《When She Rose From the Ashes》 HereSelf 1 Chapter 1 Leaving Jensen for Good Chapter 1 Leaving Jensen for Good +5 Free Coins The dim yellow light mixed with the scent of burning incense, making the room feel thick with tension. Wearing a sheer nightgown, Natalie Summers found herself pressed against the door. Jensen Luke¡¯s hand gripping her neck. ¡°Natalie, you¡¯re mine tonight.¡± He leaned in. Jensen was 6¡¯2¡°, towering over Natalie, making her seem even more petite. Before she could say anything, Jensen¡¯s lips pressed against hers, taking her breath away. Natalie tilted her head up and met the lust¨Cfilled depths of his eyes. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed just inches from her, and his scorching breath made her face flush and her body go weak. It was the fifth anniversary of their rtionship. Overflowing with love, she kissed him back. The sound of tearing fabric and shallow breaths filled the room as the tension between them grew. Just as they were about to be one, Jensen¡¯s phone rang. Interrupted at such a moment, his irritation was obvious, but he answered anyway. Natalie, panting, caught a glimpse of the caller ID: it was Felix, Jensen¡¯s closest friend. ¡°Jensen, are you out of your mind? You-¡± ¡°Switching to Fracian. Now¡¯s not a good time.¡± Jensen quickly changednguages. There was a pause, then Felix spoke in fluent foreign speech: ¡°You really went and got married to Sharon? What the hell are you thinking? Five years ago, you got into that street race to save her and nearly died in the crash. But Sharon? She ditched you and ran off overseas with another guy! She¡¯s had boyfriend after boyfriend while she was gone¨Cshe never cared about you! And now you¡¯ve actually married her?¡± Felix¡¯s words automatically tranted in Natalie¡¯s mind into her native tongue. Her eyes flew open. The heat in her body still lingered, but her heart had plunged into an icy abyss. Jensen hadn¡¯t noticed her reaction. His voice was cold and measured. ¡°Sharon has cancer. She doesn¡¯t have long. Her final wish is to marry me, to be my wife. She said the person she owes the most in this life is me, and she wants to end our first love story with a perfect ending. I can¡¯t let her die with regrets.¡± ¡°And what about Natalie? After your crash, she was the one who never left your side, who cared for you day and night. She gave you everything she had. You really think she deserves to find out she¡¯s the other woman? How is she supposed to live with that?¡± Felix¡¯s anger didn¡¯t shake Jensen. 7:16 pm PD Chapter 1 Leaving Jensen for Good +5 Free Coins ¡°She won¡¯t find out,¡± he said coldly. ¡°As long as everyone keeps it quiet, Natalie will never know. When Sharon¡¯s gone, I¡¯ll marry Natalie.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by F¦Énd£Îovel ¡°Do you seriously believe Sharon has cancer?¡± That question pushed Jensen over the edge. ¡°Enough! I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± With that, he hung up. He turned back to Natalie, ready to pick up where they left off¨Conly for her to push him away. ¡°I don¡¯t feel so well.¡± Natalie wrapped her arms around herself, trembling slightly, her face pale as a sheet. Jensen had no idea she¡¯d spent thest six months secretly mastering three foreignnguages¡ªone of which was Fracian. She¡¯d never had the chance to use it¨Cuntil tonight, when Jensen unknowingly shattered her heart with it. Seeing her like that, Jensen looked genuinely concerned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?¡± His concern didn¡¯t seem fake¨Cbut Natalie¡¯s heart ached. How could he care so deeply while secretly marrying someone else? She was about to turn him down when his phone chimed again¡ªthis time with a distinctive WhatsApp notification sound. Jensen nced at the screen. ¡°Something¡¯se up at the office. I need to take care of it right away. Try to rest. If you still feel sick, call me¨CI¡¯ll have someone take you to the hospital.¡± Natalie barely had time to nod before he was grabbing his clothes and walking out the door. She watched his retreating figure, and the tears finally spilled down her cheeks. She had seen it. The message was from Sharon. It read: ¡°Jensen, I¡¯m in pain. Pleasee.¡± Natalie clenched her fists tight, her heart feeling as if a gaping hole had been torn through it. Tears blurred her vision as memories she had tried so hard to bury came flooding back. She had been switched at birth and raised by the Summers family, living a life of luxury until she turned eighteen¨Cwhen the real Summers daughter, Sharon, was found and brought home. From then on, Natalie¡¯s life descended into hell. Sharon believed Natalie had stolen eighteen years of her happiness and resented her to the core. She 7:16 pm P Chapter 1 Leaving Jensen for Good demanded Natalie be locked away in a dark, windowless basement. That damp floor and moldy corner became Natalie¡¯s entire world. +5 Free Coins Sharon would oftene down with a twisted smile, whipping her with cruel delight. Eachsh was a punishment for the ¡°sin¡± of being loved. Her adoptive parents, who should have protected her, ignored her suffering to please their real daughter. Night after night, Natalie curled up in the corner, shaking from pain, drowning in despair, swallowing her tears in silence. A yearter, one evening, she seized a moment of carelessness from the guards and escaped the basement with every ounce of strength she had. Tattered and bruised, she didn¡¯t make it far¨Cshe copsed at the feet of a visiting guest: Jensen. In that moment, Jensen was like a ray of light piercing her darkness. He took her away and nursed her back to health. Jensen had promised to protect her and that he would be her family now. He knew about her past with the Summers family, so he did his best to shield her from ever seeing them again. And over the years, she fell for him¨Cdeeper than she ever imagined. Then one day, Jensen suddenly insisted on joining a street race. No one could talk him out of it. By the time Natalie heard, he¡¯d already crashed¨Ccritically injured andatose, with doctors warning he might never wake up. The Luke family was powerful and wealthy. Losing Jensen wouldn¡¯t destroy them¨Cthey had other heirs. But Natalie had no one else. Just him. To save him, she poured her heart and soul into his recovery¨Cday and night care, searching everywhere for miracle doctors. Finally, her efforts paid off. She found an elusive healer known for working miracles. But his price was steep. Natalie gave up something deeply precious to her in exchange for Jensen¡¯s life. Thankfully, he pulled through. Less than a year after recovering, Jensen took full control of Luke Corp and became its CEO. He told her he¡¯d marry her on the fifth anniversary of their rtionship. And yet, on that very day, he married Sharon instead. Until now, Natalie had never once considered leaving Jensen. But now that she knew he was married, she would never allow herself to be the other woman. Especially not to Sharon. Chapter 1 Leaving Jensen for Good Wiping her tears, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number. ¡°I ept Grant International Holdings¡® training offer in Murica. I want to leave Jensen. For good.¡± s HereSelf 2 Chapter 2 I¡¯m Not Interested in Being the Other Woman Chapter 2 I¡¯m Not Interested in Being the Other Woman That¡¯s great news, Natalie. You finally came to your senses!¡± Renee¡¯s fingers trembled around her phone. s This genius designer junior had willingly be invisible at Luke Corp just to stay by Jensen¡¯s side. After his car crash five years ago, Natalie had even sacrificed a rib¨Cand something far more unspeakable¨Cto help bring him back to life. Since then, she¡¯d thrown herself into the rtionship like a moth to a me. But now, the voiceing through the phone was low, hoarse, and hollow¨Cutterly unlike the Natalie she knew. Natalic, did Jensen do something to you?¡± Get full chapters from find{n}ovel Renee immediately picked up on the real issue. After a long silence, a choked sob came through. Renee should¡¯ve known¨Conly Jensen himself could¡¯ve hurt Natalie enough to make her give up on him. She wanted to curse Jensen out. She wanted tofort Natalie. But when the words reached her lips, she didn¡¯t know where to begin. ¡°Just get that visa sorted ande over. A woman needs her own career. Natalie, this Grant International Holdings training program is huge. With your talent, you¡¯re going to shine there.¡± Renee¡¯s words made Natalie nod slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll get the visa sorted as soon as I can.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± After hanging up, Natalie finally noticed the rain pouring outside. Violent winds rattled the wind chime in the living room. That wind chime was made from the paper cranes she¡¯d folded daily while praying when Jenseny in the hospital after his crash. After he recovered, Jensen had it turned into a wind chime and hung it in the living room¨Ctomemorate their love. Now, as she looked at it, Natalie found it bitterly ironic. She instinctively moved to take it down, but her elbow knocked over a photo frame on the nearby bar counter. The ss shattered, revealing two photographs inside. Natalie frowned slightly. Two? She bent down to pick them up. One was a photo of her and Jensen taken five years ago, when they officially became a couple. But the second¨Cwas of Sharon and Jensen together. Sharon was beaming radiantly in the picture, and Jensen stood behind her, one arm around her waist, eyes filled with nothing but affection. 7.16 pm Chapter 9 I¡¯m Not Interested in Being the Other Woman 2 Below the photo, Jensen had written in mboyant script: ¡°Farewell, my love.¡± s The timestamp was 3 a.m.¨Cthe night after Jensen¡¯s recovery. Exactly seven hours before he brought Natalie roses and asked her to be his girlfriend. Natalie¡¯s fingers trembled as she gripped the photo. Suddenly, all of Jensen¡¯s tenderness over the turned ice cold. years What she had believed was mutual love¡­ was really just his constion prize for a love he¡¯d already lost. In a frenzy, Natalie ripped down the wind chime. Paper cranes scattered across the floor, as broken as her heart. Her phone dinged twice. It was Renee¨Cforwarding her the official training invitation from Grant International Holdings. Natalieposed herself, grabbed her documents, and took a cab to the immigration office. After reviewing her paperwork, the clerk said, ¡°Ms. Summers, your visa will take about ten days. Please wait for our notification.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you.¡± Just as Natalie walked out of the office, her phone rang. It was Jensen. ¡°Natalie, something urgent came up at work. I won¡¯t be home tonight.¡± Before she could respond, he hung up. Then her WhatsApp chimed. It was Sharon. She received two short videos. In the first, Jensen and Sharon were holding red marriage certificates, kissing. The timestamp was yesterday. In the second, Jensen was kneeling with a ring¨Cproposing to Sharon The same ring Natalie had personally designed for her own future wedding. Jensen had promised to put that ring on her finger on their fifth anniversary. But now¡­ it was on Sharon¡¯s hand. The timestamp? Five minutes before Jensen had just called her. No wonder he wasn¡¯ting home tonight. It was his wedding night. Natalie let out a cold, bitterugh. 7:16 pm P && Chapter 2 I¡¯m Not Interested in Being the Other Woman Then Sharon sent a voice message. s ¡°Natalie, Jensen is my legal husband now. You¡¯re not allowed to see him anymore! If you do, I won¡¯t go easy on you. And don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be as simple as that little basement punishment fromst time.¡± Natalie replied without hesitation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have no interest in being the other woman.¡± Then she blocked Sharon. The moment Jensen chose to marry Sharon, there was no turning back for them. In ten days, Natalie would be gone for good. She never wanted to see Jensen again. She pocketed her phone and caught a cab home. Downstairs, she asked the supermarket owner for a few cardboard boxes and carried them up to her ce. She was going to throw out everything that reminded her of Jensen. Everything he¡¯d given her over the years¨Cexcept for the valuable jewelry¨Cwent into the boxes and straight into the trash. By the time she was done, it was already past midnight. Too physically exhausted to feel sad, Natalie showered and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. The next morning, she took all the expensive jewelry Jensen had gifted her and locked it in a bank deposit box. She instructed the bank manager to give the key to Jensen in ten days. When she got back home, she started packing for her move abroad. And just then¨CJensen came back. He immediately sensed something was different. ¡°Did something go missing in here?¡± Without looking up, Natalie said calmly, ¡°I just cleared out some old junk. Figured it¡¯s time to get new stuff soon.¡± ¡°Sure. If you see anything you like, let me know. I¡¯ll have my assistant take care of it.¡± Jensen shrugged off his coat onto the couch, but then his eyes caught something on the side table. They were design drafts. ¡°Theunch for the ¡®Devotion¡® jewelry line is tomorrow. You shoulde with me.¡± Natalie¡¯s hand paused mid¨Cpack. 7:16 pm PD&D Chapter 2 I¡¯m Not Interested in Being the Other Woman s She¡¯d worked at Luke Corp for three years and designed several blockbuster jewelry pieces¨Cbut Jensen had never once invited her to any of the productunches. No one besides Jensen even knew that Sundy, Luke Corp¡¯s chief designer, was actually her. This invitation must¡¯vee from guilt¨Cbecause he¡¯d married Sharon behind her back. Natalie quickly replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Before she left Jensen for good, she would reim her ce in the spotlight. Just then, her phone buzzed from the bed. An international number lit up on the screen, and Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Why are you getting calls from overseas?¡± HereSelf 3 Chapter 3 So This Is What Favoritism Looks Like Chapter 3 So This Is What Favoritism Looks Like Natalie froze, ncing at the iing call. Her heart dropped. That number¡ªit was from the Witch Doctor. But why was he calling her? Their transaction had ended five years ago. s Instinctively, she pressed a hand to her side, where the pain of having her rib removed still echoed deep in her memory She quickly rejected the call and said tly, ¡°Spam. Probably a scam number.¡± Jensen nced at her, then nodded, thinking of the recent scam warnings involving foreign numbers. Scam calls are getting through? That means your number¡¯s probably been leaked. I¡¯ll have my assistant get you a new number tomorrow.¡± Before Natalie could respond, Jensen¡¯s own phone rang¨Cwith that distinct ringtone. She instantly knew: it was Sharon. Jensen shot Natalie a guilty nce, quickly declined the call, and mumbled, ¡°Assistant calling about work. I¡¯ll take it in the living room.¡± Without waiting for a response, he rushed out. Natalie¡¯s eyes drifted to her phone. It was still linked to the smart voice assistant in the living room¨CAlexa. Jensen thought it was just a Bluetooth speaker. He had no idea it had a built¨Cin surveince camera. Natalie had never used it to spy on him. But today, with Sharon calling, something twisted inside her. She wanted to know how he acted with Sharon when she wasn¡¯t around. She lowered the volume and opened the Alexa app. On¨Cscreen, Jensen sat at the bar, holding his phone. His eyes gazed out the window,pletely unaware that the wind chime¨Csymbol of their love¨Cwas gone. His voice was soft and gentle. ¡°I¡¯lle back to you in a bit.¡± Sharon¡¯s voice came clearly through the mic. ¡°Jensen, you¡¯re the sweetest. Hey, the new Luke Corp jewelry line isunching tomorrow. Can Ie? I heard it¡¯s the Devotion series by Sunny¨Cit¡¯s perfect for our honeymoon vibe! You designed it, didn¡¯t you? You¡¯re Sunny, right?¡± Jensen paused, slightly startled. ¡°I¡¯m not- ¡°Ohe on, don¡¯t lie to me. Back when you stood out among all the Luke heirs, it was because of that 7:17pm Chapter 3 So This Is What Favoritism Looks Like s Heart of the Ocean design. Nobody knows who Sunny really is, but every time Luke Corp has a breakthrough. Sunny designs something in perfect sync. Who else would care that much about Luke Corp Natalie gave a cold, bitter smile. She had poured her heart into every piece she designed, each one a tribute to Jensen¡¯s milestones. Jensen stayed quiet for a moment. Then Sharon went on. Jensen, my biggest dream has always been to be a jewelry designer. But fate won¡¯t give me the time. We¡¯re married now¨Ccould you let me borrow Sunny¡¯s identity, just once? Let me feel what it¡¯s like to be admired and adored.¡± Natalie¡¯s grip on her phone tightened. Did Sharon even understand what she was asking? Jensen hesitated, nced toward Natalie¡¯s room, then said softly, ¡°Okay. Tomorrow, at the conference, I¡¯ll announce to the media that you¡¯re Sunny.¡± Yay! I love you, Jensen!¡± Sharon¡¯s giddyughter echoed from the speaker. But Natalie¡¯s heart had gonepletely cold. How could he? press Jensen knew she was Sunny. Yet with just a few sweet words from Sharon, he was willing to hand over everything¨Cher years of blood, sweat, and brilliance¨Cwithout even asking her. So this is what favoritism really looked like. Natalie couldn¡¯t listen anymore. She cut off the Bluetooth connection, chest heaving. If Jensen was going to give Sharon what was hers¨Cthen she would fight to take it back. Without hesitation, she redialed the international number. It rang three times before the Witch Doctor picked up, his voice cold and emotionless. ¡°Well, well. Look who finally grew a spine. Hung up on me, did you? Want me to take Jensen¡¯s rib tonight instead?¡± Natalie bit her lip. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you want me to do. Just help me with one thing, and I¡¯ll agree to anything.¡± There was a pause, then a snort ofughter. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d die for love five years ago? What changed?¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F¦ÉndNovel ¡°Cut the crap. Do we have a deal or not?¡± 7:17 pm Chapter 3 So This Is What Favoritism Looks Like Her fingers dug into her phone. For five years, Jensen had been her only family, her only love, her only connection to the world. Now, she had no one to tuum to¨Cexcept the Witch Doctor. Even if the price was steep. ¡°Deal Natalie immediately exined what she needed and hung up. Just then, Jensen came back in. ¡°Natalie. You can¡¯te to theunch event tomorrow.¡± Why not?¡± +5 Free Coins She looked up at the man she¡¯d loved for five long years. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart. Jensen avoided her eyes. ¡°Sunny¡¯s identity needs to remain a secret. Just stay home. After tomorrow, I¡¯ll give you whatever you want.¡± And with that, he turned and walked away. Natalie¡¯s eyes burned. Her fists clenched so tightly, her nails pierced the skin of her palms¨Cbut she didn¡¯t even feel it. The past five years suddenly felt like a cruel joke. Her phone chimed again. It was the Witch Doctor, sending her an official invitation to tomorrow¡¯s Luke Corp productunch. Sharon wanted Sunny¡¯s glory? Let¡¯s see if she could handle it. Natalie didn¡¯t sleep a wink that night. The next morning, she put on a pearl¨Cwhite gown, elegantly styled her hair, and made her way to Luke Corp¡¯sunch venue. The first thing she saw was Sharon, clinging to Jensen¡¯s arm with a radiant smile. And Jensen¡­ gazing at Sharon with such warmth and tenderness, never once taking his eyes off her. You can¡¯t fake love¨Cnot in your eyes. She had been blind and foolish. Natalie gave a small, mocking smile, then lifted her chin and walked in. Her stunning, ethereal beauty immediately drew attention. 7:17 pm PD Chapter 3 So This Is What Favoritism Looks Like Jensen instinctively turned¨Cand his face changed the moment he saw her. He shook off Sharon¡¯s arm and stormed over, eyes bloodshot, grabbing her wrist. ¡°Who told you toe here?¡± +5 Free Coins HereSelf 4 Chapter 4 This Is Mine migh ene somber form and brais burtre de dp for was feront wered her lig Kremly bond is, warm breath hemang Jensen¡¯s throat, making him monbunnarly does Then an wice only the two of them could hear the whispered any Thay is myunch even, Mr. Luke. After all these years, don¡¯t you think if same I made as exzexace Hey clear, huminous eyes made Jemen inexplicably uneasy. His voice turned coll I not your time to appear yet. I¡¯ll arrange ister. Joust go home for so His brows were tigtaly furrowed, clearly agitated. Natalie¡¯s chest ached Even now, even after hearing everything, part of her will withed he mighte deas¨Cvill waued to gue him a chance. Even if he confessed now, even if he begged her to give up on exposing the truth she might have stopped But no. He said nothing She was, once again, disappointed. Suppressing her emotions, Natalie smiled. ¡°You really n to reveal my identity? ¡°Natalie, what are you trying to do? You¡¯ve never been this unreasonable! Just go home. We¡¯ll talkter. I¡¯ll have the driver take you. He fumbled for his phone, an uneasy feeling wing at his chest Natalie¡¯s hands balled into fists, her eyes glistening This was the man she¡¯d loved for five years. I¡¯m not leaving Her voice was firm, unwavering Jensen¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice¡± Chapter 4 This Is Mine He rented for her again, but Natalie dodged him. +5 Free Coins Instead, he caught Sharon¡¯s eye¨Cand deliberately raised her wrist, revealing a diamond bracelet that gliered under the lights. She shot Sharon a provocative smile. That did it Sharon¡¯s temper red instantly. Natalie, unting her closeness with Jensen in public, was humiliating her. She was the one who came with Jensen. She was his legal wife. Who gave Natalie the right to act so smug? Why did the bracelet look so familiar? Fury boiling over, Sharon stormed toward her and shoved her hard. ¡°Natalie, today¡¯s theunch of Luke Corp¡¯s Devotion series. Why is that bracelet on your wrist? Did you steal it?