“Nat, how about you go downstairs with me?” Benjamin raised his brow and asked her.
“What are we going to do downstairs?” asked Natasha.
Flashing her a mysterious smile, Benjamin approached her and held her arm. “Come with me, and you'll find out!”
With that, Natasha headed downstairs under Benjamin's lead.
When they reached the courtyard, Natasha asked again, “Where are you going to bring me?”
“You'll know soon!”
Natasha glanced at him and smiled.
The sky was clear outside.
Under the sun, everything looked vibrant and full of life, and it felt as if they were basking in the wonders of Mother Nature.
When Benjamin and Natasha reached the gate, a voice sounded from the outside.
“Nat.”
Natasha paused in her tracks, unsure whether she was hearing things.
“Nat!” the sweet voice called again. When Natasha looked over, she saw a figure running in from the outside.
At the sight of the girl, Natasha froze.
Wearing a dress, a hat, and a sling bag across her body, Denise looked just like a character straight out of a cartoon as she skipped toward Natasha.
For a moment, Natasha was in a daze. I'm hallucinating now, am I?
While she was still spacing out, Denise approached her and embraced her tightly.
It was only when Natasha felt Denise's arms around her that she realized the girl was really standing before her.
Natasha looked down at Denise, whose hat had fallen off while she was running earlier. Despite the fact that her hair was flattened because of the hat, she still looked adorable.
“Nat, I missed you so, so much,” Denise confessed with a trembling voice.
When Natasha raised her head again, she saw Kenneth walking in with a suitcase.
In an instant, she seemed to understand something.
Lowering her gaze, she stroked Denise's head and responded, “I missed you, too.”
Denise continued to cling to Natasha. After all, she had never been separated from the latter for so long. She missed Natasha so much that she felt like losing her mind.
Standing at the side, Benjamin couldn't help but tease, “Denise, did you only miss Nat?”
“Yes!” Denise answered. It seemed like she had no intention to let go as her arms remained wrapped around Natasha's hand.
With a helpless smile, Benjamin said, “All right, that's enough. Let's go inside first.”
Denise looked up at Natasha with red-rimmed eyes and pouted. “Nat, carry me!”
Right away, Natasha leaned down and took the girl into her arms.
Upon seeing Denise hanging onto Natasha's body like a baby koala, Benjamin frowned.
Just as he was about to speak, Kenneth piped up, “Let me carry you.”
“No. I want Nat to carry me!” Denise refused to give in.
Hearing the girl's words, Natasha glanced at Kenneth and arched her eyebrow triumphantly. At that moment, she felt like she had finally won after being the children's mother for years.
“Nat isn't feeling well,” Kenneth claimed.
Immediately, Denise looked at Natasha and touched the latter's forehead, cradling her face in her palms. “What's wrong, Nat? Are you sick?”
“I'm fine.”
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