Ch. 61..70

A Cue for Love Chapter 61

The Son Of Natalie

When Natalie heard Xavian’s voice, panic rushed through her heart.

Her big round eyes widened in shock. Then, she glared fiercely at Samuel, who still had confusion in his eyes, and pushed him away as hard as she could.

However, it was too late.

The little kid had seen everything.

Xavian froze in shock when he took a clear look at Samuel’s face. The next second, his eyes glistened slyly.

“Mister, have we met somewhere before?” he asked.

Samuel turned to see a boy wearing a red shirt and blue overalls.

Although the boy’s attire was different from the one he wore in front of the restaurant last time, Samuel could recognize his adorable chubby face at once.

It’s him?

Xavian looked the same age as Sophia and Franklin. Plus, he was calling Natalie “Mommy.”

On top of that, when Samuel saw Xavian’s face which resembled him even more than Franklin did, he had a slight hunch.

Natalie had no idea that Samuel and Xavian had seen each other before. She thought that Xavian was only striking up a conversation with Samuel in this silly way because he had the intention of making the latter his stepfather.

To stop things from getting out of hand, Natalie bent over and covered Xavian’s mouth with her hand.

She whispered into his ear with a voice that no one other than the two of them could hear, “Sweetheart, watch your mouth.”

Xavian nodded his head to show that he understood.

Natalie released her son slowly, and as she got up, she glanced at Samuel.

“This is my son, Xavian,” she introduced.

“Nice to meet you,” greeted Xavian with a nod.

As Samuel gradually recovered from the surprise, he narrowed his eyes as he stared at Xavian. The corners of his lips curled up into an attractive smile.

“Xavian?”

“Yes, it means ‘bright.’“

“Such a pretty name.”

“Of course. Mommy gave the name to me, so it is the best name in the world.”

Natalie’s gaze went back and forth between the man and the boy in front of her.

She understood why Xavian was behaving this way, but she did not have the slightest idea about Samuel’s attitude.

To Natalie, the fact that Samuel could tolerate her “ugliness” was confusing enough.

Now that he knew she had two children, he should have looked displeased, but he did not show the slightest bit of disdain.

Does Samuel know my true identity and need me to treat some incurable disease of his? Or does he want to take over Dream? Is that why he forced himself to approach a woman like me?

Natalie could not figure out the reason behind it, so she decided to get Samuel to leave her house.

“Mr. Bowers, it is almost time for dinner. You see, although Xavian has prepared some food, he is still a five-year-old kid. Both his cooking skills and the ingredients he used are in no way comparable to the professional chefs of the Bowers family. Don’t you think you should…” Natalie paused. She did not finish her sentence as she thought that someone as smart as Samuel should understand her meaning in a second without her having to spell it out.

However, Samuel did not leave as she expected. Instead, he undid the button on his shirt collar and fixed his gaze at Natalie. “Then I think we shall have dinner together. I want to try Xavian’s cooking too.”

“All right. I will get dinner ready now.” Xavian nodded, turned around, and left to prepare the meal.

Natalie, who was left behind, stared at Samuel with a dumbfounded look.

Why is he staying for dinner in my apartment when he could have a luxurious meal back in his own house?

Natalie was sure that Samuel was not too blunt to have missed her hint just now. He was obviously pretending to not get it.

“What do you want exactly?” asked Natalie.

“I want to have dinner because I am hungry. Or are you worried that I will eat you instead of the food?” asked Samuel with a faint glow in his eyes.

Natalie almost choked on her own saliva upon hearing him. She coughed and said, “You…”

“Don’t worry. I will only eat the food. I won’t eat anything else,” Samuel promised.

Natalie coughed harder than she already did.

This man! He will literally do anything to get closer to me! Fine! Since you want to see what I am hiding, I will play along with you!

As Natalie made up her mind, she stepped into the apartment unit with Samuel.

There were three bedrooms, a living room, and a dining room in the apartment. The three bedrooms each belonged to Natalie, Xavian, and Clayton.

Xavian prepared steak for dinner. He was busy walking in and out of the kitchen to bring the food to the dining room.

Natalie went straight to wash her hands as soon as she stepped into the apartment, but just as she applied some soap to her hands, she noticed someone standing beside her.

 

A Cue for Love Chapter 62

I Think It Is Worth It

Natalie lifted her eyes to look at the man beside her who was much taller compared to herself.

With his height of almost one hundred and ninety centimeters, his overly-handsome face like it was specially sculptured, and the extravagant watch on his wrist which was glittering a cold light, Samuel looked stunningly seductive. Everything about him was gorgeous yet not in an exaggerating way.

“Why do you want to eat here with us? Don’t the chefs of the Bowers family cook better than my sweetheart?” asked Natalie, her eyelashes fluttering.

When she was talking, there was an adorable tone in her voice without herself knowing.

“Sweetheart… Is that how you call Xavian?” Samuel asked.

