Chapter 668

With her hands full, Natalie couldn't answer the phone. Hurriedly, she used her key card to open the door. After setting down her items, she answered the call without checking the caller ID.

"Hello."

"Are you settling in at the hotel?" Jeremy's voice filled the receiver.

Natalie's hand trembled slightly. Stunned momentarily, she replied, "The hotel's environment is nice. There's a large shopping mall next door, which is convenient for shopping."

Her words felt formal and unfamiliar, a discomfort she couldn't quite name.

"Yes, I'm here on a business trip, staying in the penthouse suite," Jeremy said after a pause.

Natalie's expression changed abruptly. "You're also staying at this hotel?" The coincidence struck her.

"Yes," Jeremy replied simply.

Natalie bit her lip, then decided, "Alright, I'll come up to see you shortly."

Ten minutes later, after delivering items to Austin and Hank, Natalie arrived at the penthouse suite. She knocked; Jeremy opened the door almost immediately.

Entering, a heavy feeling settled in her chest. The suite dwarfed her own room.

"This hotel's penthouse suite is quite impressive," Natalie commented with a strained smile.

As they spent time together, Natalie realized their past couldn't be reclaimed. Despite their efforts, things had irrevocably changed. Their trust remained unshaken; they could do as they pleased without caution. She no longer needed to worry, and she would naturally lean on Jeremy, sharing her feelings. Yet, she no longer wanted to share her thoughts and concerns.

Jeremy, a shrewd businessman, must have perceived these shifts in her and their relationship. She knew he had sensed it long ago.

"Do you want to move in with me? I'll be staying here for three days," Jeremy said, his gaze calm yet intense. His eyes held a depth of understanding only adults could comprehend.

Natalie's heart skipped a beat. Her lips pressed into a thin line; her face paled. Images of Jeremy with Annabelle flooded her mind, twisting his affectionate gaze into something meant for another.

She clenched her hands, but the images persisted. She repeatedly reminded herself this wasn't Jeremy's fault; he'd been manipulated, and she was a victim too.

Lowering her head, she spoke softly, "I'm working tonight and have to accompany Mr. Powell to an event. It's inconvenient to stay with you. Let's leave it for another time."

Jeremy's gaze dimmed. He asked in a low voice, "You still care, don't you?"

He watched as she turned to leave. With red-rimmed eyes, Natalie mustered the courage to look up. "I still can't forget."

Jeremy's demeanor hardened; the veins in his forehead throbbed. Silence stretched between them.

For a moment, Natalie felt the unsettling possibility of hearing him say, "Let's end this. Let's part ways." The mere thought offered a strange, unexpected lightness to the heavy weight on her heart.