Chapter 184

Natalie gave Tiana a reassuring pat and smiled, “Tiana, in the past few years, I’ve done everything I needed to. I have no regrets. As long as we don’t get tied down by that ridiculous moral code, nothing can hold us back.”

Tiana wiped the tears from her cheeks. She thought, ‘Natalie was right; we hadn’t wronged anyone!’ “Natalie, everyone can see through Jennifer’s fake smile, but the Simpson family and… they can’t seem to see it.” She hesitated, not daring to say Easton’s name.

“Didn’t you see the news a few days ago? Easton is probably planning to make Jennifer a star now.” Natalie’s heart ached with a dense, throbbing pain. She didn’t want to feel it, but she couldn’t help it.

Keeping a straight face, Natalie shook her head. “Tiana, it’s okay, I’ve moved on. I’ll send you my collaboration plan tomorrow morning. When are you leaving?”

Tiana’s eyes flashed with intense hatred. “I was planning to leave in three days, maybe spend a few days on the island, but before I go, there’s something I need to do.”

Natalie had a pretty good idea of what Tiana was planning. If she could find out, Tiana could too. Natalie smiled. “Vance’s wedding is going to be quite a spectacle, isn’t it?”

Tiana grinned mischievously. “Oh, it’ll be a show all right. I want to see if Vance and his precious love can withstand the test.”

Natalie chuckled. “They will, maybe.”

Tiana’s eyes dimmed. She thought, ‘Vance was stubborn. Even if he knew about Khloe, he’d still love her.’ But Tiana wasn’t willing to suffer anymore. Being set up by Khloe had really hurt her. But it didn’t matter; it wouldn’t affect her plans.

They moved to another place to eat. After dinner, Tiana’s driver came to pick her up. Luna also arrived to take Natalie home. Leaning against the car window, Natalie’s eyes were cold and somewhat vacant, lacking their usual sparkle.

Luna looked at her in the rearview mirror, feeling a pang of sympathy. “Natalie, did something upset you tonight?”

Natalie snapped out of her daze at the sound of Luna’s voice. “No, why do you ask?” Her voice was hoarse.

Luna said, “You look so down. I’m worried about you.”

Natalie managed a weak smile. “It’s nothing, I’m just tired. I’ll sleep it off at home.” Even she wasn’t sure why she felt so down.

Luna thought it might be because of Easton’s high-profile promotion of Jennifer. “Natalie, Jennifer is just a gold digger, and Easton is a scumbag. You don’t need to be sad over them.”

Natalie’s eyes shimmered with a broken light. “Luna, but I was truly hurt, and I did love Easton. He was the first man I ever loved…”

Natalie didn’t continue. She had decided to forget, and she really had. But sometimes, when certain memories were triggered, the pain would resurface.

Natalie leaned back to rest, and Luna didn’t disturb her. Luna thought, ‘At least now, Natalie wasn’t willing to endure the pain anymore and knew how to fight back.’

Time flew by in a flurry of activity. The collaboration with Maurice was progressing smoothly. The deal with the Gillett family was also finalized. Ten male models, led by their assistants, left with Tiana.

When Vance heard about the two families’ collaboration, he wondered if Natalie and Tiana had said something to drive Tiana away.

The next day, he went to see Tiana again, trying to talk about the collaboration. He mentioned that his company also had male models, but Tiana rejected his offer.

Just then, Natalie and Carl arrived to sign the contract with Tiana. Vance blocked Carl’s path, looking at Natalie with a sneer, “Mr. Walsh, Natalie only became your design director by seducing you. She’s just a country bumpkin, how could she know anything about design?

“If you want a designer? My fiancée, Khloe, is a designer too. She even won an award once. How about I introduce her to Mr. Parry?” Natalie’s eyes flashed with hate, but she didn’t say a word. She knew Carl could be vicious.

Carl’s gaze turned icy as he sized up Vance. “Vance, listen up. First, Natalie and I grew up together. She didn’t become a designer by crawling into my bed; I begged her to come back.

“Second, the country bumpkin you’re talking about graduated from a top university abroad with multiple degrees. By the time she came back to your family, she had finished all her studies.

“You think she never went to college. She skipped grades and graduated early. Her talent is way beyond what a third-rate university grad like you can ever achieve.

“Third, about your fiancée, Khloe. I was a judge in that competition. Try getting investors with her designs and see if anyone bites.”

Vance froze. He wondered, ‘No way. When Jason picked Natalie up, she was still in the impoverished town. I remembered the day she arrived, dressed like a hick. How could she have finished all her studies by then?’

“Fine. Mr. Walsh, why would you insult my fiancée just to defend Natalie? My fiancée has never wronged you. And besides, if Natalie were really as amazing as you say, why has Easton been supporting her all these years?”

Carl’s expression turned cold. Hearing Easton, a powerful presence radiated from him. “It’s because he’s tall and blind. Natalie stayed by his side to take care of him, which delayed her career for a few years.

“As his future wife, Jennifer just enjoys the perks without sharing the burdens. Natalie helped maintain the relationship between the two families, and in return, she gets nothing but insults from you.

“Vance, we’ll be sending a legal notice to your company for slandering Natalie. See you in court.” Carl led Natalie away, and she didn’t even glance at Vance. Tiana angrily slammed the office door shut, refusing to look at Vance again.

The moment the door closed, Vance’s face twisted in humiliation. He was fuming and couldn’t believe Carl’s words.

Back then, when Easton was in such a state, Natalie eagerly offered to take care of him. He thought, ‘Was it fair to expect the pampered Jennifer to serve a cripple like Easton?

‘Being Mrs. Garcia for a few years was already a stroke of luck for Natalie. Besides, it was Easton’s mom who refused to let Jennifer marry into the family, not Jennifer’s fault.”

Fuming, Vance stormed back to the company and found the PR team to photoshop and defame Natalie. Soon, photos of Natalie with various men appeared online, with the men’s faces blurred out, leaving only Natalie’s visible. Instantly, the label of being promiscuous stuck to Natalie.

Natalie had just returned to her office when Luna stormed in, fuming. “Natalie, Vance went too far.”