The letter then went on to say: But if your uncle and his family aren’t willing to behave, retrieve the will. I’ll be long gone and can no longer see their ruination. I’m not going to interfere in the matter anymore, but please don’t blame me for covering up for them. The whereabouts of the will lay with your parents.
The will is with my parents? Shane clutched the letter in his hands, his brows furrowing deeply. My parents passed away almost ten years before Grandpa did, so how can the will be in their possession? This is probably a riddle!
As he was mulling it over, the cell phone in his pocket rang out of the blue.
Corralling his thoughts, he hurriedly retrieved his cell phone. When he saw that it was a call from Natalie, he hesitated for a few seconds before finally answering. “Hello?”
Upon hearing the man’s voice, Natalie breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank God he answered my call! I thought he was going to let it go to voicemail. Although his voice was cold and indifferent, she was already ecstatic that he picked up the call. After all, he didn’t even reply to her message earlier in the morning. Now that he answered my call, does it mean that his anger has dissipated significantly?
“Are you off work, Shane?” she inquired.
The man on the line merely grunted in affirmation.
Nonetheless, a smile bloomed on Natalie’s face. “That’s great! I’ll come and pick you up with the kids, then. We’ll go home together, okay?”
Pursing his lips, Shane replied, “It’s okay, you guys go ahead.”
Hearing that, Natalie’s smile froze for a second. “But you’ve gotten off work, no?”
She thought his willingness to take her call meant that his anger had subsided, but he had now rebuffed her.
Oh well, it seems that I read too much into things.
“I’m now at Thompson residence. I’ll head home by myself later.”
After saying that, Shane hung up the phone without giving her an opportunity to speak.
As Natalie stared at the screen of her cell phone that had reverted to the main menu, her heart sank.
“Mommy, does Daddy not want us to pick him up?” Connor easily figured out the conversation that had taken place via phone call when he glimpsed his mother’s desolation.
Putting down her cell phone, Natalie caressed both his and Sharon’s heads with a forced smile. “It’s okay. Daddy said to head home without him.”
“What about Daddy, then? When is he going home?” Sharon asked, blinking her eyes.
At that question, Natalie lowered her eyes to conceal the anguish in them. “He’ll be going home soon. Alright, sit tight. I’m going to drive us all home now.”
“Okay.” Sharon settled into her seat, believing her mother’s words with ease.
Connor, however, frowned in contemplation of something or other.
It was almost seven o’clock when they arrived back at the villa.
As soon as Natalie opened the car door, the two children leaped out of the car and sprinted over to Mrs. Wilson. “Mrs. Wilson!”
“What a good boy and girl you are!” The housekeeper ruffled the children’s hair lovingly. Then, she shifted her gaze to Natalie, who was walking over. “Madam, didn’t Mr. Shane come back with you?”
Natalie shook her head in response. “No, he went back to Thompson residence.”
“Why did he go back there?” Mrs. Wilson was very much puzzled.
Chuckling, Natalie answered, “I don’t know either. Perhaps he has something to do over there.”
“What could he have to do over there? He has never gone back ever since Mr. Thompson passed away,” Mrs. Wilson muttered.
Without responding to that, Natalie led the children into the villa.
Jacqueline was sitting on the sofa in the living room, watching television. When she saw them coming in, she smirkingly greeted, “You’re back, Ms. Smith?”
Natalie merely grunted in response.
“Didn’t Shane come back with you?” Jacqueline stared at her intently. “Haven’t you made up with Shane, Ms. Smith?”
Hearing the glee in her voice, Natalie’s brows furrowed. “That’s none of your business,” she countered in a placid voice.
After saying that, she made to go upstairs with the children.
All of a sudden, Jacqueline stood up and said, “Do you know why Shane’s attitude toward you changed so drastically all of a sudden, Ms. Smith?”
Stopping short, Natalie jerked her head back to look at her. “Are you saying that you do?”
Jacqueline shrugged before chortling. “Of course, I do! But I’m not going to tell you.”
Hah! I will never tell her! If I do, my plan will be ruined.
Meanwhile, Natalie suddenly released her hold on the children and strode over to Jacqueline. “Ms. Graham, please tell me, won’t you?”
