Chapter 705

Damon chuckled, shaking his head and smiling. “You…”

Kate emerged from the kitchen with the dishes, finding Damon and Natalie engaged in lively conversation and laughter. After placing the dishes on the table, she said, “Come on, let’s eat.”

Over the past few years, Kate and Damon had settled into a routine of only two meals a day—lunch around 2:00 p.m., skipping dinner. Fortunately, Natalie hadn’t eaten much at the hospital, so the timing worked well.

It had been a while since they’d sat down for a meal together. However, the atmosphere felt different that day. Kate cast discreet glances at Damon as they ate, subtly nudging him to address Natalie’s return. Natalie, feigning obliviousness, was prepared for the inevitable conversation.

Finally, as they finished, Damon cleared his throat. “Nath, you’re smart. You probably guessed why Mom wanted you home.”

Natalie nodded, setting down her utensils. “I did.”

A pang of empathy shot through Kate as she gazed at Natalie. How could she not feel her sorrow?

“We just want to ensure you’ve thought this through,” Damon began. “We’ve known Jeremy since he was a kid. He’s always been a good person, and while his mistake is hard to accept, the truth revealed it wasn't intentional.”

“You’re an adult now, with your own mind. We respect your choice and will support you if you want to separate from Jeremy, but we know from experience how easy it is to make rash decisions. We just don’t want you to regret it later,” he added solemnly.

As a father, Damon dreaded this conversation with his daughter. It felt like he was pushing her to grow up too quickly. Fate had dealt a cruel blow to Jeremy’s life, and despite everything, Damon couldn’t ignore Jeremy’s pain. He considered Jeremy almost like a son. He trusted Natalie with Jeremy more than anyone else, believing Jeremy would cherish her forever. But now, their once-flawless bond seemed marred by deep wounds. Even if those wounds healed, the scars would remain, a constant reminder of betrayal.

“Yes, Nath, your father and I are concerned you might regret this decision. Jeremy is a good man, and your in-laws have always treated you like their own daughter. If you divorce Jeremy in the heat of the moment, it could damage your bond. Even if you reconcile, there might be lasting consequences,” Kate pleaded earnestly.

Kate had pondered this deeply. She realized Natalie needed time to consider such a major decision. Jeremy’s mistake would be hard for Natalie to accept initially, but with time—perhaps a year or two—those events might become less significant.

Natalie looked at them earnestly. “Dad, Mom, I understand your concerns. You’re worried that I might regret this later and that if I divorce Jeremy, he’ll move on, leaving me with no chance to return, right?”

“Yes, we are worried about that,” Damon admitted. “Good men are rare these days.” He was all too aware of the behavior of young men now. He genuinely feared Natalie might face mistreatment in the future.

Kate nodded in agreement. “Your father and I believe the same. No one else compares to Jeremy.”

Natalie’s face paled, revealing a mix of helplessness and weariness. “I know Jeremy is a good man, but…”