Caryn had been watching the final round of the competition on the TV screen until the very end. Once it was over, her mind fixated on Natalie’s description of her perfu and how she spoke of her husband as the most important person in her life.
Frown lines appeared on Caryn’s forehead as she muttered, "Giving this much importance to a man is nothing but the biggest mistake any woman can make, and my daughter seems to be walking the sa path—the path I despise the most."
Eric, who had also been in the room watching the competition, heard her and turned to look at her. "Which man do you regret having? Jas Harper or Jay Ford?"
Caryn turned sharply to glare at him, her eyes piercing like daggers.
Eric cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well... Jay Ford was never a man in your eyes, so Jas Harper... maybe?"
She clenched her teeth, her patience clearly thinning. "If you’re that free, get every bit of information about Natalie’s husband. With age, you’re turning useless, Eric and don’t prove right on this."
Eric simply humd and kept quiet. He didn’t know how to tell her who Natalie’s husband really was. Aiden’s twin brother? And how did all of this even happen? How would she react when she found out it was Aiden who orchestrated everything without even letting Caryn know?
As Eric was processing it all, he didn’t realize he himself was still in the dark about the full truth. He only knew Natalie’s husband as Aiden Shaw’s twin. But if Eric knew the man was actually Jas Harper’s son, he would have probably fainted from shock—especially knowing Caryn’s past with Jas Harper.
"Eric," Caryn called for him, her voice calr this ti.
"Yes?" the man replied.
"You still don’t know where Aiden has gone?" she asked.
Eric sighed helplessly and shook his head. "Trust , I truly don’t know."
Caryn drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Eric, I have a really bad feeling about this. Whenever I feel this way, sothing terrible always happens. Do sothing and find out where Aiden is."
"I’m already trying, but..." he sighed again, frustration lacing his voice, "He’s blocked all my ways of reaching him."
Caryn clenched her fists, the veins on her frail hands visible beneath the thin layer of skin. "Once he’s back... I’m going to disown him for real this ti."
Eric could only hum in response, his own expression turning deeply worried.
—---
The black luxury car entered the gates of the grand villa. Natalie had fallen asleep in Justin’s arms. The driver opened the door, and without waking her up, Justin carried her straight into the villa.
Reaching the bedroom, he gently placed her on the bed. He removed her sandals and covered her with the sheets. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he adjusted the pillow under her head and carefully brushed her ssy hair away from her face.
Smiling lightly as he looked at her peaceful expression, he thought, ’She drains all her energy facing her enemies and then cos ho like this.’ Leaning down, he gently pecked her forehead.
Just as he was about to move back, a hand tugged at his tie, stopping him in place. Surprised, he looked down at the hand gripping his tie and then at the face of the culprit. Natalie’s sleepy eyes were now open, gazing at him.
Justin raised a brow, only to notice her eyes drifting toward his lips.
Whenever she was tired and sleepy, she would act out of the character. Last ti she was acting cute and now she was trying to seduce him.
She tugged at his tie gently, pulling his face closer, only to kiss him. Justin was surprised, but at the sa ti, he couldn’t deny how much he liked her bold actions.
Justin kissed her back, only to feel her hands move to wrap around his neck, pulling him into a deeper kiss. Having no other option, he shifted entirely onto the bed and gave her what she wanted.
Her tongue sought him desperately, demanding more, and Justin kissed her with equal passion. The kiss lingered, long and intense. When they finally pulled apart, Natalie was utterly breathless, gasping for air.
"Don’t you know how to breathe in between?" he teased, his gaze lingering on her flushed face.
She opened her hazy eyes and looked back at him. Despite her heavy breathing, her gaze remained fixed on his lips—moist and far more tempting after the kiss.
Justin could see right through her. He caressed her cheek and whispered against her parted lips, "Don’t tempt when you are not ready to bear the consequences."
Natalie ca back to her senses at the warning in Justin’s gaze and tone, quickly averting her eyes from his face.
His lips curved into a smirk as he brushed his thumb over her swollen red lips. "You skipped lunch because of the competition. Rest here until lunch is ready for you."
Natalie nodded and watched him stand from the bed. She inhaled deeply to calm her racing heart and closed her eyes.
Justin stepped out of the room. Once he reached his study, Noah, who had been waiting for him, inford him, "Mr. Harper, our people have found leads on Aiden Shaw and Vincent."
"Where are they?"
"Sowhere far from here and currently engaged with those attackers from Dark Shadows," Noah reported. "It seems the enemies sent another group to harm Ms. Natalie and her mother, and Aiden Shaw intends to deal with them before they get here."
