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All Chapters of Back to Strangers: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

11 Chapters

Chapter 1

Camille Collett went still at my answer.Nathan Holt looked just as stunned. He started to say something, but another voice cut him off.My cousin, Esther Sullivan, poked her head in from the balcony, her face lighting up."Natalie, you finally came to your senses! You should've divorced him ages ago. You've been married for three years, and he's spent two of them icing you out."He's either off traveling with some other woman or taking some other woman to the movies. If I were you, I'd give him a couple of good slaps before I left him."Camille muttered, "Isn't that cheating? Natalie, just divorce him. You're gorgeous. You could have anyone you want."I didn't answer. I just gave her a faint smile."Enough about that. It's almost noon, and the dining hall's going to be packed. I'll take you and your roommates out for lunch. Bring your... boyfriend."Nathan's face tightened, but when he saw how excited Camille was, he didn't correct her this time.I forced myself to ignore the

Chapter 2

Nathan apologized, grabbed a few napkins, and wiped up the spilled drink.Everyone's attention shifted back to me.Esther suddenly put it together. "So that's when you and your husband stopped speaking, and when he started seeing that other woman all the time. Does he even know about the baby?"I lowered my gaze and shook my head. Tears stung my eyes, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hold them back.I forced myself to stand. "Sorry. I shouldn't have brought this up and ruined lunch. You guys keep eating. I'm going to the restroom."Nathan stood almost at the same time. "I'll get a server to clean this up."Then he followed me out.I hurried into the restroom and locked the door behind me.All the hurt and resentment I'd kept bottled up for years came flooding back. My chest tightened until I could barely breathe. I covered my mouth as I finally broke down sobbing.It took a long time before I finally pulled myself together. When I stepped out, I was still unsteady on

Chapter 3

Nathan fell silent.After a long pause, he glanced at me, looking torn. But even then, he couldn't bring himself to answer Camille directly."Camille, you've got it wrong. There's nothing between Natalie and me. I just felt sorry for her and tried to comfort her."The ringing in my ears grew so loud that everything else seemed to fade away.I stared at the man in front of me and almost laughed. We'd been married for three years. I'd lost our baby. I'd kept our home running and done everything I could for his parents.And Nathan? He'd been taking another woman to see the ocean. Even now, he couldn't bring himself to admit that I was his wife.That was the moment I finally gave up on him.Camille and Esther kept arguing, but I could barely hear them anymore. It wasn't until Esther pulled me away that I finally snapped out of it."Esther, you don't have to come with me. Go back. I need to find a lawyer and talk to my husband about the divorce."Esther nodded and pulled me into a

Chapter 4

By the time Nathan and I got back to the dorm, a crowd had already gathered.Alicia was holding Esther back while their other roommate, Elaine Jones, did the same with Camille. Their hair was a mess, and they were still yelling at each other.Camille was doing most of the yelling."Natalie's a shameless old hag! She knew Nathan was my boyfriend, but she still put on this whole poor-me act and cried in front of him. She was practically throwing herself at him!"Esther's face was red with anger. She struggled against Alicia, trying to get at Camille again."That's bullshit! Nathan is the one who's into Natalie. Stop trying to blame everything on her!"The resident director hurried in right behind us. It took a couple of warnings before Esther and Camille finally quieted down."It's your first day here, and you're already fighting? What happened?"Esther started to answer, but Camille beat her to it. In an instant, she was acting like she was the one who'd been wronged."Ms. Scot

Chapter 5

The entire hallway went silent.Even Esther went still in my arms. She stared at the marriage certificate in my hand, then looked up at me."Nathan... he's your husband?"I didn't answer. I kept my eyes on Camille.The smug look vanished from her face. She went stiff, then pale."I didn't say anything before because I was trying to save you, Nathan, and myself some embarrassment."I paused, my expression turning cold. "But if you don't care about embarrassing yourself, I'm done trying to spare you."Camille finally snapped out of her shock. She lunged forward with a shriek and snatched the marriage certificate out of my hand.She went over every line again and again, desperately searching for anything that might prove it was fake. Her fingers trembled as she ran them over the official seal.She shook her head. "No. No, this has to be fake! You shameless old hag! You had a fake certificate made just to trick me!"She shoved the certificate in Nathan's face, her eyes red. "Nath

