When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 568

**HereSelf 568**

Sean hadn’t set out to confront anyone, but there was Holt, firmly positioned in his path like an unmovable obstacle.

His brow knitted together in irritation. A primal urge surged within him to swat the drawing away, to dismiss it as nothing more than a distraction, but as his gaze fell upon the page, he found himself entranced by the vibrant colors that danced across it.

The artwork Holt had presented was a heartfelt portrait of their family, the four of them captured in a moment of togetherness.

He had to concede, Holt possessed a remarkable talent. Each figure—Baron, Natalie, himself, and Susie—was rendered with such striking accuracy that it was almost eerie. More than just likeness, the drawing radiated a warmth and joy that tugged at Sean’s heartstrings.

In an unexpected twist, Sean found himself genuinely appreciating this picture.

“Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you handed me something nice,” he said, trying to maintain his facade of indifference, even as he snatched the drawing away and turned on his heel, retreating to the sanctuary of his room.

From the other room, Susie’s voice rang out with indignation, “Look at him! He took Holt’s gift, and he’s still so rude!”

To be honest, Ruby had never been particularly fond of Holt. The boy’s quiet demeanor and reserved nature had unsettled Sean from the moment he arrived. It was impossible for Ruby to remain neutral; her maternal instincts kicked in, and she felt a protective urge toward her children. Yet, Holt was her daughter’s student, and she didn’t know him well enough to pass harsh judgment. Hearing Susie’s complaint, however, prompted her to respond with an unyielding tone.

“How can you speak about him like that? You must remember, before Holt came into the picture, you and your brother were a family. Is it fair to speak ill of your brother because of an outsider?”

Susie blinked her large, innocent eyes, suddenly feeling a wave of injustice wash over her. “Grandma, are you scolding me too? What did I do that was wrong? Why is Brother ignoring me? Why are you talking to me like this? Waaah!”

The little girl, unbothered by the sleeping occupants of the house, threw her head back and let out a heart-wrenching wail.

Her cries sent a jolt of fear through Holt. He quickly covered his head with his arms, scrambled into a corner, squatting down with his knees drawn up to his chest, trembling as he buried his face between them and pressed his palms against his ears.

Witnessing this, Ruby’s heart sank. “You poor child…”

She wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but Holt recoiled further into his corner, his small frame shaking with anxiety.

Meanwhile, Susie continued her unrestrained sobbing, oblivious to the turmoil she was causing around her.

In the bedroom, Baron stirred at the sound of his daughter’s cries, his brow furrowing slightly in concern. He instinctively turned to Natalie, who lay beside him, her face scrunched in annoyance from the noise, yet too fatigued to open her eyes.

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