Chapter 54 My Sweetheart
Natalie looked closely at the words written on the note for a while. She blinked her eyes and forced back her tears.
She looked at Luke as her eyes were glistening with tears.
Luke stood quietly in front of her watching her.
It was nap time and there was no one else on the second floor except for Natalie and Luke. It was very quiet now. Mellow music and lighting in the book cafe helped to create the right atmosphere. Standing between two rows of solid wood bookshelves, Luke looked Nata squarely in the eye.
"For you, a thousand times over!" Natalie thought of the words on the note.
Luke had felt Natalie's love and sincerity. Natalie could tell from the words on the note that her passion for him was already reciprocated.
With no regrets, Luke could do anything for her as long as Natalie was happy.
The self-doubt and emotional insecurity that assailed her now had all gone. After days of anxiety and torment, Natalie was finally at peace now. At this moment, she knew that Luke wouldn't be unhappy because she was going abroad.
A smile spread slowly across Natalie's face. Thinking that Luke might hear what she said just now, Natalie felt a bit embarrassed.
She lowered her head, daring not to look at Luke anymore.
Staring at the note in her hand, Natalie murmured, "Why didn't you tell me before you came here? It's so rude to listen in on our talk..."
Her voice was a bit nasal that sounded like she gave him a flirting grumble.
Luke smiled gently without saying anything. He raised his hand and patted Natalie's head with tenderness, then walked past her.
Natalie turned around and saw Luke walking to the window. With both of his hands in his pockets, Luke looked at Sloane with a condescending attitude.
"I've told you not to mess with her!" Luke said in a cold voice.
Sloane knew Luke and she recovered from the surprise of Luke suddenly appearing. She stood up slowly, no longer as haughty as before. With obvious sincerity, she said, "Mr. Bennington, after what happened to your brother, the Bennington Group must suffer a crisis. With the Crosley family's help..."
"It's none of your business!" Luke suddenly interrupted her.
The coldness in Luke's voice made Sloane's throat tighten and she didn't know what to say.
Luke wasn't willing to waste his time talking to the people like Sloane, but now it was different since Natalie got involved.
Luke's cold voice sounded again, "The Crosley family is nothing to me!"
The atmosphere seemed to vibrate with tension. Luke looked still calm but his tough and uncompromising tone was so scary as if he would rage at any time.
Of course, Sloane was afraid of him, but she had no option. Her family gave her a deadly order that if she could not marry into the Bennington family, she could only marry a 50-year-old man.
It was true that she didn't love Luke who stood in front of her. However, no matter his appearance or his background, Luke was the best and only acceptable choice for her to get married to.
Sloane swallowed hard and said, "But Grace..."
Luke was very annoyed when Sloane mentioned his mother. It was stupid that Sloane thought she could persuade him with his mother's help, but in fact, Luke was never a good son who always listened to his mother.
Luke frowned and was going to rage against Sloane, but suddenly, his sleeve was pulled by someone.
He paused and looked back.
Natalie looked at him with bright eyes and gently shook her head.
Luke immediately calmed down.
He looked at Natalie and took a deep breath to suppress his anger. When he looked at Sloane again, he was still cold but not scary anymore.
"Tell you again for the last time! I will not marry you. No matter what my mom said to you, that's all your own business. Be smart and stay away from my girlfriend from now on! If you dare to come to my girlfriend again, then you have to accept the consequences of your actions."
After Luke warned Sloane, he held Natalie's hand and led her out of the book cafe, not forgetting to pay for the torn book before he left.
Sloane stood alone by the window. The moment Luke and Natalie disappeared into the hallway, she seemed to have lost all her strength and suddenly fell back into the sofa.
She reached out and buried her face in her hands.
Sloane knew that there was nothing she could do.
Natalie said that Sloane was pathetic, which made Sloane so sad.
Though she was born into a rich family, she had no right to get married to the one she loved. She looked glamorous but inside, she was just a poor woman.
But this was how her world ran. All the people made their decisions only considering interests instead of love. It seemed that girls were born to marry into the nobility so that their families could unite by marriages.
After a while, a man came over and said to Sloane with a soft voice, "Miss, it's time to go back!"
Sloane looked up and saw her bodyguard in front of her.
In high-society circles, there was no real friendship but only interest among the people. Sloane never had a friend who she could have a heart-to-heart talk with. The only person she could trust in her life was her bodyguard, who was adopted by her family when he was a kid.
