.


    Hazel was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise. She struggled to process the weight of Nathan’s


    words. He was actually proposing to her?


    “Nathan, I…” she began, her thoughts sc attered and uncertain.


    “Marry me, Hazel,” he interrupted passionately, his conviction clear in his gaze. “I’ll treat you as you


    deserve to be treated, not as a second option, but the very first. And your kids,” he chuckled lightly, “are


    already my kids,” he finished with a small, fond smile.


    “Nathan, I can’t…” she hesitated, her internal turmoil evident.


    “I’ll let you think it through, no pressure,” he assured her, offering a small, reassuring squeeze. “Don’t


    worry too much, Hazel,” he continued, cupping her face gently and stroking it lightly. “With what just


    happened and us being a family, Ethan would never bother us ever again,” he asserted confidently,


    Instead of reassurance, those words made her stomach tighten.


    “We would leave, go to a country far away once Daisy’s surgery isplete,” Nathan continued, his


    eyes bing bright and hopeful.


    “This isn’t the right time for this, I know,” he sighed. “But I just have to let you know, you’re not alone in


    this. Okay?” he asked gently.


    Hazel nodded, her gratitude evident. “Thank you,” she whispered, slowly withdrawing her hand and


    walking away. “Ethan probably hates me now,” she couldn’t help but murmur.


    Hourster, Nathan departed for hispany, his spirits soaring with hope. He held a strong conviction


    that Hazel would ept his proposal.


    In his office, immersed in optimistic thoughts, Nathan was interrupted by Jasmine’s sudden entrance.


    “Nathan,” she called, drawing his attention.


    13:03 Fri,


    Looking up, he observed Jasmine closely. She appeared exhausted, as if deprived of decent sleep for


    days. Her restlessness didn’t go unnoticed. She was fidgety and unsure of what she was about to say.


    “Jasmine,” he responded with a frown. “Are you okay? Have you been sleeping well?” he inquired,


    genuine concern etched on his face.


    “Adeline,” she began, nervously licking her l*ps. The mention of histe wife’s name tightened Nathan’s


    features.


    “Were we friends?” she asked, her eyes searching Nathan’s face for answers. His frown deepened in


    response.


    “When I woke up, you were there. You slowly helped me get back on track, my life and every other


    thing. I never met Adeline; I never knew you back then, right?” she inquired, looking up at him with a


    mix of curiosity and uncertainty.


    Nathan nodded slowly and reluctantly. He had told her so many lies, different ones intertwined. Most of


    them didn’t even add up or make sense, but she’d never noticed. Shepletely trusted him.


    Everything he said was the truth.


    “But why does it feel like I know her?” she pondered. “What do you mean?” Nathan asked, still studying


    her intently.


    Did she remember something? What did she recall?


    “Did I know her? Did I ever meet her? Whenever I look at her pictures, she seems really familiar,


    almost unreal, like an angel. But I have no real memories of her, only the things you told me about her,”


    she stated, a questioning uncertainty lingering in the air.


    “But why does it feel like I know her?” She asked.


    “What do you mean?” Nathan inquired, studying her closely. Did she remember something? He


    wondered anxiously.


    “Did I know her? Did I ever meet her? Whenever I look at her pictures, she seems really familiar,


    almost unreal, like an angel. But I have no real memories of her, only the things you told me about her.”


    She stated.


    “You don’t know her; you never met her,” he assured her quietly, lying through his teeth. Something


    was amiss, very wrong with her. She had forgotten something crucial.


    Adeline, whenever she gazed at her pictures, a slight smile would grace her l*ps, a sense of déjà vu


    lingering. It felt like she knew that woman, but she couldn’t quite ce it. Now, the nightmares had


    begun.


    Ever Since the attack that night, questions gued her mind – what if her name was Christine?


    The cops dismissed it just actions of deranged stalker, but Jasmine sensed there was more.


    13:03 Fri,


    An eerie, familiar painful feeling enveloped her, as if she had experienced it herself, she would have


    nightmares through the nights and wake up covered in cold sweats.


    “Jasmine, Jasmine,” Nathan called, noticing her distant


    gaze and apparent


    daze.


    She wasn’t responding, he touched her lightly.


    “Jasmine,” he called again. “Are you okay?”


    (+5


    Her eyes gradually met his.


    “Yes,” she answered after a few seconds.


    For a moment the two only looked at themselves.


    Nathan sighed, he might have approached her the first time with ulterior motives, but now, all he


    wanted was for her to be happy and safe. He would move on, with Hazel and her dumplings, the


    thought made him smile a little.


    “Nathan,” Jasmine called again, punctuating the quietude that enveloped them.


    Anxiety etched her face as she whispered, “She didn’t die because of me, right?” Fear gripped her,


    terrorizing her thoughts.


    “No. No, she didn’t,” Nathan reassured her, offering aforting touch.


    Jasmine visibly rxed, the weight of imagined guilt lifted from her shoulders. “I need to get back to


    work,” she mumbled, pivoting away and exiting the room.


    Nathan watched her retreating figure, a sigh escaping his l*ps. The old version of him would have


    eagerly probed, pushing her to unveil any knowledge she might possess. He might have sought to


    extract information, encouraging her to recollect and, perhaps, even assign me. But now, he had


    moved beyond that; she, too, was a victim. Perhaps, they could all carve out a life, maybe even find


    happiness. After all, life was for the living.