HIS REGRET (Ex-Husband wants Me Back) novel Chapter 1033

“I can walk by myself,” Natalie said when David began to bend down.

“Don’t be stubborn.”

Before Natalie could object, David had already scooped her up in both arms. His movement was so easy and familiar. Natalie instinctively wrapped both arms around David’s neck and rested her head against his chest.

Eli fell silent.

Her eyes unconsciously followed David’s every movement. She saw how David made sure Natalie was positioned comfortably, how one of his hands carefully supported the girl’s body, and how his gaze remained fixed on Natalie as if there were nothing more important at that moment.

Something stirred slowly in Eli’s chest. Like ... a strange feeling she could not put a name to.

Eli quickly pushed it aside by picking up Natalie’s bag, which had been left on the chair. She even checked the table once more, making sure there was no phone, wallet, or anything else left behind. She did not want Natalie to have to come back simply because something had been forgotten.

However, as she passed the table where David’s friends were gathered, Eli’s steps unintentionally slowed.

“Seriously, they really are like a couple.”

Someone chuckled. “Right. Just look at the way David treats her.”

“If I were Natalie, I would’ve accepted him a long time ago.”

“The problem is, they always say they’re just childhood friends.”

“What kind of ordinary friends are like that?”

Several people laughed, and more of them began talking about the two of them.

Eli stopped for a moment. Her hand tightened unconsciously around Natalie’s bag. She had not meant to listen to the conversation, but every word seemed to reach her ears too clearly.

She glanced toward David again.

The man was still carrying Natalie. Even when someone opened the car door for him, David did not immediately put Natalie down. Instead, he made sure the girl was standing properly before helping her into the passenger seat.

They really do look very close.

The thought came to her just like that, but Eli immediately dismissed it.

She has been David’s best friend since childhood.

She reminded herself of that. Their relationship had existed long before Eli knew David. It was no wonder that David understood Natalie so well. When two people had been friends for years, of course there would be a kind of care that could not be compared to a relationship that had only lasted a few months.

Eli tried to accept that explanation.

However, the more she watched David take care of Natalie, the harder it became for her not to compare it to the way David treated her.

David was attentive to her, sometimes picking her up. He also often reminded her to eat or not to neglect certain important things. David also always told her that he liked her.

Eli did not move immediately. Her gaze fell on Natalie sitting in the front seat again. David was making sure her seat belt was fastened properly, then asking whether her head still felt dizzy.

Natalie shook her head weakly.

Eli simply stood there for a few seconds.

A feeling of discomfort arose in her heart again, but this time she did not know what to call it. She did not want to feel jealous. Nor did she want to have any bad thoughts about David and Natalie. Especially after seeing for herself that Natalie was indeed sick and David was only trying to help her.

However, the words of David’s friends earlier continued to echo in her mind.

What kind of ordinary friends are like that?

Eli took a slow breath. Maybe they were just joking. Maybe because they had been together for so long, people were simply quick to misunderstand.

Eli finally got into the car and sat in the back seat.

She looked out the window, trying to ignore the small feeling that still lingered in her chest.

For now, she chose to trust David. Even so, a quiet question had begun to grow in her mind.

If David and Natalie were really just friends, why did their closeness seem so different from what Eli had always understood friendship to be?