The President’s Mistake A Tale of Love and Regret



Nathaniel exerted a small amount of force, pulling the woman close and kissed her, turning Freya's arrogant and unrestrained laughter into a muffled whimper.noveldrama

Suddenly, the iron gate beside them swung open, and the two of them quickly pulled apart, looking in shock at Tammy standing there.

Tammy, holding two large thermal food containers, looked at Nathaniel and Freya in disbelief, before a look of delight crossed her face.

"Oh, it's Mr. Nathaniel and Ms. Freya! I was just about to look for you two! I made dinner and prepared a portion for both of you. I was going to invite you over, but I was worried you might find it too noisy! So I thought of bringing it over to you."

“Come in, have a seat! If I had known you didn't mind the noise, I would've invited you over earlier!"

Tammy's grip was strong as she grabbed Freya's wrist, pulling her into the yard. Nathaniel had no choice but to follow. What could he do when his wife was already being led inside?

The living room of the Hoover family's house was bustling with activity. The table was laden with dishes, just set and ready for the meal. Everyone was waiting for Tammy to return after delivering the food to Nathaniel and Freya. Instead of the food being delivered, the guests themselves were brought over.

Tammy and her husband had a son and a daughter. Their daughter, a high school teacher in the county, had brought her husband and child back to reunite at her parents' place. Her husband was also a teacher, making them a harmonious and amiable couple. Their five-year-old child was very polite.

Their son, who wasn't academically inclined, stayed in the village to run a fishing business, making a good living. He married a woman from a neighboring village and, despite being younger than Nathaniel, already had two children - a boy and a girl, aged eight and three respectively. The older generation included Tammy's mother-in-law in her 80s. Her father-in-law had passed away four years earlier.

The whole family eagerly made room for Nathaniel and Freya, arranging seats and setting the cutleries.

Freya watched as Nathaniel drank and chatted with the villagers, showing none of his usual airs from Saeville's social gatherings. He seemed much more down-to-earth.

He clinked glasses with Tammy's son-in-law three times, discussing topics ranging from astronomy to history. Freya felt that the warmth of the household lights and the convivial atmosphere melted away the iceberg in her heart.

In that moment, she felt like she had let go of so many things.

Soon it was time for the ritual of welcoming the gods with fireworks, an event where the whole village gathered at the riverbank to set off fireworks and light bonfires.

"Mr. Nathaniel, Ms. Freya, come with

l

us! It's very fun. This year, the lanterns on the riverbank were handcrafted by our village's old craftsmen," Tammy invited with a smile, her husband enthusiastically

echoing her.

“Come on, let's go!” Nathaniel agreed, leading Freya along with the Hoover family towards the eastern end of the village. By this time, all the villagers were outside. Upon seeing Nathaniel, they greeted him warmly.

Nathaniel was their benefactor. He was busy receiving well-wishes, greetings, and offers of cigarettes. Freya, who didn't smoke, was continuously given candies by the village women.

Worried that Freya might be jostled by the crowd, Nathaniel was surprised to see how well she was being taken care of. Her hands, pockets, and even her mouth were filled with candies and snacks.

Her eyes sparkled with laughter, her cheeks puffed with the treats she was chewing, making her look like a cute little squirrel. Nathaniel's lips curved into a smile.

Suddenly, the sound of firecrackers exploded, and soon after, magnificent fireworks lit up the sky, accompanied by cheers.

In the center, a bonfire built from

charcoal bricks, standing two

meters high, was ignited. The entire

village gathered around the bonfire,

circling it three times clockwise and three times counterclockwise, dancing for peace for the future.