Chapter 6

The second Nathan walked into the station and spotted me, he rushed over and grabbed my wrist."Nattie, please don't do this! Ms. Scott already reported everything to the Dean of Students. Camille's already been formally disciplined and suspended for a week."If you keep pursuing this with the police, she could get arrested, and then the school might expel her. That could ruin her future!"I jerked my wrist free."And what about me? What about what this has cost me? Because of her, I lost a baby. I lost my husband. And now Esther and I have been insulted and slapped for no reason."I paused and looked him straight in the eye. "Through all of this, have you asked even once if either of us is okay? You're my husband, not hers."Nathan had nothing to say. He stood there for a few seconds before silently following us back to campus.No one spoke on the way.When we reached the Dean of Students' office, several people were already sitting inside. Mr. Manning, the Dean of Students, l

Chapter 7

Camille's sobs stopped instantly. She looked up at me, fear written all over her face.I ignored her and kept my eyes on Nathan. "If you want me to settle, fine. Sign the divorce papers right now and walk away with nothing. Do that, and I'll agree."But what Camille did to Esther is separate. Whether Esther wants to settle or keep pursuing it is up to her. I can't make that decision for her."I held Nathan's gaze and spoke slowly, emphasizing every word. "Do you understand?"After a moment, he nodded.Camille stumbled to her feet and rushed over to him, clutching his sleeves with both hands."Then sign the papers! You're the one who told me you were getting divorced! You never told me she was your wife. If you'd told me the truth from the beginning, none of this would've happened!"Why did you lie to me? This is all your fault!"She grew more frantic with every word, shoving Nathan hard in the shoulders until he stumbled back several steps.He didn't argue. He lowered his head

Chapter 8

Esther studied me for a few seconds, then smiled.I smiled back and pulled her into a hug. I told her to get some rest and call me if she needed anything.I waited until she disappeared upstairs before heading home. As soon as I got there, I called a moving company."Hi. I need movers as soon as possible."By the time Nathan came home, the moving truck was already pulling away with the last of my things. He stopped in the doorway and stared at the half-empty living room for a long moment.My shoes were gone from the entryway. My usual throw pillow was gone from the couch. Even the sticky notes I'd kept on the refrigerator had been taken down.With all those little traces of my life gone, the house felt bare and cold.Nathan walked in slowly and stopped in front of me. For a long moment, he said nothing.Then he finally spoke. "Nattie, I'm sorry."I didn't answer."I know it's probably too late for any of this, but I swear I never crossed the line with Camille. At first, I rea

Chapter 9

Nathan's parents, David Holt and Madeline Adams, were furious when they learned what had happened.Madeline fired Camille's mother, Susan Flynn, on the spot. And that still wasn't enough for her.The next day, she went straight to the housekeeping agency Susan worked for and made a scene, accusing Susan of raising a daughter who had destroyed her son's marriage.Word got around fast.Camille had already been expelled from college. Now Susan had lost her job too, and her reputation in the industry was ruined. After that, no one wanted to hire her.Then David and Madeline started calling me.At first, they were angry. Then their tone softened. Before long, they were practically begging me to take Nathan back.Madeline said over the phone, "Nathan knows he made a mistake. Men do stupid things sometimes. Just give him one more chance."Then David got on the phone. "We've already dealt with Susan and her family. Just let this go. Come home and give Nathan another chance."I refused

Chapter 10

Esther had been accepted into a graduate program at the same university. After her graduation ceremony that morning, I decided to take a walk near campus.I moved slowly beneath the maple trees. I looked down at my belly and gently ran a hand over it. The baby seemed to feel it and gave me a soft little kick.I smiled and slowed my pace as I continued along the shaded sidewalk.The hospital wasn't far from campus, so I hadn't bothered driving. I figured I'd walk over afterward for my prenatal appointment.Then I stopped when I spotted someone familiar across the street.It was Camille.She looked much more worn down than I remembered. Her hair hung messily around her shoulders, and she wore a faded T-shirt and a pair of plain canvas shoes.She stood outside a restaurant, talking to a middle-aged man who looked like the manager. I could see the pleading look on her face.He waved her off impatiently. "No. I already told you, we're not hiring! We don't even hire servers without s

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