“Yeah, why can’t I?” Natalie glared at Samuel and continued, “He is my son. So what is the problem if I call him ‘Sweetheart?’“

“There’s no problem with it. I think it’s nice,” Samuel said with a smile. There was tenderness in his eyes, and his gentle smile made Natalie’s heart flutter.

He is definitely good-looking…

Samuel already looked amazing when he was wearing a bland expression, not to mention when he smiled. Even a calm and composed woman like Natalie could not help falling for him for a moment.

Placing his palm on Natalie’s head, Samuel caressed her hair in a gentle and loving manner, as if he was petting a puppy or a kitten.

“Hey…” Natalie began. She grabbed his arm with her hands, which were still covered in foam, and went on, “I know your taste is a bit… unique, but don’t waste your time on me. You won’t get anything from me. I am different from all the other women you have met.”

After all, she had children, and she was going for revenge. Other than that, she needed to snatch her grandfather’s properties back and build a business empire under her name. She would never be like Yara, who would do anything just to become Samuel’s wife, as she knew she deserved so much better.

Samuel met Natalie’s eyes, which were as clear as water. He could see the determination and stubbornness that was shimmering in her eyes. They lit up her face and made her look so hopeful and ambitious.

“I will decide whether or not it is a waste of time.” Samuel took her hand and held it tight. A beam of light flashed across his eyes as he said, “As long as I think it’s worth it, then not a second is wasted.”

Natalie had no idea what to say.

She could sense the persistence in Samuel’s tone.

He has lost his mind! I have children, and I have ugly freckles all over my face! Why are these not enough to drive him away? I don’t understand what he’s up to at all!

Just as Natalie and Samuel were in a stalemate, a small figure appeared beside them.

“Mommy, dinner is ready-” Before Xavian could finish his sentence, he quickly covered his eyes with his chubby hands. “Ahem… Mommy, I didn’t see anything! Please continue!”

Continue?

Natalie sighed speechlessly and explained, “Stop saying nonsense, Xavian! It’s not like what you think it is!”

Nonetheless, Xavian had already escaped from the bathroom, so he did not hear Natalie’s explanation.

“You made Xavian misunderstand us!” exclaimed Natalie.

“Oh. I will explain to him later,” answered Samuel nonchalantly as he let go of Natalie’s hand.

He looked so unconcerned as if he was not bothered by the fact that Xavian had misunderstood them. Natalie was not persuaded that he could find a way to explain to Xavian.

They both took their seats in the dining room after they were done washing their hands and began enjoying the meal that Xavian had prepared.

Natalie favored the spicy sauce, while Samuel and Xavian ate the steak without sauce.

At first, Natalie did not notice anything, but as they continued with their meal, she found out that not only did they both prefer eating steak without sauce, but even the side dishes they favored were the same.

She bit her fork and stared at the man and the boy who were sitting side by side.

They were eating at the same slow pace, and even the way they were holding their forks along with the coolness in their eyes looked similar.

At that moment, Natalie had a hunch that Samuel was indeed Xavian’s father.

However, the thought only lasted for a few seconds in her mind before she told herself it was impossible.

Both Xavian and Clayton’s father was the missing criminal, who no one knew where he was.

She had seen the chat history and the messages about the transaction between Yara and the man. Everything that happened that night was recorded clearly in the messages.

“Mommy, why are you staring at him the whole time? Is there anything on his face?” asked Xavian curiously when he saw his mother staring at Samuel’s face.

 

A Cue for Love Chapter 63

.

Daddy Was Dead

Natalie was indeed staring at Samuel without blinking, but it was still embarrassing to be pointed out by Xavian. She felt so awkward that she hoped the ground would swallow her up.

“Don’t be silly, Xavian!” Natalie cleared her throat.

“I’m not being silly! Mommy, you are adding the steak sauce into the salad! The salad is ruined!” Xavian pouted.

Natalie lowered her gaze at the salad in her bowl.

Just like what Xavian had said, she was adding the spicy sauce she added to the steak just now into the salad bowl.

She knew that Xavian was telling the truth, but there was no way she could bring herself to admit that she was indeed staring at Samuel.

“You don’t get it. I like eating this way.” Trying to pretend nothing had happened, Natalie stuffed a mouthful of salad topped with the spicy steak sauce into her mouth without hesitation.

The steak sauce was never a good combination with the salad.

However, she had to maintain her image in front of her son, so she kept a straight face despite the weird taste in her mouth.

Hang in there! You can’t embarrass yourself in front of your son!

Natalie forced herself to swallow the salad, and Xavian did not notice anything wrong with his mother.

Samuel, on the other hand, was filling Natalie’s glass with soft drinks. He looked amused and was wearing a charming grin.

She is so cute when she’s acting stubborn.

After dinner, Natalie took a glance at the greasy dishes and cutleries and rolled up her sleeves. She then piled the dishes up and carried them into the kitchen to wash them.

Meanwhile, Xavian dragged Samuel into his room.

Xavian sat cross-legged on his bed while Samuel sat on the floor mat. They stared at each other wordlessly for some time.

“I remember you said you weren’t interested in Mommy when we met last time!” said Xavian as he rested his chin on his hand and lifted his eyebrows.

