Chapter 216 Oh Look Who’s Bitter
Ever since she had been with Baron, Natalie hadn’t had the chance to cook.
For one thing, there were servants in the house; for another, Baron never let her step into the kitchen. Every time, he insisted her skin was too delicate for the smoke and grease.
But Natalie knew–her skin had long since recovered.
That was just Baron’s excuse to keep her away from the fumes.
Sometimes, whether a man truly cared for you could be seen in the smallest details.
Unfortunately, she had only realized this after brushing so close to death.
When Baron caught the trace of tenderness flickering in Natalie’s eyes, he knew she’d softened toward him again.
He couldn’t stop grinning, almost giddy.
“Take Chris with you, otherwise I won’t be at ease.”
“Alright.”
Natalie rose, changed into a different outfit, and headed out with Chris.
By the time she arrived at Swanson Café, Loretta was already there.
For the first time, Natalie looked at Loretta not as family, but as an outsider would. Only then did she notice the arrogance and disdain shimmering beneath Loretta’s refined facade.
When a societydy came over to greet her, Loretta tilted her chin, gave a dismissive hum, and said nothing more. The poor woman, embarrassed, slunk away.
Natalie suddenly felt she must have been blind all these years. <i>If </i><i>even </i><i>highborn </i><idies </i><i>were </i><i>treated </i><i>this </i>way<i>, </i>how <i>could </i><i>I</i>, <i>a </i><i>girl </i><i>the </i><i>Summers </i><i>family </i><i>cast </i><i>out </i><i>five </i><i>years </i><b><i>ago</i></b>, <i>ever </i><i>expect </i><i>eptance</i>? <i>Even </i><i>with </i><i>Jensen’s </i><i>kindness </i>in <i>saving </i><i>me</i>, why <i>would </i><i>Loretta </i><i>ever </i><i>truly </i><i>wee </i><i>me</i><i>? </i>
No wonder she and Jensen had been together for five years and he had never once mentioned marriage; no wonder Loretta had never interfered.
Perhaps Loretta had known from the very beginning, someone like Natalie would never step through the Luke family’s doors.
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The realization drew a self–mocking smile from Natalie. Then she lifted her chin and walked into the café.
“Loretta, I’m here.”
The form of address startled Loretta.
She instinctively looked up and saw Natalie walking in.
The old Natalie had always carried a trace of ttery and humility. Beautiful as she was, she’d seemed soulless, like a porcin doll without life.
She was more beautiful than ever, but it was hermanding presence that truly stunned the
room.
The timid, pitiful girl had vanishedpletely.
Natalie’s presence dominated the room; she stood unyielding, her confidence pressing down on Loretta like a weight.
With Chris and four bodyguards in ck at her back, she had the confidence to face Loretta head–on.
Loretta’s brow furrowed.
“Natalie? Did you have stic surgery?”
Her voice carried uncertainty.
Atst, Natalie saw a crack in Loretta’s calm, unruffled eyes.
She gave a faint smile, sat down across from her, and said, “Didn’t you know? Three months ago, your daughter–inw framed me; I nearly died in a fire.”
“Nonsense!”
Loretta’s face immediately darkened.
“Natalie, I’ve watched you and Jensen for five years. I thought I knew you well; but clearly, you’re just good at pretending. You fooled both me and Jensen.”
Natalie’s
eyes
stilled for a moment.
“Oh? What exactly did I deceive you about? Or what did I deceive Mr. Jensen about? I was with him for five years; when I said it was over, it was over. Unlike Mr. Jensen, who married another
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woman behind my back and still wanted to keep me on the side. If we’re talking about deception, no one ys the game better than your son, wouldn’t you say?”
“Natalie!”
Loretta suddenly grabbed her coffee and flung it straight at Natalie’s face.
“What are you doing?”
Chris stepped forward instantly, seizing Loretta’s wrist. He tightened his grip just enough to make her wince, her face twisting in pain.
“Who do you think you are? This is between me and her; stay out of it! Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t set foot in Ocean City again, believe it or not!”
Loretta’s twisted expression, paired with the scalding coffee dripping down her own face, stirred a bitterugh in Natalie’s heart.
Look at that.
This was the aunt she had once believed treated her kindly.
All it had taken was a single truth from her lips to earn this treatment.
Kindness? Nothing but hypocrisy.
Natalie dabbed her face with a napkin, yet she didn’t signal Chris to release Loretta.
She had just been doused in coffee for no reason; she wasn’t about to be magnanimous.
“Loretta, allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Natalie of the Stone family. My father is Waylon; my brother is Flynn; and my mother is the renowned violinist Ruby. You threw coffee in my face–how grand the Luke family must think themselves.”
Back when she had been an orphan, Natalie might have swallowed the humiliation. But now, with the Stone family openly standing behind her, she had no reason to cower.
3/3 <fn90bb> Fresh chapters posted on Find1Novel</fn90bb>