When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 547

**HereSelf 547**

“Daddy, Mommy, where did you go? Huh? Who is this boy?”

With a sleepy rub of her eyes, Susie yawned widely, but the moment she caught sight of Holt, her expression transformed into one of pure astonishment and bubbling excitement.

“You’re so pretty!” she exclaimed, her voice ringing with innocent admiration.

In an instant, Susie scrambled on her tiny legs, propelled by an exuberant energy, and launched herself into Holt’s arms.

“Hug!” she declared, her arms outstretched like a little bird ready to take flight.

“Don’t!”

Natalie’s instinctive shout was a mere whisper against the whirlwind of Susie’s enthusiasm, but it was far too late to intervene.

Beth’s first reaction was to protect her son, to shield him from the sudden onslaught of the small girl. But as the words “Daddy” and “Mommy” tumbled from Susie’s lips, directed towards Baron and Natalie respectively, she found herself frozen in place, grappling with disbelief.

Baron and Ms. Stone really have children?

Rumors had floated around, but she had always dismissed them as mere gossip. After all, how could someone as young as Natalie—barely twenty-three or twenty-four—possibly be a mother?

Yet, standing there, witnessing the lively little girl before her, Beth’s mind raced. Could it be that Ms. Stone had become a mother at eighteen or nineteen?

In the brief moment of Beth’s hesitation, Susie had already launched herself into Holt’s embrace.

The impact was unexpected, sending Holt tumbling backward, caught off guard by the sheer force of the little girl.

As he landed, he felt the soft weight of the small dumpling pressing down on him, her bright, excited eyes gazing into his with a spark of joy. A faint scent of milk wafted from her, a sweet reminder of childhood innocence.

Despite being four years old, Susie and her brother Sean were still indulged in the comforting ritual of milk formula, a habit Baron insisted they maintain. Susie’s affection for milk was evident; the milky aroma enveloped her like a comforting blanket.

Holt, cradling this joyful little creature in his arms, felt an unexpected warmth spreading through him.

I… can be liked?

His father’s harsh words echoed in his mind, a cruel reminder of the past: that he was a jinx, that he should have never existed, that no one would ever hold any affection for him. Yet here, in the gaze of this little girl, he could see something different—pure adoration that seemed to pierce through the shadows of his thoughts.

“I’m Susie, you can call me Natalie. You’re really good-looking! What’s your name?”

Without a hint of shyness, Susie perched atop Holt, her attention entirely fixated on his face, as if he were the most fascinating creature in the world.

Wow! Other than my brother, he’s the best-looking boy I’ve ever seen!

Natalie observed the scene with a mix of exasperation and amusement. This little girl had an undeniable affinity for beauty, and it seemed that her appreciation extended to people as well.

Yet, deep down, Natalie felt a surge of happiness. It was a natural instinct for children to be drawn to beautiful things, and if Holt could be reintroduced to that beauty, perhaps it would serve as a healing balm for his troubled past.

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