“You’re right.”

“I’ve already told you that my mommy is excellent. She has both talent and beauty. Now you know I am not lying to you, don’t you? So, do you regret saying that? Are you planning to change your mind?” Xavian said proudly.

“No, I’m not changing my mind.”

“What?” Xavian was enraged as soon as he heard Samuel’s response. Thinking that Samuel was only playing with his mother’s feelings, he exclaimed, “How dare you flirt with my mommy when you have another woman in your mind?”

“Back then, I didn’t know Natalie is your mommy. In fact, from the very beginning, your mommy is the only woman in my heart,” Samuel answered.

“Do you mean you’ve fallen for my mommy since a long time ago?”

Samuel nodded after a few moments of silence. “Yes.”

Xavian nodded in satisfaction.

Samuel was brave enough to admit his feelings toward Natalie, not to mention he was not disgusted at all even when Natalie was wearing the hyper-realistic mask. This showed that Samuel was not a shallow-minded person. He loved Natalie not for her looks, but for her soul and talent.

“It’s not going to be easy if you want to win my mommy’s heart. She is probably hurt too deeply by Daddy.”

“You mean your biological father?”

“He’s a smuggler and a robber. I have only seen his photo. He suddenly went missing five years ago and is probably already dead. Perhaps he died years ago,” Xavian answered calmly.

“Did your mommy tell you these?” asked Samuel.

“Mommy only told me half of the story. Clayton and I found out the rest ourselves.”

Samuel frowned deeply upon hearing Xavian’s words, and a grim expression appeared on his face.

Why did she assume I was a smuggler and a robber? Why did she leave Sophia and Franklin behind, without even knowing about their existence? Why did she forget everything about me?

After Natalie had finished doing the dishes, she opened the door to Xavian’s room to see the two of them sitting cross-legged together in front of the large computer screen.

They were both holding their phones and were playing games together as a team.

Neither one of them noticed Natalie standing at the door, as they were too immersed in the game.

“The assassin is coming from the middle lane. Come here and assist me quickly!”

“Okay.”

Natalie had played games with Xavian before this.

However, she had never seen such a bright and happy smile on Xavian’s face when she played with him.

When Samuel and Xavian were playing games together, they looked like father and son.

 

A Cue for Love Chapter 64

What Happened To Her In The Past

Father and son? How ridiculous! I must be imagining things!

Natalie bit her lip and shook her head, trying to get rid of the absurd idea that popped up in her mind.

However, at the same time, a sense of indescribable sorrow and disappointment rushed through her heart.

As she watched Samuel and Xavian interacting, she realized that no matter how much maternal love she tried to give to her two children, she could never make up for the absence of their father’s company in their growth process.

The reason that both her children were trying intently to find themselves a stepfather was not only that they hoped their mother could fall in love again, but also that they longed for love and companionship from a fatherly figure.

With Samuel hanging around tonight, Xavian was more energetic than he usually was. He was talking to Samuel all the time, smiling from ear to ear.

When it was nine o’clock, Natalie turned toward Xavian. “It’s late now. Time for you to sleep.”

“Yes, yes, Mommy. I know.” The little boy nodded obediently but winked at Samuel at the same time. “I have to go to bed now. You should come to visit more often.”

“Okay.” Samuel agreed.

Natalie frowned when she saw Samuel promise Xavian.

After Xavian brushed his teeth and went to sleep, Natalie sat on the couch and turned to meet Samuel’s dark and impenetrable eyes.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and asked, “Now there are only the two of us here, so you can tell the truth. Why do you come to my place tonight? What do you want from me?”

“I’ve told you everything I need to. I only want to see you. That’s all.” Samuel pulled lightly at his collar.

“Both of us are grown-ups, and I don’t think we need to beat around the bush. Why don’t you just tell me what do you want to know about me? Or is there anything you’re trying to gain from me?”

Natalie was clear that Samuel was not just an ordinary person.

If he wanted to investigate her, he could find out everything about her easily. She preferred they talked about it in a straightforward way rather than pretending she did not know anything.

If Samuel was trying to win her trust by being nice to her, Natalie did not mind playing along, but she could not tolerate seeing him do the same to Xavian.

“I don’t care if you are trying to fool me and gain my trust, Mr. Bowers. But I don’t want you to use my son as a tool to get what you want.”

Samuel had his own children, so Natalie was sure he could understand. As a parent, she would do anything to protect her children.

“Natalie, is that what you think of me?”

“Yes. Don’t tell me that you’re fond of me or Xavian. I won’t believe in any of your nonsense,” replied Natalie with a cold and grave tone.

Samuel fixed his gaze on Natalie and observed her intently. She was only in her early twenties, yet she was so wary of people.

What happened to her that made her so distrustful toward people?

“What did the Nichols family do to you?” asked Samuel.

The Nichols family? So is he doing all these for Yara’s sake?

“I see. You know quite a lot, don’t you? But I will not let you interfere with this matter regarding the Nichols family.” Natalie narrowed her eyes.