¡± So this was how Sharon was going to do it¨Cpublicly shame her, drag her down. Her voice was loud enough for the whole crowd to hear. Everyone turned to Natalie. In her pearl¨Cwhite dress, the moonlight diamond bracelet gleaming on her wrist, she was a vision. But thanks to Sharon¡¯s outburst, the atmosphere changed instantly. ¡°Someone that pretty¡­ a thief?¡± ¡°Just goes to show you never really know people. And the way she was hanging on Mr. Luke just now? Definitely shady.¡± Natalie¡¯s face paled under the weight of their judgment. She bit her lower lip, voice trembling but resolute. ¡°This is mine.¡± Sharon burst outughing. ¡°Yours? Don¡¯t make meugh! A broke fraud like you can afford diamonds?¡± Let me enlighten you all,¡± Sharon turned to the crowd dramatically. ¡°This woman¡¯s name is Natalie. She was the fake daughter our family raised by mistake. We kicked her out five years ago. She couldn¡¯t possibly afford that bracelet.¡± Natalie¡¯s hands trembled. Sharon made it sound like they simply sent her away. But the truth? She had nearly died in that house. The whip scars on her back still throbbed at the memory. 2/4 This text is hosted at find(?)ovel 11 Chapter 4 This Is Mine Is Free Coins And Jensen -he knew. He was the one who had carefully tended those wounds, terrified of hurting her Now when Natalie looked to him, he looked away. He didn¡¯t speak up for her. Didn¡¯t defend her. He didn¡¯t dare cross Sharon She had known he wasn¡¯t worth hoping for Ban it still hurt like hell. Five years of love shed before her eyes¨Cevery tender smile, every warm touch, now just dull des shcing her to pieces. She swallowed it all and said, ¡°Ms. Summers, using me of theft based solely on identity¡­ isn¡¯t that a bit presumptuous? How do you know I haven¡¯t made a name for myself over the past five years?¡± Sharon sneered. ¡°You? Made a name for yourself? That¡¯s rich! You want proof? Fine, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± She tossed her hair and turned to the crowd proudly. ¡°Everyone here knows thisunch is for the Devotion series designed by the elusive Sunny. Well, I¡¯m Sunny. That bracelet she¡¯s wearing is my design. Mr. Luke can confirm it!¡± Gasps erupted throughout the hall. ¡°What? Ms. Summers is Sunny?¡± ¡°Mr. Luke, is this true? Sunny has only ever worked with Luke Corp, and no one¡¯s ever seen her. Is it really Sharon?¡± Reporters swarmed forward. Natalie didn¡¯t look at them. Her sharp, elegant eyes stayed locked on Jensen. Her fists clenched around the fabric of her dress. She wanted to hear him say it. With his own mouth. Jensen felt her gaze and his brows creased tighter and tighter. Then Sharon clung to his arm and whined softly, ¡°Jensen-¡± Just that one word. A plea. He remembered she didn¡¯t have long to live. His heart softened. ¡°Yes. Sharon is Sunny. She¡¯s been Luke Corp¡¯s chief designer these past five years.¡± The moment the words left his mouth, Natalie heard her heart break. No one knew better than Jensen how much she had sacrificed to create those designs. And now, without hesitation, he handed it all to Sharon. Fine.So be it. Natalie bit down so hard on her lip she tasted blood, the copper tang igniting her fury. 7:17 pm PD Chapter 4 This Is Mine +5 Free Coins Sharon, thrilled by the attention, grinned. ¡°You all heard it. That bracelet is my work. Which means Natalie stole it. She probably took other designs too. Security! Strip her down, take her bag¨CI want to check everything myself!¡± Two guards stepped forward without hesitation. They seized Natalie¡¯s arms and mmed her to the cold floor With a sharp rip, her dress strap tore open¨Cexposing her back. The crowd gasped at the sight of the disfiguring whip scars running down her spine. And in the audience, a man clenched his wine ss so tightly it shattered in his hand. Blood dripped from his palm, red against the white shards¨Chis eyes glinting with barely restrained murderous rage. HereSelf 5 Chapter 5 You Might Forgive and Forget¨CBut I Won¡¯t Chapter 5 You Might Forgive and Forget¨CBut I Won¡¯t ¡°Let me go! What you¡¯re doing is illegal!¡± Natalie thrashed against the guards, her wrists straining in their grip. She raised her eyes to Jensen, her teeth clenched so tightly they audibly ground together. ¡°Jensen, can you really look me in the eye and say Sharon is truly Sunny?¡± Her eyes were swollen, but still stunning, locked onto him with unwavering intensity. And on her back¨Cthose brutal whip scars¨Cstood as a loud, ugly p across Jensen¡¯s conscience. His hands curled into tight fists. He¡¯d been the one to dress those wounds, nursing her day after day. He once told her he would never let anyone hurt her again. And yet¡­ Jensen instinctively took a step forward¨Cbut Sharon clung to his arm. ¡°Jensen, my stomach hurts¡­¡± Her voice was soft, almost fragile, but to Jensen it was a bucket of ice water. +10 Free Coins Right. Sharon was terminally ill. What did it matter if he gave her this spotlight? Natalie still had her whole future ahead of her. He forced down the guilt boiling in his chest and spoke clearly, coldly. ¡°She¡¯s my designer. I¡¯d know. Sharon is Luke Corp¡¯s chief designer, Sunny.¡± Sharon beamed with pride. And Natalie¨Cjust one tear slipped down her cheek. Even after Jensen married Sharon behind her back¡­ Even after she¡¯d resolved to let go¡­ She still wanted to protect the five years they¡¯d shared. But what a fool she was. Jensen saw her cry, and something twisted deep in his chest. For five years, no matter what she went through, Natalie had never cried. But now¡­ He started forward again. 7:29 pm PD Chapter 5 You Might Forgive and Forget¨CBut I Won¡¯t ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there!¡± Sharon snapped. ¡°Strip her. Or do I have to do it myself? Jensen, right?¡± She pouted, ying the pitiful wife. +10 Free Coins Jensen¡¯s throat went dry. He looked at Natalie and forced his voice steady. ¡°If you didn¡¯t steal anything. you¡¯ve got nothing to hide.¡± Natalie let out augh. She was still on the ground, body bent awkwardly, dress strap torn at the shoulder. Her scars were exposed. Herughter¨Cfrayed, sharp, unsettling¨Ccut through the murmurs of the erowd. ¡°Enough! Take her backstage and check her.¡± Jensen couldn¡¯t bear to look at her any longer. Sharon wanted to say more but was silenced by the flicker of coldness in his eyes. The guards stepped forward, ready to drag her away¨Cbut Natalie yanked herself free. ¡°No need! If Mr. Luke believes I must be searched, why hide backstage? Wouldn¡¯t that look suspicious? Strip me, right? Fine¨CI¡¯ll do it myself!¡± And with that, she tore off her moon¨Cwhite gown and flung it into the air. Wearing only ck underwear and matching undergarments, her pale skin glowed beneath the lights- but so did the vicious scars on her back and legs. Gasps echoed around the room. ¡°Oh my god¡­ what happened to her?¡± Reporters, sensing a scandal, raised their cameras and snapped away. But Natalie ignored the stares. Staring straight at Jensen and Sharon, she spoke slowly, deliberately. ¡°This is everything. Nothing left but my underwear. If Mr. Luke and Ms. Summers still think I¡¯m hiding something, feel free toe search me yourselves.¡± Jensen¡¯s expression darkened. Those scars¨Che remembered them. The bloodied girl he¡¯d found five years ago, half¨Cdead at the foot of the Summers estate. He¡¯d spent days dressing those wounds, coaxing her back to life. She never wore off¨Cshoulder dresses. They¡¯d never even been fully intimate¨Cbecause of those very scars. Now she wasying herself bare in front of the entire world. And he felt¡­ afraid. Sharon¡¯s brow furrowed when she saw thesh marks. 7:29 pm PSD. Chapter 5 You Might Forgive and Forget¨CBut I Won¡¯t What the hell was this woman trying to do? +10 Free Coins She jumped in quickly. ¡°Natalie, you were kicked out of the Summers family because you were a tramp, remember? Dad and Mom couldn¡¯t stand your behavior. And now you want to unt the proof of your indecency? You¡¯re disgusting!¡± ¡°What? You mean those are from sleeping around?¡± ¡°She was what¨Cseventeen, eighteen back then? Slutty even as a teen? No wonder her family tossed her out.¡± The crowd¡¯s gaze turned sour¨Cdisgusted. Sharon¡¯s lips curled with triumph. So what if she gave those beatings? There were no cameras in the basement. Her parents wouldn¡¯t speak up. She owned the narrative now. Even if Natalie denied it¨Cwho would believe her? Jensen looked at Natalie, eyes wide. ¡°So that¡¯s where the scars came from.¡± If looks could kill, Natalie would¡¯ve been torn to shreds under Jensen¡¯s re. She stared at Sharon¨Cwho now looked exactly like she had five years ago: full of malice, eyes burning with cruelty. Natalie chuckled coldly. ¡°Sharon, just because no one saw you abuse me doesn¡¯t mean you can rewrite history. You think you can spit filth and everyone will believe you?¡± ¡°What are you implying?¡± Sharon snapped, a sliver of doubt in her tone. Natalie raised her arm and disyed the diamond bracelet again. ¡°You say this bracelet is part of the Devotion line. You say you designed it. Then tell us¨Cwhat does it do?¡± All eyes turned to Sharon. She hadn¡¯t expected this. In truth, she didn¡¯t even know if that bracelet was part of the collection. She just needed an excuse to disgrace Natalie. Now put on the spot, she nced at Jensen. Original content can be found at ?ovelFind He said nothing. His frown deepened. Natalie could see the growing tension in his jaw, Could feel his uncase. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Sharon doesn¡¯t have to prove anything. She said it¡¯s her design¨Cthen it is. Give the 7:29 pm PAD Chapter 5 You Might Forgive and Forget¨CBut I Won¡¯t bracelet back, and we¡¯ll let you leave quietly His tone was lofty, magnanimous. Like he was offering her mercy. Natalie let out a coldugh. You two might forgive and forget. But I won¡¯t.¡± She lifted her wrist again and tapped twice on the bracelet. +10 Free Coins The shining diamond shifted aside¨Cand a soft blue beam burst forth, casting a glowing projection onto the massive disy screen at the venue. Everyone was stunned. Their eyes widened and their mouths dropped. The video began to y¡ªand the entire room watched, stunned. HereSelf 6 Chapter 6 Even His Disdain Is Breathtaking The video yed. +10 Free Coins On screen. Sharon, dressed in a red riding outfit, yanked Natalie¡¯s hair and mmed her head against a rusted pipe. Blood streamed down from Natalie¡¯sshes like a curtain of crimson. ¡°You filthy bitch. You stole eighteen years of my life in luxury. You should¡¯ve died, Natalie!¡± She kept mming Natalie¡¯s head again and again. Natalie crumpled like a rag doll. Her eighteen¨Cyear¨Cold back was already torn to shreds¨Craw, bloody, barely human. But Sharon raised her crocodile¨Cskin whip again and cracked it through the air. ¡°Go to hell!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The pain wracked through Natalie¡¯s body. She screamed, trembling violently as she curled in on herself. She crawled forward, dragging herself toward Quincy¡¯s embroidered hem. ¡°Mom, please¡­ please save me. You raised me for eighteen years. We were mother and daughter for eighteen years. That has to count for something. I swear I¡¯ll be good to you. I¡¯ll be the best daughter ever, I promise.¡± Blood and tears blurred her face, but Quincy didn¡¯t even flinch. She wrinkled her nose and took a step back, silk slipping from Natalie¡¯s hands. Fiddling with her bracelet, as if the scent of blood offended her, Quincy said calmly, ¡°Natalie, if it weren¡¯t for you, our real daughter wouldn¡¯t have spent eighteen years out there suffering. If you truly care about us, then let Sharon vent.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ll die like this! Mom, she¡¯ll kill me!¡± Natalie¡¯s voice shook, raw with fear. ¡°Then die. That¡¯s your fate,¡± Quincy said coldly. ¡°As long as my daughter is happy, I don¡¯t care what happens to you.¡± She turned to Sharon with a gentle smile. ¡°Sharon, there¡¯s plenty of time. You can beat her moreter. Don¡¯t tire yourself out before our family portrait session.¡± Sharon snorted and tossed the whip aside. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll finish her off after the photos.¡± She took two steps, then paused and turned. ¡°Hey. I heard salt water disinfects wounds. Bring a whole bucket of sea salt and dump it on her. She won¡¯t 7:29 pm PD Chapter 6 Even His Disdain Is Breathtaking 0191 +10 Free Coins die from that¡ªand I¡¯ll get to keep her around longer. Plus, it¡¯ll leave scars. I want this bitch to remember for the rest of her life that she was born to be my punching bag.¡± ¡°No! Please, no! Mom, don¡¯t let her do this to me!¡± Natalie tried to crawl away, but she had no strength left. The butler pinned her easily. The salt water poured over her shredded skin, and her scream tore out of the screen like a de. Everyone in the room recoiled. Jensen¡¯s fists clenched tight. His eyes burned with shock and guilt. He remembered her just like that¨Chalf¨Cdead, covered in wounds¨Cwhen he¡¯d found her. But it had been Sharon all along? How could she? He ripped his arm out of Sharon¡¯s grip, eyes as cold as steel. Fresh chapters posted on find?novel ¡°It was you?¡± ¡°No! No, it wasn¡¯t me! That video is fake!¡± Sharon was panicking. How? There were no cameras in the basement. How did that bitch get a recording? She couldn¡¯t let Jensen hate her. The Summers family needed the Luke family¡¯s money. She couldn¡¯t let Jensen feel anything for Natalie. She pointed at Natalie and shrieked, ¡°She faked it! We never had surveince down there! She made this video to frame me and my mom!¡± ¡°Yes! Sharon¡¯s telling the truth!¡± Quincy stepped forward, eyes gleaming with venom. ¡°Natalie, I raised you like a princess for eighteen years! Even when we found out you weren¡¯t really our daughter, I still let you live with us. But you couldn¡¯t stop sleeping around. We had no choice but to send you away. And now you¡¯re spreading lies? What did I ever do to deserve this?¡± Her eyes glistened with fake tears. Everyone turned to Natalie. But Natalie had known. She knew five years ago¨CQuincy didn¡¯t care about her at all. Now, watching Quincy throw her under the bus to protect Sharon, Natalie wasn¡¯t surprised. Sheughed coldly. ¡°Madam Quincy, you¡¯re right. There wasn¡¯t a camera in the basement at first. But do you remember that night you went down there alone to retrieve something and fell? No one noticed until I went to look for you and pulled you out. After that, I installed a pinhole camera without telling anyone. Just in case it happened again.¡± 7:29 pm PD. Chapter 6 Even His Disdain Is Breathtaking Quincy¡¯s face paled. +10 Free Coins She remembered¨Cvaguely. She¡¯d gone to get something precious in secret, not wanting the staff to see. She¡¯d fallen. She¡¯d really thought she might be stuck there all night. But Natalie hade for her. Natalie had saved her. And Natalie had always treated the Summers family well. Sharon saw the flicker of guilt in her mother¡¯s eyes and quickly grabbed her hand. ¡°Mom, she¡¯s lying, right? You¡¯re thedy of the house. There¡¯s no way you¡¯d go down to the basement alone. She¡¯s making it up, right?¡± Quincy looked into Sharon¡¯s panicked eyes and caved. ¡°Yes. Natalie is lying. I¡¯ve never been in that basement. A ce like that isn¡¯t where someone like me would ever go.¡± Natalie¡¯s fingers dug into her palms. Her nails pierced skin, grounding her in the pain. What now? This mother and daughter were so shameless. If they refused to admit the truth of the recording, how could she prove that everything she endured was real? Then a deep male voice rang out. ¡°Is that so? Then why don¡¯t we ask your butler to confirm what really happened?¡± The light from the chandelier seemed to freeze. The crowd parted like water. He stood tall¨Csix¨Cfoot¨Ctwo¨Cwith a presence like a de unsheathed. His brow cast shadows over eyes dark as deep pools. But a solitary beauty mark near one eye cut through the cold like a scar. When his gaze swept over Natalie¡¯s scarred shoulders, his throat bobbed in a motion so sharp, it made her chest tighten. Power radiated from him like smoke. And yet, a faded tattoo curled beneath the cuff of his sleeve. As a single stray thread brushed hispel, he calmly dusted it away. The gesture¨Cso effortless, so disdainful¨Cwas enough to make every shbulb in the room stutter and lose focus. He was the kind of man whose disgust was more breathtaking than most men¡¯s love. 7:29 pm PD Chapt HereSelf 7 er 7 Time to Stop Chapter 7 Time to Stop ¡°Who are you?¡± Quincy tightened her grip on her bracelet. +10 Free Coins She had never seen this man in Ocean City¡¯s high society before, yet the murderous energy radiating off him made her uneasy¨Cnervous, even. Jensen also looked toward the man, his eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know who I am. Isn¡¯t the real focus here whether or not Ms. Natalie was abused?¡± His voice was light, but it instantly redirected the entire room¡¯s attention back to Natalie. At that moment, the Summers family¡¯s butler was led into the venue. Sharon¡¯s eyes darkened the moment she saw him. ¡°You work for the Summers family. Don¡¯t even think about betraying us just because someone offered you a little cash.¡± In a single sentence, Sharon tried to paint the butler as a bought¨Coff liar. Natalie couldn¡¯t help but admit¨Cwhen it came to shamelessness, she couldn¡¯tpete with Sharon. The butler, incensed by Sharon¡¯s words, stepped forward. ¡°Sharon, you threatened my son¡¯s life to force me to serve the Summers family! Five years ago, I saw you whip the young miss with my own eyes. I swear on my life, everything in that video is real! After Ms. Natalie¡¯s identity was exposed, she voluntarily asked to leave the Summers family. It was you, Sharon, who couldn¡¯t handle the fact that you lived in hardship for eighteen years. You insisted on locking Ms. Natalie in the basement to whip and torture her. And Mr. and Mrs. Summers agreed. If she hadn¡¯t managed to escape on her own, she¡¯d be dead by now.¡± ¡°Liar! You¡¯ve always been partial to Natalie. You were probably having an affair with her. That¡¯s why you¡¯re here lying for her!¡± Before Sharon could speak, Quincy jumped in. She couldn¡¯t let Sharon be provoked into saying anything more damaging. The butler trembled with rage but didn¡¯t know how to refute her. The man in the suit let out a coldugh. ¡®Madam Quincy, you¡¯re certainly eloquent. In that case, let¡¯s show everyone some day¨Cto¨Cday footage from the Summers residence, ¡°What?¡± 7:29 pm PD Chapter 7 Time to Stop Quincy¡¯s face turned ashen. Her bracelet snapped in half under her grip with a sharp crack. The man snapped his fingers. +10 Free Coins A new set of videos began ying on the screen¨Croutine surveince clips from the Summers home. In each clip. Sharon and her parents appeared as a sweet, doting family¨Cexcept all they discussed was Natalie. ¡°That little bitch Natalie. I swear, I¡¯m going to torture her for eighteen years to even the score.¡± Sharon¡¯s face in the video was twisted with hate. ¡°Do whatever you want with her. We won¡¯t interfere,¡± Madam Quincy replied coldly. ¡°She lived off our family for eighteen years. It¡¯s time she repaid that debt. If hurting her makes you happy, she hasn¡¯t lived in vain. Jordan said nothing to contradict them. The moment the clips started rolling, the room exploded in outrage. ¡°Are they even human? Even a dog raised for eighteen years wouldn¡¯t be treated like that.¡± ¡°Natalie¡¯s lucky to still be alive.¡± The murmurs grew louder. Sharon panicked. She grabbed Jensen¡¯s arm and looked up at him with tearful eyes. ¡°Jensen, it¡¯s not like that. Please believe me. It¡¯s not true!¡± Jensen looked at her, struggling to believe the videos. But he had seen Natalie¡¯s scars up close. He remembered the doctors telling him that if it hadn¡¯t been for the sea salt treatment, she would¡¯ve died of infection¨Cand because of that same treatment, the scars on her back would never fade unless she underwent a skin graft. And now, everything matched what was shown in the videos. His hand mped tightly around Sharon¡¯s wrist, eyes turning bloodshot. ¡°Tell me the truth. Did you do it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t! Jensen, how could you doubt me? Do you really think I¡¯m that cruel?¡± Tears streamed down her face. Jensen frowned. No. Sharon wasn¡¯t that kind of woman. She couldn¡¯t be. Five years ago, if she hadn¡¯t donated her rib, he wouldn¡¯t have survived¨Ceven if Natalie had found the Witch Doctor. 7:29 pm PD Chapter 7 Time to Stop +10 Free Coins Thinking of that, Jensen stepped forward and protectively pulled Sharon behind him. Then he looked at Natalie. His emotions wereplicated. She shouldn¡¯t havee today. If she¡¯d stayed away, none of this would¡¯ve happened. His eyes grew colder. ¡°Natalie, what are you doing? This is Luke Corp¡¯s productunch, not your personal stage. Out of respect for our history, leave now, and we¡¯ll pretend this never happened. If not, I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± Natalie was surprised. And yet¡­ not really. The man who once pressed her for answers about her scars, swearing vengeance in her name, had died the moment he registered his marriage with Sharon. Something rose in her throat, but before she could speak, the suited man cut in again. ¡°Mr. Luke, I¡¯ve already submitted these videos to the police. The truth will be clear soon enough.