Chapter 841

Joe opened the box reverently, a grin spreading across his face. "It's great," he declared. "I love it."

"That's good," Skylar replied, noting his easily pleased demeanor. "Let's go home."

"Alright."

After meeting her colleague, Natalie spent some time shopping before they went to a barbecue restaurant, where Natalie had a few drinks. They left around 1:00 AM, her colleague calling a cab for her.

Natalie was slightly intoxicated, feeling lightheaded and happy, a consequence of a good day. Seeing Jeremy moving on from their marriage had been wonderful, as had selecting Austin's birthday gift and her enjoyable conversation with her colleague.

She hummed in the elevator and continued humming as she exited onto her floor. At home, she had to try her fingerprint lock twice before it finally recognized her.

Just as she was about to kick the door shut, someone pushed against it. She turned, frowning, the room spinning slightly in the dim light. She stared at the shadowy figure, uttering, "Jeremy?"

Rubbing her eyes, she mumbled, "Why am I seeing Jeremy?"

"Your eyes haven't deceived you. It's me. Natalie, haven't you been happy? You haven't seen me since our divorce." Jeremy stepped inside and closed the door.

Natalie sobered instantly, staring at Jeremy in bewilderment. "You! Jeremy, is it really you? Why are you in my house? I—I remember we're divorced. Jeremy, you're not my husband anymore. You're like a brother to me."

Her thoughts felt muddled, her reactions slow. The intoxication made everything seem dreamlike. She beamed at him. "Smile! We've pulled ourselves out of the swamp of our marriage. Isn't this something worth celebrating?"

Jeremy's jaw clenched, his face pale. He glared at her drunken state. He knew her well; when intoxicated, her words were often a mix of truth and delusion. However, he knew she genuinely wished him and Helena well after their meeting. She truly didn't care for him anymore.

"Natalie," he said angrily, "have you forgotten what you said? You said we'd be together until the end of our lives. That I was the only man you'd ever love. Have you forgotten all this?"