Although it would be more difficult than it already was for Natalie to carry out her revenge plan if Samuel was on Yara’s side, she would never give up. There was no way she was going to forgive the people who had hurt her in the past.

Natalie approached Samuel and pointed at the door. “It is too late for you to stay here. You should leave now.”

However, to her surprise, Samuel grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.

Natalie did not see that coming. She was already sitting on Samuel’s lap when she recovered from the shock.

“What are you-”

“You are still so young, yet so protective of yourself.” Samuel locked Natalie tightly in his arms as he sighed beside her ear. “What happened to you in the past?”

His voice sounded gentle and pampering, but most of all, it was filled with love. He was aching for her.

 

A Cue for Love Chapter 65

You Can Trust Me

“Samuel, I hate it when others try to test me,” said Natalie as she became increasingly cautious and alert. “Stop wasting your energy on me. Why don’t you spend it on Yara instead?”

To Natalie, anyone who helped Yara was her enemy, including Samuel.

Natalie tried to pull herself away from Samuel’s embrace and away from the shameful position they were in.

She was so close to him, with only a layer of clothing in between them. It was difficult for her to ignore the feeling of Samuel’s hot temperature on her skin.

Samuel whispered when Natalie moved, “Don’t move.”

His tone made Natalie feel like she had just touched somewhere she should not have, and she stopped moving right away. She was not afraid of Samuel. Instead, she was just not used to being so intimate with someone else.

“Who told you I’m on Yara’s side?”

“Do you think I’m a fool?” Natalie pursed her lips and continued, “She marched into the Bowers residence in such an imposing manner and you’re telling me that you’re not on her side?”

“Didn’t you march into the Bowers residence in the same imposing manner?”

“I…”

“If you don’t like her, then I’ll not allow her to set foot in the Bowers residence anymore in the future,” Samuel promised.

There was incomprehensible emotion in his deep eyes, but the way he was looking at Natalie made her feel his seriousness when he made that promise.

As she looked into his eyes, she could no longer bring herself to question him.

“Natalie, you can doubt the entire world if you want. I just wish you would try to trust me,” said Samuel.

Natalie was once a fool who did not know how to protect herself. As a result, she was deeply hurt by the people closest to her. She was abused, exploited, and even lost her virginity because of her foolishness.

Trust? It was such a simple word, but it was the most difficult thing for Natalie to do.

“Samuel.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry. But I don’t trust anyone but myself.”

Samuel narrowed his eyes and looked at Natalie. Her pain and sadness were written all over her face.

She did not reveal anything about her past, but Samuel was still able to see how vulnerable she was under all the stubbornness and determination.

She did not shed a tear, but Samuel knew that she was in pain and that her heart was bleeding profusely.

“I’m sorry.” Samuel let go of Natalie and stood up from the couch.

I was too rash. I only wanted to have her by my side, but I did not consider how much she suffered in the past. I need to take it slow. Samuel turned and left.

Natalie clenched her fists as she watched Samuel leave.

She knew she should not trust Samuel, but her heart throbbed when she heard his apology.

Natalie arrived at the Watsons residence to help treat Max’s poison as promised.

When she stepped into the large bedroom, she realized that only Max and Shawn were present.

Max was still in bed, but his condition seemed to have improved compared to before.

“Old Mr. Watsons.”

“Natalie, you’re my lifesaver. I have an unreasonable favor to ask. Since Shawn is only a few years older than you, you don’t have to address me as ‘Old Mr. Watsons’ or ‘Sir.’ Why don’t you just call me ‘Grandpa’ like how Shawn does?” said Max with a smile.

I think that’s a reasonable demand. Natalie nodded as she had no reason to decline Max’s wishes.

“Grandpa.”

Max smiled delightfully. “Yes, that’s it.”

Natalie greeted Shawn with a light nod and began attending to Max.

Throughout the process, Shawn kept his gaze locked on Natalie, his eyes glimmering behind his glasses.

Natalie focused on the treatment and paid no attention toward Shawn.

Max, on the other hand, watched the two of them quietly.

The old man admired Natalie’s medical skills and personality, but when it came to her appearance, he was worried that even Shawn would not be able to accept it.

However, judging by the way Shawn was staring at Natalie, Max knew that this grandson of his was completely in love. After all, there was a saying that goes – beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Shawn’s happiness is all that matters.

After Natalie finished doing her job, she kept away the equipment and said, “Grandpa, the toxins in your body are almost cleared, but you’ll still have to take the medicines I prescribed you. They will help you in the recovery process.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll take my leave then if there’s nothing else.”

Max cleared his throat and looked at Shawn before saying, “Shawn, what are you waiting for? Treat Natalie to a meal on my behalf.”

Natalie opened her mouth and was about to reject the offer.

However, before she could say anything, Shawn said, “Ms. Nichols, please allow us to repay your kindness.”

Natalie glanced at the both of them and knew that it would be too ignorant of her if she were to insist on rejecting the offer.

“All right then. Thank you.”

Instead of having dinner in the Watsons residence, Shawn took Natalie to a high-end restaurant owned by the Watsons family.

