A Cue For Happine
ss Chapter 12

A Cue For Happiness Chapter 12

Stay By My Side

Samuel glanced at Natalie briefly with a meaningful look in his eyes. With his lips slightly raised, hesaid, “Ms. Nichols, your vigilance is truly over-the-top. However, what are you afraid of? Are youworried that I’d want something from you?”Natalie was feeling extremely uncomfortable under hisgaze.The man’s eyes were focused on her face as if he was trying to stare right through hersoul.Finally, she understood why he was rumored to be an immensely dominant and difficult-to-deal-with man. None of the people who were once targeted by Samuel was able to escape from hisclutches.It wasn’t that she didn’t take him seriously before this, but she simply didn’t want to beassociated with such a dangerous person in any way.At that moment, Gavin came in and reported, “Sir,the meal is ready.”Samuel’s lips were slightly curved upward when he said, “Ms. Nichols, let’s dinetogether. Have a taste of my chef’s work.”Natalie didn’t try to reject, merely following Samuel into thedining hall to have their meal.The dining table was laden with all sorts of delicacies. Right after she tookher seat, she began digging in. Although she was pleasantly surprised by the chef’s cooking, she stillmanaged to control herself while she ate. Thus, she survived the session without any incident.Right asshe was almost done with her food, Samuel’s phone began vibrating.“Please excuse me,” he said.“Goahead.”When Samuel left, Natalie was finally able to relax for a bit.I can’t believe I managed to finishthe meal without Samuel making things unnecessarily difficult for me. Could it be possible that I wasthe one who was being too paranoid? Did I really think of him too badly?She was just about to finishher food when she felt something cool and soft on her calf all of a sudden.What the hell?Natalie lookeddownward, only to see a snow-white snake twirling itself around her calf, slowly inching its way up herleg. Its eyes were clear and amber-colored, and it kept flicking its tongue from time to time.Natalie wasunlike Yara, who grew up in the city. Before she turned nineteen, Natalie had been living in thecountryside. There would always be snakes in the fields and rivers, so she wasn’t afraid of the snake.She had even caught snakes for fun with her childhood friends back then.However, when she came tothe city, she rarely had the chance to see snakes anymore.She put down her fork and pried the littlefellow that was wrapped around her leg off herself before lifting it right in front of her face. Then, she

caressed the snake’s head gently while saying, “Hello, little guy. You look special. Are you analbino?”She was planning to take the snake home with her if it didn’t have an owner. Xavian would loveto keep it as a pet.“You’re not afraid of Moony?” A childish voice could be heard.“M-Moony?”Natalie’ssight shifted from Moony to a little boy, who was standing at the door of the dining hall.The little boyhad pretty looks, and his dark eyes were fixed intently on her. His good looks were even comparablewith that of Xavian and Clayton’s. Upon closer observation, she noticed that the little boy lookedsomewhat similar to Xavian and Clayton. Maybe it was because of this similarity that made her smileslightly.She took Moony in her hand and walked toward Franklin before squatting down in front ofhim.“Is this snake yours? It’s cute!” Natalie was smiling when she looked into the little boy’s dark eyes.“Is its name Moony?”The little boy pursed his lips and snorted. “You’re unattractive, but you’re ratherbrave. At least you’re better than those women who screamed when they saw Moony.”“Here. I’ll returnit back to you.” Natalie placed Moony on Franklin’s small palms.Franklin snorted again, never onceaverting his eyes from her face. “I called you unattractive just now. Why are you not mad at me?”AsNatalie had a hyper-realistic mask on her face to make her appear ugly, she wasn’t the slightest bitbothered by the little boy’s harsh words.“Well, it’s a fact that I’m unattractive. Therefore, there’s noreason for me to be mad about it.” She rubbed Franklin’s head, which was bristly because of his shorthair, while she spoke. “Moreover, I’m already ugly. Won’t it just make me uglier if I still get angry aboutit?”Franklin was already five years old. Still, his head had never been touched by anyone other than hisgrandfather.His father had never touched him, whereas others wouldn’t even dare to think about it.Even the woman who gave birth to him would be frightened by a few words from him. Thus, she wouldnever approach him.An indescribable warmth surged in the boy’s chest when Natalie caressed hishead.It was a feeling he had never experienced before.“Y-You…” He clenched his little fists.“Hmm?What is it?” Natalie paused her action before lifting her head to look at the boy, who seemed to bestruggling with something.“Woman, you touched my head! You’ll have to take responsibility.” Franklinstared straight into her eyes as he spoke. “Be my woman from now on. I swear that I’ll take care of youto the best of my abilities for the rest of my life. No one will dare to bully you!”“Pfft!”Natalie couldn’t stopherself from letting out a snort.This little fellow is only about the same age as Clayton and Xavian, yet

he confessed his feelings to me just like that? What was funny was that the little boy was so adorable,yet he said something so domineering like he was the president of a company. The contrast was sojarring that she couldn’t stop herself from laughing.“Why are you laughing?” Franklin puffed up hischeeks and stared at her in all seriousness. “There aren’t a lot of women who can meet my standards.You’re the first. Since both Moony and I replace you acceptable, you should stay by my side from todayonward.”Natalie could just imagine how enraged this child’s father would be if he were to hearthis.While she was in the middle of her thoughts, a tall and lean figure came in from the living room.Theman’s eyes were stern and frosty as he called out, “Franklin Bowers.”