Natalie didn't need to turn around to know who that voice belonged to. She glanced over, and sure enough, her guess was spot-on.However, the Daphne Burke standing in front of her looked nothing like the woman from a year ago. She wore a sleek Coach suit, with a classic Hermès bag on her arm. Even her hair was meticulously styled. Dripping with opulence, she seemed even more pleased with herself than when she was Mrs. Spencer.From what Natalie knew, Daphne had managed to hook up with Peter Churlish, a real estate mogul in Grendale, and the news had caused quite a stir in elite social circles. Even Victor couldn't help but mention it during a phone call once.Natalie mimicked Daphne's tone and said sarcastically, "Well, who do we have here? Isn't this Mrs. Spencer, now someone's mistress? What? Being a kept woman has made your tongue sharper?"Daphne's face darkened instantly.Ever since the Spencers went bankrupt, her life had been pathetic and miserable, and her former friends h
Jason snapped angrily, "But Natalie is my woman! She's my wife! Mine!"Even the silence in the room seemed to echo his unwillingness to concede.Gregory and Jason stared each other down, but in the end, it was Gregory who gave in. "If I'd known it would come to this, I should've dealt with that woman long ago, and we wouldn't have this ridiculous mess now."Jason's face darkened. "You're going to go after her?"Gregory wanted to, but he didn't have the means to act right now. Rowan had left people behind to protect her, so there wasn't even a window of opportunity.Jason let out a cold, sinister chuckle. "Anyone who dares touch her dies."Gregory looked at Jason in horror, realizing that he wasn't joking. No, Jason was very serious. His brows furrowed tightly as he let out a curse. "Lunatics! All of you! Lunatics!"Fuming, he stormed off. But he didn't leave the hospital right away and instead sought out Jason's attending physician. He hadn't forgotten what Natalie had said befo
Magnus took the punch hard, with blood trickling from the corner of his lips.Landon was truly furious now. He grabbed Magnus by the collar and yelled, "Have you lost your damn mind! Natalie went to the Mattel residence to save you, pregnant, and you have the nerve to shout at her! "Apologize to her now, or we're no longer friends."In fact, Magnus had regretted it right after his outburst. He hung his head and was too ashamed to look at Natalie. "I wasn't mad at you, Natalie. I'm mad at myself for failing and being so useless that I can't even avenge Mr. Mattel.""How could you think of yourself that way?" Natalie asked in reply.Magnus pressed his lips tight and said nothing, and she walked over to clap him on the shoulder. "I will avenge Rowan, but now's not the time. Gregory knows exactly what we're thinking of, and he's got guards from Central Southelia protecting Jason."If we strike now, we'll likely fail and get ourselves killed. I know you're not afraid to die, but if y
Natalie pursed her lips and gave a short clap as she rose to her feet. "Well, that's interesting, Gregory. How do you manage to say such shameless things with a straight face? No wonder Ro despised you. You really are trash."Rage twisted Gregory's expression as he raised a hand and was ready to slap her, but she didn't even flinch. Landon had caught his wrist and shoved him back, and Gregory stumbled, crashing onto the couch.When he looked up, his eyes were bloodshot. "How dare you!"Natalie snorted coldly with disdain written all over her face. "I didn't come here to negotiate. I came to inform you."You should know that Ro left everything to me, including a few secrets no one knows about, like Ravenhold."At that, Gregory's eyes widened. For a second, he seemed to stop breathing and just stared at her with his face ashen. "What do you want?"Natalie smiled. She walked up to him, studying him with that same cold intensity before her expression hardened completely. With her
Pamela froze. Natalie's tone was calm, but the truth inside her words struck like thunder. It was such a simple truth, but why hadn't she understood that?If Pamela had just had half of Natalie's clarity back then, perhaps she would've had the courage to stay by Rowan's side after learning about his strange illness. But she hadn't been brave enough, and that was how she lost the one man who mattered the most.Before she left, she gave Natalie a long, thoughtful look. In her eyes flickered envy, jealousy, and recognition.When Pamela was gone, Natalie began to pack. Now that she was expecting, she couldn't afford to stay in Velmont alone. All the debts and grudges would have to wait until after the baby was born safely.This was Rowan's child, so she would protect it with her life.Natalie's flight was that afternoon. She made herself lunch, though she'd been unusually tired lately, maybe because of the pregnancy. Thankfully, the baby was kind to her, and she was spared from any
Landon froze, his eyes wide with disbelief.Was Natalie going to keep Rowan's child? Would that mean Rowan would have an heir now?Tears streamed down Landon's face before he could stop them, and he started weeping like a child. "I'm all yours from now on, Natalie. I swear I'll obey all your words and do as you say."For a moment, Natalie held her composure before a smile broke through. It was the first time she'd smiled since Rowan's death.Landon laughed too, and for a fleeting second, grief in the room gave way to the tiny life growing inside her.Doctors kept Natalie under observation for several days and explained that the sudden bleeding was a threatened miscarriage brought about by the great emotional fluctuations in recent days. If she wanted to carry the baby safely, she needed to stay calm and joyful.From that day onward, Natalie seemed to come alive again, and all the gloom that had clouded her vanished. She ate on time, rested regularly, and let herself smile again