The restaurant manager was quite shocked when he saw Natalie’s face as she and Shawn entered the restaurant.

Although Shawn was not very influential in the Watsons family, he was still considered a prominent person.

But this woman’s appearance is too… ugly.

The restaurant manager stared blankly at Natalie’s freckled face and was too shocked to say anything.

Natalie, on the other hand, was not bothered by it. She was used to the way people looked at her by now, but Shawn was not able to keep his cool.

He stood in front of Natalie and glared at the manager, as though he was silently giving him a warning. Get lost.

 

A Cue for Love Chapter 66

Dirty Tricks

Shawn’s glare was so threatening that the manager felt a shiver down his spine and quickly shifted his gaze away from Natalie.

This woman… is not just here to dine with Mr. Watsons. By the looks of it, she might even become Mr. Watsons’ future wife!

After they took their seats, Natalie drank some water and said, “Actually, you didn’t have to stand up for me just now. I’m used to being judged for my appearance.”

“How could I not? You’re Grandpa’s lifesaver. There’s no way I’d let anyone hurt you,” said Shawn as he stared intently at Natalie’s face.

“I’ll keep that in mind. If I ever need help from the Watsons family in the future, I’ll make sure I go to you and Grandpa,” said Natalie with a smile.

As one of the aristocratic families, the Watsons family was not as influential as the Bowers family. However, the family’s century-old foundation in every industry was so well established that one should never look down on them.

Although Dream was only beginning to take shape, there was still a long way to go for Natalie to reach her target of creating an empire. It’s a waste if I don’t take advantage of the Watsons family’s connections.

Shawn was stunned to hear Natalie’s reply, but the corners of his lips raised almost immediately. “Ms. Nichols, no matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, please do not hesitate to come to me. I’m more than happy to help.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

The duo made a little toast and exchanged a smile.

Since the restaurant was underwater, fishes and corals could be seen dancing in the clear blue water.

Not only was the ambiance amazing, but every dish was also quite delicious too.

However, Shawn barely touched his food as he was busy staring at Natalie as she ate.

Natalie was unaware of it at first, but she soon realized that Shawn’s gaze was glued onto her face.

Unconsciously, she thought that there was something wrong with her hyper-realistic mask.

“Is there something wrong with my face?” she asked.

“You’ve got something on your lips.” Having said that, Shawn leaned forward slightly and was about to wipe the stain off of Natalie’s lips, but Natalie was quicker than him.

She leaned back and quickly wiped the corner of her lips with the back of her hand when Shawn closed in.

“You…”

Natalie looked up at Shawn and asked, “Is it gone now?”

“Yeah, it’s gone.” Shawn did not realize that Natalie intentionally avoided him. Although he felt disappointed, he was not discouraged.

He was fond of everything about her, including her medical skills, her easygoing attitude, and her calm and composed nature.

It was the first time in his life that he felt this way toward a woman.

Despite Natalie’s appearance, he could not hold back the urge of wanting to be with her.

Meanwhile, Belle and Natasha were hiding behind a marble column not too far away. They stared at Shawn and Natalie who were having their meal with a look of disgust on their faces.

Natasha gritted her teeth and said, “Belle, that’s the ugly woman I was telling you about! She was the one who humiliated me in public.”

“What did you say? D-Didn’t you say she’s Ross’ new lover? Why is she with Shawn now?” asked Belle in disbelief.

“I’m telling the truth. She’s the one.”

Belle’s eyes were filled with anger as she continued to glare at Shawn and Natalie. Why is Shawn staring at her with such gentleness in his eyes? She’s hideous! I’m a thousand times prettier than that woman, but Shawn had never been interested whenever I tried to talk to him. If it weren’t for the friendship between Old Mr. Watsons and Grandpa, I’d probably be invisible to Shawn even if I were to stand right in front of him.

Belle could not accept the fact that she and Natalie were treated differently. “Why? Why is that woman sitting with Shawn?”

Although Natasha was not interested in Shawn, she was still green with jealousy when she saw the two dining together.

“I’ve fallen into her trap once. She’s not a simple woman. I bet she used some dirty tricks to make Mr. Watsons hang out with her,” said Natasha.

 

A Cue for Love Chapter 67

Your Taste Is Not That Bad

“Natasha, no matter what tricks that woman is trying to use, I’ll always get what I want,” sneered Belle as she narrowed her eyes.

Natasha met Belle’s determined eyes and nodded in reply.

Although Belle looked gentle and kind, her determination and ruthlessness were exceptional.

She was not the only child in the family, as she had an older and younger brother. However, she was still deeply loved by Kenneth, and there were even signs that she might be the next heir of the Green family.

“I believe you’ll succeed.”

“Then let’s go and greet them.”

“Okay.”

Natalie was eating her dessert when she saw Belle and Natasha approach them.

These two… Natalie recognized them and immediately knew that they were Natasha and Belle. What are these flirtatious b*tches doing here?

Natalie did not even bother to glance at them and continued enjoying her dessert.

