Chapter 974 Jolted Awake By A Nightmare
Chapter 974 Jolted Awake By A Nightmare
As Natasha was sleeping, she was suddenly jolted awake by a nightmare.
“Kenneth.” She opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
Denise was by her side. Upon hearing her stir, she immediately moved closer. “What's wrong, Nat?”
Natasha's gaze shifted to Denise. When she made her daughter out, her brows furrowed slightly. “What are you doing here, Denise?”
“Everyone at home is out now, leaving just you and me here. Daddy asked me to come over and keep you company,” Denise answered.
Hearing that, Natasha looked at her and asked, “What time is it now?”
Denise lifted her wrist to check the time. “It's already four o'clock in the morning.”
“Are your daddy and Anthony home?” Natasha asked.
Denise shook her head. “If Daddy is home, I certainly won't get to stay here anymore.”
She knew that pretty well.
At her reply, Natasha felt a sense of dread deep within. She lifted her head and snagged her phone from the bedside table.
Denise looked on, then asked, “What's wrong, Nat?”
“I'm going to give your daddy a call,” she said, calling Kenneth right away.
After she had made the call, no one picked up on the other end as time ticked away by the second.
Following that, Natasha's brows knitted together.
Hanging up, she tried calling again.
Watching her at it, Denise murmured, “Perhaps things aren't going as smoothly, and Daddy might still be busy, Nat.”
Speaking of that, Natasha was taken aback for a moment.
Yes, that's true. What's wrong with me? Have I lost all reason over a dream?
Seeing that Natasha had fallen silent, Denise added, “Just half an hour ago, Tony sent a message to the group chat that he's safe.”
“Is that so?” Natasha asked.
Denise immediately took out her phone and tapped open their group chat. Anthony had indeed sent a message there that read “Safe.” Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Upon seeing that, Natasha finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“All right, Nat. I know you're worried, but Daddy and Mr. Dave will definitely be fine since they're so incredible. The same goes for Tony. Just rest assured.”
Natasha listened and nodded. “Yeah.”
“If you can't sleep, I'll stay close to you. Just sleep with peace of mind, Nat. With me by your side, everything will be fine,” Denise said. Then, she leaned in, resting her forehead against Natasha's.
Basking in the faint, soothing smell unique to Denise, Natasha felt much more at peace.
She closed her eyes and repeatedly told herself that it was just a dream.
And so, she gradually calmed down.
“Denise.”
“Hmm?”
“Remember to wake me up when your daddy and brother are home,” Natasha murmured.
“Got it,” Denise replied.
Thereafter, Natasha closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
She was utterly exhausted and weary then. Her body had long since gone beyond its limits, and she would become unbearably weak if she exerted even the slightest effort or concentration.
After Denise watched Natasha fall asleep, her eyes, which sparkled just a moment ago, instantly dimmed.
There might no line when it came to Anthony's phone, but the same could not be said of his watch.
At that point, Anthony and Thalia had long since already converged and had left that place. However, they hadn't returned yet, and where they had gone remained unknown.
But her intuition told her that there must be something going on.
As she stared at the location displayed on her watch, her gaze was indescribably complex.
When Natasha woke up the next day, it was already broad daylight.
Outside the window, the sun had almost reached the south at that moment.
She glanced at the clock nearby and saw that it was already around ten o'clock in the morning.
Recalling something, she attempted to sit up. But after scanning her surroundings, she couldn't find her phone anywhere.
Her brows furrowed.
Just as she was about to get out of bed to look for it, the door was pushed open, and Denise came in with something in her hands.
“Nat,” Denise greeted with a faint smile playing on her lips.
Upon seeing her, Natasha asked, “Have you seen my phone, Denise?”
“Uh, Daddy called you earlier, and I answered it. I might have left it somewhere. I'll look for it in a bit,” Denise said, then walked over and placed the food on the table.
Hearing that, Natasha asked, “Your daddy called? Is he home?”
Denise nodded. “Yes, but they aren't home yet.”
“Still not home?” Natasha frowned.
“Don't worry, Nat. They've gone to Mr. Dave's base. They said they still have some matters to deal with. Once they're done, they will be back,” Denise fibbed.
Natasha didn't think much of it. “What about Anthony?”
“Tony went with them,” Denise said.
Natasha's brows creased, and she was seemingly deep in thought.
At that moment, Denise carried the freshly made food to her. “It's time to eat, Nat.”
Looking at the food she brought, Natasha frowned. “I'm not hungry.”
“If you don't eat properly, Nat, I'm going to call Daddy!” Denise threatened.
As soon as that was mentioned, Natasha corralled her thoughts. Looking at her daughter, she sighed. “Why, you've learned to use your daddy to pressure me now?”
“I'm not trying to pressure you, Nat. Besides, I wouldn't dare do so. I'm just concerned about your health. Before leaving, Daddy and Tony repeatedly instructed me to take good care of you. If they come back and see that I haven't done a good job, I'll definitely get scolded again.” While saying that, Denise moved closer and clumsily attempted to feed her mother.
Listening to her saying “Daddy” and “Tony” as though they were right there, Natasha couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. She took the food from her. “All right, I'll eat it, okay?”
“I'll feed you.”
“I'm not at the point where I need to be fed.”
“Doesn't Daddy always feed you?”
“That's...” Natasha was just about to answer, but she abruptly stopped when the words were right on the tip of her tongue.
“Yes?” Denise prompted.
While eating, Natasha said, “That's because he wants to do so.”
“Tsk, that's because he wants to put on a public display of affection!” Denise countered.
“What's wrong with that? Wasn't this what you were hoping for from the start? Now, you've got exactly what you wished for!” Natasha said.
“Nat, I used to be bamboozled by the phrase 'playing innocent after gaining an advantage'. But now, I deeply understand it. You're always telling us the answer through your actions, Nat!”
At her teasing remark, Natasha narrowed her eyes a fraction. “So, this is what it's like to have someone backing you up. You've grown quite bold, even daring to tease me.”
Upon hearing that, Denise immediately flashed her a bright smile. “Not at all. I'm just telling it as it is. How could that be considered teasing?”
As Natasha ate, she nodded. “Okay, you just wait until I've recovered. We shall see what your 'honesty' will be like.”
“Is this a threat, Nat?” Denise frowned.
“Isn't that obvious?”
At that, Denise immediately retorted, “Can't you just be a touch gentler with your dearest daughter, Nat?”
Just as Natasha was about to respond to that, her phone suddenly rang.