"Michael, have you ever fallen in love with a girl?" Sloane suddenly asked with confusion.
A trace of hesitancy glinted in Michael's eyes. He then answered, "No, Miss."
Sloane didn't continue to ask. Through the spotlessly clean window, Sloane looked longingly at the bright sky. She blinked in the sunlight and spoke in a low mumble, as if to herself, "I kinda envy her."
Natalie had the love Sloane had been longing for all the time. Meanwhile, Natalie was so lucky that she was deeply loved by a man.
Sloane had to admit that Natalie was indeed braver than her since Natalie dared to fall in love with Luke, that dangerous man, only for a deep feeling of love.
All the time, Sloane thought that Natalie was the barrier for the Crosley family and the Bennington family to be connected by marriage, but now she suddenly realized that she was wrong.
Even if Natalie broke up with Luke, Luke wouldn't agree to marry Sloane. Natalie and Luke were meant to be together.
Even though Sloane was jealous of Natalie, she was clear that everyone had their own fates.
Sloane slowly wore her sunglasses and stood up, holding her head high. She was the most favored daughter in the Crosley family again. "Let's go back to Athana!"
...
Soon, they arrived in Clovervale Residence.
Natalie sat on the passenger seat with that note in her hand. She carefully put it into her wallet as if it was her precious treasure.
Now there were only her and Luke. Thinking of the words she said in the book cafe, Natalie felt so embarrassed.
Meanwhile, she felt a bit guilty for not telling Luke that she was planning to go abroad.
Natalie gave a quiet cough and asked, "Have you had lunch? How about we go to eat something together?"
Luke made no answer. Natalie looked at him.
Luke gripped the wheel and looked forward with a smile.
Natalie didn't know what made Luke feel funny...
She pursed her lips and didn't say anything.
"I came to back you up, but why did you stop me just now?" Luke suddenly asked.
Natalie paused for a second, then she realized that Luke was talking about what happened in the book cafe.
"She is a girl, and you should be gentle..." Natalie murmured.
"And I didn't mean to infuriate her," Natalie said seriously, "I really thought that she was pathetic."
With a raised eyebrow, Luke said, "Why?"
"Because she can't get married to the one she loves!"
Natalie said softly. Luke looked at her and was touched by the innocence in Natalie's eyes.
He couldn't help but smile.
Luke looked forward again as he gently pulled Natalie's hand and put it on his leg.
"So, you can't love anyone else, or I will also be very pathetic,"
Luke said in a soft voice while his fingers rubbed Natalie's hand.
There was tenderness in his voice. Feeling the warmth from Luke's palm, Natalie blushed suddenly.
She moved her hand and held her hand back. "Be focused when you're driving..." she grumbled.
Luke smiled.
After they came back home, Natalie went to cook some food for Luke.
She remembered that Luke was going to ask her something about going abroad this morning in the elevator, but now, Luke kept silent about that.
Although Luke had already expressed himself very well in the book cafe, Natalie knew that he still had something to tell her.
At this time, Luke and Natalie were walking the dog together in the housing estate.
In the bright autumn sun, they walked under the trees. Tall trees cut out the sunlight. Shafts of sunlight pierced the heavy leaves and dappled on the path.
Fourteen walked before them sniffing around while Natalie held the leash and walked with Luke hand in hand.
Soon a fountain came into their sights. Natalie chose a bench beside the fountain and walked over.
"Are you tired?" Luke asked.
Natalie nodded. Then, she and Luke went to the bench and sat down.
Natalie tied the leash on the bench. To match the dress she wore today, Natalie wore a pair of shoes with chunky heels, but the shoes kept rubbing against her feet since they were almost new.
Natalie looked at the shoes and was thinking about taking them off. At this time, Luke's gentle voice sounded.
"It's quiet here," he said, "A nice place for us to have a talk."
Natalie's heart missed a beat and she knew that Luke was going to say something serious about their relationship. Slowly, Natalie raised her head and looked at Luke nervously.
"What did you mean that I could love anyone else?" Luke looked straight at Natalie and put his hands down on his knees.
Natalie knew that Luke was going to square up with her for what she had said before now.
Natalie lowered her head again and looked away with her legs swinging nervously.
"So is it okay for you if I cheat on you?" Obviously, Luke didn't plan to get over it.
Hearing what Luke said, Natalie gave Luke a startled look. "No!" Natalie fumbled helplessly for words, "I'm just afraid that..."