¡± ¡°And who the hell are you? Why are you here, ruining our event?¡± Jensen¡¯s voice dropped low, fury leaking from every word. But the man¡¯s tone remained cold. ¡°Just a nobody. I saw injustice and decided to act. Since you¡¯re so proud of thisunch, let¡¯s see whether Ms. Sharon is truly the designer Sunny.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Are you saying Sharon¡¯s im to being Sunny is fake too?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be. Mr. Luke confirmed it himself.¡± The crowd started buzzing again. Jensen¡¯s expression changed instantly. No matter what happened with Natalie¡¯s scars¨Ceven if Sharon really did hurt her¨Che could find a way to handle it. Offer Nataliepensation. Make it go away. But if Sharon wasn¡¯t actually Sunny¡­ Readplete version only at find~novel Then she was finished. He turned quickly to Natalie. ¡°Natalie, we¡¯ve known each other for five years. Do you really want to take things this far? You know how hard I¡¯ve worked to get here. I understand you were upset about being excluded today. You¡¯ve made your point. Now it¡¯s time to stop. Don¡¯t push it any further¨Cor I really will get angry.¡± 7:29 pm PSD. Chapter 7 Time to Stop His eyes narrowed with warning. Natalie had always loved him. Jensen knew exactly how much she¡¯d sacrificed for him. He also knew how much she feared upsetting him. So after everything¡­ surely she¡¯d back down. Right? HereSelf 8 Chapter 8 So You Really Want to Do This Chapter 8 So You Really Want to Do This +10 Free Coins Natalie stared at Jensen¡¯s strikingly handsome face¨Cnowced with suppressed warnings¨Cand for the first time, the filter of infatuation she¡¯d wrapped around him for years shatteredpletely. Only now did she realize that Jensen¡­ really wasn¡¯t all that. All the pain, sacrifice, and desperate effort she poured out for him during his injury five years ago¨Cshe might as well have thrown it all to the dogs. Her voice was hoarse, but her gaze never wavered. ¡°I¡¯m not causing a scene, Mr. Luke. I am the real Sunny.¡± Gasps rippled through the room. ¡°What? She¡¯s Sunny?¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t Mr. Luke say it was Sharon?¡± Sharon¡¯s hatred finally boiled over. She couldn¡¯t hide it anymore. She stormed out from behind Jensen and pointed directly at Natalie. ¡°Shut your damn mouth! Natalie, are you really that desperate? How dare you lie like this? Jensen is the only one who knows Sunny¡¯s true identity. Do you seriously think he¡¯d back you up?¡± Jensen¡¯s stare drilled into Natalie. A wave of unease swept through him. She said it. She actually said it¨Cright here, in front of everyone. Didn¡¯t she understand what he was trying to tell her? She was talented. With time, she could make a name for herself. Why was she insisting on snatching this title from Sharon right now? His patience snapped. He strode forward, grabbed Natalie¡¯s wrist, and hissed, ¡°Come with me!¡± ¡°Let go!¡± Once upon a time, Natalie would have done anything for Jensen to hold her like this in public. It would¡¯ve meant everything. But now, all she felt was bitter disgust. He wasn¡¯t reaching for her. He was just trying to protect Sharon. She struggled, but she wasn¡¯t strong enough to break free. Jensen tightened his grip and tried to drag her away. That¡¯s when the suited man stepped in. 7:29 pm PS Chapter 8 So You Really Want to Do This His faded tattoo shed as he moved. ¡°Mr. Luke, Ms. Summers just told you to let go. Shouldn¡¯t a man behave like a gentleman?¡± His hand locked around Jensen¡¯s wrist with enough pressure to make bones groan. Jensen winced. The pain was sharp and real¨Che had no choice but to let Natalie go. She immediately stepped back, putting distance between them. But the man didn¡¯t release Jensen¡¯s wrist. +10 Free Coins Their standoff electrified the air¨CJensen¡¯s fury shing with the stranger¡¯s icy restraint, evenly matched. ¡°Who the hell are you? Don¡¯t make me have you thrown out.¡°. ¡°You¡¯re wee to try.¡± Jensen¡¯s re burned with rage. But the man¡¯s eyes, cold as a frozenke, held a silent fire¨Clike a fuse already lit, just waiting to explode. Natalie didn¡¯t know who the man was, but she wasn¡¯t here to waste time. She reached for her bracelet again. The screen lit up. Jensen, this is the Rise series I designed to help you secure your ce at Luke Corp. Look at the sketches.¡± in the video, Natalie handed Jensen a folder. Her smile was bright and hopeful, her eyes filled with love- he portrait of a girl who would give everything for the man she adored. ensen wrapped her in a hug. Natalie, thank you. This line is going tounch us to a whole new level.¡± Then can my designer name be Sunny? I remember you said your favorite book had a character named Sunny, Jensen¡­ I want to be your Sunny.¡± Natalie¡¯s radiant smile lit up the sunlight around her. Okay. From now on, you¡¯re Sunny. Natalie, one day I¡¯ll make the world recognize your talent. And when hat dayes, I¡¯ll give you the grandest wedding ever¨Cdrums, firecrackers, everything.¡± ensen¡¯s eyes were full of love. They looked just like any other couple lost in first love. The video continued. Natalie, buried in her sketchbooks, drawing every design herself¨Cfrom concept, to research, to detail work. She used lilies as a base motif, embedding a faint watermark on every design with a special method. Then the footage shifted¨CJensen personally signing off on her sketches, ordering their production. The crowd turned toward Jensen and Sharon with stunned, questioning eyes. 7:29 pm PS Chapter 8 So You Really Want to Do This Sharon was on the verge of a breakdown. +10 Free Coins ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F¦Énd£Îovel ¡°Lies! All lies! You faked all of this! You¡¯re nothing but trash our family threw away. How could you possibly be Sunny? Even Jensen didn¡¯t expect Natalie to go this far today. His eyes turned cold as he looked at her. ¡°Natalie so this is what you want?¡± ¡°I just want what¡¯s mine. She met his gaze head¨Con, though inside, it felt like a hole had been carved in her chest¨Craw and bleeding. Jensen sneered. ¡°What¡¯s yours? You wouldn¡¯t even be alive if it weren¡¯t for me. I gave you your life! Without me five years ago, you¡¯d be dead. How dare you im you¡¯re Sunny?¡± He shoved her aside and rushed toward Sharon. Sharon clung to his arm the moment he reached her. ¡°Jensen, she¡¯s lying, right? She¡¯s not really Sunny, right?¡± ¡°Of course she¡¯s not.¡± Jensen didn¡¯t hesitate. Natalie felt like ice water had been dumped over her head. Five years ago, Jensen had been her salvation¨Cher only light in the darkness. Now, for Sharon¡¯s sake, he shattered that light himself and cast her back into the abyss. So this was the man she had loved for five years. A bitter taste rose in her throat, but she forced it back down. Then she yed one more video¨Cfrom her bracelet¨Ccaptured from the Alexa smart speaker in the living room. Sure, Jensen had saved her life. But five years ago, she had already repaid that debt when she begged the Witch Doctor to save his. Everything she did after that was to prove she was worthy of standing beside him as the president of Luke Corp. She didn¡¯t owe him anything. The video yed. And the room fell into stunned silence. 3/4 7:29 pm PSD Chapter 8 So You Really Want to Do This +10 Free Coins On screen showed Jensen speaking on the phone. Sharon¡¯s voice, sweet and shameless, pleading for him to let her pose as Sunny. And Jensen¡­ agreeing without hesitation. Everyone heard it. Word for word. Even Sharon paled. Even Jensen froze. He spun around, stunned, and red at Natalie.¡°You were spying on me?¡± HereSelf 9 Chapter 9 Can I Have a Taste? Chapter 9 Can I Have a Taste? +10 Free Coins You¡¯re a maniptive, scheming woman. So what if you¡¯re Sunny? I must¡¯ve been blind to think you were kind and pure!¡± Jensen¡¯s voice had barely fallen when Sharon suddenly copsed¨Cwhether from rage or theatrics, no one could tell. ¡°Sharon!¡± Panic hit Jensen like a bolt. He rushed to her side, scooped her into his arms, and bolted for the exit. ¡°Call an ambnce!¡± he shouted as he passed. As he brushed past Natalie, he hissed, ¡°If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll make your life a living hell.¡± Natalie stumbled, her bnce lost¨Cuntil a hand caught her from behind, steadying her. She stared at Jensen¡¯s retreating figure, panic driving every step. Five years ago, he¡¯d run like this too¨Ccarrying her out of the Summers family estate. Back then, that figure had seemed impossibly tall, a hero giving her a reason to live. But now, that same figure was cradling someone else. She thought of the hidden photo frame in the living room. For five years, she¡¯d consoled herself¨Ceven if she was Jensen¡¯s second choice, they still had real feelings. But now she knew¨Cshe¡¯d been lying to herself all along. Sharon was his real crush. And it was time for her to step off the stage. Natalie steadied herself, but the emotions in her eyes hadn¡¯t faded. That was when a warm, sandalwood¨Cscented suit jacket fell across her shoulders. I once owed Witch Doctor a favor. He asked me to help you today, so I did. Now that it¡¯s over¡­ what are you nning to do? Do you have anywhere to go? I could-¡± The man didn¡¯t finish. Natalie suddenly spun around, grabbed his tie, and yanked him close. His features were as handsome as Jensen¡¯s, if not more. That mole beneath his eye had a strangely intoxicating pull. For five years, she¡¯d given her entire heart to Jensen. Now that it had been shattered¨Ceven though she¡¯d reimed what was hers¨Cthere was no joy. Only an unbearable pressure that threatened to break her. She needed to let it out. ¡°Sleep with me?¡± 7:30 pm P Chapter 9 Can I Have a Taste? The words were soft and fragrant¨Cbut they stunned the man. ¡°What did you say?¡± He thought he¡¯d misheard. +10 Free Coins This was the Natalie who had only ever had eyes for Jensen. How could she say something like that? But she just gave a bitter smile. ¡°What? You don¡¯t like women with scars? Forget it. I¡¯ll find someone else.¡± She let go of his tie and turned to walk away¨Cbut before she could take a step, he scooped her up in his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t regret thister.¡± His voice was low, thick with desire, as he strode toward the exit. They left theunch and headed straight for the hotel next door. No one stopped them. He carried her straight to the presidential suite on the top floor. With a single kick, he pushed the door open, then mmed it shut behind them. He pressed her against the gilded doorframe, his cool fingers resting against the side of her neck. ¡°You still have time to back out.¡± His voice was hoarse, his restraint slipping. Natalie stood on tiptoe, lips brushing his throat before her teeth lightly grazed his Adam¡¯s apple. His body tensed. He pinned her wrist to the wall with one hand, his cufflink scraping over the red marks still lingering from Jensen¡¯s earlier grip. ¡°You¡¯re out of chances now, Natalie.¡± He leaned down. The moment his lips took her earlobe, her body tensed, a soft gasp slipping out. It was like champagne fizzing¨Clike the blood¨Csweet taste when she¡¯d bit his tongue momentster. She tore at his tie like she wanted to rip out his throat, but when the third button of his shirt popped off. revealing a cross¨Cshaped scar just like hers, her eyes widened. ¡°You-¡± ¡°Focus, woman.¡± He kissed her before she could speak again. Clothes flew. His thumb traced the cracked corner of her lip, leaving a bloody fingerprint on the curve of/4 Chapter 9 Can I Have a Taste? The chandelier were dark & belt buckle camered to the floor Ohmade, a flock of white bones scattered inno the vars Di was wild. Breaches thermocond Two tours Line. Nale Iry spent in his arma The man pulled out a charme, passing before highring in Do you mindf His voice was rouch satisfed. The flush on his face hadn¡¯t faded. Natale shook her head Jensen had never smoked. She used to like that clean scent on him. But now, all she could smell was Sharon¡¯s perfume on him. It made her crave something different The man In his cigarette with a dick. The smoke corded through the room, blending with the afterglowr between them. The air was thick with beat and quiet cession Natale watched his side profile as be smoked. He was hot and strong She didn¡¯t regreting berringinity to a man Rebin ¡°Can I have a case?¡± See reached for the cigarette between his babe stopped ben. ¡°Not your style She didn¡¯t push it You¡¯re not carious who I am? The smoke swirled softly around her Natalie frowned and gently pushed him away. I¡¯m going to somer¡± It was a camar¨Ctumor thaing. She wasn¡¯t about to tangle herself in another messy rtionshipa fin a firw days, she¡¯d be goor from Haicheng. Nothing here would matter anymore. He didn¡¯t seem to mind her coldness ¡°You really are the wwe in and toss it type, huh? All that effort I put in, wasted¡± You enjoyed it too, dain¡¯t you? 34 7:30 pm PS Chapter 9 Can I Have a Taste? She shut the bathroom door, sealing him out. This text is hosted at findnovel +10 Free Coins Water poured over her head. Her body ached from the release, and her heart felt just as hollow. Outside, the man had been about to follow her in when his phone rang. He checked the screen, slung a towel around his waist, and stepped onto the balcony. The sun lit up the serpent tattoo curling over his shoulder. It looked alive. ¡°Speak.¡± Gone was thezy charm. His voice now held a deadly edge. ¡°Mr. Baron, the footage involving Ms. Summers has been officially archived by the police. But they¡¯ll need her to file a report in person to move forward.¡± Baron narrowed his eyes. ¡°Let her decide.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The caller hesitated, then asked, ¡°Mr. Baron¡­ should Ms. Summers be told about your other identity¨Cas the Witch Doctor?¡± HereSelf 10 Chapter 10 I¡¯m Not Stupid, and I¡¯m Not Blind ¡°I don¡¯t need to rely on the title of Witch Doctor to make a woman feel grateful.¡± With that, Baron ended the call. +10 Free Coins When he returned to the suite and opened the bathroom door, the steam was still lingering¨Cbut Natalie was gone. Her clothes had disappeared too. Baron smirked faintly and dropped the towel before stepping into the shower. Meanwhile, Natalie finally exhaled once she exited the hotel. If she hadn¡¯t slipped out while he was on the phone, she wasn¡¯t sure how she would¡¯ve handled that overbearing man. It didn¡¯t matter. They were strangers crossing paths¨Che¡¯d soon fade into a forgotten corner of her life. Back home, Natalie locked the door, turned off her phone, and burrowed under the nket to sleep like the dead. When she woke up, she was still Natalie¨Cindestructible, unkible. At the hospital, shortly after Jensen got Sharon admitted to the emergency room, his phone rang. ¡°Mr. Luke,¡± his assistant reported, ¡°the police have reviewed the surveince videos submitted by Ms. Natalie. They confirmed the footage is authentic. It¡¯s been archived. Whether a case is filed depends on Ms. Natalie¡¯s decision.¡± Official source is find¡¤novel Jensen¡¯s grip on his phone tightened. So it was all real. Images of a battered Natalie from five years ago shed in his mind. Her pale face, those eyes full of pain ¨Cit all came back with brutal rity. Guilt and regret twisted in his chest. There was no denying it now. Sharon had done something unforgivable. Transfer the vi Natalie¡¯s living in to her name. Once the deed is ready, hand it to me personally.¡± The assistant paused. ¡°You mean the vi currently upied by Ms. Nina? That one¡¯s worth a hundred million. ¡°Less talking. Just do it.¡± Jensen ended the call. The Summers family had abused Natalie because she was just a powerless orphan. Now that Sharon¡¯s actions were exposed, he would make things right. That vi¨CLan Residence¨Chad once been what he imagined as their future home. Now, it would belong to her outright. Maybe this would ease her anger. 7:30 pm P$50 Chapter 10 I¡¯m Not Stupid, and I¡¯m Not Blind As he thought this, Quincy and Jordan arrived at the hospital. ¡°Mr. Luke, how¡¯s our Sharon doing?¡± Quincy¡¯s eyes were red, glued to the emergency room light. 019 +10 Free Coins Jensen looked at her coldly. He thought of her cruelty toward Natalie¨Cthe indifference, the malice. He shook off her hand. ¡°The doctors just went in. It¡¯ll take time. But Quincy¡­ maybe you should worry more about the video of you whipping Natalie that¡¯s now in police records.¡± Quincy¡¯s knees buckled. ¡°Mr. Luke, those videos are nder! We didn¡¯t-¡± I¡¯m not stupid, and I¡¯m not blind! You think I don¡¯t know what it means for the police to archive something? It means they¡¯ve confirmed the footage is real. I can¡¯t believe it¨Cyou were the ones who beat Natalie within an inch of her life five years ago.¡± Jensen¡¯s voice was ice¨Ccold and lethal, making Quincy tremble uncontrobly. ¡°You can¡¯t abandon us like this! Sharon¡¯s barely hanging on. Do you really want to see her go to jail because of Natalie?¡± Quincy was in tears. Jensen¡¯s gaze softened slightly. ¡°If not for Sharon¡¯s sake, I wouldn¡¯t even be speaking to you right now. But this happened at a public productunch. The press was everywhere¡ªyou know that. Now that it¡¯s in police records, even if Natalie decides to let it go, this story won¡¯t disappear. If you want to keep Sharon safe¡­ you¡¯d better find a way to take the fall.¡± Quincy copsed into Jordan¡¯s arms. Before she could respond, the emergency room light turned off, and the doctor wheeled out an unconscious Sharon. ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s my daughter?¡± Quincy rushed to his side, Jensen close behind. The doctor exined, ¡°Ms. Summers was in poor health to begin with. Emotional distress caused her to faint. The cancer has already spread. You must keep her stress levels low from now on.¡± ¡°My poor girl!¡± Quincy clung to Sharon and sobbed uncontrobly. Jensen¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. ¡°Use the best medication and the best doctors¨Cno matter the cost. Save her.¡± 7:30 pm P 250. Chapter 10 I¡¯m Not Stupid, and I¡¯m Not Blind ¡°Understood, Mr. Luke. We¡¯ll do everything we can.¡± The nurses pushed Sharon to her room. Over two hourster, Sharon finally woke up. She stared at the white ceiling in a daze¨Cuntil her eyes met Jensen¡¯s and everything came back. ¡°Jensen¡­ did I faint again? My body¡¯s such a mess. What did the doctor say? Am I¡­ dying?¡± Tears spilled down her cheeks. Jensen sat beside her, letting her clutch his sleeve. His voice was gentle. +10 Free Coins You¡¯re not dying. I won¡¯t let that happen. I¡¯ve already sent people to search for the best doctors in the world. No matter the price, I¡¯ll keep you alive.¡± ¡°Jensen, I don¡¯t want to die. I really don¡¯t¡­¡± She threw herself into his arms, sobbing. Jensen held her, gently patting her back. But in his mind, he couldn¡¯t stop picturing Natalie¡¯s back- riddled with whip scars. He opened his mouth, ready to confront Sharon¡­ but couldn¡¯t say a word. Sharon cried herself to sleep in his arms, still gripping his clothes like a frightened child. Jensen gently slipped out of his jacket, letting her hold onto it, then walked out with his phone. ¡°I don¡¯t care what it takes¨Cbury the entireunch event story. Use every connection and all the money you need. I don¡¯t want a single word about Sharon leaking out.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Luke. But¡­ what about the news confirming Ms. Natalie as Sunny?¡± ¡°Suppress that too!¡± Jensen said coldly. ¡°If Sharon can¡¯t have the title, then Natalie can wait.¡± The assistant hesitated. ¡°That might be difficult. There were too many socialites at theunch. We may not be able to silence all of them. And the man who helped Ms. Natalie¨Cwe still haven¡¯t found any information on him. If he goes public with the truth¡­ what then?¡± HereSelf 11` Chapter 11 I¡¯ll Marry You Chapter 11 I¡¯ll Marry You Jensen¡¯s gaze darkened. That man who helped Natalie¨Che was dangerous. And his people couldn¡¯t even find out who he was? +10 Free Coins For five years, Natalie¡¯s world had revolved solely around him¨Cher life, her work, everything. She¡¯d never had the time or the chance to meet someone like that. So why would that man step in for her? ¡°Keep digging. If nothing turns up, use our connections on the street. I want that man¡¯s identity, no matter what it takes. As for those society wives¨Ccall their husbands. Tell them it¡¯s from me, Jensen. If they want to keep doing business in Ocean City, they¡¯ll know exactly what to do.