Natalie Wheeler felt that Eli Wayne was such a kind and considerate person.
She should have been accompanying Eli today to relax, but Eli ended up helping her to find Dante.
Now even though the plans to travel had been canceled, Eli didn’t even complain a bit.
She was so lucky to have such a friend.
Natalie hugged Eli and choked, “Thank you, Eli.”
Eli smiled. “There’s no need to thank me. If something had happened to me today, you would definitely have done the same. Perhaps, even better than I did.”
“After finding Dante, I’ll definitely go on a trip with you,” Natalie promised.
“Come on, I know you well enough. Now you know that Dante is unhappy, you can’t travel happily. Do what you must. Don’t hesitate to look for me if you need any help.” Eli said proudly.
“What about you? It’s not easy for you to have gotten your freedom back.” Natalie was worried about Eli.
“I have my baby to accompany me. I won’t feel lonely.” Eli said in a cool manner.
Natalie felt sorry and guilty toward Eli. “When I find Dante, I will definitely go on a trip with you.”
Eli nodded. “Let’s talk about it after we find him.”
Eli sent Natalie back to the hotel. She got out of the car and watched Eli leave. She then turned around and went into the hotel lobby.
“Natalie, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” she suddenly heard Dante’s voice. He immediately ran towards Natalie.
Natalie’s heart ached terribly when she saw Dante’s small figure running towards her. It was heartwrenching and painful, but at the same time, it was indescribably touching. Her heart was filled with a flood of emotions and her mind blanked for a moment.
She squatted on the ground.
Dante threw himself into her arms and said joyfully, “Natalie, I finally found you.”
Natalie’s eyes turned red in an instant and warm tears flowed out. She hugged Dante tightly and said in a choked voice, “Why did you come to me? How did you come here? Why are you so bold? What if you were taken away by bad guys?”
Dante looked at Natalie happily. He wiped the tears on Natalie’s face with his little hand and explained, “I heard the big sister with you say that you lived in Oasis Hotel, so I made sure to remember it.
When my father was about to take me away, I took the opportunity to get out of the car. I knew that there were surveillance cameras in the parking lot, so I left quietly.
It was also my good luck. Soon after a man left, I hid in his car quietly.
He went to Suntec International Inc. I asked the people along the way and found the Oasis Hotel. I don’t know which room you live in, so I could only wait in the lobby.”
Natalie’s heart ached and she stroked Dante’s little pink face. “You can’t run away from home like this in the future. It’s very dangerous. What if you were really caught by bad guys?”
Dante pursed his lips and smiled. He said indifferently, “I was never raised by my father anyway. I was living happily at my adopted parents’ home. At most, I will be sold once more. Maybe my adoptive parents will care about me more.”
“Doesn’t your father care about you?” Natalie asked with her eyes turning red.
Dante shook his head. “It’s enough for Dad to have Ralph. He never asks me what I want. I don’t want to ask anything from him either. I’ll fight for it by myself and not rely on him. Even if I was abandoned, I won’t feel sad and tortured. I want to adapt to the environment. If I can’t get used to it, then I’ll change.”
Natalie thought of herself from the past and hugged Dante tightly again.
At that time, she did not want to rely on anyone. She was strong and independent as if she was the only one left in the world. She refused to depend on anyone, just like Dante. That way, even if she left, she would not feel sad and painful in the days to come.
Dante was just like who she was in the past. Her heart ached. She felt immense guilt and self-reproach toward him.
She didn’t want her child to be so lonely, helpless, and desperate.
“Your father loves you. You might not know this, but your father was so worried after you disappeared. He has been looking for you all this time. If your father didn’t want you, why would he be so nervous about you?” Natalie persuaded.
Dante lowered his head and whispered, “Maybe he thinks that if something happens to me, he can’t explain it to my mother.”
“You shouldn’t think that way. Do you know what your father told me before? He said, don’t let Dante stay alone with Bettany Hadley. I can see that he cares about you very much. He loves you and protects you.”
Dante looked at Natalie and said, “Are you helping my father? He fired you, framed you, wronged you, and expelled you indiscriminately.”
Natalie smiled slightly. This child was defending her. “The world of adults is very complicated. Sometimes even adults don’t understand it. However, children should not be involved. If you want to be independent, I will support you fully. But you must do things at the right age. You are too young now and it’s not the time to be independent yet.”
“Then can I live with the person whom I want to live with?” Dante asked blankly.
Natalie rubbed Dante’s head and said gently, “Let me ask you this, do you think Auntie Hadley is a good person?”
“No, she is actually a very bad person. She deliberately instigated Ralph to do bad things, so Ralph is not obedient and deliberately caused trouble. Last time I saw Ralph steal things on purpose. It was Auntie Hadley who taught him to steal things. She said that if he did it, then Dad will let them stay together.” Dante said with certainty.
“Do you think that Ralph wants to live with Auntie Hadley?” Natalie asked patiently again.
“Of course, he did everything because he wanted Dad to visit Auntie Hadley. He wants Dad to know that he needs Auntie Hadley and he hopes that Dad would eventually marry her.” Dante said with a clear understanding.
Natalie smiled slightly. Her child was really a kind and pure child. Although he was still young, he had a heart of gold.
“Children can’t tell right from wrong. Ralph also thinks that his mother is the best. However, the truth is that his mother is leading him to the abyss.
Dante, if you want to live with the person you want to live with, then, you should wait until you’re 18 years old. Then, your decision will be correct. Even if it is wrong, you will be responsible for yourself.” Natalie said kindly.
Dante lowered his head and asked softly with reddened eyes, “Will you inform my father to pick me up?”
“Yes.” Natalie did not deny it.
Dante raised his head and looked at Natalie with confusion in his eyes. “Could you please lend me 500 dollars? I’ll return to you tenfold in the future.”
Natalie guessed that he might plan to take the money to find his parents in H City.
There could be several outcomes. First, he might get lost and become homeless. Second, he might get into an accident. Third, he might be able to make his way back to his hometown in H City, only to be taken back by Jasper.
“Let’s go back to my room to rest for a while. You’re tired too. I’ll go out and get the money for you,” Natalie said softly.
Dante entered her room obediently.
The moment she closed the door, guilt flashed through her heart. … Nevertheless, she still sent a text message to Jasper. “Dante is in my room now. Come and pick him up. Remember to care more about him and protect him in the future.”