Luke asked, "What?"
"I'm afraid that you can't bear a long-distance relationship!"
"Natalie Moore!"
Luke called Natalie's full name in real earnest. His serious attitude made Natalie feel so nervous that she carefully glanced at him.
"Listen! There's nothing I can't do for you as long as you don't break up with me!" Luke said in the most solemn but tenderest tone.
At this moment, Natalie profoundly felt that she was really a fool. She knew obviously that Luke was different from Jepson and he was not the kind of man who would forsake a girl, but she still worried about that, which was really an insult to him.
All the concerns had gone. Natalie reached out and touched Luke's fingers. "Got it!" she said softly.
However, Luke still looked unhappy.
"Don't be angry!" Natalie moved closer to Luke and hugged him with her head pressed against his chest. "I'll never leave you even though you want to break up with me!"
Facing Natalie's cute look, Luke couldn't pretend to be angry anymore.
Soon, Luke put a protective arm around her shoulders while whispering, "Stay away from the men after you go abroad."
Natalie said sweetly, "Yes, sir!"
Being hugged in Luke's arms, Natalie was very tamed. She poked Luke's chest with her finger and said, "And don't you talk to any girls after I leave!"
Luke smiled and held Natalie's hand. He kissed her fingers and said, "Alright!"
Natalie secretly made a decision that she was going to be a better one who deserved his love.
Luke looked at Natalie with soulful eyes. "And..."
Natalie raised her head at once and looked at Luke with a trace of complaint in her eyes as if she was asking Luke why he had so many requirements.
Luke said, "You're good enough!"
Natalie looked at Luke. She silenced for a moment and buried her face in his arms.
Luke touched Natalie's ear and waited patiently.
After a while, Natalie finally said, "I hated my mother very much when I was a kid... She was an excellent woman and had a promising future, but she gave up everything just for a man. For a long time, I didn't know why she did that. She could live a better life without that man."
Natalie had never told anyone else about this before. She never thought that she would tell someone about her story so calmy one day.
"Then, when I grew up, I realized..." Natalie said, resting her head on Luke's shoulder and looked the fountain, dredging up memories from the depths of her mind. "that my mother wasn't born to be a mom. Before she gave birth to me, she was just a young girl like me and she had just fallen in love with a man. She was not wrong and neither did her love."
Luke lowered his head and saw Natalie's clenched hand on her leg. He gently pulled her hand and held it tightly.
Feeling the warmth from Luke's palm, Natalie slowly sat upright.
"I think I'm the same, Luke!" It was the first time that Natalie looked at Luke so firmly. "But I will never make the same mistake my mother had made, right?"
Luke gazed at her soulfully. After a moment, he gave Natalie a bright smile.
Luke helped to smooth away a wisp of hair from her eyes and kissed her forehead. "No matter what decision you make, I'll always support you!"
Natalie's eyes gleamed in the sunshine, full of laughter. "Then, will you always love me?"
"Sure!" Luke smiled. "I'll love you forever!"
...
October thirty-first was the last day Natalie stayed in Alcomara.
The resignation procedure had finished and Natalie's colleagues and friends had held a farewell dinner for her these days. Natalie's moods oscillated between depression and elation.
With no doubt, Mia was the one who was the most unwilling to say goodbye to Natalie. They had been best friends for more than ten years and Mia had already decided to develop her career in Athana. Therefore, they could hardly meet each other for many years once Natalie had gone abroad. And this was the hardest part for both of them.
Natalie thought she was prepared mentally and managed to assume an air of calm, but when she was held by crying Mia on the night she bid farewell to Mia, a mood of melancholy descended on Natalie.
In the end, Natalie also couldn't help but feel so sorrowful. She hugged Mia and cried until the farewell dinner was over.
Soon, it was the last day before Natalie left. Natalie felt so sad.
All the stuff that Natalie didn't use anymore was thrown and
Natalie began to pack her suitcase. She folded up some clothes and when she saw the school uniform of Athana Cody School, she paused.
She would definitely take it if she was still the young girl.
But now, Natalie knew that Luke would be unhappy if he found that she still kept a school uniform of a man.
Natalie smiled gently and took a coat hanger to hang the school uniform in the closet.
Luke arrived at the Clovervale Residence at noon.
He was supposed to be busy today, but Natalie was leaving tomorrow, and he had to come and stay with her.
