A Love to Die For (Nathaly) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Lina greeted Nathaly through the open car window.

Nathaly was covering tulip seeds with soil, and looked over with a smile when she heard Lina.

“My dear little Lina, wait a moment, I have something for you.”

Soon, Nathaly walked to the car holding two lucky charms. She hung one in Quinten’s car and slipped the other into Lina’s backpack.

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“I made these recently. We call them lucky charms. They bless family and friends with safety, health, and good for- tune in everything.”

Nathaly spoke softly and gently, explaining with care.

Unexpectedly, when she looked up again, she saw the siblings in front of her-one big, one small-both gazing at her with teary eyes.

“Claudia, you are so kind!”

“Claudie, I love you!”

Nathaly couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. She ruffled both of their heads affectionately and said, “Yes, yes, Quinten, you are wonderful too. Lina, I love you too. Now hurry up, or you’ll be late.”

As the car drove away, Nathaly remained standing by the lawn, her smile undiminished.

She had been in Noff

Zealan

for almost three months now.

Everything that once happened in America seemed to be slowly fading away in these peaceful, repetitive days, gradu- ally becoming a nightmare

We will be a protok lt pealed deep in her heart.

Just as she had guessed.

Quinten and Lina

were not related Coll

by blood.

Fifteen years ago, after an earthquake, Quinten, who had become an orphan, was adopted by Eleanor, who had just immigrated.

At that time, Eleanor had just lost her own child. A few s

after adopting Quinten, Eleanor’s husband also passed away, leaving Eleanor and Quinten to depend on each other as mother and son.

Then, five years ago, on the way to go hiking with friends, Quinten found baby Lina, who had been abandoned by her parent’s.

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And so, three people with different faces and no blood ties became a happy family.

Now, Nathaly, who had come from America to New Zealand, had joined them as well.

Thinking of this, Nathaly felt a warm sensation in her chest.

The warmth of family that she had longed for over the years and only briefly possessed, now seemed to have returned to her.

After finishing the morning chores, Nathaly did her half-hour rehabilitation as instructed by her doctor.

At ten in the morning, she dressed neatly and knocked on the neighbor’s door.

“Eleanor, let’s go.”

Eleanor was not religious, but she did charity work. Every week, she would participate in charity sales in front of the

church.

After picking up Eleanor, Nathaly drove to the church.

She had been doing charity work with Eleanor for some time now. The people at the church were already very famil- iar with her.

When they saw the two of them arrive, they immediately greeted them with smiles.

“Hi, Claudia, Eleanor! Thank you for donating food and medicine.”

After greeting everyone skillfully, Nathaly went into the church cafeteria to distribute food to the homeless and resi- dents in need.

By the time they finished, it was already three in the afternoon. After a quick cleanup, Nathaly and Eleanor planned to head home.

Since winter began, the weather in New Zealand had become unstable. It was clear and sunny in the morning, but by afternoon, a fine drizzle had started to fall.

A cold wind blew, and

Wrapped her thin coat tighter around herself. Smiling at Eleanor, she said, “I promised Lina I’d make her a blueberry cheesecake, but the blueberry sauce always turns out a bit bitter when I make it, so I might need-”

Her words stopped abruptly when she saw the thin young man standing at the intersection.

It was Elijah.

In that moment, time seemed to freeze.

In the misty drizzle, Nathaly stood rooted to the spot.

The fear and loathing etched into her soul made her whole body tremble uncontrollably.

Today, she was wearing a light rose-colored long dress and five-centimeter heels.

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But now, staring blankly at Elijah, she couldn’t even stand steadily, and could only cling awkwardly to Eleanor for support.

Eleanor was startled by her appearance and quickly asked, “Claudia, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Not far away, Elijah, whose cheeks were thin but whose eyes couldn’t hide his joy, was also thrown into confusion.

He had intended to step forward, but his feet froze in place.

In his sunken, handsome eyes, worry and hurt appeared.

At this moment, realizing what was happening, Nathaly finally couldn’t stand any longer.

Elijah had found her?!

How could this be possible?

Casper had once said that her identity and the place she went abroad had been changed dozens of times. Even Casper himself didn’t know for sure, and had to rely on layers of intermediaries to make contact.

But now, Elijah had still found her.

Would he come and forcibly take her away?

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