Chapter 6

The next day, Natalie finished her work and decided to text Hestia to check up on her.

"Are you up yet, Hessy?"

"Yeah."

"How are things between you and Shane?"

"We talked. He's compromising. The wedding will proceed as planned."

"I'm sorry, Hessy, but I have a very important case on my hands and might need to go on a business trip next month. I can't be your bridesmaid anymore. Will you hold it against me?"

"How could the most good-looking bridesmaid and groomsman both say that they're quitting on the same day? Did you plan this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Austin also said that he can't come due to some other issue."

It was probably because he didn't want to see Natalie either. Her chest felt a little stuffy at the thought.

Sandbury was a huge city with a dense population. It was impossible for two people to meet again if they deliberately avoided each other.

She was very busy, and so was Austin. They were just like two parallel lines that were not supposed to have anything to do with each other forever. Also, Natalie had indeed been actively trying to avoid running into Austin.

She declined all the dinner invitations from Hestia and Shane. Even if her other friends asked her out, she always asked for the list of attendees before considering it, afraid of ever running into Austin again.

Half a month later, Samson Lawrence, Natalie's supervisor at the law firm, walked into her office with a stack of documents.

"Ms. Sherman, this client specifically requested that you handle this case."

Natalie took the document from him and glanced at the pages.

"A trademark infringement case? But Mr. Lawrence, you know that this isn't my forte. I usually handle public interest cases. You're the one handling commercial ones."

"But they specifically requested you," he replied, pushing his black-rimmed glasses up. He looked a little impressed. "They're willing to pay up to 30% of the compensation. Can you blame me for accepting it on your behalf?"

"But…"

"I believe in you and your abilities."

"I'll try."

"This is the client's address. You can head over at once."

"Their home address?"

"Yeah. Their home address."

…

Haven Hills was a well-known upscale residential area in Sandbury, surrounded by many highly skilled professionals. It was also just a ten-minute drive from the Aerospace Research Institute.

Security was extremely tight, with proper registration and checks required, and entry permitted only after a phone call to consult the host.

Natalie finally managed to make her way in and stood at the door, ringing the doorbell.

The moment the door opened, she froze in disbelief.

It was Emily, and she was dressed in a silk nightgown, her long, wavy curls flowing down her shoulders. She wore heavy makeup and looked exceptionally alluring.

"Come in. There's no need to close the door behind you."

So, this was the "client" with the so-called trademark infringement case who appointed Natalie, a public interest lawyer?

She had been confused about it before, but now, everything suddenly made sense.

Emily was just looking for an opportunity to make things difficult for her and humiliate her. That was all.

Since she was already here anyway, Natalie decided to see what tricks Emily had up her sleeves this time.

She entered the place and immediately caught sight of the pair of men's black indoor slippers next to the shoe cabinet, a matching pair with the ones that Emily was wearing.

Emily said casually, "Those slippers belong to Aust. Take another pair of indoor slippers from the shoe cabinet instead."

Was Austin living with Emily after all?

The thought flashed through Natalie's mind for a second, and it stung. However, shouldn't all shoes and slippers be kept away in the shoe cabinet, anyway?

It was clear that Emily wanted her to see them with how conspicuously they were placed.

She composed herself, opened the shoe cabinet, and fetched a new pair of indoor slippers, changing into them.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Upton. I am—"

Natalie was just about to adopt a professional demeanor with Emily when she was rudely interrupted.

"There's no need for introductions. None of that nonsense. Sit."

Emily leaned back casually on the couch, her posture alluring as she crossed her leg over the other. She had an arm propped up to support her head, and her long curls fell behind the back of the couch.

There was a look of contempt and disdain in her eyes, and her attitude was cold and icy.

Natalie remained calm and sat down next to her, took out her laptop, and opened it.

"About the trademark infringement, Ms. Upton—"

Emily interrupted her once again, pointing at the coffee table. "Have a drink. It was prepared for you."

Natalie looked at the coffee table again and saw three mugs. Two of them were a matching couple set, and it was very obvious what Emily was playing at at this point, rendering Natalie speechless.

It seemed that the trademark infringement case was likely fabricated by Emily after all and didn't actually exist.

"Don't touch that mug. That's Aust's," Emily said, reaching for the other matching mug, sipping on the warm water in it with a smile on her face. She glanced at Natalie, staring at her with a gloating expression on her face.

Natalie simply smiled lightly and took a deep breath. She couldn't put up with Emily's horrible performance anymore.

"Stop it with the act, Ms. Upton. The case is fake, isn't it? You only summoned me here because you wanted to humiliate me. Isn't that so?"

Emily stopped playing nice once exposed and cackled lightly, looking at Natalie in disdain. She jeered at her in a shrill voice, "Finally, a scumbag like you has gotten your comeuppance!

"You couldn't even find yourself another millionaire to seduce after leaving Aust, could you? Who would've thought that the once-famous and most talented student in the finance department would end up being a public interest lawyer in a small firm? Karma really got you this time!"

Natalie just watched Emily indifferently as she continued gloating.

"It was a miracle back then that Aust even noticed you in the first place, considering how lowly you were! And yet, you still cheated on him! You deserve to be where you are now and unwanted by anyone else.

"Aust has gotten together with me ever since you left, and we're living very happily together now."

Natalie smiled softly, a hint of pity in her smile. "Your view on the world is still as narrow as ever, Emily."

"What do you mean by that?" Emily snapped back, her face turning dark.

Natalie retorted slowly and sarcastically, "All you see and care about are just men, status, and rich millionaires. You're just like a dung beetle proudly showing off how big your ball of dung is.

"Yet, I actually stand for and advocate for other things. I see procedural justice. I see the underprivileged seeking justice. I see cases that drive social progress."

The smile then disappeared from Natalie's lips as her eyes sharpened. "My value doesn't need to be proven by clinging to some rich man. So what if I'm a public interest lawyer? Every case I handle helps restore fairness to society.

"As for you, what else do you really have other than clinging to that man and a past I've long abandoned since?"

Emily's face was completely purple with rage. She leaped to her feet with her fists clenched and glared hatefully at Natalie.

She had intended to properly humiliate Natalie after confronting her, but she'd done the opposite instead, failing to do so and even making herself angry in the process.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door, and Emily hurried out.

Natalie just put away the documents and her laptop back inside her briefcase.

Since the door was left ajar, the voices coming in from outside were loud and clear.

"You're back from work, Aust! I just made you some lasagna. It's in the kitchen."

Austin's deep, magnetic voice replied, "Don't bother. I've already had dinner."

"But it's already made especially for you. It's a pity to just waste it. I spent 12 hours slow-cooking the ragù."

Natalie felt a little helpless and frustrated. She had been trying to hide from Austin for so long, avoiding all possibilities of ever meeting him again, but she still failed because of Emily.

She was just about to get up and leave when she caught sight of something in the trash can not too far away. The bright red packaging bearing the words "Derollo's Frozen Lasagna" was particularly eye-catching.

Austin was then pulled into the apartment by his arm by Emily, and he bumped into Natalie at the entryway right at that moment.

They both froze the moment their eyes met.