Chapter 57

• The final days of the Christmas break were truly incredible for Nathalie. Although Ethan couldn't spend every single moment with her, given that he needed to talk to the police a few more times regarding Trevor's situation, care for Rosie, and occasionally reassure Elise, he made the effort to visit her place whenever he could. He aimed to have dinner or lunch with her every day, something Nathalie appreciated immensely. She stocked up on all his favorite foods and took pleasure in cooking for him, which Ethan thoroughly enjoyed. Naturally, they shared many intimate moments, but their time together was also filled with deep and meaningful conversations about everything and anything. It was such a relief that personal topics were no longer off-limits, unlike when they first met. That initial arrangement seemed foolish in hindsight—it had merely postponed the inevitable closeness they would share.
• When Monday arrived, Nathalie walked to school with a noticeable bounce in her step, unable to suppress a smile. Moving to this place, she had never envisioned achieving the life she desired, which now included a wonderful boyfriend. Although everything was still new and she anticipated some challenges ahead, at that moment, she felt as though she was floating on cloud nine.
• Upon arriving at school, she greeted her colleagues enthusiastically. Everyone appeared to be early, driven by the shared goal of ensuring everything was set before the students started trickling in. As she reached her classroom, she was surprised to see someone seated in front of it—a woman with a child on her lap and a large shopping bag by her side.