CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 78: NATALIE VAUGHN FINDS HAPPINESS

The arrival of Quentin Donovan instantly enlivened the atmosphere, and Natalie Vaughn suddenly stopped clinging to Zane Thorne, starting to play around with everyone else.

Rock-paper-scissors, drinking games.

Natalie Vaughn played each game with great finesse.

James Vaughn, although he knew she was restless and often went out to play, did not expect her to act like this when she played.

Wild.

As her older brother who had raised her from a young age, James Vaughn naturally sensed something unusual. He turned his head to look at Zane Thorne beside him, only to see him drinking alcohol and smoking in silence.

His eyes were filled with sorrow, like an ocean.

What had happened between the two of them who had been fine just moments ago?

James Vaughn then looked at Natalie Vaughn, who was passionately playing rock-paper-scissors. After winning several rounds in a row, she finally lost one and heroically tilted her head back to drink her punishment.

The wind that night seemed to favor Natalie Vaughn especially, lifting her long hair and fully revealing her slender, fair neck, like a god who had descended to the mortal world to live freely and indulgently.

So beautiful, so striking.

Zane Thorne continued smoking and drinking, constantly staring at the smile at the corner of her mouth.

The little girl’s smile was always bold and bright, but this time, this beautiful smile felt so powerless.

Because of him.

The cigarette was almost burned to the end, and though the wind was strong and the smoke dispersed quickly, the man’s eyes were filled with red bloodshot lines.

Zane Thorne used to think he was incapable of happiness, so he never had expectations, held an indifferent attitude towards life, and believed that the guilt he always carried was only natural.

Even when pressured by his family to marry, he thought that a marriage of convenience was just right for him.

But his blind date was Natalie Vaughn. From the beginning, he felt she was somewhat interesting, and because of that encounter years ago... he should have known it couldn’t be just a simple marriage on the surface.

Things developed as he expected, but his mindset changed, so naturally, he couldn’t approach future married life with the same attitude as before.

He didn’t know if he deserved happiness or not, but Natalie Vaughn should be happy.

The past...

It was time to give himself closure.

Not wanting to see Natalie Vaughn’s somewhat dazzling smile anymore, Zane Thorne stood up and walked to the tree near the cliff while others were playing games.

This mountaintop hadn’t yet been developed for tourism, with not even basic protective measures installed. The night had fully fallen, and on the mountaintop, one could now realize the height of the mountain and the vastness of the sky, noticing the deep hues of the night.

The wind was strong on the mountaintop, and anyone standing at the cliff’s edge would have the illusion of being blown off by the wind.

Zane Thorne stood under the tree with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a cigarette. The red point of the cigarette was insignificant in this vast darkness, yet it somehow drew attention.

His figure was robust and should have been arrogant and brash, but at this moment, it had a touch of loneliness.

Natalie Vaughn should be angry with him.

She had never had anyone give her the illusion of warmth only to slap her hard afterward. The interactions over the past few days had led her to believe there was some change between them, but in the end, she realized the so-called change was nothing more than her wishful thinking.

She was so proud. How could she possibly allow herself to be wronged?

But even while playing games and drinking, she couldn’t help but spare some glances at him.

During the day when he woke and stood at the door watching her put on makeup, assertively giving her a thin blanket, he, always confident, looked in the mirror several times before going out. When they queued, she wanted milk, so he went to buy it. When there was only cold milk, he took it away after she took a sip to moisturize her lips. He even took her phone to take their second photo together.

These were all small matters, but precisely such little things, when done by someone like Zane Thorne who held them close to heart, seemed extraordinarily novel.

She thought Zane Thorne treated her differently, and indeed it was different.

But her mistake was attributing this difference to emotions, and thus she began to test it with the help of alcohol.

The answer she received was cold and blunt.

"You’re drunk."

At this moment, she seemed indeed drunk.

For such a proud, free-spirited person who wouldn’t compromise her emotions, to become so entangled and unlike herself because of a man like Zane Thorne.

Natalie Vaughn sneered, no longer willing to think about these convoluted matters, and tilted her head back to finish the wine in her cup.

But in this game, she was the winner.

Aaron Channing, more perceptive than the others, noticed James Vaughn’s slightly furrowed brows, and after seeing Zane Thorne standing distantly and Natalie Vaughn’s peculiar drinking stance.

Instantly, a suspicion formed in his mind.

Had the sweet couple earlier just had a quarrel?

As a friend of Natalie Vaughn for over ten years, Aaron Channing had a fair understanding of her. Now, this look clearly indicated being troubled by love, and the issue was with Zane Thorne.

Inexplicably, perhaps as a psychologist’s intuition, he thought of that man far away in Altara.

Gideon Sheffield...

Another prominent figure in the racing world back then, the only person who could match Zane Thorne. Yet an accident during a race ended his career.

If it were just a friendship, even a close one, Zane Thorne had no reason to go to such lengths.

Unable to understand, Aaron Channing stopped pondering, directly getting up and walking over to Zane Thorne.

"Senior Chandler mentioned that his condition has been stable lately, and in two months, arrangements can be made for him to return to the country."

The man who had remained silent while smoking finally reacted when he heard this.

Seeing this reaction, Aaron Channing raised an eyebrow.

It seemed he hadn’t guessed wrong.

So Aaron Channing sat down under the tree, looking up at Zane Thorne who was standing, and invited him.

"Sit down and talk?"

Zane Thorne looked down, seeing the meaningful gaze in Aaron Channing’s eyes, and stubbed out his cigarette.

He didn’t like talking, nor did he like analyzing himself with outsiders, especially since Aaron Channing was a psychologist.

But he was indeed confused.

So he sat down.

Conversations between men are never coy.

As soon as Zane Thorne sat down, Aaron Channing spoke up.

"Have you ever considered that your friend isn’t the only one who could use the help of a psychologist?"

Gideon Sheffield suffered from psychological issues due to his physical disability, but there are many other causes of psychological disorders. The stronger and more dominant the man, the more he likes to suppress his emotions, trying to digest them alone.

But some emotions can’t be resolved by the person involved alone.

He didn’t know what had happened between Zane Thorne and Gideon Sheffield, but he was certain.

Zane Thorne carried a heavy burden.

Aaron Channing’s question was direct and sharp, even if Zane Thorne felt a bit abrupt.

The abruptness was not because Aaron Channing’s actions were inappropriate, but because he was the first to think that Zane Thorne needed external help to resolve his emotions.

Even Felix Langdon occasionally only advised gently.

Perhaps it stemmed from a psychologist’s professionalism, or as a good friend of Natalie Vaughn, out of concern.

Zane Thorne pulled another cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a hard drag.

He didn’t know where to begin.

Aaron Channing smiled understandingly. Getting a man like Zane Thorne to open up was indeed a challenge.

"Nina has a strong personality. The more challenging something is, she won’t back down even if she suffers setbacks, but only if the matter or person attracts her enough. Once she finds continuing to be meaningless, she will abandon it without mercy."

Aaron Channing only knew that Natalie Vaughn’s interest in Zane Thorne began with curiosity.

After a long silence, Zane Thorne finally spoke.

"When he returns, things will naturally be resolved."

Upon hearing this, Aaron Channing understood.

The cause indeed lay with Gideon Sheffield.

But if Zane Thorne’s words meant that if Gideon Sheffield couldn’t recover, neither could he?

With this thought, Aaron Channing furrowed his brow, looking back at Natalie Vaughn, who was still drinking.

The road ahead was long and winding.