After breakfast, Natalie called Bianca, who was still in bed but instantly woke up upon hearing that her friend had returned from abroad."You're back?" Bianca asked."Yeah, I'll come over right away," Natalie replied."Great, I've taken the morning off. Come on over.""Okay." Natalie hung up. She soon left the villa, taking nothing but Ginger with her. She had no desire for anything from this place that used to belong to her. She was even still wearing the same clothes from when she had returned yesterday.Scarlet Villa was located in an affluent area where it was nearly impossible to get a taxi. Because of the seclusion, Natalie had to walk a considerable distance. She ended up waiting for almost half an hour without seeing a car.Then, a car sped towards her and came to a screeching halt beside her. It was so fast that Natalie instinctively took a step back. Just as she was about to shout at the driver, she saw Cedric's cold and sharp profile through the partially open car w
Bianca and Natalie didn't inquire further. As they walked out of the police station, the air around Natalie was cold. Bianca hurried to catch up, grabbing her wrist. "Nat.""I'm fine," she said, but a storm was raging inside.Why did Cedric bail those people out? In the past, regardless of who tried to harm Natalie, he would never show them any leniency. However, this time, he had protected the very people who had sent her threatening letters, razor blades, and animal carcasses, as well as cursed her constantly on social media."What is Cedric's intention?" Bianca wondered."Christina and Isabella probably bribed those people," Natalie said, her voice trembling with anger.Bianca's temper flared instantly. "What is he thinking?"What was he thinking? Natalie didn't know.During her absence over these three months, who knew what had happened? She thought that her departure would have allowed the situation from her previous life to cool down, but new developments had her...Bia
After returning home, Natalie received a call from Stephen. Natalie informed him that she would not be returning to Simeria for the time being, but would instead open a studio in her field of expertise. Stephen immediately promised to support her.Throughout the years Natalie spent with Cedric, he had never allowed her to work, shaping her into a full-time housewife who had learned to endure and comply with everything. Her daily life revolved around managing in-law relationships and household chores.Everyone envied her for marrying Cedric and living a life where she was pampered. However, only those who had actually experienced being a full-time housewife in a wealthy family knew how challenging it could be.With Stephen's support, her new venture would be much smoother.When Bianca returned in the evening, she found Natalie earnestly sketching on a piece of paper while holding her pig in one hand.Bianca approached and smiled. "I was worried that you wouldn't be able to survive
Isabella lowered her head, concealing the fleeting sharpness on her face. Her tone was pitiful and sad as she said, "She's your mother. It's only natural for me to visit her. I'm sorry.""You don't need to apologize," Cedric said, obviously frustrated.Especially when he saw Isabella in this fragile state, he...!There was a time when Natalie acted the same way as Isabella toward him. However, no matter what trouble arose recently, even if it seemed like everyone wanted to tear her apart, she never bowed down to him again. She would rather seek help from the police than ask him for protection.Isabella took a deep breath and said, "I know that your mother look down on me, but I didn't choose to be in this state. My entire life has been ruined..."Isabella trailed off and started to cry softly.Cedric had initially planned to ask about the evidence, but with Isabella like this, he completely forgot about it. He ran his fingers through his already disheveled hair. "Don't worry;
A fiery pain spread across her face, and the narrow space fell completely silent at that moment. Cedric was stiff as he looked at Natalie, whose head was turned to the side. Then, he slowly looked at his own hand as his eyes widened.Both of them were breathing heavily.Finally, Natalie turned to look at Cedric. When she met his eyes, she smiled.It was a mocking smile, one that was cold and biting!"Hah! You hit me. Why? For that woman's sake?" She almost couldn't hear her own voice. It was an instinctual question.Cedric had hit her.He had hit her for another woman.If Natalie had only felt disappointment towards him earlier, she was now completely heartbroken by this man.People say that letting go was just a thought away. So, heartbreak must also happen in an instant. At this moment, her feelings for Cedric... were completely dead.Cedric also finally came to his senses. He looked at her, his small face covered in red marks. He extended shaky hands toward her. Even hi
Natalie went upstairs.Bianca had been waiting for her. When she saw Natalie with disheveled clothes, marks on her neck, and finger imprints on her face, she was instantly furious."He hit you?!" She asked. Even her breathing had become heavy with how angry she was.Natalie nodded. Her complexion didn't look too good. When she recalled Cedric's gaze, which looked like he was about to devour her, she...!When she closed her eyes, all she could recall was the stinging sensation on her face from his slap.Her face still burned from the impact, and the sensation of being strangled around her neck lingered.Bianca placed a coat over her shoulders, and then she pulled on her own jacket. "Let's go to the hospital," Bianca suggested."It's fine," Natalie said hesitantly. These injuries were relatively minor, and she didn't think they required a hospital visit. But Bianca's response caught her off guard."This is domestic violence! It'll be helpful in the legal battle," Bianca exp
Natalie didn't answer his question. She simply gazed at him in silence. The conversation she had with Bianca in the car had deeply touched her. Now, her eyes were only filled with coldness as she looked at Cedric.There was also an underlying disbelief!She found it hard to believe that this man, who she hadn't thought would ever lay a hand on her due to Isabella, would do so. He even...!"What were you thinking when you hit me for Isabella?" Natalie asked suddenly.Cedric responded, "What?""When you hit me for Isabella, what was going through your mind?"As those words left her mouth, Cedric's eye twitched in annoyance. His eyes showed traces of smoldering anger. "Do you really think I hit you for her?""Wasn't it?"The man fell silent. The rage in his eyes burned so brightly that it looked like it would explode at any moment.And as Natalie looked at him, it was as though she was staring at a stranger. When had they reached such a level of mutual distrust? These tho
When Natalie left the hospital, it was already three in the morning. She had spent several hours there.She looked apologetically at Bianca and said, "I'm sorry, Bia.""Cut it out; you don't have to say such things to me."Bianca didn't care. She only wanted to help Natalie break free from Cedric as soon as possible. If this continued, she was genuinely worried it might lead to a fatality. The people around Cedric were not to be underestimated, and Natalie had suffered countless hardships by his side over the years.Now, the way those people were acting clearly indicated their intention to corner Natalie.Bianca was also a smart person. After learning about the evidence, she understood that everything before had been a trap set for Natalie.-That night, Natalie couldn't find any peace.Cedric wasn't at peace in the hospital either, given Isabella's eye infection. The doctors were actively treating her and recommended surgery to prevent further complications. However, they face