When Shane arrived in the afternoon, Natalie bade farewell to Joyce before getting into his car.
“In a good mood?” Shane asked gently.
Natalie turned to him and blinked in surprise. “You can tell?”
“It’s obvious.”
Natalie smiled and opened the car window a crack. “Stanley’s condition is improving, so yes, I’m in a pretty good mood.”
The mention of Stanley made Shane instantly narrow his eyes in annoyance. “You’ve contacted him?”
“No, I haven’t,” Natalie replied with a shake of her head. “It was him who called me to apologize for what he did earlier. Oh, he also told me to pass on his apologies to you. He said it was never his intention to stab you.”
Upon hearing that, Shane scoffed and pursed his lips. “And you believe him?”
“Why not?” Natalie asked as she turned to face Shane. “He was out of control then and wasn’t clear-headed. If he was, I believe he wouldn’t have hurt anyone with a knife.”
Even though he didn’t say anything, Shane’s expression had darkened considerably.
Oh dear, she really fell for his words.
Natalie could feel Shane reacted with dismay and tugged at his sleeve. “Are you angry?”
Shane ignored her and remained silent.
“I know you must think I bought his words too easily, but he did lose control then, didn’t he?”
“Fine,” Shane replied in exasperation as he rubbed his temples. “What else did he tell you?”
“He said his treatment is working. And that his mental state is a lot better.”
“And you believe that too?” Shane replied in an incredulous tone.
Natalie looked away as she was overcome by a twinge of guilt. “I can feel he’s telling the truth. His condition has truly improved a lot.”
“I hope so,” Shane muttered.
Unlike Natalie, he wasn’t buying Stanley’s words. His condition couldn’t have improved so much in such a short period.
Stanley could lie and convince others, but Shane would never fall for it.
Natalie sighed, knowing that Shane still didn’t believe her. She looked out of the window and decided not to say anymore.
They drove on in silence until they arrived at the kindergarten, where their two children hopped in the car excitedly.
“Mommy, Daddy, did you argue?” Connor asked curiously while scrutinizing his parents.
Natalie turned to him with a smile. “No, we didn’t.”
“Then, why aren’t you talking?” Sharon chimed in with a quizzical look.
Natalie gazed at Shane and simply replied, “We just have a lot on our minds.”
Both kids nodded, satisfied with the answer.
“Alright now, sit tight. We’re driving off,” Shane finally said.
“That’s right, stay in your seats and stop moving around,” Natalie reminded them.
Connor and Sharon hummed in response and sat obediently for the rest of the drive home.
Once Shane pulled up at their villa, both kids immediately jumped out of the car and dashed into the house.
Natalie wasn’t in a hurry, so she decided to wait at the door for Shane.
After he had parked the car and saw Natalie still standing outside, Shane gave her a puzzled look. “Why haven’t you gone in?”
“I’m waiting for you,” Natalie replied while rubbing her hands together for warmth.
Winter had greeted J City, and the weather was getting colder with every passing day. Even being outdoors for a while would make anyone shiver from the biting cold.
Seeing how insistent she was to wait for him despite being curled up from the cold, Shane frowned and took her by her hand. “Come on, let’s go in.”
Even though it was just a few simple words, Natalie could hear the concern laced in Shane’s voice. She smiled, knowing that his anger had subsided, and walked into the villa with him.
