Chapter 52
Natalie was exasperated. Both Phoebe and Juliet were constantly urging her to find a partner to settle down. She really didn’t know what their motives
were.
Not wanting to listen to more of it, Natalie excused herself and headed to the kitchen. As soon as she left, Phoebe followed, as if worried she would miss her chance to shine.
Watching the two head to the kitchen, Celeste turned to Juliet with a sigh.
“Honestly, Nate is only 18. There’s no rush for her to find someone. Back home, people were pressuring her to marry, which is why her mother turned to Gideon to bring her here. And Nate said she wanted to work first. I want to respect her wishes.”
This was the first time Juliet heard the reason why Natalie came to stay with the Lockes. She leaned in with a hint of curiosity.
“Really? Who was pushing her to marry? Was it some local troublemaker?”
Celeste shook her head. “I’m not sure. Nat’s mom reached out through an old friend of Gideon’s.”
Juliet sighed. “You’re too kind–hearted. She barely mentioned it, and you took her in as your goddaughter. Don’t you think maybe they’re just trying to take advantage of your generosity? Perhaps using this as a stepping stone.”
Celeste had thought that before, but meeting Natalie had changed her perspective.
“Nate is too exceptional to settle down with just anyone. Even if she marries someone from a similar background, she might not be as secure. It will have to be someone powerful and influential who can protect her. Honestly, if I were her mother, I would have made the same choice.”
Juliet shot Celeste a look that said she was too trusting. “You need to be careful. You might see her as a goddaughter, but she might not feel the same way. Growing up in the countryside until 18, do you really think no one has taken an interest in her?
“It’s possible she has already lost her innocence and isn’t the pure girl you think she is. With how chaotic things have been in the countryside lately, just the other day, I heard about a beautiful young female intellectual who was…”
Juliet’s voice trailed off, her eyes filled with a hint of mystery.
Celeste’s heart raced as she considered the possibility. “No way! Nate lives with her mother and stepfather, who is the captain of the village militia. How could anyone take advantage of her?”
Juliet chuckled lightly, honing in on the point.
“But if her stepfather is the captain of the militia, why couldn’t he protect her? It doesn’t add up. I think both she and her mother have ulterior motives. With Jasper and James being so impressive, you should be cautious, especially with Jasper. He might just fall for her tricks.”
Upon listening to Juliet’s words, Celeste couldn’t help but imagine Jasper standing next to Natalie. Their contrasting personalities somehow fit well together.
If Jasper truly liked her, she wouldn’t object. The problem was, he had no interest in dating or settling down. Many girls had come knocking, and a few of them were genuinely exceptional.
Unfortunately, Jasper wouldn’t even consider meeting them. At this rate, he would be 30 and unmarried before long.
Juliet observed Celeste’s expression and realized it didn’t seem like she was being cautious about Natalie. Instead, she appeared to be considering the possibility of Natalie as a daughter–in–law, which made her feel uneasy.
After thinking for a moment, she spoke up. “Did you hear about Mrs. Carson’s daughter–in–law?”
Celeste was pulled back to reality and nodded. “Yeah, I heard Mrs. Carson’s son met her while he was working in the countryside. What’s wrong?“,
Juliet sighed, struggling to find the right words.
“Don’t even ask. Mrs. Carson is having a headache over this. Her son met this girl in the countryside near the commune he was working in. She is truly a beauty, famous in the neighboring villages. She had him completely smitten, determined to marry her. And guess what happened once he did?”
“What happened?” Celeste asked, her eyes widening in curiosity.
Juliet continued, “Mrs. Carson felt bad for her son. So she pulled some strings to get his wife a permit to move back to the city and even found her a job in the Art corp’s dance troupe. But now, the girl’s family frequently comes to Kingston under the pretense of visiting their daughter.
“Every time, they show up with three to five people and stay for a month or two without ever returning home. And they often take advantage of Mrs. Carson’s hospitality, clearly mooching off her.
“And if that wasn’t bad enough, her family started asking Mrs. Carson to help find jobs for her brother and sister in Kingston. They want to settle down here, saying it would be good for the family to have each other’s support.
“Can you believe it? If Mrs. Carson doesn’t help, the newlyweds would start having arguments. Her son had no choice but to ask his mom for solutions. It’s not just marrying a daughter–in–law, but it’s like bringing an entire family of freeloaders into the house!”
Celeste shook her head in disbelief. “What kind of people are they? That’s so shameless.”
With a look of concern, Juliet replied, “That’s why you should take this as a warning. Don’t follow in Mrs. Carson’s footsteps.”
Celeste nodded in silence, realizing that it might be better to find Jasper a suitable girl from a similar background after all.
Chapter 52
In the kitchen, Phoebe took advantage of Evelyn’s bathroom break to grab the spatula and volunteer to cook the final dish. Holding the spatula, she grinned triumphantly, knowing this was her chance to impress Celeste.
