PART 5

PART 5

Larisa’s face turned pale as every pair of eyes in the room fixed on her.

It was as if she were the one responsible for what had happened to Natasya two years ago.

“I… I was at home when Natasya had the accident,” she said softly. Her voice trembled, though she tried to steady it.

“I wasn’t feeling well. I had a fever that morning and didn’t go anywhere.”

Everyone watched her carefully, noticing the panic flickering across her face.

“Stop looking at me like that! I swear I was at home when Natasya got into that accident!” Larisa shouted.

Her breathing grew uneven. A thin layer of sweat formed on her forehead.

“At home?” Natasya repeated slowly. The disbelief in her eyes was unmistakable.

“Yes.” Larisa nodded quickly.

“When I woke up that morning, I had a terrible headache. I decided not to go to work. I texted you to let you know I wouldn’t be coming in. I went to see a doctor and got a medical certificate. After I came back, I stayed in my room the whole day. I didn’t even know about the accident until the next day.”

Roby stepped forward at once, positioning himself slightly in front of Larisa as if shielding her from Natasya’s attack.

“What a coincidence,” Natasya said coldly. “You stayed home from work, and I ended up in an accident.”

“Don’t accuse her without proof, Natasya!” Roby snapped.

The woman standing before him was no longer the gentle Natasya he once knew.

This Natasya was sharp, bitter, and filled with resentment.

“I haven’t accused anyone,” she replied flatly.

“Why do you look so scared? Are you afraid your mistress might end up in prison?”

“You can’t do that, Natasya! You have no proof!” Larisa cried out, her voice rising in panic as she grabbed Roby’s arm.

The mere thought of prison made her heart pound wildly.

“ENOUGH, NATASYA!” Roby shouted. He was clearly fed up.

“You slipped and fell into the swimming pool. Yes, you can swim when you’re healthy—but that day your head hit the edge. It happened because you weren’t being careful.”

But Natasya didn’t back down.

She stepped closer, her gaze locked onto Larisa.

“If you’re innocent, then why is your face so pale?” she asked quietly.

“Or… are you hiding something from us, Larisa?”

“Stop this right now, Natasya!” Roby said firmly.

“You should be grateful that you’ve returned home safely. Don’t let your recovery turn people against you because of this behavior—making accusations without any proof!”

“Roby?” Natasya pressed her palm lightly against his chest.

She looked up at the man she once loved with all her heart.

“As my husband, you should be trying to find out why I fell into that pool—not standing here protecting that woman!” she snapped, casting a sharp glance at Larisa.

“I don’t like the way you keep cornering Larisa like this,” Roby replied.

Natasya gave him a faint smile.

“Oh? So now Larisa’s feelings matter more than mine?”

Roby let out a long breath.

“Larisa isn’t a bad person. She’s proven that. Ever since she started working with us, she’s never caused any trouble.”

Natasya snapped her fingers.

“Exactly!” she said.

“I want to know—did she get that job at our company because of you?”

“For God’s sake, Natasya, I had nothing to do with her hiring. You were the one who opened the vacancy. You were the one who accepted her as your secretary. You remember that!”

Natasya nodded slowly.

“Oh, I remember very well. She applied to work at my company. As my secretary. Not as my replacement in this house. And certainly not as your bed partner in my bedroom.”

Larisa lowered her head in silence.

“Since when does a secretary take on a second job as a mistress?”

Roby and Larisa’s faces flushed red.

“She’s staying in this house because of Erik,” Roby said quickly. “Erik was lonely when you left. He cried and—”

“Were you lonely too, Roby?” Natasya cut in sharply.

“Lonely enough to open the doors of my house wide for that woman?”

Her gaze shifted to Camila and the others.

“Your mother and your brother are here too. This is my house, Roby. My father’s house. You’ve got a lot of nerve.”

“You should be thanking Larisa, Natasya!” Camila snapped.

She had been sick of Natasya’s attitude for a long time.

Deep down, she even regretted that Natasya had survived.

“Thank her?” Natasya stepped closer, her voice rising.

“I’m supposed to thank the woman who stole my husband? Stole my position? Should I also thank her for giving my husband a child? Camila, I think you seriously need a mental evaluation!”

“Natasya!” Roby barked.

“Mr. Danil,” Natasya ordered coldly, “check the CCTV footage from two years ago. I’m certain the cameras captured who truly wanted me dead.”

“I’m sorry, Ma’am,” Danil replied carefully. “The CCTV cameras were damaged at that time.”

“What?” Natasya’s eyes widened.

“Someone destroyed the cameras and took the recordings.”

“You see?” Natasya let out a bitter smile. “Everything was arranged perfectly.”

“Natasya,” Larisa spoke again, her voice softer now.

“I’m sorry if my presence in this house makes you uncomfortable. But you need to know—I didn’t steal Roby from you.”

“Things just… happened. I truly care about Erik. And Gaby—my daughter—was born from the love between Roby and me. She’s innocent.”

There was a trace of fear in her eyes, as if she was worried Natasya might harm her child.

“I don’t need to hear your love story with my husband,” Natasya cut her off coldly.

“I don’t care anymore. If you love him so much, you can have him.”

The words hit Roby like a slap across the face.

“Natasya, please… don’t say that. I still love you.”

Deep down, Roby knew he still needed her. He loved Natasya, yes—but he also couldn’t afford to lose his position in the company. His mother and his sister, Edgar, still depended on him financially.

He would keep persuading Natasya, no matter what it took, until she softened toward him again.

“You betrayed me, Roby,” Natasya said coldly. “And I will never take back a traitor. You’ll be receiving court papers from me soon. After this, I will take over the company again—as I always should have. And you will no longer be in charge.”

Roby, Camila, and especially Larisa were stunned.

Oh God… if Roby no longer works with Natasya, what will happen to my future? Camila panicked inwardly.

“Natasya, please don’t do this to Roby. I’m the one at fault. I swear I’ll stay away from him,” Larisa pleaded.

If Roby gets fired, we’re finished. I can’t go back to living in poverty again, Larisa thought anxiously.

“You should be happy that I’m letting Roby go,” Natasya said, her gaze shifting between Larisa and Roby. “You two can live freely out there.”

Larisa shook her head quickly. “Natasya, I didn’t mean— I’m not a bad woman who—”

“There is no such thing as a good woman,” Natasya cut in sharply, “who walks into someone else’s home and becomes the ‘replacement’ without hidden intentions.”

“I didn’t steal your husband, Natasya!” Larisa shot back, her voice rising. “I never asked Roby to leave you! The two of you can get back together.”

Everyone knew the real reason behind that suggestion—Natasya’s wealth was not small.

“But I refuse to take him back!” Natasya snapped.

“You’re too arrogant to see the goodness in others,” Camila interrupted again.

At that, Natasya’s anger flared once more.

“Arrogant?” she repeated.

“You think everyone must bow to you because of your father’s wealth.”

Natasya gave a small nod.

“Of course. I hold the power, and I hold the money. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be, Camila? You should know your place. You don’t even have the right to live in this house as you please—let alone raise your head in front of me.”

Silence filled the room.

“Very well,” Natasya continued, standing tall with a faint smile.

“I think everyone has seen enough of my return.”

“I’ve also seen and heard enough of what has been happening in this house while I was ill.”

“Natasya—” Roby tried to stop her. A bad feeling crept into his chest.

“Mr. Danil,” she called.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Natasya’s gaze swept across the room.

“Get them out of my house. Now.”