¡± Jensen had dominated Ocean City for years. Calling him its uncrowned king wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. The businessmen and old¨Cmoney families weren¡¯t stupid. Stirring up trouble over someone like Natalie wasn¡¯t worth the fallout. Besides, everyone at that press conference knew how to read between the lines. The way Natalie looked at Jensen, the way they were entangled¨Cit was in as day. So Jensen wasn¡¯t worried about those wives spreading rumors. As for the media? With enough money, there was nothing he couldn¡¯t control. The only wildcard was the man who had shielded Natalie. Looked like it was time to sit down and have a real talk with her. Jensen rubbed his temples, an inexplicable weariness creeping in¡­ The source of th?s content is F¦Énd£Îovel After the call, the doctor told him Sharon¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t great. He had no choice but to stay at the hospital with her. Natalie had slept the whole afternoon and evening, buried under the covers. In the end, it was hunger that woke her. She sat up and threw the nket aside. Her whole body ached, every muscle sore. Her mind couldn¡¯t help but rey the way Baron had dominated and imed her. She shook her head hard, trying to chase the memory away, and instinctively reached for her phone. She powered it on, half¨Cexpecting Jensen to have called. Nothing. Not a single missed call. Not even a text. Of course. When it came to Sharon, she meant absolutely nothing. 7.30 pm PS Chapter 11 I¡¯ll Marry You +10 Free Coins Natalie gave a bitter little smile. Just as she was about to toss the phone aside and get ready for the day, a message notification chimed. She grabbed the phone quickly. It was from Witch Doctor. ¡°You made such a scene at the press conference yesterday, but there¡¯s not a single word about it in the news today.¡± Natalie froze. She didn¡¯t believe it. She started scanning the news apps on her phone. But after searching everything, there wasn¡¯t a single article about her being the designer Sunny. All she found was one post on Luke Corp¡¯s official ount: the event had been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances and would be rescheduled. So everything she¡¯d poured into yesterday¨Cpulling every string, burning every bridge, even reopening her old wounds¨Chad all been wiped clean by Jensen? Because she refused to give Sharon the Sunny title, he made sure no one could know it was hers in the first ce? Why? Because Sharon was Jensen¡¯s crush? Because she loved Jensen, he thought he could just walk all over her? Her eyes suddenly swelled with tears, but she bit her lip hard, refusing to let them fall. Still, the taste of blood rose in her mouth, sharp and cruel, stabbing into her heart like a knife. Another message came in from Witch Doctor. ¡°All the videos from yesterday¡¯s press conference are archived with the police. If you want to sue the Summers mother and daughter, I can help.¡± Natalie stared at the screen,ughing bitterly. Others might not know what kind of man Witch Doctor was¨Cbut she did. She would never forget how she¡¯d begged him five years ago, just to save Jensen. And she could never forget what it had cost her to make him take the job. Even after all that, she had never seen his face. The man wore a green snake mask. Every move he made could end a life. Just getting his help once had nearly destroyed her. How could she ever dare to ask him for anything again? Chapter II I¡¯ll Marry You She still wanted to live. ¡°I can¡¯t trouble Witch Doctor again. I¡¯ll handle this myself.¡± +10 Free Coins She tossed the phone aside, just as the sound of the front door opening came from the living room. She quickly straightened up, brushed herself off, and opened her bedroom door. Jensen walked in. Seeing him again felt like something fundamental had changed. ¡°Mr. Luke,¡± she said, her voice hoarse, ¡°are you here to make me apologize to Sharon for what happened yesterday?¡± Jensen saw the redness in her eyes. His heart gave a little squeeze, and his expression softened. ¡°Natalie, I know what happened at the press conference was hard for you, but why did you have to go? If you¡¯d just listened to me and stayed away¡­¡± ¡°Then I would never have known what I truly meant to you.¡± Natalie cut him off. She didn¡¯t want to y the victim. So she¡¯d loved the wrong person. So she¡¯d wasted five years. That was all. Still, her eyes turned red again. Jensen suddenly didn¡¯t know how to face her. He spoke softly. ¡°Five years ago, it was wrong of Sharon to whip you. But she spent eighteen years suffering outside, and when she came home to find out the life she should¡¯ve had was yours, she just¡­ needed to let off some steam. Her methods were a little extreme, but it was really just kids being kids.¡± Natalie stared at him in disbelief. ¡°Kids being kids? She was eighteen.¡± Her voice turned cold, each word slow and sharp. ¡°She suffered for eighteen years because of the Summers family¡¯s mistake¨Cnot mine. I was a victim too. So why was I the one who almost got beaten to death?¡± ¡°If she hadn¡¯t almost killed you¨Cif you hadn¡¯t shown up half¨Cdead in front of me¨Cwould we have ever met? Would you have had these five years of luxury? I¡¯ve already transferred this vi to your name. It¡¯s worth a hundred million. Even if Sharon was wrong, that vi should be more than enough to make up for your pain.¡± As he spoke, he tossed the deed onto the coffee table. It grazed Natalie¡¯s cheek, slicing the skin open. A thin line of blood appeared. Jensen paused for a moment. 7:30 pm P R&D Chapter 11 I¡¯ll Marry You +10 Free Coins ¡°Get dressedter and go to the station. Retrieve the footage from the press conference. I want you to destroy it in front of me. If you do that, we¡¯ll still be together. In a few days, we¡¯ll get married. Isn¡¯t that what you always wanted? As long as you let go of what the Summers mother and daughter did, I¡¯ll marry you.¡± HereSelf 12 Chapter 12 Do You Even Hear Yourself? Chapter 12 Do You Even Hear Yourself? Natalie touched her cheek. Crimson blood stained her pale fingers. +10 Free Coins There was a time when even the slightest cough from her would send Jensen into a panic, rushing to call every doctor he could find. But now¨Cnow she was bleeding, and he didn¡¯t even blink. And those words he¡¯d just spoken¡­ they stabbed straight into her already shattered heart. She stared at him and let out a coldugh. ¡°Do you even hear yourself right now?¡± ¡°You knew I wanted to marry you, but you never brought it up once in the past five years. And now, suddenly, you¡¯re offering marriage to get me to retract the evidence against Sharon?¡± ¡°You said this hundred¨Cmillion¨Cdor vi is enough to make up for what Sharon did to me. So tell me- can I do the exact same things to her that she did to me, then hand her a hundred million and call it even? I¡¯ve made far more than that for Luke Corp in thest five years.¡± ¡°And you said if she hadn¡¯t nearly beaten me to death, you and I never would¡¯ve met? Well, let me tell you something¨CI¡¯d rather we never met at all.¡± With each sentence, Jensen¡¯s expression darkened. By the time she finished, he looked shaken. ¡°Natalie¡­ what are you saying? You regret meeting me? You regret falling in love with me?¡± He stepped forward in a rush and grabbed her wrist, pinning her against the disy shelf by the door. ¡°Say it!¡± He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. But the love that used to shine in hers was gone, reced with a calm and icy rity. Jensen¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. With a hoarse voice, he said, ¡°Natalie, from the moment I saved you five years ago, you¡¯ve been mine. After everything we¡¯ve been through, everything you¡¯ve done for me¨Cwe stopped being two separate people a long time ago. Don¡¯t say that kind of thing again. I don¡¯t like it. Do you hear me?¡± In that moment, the intensity in his eyes almost made her believe he still loved her. But how could that be? Before she could respond, Jensen¡¯s phone rang. That familiar ringtone snapped her back to reality. Jensen immediately let her go and answered the call. Quincy¡¯s voice came through the speaker, panicked and crying. ¡°Mr. Luke, Sharon just woke up. She remembered the press conference. She said if those videos get out, 7:30 pm P Chapter 12 Do You Even Hear Yourself? +10 Free Coins she¡¯ll be too ashamed to face anyone. She¡¯d rather die than live with the humiliation. Please, Mr. Luke, you have to help! She¡¯s all I have. If she dies, I won¡¯t go on living either!¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply. ¡°Tell Sharon I¡¯ll take care of the video. She just needs to stay alive. I¡¯ll be back to see her soon.¡± He hung up, then turned to Natalie with a colder, moremanding gaze. ¡°Natalie. Go get changed. You¡¯reing with me to the station to delete the video files.¡± ¡°No.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t hesitate. She must¡¯ve been blind earlier to think Jensen still had feelings for her. What was shepared to Sharon? She¡¯d gone Get full chapters from fin?novel through hell to secure those video archives. There was no way she was giving them up now. ensen didn¡¯t look surprised. He nced down, slowly running his fingers over his phone, his voice dropping a few degrees. You know my temper, Natalie. When I want something, I always get it.¡± Her heart skipped a beat. What are you trying to say?¡± He said quietly, ¡°I think I still have some videos and photos from your birthdayst year¨Cwhen you got runk and started stripping. What do you think would happen if those got out?¡± Jensen!¡± he never imagined he¡¯d threaten her with those. ust for Sharon, he was willing to tear her apart. Natalie raised her hand and pped him¨Chard. The sound echoed through the room as his head snapped to the side. His cheek turned red and swollen Imost instantly. He ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek and looked at her¨Cat the way she trembled, holding back ears, refusing to let them fall. Then he spoke again. Come with me to the station. Delete the video and the backup. Do that, and I¡¯ll delete those photos and/4 7:30 pm Chapter 12 Do You Even Hear Yourself? videos too. Natalie, don¡¯t force my hand.¡± Natalie suddenlyughed¨Cloud, bitter. But this time, the tears finally fell. ¡°I¡¯m forcing you? Jensen, you win!¡± She stormed off +10 Free Coins She didn¡¯t want to erase the archive she¡¯d sacrificed so much to get, but she also couldn¡¯t risk those photos being leaked. With Jensen smothering her identity and nude photos hanging over her, she¡¯d have nowhere left to go. One leak and the world would drown her in scorn. She knew it. She¡¯d lost. Her footsteps felt like lead. The helplessness¨Cthe feeling of being trapped no matter what she did¨Cmade her want to scream. Jensen watched her back as she walked away. The sting on his cheek felt like it was seeping into his chest, making it hard to breathe. Still, thinking of Sharon waiting at the hospital, he followed quickly after her. Meanwhile, in a vi across town, Baron had been staring at his phone for a long time. That woman, Natalie¨Cshe¡¯d refused his help, said she¡¯d take care of things herself. What could she possibly take care of? His men saw the storm brewing in his eyes and immediately went silent, trying to shrink into the background. Just then, a subordinate walked in. ¡°Mr. Baron, we just got word¨CJensen and Ms. Summers are heading to the police station.¡± ¡°What?¡± Baron¡¯s expression darkened, and the air around him dropped to freezing. His pale, elegant fingers clenched tight around the phone. But then¨Che smiled. That smile made everyone in the room shiver. ¡°So this is how she handles it herself? By crawling back to Jensen and rekindling old mes?¡± ¡°She sleeps with me and still clings to her ex? She¡¯s got a death wish.¡± He stood up suddenly, his presence turning razor¨Csharp in an instant. 7:31 pm Chapter 12 Do You Even Hear Yourself? +10 Free Coins One of his men gulped and hurriedly added, ¡°Mr. Baron, our people said Ms. Summers didn¡¯t look good. She might¡¯ve been forced.¡± ¡°Forced?¡± Baron¡¯s killing aura vanished in a blink. His striking eyes locked onto the speaker. The man felt his scalp go numb and nodded frantically. ¡°Yes! She must¡¯ve been forced! For all we know, she¡¯s just waiting for you toe save her!¡± HereSelf 13 Chapter 13 The First Time a Woman Hit Me *10 Free Coms Baron¡¯s mood clearly lifted at his subordinate¡¯s words, and the smile on his face even gained a hint of sincerity ¡°Hmm. I guess, since she slept with me, I¡¯ll do her a little favor¡± The subordinate let out a silent breath of relief but didn¡¯t dare wipe the sweat dripping down his face. Baron didn¡¯t care about the fear in the room. He casually set his phone aside, picked up a surgical de, and toyed with it between his fingers, those striking eyes narrowing slightly 7ve got the original press conference video. Even if Natalie deletes the footage at the station, I¡¯ll just send them another copy. After all, she did sleep with me.¡± ¡°But Jensen actually had the nerve to force her to the station to erase it? Disgusting. I heard Sharon¡¯s in Central City Hospital?¡± As soon as Baron finished speaking, a subordinate jumped in, ¡°Yes, Sharon¡¯s in room 304 on the third floor ¡°Find me a mental patient. Have him wander into 304. Make sure he¡¯s the type who¡¯s into women like Sharon. Let¡¯s see if Jensen decides to rush to the police station¡­ or the hospital.¡± Baron flung the surgical de. It sliced past the subordinate¡¯s scalp and embedded itself dead center in the target board behind him. The man nearly wet himself. ¡°Yes, sir! Right away!¡± he yelped and bolted out of the room. Baron chuckled, his smile seductively dangerous. ¡°I wonder if Natalie will like this little gift. Let¡¯s go. Mr. Baron¡¯s going to pick up thedy personally¨Ctime to celebrate.¡± He grabbed his phone, stretched his long legs, and strode out. Inside the car, Natalie and Jensen sat in silence. Same car, same familiar driver, same man sitting beside her. But Natalie¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t feel more different. Jensen wanted to speak, but one look at her expressionless face and he swallowed his words. The sting on his cheek hadn¡¯t gone away. It was the first time in his life a woman had hit him. If it had been anyone else, he would¡¯ve broken her arm on the spot. The tension was so thick the driver didn¡¯t even dare breathe too loudly. Chapter 13 The First Time a Woman Hit Me +10 Free Coins le focused on the road, praying they¡¯d arrive at the station quickly. But just as he made a turn, a Maybach ame out of nowhere and crashed straight into them. he driver panicked and tried to swerve, but it was toote. ensen instinctively grabbed Natalie, pulling her back so she wouldn¡¯t hit the seat in front. What the hell was that?!¡± le snapped, fury rising. he driver was panting. ¡°Mr. Luke, I don¡¯t know. It just swerved right into us! I¡¯ll go check.¡± ensen didn¡¯t stop him. ust then, his phone rang. Mr. Luke! Please help! A lunatic just barged into Sharon¡¯s room with a knife, iming she¡¯s his wife and rying to drag her home! None of us dare get close! Sharon¡¯s terrified¨Cshe¡¯s about to faint!¡± Light as Quincy finished, Sharon¡¯s shrill screams rang through the phone. Don¡¯t touch me! Jensen! Help!¡± ensen¡¯s face went pale. Sharon, hang on! I¡¯ming!¡± He ended the call, flung open the door, gged down a taxi, and took off toward the hospital¨Cwithout even looking back. He didn¡¯t say a word to Natalie. Didn¡¯t spare her a nce. Forgot she even existed, despite the fact they¡¯d ust been in a car ident. Watching him disappear in such a panic, Natalie thought it might hurt. But it didn¡¯t. If anything, she felt relieved. Maybe now she wouldn¡¯t have to go to the station to delete the footage. But what about the photos Jensen had of her? When would she ever get those deleted? Her thoughts were spiraling when someone knocked on the car window. She snapped back to reality and looked up¨Cto see a handsome face pressed against the ss, peering in at her. She frowned and quickly rolled the window down. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± 7:31 pm P Chapter 13 The First Time a Woman Hit Me +10 Free Coins Natalie was stunned to see Baron. He nodded toward the two cars. ¡°There was an ident. Come on, let¡¯s talk.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t want to get involved with him. She hadn¡¯t even been the one driving¨Cwhat was there to talk about? But she definitely didn¡¯t want to sit in Jensen¡¯s car anymore. She stepped out. The driver was still arguing with Baron¡¯s men. Before she could say a word, Baron grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside, pinning her against the car door. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± She was startled and caught off guard. Baron¡¯s cool fingers traced her cheek. He smiled. ¡°Ms. Summers, even if I helped you yesterday as a favor to Witch Doctor, shouldn¡¯t you at least thank me?¡± ¡°I already did,¡± she said coolly. ¡°With something pretty sincere, too. That was my first time, after all.¡± The calm way she said it sent blood rushing through Baron¡¯s veins. He grabbed her chin and tilted it up, forcing her to look at him. ¡°My first time too,¡± he murmured with a lowugh. Natalie blinked, stunned. That had been his first time? As intense and relentless as he¡¯d been? Liar. Still, she wasn¡¯t about to argue over something like that. It was clear he was just making conversation. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Have dinner with me. I¡¯ve got a gift for you.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t really want to say yes, but going back meant risking Jensen dragging her off again¨Cmaybe to the station, or worse, to apologize to Sharon. She was done with that. And truthfully, this man¡­ she didn¡¯t mind him. 7:31 pm P Chapter 13 The First Time a Woman Hit Me +10 Free Coins Natalie was stunned to see Baron. He nodded toward the two cars. ¡°There was an ident, Come on, let¡¯s talk.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t want to get involved with him. She hadn¡¯t even been the one driving¨Cwhat was there to talk about? But she definitely didn¡¯t want to sit in Jensen¡¯s car anymore. She stepped out. The driver was still arguing with Baron¡¯s men. Before she could say a word, Baron grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside, pinning her against the car door. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± She was startled and caught off guard. Baron¡¯s cool fingers traced her cheek. He smiled. ¡°Ms. Summers, even if I helped you yesterday as a favor to Witch Doctor, shouldn¡¯t you at least thank me?¡± ¡°I already did,¡± she said coolly. ¡°With something pretty sincere, too. That was my first time, after all.¡± Newest update provided by F¦Énd£Îovel The calm way she said it sent blood rushing through Baron¡¯s veins. He grabbed her chin and tilted it up, forcing her to look at him. ¡°My first time too,¡± he murmured with a lowugh. Natalie blinked, stunned. That had been his first time? As intense and relentless as he¡¯d been? Liar. Still, she wasn¡¯t about to argue over something like that. It was clear he was just making conversation. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Have dinner with me. I¡¯ve got a gift for you.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t really want to say yes, but going back meant risking Jensen dragging her off again¡ªmaybe to the station, or worse, to apologize to Sharon. She was done with that. And truthfully, this man¡­ she didn¡¯t mind him. 7:31 pm PD Chapter 13 The First Time a Woman Hit Me +10 Free Coins ¡°Fine.¡± Baron smiled, satisfied. The tear¨Cshaped mole beneath his eye looked darker than ever¨Clike a drop of blood. Natalic quickly turned away and shoved down the memory of theirst encounter, climbing into the second car Baron had prepared. The driver remained distracted, still caught up in Baron¡¯s diversion. Natalie wasn¡¯t surprised¨CBaron was clearly well¨Cprepared. But she wasn¡¯t scared. She got in the car without hesitation. They headed straight to Ocean City¡¯s most upscale restaurant, Grand Restaurant. As soon as they sat down, Baron slid his phone across the table to her. ¡°Here. Your gift. Tell me if you like it.¡± HereSelf 14 7:31 pm PS Chapter 14 I Want to Do It Again Chapter 14 I Want to Do It Again Natalie looked at Baron¡¯s phone in confusion, then took it from him. On the screen was a livestream. +10 Free Coins In it, a mental patient was holding Sharon hostage at knifepoint. She was dressed in a hospital gown, and while doctors and nurses blocked the door, they couldn¡¯t remove him from the room. He was agitated, shouting furiously. ¡°Move! Get out of the way! She¡¯s my wife! I¡¯m taking my wife home!¡± Sharon was sobbing uncontrobly. ¡°I¡¯m not your wife! Help! Jensen, save me!¡± Her makeup was smeared all over her face, tears and snot streaming down as she wailed. Quincy had copsed on the floor in terror, pleading with the man not to hurt Sharon. But the more they spoke, the more unhinged the patient became. ¡°If you don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll die with my wife right here!¡± ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Sharon was truly terrified¨Cher voice cracked with hysteria. The tension in the hospital room skyrocketed. Natalie watched the livestream, then looked up at Baron. ¡°You did this?¡± Baron nodded lightly. ¡°I heard Jensen was forcing you to go to the station to delete the video, so I set up a little diversion. If he actually cared about you, he wouldn¡¯t have abandoned you at a crash site just to rush to Sharon.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t react. No expression at all. She set the phone down and stared coldly at Baron. ¡°Why are you helping me?¡± Baron suddenly braced both hands on the table and leaned in, stopping when there was barely an inch between their faces. His breath was hot against her skin, the air between them suddenly charged with something ambiguous. ¡°What if I said you slept with me and now I want to do it again?¡± 7:31pm P Chapter 141 Want to Do It Again 10 Free Coins Without warning. Natalie grabbed his cor, yanked him forward, and pressed her lips against his. Baron¡¯s eyes widened. Just as he started to respond, she shoved him away without a trace of warmth. ¡°Natalie!