“When I was one year old, George and Lauren adopted me.But a year later, Cassie was bom.Since they had a daughter of their own, they stopped caring about me.Hannah was a maid in the Quinn family.She was the one who raised me.I was living with Hannah in the countryside before I grew up and came to the city.George and Lauren gave Hannah some money every month.However, that was not enough to meet our expenses. They didn’t bother increasing the monthly allowance.Hannah bought things for me with her money. She doesn’t have any family, and I have been taking care of her.She is all I have.Now, to make things worse, Lauren has secretly intercepted the liver for Hannah’s transplant.I don’t know how long it will take to find another donor.I don’t know how she is going to manage.”
Natalie sniffed, gasping for breath.
Sebastian pulled out a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her.
Seeing Natalie hitching with sobs, he pulled her into his arms.
“So you told me about your deal with them in a fit of anger?” Sebastian asked softly, his chin resting on her head.
He felt sorry for her.He had thought that Natalie was an optimistic carefree woman but didn’t think she shouldered a lot of burden and responsibilities on her own
“It was because they broke their promise.”
Leaning against his strong chest, Natalie frowned and complained like a child.Her answer amused Sebastian.
He hailed a taxi and pulled her inside.
Natalie hugged him tighter and pressed her face against the crook of his neck.
“Don’t worry!” Sebastian stroked her hair.
“I have a lot of friends.I’ll help you figure something.”
Natalie’s head became hot and heavy after all the crying.She felt sleepy.
Sebastian’s embrace comforted her.She rubbed her cheek against his chest and snuggled up to him.
Silence fell.
The ride was quiet, except for the whooshing of the wind.
“I’ve lying to you the whole time.Aren’t you mad at me?” Natalie asked, interlacing her fingers with his.
‘How could every part of his body look beautiful?’ She looked at the blue veins running across his muscular hand in awe.
Sebastian let her play with his hand as he watched her intently.
The flickering light cast a soft glow on his face.
He put his other arm around her shoulder and sighed.
“When I found out that you deceived me, I was furious.But later, I was simply glad that I didn’t marry Cassie. Fortunately, it was you”
His every word felt like fireworks exploding in her ears.Her heart stuttered in her chest.She began to sob uncontrollably.
The pain was unbearable.
Her vice-like grip wrinkled Sebastian’s T-shirt that was soaked in her tears.
“It’s okay.I’m here.It’s over now, Natalie.”
Sebastian hurriedly took out a tissue and wiped her tears.
He peppered kisses across her cheek and lips to comfort her.
Natalie looked at him through her teary eyes, and her nose had turned red.She was so vulnerable at the moment that she shrank in his arms.She wrapped her arms around Sebastian’s neck and cried, “What do I do now, Sebastian? I have severed all ties with my adoptive parents, and Hannah is in fatal danger now.I feel like I have no one in this world.Nobody wants me.”
Natalie felt abandoned and helpless.
Living in a world without any hope or anyone to hold on to was tragic.
Natalie wasn’t an optimistic person.She always pretended to be strong and happy to protect herself from the world.
“You still have me.l’ll always be with you.”
Sebastian pulled her closer into his arms.He meant every word he said.
Natalie pressed her face closer against his neck and continued to sob silently.She clung to him for dear life.She didn’t know how and since when she started trusting Sebastian.
But at the moment, the man was her savior.
He continued to stroke her back comfortingly.
After crying out her emotions, Natalie leaned against Sebastian’s chest, wrapping her arms around his waist.She felt sleepy.
As she closed her eyes, Sebastian pulled the jacket tighter, covering Natalie’s neck, and kissed the top of her head.
“Forget everything and sleep.”
When Natalie woke up again, it was already midnight.She was lying on the bed in her room.
It looked like Sebastian had carried her into the house.
A nightmare woke her up.She wanted to close her eyes and sleep again but couldn’t.Her mind was filled with thoughts about Hannah.She tossed and turned on the bed all night.
The next morning, Natalie walked out of the room.
Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy.
After she called her company and took a leave of absence, Natalie went to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
She planned to go to the hospital to see if they had found another suitable liver for Hannah.
“Your phone is ringing.”
Sebastian knocked on the bathroom door and came in with Natalie’s phone.
A frown lined his forehead when he saw Natalie’s tired eyes.
Natalie answered the phone and quickly turned her head.
She looked haggard today and didn’t want Sebastian to see her in this state.
“Hello, Miss Quinn? I’m a nurse from the municipal hospital.I’m calling to tell you that the liver that was originally assigned for Hannah Stone is available again. The liver transplantation operation will be performed as scheduled.”
“Oh, okay, okay. That’s great!” At first, Natalie was overjoyed.
But later, she remembered what they had done earlier.
“Didn’t you say the patient decided to continue with his treatment? What happened now?”
She wondered which corrupt doctor in the hospital had secretly colluded with Lauren.
“Well…”
The nurse sounded embarrassed.
She cleared her throat and said, “Well, I just called to inform you that the surgery will be performed as planned.” Natalie hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief.
After a moment’s thought, she turned to look at Sebastian.
“How did you make it?”
Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck nonchalantly.
“Well, I know a few people working in the hospital.”
Natalie examined his face.
Sebastian’s eyes were droopy, and his hair was a mess.He was leaning against the sink, brushing his teeth.
Somehow, Natalie sensed something was wrong.She didn’t believe him.
After all, she believed Sebastian was just a common man.How could he know more influential people than Lauren did?
But soon, Natalie forgot about everything as excitement bubbled up in her heart.She was so happy that she didn’t bother probing how it all happened.
“Aren’t you going to work today?” Sebastian asked in a muffled voice as he wiped his face with a cotton towel.
“No, I have taken the day off. I planned to go to the hospital, but that seems unnecessary now.” Clenching a rubber band between her teeth, Natalie casually coiled up her chestnut curly hair into a bun.
After that, she smoothed her unruly bangs in front of the mirror, tucking long strands of hair behind her ear.
She looked like a college student.
However, the dark rims around her eyes made her look haggard.
“All right. Then, sleep well at home.”
Sebastian playfully ruffled her hair and lowered his head to meet her eyes.
Their faces were inches apart.
The next moment, the darkness consumed Natalie as he pecked on her lips.
“I’m going to work.”
With that, he left.
Natalie touched her lips in a daze.
By the time she returned to her senses, the door was closed, and the apartment returned to silence.
After breakfast, Natalie slumped on the sofa and watched TV.It was humid and dark outside.
The cloudy sky showed signs of a rainstorm.
Natalie didn’t know when she fell asleep.
When she woke up, the light in the living room was off, and a football match was playing on the TV.