“Shawn! What a coincidence to see you here,” said Belle with a smile as she pretended to sound gentle.

Shawn lifted his head and merely nodded in response when he saw that it was Belle.

Unhappy to be ignored by Shawn, Belle tucked her hair behind her ears and continued, “She looks unfamiliar. I don’t think I’ve seen her before. Who is she?”

Natalie took a sip of water and glanced at Belle. Trying to make your presence known by using me? What a mistake.

“I’m done eating.”

“Are you sure? Why don’t you eat more?” asked Shawn.

“I’ve lost my appetite,” uttered Natalie coldly as she fixed her eyes on Belle.

“You…” Belle’s face turned pale.

For some reason, Natalie secretly felt satisfied when she saw how angry Belle was.

Although Belle had never hurt Natalie, the former had manipulated Ross back in the days and even stole the patent of the special medicine he developed.

It was thanks to the patent that Belle had been able to make a name for herself within the Green family. Ross, on the other hand, had been robbed of everything and had lived a terrible life.

Ross was now the Research and Development Director at Dream Pharmaceutical, which meant that he was now working for Natalie.

There was no way Natalie would let Belle off the hook easily because of what she did to Ross.

“What’s wrong? Are you stuttering?” Natalie looked at Belle in a condescending manner.

Without waiting for a reply, Natalie glanced at Shawn and said, “I have to go.”

“Let me give you a ride.” Shawn’s attention was completely focused on Natalie. When she stood up, he hurriedly chased after her.

Belle and Natasha were left alone in the restaurant.

Natasha stole a careful glance at Belle, whose mood was completely ruined, and felt nervous.

“This is nonsense! That woman didn’t even pay any attention to me!” Belle folded her arms and said with anger, “Does she think that I won’t be able to do anything to her just because she has Shawn on her side? Ross’ new lover? Shawn’s beloved? I’ll have Shawn take a good look at this woman! I’ll reveal her true colors! I’ll show him that she’s not just ugly, but she’s also a skank!”

“Belle, how should we expose her for what she is to Shawn?” Natasha asked.

Belle lifted her head and said proudly, “Ross was my servant a few years ago, and now, I’m sure he’ll still listen to me. I’ll have him cooperate with me, and together, we’ll have her make a fool of herself in public. We’ll see how Shawn takes it then!”

“Belle, your ideas are amazing!” exclaimed Natasha.

As they left the restaurant, Shawn caught up with Natalie and quickly explained, “Ms. Nichols, there’s nothing going on between Belle and me.”

Looking at Shawn’s serious face, Natalie could not help but let out a chuckle.

“What’s so funny?”

“Don’t worry,” said Natalie as she tried to contain her laughter. “I know you have better taste in women.”

 

A Cue for Love Chapter 68

He Fell Harder

Shawn looked at the smile on Natalie’s face with tenderness in his eyes.

Yes, she’s right. My beauty standards are high, and the woman I’m in love with is special.

Shawn said carefully, “I don’t want you to misunderstand the relationship between me and her.”

Natalie cracked her neck and rubbed her shoulders in exhaustion. She said, “I didn’t misunderstand. I’m just disgusted with her. I’m too lazy to entertain her antics.”

I’ve been pretending all day long. She might not be tired, but I am!

Shawn pursed his lips and kept quiet.

He found himself falling harder for Natalie as he looked at her.

All of a sudden, the outstanding ladies of prominent families were boring to Shawn compared to Natalie.

How great would it be if I could spend the rest of my life with her?

As the sun sank, Natalie had no idea that Shawn had already promised himself to look after her forever.

Shawn sent Natalie home after they left the restaurant.

These days, Xavian was away from home. He attended the summer camp organized by the kindergarten which would last five days and four nights.

Initially, the boy refused to go because he thought it was too childish and boring, but Natalie persuaded him. She wanted him to have a normal childhood just like any other five-year-old boy despite his intelligence.

Due to his mother’s insistence, Xavian had no choice but to pack his bags obediently and leave.

The elevator door slid open when it reached the floor where Natalie was staying.

Just as she was fishing for the keys in her pocket, she saw two familiar young children squatting beside the door.

The two kids looked up at her in unison when they heard footsteps.

As soon as they saw her, their huge eyes lit up with joy.

Natalie was completely shocked, as she did not expect them to be here.

“Franklin, Sophia… Why are you two here?”

Sophia could not speak, so Franklin spoke on their behalf. “We were just walking around, and we ended up here. You came back right after we arrived.”

Franklin tried to sound as casual as possible.

He did not want Natalie to know that he and his sister had gone through a lot of trouble just to find her address. They had sneaked out after school, came all the way to Natalie’s place, and waited for her for more than two hours.

Trying to keep all these a secret, Franklin acted cool.

Sophia, on the other hand, did not bother at all.

She hugged Natalie and said with a soft voice, “I miss…”

Natalie’s heart melted when she heard Sophia’s adorable voice. “Did you miss me?”

Sophia blinked and nodded profusely.

“Well, since you guys are already here, why don’t you guys come in and rest?” Natalie opened the door and let them in.

