Chapter 14
Natalie’s phone showed Easton’s call right after she hung up with Luna. With a quick look at the screen, she reflected on the one-sided pattern of their relationship, where she was always quick to answer, yet he wasn’t as considerate.
Natalie grinned with a spark in her eye, letting Easton’s call go to voicemail. "Easton, you’re getting a taste of your own medicine," she thought, putting her phone down. She was done with being love-struck and was now in control of her feelings.
As Easton’s repeated calls went unanswered, his annoyance grew, his features clouding over. "Natalie, you’re really testing my patience here," he grumbled to himself.
Jennifer, who had followed Easton out, couldn’t hide her jealousy. "Why is he still reaching out to Natalie?" she seethed inwardly.
"Easton, you’re not staying?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Easton’s response was curt. "Got things to sort out. You should head back in." His mind was elsewhere, still bothered by the thought of Natalie with someone else.
Jennifer was left standing there, feeling the chill of his departure. A persistent fear gripped her that she was losing him, even with the divorce papers signed. "Natalie, you’ve crossed the line this time," she thought.
She’d been dodging Wendy’s calls and had blocked Easton. With a touch of irony, she thought, "Why is he calling now that he’s with his precious love? Maybe he deserved to meet someone like Jennifer."
Life after the divorce was a breath of fresh air. Free from catering to Easton, she now lived by her own rules, in charge of her days and nights. She chose strength over suffering. The days of Easton’s mistreatment were gone.
Natalie had learned her lesson. In this world, it was all about strength. Sympathy and love were luxuries she couldn’t afford.
A week silently followed after she cut cooperation with the Simpson and Garcia families, and she was surprised at their silence. She tilted her head, a complex gleam in her eyes as she figured out that her estranged brother’s fateful day was drawing near.
In her past life, she’d warned him about his car, but he’d accused her of wanting to harm her own brother. Despite him ignoring her warnings once, she chose to give him another chance to evade his fate.
Feeling refreshed after her morning routine, Natalie skipped downstairs to make breakfast for her grandfather.
Lambert’s face lit up with joy when he saw her, his eyes a bit misty with the realization that his little girl had come back stronger than ever. James had been so busy with work that he hadn’t been home in days.
Natalie made pancakes and gruel for breakfast, dishes her grandfather loved. Following breakfast, he joked about looking for a new spouse as he set off for the park to enjoy himself.
Natalie just chuckled and ignored her grandfather’s teasing. Soon, Wendy called again, and this time Natalie answered, agreeing to meet at the Foreveryoung Club.
At the club, Natalie found Wendy in a luxurious private room, where a bouquet of fresh roses adorned the marble table.
Wendy, always graceful, sat on the sofa. Her anger sparked when she saw Natalie’s good spirits, a stark contrast to her own three months of turmoil. "Natalie, when will you stop? When you’ve destroyed my family?" she demanded.