Natalie knew Joyce well. She knew Joyce would look for Stanley after she left Thompson Villa. Natalie had no idea
what Stanley would do to Joyce.
With that worry filling her mind, she called Stanley.
Stanley's voice soon came through the speaker. There was slight exhaustion lacing his tone. “Nat, what's wrong?”
“Has Joyce been to your place?” Natalie asked.
He didn't respond at first and answered after a brief silence, “She did.”
As I thought!
She rubbed her face. “Then I supposed she had told you about the culprit and-”
“She did.” Stanley knew what she was going to say, so he cut her off.
Worry filled Natalie. “Then you-”
“Are you trying to ask me how my attitude toward her was?” Stanley asked with downcast eyes.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNatalie admitted, “Yes.”
“How should I have treated her? I just treated her the same as usual,” Stanley said casually.
The hatred I felt for her didn't intensify nor diminish.
I already knew that the cause of my parents' death was related to Mr. and Mrs. Rivers hence my hatred toward the
Rivers family.
So it's the same now. It won't change just because Joyce told me who the culprit is.
Natalie let out a relieved sigh after hearing Stanley's confession.
That's good. As long as it didn't worsen, everything is good. I'm scared Joyce won't be able to handle it if he had
treated her even worse than before.
“Stanley, I know you can't forgive Mr. and Mrs. Rivers, but you have to understand it wasn't intentional. They didn't
know they were being followed. They were just normal people. I hope you can see it from that perspective,” Natalie
persuaded.
Stanley's grip on his phone tightened. “I know what you're trying to say. I'm aware that they didn't intentionally
reveal my parents' position because they were merely delivering supplies, but my parents did die for that exact
reason. Even if they were being kind, did their kindness worth two lives? Tell me, Nat. Is it worth two innocent lives?”
I used to have a happy family. I didn't want to be a doctor. I never liked medicine. I wanted to be a pilot.
My parents were the ones who realized I had the talent to be a doctor and wished I could be one, but I was against
it all the way. I didn't want to study medicine until they were gone forever. I picked up the subject I hated the most
because it was their wish for me.
I could've been a pilot and had a happy family. The murderer and the Rivers family ruined everything!
Listening to Stanley's questions, Natalie felt sad for him. With a bitter smile, she replied, “I know it can't be
compared, but Stanley, you have to look at it from a different perspective. Your parents were under the
organization's surveillance, but Mr. and Mrs. Rivers were just normal people. They should be living a normal life, but
they were implicated because of your parents. Mr. and Mrs. Rivers knew your parents were being pursued, yet they
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmdidn't cut off their ties with them. Instead, they chose to risk their lives to help your parents. For that alone, I think
they're admirable people.”
Not everyone would help their friends after knowing their friends were in trouble, nonetheless, being pursued. The
Rivers family didn't hesitate to hide Stanley's parents' whereabouts and even delivered meals to them. That's more
than I can say for some people. Some would've cut off all ties and kept their distance, worried they would be
implicated.
After all, evil people had no conscience or mercy. They might even kill Mr. and Mrs. Rivers. Still, Mr. Rivers decided
to help Stanley's parents in the end despite knowing he might lose his life. That's true friendship right there.
Stanley's eyes darkened at Natalie's words. He stayed silence after that.
He did think of that, but he needed someone to blame. Someone to be the target of his hatred and rage.
After all, Mr. and Mrs. Rivers did cause his parents' death by revealing their location.
Natalie massaged her temple and said, “Stanley, there was one more thing that you didn't consider. Without Mr.
and Mrs. Rivers' help, your parents might have lost their lives even earlier.”