Chapter 3

In Leo's car, Natalie leaned back in the rear seat, eyes closed, her face showing signs of exhaustion.

The three kids were strapped into their car seats. Jimmy was engrossed in a medical primer on his tablet, while Eden and Daisy quietly played a clapping game.

They were so well-behaved that you'd never guess they were five years old.

Leo turned around from the passenger seat and handed her a thermos.

"Hot cocoa. It'll warm you up. The AC at the conference center was freezing," he said.

Natalie took it. The thermos was the right temperature, not too hot to hold, not cold.

She took a sip. The sweetness was perfect, the way she liked it.

"How do you know everything?" she couldn't help but ask.

Leo didn't answer. He gave her a long, meaningful look.

That look was so deep that it seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words, yet so subtle that it was as if nothing had happened.

Natalie dropped her gaze and didn't ask again.

It had been three years.

Three years ago, on that night when the rain was pouring down, Leo drove Natalie and Daisy to the hospital, made sure they had the best doctors, and paid for everything.

After Daisy's fever finally broke, Natalie wanted to thank him face-to-face, but she was told he'd left for an overseas business trip.

She thought that was the end of it.

But a month later, she got an email from Leo. Attached was a detailed study plan.

It covered everything from how to apply for a graduate program at Solarin Medical College to the documents and exams she'd need, even the scholarships she could apply for. Every little thing was laid out, clear as day.

At the end of the email, there was one line: [You deserve better.]

Natalie stared at that line for a long time.

That was when she got to work.

She worked all day, studied at night, and after finally soothing Daisy to sleep at three in the morning, she'd dive right back into her books.

She barely had a moment to sleep, rest, or cry. But she did it.

A year later, she topped her class and got into the graduate program at Solarin Medical College.

Two years after that, her paper was published in a leading international journal, setting the academic world abuzz.

Three years later, she was fast-tracked into the PhD program and invited to give a featured talk at an international medical summit.

For three years, Leo never appeared in her life.

But Natalie knew he was always there.

Whenever she hit a rough patch, there always seemed to be someone who would help her out, as if by chance.

When she was struggling to find a place to rent, a real estate agent would reach out, saying there was a perfect apartment for her and the kids, at an incredibly low price.

When no one helped watch the kids, someone in the community would recommend a trustworthy nanny, experienced and reasonably priced.

When she was overwhelmed by her studies, her advisor would give her special attention, making sure she had access to the best research resources.

She never questioned whether these "coincidences" were orchestrated by someone, because she already knew the answer.

The car pulled up in front of a luxury apartment building.

Leo got out, opened the door for Natalie, and helped the kids out of their car seats.

"Not going to invite me up for a bit?" he asked, standing at the entrance, his eyes fixed on her.

Natalie fell silent for a moment.

She knew she should invite him up. After everything he'd done for her these past three years, she'd never invited him in for a cup of coffee.

But deep down, she was aware of those tangled feelings inside, ones she couldn't put into words.

She couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Maybe next time," she said. "I'm too tired today."

Leo looked at her, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

It was a subtle smile, but when he smiled, he looked almost angelic. His eyes softened, his whole demeanor relaxed, so different from his usual cold, distant self.

It was like a saint who'd finally let a bit of the world's warmth touch him.

"Alright," he said. "I'll wait for next time."

He turned and got back into the car, the black Bentley gliding away.

Natalie stood there, watching the car disappear into the night. She stayed rooted in place for a long time, lost in her thoughts.

"Mommy," Eden tugged at her sleeve, "does that handsome man like you?"

Natalie looked down at him, but didn't say a word.

Daisy blinked her beautiful eyes and chirped in her cute little voice, "I like him, too. He's handsome and a million times better than our grumpy dad."

Natalie froze for a moment. Grumpy dad?

"Daisy, where did you see that person?" she asked.

"Just now," Daisy replied confidently. "At the place where you were giving your talk. He gave me such a scary look, and Eden stood in front of me so he couldn't get close."

Natalie's gaze grew heavy.

She remembered the shocked, twisted look on Harry's face at the lounge door.

He knew the kids were his.

Natalie wondered what he was going to do.

She was afraid he was going to try to take them from her.

She crouched down and gathered all three kids close in her arms.

"Listen," Natalie said, her voice gentle but unwavering. "No matter what happens, I'll always protect you. No one will take you away from me, not ever. Got it?"

The three kids nodded together.

Jimmy's little face was serious. "Mommy, I'll protect you."

Eden raised his hand. "I'll protect you too, Mommy."

Daisy wrapped her arms around Natalie's neck and said in her soft, sweet voice, "I'll protect you, too, Mommy. And I'll have the handsome Leo protect you as well."

Natalie couldn't help but laugh.

But as she laughed, she felt her eyes start to sting, tears threatening to spill.

She stood up, gathered the kids, and with them in tow, stepped into the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed, Leo's words echoed in Natalie's mind. "I'll wait for next time."

What exactly was he waiting for?

Natalie wondered if Leo was waiting for her to finally invite him up for a cup of coffee or for something else.

She couldn't tell for sure.

But maybe she was waiting for something, too.