Chapter 214 - Time For Happiness

"What kind of man would marry a woman with a child?" Mother Shu shouted in surprise. "Don't be fooled, Nat. That man must want something more from you!"

"Does he know that you're the secretary of Fengtai Corporation? Is that why? You worked hard to pick yourself back up and get to this position. Is he after your money?"

Natalie shook her head, "When did you turn into such a snob, Mom? Don't you remember that we were poor in the past too? Did I marry Jeremy for his money? And did I befriend Haili for her money? No!"

Mother Shu took a deep breath, "What will people say? What will Jeremy's parents say? They've treated you so well and they love Pumpkin dearly, how will they handle this news?"

"No one will dare to say anything about my dear Natalie," Father Feng suddenly interrupted.

"Besides, I've met the man and his honestly a good person, so you don't need to worry."

Mother Shu sighed. "I don't know, but you better explain this situation to Jeremy's parents, Nat. You married their son and gave birth to their grandson. Jeremy may be dead, but they've treated you like their own daughter for the last 7 years. Don't you feel like you're betraying them?"

Natalie laughed and shook her head. "You don't need to worry about that. I have a feeling they will be fine with this..."

Mother Shu had no idea, but Jeremy's parents had actually been organizing blind dates for Natalie over the past year. Mother Shu was right, they treated her like their own daughter, but, it was because of this, that they didn't want to see her end up alone. They understood their son was gone and they could tell that Natalie truly loved him, but they didn't want her to give up the rest of her life for someone that was no longer around. If Jeremy was watching from heaven, he wouldn't want Natalie to be all alone either.

So, Mother Shu had nothing to worry about.

Natalie and Jeremy were high school sweethearts. They met in the first year of senior high and Jeremy fell in love with Natalie at first sight. He had a crush on her for an entire year before he gathered the courage to confess to her. 

Natalie still remembered it clearly, it was Valentine's Day and all the girls at school were either bragging about their boyfriends or hopeful that they'd receive something. 

She thought she wouldn't receive anything at first, but when she stepped out of her first class of the day, there was a small crowd gathered outside her classroom. As she peeked through the crowd, she noticed some candy on the floor. It was her favorite strawberry candy that was wrapped in a red polka dot wrapping and it lay in a big heart shape on the floor. And there, standing in the middle, was Jeremy holding a bunch of red roses.

Natalie was amazed and envious. "Wow, I wonder who this is all for..." she gasped.

But, as she thought this, she noticed the young man smiling at her.

"Natalie," he said.

Natalie felt her heart almost jump out of her chest. Was he calling her? 

"I-I've had a c-crush on you for an entire year. I fell in l-love with you at first sight. Can you be my g-girlfriend?" the innocent young man stuttered as the other students around him cheered.

Natalie's heart melted at his bravery. No one had ever confessed to her like that before.

She had actually noticed him before. He was good-looking, rich, smart, and sporty, so a lot of the girls had crushes on him. Who knew he'd be interested in her...

In the end, Natalie agreed and the two of them started dating. They ended up staying together throughout the entire time they were in senior high. Everyone envied them and thought of them as the perfect couple. Their relationship was like a fairytale. And to top it off, Jeremy proposed as soon as they turned 18 and the two of them quickly became a young married couple.

Jeremy's family loved Natalie, and Natalie's family loved Jeremy. Everything just seemed to fall into place.

2 years after they got married, the couple even announced that they were becoming parents.

But...that was where the happiness ended...

Before their child entered the world, Jeremy was taken away.

Jeremy always dreamed of being a pilot. But, during one of his flying lessons, there was a malfunction and his plane came crashing down.

After that, Natalie's world flipped upside down.

At just 20-years-old, she had become a widow and a single mother.

Over these past 5 years, everyone around her had witnessed how tough life had been for her. She had to work, study and take care of her child...all on her own.

She had suffered enough.

It was time she experienced some happiness; she deserved it.

...

Meanwhile, after hearing what Jaclyn said, Mia began to wonder about her brother. Was he not as bad as she thought?

Had she misunderstood?

After Jaclyn finished with her interview, the officer led her into another room where there was a line of suspects behind a window.

She quickly picked out the men she recognized. Amongst them, was Elias Muller, Mia's brother.

After Jaclyn was finished, Mia requested to have a quick chat with her brother and the officers allowed it.

"Jaclyn told me you saved her from almost being r.a.p.ed. Why did you do that? Weren't you selling her into the s.e.x trade anyway?" Mia asked straightforwardly in German.

"My Mia, you need to understand that there are a lot of things that I have no choice in. I originally joined the gangs to make a bit of money for us, but I was too young to understand how dangerous the underworld was. As soon as I entered, I couldn't turn back, and I had to do whatever I was told," Elias replied.

"I didn't want to be a human trafficker, but if I didn't do as told, they would have killed me, or worse, gone after you. So, the least I could do was treat the women well while they were in my hands. I know I was wrong, Mia, but there was nothing I could do. I hope you can forgive me."

Mia looked at her brother and her eyes got teary. If not for her brother, she would have ended up in an orphanage with no one to love and care for her. Even though he had chosen the wrong way to make money and support her, she knew he loved her and she knew he was still a good person deep down.

That afternoon, Mia walked out of Interpol with Jaclyn, feeling light as a feather. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. All the hatred she felt for her brother was gone and she was ready to lead a normal life again, free from drugs and alcohol...

Jaclyn also felt free. The people involved with her kidnapping had all been caught and were being locked behind bars, never to hurt another woman again...