Chapter 357
Six months slipped away before Natalie even noticed.
She’d been busy, throwing herself into work, growing Billy Firth’s business all across Asia. Most days, she barely had time to breathe, let alone rest. It felt like she was always in the air, one city blending into the next. Thɪs chapter is updated by.net
She’d just gotten off another flight and was making her way through the airport when she noticed a crowd gathering around a huge screen. The news was playing, and people stood frozen, eyes glued to the report. Out of habit, Natalie looked up too.
Her phone rang, snapping her out of it. Arianna’s name lit up the screen.
“Hey, your timing is unreal. I just landed. If you’d called a minute earlier p>
“Natalie.” Arianna’s voice cut in, shaky and serious. “Alexander’s plane crashed.” Natalie didn’t respond. The world seemed to freeze around her.
“Natalie? Hello? Are you there p>
She pressed her lips together, trying to steady herself. It took a moment before she could speak. “What did you just say? Say it again p>
“For the past six months, wherever you went, Alexander followed you. Quietly, without telling anyone. You went to France, so he went too. But then the plane… there was an accident. Don’t panic yet. The Ramirez family sent people over, and Bruce is there too p>
Arianna spoke slowly, carefully, but the words just wouldn’t sink in. Natalie felt hollow, confused, and scared all at once. So Alexander had been with her this whole time, shadowing her across the world, and she hadn’t noticed anything. She’d been working nonstop, on purpose, trying to keep her mind off him, hoping that eventually she’d be able to let him go for good.
But not like this. This wasn’t what she’d wanted. She’d only ever hoped that both of them could move on, live peacefully and safely in the samenity, even if they never
hurt.
again. She never want to get
It had already been two days since the crash. Natalie refused to leave the airport. No matter who tried to convince her to go home and wait for news, she wouldn’t budge She, kept telling herself not to expect the worst, but there was still nothing official. No word at all.
The Ramirez family had pulled every string they could. Gabriel Ramirez had even flown to France, asking everyone he knew for help. Natalie felt like her heart was being squeezed and scorched at the same time.
“Natalie p>
She glanced up. Charlotte Roberts stood in front of her, worry etched on her face.
“Natalie, please. Let’s go home and wait. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this. You’ll get sick p>
Charlotte’s grandson was missing, his fate unknown, and she was still trying to comfort Natalie. The guilt and pain hit Natalie all over again, and tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Grandma, I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, Alexander wouldn’t have p>
“Don’t say that, sweetheart. None of this is your fault. Sometimes, life just… isn’t fair.” Charlotte’s eyes glistened with tears of her own. “Please, let’s go home. We’ll wait together p>
Natalie wanted to stay, to be there the second any news came in. But she couldn’t let Charlotte wait with her here, not with her health. After a long pause, she finally nodded.
On the way home, Natalie stared out the window, barely noticing the world outside. The radio was on, yet again repeating updates about the crash. Every station seemed to be talking about nothing else.
“We have breaking news. There’s finally an update on Flight HU8316, which crashed en route from France to Kaston p>
Natalie jerked upright, every muscle tense. She held her breath, listening.
“After two days of searching, the wreckage has been found. Identities have been confirmed. It is with deep regret that we report all passengers and crew on board lost their live There were no survivors p>