She filled two mugs with water and gave them to Franklin and Sophia.

Probably tired from all the waiting, the two of them gulped down the water in one go.

Natalie propped her chin in her palm and looked at the two adorable children.

They must really like me a lot. Or else, why are they willing to wait outside my door for such a long time without any complaints?

Although Natalie was quite taken aback by Sophia and Franklin’s devotion, she liked them a lot as well.

The mutual feeling of affection was warm and sweet.

“Take it easy. We have a lot of water.”

Franklin and Sophia slowed down after Natalie spoke.

Natalie already had dinner with Shawn at the restaurant, but she could tell that the two kids were starving at that point.

Knowing that her cooking skills were not the best, she simply took out her phone to order some burgers and fried chicken.

While waiting for the food to arrive, Natalie asked Franklin, “Now can you tell me if Gavin and the others know you’re here?”

Franklin avoided Natalie’s eyes and looked up at the ceiling. “They know.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Natalie pursed her lips. “All right. Give me your phone for a moment.”

“Natalie, a nice woman should never check a man’s phone,” said Franklin matter-of-factly.

“Nice men shouldn’t keep secrets in their phone either.” Natalie smiled faintly and reached out her hand. “Be a good boy and show it to me.”

Initially, Franklin wanted to resist.

However, his strong will disappeared easily in the face of Natalie.

In the end, he took his phone out and handed it to Natalie. “There you go.”

Natalie took the phone and noticed it was switched off.

Once she turned it back on, countless text messages popped up instantly. The phone began vibrating non-stop.

She tapped the screen to read the messages.

Where are you? Answer my calls! Stop messing around! I’m old, and my heart can’t take this! If you guys don’t show up, your father is going to kill me!

As Natalie was swiping through the desperate messages from Steven, a phone call suddenly came in.

The caller was Steven.

Franklin glanced at Steven’s name on the screen and muttered, “Can you not answer it? Once he knows we’re here, he’ll definitely take us home.”

“We can discuss that later.” Natalie stroked Franklin’s hair. “However, it’s your fault for not letting them know where you are. He’s really worried. Have you ever thought about that? Have you guys ever considered his feelings?”

Franklin and Sophia exchanged glances and lowered their heads guiltily.

Natalie answered the phone.

As soon as she answered the call, she heard Steven’s excited voice. “Kid! You finally answered my call!”

Ignoring Steven’s agitation, Natalie said calmly, “I’m Natalie. Franklin and Sophia are right beside me.”

 

A Cue for Love Chapter 69

Betraying Steven

“Natalie?”

“Yes.”

Steven, who was in the car, slapped himself on the forehead.

How could I forget about Natalie, of all people? I should’ve known from the beginning that they went to see Natalie!

“Ms. Nichols, could you please send me your address? I will come immediately and pick them up.”

Natalie glanced at the two kids’ chubby faces. “Yes. I’ll send you the location. Sophia and Franklin are safe with me, so you can come later.”

“But…”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, not at all.”

“Okay. Bye.”

Although Steven was not the head of the family, he was still the second young master of the Bowers family. However, he was no match for Natalie.

This woman is not only able to handle the two little ones, but Sam treats her differently, too. She’s not just anyone.

Steven gave Samuel a call right after knowing that Sophia and Franklin were safe.

“Sam, they’re at Natalie’s house. I’ll go over later to pick them up,” said Steven.

“You don’t have to.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll pick them up myself.” The corners of Samuel’s lips curled up as he spoke.

“But don’t you have a video conference with Epea?”

“Yes, so you’ll do it.”

Steven was rendered speechless.

Does Sam no longer trust me with taking care of the children? Fine, I’ll take care of the meeting. Having a meeting with the senior executives from Epea is so much easier than taking care of those two naughty children.

It did not take long for the food to arrive.

Natalie placed the fried chicken, fries, and drinks on the table.

The two children stared at the delicious fried chicken but did not reach out to take it.

“Why are you guys not eating?”

“Is this good? We haven’t eaten it before.” Franklin pointed at the crispy fried chicken and asked.

Sophia was also looking at the strange food in front of her with a confused face.

Natalie was speechless when she saw the clueless expression on the kids’ faces.

Why is the Bowers family so strict? The two of them are already five years old. How could they have never had any fried food?

“Of course it’s delicious!” said Natalie.

Upon hearing Natalie’s words, the two children each picked up a piece of fried chicken and took a bite.

They were immediately amazed when they tasted the juicy chicken meat beneath the deep-fried, crispy skin.

Despite being picky eaters, they fell in love with the fried chicken right away. The joy of being able to enjoy fast food was always marvelous.

Halfway through, someone knocked on the door.

Munching on a drumstick, Franklin said, “What’s going on? Didn’t you ask Uncle Steven to come later?”

Sophia was also displeased.

Natalie got up to open the door, and was surprised to see Samuel.

He was wearing a black shirt and was leaning lazily against the door frame. His eyes were deep and dark as he stood there elegantly.

“Why are you here?”