By then Natalie had already packed up. She had few belongings with her, and there were just a suitcase and backpack. As for her clothes, they would be delivered abroad through cross-border logistics.
The car drove up the road, and Luke and Natalie needed to send Fourteen back to Raine's house first.
When they arrived at Raine's house again, Natalie remembered the first time she came here and Fourteen lunged at her so swiftly that she hid behind Luke in fear.
Luke laughed at her at that time. "You don't need to be afraid of Fourteen. It's a good dog!" he said.
Bit by bit memories of the past came back to her. Natalie then thought of the nights that she dared not to sleep due to achluophobia after she was kidnapped. Those days, Fourteen accompanied her all the time so that she could sleep peacefully at night.
Everything seemed to be back to the beginning. Natalie met Fourteen here and said goodbye to Fourteen in the same place.
Tongue lolling, Fourteen wagged its tail at Natalie. Natalie's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
"Goodbye, Fourteen!" Natalie said, in a choked voice. She squatted down to hug Fourteen.
Luke waited by Natalie's side quietly.
They both knew it was impossible to take Fourteen to Athana.
After Natalie returned to Alcomara three years later, no one knew if Fourteen was still there since Fourteen was ten years old and it had old injuries...
Therefore, it was probably the last time for them to see Fourteen.
They walked on the beach. The calm sea glistened in the bright afternoon sunlight. The wind blew from the clear blue sea. Luke's shirt bulged while Natalie's dress danced in the wind. After leaving Raine's house, they were both quiet on the way to the parking lot.
Natalie smoothed her hair back over her ears with a sad look.
Suddenly, she heard a dog barking behind her.
Natalie turned around and saw Fourteen running to her.
Fourteen seemed to know that Natalie was leaving and bit Natalie's dress, refusing to let go of her.
At that moment, Natalie couldn't suppress her sadness anymore. Tears began to spill out of her eyes.
After Fourteen was taken away by Raine and locked in the storage room, Natalie and Luke could leave in the end.
That day at the beach, Natalie held Luke and cried for a long time in Luke's arms.
It also made Natalie pretty much sure that her decision of going abroad for further studies was right, since the more time she stayed with Luke, the more she couldn't bear to leave Luke.
"Don't cry!" Luke cupped Natalie's face in his hands. He gently wiped Natalie's tears away with his fingers and smiled. "You can ask Raine for a video of Fourteen if you miss Fourteen."
Natalie was now very maudlin. She looked up at Luke in tears and said, "I'll miss you too!"
Luke looked at her and wanted to say something but he didn't. In the end, Luke showed a smile and said, "It seems that, like, we've never got a chance to get along with each other, right?"
"Yeah..." Natalie said in a nasal voice.
They had always been in different places ever since they were in a relationship. It was normal for them to meet each other every ten days or a half months. Even though they finally met each other, they still didn't have much time to have a date like the ordinary couples.
However, Natalie was still satisfied with their life.
Luke put his arm around her waist and carried her up.
Natalie was taken by surprise and fell on Luke's neck tightly with her legs swinging in the air. She cried, "What are you doing..."
"Let's have a perfect date after you come back!" Luke looked at her and said. The bright and warm sunshine fell on his handsome face.
Natalie was dazzled by Luke's glowing smile. She stopped crying and whispered, "Alright! Put me down..."
With a smile, Luke didn't put Natalie down. Instead, he just carried her and headed to the car, regardless of Natalie's struggle.
"Luke!" Natalie patted Luke's shoulder and struggled.
Natalie was so thin that Luke could even hold her with one hand.
With a smile, Luke moved his hand to Natalie's neck. His fingertips went across her hair and gently rubbed Natalie's skin.
Luke lowered his voice and whispered, "Save your energy for tonight, my sweetheart!"
Natalie blushed at once at his words.
She suddenly remembered that day. Luke said she was so sweet after they did such an intimate thing.
Natalie lowered her head and bit Luke's lips. "Don't call me that!" she snapped.
Luke pretended to be hurt and looked at Natalie. In a low-pitched voice, he said, "You're leaving tomorrow, so please be gentle to me, okay?"
Natalie's heart missed a beat. She lowered her head and rest her chin on Luke's shoulder.
After a while, Natalie suddenly whispered near Luke's ear, "You can go to buy a..."
"What?" Luke walked slowly, carrying Natalie in his arms. "What do you want?"
Natalie bit her lip. Then, she raised her head and looked at Luke seriously, murmuring, "You can go to buy a condom."