Chapter 6

In front of the two-story building of the Locke residence, Addison led Natalie and Phoebe to the door and raised his hand to knock. "Captain Gregory has arrived!" The door was opened by Evelyn Harper, the housekeeper who had worked at the Locke residence for over a decade. Seeing the two lively young ladies behind Addison, she greeted them warmly, "These must be Phoebe and Natalie! Come on in!" As they entered, Addison introduced them. Natalie changed her shoes, adjusted the strap of her crossbody bag across her chest, and flashed a sweet smile at Evelyn. "Hello, Evelyn!" Her bright, cheerful voice was a delight to the ears. Evelyn looked at Natalie's fresh, youthful face and couldn't help but exclaim, "You're stunning, my dear!" "Then, this lovely lady must be Phoebe," Evelyn continued, glancing at the lady beside Natalie. "Wow, you ladies from Willowridge Village are really something. Every one of you is so beautiful!" Phoebe blushed slightly and smiled back, saying, "Hello, Evelyn." Hearing the chatter, Gideon and Celeste stepped out of the living room. Celeste was a doctor at the military hospital. In her early 40s, she stood tall and had striking, well-defined features. Her hair was neatly styled in a bun, and she wore a crisp checkered shirt paired with black trousers. Gideon was a few years older than Celeste but showed no signs of aging. His build remained solid and upright, with chiseled features that complemented his green military uniform. Despite his attempts to appear subdued, he emanated an undeniable air of authority. Their gazes fell upon Natalie and Phoebe. Phoebe, suppressing her nervousness, seized the moment to introduce herself. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Locke. I'm Phoebe Yates. Mrs. Locke, you look just like a movie star from a magazine! And Mr. Locke, you look so youthful!" Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she gazed intently at the couple. Who didn't enjoy compliments? Celeste's smile widened appreciatively at Phoebe's flattery. A fleeting memory from the original storyline crossed Natalie's mind. The weight of being overshadowed by Phoebe still lingered within her. At that thought, she quickly greeted, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Locke. I'm Natalie Wynn." Gideon nodded slightly at Natalie and Phoebe. "From now on, this will be your home, and I will take care of you in place of your fathers." He was typically serious and reserved, and although he tried to appear approachable, he still carried an imposing presence that commanded respect effortlessly. Concerned that Natalie and Phoebe might feel intimidated, Celeste smiled warmly and said, "Don't just stand there. Let's sit on the couch and chat. Think of this place as your home from now on, so feel free to relax." Natalie and Phoebe settled onto the couch, and Evelyn brought over two cups of water. Holding her enamel cup, Natalie took a sip and surveyed the Locke residence curiously. The living room was bright and spacious, featuring a square layout. At the center stood a brown leather couch draped with a white patterned throw over the backrest. Across from it was a wooden TV cabinet with an old-fashioned television on top. The television, with its rounded edges, had the screen on the left and a tuning knob on the right, radiating a distinctly vintage charm. The floor was made of solid wood, and the four walls were painted white. One wall displayed calligraphy and paintings, while another showcased family photographs. One of the photographs was a family portrait featuring a beautiful family of four. The two young men in the bottom right corner particularly stood out. They appeared to be close in age and shared similar features. One had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, with sculpted features that seemed almost divine. The other had thick eyebrows and large eyes. With a faint smile, he radiated a cheerful young man's charm. The two brothers appeared to embody contrasting personalities—one cool and reserved, the other warm and approachable. Natalie gazed at the familiar cold face in the photo, her beautiful eyes widening in shock. Wasn't this the man who had saved her on the train? Could this man be one of the Locke family's two sons? Noticing that Natalie was fixated on the photo, Celeste stepped forward and smiled as she introduced the people in it. "This is my eldest son, Jasper. He's 25 this year and works as a pilot. He couldn't make it back today because his team has training. "And next to him is my youngest son, James, who just turned 18 this year. He's upstairs looking for something and will be down shortly." Celeste's words confirmed Natalie's suspicions, stirring a whirlwind of emotions within her that she struggled to articulate. In the original storyline, these two men were the ones the original subject had tried to pursue but ultimately failed, becoming the catalysts for her tragic fate. Jasper, in particular, harbored an inexplicable hostility toward her from the very first day she arrived at the Locke residence. As time passed, he treated her with palpable disdain, spending most of his time at the flight base and rarely returning home. Even during their rare encounters, he maintained an icy demeanor. In contrast, his attitude toward the other sister, Phoebe, was relatively pleasant. Despite his cold exterior, he fulfilled his responsibilities as an older brother. Later, undeterred by the risks, the original subject attempted to win Jasper over, using every tactic at her disposal to transform her brother into her husband. Naturally, this ended in disaster, and she was promptly expelled from the Locke residence. However, Natalie could empathize with the original subject's feelings. Who wouldn't be flustered if they had to live with two handsome men like them every day? It was only natural to act somewhat recklessly. Yet, the original subject was a bit too greedy, trying to cast a wide net like a fisherwoman without the skills to catch anything. Now that Natalie had taken over, she had learned from the original subject's mistakes. She had no intention of provoking either of the Locke brothers. All she wanted was to firmly latch onto the Locke family, securing a comfortable life until she could take the college entrance exam. She dreamed of attending university and landing a job with good benefits and minimal stress, perhaps in sectors like tobacco or the electric grid. Whether she got married or not, her goal was to enjoy a relaxed and carefree life for the rest of her years. Indeed, Natalie considered herself a bit of a slacker. In reality, the country where she lived experienced a period of rapid economic growth but then entered a phase of stagnation, marked by a sharp decline in birth rates and a dramatic rise in unemployment. University graduates had become as cheap and abundant as cabbages. Pursuing civil service exams had become the most viable path for many. Before transmigrating into the book, Natalie and her three dormmates had all been preparing for these exams. Since they were bound to take the civil service exams sooner or later, Natalie figured it would be wiser to start working toward a stable job from the 70s, securing her future in one decisive move. By the time the economy entered a downturn, she would already be enjoying a generous retirement pension, living a life filled with leisure and indulgence. In any case, that was the extent of her ambitions. As for Jasper, Natalie admitted that when she didn't know who he was on the train, she had developed a bit of a crush on him. It was exhilarating, especially since he had saved her life. With the glow of having a lifesaver, her heart's little flame of affection danced and flickered. But now, she had become the sister that Jasper despised most, the one he avoided like the plague. She had to extinguish that flame within her if she wanted to latch onto the Locke family. She resolved to keep her distance from Jasper and avoid provoking him. Having made up her mind, Natalie felt a sense of clarity. When she glanced to the side, she noticed Phoebe was also focused on the family photo, tightly gripping her enamel cup and lost in thought. Natalie couldn't help but sigh again. Being the female lead had its perks—she didn't have to lift a finger while the supporting characters embarrassed themselves to accentuate her. All the good things seemed to revolve around her. While Natalie and Phoebe were preoccupied with their thoughts, Celeste also felt a sense of unease.