When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 447

Chapter 447 The Snack That Time Forgot

When Natalie heard her child mention Ruby, worry instantly tightened in her chest.

“Let’s go check on Grandma.”

She stepped inside first; the villa was unusually quiet.

The servants were still around, but they moved softly, careful not to make a sound.

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Natalie quickly noticed there were far fewer of them than usual–only two or three working quietly.

She looked at Waylon in confusion.

“Dad, did you give the staff some time off?”

He sighed. “No… I let a few go.”

Waylon set the children down and told them to go play.

But after being apart from Natalie for several days, they refused to leave her side.

you two

Seeing that Waylon clearly had something to say, Natalie realized it might not be appropriate to discuss it in front of the kids. She gently stroked their heads and said, “Why don’t go play for a bit? I need to talk to grandpa and uncle for a while; I’ll come play with you afterward, okay?”

“Okay,” Susie agreed reluctantly–but then suddenly asked, “Mommy, you and Daddy went on a trip together. You’re back, so where’s Daddy?”

“Daddy will probably come home tonight; then we’ll all spend a few days together, how’s that?”

“Yay!”

Her words immediately made both children light up with excitement.

Flynn personally escorted the two of them back to their rooms, while Natalie and Waylon sat together on the living room sofa.

Waylon brought her some snacks and a drink.

The sight of all those treats made Natalie laugh softly.

18:23 Tue, Oct 14

Chapter 447 The Snack That Time Forgot

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“Dad, are you treating me like Susic now? I’m in my twenties; I don’t need snacks like this anymore.”

Waylon’s hand froze midair. He looked at her, eyes glistening. “I know you’re in your twenties… but I wish you were still as little as Susic. Then I could bring you the best things in the world–everything good I could find. Now you’ve grown up, made a name for yourself… it feels like you don’t need me anymore. I want to do something nice for you, but I don’t even know where to start. You’ve got a good husband too… makes me feel pretty useless.”

Natalie felt a lump rise in her throat.

It was true. When she was little, she’d envied the kids who always had snacks to eat. She never did–and wasn’t allowed to. The Summers family parents used to say such things were “the tastes of poor people,” unfit for a Summers heir.

She’d never thought much of it before–after all, she’d grown up, made it on her own, and built a good life. But hearing

Waylon’s words, seeing those very snacks she had once longed for… the realization hit her hard. A painful childhood takes a lifetime to heal.

“No, Dad,” she murmured. “Actually… I really did want to eat them. I’ve wanted to since I was five–but back then, that’s all it could be, just a wish.”

She picked up a bag of chips and tore it open.

The scent filled her nose, and suddenly it was as if she’d been pulled back to that five–year–old version of herself.

She took one, placed it in her mouth, and began to chew slowly. For some reason, tears streamed down her face before she could stop them.

In that moment, she wanted to tell her five–year–old self, These chips are delicious.

Waylon was startled by her tears.

“Sweetheart–Natalie, don’t cry, please. If you don’t like them, we won’t eat them, okay? I was wrong; I’ll go buy you something else.”

He reached out, ready to clear the snacks away.

But Natalie immediately wrapped her arms around them protectively.

Her tear–filled eyes lifted to his, and her voice trembled. “Dad, I really do love them. I’ve wanted them since I was little. But back then, the Summers family parents told me only poor

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18:23 Tue, Oct 14

Chapter 447 The Snack That Time Forgot

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kids liked this kind of food. They said I was a Summers heiress; I needed to know what was

proper

and what wasn’t. Junk food wasn’t allowed in the Summers family. But I’d see other kids eating it all the time–and their parents never said a thing.”

Natalie’s gaze turned distant as she sank into the memory.

“I remember once getting curious about what junk food tasted like. The little girl next door gave me a tiny piece of a chip, and I was so excited. But before I could even taste it, the Summers saw me, slapped it out of my hand, dragged me inside by the car, and made me write a thousand–word apology. They even punished me with no food for two days, and if the maid hadn’t secretly given me a bun, I might’ve starved. After that, I never dared touch junk food again, but I never stopped thinking about it. I couldn’t understand what was so terrible about one chip. Sure, it’s junk food, but how could a single bite be such a crime? Even now, as an adult, I’ve thought about buying some to try again, but every time I stand in front of that shelf, fear grips me. I can still feel that hunger, my stomach empty, my ribs aching, and it always comes back to haunt me. Eventually, I just stopped hoping.”

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