¡± His voice thundered with a mix of rage and shock. But Natalie just giggled. I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry too,¡± Baron muttered through clenched teeth. Damn woman, he thought. She¡¯s toying with me. But when he looked at her smiling face, he ultimately sat back down and pped his hands. Dishes began arriving immediately. Natalie watched the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes roll in like they were free. She was sure now¨CBaron¡¯s identity was far from ordinary. She cleared her throat and said, ¡°What happened yesterday¡­ I just wanted a one¨Cnight stand. I¡¯m not looking for anything more. So once we finish this meal, let¡¯s part ways.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes darkened. Though he reined in his aggression, Natalie still sensed it clearly. She chuckled. ¡°As you can see, I loved Jensen for five years. And in the end, I got tossed aside. Love is poison to me. I¡¯ve finally learned how to survive¨CI¡¯m not about to let myself fall back into that trap. I¡¯m sorry.¡± When she mentioned Jensen, Baron caught the flicker of pain in her eyes. His pale, slender fingers curled slightly. ¡°Fine,¡± he said calmly. ¡°Then let¡¯s skip the love talk. If you ever want someone to sleep with again, you cane to me first.¡± Natalie¡¯s lips twitched. That reckless stunt of hers would probably remain a one¨Ctime thing. All she wanted now was to leave this ce and live her life in peace. No need to exin that to Baron, though. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± She picked up her fork and started digging in. Baron didn¡¯t push her any further. He picked up his own fork and casually took a few bites¨Cbut even in that, Natalie noticed his refined table manners. He had to be from a powerful family. And Natalie had sworn never to get tangled up with men like that again. 141 Chapter 14 1 Want to Do It Again The vestream was still ying on the phone, +10 Free Coins Jensen had rushed back to the hospital, panting. When he saw the knife¨Cwielding man threatening Sharon, his eyes turned red. Tell me what you want. Whatever it is, I¡¯ll give it to you. Just don¡¯t hurt her!¡± Sharon saw him and screamed. Jensen¡® Help me! Please!¡± The patient grew agitated from her screams and began swinging the knife wildly. In that split second. Jensen lunged forward, yanked Sharon out of the way¨Cand got shed across the arm Blood sttered into the air. Jensen!¡± Sharon clung to his bleeding arm, sobbing uncontrobly. The attacker was quickly subdued by hospital staff and dragged away. It might have looked like a chaotic mess, but to Natalie, one thing was crystal clear: Jensen would risk his life for Sharon. Even the racing ident five years ago¡­ that had been because of Sharon too. Suddenly, it all felt meaningless. She closed the livestream and handed the phone back to Baron. ¡°Thanks for everything you did. But stay out of my business from now on. Jensen runs Ocean City. If you cross him, it won¡¯t end well for you.¡± She didn¡¯t want to drag Baron into her mess. Baron just scoffed. ¡°Jensen? He¡¯s not even in my league.¡± Natalie smiled faintly, saying nothing. She¡¯d noticed the scripture embroidered into the cuff of Baron¡¯s sleeve. ¡°You into scripture?¡± The question caught Baron off guard. He nced at his cuff, a strange emotion flickering in his eyes. ¡°Something like that.¡± Get full chapters from Find[F]ovel ¡°Let me design a pair of cufflinks for you, then. Consider it a thank¨Cyou gift.¡± His eyes lit up instantly. 340 Chapter 141 Want to Do It Again ¡°A custom design from Master Sunny herself?¡± Natalie wasn¡¯t expecting him to say her name outright. She blinked, then gave a small nod. ¡°Yes. Designed by me.¡± Then I¡¯ll treasure it.¡± +10 Free Coins Baron didn¡¯t even bother hiding his excitement. It made the air around them feel sticky with warmth. ¡°It won¡¯t take long,¡± Natalie said, smiling. ¡°Maybe about a week.¡± Seven days. That was how long she had left in Ocean City. She¡¯d give the gift before she left. Then they¡¯d go their separate ways. Baron didn¡¯t know that, though. All he knew was that he was getting a gift from her¨Cand he was thrilled. They finished their meal in a surprisingly good mood. Natalie insisted on paying, and Baron didn¡¯t argue. She also refused his offer to drive her home and returned to the vi on her own. Everything was already packed. But to design Baron¡¯s cufflinks, she had to pull out her sketch paper and pens again. Thinking of the pattern on his sleeve, she was struck by inspiration. She began sketching quickly. Time flew. She didn¡¯t notice how long she¡¯d been at it¨Cuntil the design wasplete. Only then did she realize¡­ There was someone else in the room. HereSelf 15 Chapter 15 She Wants to Destroy Natalie Chapter 15 She Wants to Destroy Natalie ¡°What are you doing here? Shouldn¡¯t you be at the hospital with your beloved Sharon?¡± Natalie¡¯s brows furrowed as soon as she saw Jensen enter. Fresh chapters posted on Find?Novel He looked pale¨Cclearly from blood loss. But she didn¡¯t feel a shred of pity. +10 Free Coins Jensen ignored the sting in her voice. His eyes were locked on the cufflink sketches on the table, lit with admiration. ¡°Natalie, you designed these for me, didn¡¯t you? For our wedding, right?¡± He was genuinely moved. The eagle totem on the cufflink¨Cwasn¡¯t that clearly meant to symbolize him? And beneath it, the red Buddhist scripture¨Cit was like Natalie, holding him up along with Luke Corp. As long as Natalie existed, Luke Corp could never be surpassed. She was his scripture, and he was the soaring eagle. They were made for each other. He reached to pick up the drawing, but Natalie snatche d it away first. ¡°What are you doing? nning to give my design to Sharon again and tell the world she made it?¡± Her voice was cold, cutting deep. Jensen¡¯s joy faltered. ¡°Natalie, your talent can¡¯t be hidden. So what if Sharon gets some of the credit and recognition?¡± ¡°So what? If she¡¯s so talented, let her design something herself. If she can¡¯t, she doesn¡¯t get to steal my work.¡± She stuffed the drawings away and turned into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. Jensen scowled. He was injured, but all he could think about was Natalie. Even when Sharon had begged him to stay at the hospital, he hadn¡¯t been able to do it. He¡¯d rushed here instead. He didn¡¯t even know why¨Conly that he had to see her. And this was the wee he got? Chapter 15 She Wants to Destroy Natalie +10 Free Coins Couldn¡¯t she see he was hurt? Frustration brewed in his chest. ¡°Natalie, make me something nourishing. A bowl of porridge, maybe.¡± Inside the bathroom, Natalie rolled her eyes. The audacity. After everything he¡¯d done to her, he still wanted her to make soup? She stayed silent. Jensen got up and knocked on the bathroom door. ¡°I¡¯m injured, and I haven¡¯t had lunch. Come make me some soup. I want the kind you used to make.¡± She nearly burst outughing in disbelief. Right on cue, Jensen¡¯s phone rang. Natalie recognized the ringtone¨Cand sneered. Sure enough, he answered and left in a hurry, not even bothering to close the door behind him. She stepped out of the bathroom and made a mental note to speed up her immigration application. She never wanted to see that man again. Still, thinking of Baron¡¯s cufflinks, she picked up her phone and called an old client. ¡®Borris, I need a favor. Can you source a specific material for me and help craft a pair of cufflinks based on the design I¡¯m about to send?¡± ¡®Of course.¡± Borris quickly epted the design. Meanwhile, Jensen sat in the car headed back to the hospital, his mind still fixated on Natalie¡¯s cufflink sketches. He tried to replicate them from memory, even writing ¡°Sunny¡± in the bottom right corner¡ªjust like Natalie always did. The more he looked at the copy, the more perfect it seemed. Before he realized it, the car had reached the hospital. Jensen slipped the sketch into his pocket. The moment he stepped into the room, Sharon flung herself into his arms. ¡°Jensen, where were you? I was so scared without you. That lunatic was in the hospital¡­ it was horrible!¡°, 7.31 pm PR Chapter 15 She Wants to Destroy Natalie Jensen thought of the mental patient too. +10 Free Coins He¡¯d looked into it¨Cthe man had a wife who¡¯d died in a car crashst year, someone about Sharon¡¯s height. Since then, he¡¯d fixated on women who resembled her. Jensen had already had him removed but hadn¡¯t gotten around to telling Sharon yet. He gently reassured her, ¡°It¡¯s fine. He¡¯s gone. He won¡¯te near you again.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without you.¡± She clung to his chest, but Jensen caught her wrists and pulled her hands away. ¡°Sharon, the doctor said no strenuous activity. Don¡¯t push it.¡± Her smile fell. ¡°But I want you¡­¡± ¡°When you¡¯re better. Be good.¡± He patted her head and turned to get her a ss of waterpletely unaware the sketch had slipped from his pocket. Sharon picked it up instinctively. ¡°Sunny¡± was signed in the corner. So this was Natalie¡¯s design? For a man¡¯s cufflinks? Unforgivable. Natalie was using her talent to cling to Jensen, wasn¡¯t she? Even after she and Jensen were officially married, Natalie still dared to design something for him? She¡¯s trying to steal my man. Not a chance. A cold glint shed in Sharon¡¯s eyes. If Natalie¡¯s hands were ruined, she wouldn¡¯t be able to design ever again. She wouldn¡¯t be able to seduce Jensen with her stupid talent. The thought struck Sharon like lightning¨Cand quickly took root, growing wild and untamed. Yes. She¡¯d destroy Natalie. If Sharon couldn¡¯t be Sunny, then Natalie couldn¡¯t either. Chapter 15 She Wants to Destroy Natalie She stuffed the design under her nket. When Jensen turned back with the water, Sharon greeted him with her usual sweet smile. +10 Free Cuts ¡°Jensen, you¡¯re always so busy. I get scared staying in the hospital alone. Can I have some bodyguards?¡± She tugged on his sleeve, acting coy. ¡°Sure,¡± Jensen replied without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll assign rk to you. He¡¯s got a few capable men under him. Just call him if anything happens.¡± ¡°Thank you, Jensen. You¡¯re the best.¡± Jensen stayed for a while before heading back to Luke Corp for work. Sharon, understanding and considerate as always, didn¡¯t try to stop him. But the moment he left, her expression darkened. She called rk into the room. Just as he stepped in- Sharon ripped her hospital gown and threw herself into his arms. rk was stunned, too shocked to move. Click¨CSharon snapped a photo of the two of them in apromising position. Then she shoved him away and said coldly. ¡°If you don¡¯t do exactly as I say, I¡¯ll send this to Mr. Luke and tell him you tried to assault me. What do you think he¡¯ll do to you?¡± rk¡¯s face went pale. He dropped to his knees. ¡°Ms. Summers¡­ what do you want me to do?¡± HereSelf 16 Chapter 16 She Wants to Ruin Natalie Sharon was quite pleased with how things were going. She smiled smugly. ¡°As long as you do what I say, I guarantee you¡¯ll be living the good life.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Summers. I await your orders.¡± rk lowered his eyes, hiding the disgust shing through them. +10 Free Coins He couldn¡¯t afford to offend Mr. Luke¨Cnot if he wanted to keep paying for his sister¡¯s treatment. Once Sharon had tidied her clothes, she spoke calmly. ¡°Have someone watch Natalie. The second she¡¯s alone¨Cgrab her. I want her right hand destroyed. She¡¯ll never pick up a pencil again.¡± rk¡¯s face went visibly pale. ¡°Ms. Summers¡­ maybe it¡¯s better to hire someone else for this. Natalie knows me. She¡¯ll recognize me.¡± Sharon sneered. ¡°Hire someone? Are you paying for it? You think Natalie deserves my money? That bitch deserves to be skinned alive. What, are you hesitating?¡± She waved her phone at him. rk instantly froze, like she¡¯d grabbed him by the throat. He couldn¡¯t say a word. But Sharon wasn¡¯t done. ¡°If Jensen finds out about this, I¡¯ve got a dozen ways to make hime after you. Don¡¯t believe me? Try it.¡± Cold sweat beaded on rk¡¯s forehead. His fists clenched, but he knew there was no room to argue. ¡°I understand, Ms. Summers.¡± ¡°Then go. Do what I said. And I expect results within days.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± rk left the hospital. Meanwhile, Baron was in excellent spirits after hearing that Natalie would personally design a pair of cufflinks for him. His mood had lightened so much, even his subordinates felt the change. And they were smart enough to notice. If a good future meant Baron and Natalie staying close, then they¡¯d fully support it. Just then, Baron received an international call. ¡°Mr. Baron, something¡¯s happened. You need to return immediately.¡± Whatever the caller said next made Baron¡¯s expression darken. A wave of lethal pressure rolled off him, suffocating the entire room. Chapter 16 She Wants to Ruin Natalie ¡°Phantom stays to watch over Natalie. Everyone else, pack up¨Cwe¡¯re returning to Murica.¡± With that, the room kicked into action. Phantom silently left Baron¡¯s side to fulfill the order. Natalie had no idea danger was approaching. +10 Free Coins She had finished packing all her belongings and even asked Renee for a foreign address to ship her things ahead of her departure. Just then, the immigration office called. There was a document that needed her signature in person. Natalie had already nned to push for an expedited process, so she grabbed her bag and headed out. rk saw her leave and immediately disguised himself as a taxi driver, hiding his face behind a mask. ¡°Need a ride, miss?¡± he asked, voice low and gravelly, standing by a regr¨Clooking cab. Natalie didn¡¯t think twice and nodded, getting into the car. ¡°Immigration office, please.¡± She lowered her head to check her phone. Renee had just sent her a file¡ªan additional contract for the Grant International Holdings training program. She was instructed to sign and fax it back as soon as possible. Natalie waspletely focused, unaware that the car had veered far off course. By the time she looked up from the document, the vehicle hade to a stop¨Cdeep in a remote mountainous area outside the city. rm bells exploded in her head. She reached for the door in a panic. But rk locked it instantly. ¡°Ms. Summers, don¡¯t struggle. I¡¯m not here to kill you. I just need something from you.¡± His voice was unnervingly low. Still, Natalie recognized him. Th?s chapter is updated by F¦ÉndNovel ¡°rk? Did Jensen send you? What does he want?!¡± rk flinched. He hadn¡¯t expected to be recognized¨Che¡¯d taken every precaution. But Natalie¡¯s words gave him a way out. ¡°Since you know Mr. Luke sent me,¡± rk said slowly, ¡°you should also know this¨Cwhatever I¡¯m about to do, you can¡¯t escape it. Mr. Luke runs Ocean City. So I suggest you cooperate.¡± Chapter 16 She Wants to Ruin Natalie Natalie¡¯s heart pounded. She sensed this wasn¡¯t going to end well¨Cbut still clung to a sliver of hope. ¡°What exactly did Jensen tell you to do?¡± +10 Free Coins rk thought of his sister, still waiting in the hospital for surgery. And he thought of Sharon, now legally tied to Mr. Luke. Natalie would never be Luke family¡¯s matriarch¨Cnot anymore. Natalie had no power, no family backing her. Sharon, on the other hand, was now the legal Mrs. Luke. If he had to offend someone, better it be Natalie. He took a deep breath. ¡°Miss Sharon is Mr. Luke¡¯s treasured one now. Her dream of bing Sunny was shattered by you. Mr. Luke couldn¡¯t stand seeing her hurt, so he ordered me to break your right hand.¡± His voice was eerily calm. ¡°You have my word¨Cyou¡¯ll survive. But once your right hand¡¯s gone, you¡¯ll never hold a pencil again.¡± 3/3 HereSelf 17 Chapter 17 He Wanted to Break Her Chapter 17 He Wanted to Break Her The color drained from Natalie¡¯s face. Jensen wanted to break her right hand? All because of Sharon? Because she refused to hand over the title of Sunny? +10 Free Coins She scrambled for her phone to call the police, but rk had already anticipated it. He snatched it from her hands and hurled it out the window. Then, from the glovepartment, he pulled out a hammer and advanced toward her. ¡°Miss Natalie, please don¡¯t me me.¡± ¡°No! Stay away! What you¡¯re doing is illegal!¡± She pounded at the car windows in panic, but the vehicle was built for security¨Cher bare hands were useless against the reinforced ss. She yanked at the door handle. Locked. Her only chance was the central control panel¨Cbut that was on the driver¡¯s side. She stared at rk, heart sinking into bottomless despair. Then she did something she never thought she¡¯d do. She begged. ¡°I¡¯m begging you. Please¡­ don¡¯t hurt my hand. I¡¯ll do anything. Whatever you want¨Cjust don¡¯t take this from me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Natalie,¡± rk murmured, expression grim. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have crossed Miss Sharon.¡± He raised the hammer and swung down at her hand. ¡°No!¡± Natalie jerked away just in time. rk missed, eyes shing red with frustration. ¡°If you keep resisting,¡± he growled, ¡°I can¡¯t promise you won¡¯t end up worse.¡± ¡°Help! Somebody help me!¡± Natalie screamed at the top of her lungs, even though she knew they were in the middle of nowhere. rk panicked. If anyone heard her¡­ He raised his hand and mmed it into her neck, cutting her off mid¨Cscream. 7:32 pm P Chapter 17 He Wanted to Break Her ¡¯??? +10 Free Coins Her world went ck. Even inconscious, her hand was still clinging to the door handle, fighting for a way rk exhaled shakily His hands trembled. He¡¯d never done something like this before. And though they were isted, he couldn¡¯t afford to take risks. He had to act fast. After ncing around to ensure they were alone, he gritted his teeth, grabbed Natalie¡¯s right hand, and raised the hammer The sound was sickening. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The searing pain ripped Natalie out of unconsciousness. rk didn¡¯t stop. He brought the hammer down again. And again. Blood sttered, bones cracked, her delicate hand twisted and split, shattered beyond recognition. Natalie¡¯s body convulsed, soaked in sweat, her screams fading into strangled gasps¨Cuntil the pain overtook her and she passed out again. Only when the damage wasplete did rk lower the hammer, panting. He couldn¡¯t risk her getting help too soon. If the injury was treated quickly, she might regain some function. So he dragged her limp body out of the car and dumped her in the dirt on the side of the road. Then he sped away, knuckles white on the wheel, eyes ssy with guilt. Natalie had always treated him kindly. She¡¯d even helped him financially over the years. But his sister¡­ she was dying in the ICU. Without money, she had no chance. And if he crossed Sharon now, Jensen would fire him without hesitation. He had no choice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ Miss Natalie¡­¡± Tears blurred his vision as he drove back toward the city. Behind him, Nataliey abandoned like a broken doll, her blood soaking into the earth. The crimson stain glistened under the harsh afternoon sun. After Baron left, Phantom immediately started tracking Natalie¡¯s phone location. Chapter 17 He Wanted to Break Her Baron had installed a tracker on her phone the night they slept together, just in case. +10 Free Coins When Phantom saw the location ping at the post office, she wasn¡¯t rmed. She headed out to follow it- but just then, her car tire blew out. Nanking it was nothing urgent. Phantom reced the tire calmly. Natalie couldn¡¯t be in danger at a post office. Bin when she finished the repair, she checked the tracker again¨Cand saw that Natalie¡¯s phone was now chowing a location in the outskirts. Outskirts! What would Natalie be doing there? A ripple of uncase passed through Phantom. She jumped into the car and sped toward the new Coordinates. But she was toote. ?????? ???? f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel The sight that greeted her knocked the breath from her lungs. Natalie¡¯s hand¨Cshattered, twisted, the bone visible through torn flesh¨Cwas coated in dried blood. Her body was limp, barely breathing, her skin flushed with fever. ¡°Miss Summers!¡± Phantom rushed forward, gathering Natalie into her arms. No response. She waspletely unconscious¨Cand likely burning with infection. Without wasting another second, Phantom ced her in the car and tore down the road toward the nearest hospital. All the way there, she dialed Baron over and over, but his line wouldn¡¯t connect. With no other option, she finally made a call she didn¡¯t want to. ¡°Mr. Luke,¡± she said, voice low and strained. ¡°I¡¯m just a passerby. I found Miss Natalie copsed on the roadside in the outskirts. It looks like someone smashed her hand. She¡¯s unconscious. I¡¯m taking her to the hospital now. Can youe?¡± HereSelf 18 Chapter 18 It Was Him 019 +10 Frew Coins The moment Jensen beard the voice on the other end of the line, the pen in his hand snapped in two What did you first say? Which hospital! F¡¯m on my way!¡± Phanom immediately gave him the name of the Central City Hospital. Jensen¡¯s heart raced. Why had Natalie gone to the outskirts? Who the hell had broken her hand? Wits she¡­ was she even okay? His mind swirled with question after question as he rushed out, driving straight to the hospital. By the time he arrived. Phantom was just walking through the emergency doors¨CNatalie cradled in her arms. The moment Jensen saw her, he staggered backward as if struck. Even without a doctor¡¯s report, he could tell- Her hand was destroyed. She¡¯d never draw again. It felt like needles stabbed into his chest. ¡°Find out who did this! I want their head!