Sephina sat in the hospital chair, glaring at her husband with thinly veiled displeasure. "So, you’ve been visiting Natalie’s place every night? If Clara hadn’t told , I would’ve been left in the dark."
Albert, equally displeased, t her gaze. "Do you tell everything you do before making decisions?"
"If you’re referring to announcing Briena as the heir to the Ford Group, I had no choice," Sephina replied defensively. "I needed to divert attention from the sha Natalie brought to this family on her wedding day—"
"Or to cover up the embarrassnt Briena caused with that press conference," Albert interrupted, his tone sharp.
"That was a minor mistake on Briena’s part," Sephina dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Now tell where Natalie lives. I want to see what kind of hooligan she’s married."
Albert shook his head. "I won’t tell you. And, he’s not a hooligan, but a well-mannered, hardworking young man. You’ll et him when Natalie decides it’s ti."
Sephina’s voice grew sharper. "He’s my grandson-in-law. Don’t I have the right to et him?"
Albert’s eyes narrowed. "So you can mock her even more? Just because he’s not from so wealthy family?"
"Oh, so she really has married soone ordinary," Sephina scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain.
"He might be ’ordinary’ now, but mark my words, he’ll make a na for himself. I see success in him."
Sephina scoffed. "n like him are skilled at fooling their way into rich families, acting well to impress. But mark my words, I will not accept soone like him. I’ll have Natalie divorce him and find her a man worthy of the Ford family—a man who deserves to be our son-in-law." Her voice was laced with determination.
"Sephina," Albert’s voice rose, filled with frustration. "You can do whatever you want with the company, but stay out of Natalie’s life. She’s married now, and her choices are none of your business. I don’t care if you approve of him or not, but I do. This is your final warning—stay away from her and focus on Briena, who is already spoiled beyond repair. If you don’t rein her in, I guarantee the Browns won’t hesitate to break off another engagent with our family."
"Browns won’t dare do it. I know how to control them," Sephina’s tone was determined.
"I wish you were this protective of Natalie as well."
"She doesn’t deserve it."
Albert gritted his teeth, his wife was so stubborn when it ca to Natalie. He shut his eyes, his patience worn thin. "I need to rest."
Sephina stared at him for a mont, her expression hard, before standing and walking out. Once outside, she made a call. "Keep a close eye on Albert tonight. I want to know where he goes and the exact address."
After Sephina left, Albert quietly made a call of his own. When Natalie answered, he spoke quickly. "Natalie, I won’t be able to co by tonight. Don’t ask why—just don’t wait for ," he said before hanging up.
Albert didn’t want to risk Sephina finding out where Natalie lived and causing a scene, especially in front of Aiden. If her husband sees how poorly she’s treated by her maternal family, it might upset him.
----
Natalie who had returned ho in the evening, found her ho empty as her grandpa and Justine both won’t be there. After her grandpa’s hasty call, she even received the sa ssage from Justin that he won’t be coming ho.
Not willing to cook for herself only, she ordered sothing and ate. Without the presence of those two, her ho felt an utterly lonely place.
I shouldn’t get used to having people around.These last few days, I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be alone.
She busied herself in work till late to get rid of that loneliness, which lasted till late. Giving up, when she finally lay in the bed and tried to sleep, only ended up tossing and turning.
Annoyed, she looked at the other side of the bed. He must be sleeping soundly in that fancy suite of his, while I’m stuck here, unable to sleep...
Her eyes traced the ceiling as she grumbled to herself, He even changed my bed. That damn man! Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep. This bed is too big and too empty to my liking.
Frustrated, she skimd through her phone for a while and then sat up, ’I need water,’ and went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.
Just then her cellphone rang. It was a call from Justin.
’This late?’ She hesitated for a second before answering. "Hello."
"Were you sleeping?" Justin’s deep, hypnotic voice flowed through the line, sending a shiver down her spine, freezing her for a mont.
It was the first ti she was hearing him on the call and felt it was the best kind of a voice a man could ever have.
"Natalie?" Justin’s voice called out again, sounding concerned when she hadn’t responded.
Smash!
"Ah! Damn it!" Natalie exclaid as the glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the kitchen floor.
"Natalie, are you alright?" Justin’s voice ca through the phone, now laced with panic.
"Ah, yes. Don’t worry. Good night," she quickly blurted out before hanging up. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she knelt to pick up the broken pieces, still shaken from hearing Justin say her na with that srizing voice.
That man... even his voice is dangerous, she thought, her mind racing. She couldn’t believe she had dropped the glass just because of the effect he had on her.
"Ouch!" She winced as she accidentally cut her finger on a shard of glass. "Damn it. Even thinking about him is dangerous." Shaking her head at herself, she stood up and ran her finger under cold water, watching the blood slowly wash away. "I’ll bandage it first, then clean up this ss."
But as she looked around her ho, she realized she didn’t have a first aid kit. How could I forget sothing so basic?
In the end, she settled for tearing a piece of soft cloth and wrapping it tightly around her finger. She sighed and headed back to bed, hoping for sleep to co. But just as she began to relax, the doorbell rang.
Frowning in annoyance, she got up, ready to unleash her frustration on whoever had disturbed her at this hour. But when she opened the door, the words died on her lips.
Standing before her was Justin, looking utterly exhausted and worried, as if he had run straight to her house.
Reviews
All reviews (0)