Natalie massaged her temples. “Everything’s fine. Let’s just eat somewhere.”
Noticing that she did not seem to have any appetite, Shane pursed his lips and stayed silent. He drove her to a classy Italian restaurant.
Like a gentleman, he pulled the chair out for Natalie, who sat down with a smile.
Then, he sat down opposite her and pushed the menu toward her. “The food in this restaurant is lighter on the palate. It’s probably more to your taste.”
“Let me take a look.” Natalie flipped the menu open and glanced through it. The dishes were just as he described—light on the palate, yet appetizing.
Natalie only ordered mushroom spaghetti and salad.
Shane ordered similar dishes. When he closed the menu and passed it back to the waiter, he suddenly remembered something and said, “I’d like a glass of orange juice too.”
“Okay!” replied the waiter with a smile before leaving.
Soon, their food was served.
Natalie unfolded the napkin and was about to tie it around her neck when Shane pushed a glass of juice toward her. “You don’t have much of an appetite, right? Drink this. It’ll increase your appetite.”
Natalie glanced at the juice, then back at him. She felt a warm feeling surface within her as a touched expression appeared on her face.
So he ordered the juice for me. I thought that it’s because he likes it.
I didn’t expect him to even notice that I don’t have an appetite.
“What’s wrong?” asked Shane worriedly. When he noticed Natalie staring at the juice with her eyes reddening, his heart became gripped with anxiety.
Wiping her eyes with the napkin, Natalie smiled and replied, “It’s nothing. I’m just very happy. Thank you, Shane.”
Upon hearing that, Shane became relieved. He grinned in amusement and said, “You’re welcome. Eat up! Aren’t you hungry?”
“Yeah.” Natalie nodded, tied the napkin, grabbed her cutlery and started eating.
After the meal, it was almost four o’clock.
Natalie decided to go to the kindergarten to fetch the kids instead of returning to the studio.
Shane did not voice any objections. He called Silas and instructed him to send the documents pending approval to the apartment. Then, he drove Natalie to the kindergarten.
They arrived just in time for the kindergarten’s dismissal time.
The two kids walked out of the kindergarten, hand in hand. When they saw Shane’s car parked by the road, their eyes lit up as they ran toward it.
Natalie pulled the car door open.
When the kids saw her, they called out excitedly, “Mommy!”
“Darlings!” Natalie alighted the car and stroked their heads.
Shane, who was sitting on the driver’s seat, moved his hand away from the steering wheel and coughed lightly on his fist as if he was reminding the kids of something.
The children exchanged a glance and smiled. They called out to him sweetly, “Daddy!”
A look of satisfaction flashed across Shane’s eyes. Raising his chin, he said, “Alright, get into the car.”
With Natalie’s help, the two kids clambered into the car.
Just when Natalie was about to enter the car, she suddenly felt something. The smile disappeared from her face as she glanced backwards.
“What’s wrong?” asked Shane when he noticed that she had not entered the car yet.
“I have a feeling that someone’s watching me.” Natalie frowned as she looked back.
“Someone’s watching you?” When Shane heard that, he rolled down the car window and peered behind her.
Other than two trash cans and stray dogs, no one else was in sight.
Natalie averted her gaze and turned back. “Perhaps I have mistaken something.”
“Alright, get in.” Shane turned around too.
Not thinking much about it, she got into the car.
When they arrived at the apartment, Mrs. Wilson had already finished cooking the food.
Natalie and the kids entered Shane’s apartment.
