"To be honest, this parcel of land has been for sale for a while. If the offer is right, three days is more than enough ti to consider it." He gave her an out.
Natalie nodded in gratitude. "Okay, I understand."
"You’re a real career woman now, completely different from the Natalie I used to know." Byron Quincy handed her a glass of juice, his eyes filled with admiration.
Natalie felt a pang of sha.
’If it weren’t for that one million, she wouldn’t have to be so transparently rcenary.’
"I’m no career woman. Life just forced my hand."
"I heard about what your family has gone through these past few years."
He’d had people make inquiries and had looked into it himself, always watching her quietly from the shadows.
’If a better opportunity hadn’t presented itself, he wouldn’t have risked disturbing her.’
’It was a surprise, running into her today.’
Natalie gave a slight smile, not intending to chat any longer. "Well, I should be going. Please consider the offer."
"Alright, I’ll see you out."
Byron Quincy saw Natalie to the door.
After a few more pleasantries, she gathered her skirt and walked toward Theodore Grant’s car.
The mont the door closed, the man’s lazy gaze fell upon her. "How did it go with your old fla?"
"Old fla?" Her smile held a hint of defiance, her eyes filled with contempt. "Mr. Grant, aren’t you just trying to use the fact that Byron Quincy once pursued to achieve your own goals?"
"Correct." He laced his fingers together in his lap, the corner of his mouth twisting into a sneer. "So, has Mrs. Grant brought so good news?"
"He said he’ll consider it and give us an answer within three days, at the earliest."
"In other words, he didn’t agree to sell the land to us." Theodore Grant shook his head in disappointnt. "It seems Mrs. Grant won’t be getting her one million after all."
Natalie’s pupils constricted. "He said he would look at the offer. If the Grant Group’s price ets his expectations, of course he’ll sell."
"And here I thought that after seeing you, he’d be so thrilled he’d just give it to us for free." He let out a derisive laugh.
Natalie’s brow furrowed in a mocking frown. "Who do you think I am? I’m just a pawn, a tool, not even worth a rounding error. You know how to weigh the pros and cons, and so does he."
"Just drive." Theodore Grant gestured with his finger.
The car slowly pulled away, heading toward Riverden Avenue.
Natalie’s phone chid.
It was a text from Byron Quincy. He was quoting 1.3 billion for the land.
’A fair, standard price.’
"Byron says he’ll sell if you offer 1.3 billion."
The man, who had just closed his eyes, cracked them open. "He even gave a friendly price. Seems he still can’t get over you."
"So, what are your thoughts, Mr. Grant?"
"We can draw up the contract."
In that case, she wanted the reward he’d promised her. "So, when will my one million be in my account?"
"When did I ever promise you a million?" The man’s brows knitted together.
"On the way here, you distinctly said..." Her fingers curled into fists. ’How can he go back on his word like this?’ "...Theodore Grant, you promised ."
"I only said I’d consider it. I never promised you a thing."
A taunting smile played on his lips.
It was as if he were laughing at Natalie’s foolishness.
"So, you have no intention of giving the million, is that it?" She stared straight at him, her full lips pressed into a thin line.
The man chuckled, savoring the mont. "We’ll see. It depends on my mood."
"Fine. I’ll tell Byron right now that the Grant Group is withdrawing its interest in the land."
Natalie picked up her phone, and just as she was about to type, the man snatched it away and casually tossed it to Noelle Bell.
He shot his hand out, grabbing her by the neck and pinning her against the back of the seat. His eyes were bloodshot, his gaze frigid and rciless.
"You really know how to piss off."
"Mrs. Grant, isn’t it your duty to help Mr. Grant? How dare you bring up money? You’d ruin Mr. Grant’s deal just because you’re not getting paid? Show one other wife who acts like you."
Noelle Bell sneered.
"Are you giving the million or not?" She glared back at Theodore, her icy fingers digging into his wrist. "If you hadn’t promised the money, why the hell should I have helped you get this land?"
"Are you threatening ?"
’How could I possibly dare to threaten him? He’s the one who went back on his word, who broke his promise, who’s toying with !’ "This was a fair deal. You’re the one who violated the agreent."
"And what if I just refuse?"
’So he’s just going to be a shaless bastard, is that it?’
Natalie shoved Theodore away and snatched her phone back from Noelle Bell. "Then I’ll just have Byron sell the land to soone else!"
The woman shot the man a look of desperate fury, wrenched the car door open, and, without a shred of hesitation, threw herself out.
She tumbled across the pavent, rolling several tis before falling limp, unconscious on the spot.
"STOP THE CAR!" Theodore roared frantically.
The car screeched to a halt, leaving long, dark skid marks on the road.
He pushed open the car door and got out, his legs so weak he could barely stand.
She was just lying there on the asphalt.
’She can’t be dead. She can’t be.’
Noelle Bell hurried after Theodore, grabbing his arm to steady him. "Mr. Grant..."
"Get away! Get the hell away from !" He staggered, finally reaching Natalie.
She was limp. The skin exposed by her cocktail dress was a ss of scrapes and bruises.
Blood trickled down from her scalp.
Noelle Bell, phone in hand, was calling for an ambulance.
Traffic ground to a halt. The sound of car horns blared incessantly.
Beneath a streetlight, he frantically scooped her into his arms and stumbled toward the approaching ambulance.
Natalie was rushed into the ergency room.
The doctor said her condition was critical and that they should prepare for the worst.
"Do whatever it takes to save her! Use the best dicine! Money is no object!"
He was panicking.
His heart was hamring chaotically in his chest.
He hadn’t even been this panicked when his grandfather passed away.
When Claire Grant heard the news, she rushed over.
She strode up and slapped Theodore across the face. "Is this your handiwork again? Are you insane? Do you have any idea what happens when soone jumps from a moving car? How many people do you think survive that?"
Theodore didn’t argue.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and turned away. "How was I supposed to know she was going to jump?"
"She would have jumped if you hadn’t pushed her to the breaking point?" Claire Grant glanced up at the illuminated red light above the ergency room door. "How long has she been in there? What did the doctors say?"
"It’s not good."
"Divorce her." This isn’t what a marriage is supposed to be. "Seriously. If she pulls through this, divorce her. Let her go. Give her a chance to live."
Theodore remained silent.
After her heart stopped multiple tis and a full day of ergency treatnt, Natalie was snatched back from the brink of death.
Even her doctors called it a miracle.
It must have been the phone call from Thomas Morgan’s primary physician that pulled her from the depths of her coma.
The doctor had given her a two-day extension to pay the rest of the bill.
But she was lost. ’I just survived, where am I supposed to get the money now?’
It felt like every bone in her body was broken.
When she’d jumped from the car, she hadn’t been thinking about life or death.
All she could think about was calling Byron imdiately to stop the Grant Group from getting that land.
’This is it, I’m going to die,’ she’d thought, as her body slamd against the ground and tumbled over and over.
’But... I guess I’m too stubborn to die. Even this didn’t kill .’
The door to her hospital room swung open.
Theodore Grant walked in.
The mont she saw his face, Natalie turned away in disgust.
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