¡± He stepped forward, took Natalie from Phantom¡¯s arms, and immediately summoned the chief surgeon. Within minutes, she was rushed into the emergency room. The red light above the door glowed. Jensen stood outside, waiting¨Cburning. He nced at Phantom, eyes ice cold. ¡°How did you find her?¡± His tone was sharp, filled with suspicion. Phantom responded quickly. ¡°I was nning a weekend trip out of the city. I went scouting for a good spot and just¡­. came across her by ident.¡± Jensen didn¡¯t believe her. His stare deepened. ¡°You¡¯d better pray this has nothing to do with you. Or I¡¯ll make you wish you were For more chapters visit fin?novel dead.¡± Just then, his phone rang. 7:32 pm P Chapter 18 It Was Him +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Luke¡± one of his men reported, ¡°a kid nearby was flying a drone when it happened. The whole thing was recorded I¡¯m sending the footage now.¡± The call ended. A video file arrived. Jensen tapped it open. And what he saw made his eyes burn red. ¡°rk!¡± He couldn¡¯t believe it. The man who had shattered Natalie¡¯s hand¡­ was his own bodyguard. His most trusted man. His gaze turned to the emergency room door, glowing bright with urgency. Without hesitation, he barked into the phone, ¡°Bring rk to the back courtyard¨Cquietly.¡± Phantom had seen the footage too. So it was Jensen¡¯s own man who¡¯d done it? She needed to contact Baron¨Cimmediately. But his phone still wasn¡¯t connecting. What now? She had failed in her one job: protect Ms. Summers. She had no authority to mobilize Baron¡¯s forces here. Right now, Jensen¡¯s influence was her only lifeline for getting Natalie the care she needed. Desperately, she tried calling other lines, but no one responded. Meanwhile, in the back courtyard, Jensen stood like a storm waiting to break. rk had been brought in, tightly bound. Without a word, Jensen mmed his foot into rk¡¯s chest. ¡°You touched my woman? Are you out of your goddamn mind?! Do you know what Natalie means to me?!¡± He grabbed rk by the cor and punched him straight in the face. rk spat blood, barely registering the first blow before Jensen rained down another. It felt like death. And with his sister still in critical condition¡­ rk broke. ¡°Mr. Luke! I¨CI didn¡¯t want to! Miss Sharon made me do it!¡± Jensen froze, his fist hanging midair. 732 pm P. Chapter Is It Was Him rk sobbed through bloody lips. +10 Free Coins ¡°She tore her own clothes, took a photo of us together, said she¡¯d tell you I assaulted her if I didn¡¯t obey. I didn¡¯t have a choice! She said she wanted to destroy Miss Natalie¡¯s hand. If she couldn¡¯t be Sunny, then Natalie couldn¡¯t either! Please, Mr. Luke¨CI swear, I didn¡¯t want this!¡± Jensen¡¯s fist crashed into rk¡¯s face again. rk choked on blood, but didn¡¯t stop speaking. ¡°I¡­ I couldn¡¯t afford to lose this job. My sister¡¯s in the ICU. She needs money to stay alive¡­¡± He wept, slumped in the dirt, broken. Jensen staggered backward, then copsed to the ground, all his strength gone. The usual grace andposure of Ocean City¡¯s king was nowhere to be found. He sat there, dazed, hollow. Finally, he whispered to his men, ¡°Throw him in the basement. Make sure he doesn¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± rk, bloodied and limp, was dragged away. Jensen sat alone, burning with fury. His mind conjured Natalie¨Csitting at the window, sketching as sunlight poured across her, turning her gold. An angel in her own world. Then¡­ the image of the cufflinks she designed for him surfaced. And the weight of what had been lost mmed into him like a wave. HereSelf 19 Chapter 19 The Real Reason Chapter 19 The Real Reason +10 Free Coins She had been so full of ambition, so full of promise. That cufflink design held meaning and power. But now, if she could never pick up a pen again¡­ then what? Jensen instinctively reached for the sketch in his pocket, only to realize it was missing. His chest tightened. A sharp pang ran through him. A terrible thought came to him. He turned on his heel and rushed straight toward Sharon¡¯s hospital room. Inside, Sharon was tearing up the cufflink design with an expression twisted by rage. It was as if the paper in her hands wasn¡¯t a drawing, but Natalie herself. Jensen froze. His heart clenched tight. ¡°What are you doing?¡± His voice was cold, cutting through the room like a de. Sharon jolted. She hadn¡¯t expected him toe back so suddenly. Startled, she dropped the torn pieces immediately. Even though the sketch had been ripped into several pieces, Jensen still recognized what it was. The lines. The details. The shape. It was Natalie¡¯s design. She had taken it. She had destroyed it. And maybe that design¨Cthis very drawing¨Chad been the reason Natalie¡¯s hand was broken in the first ce. The thought hit him like a jolt of electricity. His vision reddened with fury. He stepped forward, grabbed Sharon by the throat, and shouted, ¡°Why did you have rk destroy her hand?! Do you even understand what a hand means to a designer? It¡¯s her second life!¡± Sharon had never seen Jensen like this. She couldn¡¯t breathe. She iled, her hands pping against his arms in desperation, and she sobbed through gasps for air. ¡°It¡¯s because she can design that you won¡¯t let her go, isn¡¯t it? Jensen, you promised me. You said you¡¯d stay with me. You said you¡¯d be a good husband until I died. And now you¡¯re strangling me over her? Don¡¯t forget¨Cyou have my rib in your body! I¡¯m dying anyway. Go ahead, choke me to death! Kill me if it¡¯ll make your precious Natalie feel better!¡± Her words struck Jensen hard. He pulled his hand away, releasing her. Sharon fell back onto the bed, gasping for breath, pale and trembling, but the look in her eyes was bitter and defiant. ¡°Yes. I told rk to ruin her hand! I couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She¡¯s taken everything from me¨Cfirst my parents, now you! And I¡¯ve got cancer. I¡¯m running out of time. I only asked for three months. Couldn¡¯t you give me that? If I hadn¡¯t given you that rib, my immune system wouldn¡¯t have copsed. I wouldn¡¯t have gotten sick. Jensen, you said you¡¯d take care of me. You said it!¡± Chapter 19 The Real Reason +10 Free Coins Jensen¡¯s expression was grim. His face was pale, eyes bloodshot. He took a step back and dropped into a chair. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. ¡°I never went back on my word. I married you. I stayed. Why did you have to hurt her?¡± ¡°She only lost a hand. I¡¯m about to lose my life. Isn¡¯t that worth it? One hand in exchange for your loyalty for the rest of your life? Shouldn¡¯t that be enough? I just wanted her hand. That¡¯s all. Now that it¡¯s done, we¡¯re even. Isn¡¯t that okay?¡± Her reasoning was cruel and absurd, but Jensen couldn¡¯t find a way to refute her. Seeing the hesitation in his eyes, Sharon softened her tone and let the tears flow again. ¡°Jensen, I swear. This was thest time. I won¡¯t do anything else to her, I promise. Don¡¯t be mad at me. Don¡¯t abandon me. I¡¯m really going to die soon. Can¡¯t you just¡­ love me a little longer?¡± Jensen closed his eyes. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll make this disappear. But you have to promise me¨Cthis is thest time. You¡¯re never toy a finger on Natalie again.¡± ¡°I promise. I won¡¯t go near her again. Not ever.¡± ¡°Get some rest. I¡¯m going to check on her.¡± Jensen stood and left the room without another word. The second the door closed behind him, Sharon¡¯s entire expression shifted. Gone was the soft, tearful face. Her eyes turned sharp, cruel, and filled with venom. There wasn¡¯t a trace of weakness left in her. When Jensen returned to the emergency room, Natalie¡¯s surgery had just ended. The doctor was pushing her out on a gurney. She was unconscious, pale, unmoving. Jensen hurried over. ¡°Doctor. Her hand¡­?¡± The doctor gave a weary sigh and shook his head. ¡°We managed to reconnect the bones, but it¡¯s impossible for her to draw again. The nerves are too damaged. And in cold or rainy weather, the pain will be severe. Mr. Luke, we did everything we could. From now on, she¡¯ll need proper rest and long¨Cterm care.¡± Jensen had suspected this oue. But hearing it confirmed shattered something inside him. Phantom stood off to the side, her expression cold. She had overheard enough earlier to know what had happened¨Cand who had caused it. She wanted to kill him where he stood. But she couldn¡¯t. Not yet. Chapter 19 The Real Reason ?????? ???? fin?novel Baron still hadn¡¯t answered his phone. His people were silent too. All of them unreachable. +10 Free Coins Panic churned in her chest. She pulled out her phone and sent a detailed message to Baron, praying he¡¯d see it soon. Meanwhile, Jensen turned to her and said, ¡°Thank you for getting her to the hospital. Luke Corp will send a payment to show our appreciation.¡± Phantom looked at him and said calmly, ¡°Mr. Luke, I don¡¯t have a job right now. And she¡¯s going to need care. Why don¡¯t you let me stay on as her private nurse? Just pay me well.¡± HereSelf 20 Chapter 20 The Breaking Point Phantom did het best toe off as someone desperate for money. +10 Free Coins Jensen thought of Natalie¡¯s personality and how furious she¡¯d be once she woke up and learned she could never hold a pen again. He knew he wasn¡¯t the right person to be around her now. Having someone else take care of her would probably be for the best. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll pay you triple. Just take good care of her.¡± Phantom quickly agreed. Natalie was pushed into her room. She woke up from the pain. Staring at the stark white ceiling, the sharp throb in her fingers brought all the memories flooding back. ¡°How¡¯s my hand? Can I still draw? Can I still hold a pen?¡± Natalie sat up with a jolt, grabbing Phantom¡¯s arm with her left hand, panic all over her face. Phantom looked at her but couldn¡¯t bring herself to speak. Just then, Jensen walked in. The look in Natalie¡¯s eyes turned ice¨Ccold the moment she saw him. She still remembered rk saying it was Jensen who had her right hand broken for Sharon¡¯s sake. How could he be so cruel? Even if he wanted to protect his crush, she had never tried topete. She had let go. All she wanted was to reim what had been rightfully hers¨Cwhat was wrong with that? Tears welled up in Natalie¡¯s eyes, though even she couldn¡¯t tell whether it was from pain or rage. ¡°Get out! Get the hell out!¡± She grabbed the pillow beside her and threw it at him. Jensen hade in holding pigeon soup, startled by her sudden outburst. He quickly handed the soup to Phantom, then stepped forward and pulled Natalie into his arms. ¡°Natalie, listen to me. Your hand¡­ it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll take care of you. I promise, whatever kind of life you had before, I¡¯ll give you better from now on. Please, don¡¯t get worked up. You¡¯ll hurt yourself.¡± Hearing him say that only made Natalie struggle harder. ¡°Jensen, let go of me! I must¡¯ve been blind to fall for someone like you! If you wanted to pamper Sharon, then go ahead. We could¡¯ve just broken up. But why¨Cwhy did you have to ruin my hand for her? You knew what it meant to me. You knew how much I loved designing. And now I can¡¯t do anything. Who the 7.32 pm P Chapter 20 The Breaking Point hell wants you to take care of me? Get out!¡± Her words hit Jensen hard He held her tighter, voice low and filled with guilt. +10 Free Coins ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. If you want to hit me, curse me, go ahead. Just don¡¯t hurt yourself. I mean it, Natalie¨CI¡® take care of you for the rest of your life.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it!¡± No matter how she struggled, she couldn¡¯t break free from his arms. She used to love how clean and fresh he smelled. But now she realized it was Sharon¡¯s perfume clinging to him. He wasn¡¯t the boy she had loved anymore. Natalie suddenly went quiet. Her voice was cold. ¡°I¡¯m calling the cops. I¡¯m pressing charges against Sharon. She needs to pay for what she did.¡± ¡°No!¡± Jensen released her all of a sudden. Seeing the cold hatred in her eyes, he started to panic. It felt like something was slipping away from him, something he couldn¡¯t hold onto no matter how hard he tried. He grabbed her uninjured arm, voice low and urgent. ¡°Natalie, you can¡¯t report Sharon. She has cancer. She¡¯s dying.¡± ¡°And she wants to drag me down with her? Did I give her cancer? Just because she¡¯s sick she gets a free pass to hurt people?¡± Natalie wasn¡¯t having it. Checktest chapters at FindN()vel Jensen saw how upset she was and knew that nothing he said would get through to her right now. He took a deep breath. ¡°Natalie, like I said, I¡¯ll take care of you. I don¡¯t care that you lost your hand. But I can¡¯t let you press charges against Sharon. You know how it is¨Cin Ocean City, if I say no, no one will take your case.¡± ¡°I hate you, Jensen!¡± She nearly ground her teeth to dust. Hot blood surged in her chest, but she forced it back down. 732 pm P Chapter 20 The Breaking Point It was like a wave of crushing despair wrapped itself around her, making it hard to breathe. ¡°Get out. I don¡¯t want to see you again.¡± Natalie- ¡°Get out!¡± +10 Free Coins She couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. A mouthful of blood burst from her lips as she fell into a violent coughing fit. Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Calm down. I¡¯ve already had rk arrested. He¡¯ll turn himself in and take responsibility. I¡¯ll make sure you get justice.¡± ¡°You know damn well rk was just a scapegoat. Sharon gave the order. The one who should be held ountable is her.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t show even a flicker of gratitude. Jensen¡¯s face darkened. He said each word slowly, with finality. ¡°rk was the one who hurt you. There is no one else behind it. Natalie, stop pushing this. As long as I¡¯m alive, no one will touch Sharon. Not even you.¡± That was the moment Natalie truly gave up. She was furious. She was heartbroken. She just wanted justice. But she also knew the truth¨CJensen was the sky in Ocean City. And she didn¡¯t have the power to break through the sky. 3/3 HereSelf 21 Chapter 21 Cornered in Silence ¡°Get out!¡± This time. Jensen didn¡¯t say another word. He turned around and walked out. Natalie cried silently until the weakness overtook her and she drifted off into unconsciousness. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find(?)ovel Phantom watched her suffer and med herself deeply. It was her fault for failing to protect Ms. Summers. 10 Free Coina She kept checking her phone, hoping Baron would reach out. But it was like he¡¯d vanishedpletely¨Cno calls, no messages, nothing. She couldn¡¯t reach him no matter how many times she tried. A gnawing sense of dread crept in. Could something have happened to Mr. Baron? Worry ate away at her, but all she could do was stay close and take care of Natalie. Natalie¡¯s condition was unstable. Her emotions were all over the ce, and she kept running a fever on and off. Jensen was afraid of upsetting her further, so he didn¡¯t dare show his face. Instead, he had to rely on Phantom for daily updates on her status. Five days passed in a blur. Natalie had been counting the days. Just two more, and she¡¯d receive her visa from immigration and finally leave this ce. She waited until Phantom went to wash the bedsheets, then quietly climbed out of bed. She needed to ask the doctor if she could be discharged early. She couldn¡¯t spend another second here. She had to leave Ocean City. Leave Jensen. Natalie walked down the hallway toward the attending physician¡¯s office, but just as she passed the half- open fire escape door, she froze. She heard Sharon¡¯s voice. ¡°I don¡¯t care what it takes. You need to give me a document saying the cancer has started spreading.¡± Natalie immediately stopped and held her breath, eavesdropping. The person she was speaking to sounded like a doctor. His voice was agitated. ¡°Ms. Summers, you don¡¯t have cancer. I¡¯ve already risked everything to forge your medical file. Now you want me to im your cancer is spreading? That¡¯s suicide! If the truthes out, Mr. Luke will have my head.¡± 7:33 pm P Chapter 21 Cornered in Silence *10 Free Coins ¡°Dr. Johnson Sharon said coldly. The moment you helped me fake those records five years ago, told Jensen I gave him one of my ribs to save his life, we were tied together. If he finds out we¡¯ve been lying all this time, do you think he¡¯ll let you off the hook!¡± Natalie¡¯s eyes widened. Five years ago, she had been the one who donated the rib to Jensen. How had it be Sharon? And the surgery had been done by the Witch Doctor himself. How could Jensen trust some regr physician¡¯s word over that? She clutched her abdomen, heart pounding. What had Sharon done while she was unconscious after surgery five years ago? Dr. Johnson let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Ms. Summers, I really can¡¯t forge documents saying the cancer¡¯s spreading. I need an actual cancer patient to swap data with, and we don¡¯t have one right now.¡± Just then, a young nurse spotted Natalie outside the door and called out. ¡°Which room are you from? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s out there?!¡± Sharon¡¯s voice barked out, furious. Natalie turned instinctively and tried to run, but Sharon had already shoved open the door and stormed OUL When she saw Natalie standing there, her eyes shed with murderous rage. ¡°How much did you hear?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything,¡± Natalie said quickly, stepping back, then spinning around to flee. Sharon shouted at the nurse behind her. ¡°Stop her! If you let her go, I¡¯ll make sure Jensen destroys your career!¡± The nurse knew who Sharon was. The threat alone made her freeze in terror, and she hurried to block Natalie¡¯s escape. Sharon turned back to Dr. Johnson. ¡°She definitely heard everything. If you want to stay alive, you¡¯ll help me get rid of her. Dead people don¡¯t tell secrets.¡± ¡°Killing someone is a crime!¡± Dr. Johnson was trembling with fear. Sharon just sneered. 7:33 pm P Chapter 24 Cornered in Silence ¡°If she lives, you die. Your choice.¡± +10 Free Coins With that, Sharon stepped forward and punched Natalie square in the face, knocking her unconscious. Dr. Johnson watched, panicked, but there was no turning back now. He rushed to grab a stretcher with the nurse¡¯s help, lifted Natalie onto it, covered her with a white sheet, and pushed the cart toward the morgue. ¡°I¡¯ll take her to the morgue. It¡¯s cold enough in there to freeze her to death. By the time someone finds her, no one will trace it back to us.¡± He was about to leave when Sharon stopped him. ¡°No. I have a better idea. Take her to the abandoned warehouse on the back hill. Inject her with a paralyzer -something that keeps her conscious but unable to move. I¡¯ll handle the rest. I promise no one will suspect a thing.¡± Dr. Johnson agreed immediately. Sharon disappeared from sight. Dr. Johnson wheeled the unconscious Natalie into the elevator. Meanwhile, Phantom had just returned from theundry room and was horrified to find the hospital bed empty. She rushed out in search and just barely missed crossing paths with Dr. Johnson as he pushed the stretcher away. He quickly slipped into the elevator with Natalie in tow while Phantom ran straight to the security room. But the surveince system was down. HereSelf 22 apter 22 Fire in the Bones Chapter 22 Fire in the Bones She immediately tried calling Baron again, but the call still wouldn¡¯t go Panicked, Phantom fired off a message. through. ¡°Mr. Baron, Ms. Summers is missing. We¡¯ve lost contact with our people too. What do we do?¡± The message vanished into the void with no response. Frustrated and desperate, Phantom hurried back to call Jensen. Just then, Jensen¡¯s phone lit up with an unfamiliar number. +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Luke,¡± a distorted voice said, ¡°I¡¯ve got your woman. If you want her alive, bring fifty million to the abandoned warehouse behind the hospital. Don¡¯t bete, or I can¡¯t guarantee what might happen.¡± The voice changer masked the caller¡¯s identity, but the moment the words ended, Sharon¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Jensen, help me!¡± ¡°Sharon!¡± Th?s chapter is updated by F¦Énd£Îovel Jensen sprang to his feet and immediately ordered his men to prepare the money. He shouted into the phone, ¡°If youy one finger on her, I swear I¡¯ll make you wish you were never born!¡± But the line went dead. Jensen rushed out. As he ran, his phone rang again. Seeing Phantom¡¯s name sh on the screen, he dismissed the call without a second thought. Natalie was just recovering. She wasn¡¯t in any real danger. But Sharon had been kidnapped. Her health was fragile¨Cwhat if the shock made things worse? Without hesitation, Jensen chose Sharon. By the time he reached the warehouse behind the hospital, Sharon whispered under her breath, ¡°Jensen¡¯s here. Light it up.¡± One of the men nearby hesitated. ¡°If we set it on fire, you¡¯ll get hurt too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Sharon said confidently. ¡°Jensen won¡¯t let anything happen to me. What about Natalie? Is she hidden?¡± She nced toward the shadows behind her. There, Natalie had just woken up. But the drug in her system left her paralyzed and mute. All she could do was watch, wide¨Ceyed, as Sharon orchestrated everything. