“There’s no rush. We can go down a little later.” Shane pulled her back into his arms and rested his forehead against hers. “I missed you so much.”
Natalie was momentarily stunned. “Why are you saying this all of a sudden. I’m right in front of you, aren’t I?”
“No. I’m talking about what happened a while back. I’m sorry.” Shane retracted his arms and continued, “I didn’t know how to face you because of my parents’ deaths, so I stayed away from you and treated you coldly. But you were always on my mind, and I missed you so, so much. You have no idea how much willpower it took to stop myself from looking for you…”
This was the first time Natalie heard this man express his longing for her so frankly. Her heart clenched with pain as she recalled that period of time.
At last, she gently patted his back and comforted in a tender voice, “Forget it. It’s all in the past now. I just hope that you won’t do that to me again. If there’s anything on your mind, just tell me. Don’t keep secrets from me. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together, okay?”
Shane kissed her forehead lightly. “Okay.”
Natalie pushed him away and waved her phone in front of him with a smirk. “You promised, and I recorded everything down. If you hide things from me, give me the cold shoulder, or doubt me again, I’ll really file for divorce. I won’t go soft and come back like I did this time.”
“Okay.” Without asking when she had started to record their conversation, Shane nodded seriously in response.
Then, he added as an afterthought, “Also, nothing happened between Jacqueline and me during that time. I only allowed her into the guest room and apartment because of the recovery banquet, but I’ll get her to leave very soon.”
After speaking, he peered at Natalie with a trace of nervousness in his eyes, as though afraid she wouldn’t believe him.
Natalie let out a short chuckle before reassuring, “Alright. I believe you.”
Shane instantly felt relieved. “Does that mean you’ll forgive me?”
“Mm-hmm. I forgive you.” Natalie put down her phone.
Shane was visibly emotional as he lifted her chin and sealed her lips with his.
Natalie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
She initially thought that he would let her go after kissing for a while, then they would go downstairs for dinner.
But she thought wrong because the man became more and more passionate.
When Natalie felt the man’s hand move to the strap on the back of her neck, her eyes flew wide open and she pushed him away. “Stop!”
Shane wiped away the saliva on the corner of his mouth with an unhappy frown on his face. “Why?”
He had not touched her in a long time.
An amused smile made its way onto Natalie’s lips upon seeing his pitiful expression.
Then, she took his hand and under his quizzical gaze, placed it gently on her lower abdomen.
Shane was startled. “What does this mean?”
Natalie smiled at him. “This is the real present I want to give you tonight—I’m pregnant.”
Silence ensued.
Shane’s eyes widened as he looked at his own hand in disbelief.
There’s a child growing inside her belly.
My child!
Shane’s Adam’s apple bobbed. After a long time, he finally spoke in a shaky voice. “Am I… going to be a father?”
Natalie nodded. “Yes, you are. This time, it’s yours.”
Shane’s mouth parted, as though to say something, but in the end, he merely pulled her into his embrace.
As Natalie leaned in his arms, she asked, “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?”
“Of course I’m happy. Thank you. This is the best present I’ve ever received.” Shane lowered his head to breathe in her scent.
Natalie giggled softly. “Really? I thought you weren’t happy.”
“Of course not.” Shane shook his head. “Thank you. By the way, how far along are you?”
