Chapter 230: Natalie’s Twisted Satisfaction

“I’ve been to Forestvale. Maybe we even crossed paths back then?” Derek’s tone was casual, yet an underlying intrigue resonated in his voice.

A sudden chill coursed through Vivienne’s veins at his words, but her heart pounded relentlessly. Her gaze locked onto his, searching for something beyond the surface, something hidden beneath his steady stare.

“What’s wrong?” Derek tilted her chin up with his fingers, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips.

Vivienne’s eyelashes fluttered as she leaned back against his shoulder. Just moments ago, a wild thought had flashed through her mind—one that sent her pulse racing. But without proof, she wouldn’t let herself believe it. Another disappointment was the last thing she could afford.

“Are you planning to let the Mitchell family off the hook just like that?” Derek tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering slightly.

Vivienne’s lips curled into a knowing smile as she traced the smooth surface of her phone with her fingertips. “It’s not that simple.”

The Mitchell family might have set this game in motion, but how it ended—and when—was entirely up to her.

After Warren returned to the Mitchell residence, his phone rang. On the other end, Natalie’s voice was soft, filled with emotion. “Warren, thank you… for everything you’ve done for me.”

Currently, the online scandal surrounding Vivienne’s photos had erupted into chaos. No instigation was needed; the comment sections were already overflowing with cruel insults. The vicious remarks poured in relentlessly, each one sharper than the last. As a result, the gossip about Natalie and Warren naturally lost traction, allowing her to quietly remove the trending topic.

Seeing Vivienne’s reputation crumble, reduced to nothing more than a social outcast, Natalie felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. But what thrilled her most was that Warren had sacrificed Vivienne’s privacy to protect her instead. Vivienne was utterly powerless against her. She hadn’t even needed to make a move—Vivienne had already fallen, defeated. Nothing cuts deeper than betrayal by someone you once loved. Natalie had no doubt Vivienne was drowning in that agony right now.

Warren, however, fell silent, at a loss for words in response to Natalie’s gratitude.

“Warren, my father appreciates everything you’ve done for me. He’d like to invite you over for dinner to thank you in person,” Natalie said, her voice pausing ever so slightly. “Do you have time sometime soon?”

Warren’s brow furrowed faintly. “Work’s piling up right now. Can we push it back a little?”

“Alright,” Natalie murmured, her tone soft. “But no matter how busy you are, take care of yourself, Warren. Otherwise, I’ll worry.”

“Got it.”

After hanging up, Warren tossed his phone onto the sofa and slumped down, exhaustion weighing him down. Melissa came down from the second floor, immediately spotting him sprawled on the sofa. A flicker of urgency crossed her face. “How did it go? Is everything settled?”

“She won’t forgive,” Warren answered, his voice devoid of emotion.

Melissa’s lips curled in faint mockery. “She’s really making this harder than it needs to be. Does she honestly think the Mitchell family is afraid of her? With things the way they are, wouldn’t it be smarter to take the money and put this whole mess behind her? Instead, she insists on acting all high and mighty. Now that the scandal is spiraling out of control, does she seriously think her backer is going to come to her rescue?”

“So you’re just going to stand by and do nothing?” A deep, authoritative voice rang out from the doorway.