Chapter 280

Easton’s gaze was deep and cold, with a hint of anger simmering.

He said, “Natalie, do you really not want to see me? I remember in the past you remained calm no matter what I did, but now you’ve changed.”

Hearing this, Natalie laughed bitterly. “So, Easton, I was just supposed to put up with everything quietly without saying anything? Even after being mistreated, I was supposed to just endure it like before, right?”

“I was nice to you before because I saved your life. But I don’t want to be nice to you anymore. You love Jennifer; I’m happy for you both. How do you even have the nerve to ask me that?”

She didn’t want to discuss this issue with him; they’d talked about it many times before.

Easton looked at her closely. Her eyes were clear, showing no affection at all, making him feel hurt.

“Mr. Garcia, I’ve already made my position very clear.” After Natalie finished speaking, she stood up to go to sleep.

Easton watched her back and spoke in a low voice, “Natalie, I haven’t had dinner and my stomach hurts.”

Natalie stopped, turned around angrily, and said to him, “You’re an adult, but you can’t even take care of yourself. If you can’t even take care of yourself, how are you supposed to take care of me like you said you would?”

Easton watched her quietly, a dull ache in his stomach. “Sorry, I’ve been too busy today; I didn’t have time to eat.”

Natalie closed her eyes, thinking that if he got sick, Anne would likely blame her.

She had the feeling that Easton would eventually drain her of the warmth that Anne provided.

Natalie turned and headed to the kitchen, cursing herself for her kindness.

She felt helpless about herself.

She thought, ‘This jerk left me on the highway this morning and almost got me killed. Now he’s come to my house asking for food. He sure is shameless.’

Natalie went to the kitchen, and Easton went to help. A glimmer of guilt appeared in his eyes as he saw that she was only able to use one hand. “About what happened today…”

“Don’t even go there. I’m this close to kicking you out,” Natalie cut him off coldly. She wasn’t generous enough to forgive a man who had betrayed and hurt her.

She continued, “And don’t feel sorry for me. Your apologies won’t change the fact that I’m hurt.

“I’m making food for you because of Anne. She’s old; I just can’t bear to see her worried about you. Don’t get the wrong idea that I cook for your sake. This is for her sake. You and I are done.”

Easton furrowed his brows. It seemed their relationship had come to an end.

His anger flared up again as he looked at her with eyes full of intense possessiveness, of which he was unaware. “Natalie…”

“Do you want to eat?” Natalie interrupted him calmly.

Easton closed his mouth and silently watched her handle many tasks with just one hand.

He could tell she was making oatmeal, which was nice to the stomach.

Natalie had an electric pressure cooker at home for making oatmeal.

She just tossed all the chopped ingredients into the pressure cooker and asked Easton to plug it in.

She opened the fridge again and took out a head of cabbage, cooking a simple cabbage dish for Easton.

Easton enjoyed mild foods; he would be quite content eating plain boiled cabbage.

Easton took the cabbage and washed it, while Natalie instructed him to break it into smaller pieces. Once the water was boiling, they could put it into the pot.

Pointing at the fridge, Natalie asked, “See if there’s anything else you’d like to eat?”

Easton glanced at the lobsters and said, “I’d love some steamed lobsters.”

Natalie replied, “OK.”

These lobsters were prepared by the chef for her late-night snack.

Natalie pointed to the electric steamer and said, “Plug it in and place the lobsters inside to steam.”

Noticing that the lobsters were already cleaned, Easton followed Natalie’s instructions, placed the lobsters in the steamer, and Natalie switched it on to let them steam.

Easton was surprised that cooking was this easy.

She had been away for nearly a year, and he rarely set foot in the kitchen.

It was so quiet and deserted without her home that he hardly wanted to go back now.

The villa wasn’t that big, but it felt so quiet and deserted. When she lived there, the house always felt warm and inviting. But the misunderstanding between Natalie and him was something that might never be cleared up.

Unlike Easton, Natalie remained by the stove, avoiding those sentimental thoughts. When the water started boiling, she put in the cabbage.

Then she sat on a stool nearby, waiting.

Easton watched her in the light. Her skin was smooth, and it struck him. He thought, ‘Did she do this kitchen routine every night and wait for me to return?’

It turned out that all those dinners he had in the past were meticulously prepared by her, yet he had never paid any attention.

He thought she was nothing other than being a good cook.

But she wasn’t useless; in fact, she worked harder than anyone else.

Easton quietly observed her as she sat there silently as if surrounded by a kind of beauty that came with the peaceful passage of time. Her posture was elegant and dignified, like a tranquil painting, making one reluctant to disturb.

Natalie leaned against the wall, feeling exhausted, and soon drifted off to sleep.

Easton knew she was tired and stayed quietly by her side, not wanting to disturb her.

On his way there, he saw the video of that car accident; Davian was being so arrogant. Easton felt a surge of anger.

Ten minutes later, Natalie suddenly stood up.

She turned off the stove and asked Easton to serve the cabbage.

She said, “There’s a bowl below; take it out and serve the cabbage. It will take another fifteen minutes for the oatmeal and five more minutes for the lobsters in the steamer. Have these two first to tide you over. I’m going to rest now. Get out of here once you’re done eating.”

Easton didn’t say anything; he just nodded slightly.

Natalie turned around and left the kitchen, going straight upstairs to rest.

After watching her go upstairs, Easton went back to the kitchen to wait for the oatmeal. It had been quite a while since he’d tasted her cooking, and tonight he could finally have a satisfying meal.

She was hurt and shouldn’t have been making dinner, but he longed for the taste of her cooking too much.

After Natalie went upstairs, she was too tired to take a shower and just collapsed onto the bed.

Just as she closed her eyes, her phone rang.

She picked it up, squinting at the screen. It was an unknown number. Not wanting to answer, she placed it back on the nightstand.

However, the phone kept vibrating, which was really annoying.

On the third ring, she finally picked up the phone and answered the call.

“Hello.” Natalie’s voice was a bit irritable and impatient.

Wendy said, “Natalie, are you okay? I heard you were in a car accident…”

Frustrated, Natalie cut her off, “Mrs. Simpson, we have nothing to do with each other anymore. Whether I live or die is none of your business. I’m really tired. Please don’t disturb me unless it’s important.”

“Natalie, I just wanted…”

“Mrs. Simpson, you’re not my mom. You gave me nothing other than giving birth to me. When I left, I had repaid all the money I owed you. Apart from blood relation, I really owe you nothing.”