Vivian smiled. God was on her side.
Vivian found the journalist’s contact number on his page and immediately dialed it.
“Who is it? We’re very busy following up the Larson Group news and anything else can wait.”
The reporters were outside the hospital trying to get an interview with the Larson Group.
Vivian said, “I’m the woman in that viral video giving Lydia her baby back. I’d like to tell you exactly why Lydia’s baby was snatched.”
*******
Meanwhile, the Larson Group building was still brightly lit up at midnight.
After the meeting, Brandon had gone back to his office alone without switching the lights on. He sat on his chair, in the dark. He didn’t get up again until the night sky outside the French windows faded to white.
At dawn, there was another tough battle to fight.
After Sean had taken her home, Natalie had waited on the sofa. Unable to keep her eyes open, she fell asleep; she woke up at around midnight, and then fell asleep again. The next time she opened her eyes, the sun was up in the sky outside the window.
She heard the door unlocking and ran over. Her head was full of questions, but as soon as she saw Brandon, she couldn’t bring herself to ask any of them.
Although his clothes all seemed clean and tidy, his bloodshot eyes and the five o’clock shadow gave away that he hadn’t slept all night.
The tension in his nerves didn’t let go until he saw that Natalie had obediently stayed at home like he asked. He put his hand to Natalie’s head and gently stroked her hair. “I need to sleep. But I can tell you that Lydia’s condition has been stabilized, and the baby is fine. Lydia needs to avoid anything that might distress her though, so the Larson Group board have decided not to let her attend any press conferences for the time being. Not in her condition.”
Maybe he really was tired, Natalie thought as Brandon took off his coat and went into the bedroom. He pulled back the covers and lay down on the bed without waiting for her to reply.
Natalie didn’t want to disturb him.
She sighed before tucking him in. Once he had closed his eyes she stood there a moment and quietly stared at his harmless-looking face.
How was it that he looked like a completely different person when he was asleep, compared with when he was awake?
As her fingers gently traced his tall nose in the air, she pondered on this.
Brandon, who had seemed sound asleep, suddenly opened his eyes and looked into hers. Natalie snapped back her hand and said, “I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll go.”
As she got up from the bed to leave, Brandon stopped her and pulled her back. He said, in a sleepy drawl, “I’ve had Lydia moved to another hospital in secret, and told her to get a decent rest there. Don’t even think about sneaking out to see her while I’m asleep.”
“I won’t.” Looking guilty at being caught out, Natalie asked, “Is she really willing to accept the compensation?”
“I spoke to Lydia before I left, and she said she would. Although she can’t clear everything up now, she’s signed a written document and has promised she won’t publish anything defamatory about the
Larson Group. When she recovers, the Larson Group will pay for her to leave the country and keep away from any trouble, to ensure her and her baby’s safety.”
Brandon yawned and hugged Natalie, out of habit. He whispered in her ear, “Lydia also said thank you for the flowers.”
With this news, Natalie believed Lydia really was getting better.
She said, in a low voice, “I hope Lydia will think all this through someday.”
Then she turned around and lay back in his arms. Leaning against his chest, Natalie asked, “And what about all those awful comments online? They were so terrible, I hope something can be done.”
Closing his eyes, Brandon stroked her back, as if comforting a child, “It’s going take a few more days to fix that.”
That was what Natalie needed to hear and she was hit with a wave of relief. Then Vivian’s sudden appearance at the hospital sprang to mind, so she asked him, “How’s Vivian? Did the doctor say anything?”
Vivian? Brandon didn’t give a shit about Vivian.
He rolled over and pinned her with his leg. “I didn’t bother asking. Don’t forget what I told you before. Stay away from that woman.”
There was nothing simple about Vivian. Natalie had to be careful around her.
“Uh huh,” replied Natalie indifferently. She couldn’t understand Brandon’s open hostility towards Vivian. She kind of liked her.
At her grunted reply, Brandon gently told her, “Vivian is the Turners’ adopted daughter.”
At the mention of the Turners, Charis’ face sprang to Natalie’s mind and a chill ran down her spine.
Her tone immediately turned serious as she said, “Okay, in that case, I’ll stay away from her from now on. I don’t need any more trouble. Don’t worry.”
At last, Natalie had taken this matter seriously. Brandon fell asleep in relief.
Maybe it was because she had been so nervous waiting for Brandon last night, exhaustion eventually claimed her as she closed her eyes and fell asleep in his arms.
When she woke up again, the sleeping man who had been with her was gone.
She checked her phone and saw the message Brandon had sent her.
“I’m at work now. You need to regulate your diet. You’ve lost too much weight recently. I don’t like hugging you when you’re so skinny; it’s not comfortable.”
New Book: Beginning with a Daring Encounter
Celsie was tired of being labeled as an introvert, workaholic, and dull virgin by her friends. Determined to prove them wrong, she made a bet that she would do something daring on her 25th birthday. Now that the day had arrived, it was time to fulfill her promise. On her daring to-do list, there was one task: a one-night stand with someone.
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