"That’s a reckless move," Justin frowned. "But it seems he’s lost his patience and wants to know who’s behind all this."
"It does appear so. There’s no other explanation," Noah added.
"Have our people help them," Justin ordered, "and arrange for to leave there as well."
"Yes, Mr. Harper."
After a while, lunch was ready. Natalie and Justin sat together for a quiet al. Natalie noticed that Justin seed preoccupied, though he didn’t let it show outright.
"Is everything alright?" she asked.
He humd in response and added more food to her plate. "I might have to leave for sowhere, and I’ll be away for a while."
Seeing the serious expression on his face, she asked, "Is it sothing serious?"
"Not sure yet, but I have to make a visit," he replied, offering no further details.
Natalie didn’t press him for answers and instead said softly, "Take care of yourself."
He humd again. "You too. You’re not allowed to go out until I return and give you permission myself."
Her expression imdiately soured.
"You can call your friends here if you get bored, but don’t go out for the ti being. It’s not safe," he added. "If you want, you can allow trusted office staff to co here as well."
Natalie could only nod and obey, understanding he was doing this for her own safety.
"The doctor will visit you. Follow their instructions," he added.
"I will. Don’t worry about ," she assured him.
Once lunch was over and they entered the drawing room together, Justin received a ssage from Noah. His expression changed instantly.
Excusing himself, he stepped aside and quickly dialed Noah’s number. "What do you an?" Justin’s cold voice reached the other end of the line.
"Aiden Shaw has been shot and is seriously injured," Noah replied, his voice hesitant.
Justin remained silent for a mont, probably shocked to hear it and said, "We’re leaving right away."
He returned to Natalie, who was sitting silently on the sofa in the drawing room, her gaze fixed on him as if she had already sensed sothing was wrong.
"I have to leave now. Don’t forget to take care of yourself," he said, his expression unusually serious. He leaned down, pecked her forehead gently, and then turned to leave.
Natalie nodded, watching him as he walked away. Her mind couldn’t shake the feeling that sothing serious had happened.
While lost in her thoughts, the distant sound of a chopper reached her ears. She looked outside through the tall glass walls of the drawing room, which offered a clear view of the vast garden on one side of the villa.
Beyond the garden, she could see the helipad. Natalie realized that Justin was leaving by helicopter.
"What exactly happened for him to leave like this?" she murmured to herself, unable to shake the growing sense of unease and anxiety settling over her.
-----
anwhile, Briena was taken to the police station along with Clara Ford. Daniel was handling the case, and he ensured that all the serious charges were pressed against the culprits. The main culprit, Sephina Ford, was yet to appear.
She had sent her lawyer to deal with the case while she herself remained elsewhere.
"Mom, where is Grandma?" Briena asked, her eyes filled with tears. "Has she abandoned us now that the truth is out so she can save herself by putting everything on us?"
Clara shook her head firmly. "That’s not the case. I know your grandma well. She could never accept defeat from Natalie and her mother. Don’t worry—she must be up to sothing to free us from here. Trust ."
Briena could only nod in agreent with her mother, as there was no other choice.
-----
Back at the villa, Natalie remained in the drawing room after Justin had left. Various thoughts swirled in her mind about what Justin had told her. Soone was trying to harm her and her mother—but why?
"So there’s soone else other than Sephina Ford who wants to get rid of us? And that soone is really powerful."
Just then, Natalie’s cellphone rang. Albert’s na flashed on the screen.
"I forgot about Grandpa," she murmured, picking up her phone. "Not sure how he must feel after seeing what happened today."
She answered the call and heard Albert’s voice. He sounded a little sad. "How are you, Natalie?"
"I’m fine, Grandpa," she replied softly. "You saw what happened today?"
There was silence on Albert’s end for a mont, and it made Natalie’s heart uneasy.
"Grandpa? What happened?" she asked anxiously.
"Natalie?"
"Yes, Grandpa?"
She heard him take a deep breath before speaking. "Will you listen to Grandpa just one last ti?"
Though conflicted, she said, "Yes, Grandpa. Tell ."
"Can you forgive your grandma and the others this ti? Can you please take back all the charges?" Albert’s voice cracked as he spoke.
Natalie could feel how sad the old man was, though he was trying to sound calm—trying, perhaps, to hold back his tears.
"Grandpa?" Natalie said softly, her voice filled with emotion.
"Just this once, alright?" he repeated, his tone almost pleading. "Please let them go this ti. I beg you."
Natalie clenched her fists tightly, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
Reviews
All reviews (0)