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± one of the men said. ¡°Mr. Luke only sees you. As soon as the fire starts, he¡¯ll run straight to 7:33 pm PD Chapter 22 Fire in the Bones +10 Free Coins you. He won¡¯t even notice Natalie¡¯s here. By the time he realizes she¡¯s missing, she¡¯ll already be ashes. No one will ever fight you for him again¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Sharon said with a satisfied smile. She turned her gaze toward Natalie. ¡°Natalie, you¡¯re finally going to die. But before that, let me give you a good show.¡± Natalic panicked, heart pounding, but her limbs refused to move. What could she do? Was she really going to die here? Surely Phantom had realized by now that she was gone. Jensen must know she¡¯s missing. If he still held even a shred of care for her, he would have people looking by now. But seeing the smug confidence in Sharon¡¯s face, Natalie felt everyst hope drain away. Someone lit the pile of mmable materials. In an instant, mes shot up. Thick smoke filled the air, making Sharon cough uncontrobly. Natalie, too, was choked by the smoke, but she couldn¡¯t even cry out. When Jensen saw the building aze, he went wild, kicking open the door to the warehouse. ¡°Sharon! Where are you?!¡± ¡°Jensen, help me! Cough¡ªcough!¡± Sharon called out between coughs, her voice wavering dramatically. Jensen saw her tied to a chair and rushed over to untie her. He lifted her into his arms and bolted for the exit. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯ve got you.¡± His entire world was Sharon. He didn¡¯t spare a single nce at anything else. Natalie used every ounce of strength she had to make the smallest noise she could. Jensen paused, turning slightly. ¡°What was that?¡± Just then, Sharon whimpered, ¡°Jensen, it hurts.¡± ¡°Hold on. I¡¯m getting you out now.¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Jensen carried Sharon out of the inferno. 7:33 pm PS Chapter 29 Fire in the Bones Natalie could only watch as he vanished from sight. The temperature rose rapidly. She could smell her own skin beginning to burn. A single tear slipped down her cheek. Jensen falling in love with you was my death sentence. +10 Free Coins Her entire body ached as fire bit into her skin. Through the haze of pain, onest image surfaced in her mind Baron. She still owed him that cufflink design. It felt like she¡¯d never be able to deliver it now. I¡¯m sorry.. Just as her consciousness began to slip away, Sharon suddenly screamed, ¡°Jensen! Natalie¡¯s still inside! She¡¯s in there!¡± ¡°What did you say?!¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes turned blood red in an instant. At that moment, the warehouse roof, weakened by the mes, gave out with a deafening crash. The building was swallowed in fire. ¡°No!¡± Jensen¡¯s cry ripped through the air as he hurled himself back into the ze. HereSelf 23 Chapter 23 The Firestorm Choice Chapter 23 The Firestorm Choice ¡°Mr. Luke! Don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Jensen!¡± Everyone tried to hold Jensen back. Even Sharon clung to his clothes, refusing to let him go. How could this be happening? Wasn¡¯t she the one Jensen loved most? +10 Free Coins He had always been willing to sacrifice anything for her. Even when she smashed Natalie¡¯s hand, he hadn¡¯t med her. That was a designer¡¯s second life ¨C her hands. To make Sharon smile, he¡¯d let go of even Natalie¡¯s future. So how could he now be so desperate to charge into a fire just to save Natalie? The jealousy wed at Sharon, nearly driving her insane. ¡°Jensen, the fire is too big! You¡¯ll die if you go in!¡± ¡°Let go of me! Let go!¡± As Jensen stared into the roaring mes, scenes from thest five years shed through his mind every moment he and Natalie had shared. When he was bedridden from his injuries, it was Natalie who cared for him day and night. She stayed by his side through every painful rehab session, holding him up even when he copsed again and again. Her delicate frame had carried his broken body farther than he ever could alone. She encouraged him. Supported him. When his own family gave up on him ¨C when they refused to pay for more treatment ¨C it was Natalie who sold her pendant, the only clue she had to find her birth family, just to cover his hospital bill. And when he finally recovered, it was Natalie who worked herself to the bone, designing new products so he could secure his ce in Luke Corp. So many nights, she stayed up drawing while he slept beside her, and when he woke, she was still at her desk. He had promised her that once he became head of thepany, once he ruled Ocean City, he¡¯d marry her with all the pomp and glory she deserved. But he hadn¡¯t married her yet. She couldn¡¯t die. Jensen broke free from the people restraining him. He didn¡¯t even nce at Sharon as she tumbled to the ground from the force of his shove. He plunged straight toward the fire. ¡°Natalie! Don¡¯t be scared! I¡¯ming for you!¡± 1/3 +10 Free Coins 7:58 pm P Chapter 23 The Firestorm Choice His chest burned with emotion. His eyes blurred. But the heat was overwhelming. Just getting close forced him to stumble back from the searing wave of mes. ¡°No! You can¡¯t die! Natalie, you can¡¯t die!¡± Gritting his teeth, Jensen took a deep breath and charged straight in. ¡°Mr. Luke!¡± ¡°Jensen! Stop him!¡± Sharon had never seen Jensen like this utterly unhinged. Was he out of his mind? That fire would kill him! Was he really willing to die for Natalie? ¨C Then what had all his tenderness to her meant? Sharon¡¯s eyes burned red with rage. ¡°Natalie, you should just die already!¡± She cursed through gritted teeth but still shouted for the others to drag Jensen back. She was Mrs. Luke now. Jensen couldn¡¯t die. If he did, what use would her title be? As Jensen ran into the fire, the mes scorched his skin. The heat made him cry out in pain. Then a section of the ceiling copsed. ¡°Mr. Luke, watch out!¡± A bodyguard yanked him back just in time. The beam crashed down, cutting off the path ahead. Smoke filled their lungs. Everyone was coughing uncontrobly. Still, Jensen pushed forward like a madman. With no other option, the bodyguard struck Jensen hard across the neck. As his consciousness slipped away, Jensen saw a woman writhing in the mes. 7:58 pm P Chapter 23 The Firestorm Choice The fire danced across her body. She was struggling, silently. That was Natalie. ¡°Natalie!¡± He let out a roar before coughing up blood. His vision went ck, and he passed out. The bodyguard didn¡¯t dare hesitate. He hoisted Jensen onto his back and ran. ¡°Quick! Get him to the hospital!¡± 10 Free Cons Sharon saw Jensen covered in burns and immediately ordered her people to drive him to the hospital themselves. Waiting for an ambnce would waste too much time. Only after Jensen was safely evacuated did someone finally think to call the fire department. No one spared a thought for Natalie. But just then, a ck shadow darted into the mes. ¡°Mr. Baron¡­¡± The cries from behind went ignored. The wet nket he wore barely held back the heat, but he didn¡¯t hesitate. Natalie was in agony. Even the worst beatings from Sharon five years ago hadn¡¯te close to this pain. Not even the saltwater being poured over her wounds had hurt like this. ?????? ???? She could smell her own skin burning. She couldn¡¯t move. She couldn¡¯t scream. The smoke filled her lungs. Even coughing made no sound. Her tears evaporated almost instantly. She was fully conscious. She knew she was going to die. But why hadn¡¯t she passed out yet? Why was she still awake? HereSelf 24 Chapter 24 Fire and Blood Chapter 24 Fire and Blood It hurt so much. +10 Free Coins The burning heat seared her skin until she bit through her own lip, crushed her mrs, and still couldn¡¯t bear it. In that moment, she would have rather died instantly than suffer this slow, torturous death by fire. As Natalie¡¯s life shed before her eyes- twenty¨Cthree years of helplessness and frustration she could only close them with a bitter heart, powerless to change her fate. Then, from somewhere within the inferno, a familiar voice rang out. ¡°Natalie! Can you hear me? Where are you?¡± ¡°Natalie! You slept with me, you can¡¯t just walk away! Do you hear me?!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even told you my name yet! Natalie!¡± Baron¡¯s voice hit her ears like a hallucination. Was she imagining things? She had loved Jensen for five years, given him everything she had, and yet he never came to save her. How could a man she¡¯d only spent one night with risk death toe charging through the mes? She thought maybe she¡¯d lost her mind. Baron¡¯s face shed through her thoughts ¨C that kind, stubborn man ¨C and she realized she still didn¡¯t know his name. Maybe that was for the best. If she died, at least she wouldn¡¯t leave any burdens behind. It hurts so much¡­ She thought she¡¯d finally regained her voice, but it was already toote to cry out for help. Just when she believed death was certain, a tall figure appeared in the ze before her. ¡°Natalie, I¡¯m here!¡± Baron dropped to his knees, throwing a soaked nket and a canister of water over her. ¡°Hold this. I¡¯m getting you out.¡± As the wet fabric wrapped around her burned skin, Natalie let out a muffled cry. Baron¡¯s bloodshot eyes filled with pain, but his voice stayed gentle. ¡°Hang in there. I can¡¯t carry you otherwise.¡± Suddenly, a hand grabbed his ankle from behind. 758 pm Chapter 24 Fire and Blood +10 Free Coins He was about to kick it away when a faint voice said, ¡°Mr. Baron.. it¡¯s Phantom. My leg¡¯s broken. I can¡¯t move. My only regret¡­ is not protecting Ms. Natalic.¡± She coughed, her words broken and weak. ¡°This fire¡­ was no ident. Sharon nned it all. She set in just to kill Ms. Summers. I¡­ I have a portable fire extinguisher. Just go.¡± Baron hesitated. He¡¯d been in such a rush that he forgot to bring an extinguisher. Hearing Phantom had one was a godsend. He crouched and took it from her side. Phantom was a mess her body broken, her leg crushed. There was no way he could carry both of them out. And he resented her for failing Natalie.. She failed her duty. Death is the price. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of your family. Rest easy.¡± The words were calm, almost cold. Phantom managed a faint smile before closing her ey for good. Her breathing stopped. The fire roared louder, hotter. Baron wasted no more time. He activated the extinguisher and charged through the mes with Natalie in his arms. Outside, people rushed toward him. ¡°Mr. Baron! You¡¯re hurt! Why did you go ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± in?¡± He was burned, filthy, bleeding ¨C but the moment he spoke, the aura ofmand returned. He was still their king. ¡°Call our people. Prep an OR. I¡¯m performing the surgery myself.¡± The crowd panicked. ¡°Mr. Baron, you barely escaped from Murica with your life. You can¡¯t risk any more injuries. If you operate ¡°If I can¡¯t save her, then I have no business calling myself Witch Doctor. And if she dies¡­. the rest of the world will die with her.¡± Baron turned, carrying Natalie toward the waiting chopper. 273 7:50 pm Chapter 24 Fire and Blood His footsteps left a trail of blood. Moments after their departure, the fire trucks finally arrived. ¡°Quick! Put it out!¡± With professional help, the fire was soon under control. But as they cleared the ruins, firefighters discovered a badly charred female body. Meanwhile, Jensen woke up. His eyes flew open, disoriented. +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Luke, how are you feeling?¡± a nurse asked quickly. Sharon rushed over as soon as she saw he was awake. ¡°Jensen, are you okay?¡± Updates are released by FindN()vel Her face was filthy, her makeup ruined by tears, hair tangled and full of ash. She looked like a wreck. But Jensen¡¯s mind went back to the fire. ¡°Natalie? Did you save her?¡± He seized Sharon¡¯s wrist in a vice grip. She cried out in pain. 7:59 pm HereSelf 25 Chapter 25 Dead or Not Chapter 25 Dead or Not ¡°Jensen, you¡¯re hurting me.¡± ¡°I asked you ¨C where is Natalie?¡± +10 Free Coins There wasn¡¯t a shred of tenderness left in Jensen¡¯s voice. He stared at Sharon like she was a stranger. Just then, one of his men ran in, visibly tense. ¡°Mr. Luke, the fire¡¯s been put out. But¡­ Ms. Natalie didn¡¯t make it. The body¡¯s at the ruins. The fire department wants to know if we¡¯ll be iming the remains.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± A buzzing noise filled Jensen¡¯s head. He heard every word, but somehow, none of them made sense. Natalie didn¡¯t make it? ¡°You¡¯re lying! There¡¯s no way she¡¯s dead! She promised to marry me! I haven¡¯t even proposed yet, haven¡¯t given her the grand wedding I swore I would. I said I¡¯d take her to see the whole world. None of that¡¯s happened! How can she be dead?!¡± He shook his head over and over, but his bloodshot eyes brimmed with hot tears, swelling with grief. His chest hurt. Badly. Why did it hurt so much? It felt like someone had torn his heart straight out of his body. Jensen stumbled to his feet, only for Sharon to throw herself in front of him. ¡°Jensen, what are you doing? You¡¯ve got burns all over! You need to stay in the hospital and recover properly!¡± ¡°Get out of my way.¡± His voice was cold hollow. Sharon couldn¡¯t stand seeing him like this. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?! Natalie¡¯s dead! She was burned alive in that fire! You¡¯re the president of ¨C don¡¯t you get it?¡± Luke Corp! You have responsibilities ¡°I told you to get out of my way!¡± Jensen snapped like a lion driven into a corner, shoving Sharon to the ground without even looking at her. Then he bolted out of the room. No! He refused to believe Natalie was dead! 18 7:59 pm P Chapter 25 Dead or Not Chapters first released on find?novel She couldn¡¯t be! +10 Free Coins All their memories came flooding back herughter, her temper, the tears she shed when he was in pain. Every memory was a dull de, sawing through his soul. He didn¡¯t care about traffic lights. He floored the gas pedal, speeding toward the smoldering ruins of the warehouse. The fire department was finishing up when he arrived. ¡°Mr. Luke, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the body?¡± Each word scraped his throat like ss. The firefighters looked at his scorched skin and understood immediately. ¡°Over there.¡± Jensen stumbled toward the scene. A coroner was examining the remains. ¡°Female. Age approximately twenty to twenty¨Cfour. Right hand shows evidence of a healed fracture. Likely sustained a serious injury in the past.¡± The clinical words hit Jensen like a hammer, knocking the air out of his lungs. He copsed on the ground. Twenty¨Cfour years old¡­ A broken right hand¡­ Who else could it be? ¡°No! No way! She¡¯s not dead!¡± Jensen charged forward, clutching the charred remains in his arms. ¡°Mr. Luke, please be careful. The remains are extremely fragile due to the fire.¡± The coroner frowned, irritated by the sudden interference. There was still so much work to do. But Jensen didn¡¯t hear a word. He held what was left of her tightly, and the tears finally fell. ¡°Natalie¡­ Ah Ning¡­¡± His voice cracked as he called out, but the only answer was silence. Sharon arrived with her bodyguards and was greeted by the heartbreaking sight. She nearly shattered a mr from clenching her teeth. ¡°What are you all waiting for?! Get Mr. Luke off her right now!¡± pm Chapter 25 Dead or Not +10 Free Coing The bodyguards hesitated. They knew she and Jensen were legally married now house. They couldn¡¯t disobey her. she was thedy of the They stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Luke, please take care of yourself. Ms. Natalic is gone. Let her rest in peace ¡°Get away! Get out of here!¡± Jensen snarled like a madman, shoving everyone back. Just then, his phone rang. He ignored it, too consumed by grief but the damn thing kept ringing, again and again, until his head throbbed from the noise. With a growl, he pulled it out to shut it off ¨C and froze when he saw the caller ID. It was the immigration office. Why were they calling him? He stared, confused, but had no interest in answering. He silenced the call and gently whispered to the corpse in his arms. ¡°Natalie¡­ I¡¯m taking you home.¡± The sight of him ¨C wild, wounded, and delusional made Sharon¡¯s stomach churn. She hadn¡¯t orchestrated Natalie¡¯s fiery death just so Jensen could weep over her ashes. ¡°What are you all staring at?! Mr. Luke is injured and needs rest. He can¡¯t handle this much stress! Get him back to the hospital now!¡± Her shrill voice cut through the air. But the bodyguards hesitated. ¡°Ms. Summers¡­ Mr. Luke¡¯s holding Ms. Natalie¡¯s remains. We can¡¯t separate them.¡± HereSelf 26 Chapter 26 Witch Doctor¡¯s Hands ¡°From now on, call me Mrs. Luke. Jensen and I are legally married. I¡¯m the mistress of the Luke family.¡± Sharon didn¡¯t bother pretending anymore. She¡¯d promised Jensen she wouldn¡¯t go public with their marriage just to keep it hidden from Natalie. But now that Natalie was dead, she could finally bask in the sunlight with no shame. The bodyguards froze for a second. Seeing how dazed Jensen looked, they quickly snapped to attention. ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± Sharon smiled, satisfied. ¡°Knock Mr. Luke out and get him to the hospital. The president of Luke Corp can¡¯t be seen in public like a lunatic.¡± The moment she said that, the bodyguards understood what needed to be done. They stepped forward, still trying to reason with Jensen. ¡°Mr. Luke, Ms. Natalie is gone. Please, let her rest in peace.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Jensen¡¯s bloodshot eyes were wild with grief. His face had gone pale, and a smear of blood dripped from the corner of his lips. He was like a bow drawn far past its limit ready to snap. ¨C Sharon gave a signal. The bodyguards didn¡¯t hesitate anymore. One of them struck Jensen on the back of the neck, knocking him out cold. Carefully, they lifted him into the car. The remains he¡¯d been clutching slipped from his arms and hit the ground, bones cracking and shattering. The coroner scowled. ¡°We haven¡¯t done a DNA test yet. How am I supposed to file my report if you¡¯ve already moved the body?¡± ¡°No need. She was the Summers family¡¯s foster daughter, Natalie. I was there when the fire started. You saw how badly Jensen was injured trying to save her. We called the cops ¨C it¡¯s not our fault you got here sote. Now that my sister¡¯s dead, I won¡¯t make a fuss. Take this as a fire caused by faulty wiring and leave it at that.¡± The coroner was stunned. ¡°Ma¡¯am, this isn¡¯t something you can just dere and be done with.¡± ¡°What? Are you saying the Luke family doesn¡¯t carry weight in Ocean City anymore? Or do you need a new job?¡± Sharon invoked the Luke family name like a hammer. The coroner swallowed his protests. In Ocean City, the Luke family were practically royalty. With Jensen incapacitated and Sharon legally his wife, she spoke on their behalf and she was not someone he could afford to cross. Sharon basked in the power. ¨C This was the life she¡¯d always wanted. ¨C Born to a wealthy family even if she¡¯d been switched at birth for eighteen years ¨C she¡¯d finally found her ce. With her elite bloodline, and now the title of Mrs. Luke, everything was falling into ce. Once Jensen recovered, he¡¯d go back to doting on her. After all, Natalie was dead, and she was the one still standing. She didn¡¯t believe she could lose to a corpse. With a coldugh, she said, ¡°Clean up the scene. Cremate Natalie¡¯s remains. Bury her somewhere nearby. She was only the Summers family¡¯s foster daughter. She doesn¡¯t belong in the family¡¯s ancestral tomb.¡± And with that, Sharon left. The bodyguards followed her orders to the letter. The remains were gathered and sent to the nearest crematorium. A small urn was quietly buried in a nearby cemetery. If Sharon had her way, she would¡¯ve left the body out in the open to be picked clean by wild dogs. But she knew if she went that far, Jensen would kill her. ¨C She had clearly underestimated how much Natalie meant to him and how deeply her death had shaken him. Meanwhile, in Murica- Baron flew Natalie back to his territory by helicopter. Along the way, he kept her alive with oxygen and emergency equipment. The moment theynded, he carried her straight into surgery. As the operating room lights came on, a crowd burst into the hallway. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Baron?!¡± The man at the front was radiating fury. The people around him trembled in fear. ¡°Finn, Mr. Baron¡¯s in the OR performing surgery.¡± The moment he heard that, Finn exploded. ¡°You people just let him do whatever the hell he wants?! Don¡¯t you know how badly he¡¯s injured?! He¡¯s a patient, not a damn surgeon right now!¡± He shoved aside the man who¡¯d answered him and stormed toward the operating room. ¡°Baron, get your ass out here! I didn¡¯t drag you out of a pile of corpses just so you could die on an operating table! Get out here now!¡± He raised a hand to pound on the door, but a calm, cool woman stepped in front of him. ¡°Finn, you know Mr. Baron¡¯s rules. Once he¡¯s inside, he¡¯s the Witch Doctor. If you interrupt his surgery, how many heads do you think you¡¯ve got to spare?¡± ¡°Shauna, save me the speech! I know damn well he¡¯s hurt all over. If he doesn¡¯t treat those injuries, he¡¯s let hime out going to die! And if handing him my head is what it takes to get him to stop, then fine here and cut it off!