Chapter 404 Retribution
Natalie stood still, refusing to turn back.
A chilling aura emanated from her, and she said in a voice colder than before, “I’ve said it before. Whatever suffering you all endure is your own retribution!”
Having said that, Natalie continued walking without waiting for Cedric’s response. Cedric remained where he stood, enveloped in an icy coldness.
Natalie’s words echoed relentlessly in his mind, threatening to tear apart his sanity once more.
“Retribution…” He murmured softly, a suffocating feeling gripping his heart.
Retribution?
Was it not enough retribution after they had lost their lives?
Why wasn’t that enough?!
Cedric felt a stifling ache in his chest.
Meanwhile, having retreated inside, Natalie found it hard to regain her composure.
She once never believed in such things, yet here she was.
And then there was Cedric.
Would there be more?
She never imagined that such bizarre things would happen in this world.
The history between Cedric and her seemed fated, from another world to the present.
How could it all truly end?
She looked at her sleeping daughter, gently touching the soft little hand. This child, in this life and the last, felt like a gift from the heavens.
How could she ever…?
That night, neither Natalie nor Cedric found sleep easy.
At Peach Garden, Kayla ate with grace during breakfast. Every move she made echoed traces of Isabella.
Is it not to your liking?” Cedric asked gently, watching her take delicate bites.
Kayla glanced at him and shook her head slightly.She wasn’t too demanding, but she’d eat it very slowly when she disliked something.
“Kayla,” Cedric began.
“Yes, Daddy?”
“You can tell me anything, alright?”
Over time, Cedric had noticed how mature she was for her age. She often kept her feelings bottled up, which wasn’t healthy for a child.
Kayla looked at Cedric cautiously. “Would you ever reject me, Daddy?”
His heart felt a pang.
His daughter was so sensitive!
During this period, it was evident that the situation between him and Natalie had caused the child considerable distress.
Kayla looked at Cedric once more, her eyes filled with a pitiful expression… that eerily resembled Isabella’s.
Cedric reached out, patting the child’s head affectionately as he said, “Of course not.
But the next moment, Kayla lowered her head and softly asked, “Why doesn’t Mommy like me?”
Cedric’s breath caught in his throat.
“Kayla…”
“Mommy really doesn’t like me,” she said, her voice heavy with disappointment.
For a moment, Cedric nearly blurted out that Natalie wasn’t her mother, so it shouldn’t
matter!
But where was her real mother if Natalie wasn’t her mother?
Should he tell that that it was Isabella? But wasn’t she… dead?
From the beginning, Kayla had been made to believe that her mother was Natalie. Had she never seen Isabella? In her memories, there was no one but Natalie. Would it be too cruel to tell her she’d never met her real mother?
In the end, Cedric couldn’t bear to do that to Kayla.
“Daddy did something to make Mommy sad. It’s not that she doesn’t like you. She’s upset with me, okay?”
25 BONUS
“Really?” Kayla asked, her sensitivity surpassing what Cedric had anticipated. “Yes,” he replied. “Okay, hurry and eat. After that, you can go to school.”
“Daddy?”
“What is it?”
“Many kids are picked up and dropped off by their mothers,” she said softly, clearly envious.
A driver would often drop her off, as Cedric had little time to do so himself. She hadn’t realized that most children were often picked up or dropped off by their parents during elementary school. Even if they had drivers, their parents usually came along
Cedric felt an aching sensation in his chest. The discomfort seemed to spread and grow. Finally, he said, “Don’t worry, when Mommy has time, she will. She’s just very busy.”
Was she really just too busy? Kayla knew Natalie disliked her, so having Natalie pick her up was out of the question.
After last night, Cedric was at a loss about how to face Natalie. When he had gone to Wexford, he already felt this way. After last night’s events and having confirmed things…
Cedric didn’t know how he should treat Natalie.
The pain he inflicted upon her was evidently too deep.
Due to Kayla’s earlier words, Cedric personally took her to school after breakfast.
Recently, he drove her more often in the mornings and picked her up less frequently. Kayla was already a sensitive child, perhaps noticing that some of her classmates were regularly picked up by their parents.
Children naturally held expectations for familial love, and Kayla was no exception.
Meanwhile, Natalie had arranged for Luna to attend a top–tier kindergarten located right next to Simeria Central Elementary School. With fewer engagements occupying her time, Natalie focused more on spending quality moments with Luna.
After breakfast, she had her driver take them, ensuring she remained by Luna’s side throughout the journey. As Cedric’s car passed by the kindergarten, he clearly saw Natalie cradling Luna in her arms.
Kayla saw it too.
A sense of envy flashed in her eyes.
la Cedric’s heart tightened even more.
+25 BONUS
Kayla’s eyes brimmed with tears and a deep sense of loss as she buried her face in Cedric’s embrace, asking, “Does Mommy not like me because there’s another child?”
She had witnessed Natalie’s tender interaction with that child, seeing her play the role of a loving mother.
However, Natalie wasn’t loving towards her.
Cedric had earlier already comforted Kayla, but this new development caused him to frown deeply.
It was clearly a severe headache.
“Kayla, don’t cry. Listen to Daddy!” he urged.
“It’s because of another child! That’s why she doesn’t like me. She loves that other child,” Kayla sobbed uncontrollably, her emotions spiraling out of control.
Cedric felt an intense headache coming on.
Yes, he had seen it too!
He knew how much Natalie cherished Caleb’s child.
How could she…?
