Chapter 172
Was Nathan’s quiet care all along meant to feel like a gentle presence, nurturing her without a word?
She let out a deep sigh. “Lizzy, maybe my life was so tough in the beginning that even the heavens had enough of it. That’s why they sent Nathan my way. He’s finally given me the warmth of a real home.”
Lizzy echoed her sentiment. “The heavens must have looked out for me, too, by giving me such an amazing friend.”
Out of nowhere, the phone started ringing urgently.
Nathalie and Lizzy exchanged puzzled looks. Who would be reaching out to them at this hour when neither had any family ties in the city?
Lizzy darted over to the phone with excitement, gingerly passing it over to Nathalie. “Hey, it’s an unknown number.”
A faint, bitter smile crossed Nathalie’s face. She had recently blocked every number and social media contact from the Brown family. They’d have to use an unknown number if they wanted to reach her.
Nathalie picked up the call, and a thunderous voice boomed from the other end. “Nellie, get back home right now.”
Nathalie furrowed her brow, finally realizing why she had been feeling so uneasy. She replied coolly, “Sorry, you’ve got the wrong number. I’m not who you’re looking for.”
Patrick was taken aback. “Nellie, you… don’t recognize me?”
Nathalie found it almost laughable. “You really do have a short memory. The last time you whipped me, I told you that you were wiping out the last bits of family love I had for you.”
Patrick, seething, shot back, “Nellie, you’re being disrespectful. You’ll get your karmal someday.”
Nellie retorted, “That’s still better than hit by your whip.”
Patrick was left speechless.
Nellie hung up the phone. She curled up into a ball, feeling like it was the only way to keep her warmth from seeping away too quickly.
Why did the fatherly love she longed for always feel so cold?
Unable to reach her by phone, Patrick switched to another number and texted her: [Nellie
come back home. Your mom’s not doing well.]
Nathalie saw the message. She wanted to ignore Patrick’s text, but the news of Miranda’s
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critical condition plerced her heart like a knife.
Her grudge against her mother and anger seemed poised to vanish along with her mother’s life.
Afraid of living with lifelong regret, she finally chose to go back to the Brown family for one last look at her mother.
Just one last glance,
Not out of sympathy but to say goodbye. To finally settle the fragile bond between mother and daughter.
The night was cool and serene.
Nathalie walked under the moonlit sky towards the Brown family’s townhouse. As she rang the doorbell, an impatient voice came from inside, “Who could it be at this hour?”
When the maid opened the door and saw Nathalie, there was a flicker of surprise mixed with a hint of sympathy. “Ms. Nellie, you’re back.”
“Where’s my mom?”
“She’s… upstairs,” the maid stammered, her eyes darting nervously.
Nathalie marched into the house, only to be startled by a heavy thud behind her, like a warning bell that made her heart skip a beat. She paused, feeling a wave of unease.
Clad in a black velvet robe, Patrick stood silently in the upstairs hallway, his face cloaked
in shadow.
Nathalie heard his icy voice, “Nellie, you’ve finally come back.”
