Semua Bab Opening My Eyes to Reality: Bab 211 - Bab 220

Rowan found her earring? Natalie hadn't expected to see it again. Honestly, she'd already made peace with losing it. She spoke softly into the phone, "Thanks for making the trip, Landon. I'm at the hospital right now." Landon's eyes immediately flicked to Rowan. He ended the call in a hurry. "It's no trouble at all. I'll bring it over right away." As soon as he hung up, he walked toward Rowan, who was sitting upright with an air of quiet restraint. In Rowan's palm was a delicate, six-pointed diamond star earring. He'd found it earlier while walking through his bedroom, nestled on the pillow. It sparkled like it belonged there, like it remembered what happened the night before—how close things had gotten between him and Natalie. The memory hit him like a sudden heat. His ears burned, and he froze for half a beat before silently handing the earring over. Landon took it, then hesitated. "Mr. Mattel… When I called Ms. Sutton just now, she said she's at the hospital. Sounds li

That question hit Rowan hard. It was, without question, the hardest question he'd ever been asked. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, he raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing at his lips. "Ms. Sutton, what exactly did I do to make you think that?" The last of the patients in the infusion room had left. Now, it was just the two of them, facing each other in silence. Every shift in expression, every glance—they caught it all. After a beat, Natalie let out a light laugh. "So I misunderstood. Of course, Mr. Mattel already blocked me. Why would a man who liked me go to all that trouble?" She leaned lazily back in her seat, eyes cold. "In that case, I'd appreciate it if you stopped doing things that would give me the wrong idea." Rowan felt like his nerves were pulled taut, his breathing tight in his chest. After a long pause, he exhaled, and all he could manage was two words. "I'm sorry." For reasons she couldn't explain, those words stung. Something bitter twisted

As is pure instinct, Natalie slammed her elbow straight into Victor's chest. He hadn't seen it coming. With a sharp grunt, he staggered back. And just like that, Natalie freed herself from his grip. Rage twisted his face as he glared at her. "Natalie, whether you want to admit it or not, the Spencer family raised you. We gave you everything. You owe us your life. You owe us everything!" That same tiring speech again. Natalie had heard it more times than she could count. She stood her ground, a sneer tugging at her lips. "So what? You came all the way from Grendale just to call me an ungrateful bitch?" Victor's pride bristled. There were things he refused to say yet had no choice but to force them out. He frowned, his face turning an ugly shade. "Mom's sick. She needs treatment. I need a million dollars now."So, that was what this was really about. Last time, Daphne had slashed Susan with a knife. But the wound wasn't deep. It barely even qualified as a minor injury. It

Lucius froze. He hadn't expected Natalie to be that bold. "Well, well. You've got guts. In Velmont, no one dares talk to the Mattel family like that. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"Natalie's smile remained, unfazed. "Why wouldn't I dare? Is your family name worth more than anyone else's?" She said it with a shrug, but her eyes flashed with a mocking glint. Unbidden, her thoughts drifted to Rowan. They shared the same last name but completely different personalities.Lucius' expression darkened. "Are you insulting me?" At first, Natalie had tried to keep things civil. But now, she realized there was no point reasoning with people who had no sense of it. So, she turned away and said flatly, "Leroy, just call the cops. Let them sort this out."Leroy blinked. "What?"He looked puzzled. Wasn't she supposed to solve the problem, not escalate it? Was she serious? Natalie glanced back at him. "What are you staring at? Don't have a phone? Want to borrow mine?" That f

The three men approached, clearly up to no good. The request for a lighter was just a pretense. They were definitely going to cause trouble."I don't smoke," Natalie said coldly, her tone sharp with annoyance. She had come outside to get some air while waiting for her rideshare, but the atmosphere now was spoiled.She turned, planning to wait inside the car instead, when one of the men—the one who'd asked for a light—suddenly slammed his hand on the car door, blocking her. His face twisted into something lecherous. "Come on, sweetheart. Meeting like this? That's fate. If you don't have a light, I've got a 'spark' you could use." His buddies howled with laughter. "Yeah," one of them sneered. "Our boss really has it, if you know what I mean." They were the kind of scum whose vocabulary didn't reach beyond gutter talk. Natalie's lips curled with disdain. "You've tried it yourself?" The laughter cut off immediately. The man she'd spoken to bristled, his face darkening as he