Chapter 777

“Jeremy! You’re drunk. Sober up. Do you know what you’re doing?” Natalie shrieked, sobbing fearfully. Her cries were futile; her strength was no match for Jeremy’s. She couldn’t stop him from removing her skirt and skillfully undoing her bra.

Suddenly, a loud slap echoed. Natalie trembled, her palm tingling. Jeremy’s movements ceased. A familiar glint of lust flickered in his eyes, intensifying her terror and resurrecting the loathing she’d suppressed.

“Jeremy, you’ve drunk too much!” she cried, biting her lip, tears welling. But Jeremy wasn’t drunk; the alcohol hadn't affected him. He knew she wasn't consenting, yet he couldn't bear the thought of her with another man.

“You’re my one and only wife,” he emphasized solemnly.

Horrified, Natalie retorted, “We’re divorced. You’ll marry someone else eventually, but not me. Jeremy, you’re not drunk, are you?”

“Divorce?” Jeremy echoed coldly, then laughed self-deprecatingly. “Are you sure you didn’t sleep with Austin?”

Natalie inhaled deeply. “I’m an employee at Mr. Powell’s studio. I work diligently and don't involve myself in anything inappropriate. Mr. Powell wouldn’t develop feelings for his employees. There are countless beautiful women in the entertainment industry; why would he choose me?”

“That’s not the point,” she continued. “My affairs have nothing to do with you anymore. Jeremy, we can only be siblings, or perhaps even friends.”

Jeremy regained his composure. He climbed off the bed, standing beside it, his brow furrowed as he stared at the scattered clothes. “Remember this: you cannot date anyone without my permission. You will remarry me one day.”

Natalie shrieked incredulously. “I won’t remarry you! Don’t you understand? We’re done! Nothing will ever happen between us again! We have our divorce documents at home—proof that we’ve severed ties. On the day we divorced, I knew we would never reconcile.” She hadn't expected him to still harbor such hopes, to treat her as a possession.

Jeremy stared at her with pursed lips, then dressed and left. A chill ran up Natalie's spine as the door slammed. Numbly, she looked down at her bra, precariously perched on her shoulders, and stiffly refastened it. Jeremy's behavior was jarring; it was as if she'd never truly known him.

She chuckled lightly. “I’ll never fall for anyone else again. I’ve never even considered remarriage.” Thankfully, his outburst hadn't occurred in front of Austin; otherwise, she would have lost her job and suffered unbearable embarrassment.

A few days later, Janine had recovered fully. Charles had taken time off to care for her. Skylar returned to Galaxy Villa, having not contacted Joe in days and unsure of his return. After their restaurant encounter, she decided to have an open and honest conversation with him.