In the evening, Julia arrived at Jas’ ho with Natalie. Jas was present in the drawing room to welco them, while Caryn was still inside her room.
Natalie had conflicted emotions in her heart as she t this man as her father—after he had declared it in front of the entire world. She didn’t know how to go about it. How was she supposed to suddenly address this man as father when she still called her mother by na?
Jas approached them, his gaze settling on Natalie, who offered him a polite nod. anwhile, Julia imdiately spoke up.
"You finally did sothing to make your mother proud of you. You married the one you always loved."
Just like always, unaffected by any of her remarks, Jas said, "Have a seat first."
As they walked toward the sofa, Julia said to Natalie, "You know, your father has always been madly in love with your mother, even after she left him..."
"Mother, do you really have to tell all this to my daughter even before she knows well enough on her own and gets used to calling father?" Jas comnted. "Leave her be."
"Are you worried your fake cold and aloof persona will be lifted in front of your daughter if I tell her what you don’t show others?" Julia countered.
"My actions from the past few days are enough to let her know what I feel for her mother. There is no need for you to waste your words," Jas replied without a tinge of hesitation.
Natalie couldn’t deny this claim. Even at this age this man was bold enough to frisk away his woman in front of entire world, without caring for what others would even say. One could only imagine the depth of his love towards that woman.
"I need sothing to talk about with my granddaughter, so gossiping about you seems like a good start," Julia countered. "And you can’t stop ."
Jas sighed and helped his mother settle on the sofa.
Natalie tried her best not to smile at the way these two were bickering. She hadn’t expected Jas to talk this much.
Jas looked at Natalie. "Justin?"
"He is finishing an important eting, but he will be here soon," she inford him.
He humd and left to get Caryn. She was inside her room when he approached her.
"Mother is here," he inford her.
She didn’t reply but turned her wheelchair around so she could leave the room.
Jas knelt in front of her chair, looking at her slightly anxious face.
"Mother is happy to have you. You don’t have to think too much. Just be yourself," he said calmly, looking into her eyes. Then, in a teasing tone, he added, "Moreover, as you said before, you are too old, so no need to feel like a newly wedded woman. Now you’re a woman with gray hair, old and experienced."
Hearing that, Caryn felt like slapping him. He was teasing her. Though she had said she was old, he didn’t have to rub it in her face like this.
"You’re old as well, so stop acting like a young, domineering man," she retorted, her tone slightly angry.
"I never said I am old," he countered, happy that she was back to her arrogant self. "Acting like a young, domineering man? Hmm! Are you referring to when I kissed you? Even if we are in eighties or nineteen, I would be sa passionate towards you."
"Shut up!" she scolded him. "Move away! I need to go out."
Jas stood up and watched her go ahead while he followed her out.
Caryn reached the drawing room, where Julia greeted her with a warm smile. Caryn removed the mask from her face as a gesture of respect before greeting her.
"Good evening, Madam Harper," Caryn addressed her the sa way she used to in the past.
"Caryn, don’t you think that’s not the appropriate way to address now?" Julia asked softly.
Before Caryn could say a word, Jas interjected, "Mother. Take it slow."
Julia sighed. "You’re still over-possessive of her. Never mind, I’ll wait until she calls mother."
Caryn sighed in relief and looked at Natalie, who was sitting calmly. "Your husband isn’t here?"
"He’s on the way," she replied.
Just then, a man entered the ho—Justin.
"There he is," Julia said, then asked as he approached them, "Finished your eting?"
"Yes," Justin replied. He offered a polite nod in greeting to Caryn before sitting next to Natalie.
"You and Jas are always busy with these etings and work, as if Harper Group would fall to ruins if you two didn’t work," Julia said in a complaining tone. "If you were any later, I was going to keep you outside."
"Calm down, Julia," Justin said. "It’s not even dinner ti yet."
"So, can’t I expect my family to sit together and talk?" Julia countered. "Before, you and Jas would always leave alone, but now that both of you are finally tied to a woman, I’m sure I won’t be left alone anymore."
Caryn listened to their conversation, trying to process Julia’s words. Confusion itched at her face. Just then, she heard Jas, who knew exactly what she was thinking.
"He is my adopted son, Justin. I told you you’d et him today," Jas said.
Shock gripped Caryn’s mind as she looked at Justin, who nodded. "I am Justin Harper, as well as Aiden Handrix, Natalie’s husband."
Caryn turned to Jas, slightly stunned as she processed it all. So Natalie was married to the man who was her father’s adopted son.
"And you approve of them being together?" Caryn asked.
"It’s better to let our daughter be with a man we know rather than soone we don’t," Jas said. "I raised him, and I know he is the perfect man for Natalie. Also, they are not biologically related, so I see no issue."
Caryn looked at Natalie. "Are you happy with him?"
Just as Natalie opened her mouth to respond, Caryn spoke again. "Answer only after you’ve thought about the kind of person you believe he is. I don’t care if he is Aiden Handrix or Justin Harper or how rich he is. All I need is for you to have a good man. You are capable enough to earn wealth on your own."
"I know," Natalie finally spoke. "There is nothing for you to worry about."
As the two talked, no one interfered. It was good to see Caryn showing that she cared for her daughter. She was indeed a strict mother.
A servant arrived and inford them, "Dinner is ready. Shall I start serving?"
"Of course," Julia said, breaking the silence. "I’m starving."
They all headed to the dining table and had a peaceful dinner. Afterward, as they settled back in the drawing room, Jas said, "Justin, co with ."
Justin followed Jas to his study, leaving the three won wondering.
"What is it that these two can’t talk about in front of us?" Julia said in a complaining tone. "We’re family, not strangers."
Jas and Justin didn’t co out for a long ti. Julia took this chance to talk with Caryn.
"Caryn, how have you been?" Julia asked.
"Just as you must have heard," Caryn replied.
"You have always been a strong woman. I am glad you managed to face it all and are back with us," Julia said. "Jas was utterly broken after you left him. Though he never showed it, as a mother, I could tell. Now that you are together again, I hope you will be good to each other and not waste ti dwelling in the past."
Caryn could only hum in response to the old woman’s request, but she wasn’t sure herself how she was going to go about it.
The two continued to talk while Natalie sat quietly, lost in her own thoughts as she listened to them.
Natalie couldn’t help but wonder—what was her parents’ relationship like in the past? What had happened to separate them when it was clear they loved each other?
She could tell that, despite how Caryn acted, she still loved Jas. Otherwise, there was no way Jas could have kept her here if she didn’t want to stay. If she truly hated him, she would have turned this ho into hell or done sothing outrageous to threaten Jas, even at the cost of her own life.
But here she was, all obedient to Jas Harper.
All that needed was her to admit it to herself first and then to her man.
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