This time, Natalie didn’t intervene. Perhaps, for Garrett, alcohol was the best balm for his wounds. “I thought setting her free would bring her back when she realized her true desires,” Garrett murmured. His bloodshot eyes stared into the bottle before taking a hefty swig. “I never imagined she’d leave and never return. I regret it. I shouldn’t have let her go!” Witnessing his friend’s agony, Brandon empathized and joined him in a drink. “Why not seek her out and get some clarity? It might not be as dire as you think.”
Garrett shook his head, disheartened. “I considered that. | planned to find her last night, but… I couldn’t face her. I fear the loathing in her eyes, the possibility that she no longer loves me…” As his words trailed off, Garrett’s gaze grew distant and tears welled up. He lifted the bottle and drank deeply. Men seldom wept so openly.
Natalie’s heart ached witnessing Garrett’s despair.
She had seen their journey from acquaintances to lovers and everything in between. Never had she anticipated this outcome, with their relationship disintegrating so completely.
Brandon, unable to tolerate his friend’s desolation, challenged him with a steely tone, “Can you truly let go of Laney and your newborn daughter? If you can’t, then fight for them! Moping here, drowning in alcohol and tears won’t solve a thing.”
Garrett froze for a moment before slamming the bottle onto the table. “You’re right! I won’t surrender so easily! I’ll win her back! Laney belongs to me, and only me!”
Meanwhile, Natalie took a more thoughtful stance. Having seen the hardships
Laney faced within the Harding family, she cautioned, “Even if you manage to win Laney back now, if you can’t ensure she’s free to pursue her desires, you’ll inevitably part ways again.” Though heavily inebriated, Garrett sobered up slightly at Natalie’s words. With earnest resolve, he declared, “I’ve come to understand that love means supporting her wholeheartedly. If Laney returns, no matter her aspirations, even if she aspires to the presidency, I’ll back her.”
Natalie’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Really? Didn’t you say that you marry her out of pity?”
“Ridiculous!” Garrett slammed the table, his voice escalating. “I love her! There are countless pitiable souls in the world; why wouldn’t I pity and love them too? I love only Laney! I love her!” Ultimately, Garrett slurred “I love Laney” several times before collapsing onto Brandon’s shoulder.
Brandon, repulsed, shoved Garrett away and turned to Natalie, impatience clear in his voice. “Are you done interrogating him? Did Laney catch all of that?”
Natalie chuckled and held up her phone, revealing a call with Laney in progress. “How did you know I was phoning Laney?” she inquired. It turned out that shortly after entering the private room, Natalie had covertly dialed Laney and left the phone aside, deliberately allowing Garrett an opportunity to bare his soul.
Shaking his head helplessly, Brandon said, “Your call was hard to miss. Only someone as drunk as Garrett wouldn’t have seen it.” Since her trick was exposed, Natalie stuck out her tongue in embarrassment and asked Laney over the phone, “You heard everything Garrett said. Tell me, what do you think?”
“I…” Laney didn’t know what to say. “I don’t know…” she murmured.
With a heavy sigh, Natalie said, “A drunk mind speaks a sober heart. You should be able to see that he has repented. Can’t you give him another chance?”
Even Laney couldn’t deny that she was indeed deeply moved by what Garrett said.
Besides, she had also been thinking of him and sometimes, she would wonder if he had fallen in love with someone else while they were separated.
Now, after hearing his confession, her heart was swayed once again. The love she had been concealing in her heart made it impossible for her to deny that she could not forget about Garrett.
“I need time to think,” Laney said. Noticing a hint of wavering in her words, Natalie and Brandon were relieved.
“So you sent the divorce papers and the ring to Garrett to make him realize his true feelings?” Natalie teased.
“What divorce papers? I didn’t send him anything of the sort. All I did was take off my ring and stop wearing it. 1 was wondering why he was reacting so strangely!” Laney exclaimed.
With her eyes wide open in surprise, Natalie asked, “What’s going on then? Garrett said he received the divorce papers and the wedding ring you sent him.
He thought you really wanted to separate from him for good, and that’s why he was so upset today.”
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Laney suddenly thought of something and went to see if her ring was still there, and was shocked to find that it was missing. Frowning deeply, she said, “I don’t know what’s going on, but I will find out who sent those things to him in my name.” Concerned, Natalie said, “You have to be careful. Since that person managed to steal your wedding ring without you even noticing it, they have to be dangerous. Who knows what they might do to you.”
Laney agreed in a serious tone, “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. As for Garrett…”
After a moment’s hesitation, she softened her voice and continued, “Let him say the same things to me when he is sober. Right now, I don’t trust a drunk man’s words.”
Natalie couldn’t help but laugh. “As long as you two love birds can work it out, nothing else matters. Alright, I won’t disturb you any longer. We need to help Garrett get home. He’s passed out drunk.” “Okay, be careful,” Laney said, slightly worried about Garrett. She then added a few more instructions before hanging up.
Natalie and Brandon lost their appetite after the call, so they helped Garrett go home.
On their way, Garrett kept yelling, “Laney, I love you!” He would then burst into tears and cry out, “I don’t want a divorce!” His behavior was so exasperating to
Brandon that he even considered dropping him off on the side of the road.
Even Natalie, who was usually very patient, was drained from Garrett’s behavior.
After finally reaching Garrett’s home, Brandon was about to escort him to the master bedroom when the servant suddenly stopped him and said, “Let me help
Mr. Harding. He has been sleeping in the nursery for a while now.”
After finally reaching Garrett’s home, Brandon was about to escort him to the master bedroom when the servant suddenly stopped him and said, “Let me help Mr. Harding. He has been sleeping in the nursery for a while now.”
“The nursery?”
Taken by surprise, Natalie asked, “Why?”
Supporting Garrett, the servant explained, “Well, ever since Mrs. Harding and their daughter left, Mr. Harding has been sleeping in the nursery. He suffers from insomnia if he tries to sleep elsewhere.”
Brandon furrowed his brows slightly and asked, “Insomnia? Is it serious?” answered
With a firm nod, the servant answered, “Yes, and his condition has been getting worse. He has even started to find it difficult to fall asleep in the nursery now. He’s been relying on sleeping pills, yet he can only sleep for a few hours at night.”