“Why can’t I be here?”

Natalie’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Samuel looked amused. “Hmm?”

“But I was on the phone with…”

Samuel said with his deep voice, “Steven is in a meeting, so I’m here to pick Franklin and Sophia up.”

Natalie felt that there was something wrong with what he said, but she could not pinpoint it. Thus, she could only step back and let Samuel in.

As soon as Samuel entered the dining room, he saw Franklin and Sophia eating drumsticks.

The whole table was filled with unhealthy fast foods.

“Daddy.” Shocked, Franklin dropped the drumstick he was holding when he saw Samuel.

Sophia hung her head guiltily, too.

Samuel frowned slightly and asked unhappily, “This is what you’re feeding them?”

Natalie did not think there was anything wrong with eating some fast food once in a while. She took a fry, dipped it in some ketchup, and attempted to feed Samuel. “Try it. It’s good.”

When Samuel refused to eat it, she did not mind and was about to eat it herself.

However, before she could do so, Samuel grabbed her wrist forcefully and ate the fry from her hand.

At the same time, his lips and the tip of his tongue touched her fingertips.

 

A Cue for Love Chapter 70

Hallucination

Not sure how to react, Natalie’s eyes widened.

She could feel her temperature rising when Samuel’s tongue touched her fingertips. Her mouth turned dry, and it was as if a tiny flow of electric current streaked across her veins.

What exactly is Samuel trying to do?

Confused and upset, Natalie glared angrily at the man before her.

Samuel, on the other hand, glanced back at her silently.

His demeanor was cold and indifferent.

It was as if what he had just done to her was nothing more than an accident.

Natalie bit her lip. Am I overthinking things?

Samuel stared directly at Natalie as he said, “It’s delicious.”

It was difficult to decipher the meaning of his words. She could not tell if he was referring to the fry or her.

“Well, if you like it so much, you can have more.” Natalie pushed the box of fries toward Samuel and avoided his gaze. At the same time, she told herself to stop imagining things.

The way she was avoiding Samuel made her look like an angry kitten to him. She was so feisty and adorable.

If Sophia and Franklin were not there, he would be all over her just to see the panic in her eyes.

Too bad.

Nevertheless, Samuel’s lips still curled up to form a smile.

After dinner, Natalie thought Samuel would take Franklin and Sophia home. However, the three of them continued sticking around with no intention of leaving.

Sophia and Franklin were still kids, so it was understandable if they were immature.

However, Samuel was already a grown man who was in his thirties. He should know that it was time for them to leave.

Natalie clenched her fist and cleared her throat, hinting at Samuel that he should leave.

The man lifted his eyes and glanced at her with a smirk. Then, he ignored her completely.

After a few moments of silence, Samuel still did not respond. Annoyed, Natalie went into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of ice water to cool down.

I’ve already told him to stay away from me. Does he not understand? Or is he still trying to test me for Yara’s sake?

Samuel stepped into the kitchen when Natalie was about to pour herself another glass of water.

“You know that I don’t want to see you. Why are you here?”

“I’m here to prove to you that I’m not as annoying as you think. You should give me a chance to do so, don’t you think?” Samuel folded his sleeves to reveal his muscular forearms.

Natalie began to waver as she stared at Samuel’s deep eyes.

He was so firm and determined that she had no idea how to handle him.

Anxious, she finished the whole glass of water, wiped her lips, and fled from the kitchen.

Franklin and Sophia, who were unaware of what was going on in the kitchen, were still thinking of ways to invite Natalie to the parents’ visit day at the kindergarten tomorrow.

They were not expecting Samuel to be there.

On one hand, it was annoying because whenever Samuel went to their kindergarten, the teachers would always surround him with smiles on their faces.

On the other hand, the two of them really hoped Natalie could go.

They wanted to show Natalie around. More importantly, they longed to have a mother by their side just like the other kids.

Natalie’s mind was still in a complete mess when Franklin and Sophia handed the invitation to her with nervous expressions.

“Do you think you can attend?” Franklin asked carefully.

That was the first time Natalie saw them act nervous. She looked down at the invitation.

An invitation for a parents’ visit day? I thought it was something really serious when I saw the look on their faces!

Natalie reckoned that Samuel might have been too busy with work, so he did not have the time to attend. That was why the kids hoped she could go on his behalf.

It was not a hard decision to make.

She smiled and said, “Sure. I’ll go.”

Samuel drove Franklin and Sophia home when night fell.

Franklin cupped his chubby cheeks in his hands and said in excitement, “Do you think I should wear white tomorrow? Do you think Natalie will like it?”

Sophia shook her head.

“What about the blue tracksuit?”

Sophia shook her head again.

“The beige t-shirt?”

Sophia finally nodded.

The two siblings discussed happily.

Samuel lifted the corners of his lips as he listened on. This is going well. They’re sometimes naughty, but recently, they’ve been really good at pleasing me.

The next day, when Natalie went downstairs clad in a black dress, she saw a man in a black shirt standing in front of a Hummer. The two children were right by his side.

Samuel?!