Chapter 233: The meeting with Nathan (Part 1)

Words : 1157 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Anne slipped into the elegant dress Augustine had arranged for her before leaving the office through the private elevator. The moment the doors slid open in the parking area, she spotted Sam already waiting beside the car, his posture straight and his expression unreadable as always. He opened the rear door for her. She nodded in thanks and stepped in. Sam got behind the wheel and started the engine, pulling the car smoothly out of the parking lot. Curiosity tugged at Anne. She couldn’t stop wondering who this mysterious luncheon was with. The secrecy had been eating at her since morning. "Do you know who Augustine is meeting with?" she asked, trying to sound casual as she met Sam’s gaze in the rearview mirror. "I’m just the bodyguard, ma’am. I don’t ask questions I’m not meant to." "Fine." Anne exhaled in mild frustration and leaned back into the seat, folding her arms as she turned to stare out the window. "I’ll find out soon enough." The ride was quiet. Minutes later, the car glided to a stop in front of a grand, upscale restaurant. Sam stepped out swiftly and came around to open her door. Anne got out, her eyes scanning the opulent exterior of the building before entering. The cool air of the restaurant embraced her as she walked in. At the reception, Gustave was already waiting. He offered a polite nod. "Good afternoon, Ma’am. Sir is waiting for you. Please come with me." Anne followed him down a corridor toward a secluded private room. The moment she crossed the threshold, she froze. Seated across from Augustine was Nathan. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes met Nathan’s. He stiffened, too, in his place. Before she could react, Augustine stood and came to her side, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, Anne. You are here." "Augustine..." she murmured. Her heart raced, her emotions tangled. "Come." He took her hand and guided her to the table. He pulled out a chair for her and gestured for her to sit. She lowered herself into the seat slowly, trying to steady her hands, her breath, and her thoughts. "We meet again," Nathan said, a faint smile on his lips. "Yeah..." Anne managed a tight, uneasy smile. "Since our first meeting, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind," Nathan said honestly. "Something about you felt... familiar. You look so much like my mother. And I couldn’t shake the thought that you might be the sister I’ve been searching for all these years." Anne’s throat tightened. Her palms grew damp, and her fingers trembled in her lap. Her mind was spinning with joy, disbelief, and uncertainty. Words failed her, her emotions swelling too fast, too much to be contained in a sentence. "I went to see your father... I asked him about you." He paused, exhaling deeply. "But he was unable to speak at the time. We couldn’t talk properly." Anne’s gaze flickered with emotion, but she remained silent, listening. Nathan then opened his hand, revealing the sapphire pendant Augustine had given him not long ago. "When I saw this today," he continued, "I knew you were the one I’ve been searching for all these years." He reached into his pocket and pulled out another pendant, almost identical. Holding both up for her to see, he explained, "These were made for us by our mother. Each one carries our initials." Anne had already seen the letter ’R’ engraved on the back of her pendant. Nathan pointed to the pendants once more. "See for yourself—mine has an ’N’, and yours has an ’R’. Your real name is Raya," he said with a warm smile. "But Anne suits you too. It’s a lovely name." Anne’s lips curved into a tremulous smile, her emotions welling up in her throat. "Thank you," she whispered. "I... I don’t know what to say. I never imagined I could reunite with my real family. I always thought I was an orphan." Augustine reached out and took her trembling hand into his. His warm, steady grip anchored her. She glanced at him gratefully. He was there for her, no matter what. Nathan’s eyes glistened. "I’m sorry," he said quietly. "I’m sorry you had to live away from us, grow up without knowing your real family. I wish I had found you sooner. Mommy never got over what happened. She blamed herself every day. She regretted taking you out that day." "How did you lose her?" Augustine asked suspiciously. "Was it truly a kidnapping? I ask because in the initial investigation, there was no record of a ransom call. So I wonder, was it really a kidnapping? Or did your mother simply lose track of her child due to carelessness?" Nathan’s expression tightened as he responded with quiet certainty, "It was a kidnapping. I was there. I may have only been four, but I remember that day." His eyes drifted to the wall behind Augustine as the memory overtook him. "We had gone to the park. There was an ice cream van parked nearby, and we urged Mommy to get us some. While she was busy placing the order, Raya and I sat on a bench a short distance away. That’s when a balloon vendor approached us. He showed us colorful balloons, speaking kindly. He handed us each one." He paused, regret flickering in his eyes. "I was so caught up playing with the balloon that I didn’t realize the man had vanished... and Raya was gone too." A heavy silence fell over the room. Nathan stared down, lost in guilt. Anne’s eyes widened, her breath shallow, while Augustine’s brow furrowed in thought. "I didn’t understand much back then," Nathan continued, voice thick with remorse. "I didn’t realize the danger. But the moment I noticed my sister was missing, I cried. I remember that anguish like it happened yesterday. And my mother... she has carried that guilt ever since. She never forgave herself." Nathan turned his gaze toward Anne, his voice gentle yet burdened with emotion. "All these years, she has been waiting, hoping to hold her daughter again. Only you can bring her peace now. Only you can mend her heart." Anne’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. A lump formed in her throat as emotion surged within her. She had long buried the desire to meet her real family, to know the woman who had brought her into the world. And now that chance was right in front of her. "I want to see her," she whispered. Nathan gave a solemn nod. "I’ll take you to her. But first, we need to do a paternity test." Though his heart was sure she was his sister, he knew the test was necessary. Not for them, but for the others, the relatives who would demand proof, who would doubt, question, or try to reject her. "I’m ready," Anne said without hesitation.

Chapter 233: The meeting with Nathan (Part 1)

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