Reborn From Oblivion

Nathalie's face tightened visibly. "Can you pass the phone to Nathan? I need to have a word with him alone."

"Sure thing."

After a brief silence, Nathan's voice came through, laced with guilt as though he'd been caught red-handed. "Where are you, Nathalie?"

Nathalie shot back, "Why have you been drinking? And how much have you drunk? Get home, now."

Her voice carried a mix of authority and concern, trembling just a bit.

No one knew the deep regret Nathalie felt for failing to protect her daughter in a past life. In this life, Nathalie embraced Nathan as family and was fiercely determined to shield him from harm.

Like a hurt puppy, Nathan whined and said, "Nathalie, you haven't answered my question."

Nathalie stayed silent. The long pause made Nathan really uneasy.

"I'm at East Woods," Nathalie finally admitted.

Now, it was Nathan's turn to go quiet for a while.

"Nathalie, don't worry about me, uh-" he started, only to be interrupted by the unmistakable sound of vomiting.

Nathalie went pale. "How much did you drink? What on earth are you doing? You better not be lying to me. Get home now."

Nathan's spirits lifted like a kid getting a treat. "Nathalie, come get me from the bar!" He was like a child pleading for candy.

Nathalie hung up, a small smile forming as she looked at the sapling in front of her. "Nina, did you hear that? That was Nathan. You must really like him because he's our savior. I didn't protect you before, but this time, I promise to protect him." "Nina, I've got to go now. I'll visit you another time."

Nathalie hurried down the mountain before sunset without looking back. Had she turned, she would have seen Cameron standing there, panic etched on his face.

Even Cameron didn't quite understand why Nathalie's concern for Nathan and the story behind it made him so anxious. It felt like a precious treasure he hadn't valued was slipping away forever.

As Nathalie waited at the bus stop to head back to town, she saw Cameron pull up in his fancy car.

The window rolled down, and Cameron, feigning coincidence, asked, "Nathalie, need a ride?"

"No, thanks," Nathalie replied firmly.

Cameron added, "Buses are scarce at this hour. You might be waiting a while."

After a moment of indecision, Nathalie gave in and got in the back seat.

Cameron's lips curled into a slight smile as he drove off.

Silence filled the car. Cameron tried to break the ice. "You weren't always this quiet."

Nathalie snapped back, "I've got nothing to say to you."

Cameron offered a bitter smile.

Once, Nathalie was a bright and cheerful girl. But since meeting him, she'd grown more withdrawn. Cameron cautiously asked, "Nathalie, do you think we can make things better between us?"

Nathalie looked at him without a word. "What do you think?"

Cameron said, "Nathalie, we were married, after all..."

The word married' hit Nathalie like a

sting. She wrapped her arms around

herself visibly recoiling. were

the most humiliating days of my life.