¡± Finn¡¯s voice cracked, his eyes brimming with tears. Shauna¡¯s eyes welled up too. ¨C ¡°Finn, we¡¯ve been with Mr. Baron for years. No one knows him better than we do. He¡¯s always valued his life more than anything. And now, he¡¯s throwing all of that aside to save the woman in that room. That should tell you everything. Have you ever seen Mr. Baron care about anyone¡¯s life before? This is the first time he¡¯s saved someone without demanding anything in return. The first time he¡¯s acted like¡­ a man with a heart.¡± 3/3 This update is avable on Find?Novel HereSelf 27 Chapter 27 Bleeding Hands, Burning Heart Shauna¡¯s words stopped Finn¡¯s fist midair. He never did knock on the operating room door. ¡°But what about Mr. Baron? If his wounds aren¡¯t treated soon, he might¡­¡± His voice cracked. He couldn¡¯t finish. He dropped into a crouch and buried his head in his hands, shoulders trembling. Shauna¡¯s tears silently slid down her cheeks. But she knew better than anyone ¨C once Mr. Baron made a decision, no one could change it. Inside the OR, Baron stared at the scorched, barely recognizable body lying on the table. His brows were drawn tight in a deep, pained crease. This was going to be a major operation. With burns this severe, she¡¯d need skin grafts for sure ¨C but the priority now was saving her life. He started up the diagnostic equipment to run a full-body scan. But suddenly, a cough racked his chest. A mouthful of blood spilled violently from his lips. He dropped to one knee, gasping, eyes darkening. The wounds all over his body seemed to re at once, hot and throbbing, blood seeping freely. Baron nced down at the growing pool beneath him and let out a bitter chuckle. Under the sterile re of the surgicalmp, that red mole under his eye gleamed like something cursed, something wicked. ¡°Natalie, if I¡¯d known five yearster I¡¯d be tangled up with you like this, I never would¡¯ve saved Jensen for you back then ¨C even if you were dying right in front of me.¡± ¡°And now I¡¯m gambling my life. If you dare die on me again, I swear I¡¯ll drag you back from the afterlife myself. Do you hear me?¡± She didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t react. Gave him nothing. Baron exhaled slowly and forced himself to stand again. Reaching down, he eyed her bald, burned scalp and clicked his tongue. ¡°You look awful.¡± He walked over to a nearby drawer and pulled out a small, ubeled vial. Tapping a single pill into his palm, he forced it between her lips. ¡°This is one of my lifesaving forms. Even if you¡¯ve only got one breath left, I¡¯ll drag you back with it. Natalie, I¡¯m about to fight death itself for you. If you still have a shred of hate left, if you still want revenge ¨C then don¡¯t you dare give up.¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, Natalie¡¯s finger twitched. She didn¡¯t open her eyes. Her breathing was still faint barely there. But that tiny movement made ¨C Baron break into a smile. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, ¡°If you survive this, I¡¯ll be your shield. No terms, no conditions. I¡¯ll back you, no matter what.¡± A tear slipped down the corner of Natalie¡¯s eye. The heart monitor¡¯s pitch spiked sharply. Baron¡¯s expression shifted. < 5 She wanted to live. And if she wanted to live, he¡¯d make sure she did ¨C no matter how brutal the surgery would be. But he was running on fumes. His stamina was nearly gone. He wasn¡¯t sure he couldst. His gaze slid over to a bottle on the shelf. ¨C It was histest stimnt ¡ª a form that could ramp up mental rity and endurance in minutes. But the side effects were harsh. Especially on a body as injured as his. He hesitated for a single second. This text is hosted at f?ndnovel Then his eyes dropped to the woman on the table. Without another thought, Baron ripped open the buttons of his shirt. The metal ttered to the floor. His bare chest rose and fell with each shaky breath. His fingers brushed over the old cross-shaped scar carved into his skin, his gaze dark and unreadable. ¡°If I fail to save you, I¡¯ll stitch your ashes into this scar. And I¡¯ll avenge you with my own two hands.¡± With the blood-red mole under his eye and that wild gleam in his gaze, he looked every bit like a man possessed. He grabbed the stimnt, downed it in one gulp, and felt the effects almost instantly ¨C his body surged with energy. Without wasting another second, he picked up his custom scalpel and began the surgery. Natalie didn¡¯t know where she was. Her entire body ached. Everything burned. Somewhere in the haze, someone was talking nonstop in her ear. So noisy. She wanted to tell them to shut up, but she didn¡¯t have the strength. How did I end up like this? I never did anything wicked in my life. If anything, the worst thing I ever did was rob Baron of his purity¡­ but even that was consensual, wasn¡¯t it? She¡¯d grown up the proper way ¨C quiet, obedient, polite. But after the mistake at birth, she¡¯d spent every day since eighteen enduring the beatings and torture of the Summers women. She thought she¡¯d die at Sharon¡¯s hands. But then she met Jensen. He had be her salvation. Her sunlight. To repay the life debt she owed him, she risked everything to beg the Witch Doctor to save Jensen when he was on the brink of death. After he recovered, he treated her like a princess ¨C said he¡¯d pluck the moon for her if she wanted it. She truly believed that was love. HereSelf 28 Chapter 28 Ashes and Regret That innocent, yearning heart of a girl had once beat only for Jensen. Five years of sweet memories dissolved like soap bubbles. When Sharon and Jensen registered their marriage, Natalie finally realized just how much of a fool she¡¯d been all along. Follow current nov?ls on FindN0vel She had wanted to walk away from them, start fresh, rebuild her own life. So why? Why did she still have to endure Jensen¡¯s betrayal? Why did Sharon keep hounding her? In the end, she even died in that fire. The way the mes scorched her flesh the pain was unbearable. She had thought that even if love had faded, five years of being together would at least earn her a little dignity. But in the end? Why didn¡¯t they leave her even that? ¡°Jensen¡­¡± Natalie murmured through gritted teeth. If I could go back in time, I would¡¯ve rather died in the Summers¡¯ backyard than followed you. I would never have fallen in love with you. Inside the operating room, Baron focused entirely on the surgery. The scalpel in his hand moved like a living extension of him, swift and precise. But when Natalie suddenly whispered that name, his hand trembled. The next second, the scalpel veered¡ªaiming directly for her chest. At thest possible moment, Baron caught the de between his fingers. Fresh blood dripped onto Natalie¡¯s chest. A shadow crossed Baron¡¯s eyes. Staring at the unconscious woman still murmuring someone else¡¯s name, a dark jealousy surged in him like a wave ready to drown him. ¡°You really can¡¯t let go of Jensen, huh?¡± Baron¡¯s hand jerked upward, nearly reaching for her throat. But just before he touched her, reason mmed back into ce. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you when you wake up.¡± He muttered under his breath, then took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, resuming the surgery with steady hands. Even in her unconscious state, Natalie had sensed the threat of death in that moment. Her body twitched -but then the threat vanished. A crushing wave of exhaustion hit her, and she slipped into a deeper ckout. The surgerysted over ten hours. When Baron finally stepped out of the OR, Finn and Shauna rushed to meet him. ¡°Mr. Baron, your body-¡± Exhaustion nketed Baron¡¯s features. His body was well past its limits. He swayed, and Finn quickly caught him before he copsed. Baron nced at him and said coldly, ¡°Initiate Level One security. Protect her life at all costs. If I don¡¯t wake up¡­ from now on, take orders from her.¡± And with that, he passed out. ¡°Mr. Baron!¡± Finn shouted, lifting him in his arms and hurrying to the private suite nearby. ¡°Get a doctor!¡± Shauna barked. She knew ordinary doctors wouldn¡¯t do much good ¨C but it was better than nothing. With Baron unconscious, the entire estate fell into chaos. But the room where Natalie rested was sealed off, guarded so tightly not even a fly could sneak in. At that same moment, Jensen regained consciousness at the hospital. When he learned Natalie¡¯s remains had already been cremated and buried in a public cemetery, the man who had once spoiled Sharon endlessly ¨C for the first time ¨C raised his hand against her. ¡°Who the hell gave you the right? Who do you think you are, making decisions for me? Sharon, have I been too kind to you?¡± The p sent Sharon stumbling to the floor, her cheek stinging with a hot burn. For a moment, she was too stunned to react. ¡°You hit me?¡± ¡°Hitting you is letting you off easy! If I weren¡¯t remembering the fact that you once saved my life, I¡¯d grind your bones to dust right now.¡± Jensen¡¯s bloodshot eyes were full of murderous rage. He looked pale, but the fury in him burned like a storm. Sharon had never seen him like this. Her heart pounded with fear even as indignation festered. She clutched her face and began to sob. ¨C ¡°Jensen, you¡¯re the president of Luke Corp. Do you know how many eyes are watching you? The board, the shareholders ¡ª they¡¯re all just waiting for you to screw up so they can rece you. I did all of this for you! You and I are legally married now. If the media finds out you¡¯ve been losing your mind over some woman, what do you think they¡¯ll say? What will the board think?¡± But Jensen wasn¡¯t listening anymore. All he could think about was that he would never see Natalie again. Never again would she smile at him so purely, never again would she give everything for him without asking for anything in return. He had lost her. Pain bloomed in his chest, deep and suffocating. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door. Sharon lunged forward, grabbing the hem of his pants. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°None of your damn business.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your wife, Jensen!¡± she screamed, desperate. But that word wife ¨C stabbed Jensen like a knife. And once again, Natalie¡¯s smile shed through his mind. HereSelf 29 Chapter 29 Graves and Ghosts She had clung to his arm, her smile bright and full of hope. ¡°Jensen, will you marry me on my twenty-third birthday? I want to be your wife.¡± But what had he done? He went and married Sharon on Natalie¡¯s twenty-third birthday. The more Jensen thought about it, the harder it was to breathe. That girl, who had once looked at him like he was her whole world¡­ she was gone. Forever. His eyes were bloodshot, but his voice was ice cold. ¡°Our marriage stays private. If you make it public, I¡¯ll erase the Summers family from Ocean City.¡± The source of th?s content is find?novel ¡°Jensen, have you lost your mind?¡± Sharon couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. She¡¯d waited so long for Natalie to be gone, thinking she could finally take her ce in the spotlight as Mrs. Luke, walk tall through the social elite. But now Jensen wouldn¡¯t even let her announce their marriage? ¡°I¡¯m your legal wife! Why should I have to live like some rat hiding in the shadows?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, we can get divorced right now.¡± Jensen didn¡¯t even look at her as he turned and walked away. Sharon stood frozen, stunned by his words. He had to be bluffing. There was no way he¡¯d actually divorce her¡­ right? She scrambled to her feet and ran after him, but by the time she got outside, all she saw was the cloud of dust left by his car. Jensen drove straight to Natalie¡¯s grave. The cemetery was small and cramped. Without the bodyguard¡¯s directions, he wouldn¡¯t have found the grave at all. When he saw it erupted. 11 tucked away in some forgotten corner ¡ª the fury he¡¯d been holding back finally ¡°Who told you to bury her here? Did the Luke family run out of money?¡± The bodyguard flinched under his rage and quickly answered, ¡°It was madam¡¯s order.¡± ¡°Madam? Who the hell is madam?¡± Jensen¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°T-The woman who said she married you¡­ Miss Sharon. She said she¡¯s now Mrs. Luke and told us to call her that from now on.¡± ¡°She is Ms. Summers. She will always be Ms. Summers. The only madam you have is Natalie. If I hear any of you call Sharon ¡®Mrs. Luke¡¯ again, I¡¯ll rip your tongue out.¡± His voice was low and venomous, echoing through the cemetery like a curse. The order was passed down immediately. Jensen was still the head of the Luke family ¨C what he said went. He couldn¡¯t stand seeing Natalie treated like this. ¡°Find a priest,¡± he ordered. ¡°No matter the cost. I want her to have a proper grave.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The bodyguard left. Jensen sat alone before the gravestone, staring at her photo. His eyes burned with pain. ¡°Natalie¡­ I loved you. Didn¡¯t you feel it? We had five years together. How could you just leave me like that?¡± ¡°When I rushed in to save Sharon, why didn¡¯t you call out to me? You saw me, didn¡¯t you? Why didn¡¯t you say something?¡± ¡°If you¡¯d just spoken¡­ if you¡¯d just called my name, I would¡¯ve gone to you. I swear I would¡¯ve.¡± His voice caught. He paused. Would he really have saved her? Yes. He would have. He¡¯d loved her from the very start- from the moment he¡¯d seen her half-dead and broken five years ago, he¡¯d been drawn to her like a moth to me. Hadn¡¯t he? So how the hell did they end up like this? The wind whispered through the tombstones. No one could give him an answer. Jensen sat there for hours, murmuring to her grave, pouring out everything he wished he¡¯d said when she was alive. When the sun finally dipped below the horizon, he rose shakily to his feet. ¡°Natalie¡­ I¡¯m going home now. I¡¯lle see you again tomorrow.¡± He brushed his hand gently across her photo, then stumbled away from the cemetery. Just as he climbed into his car, his phone rang again. The caller ID shed: Immigration Office. Jensen frowned. They¡¯d called several times now. What the hell did they want? Annoyed, he picked up. ¡°I¡¯m not traveling anytime soon. I already have valid documentation. Why do you people keep calling? Do you even know who I am?¡± The agent on the other end paused, surprised by the hostility. He double-checked the contact information in front of him. ¡°Mr. Luke¡­ do you know a woman named Natalie Summers?¡± Jensen¡¯s face changed instantly. ¡°She¡¯s my wife. Why are you asking about her?¡± HereSelf 30 Chapter 30 The Day She Chose to Leave The immigration officer finally let out a breath of relief when Jensen confirmed his connection to Natalie. ¡°Mr. Luke, Miss Natalie Summers had filed an application for travel documents with us. Everything¡¯s approved now, but we haven¡¯t been able to contact her. Should we mail it to her home or will you pick it up?¡± Jensen froze. ¡°Travel documents? When did she apply?¡± ¡°Ten days ago.¡± The words hit him like a brick. Ten days ago? That was the day. The day he married Sharon. The day he left Natalie behind on her birthday. He felt a sharp chill crawl up his spine. ¡°And¡­ how did she look that day? Was she okay?¡± The officer sounded slightly puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Luke. We handle too many clients each day to recall individuals clearly.¡± Jensen didn¡¯t press further. He ended the call. ¡°Take me home.¡± Since Natalie¡¯s death, he¡¯d been holed up at the hospital. A part of him couldn¡¯t face going back to their shared space the pain was too sharp. ¡ª But now¡­ now he needed to go back. He needed to see everything they once had. Because Natalie¡­ Natalie was the one he loved. She had always been the one. ¨C From the moment he first saw her ¨C broken, cowering, bleeding in the Summers family¡¯s backyard ¨C he¡¯d wanted to protect her, to be her light. So why had he let Sharon drag him into that street race? Because he¡¯d been young, impulsive, and a little too proud. Sharon had admired wild, reckless men. She loved danger then, in a way Natalie never did. ¡ª the thrill, the spotlight. She had adored him Natalie had been shy, like a touch-me-not. Sharon had burned like fire. This update is avable on He craved that fire back then. He raced to impress her, to prove himself. But it nearly killed him. And when it did, Sharon disappeared. Left the country. Went off with someone else. Only Natalie had stayed. She begged Witch Doctor to save him. She sacrificed everything. Sharon had only returned when he was on the brink of death ¨C to donate a rib. That single act hadplicated everything, tangled guilt with gratitude. But the love? That had always belonged to Natalie. All these years, everything he gave ¨C ¡ª the pampering, the gifts, the attention ¨C it was always for Natalie. Wasn¡¯t that enough? Back home, the ce they¡¯d called home for five years, Jensen opened the door and instantly knew something was wrong. Something was missing. He walked around aimlessly, until he noticed it: the wind chime by the floor-to-ceiling window was gone. Those were the thousand paper cranes Natalie had folded by hand while hey unconscious in the hospital, recovering from the ident. He¡¯d had them made into a wind chime and hung it there ¨C not for show, but as a symbol. Those paper cranes weren¡¯t worth much, not like the expensive gifts women usually gave him. But they meant something. They were pure. They were them. And now they were gone. ¡°Who took down the paper crane wind chime?!¡± He tore through the penthouse like a madman, opening drawers, closets, boxes crane left. Then his eyesnded on the Alexa speaker sitting on the table. ¡ª nothing. Not a single That video Natalie had shown at the press conference¡­ it came from Alexa, didn¡¯t it? He yanked out his phone. She¡¯d set up his ess when she first bought it. He¡¯d never even opened the app. Until now. He logged in and scrolled to the footage from ten days ago. He saw himself leaving after getting Sharon¡¯s call. He saw Natalie standing there, heartbroken and motionless. She made a call. ¡°I ept the training offer from Grant International Holdings. I¡¯m leaving Jensen for good.¡± That sentence punched Jensen straight in the chest. ¡°What? Just because I left you for Sharon once, on your birthday, you decide to abandon me forever? Natalie, how could you be so cruel? Was our love worth nothing to you?¡± He thought back to what the immigration officer said. Yes ten days ago. That was when she decided to go. ¨C Her mind was made up, even before the fire. Jensen¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. His breath shook. Hot tears streamed down his face, impossible to stop. ¡°How could you do this to me? We promised we¡¯d be together forever.¡± He curled up on the couch, phone still in hand, grief etched into every inch of his face like a wounded animal too broken to cry out. HereSelf 31 Chapter 31 The Truth Natalie Knew He kept watching, only to see Natalie get up to close the window because of the rain, identally knocking over their framed photo together. From behind that photo slipped out another one-of him and Sharon. Jensen froze. When had he ever put that picture into the frame? Why didn¡¯t he remember it at all? Then, in the video, Natalie wasughing and crying at the same time, looking as if she might shatter at any moment. Even through the screen, Jensen could feel her despair. He instinctively reached out to caress the cold surface of the video, but then heard Natalie¡¯s broken voice say, ¡°So Sharon is really your crush, and I was just the fallback.¡± ¡°No! That¡¯s not true! Natalie, it¡¯s not like that!¡± Jensen hurried to exin, but what kind of response could he expect from a cold recording? He watched as Natalie yanked down the paper crane wind chime, smashed it, and swept it away like trash. A sharp pain tore through Jensen¡¯s chest. ¡°Why? Why would you do that? Do you know how many nights it took you to fold those cranes?¡± ¡°You knew they were the proof of our love. How could you be so cruel as to throw them away?¡± Jensen clutched his chest, gasping for breath. His lungs burned. He couldn¡¯t seem to draw in enough air. All this-just because he hadn¡¯t been with her on her birthday? Just because he had gone to Sharon instead? Was Natalie really leaving him over that? Then what did he mean to her? What ce did he, Jensen, have in her heart at all? The pressure inside him burst free. With a violent cough, Jensen spewed a mouthful of blood, sttering it all over his phone screen. Just then, a knock came from outside. ¡°Hello? Anyone home? Delivery! If someone¡¯s home, please sign.¡± The courier¡¯s voice sounded from beyond the door. At first, Jensen had no intention of answering. But then it struck him-Natalie loved shopping online. 1/3 Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel Maybe this was something she had ordered. Now that she was gone, Jensen didn¡¯t want to miss anything that had belonged to her. He forced himself up, wiped the blood from his lips, and hurried to the door. ¡°Whose package?¡± His pale face and bloodshot eyes startled the deliveryman. ¡°Uh, Ms. Summers¡¯s package.¡± ¡°I¡¯m her husband. I¡¯ll sign for it.¡± Jensen snatched the pen, scrawled his name across the slip, and carried the package inside. It was light, like it held documents. Curious, he tore it open. The moment he saw what was inside, his eyes widened, his heart plunging into ice. A Fracian trainingpletion certificate. Fracian? When had Natalie attended Fracian training? His trembling fingers held the certificate. It showed she hadpleted the full course over half a month. ago, and with a high proficiency level. That meant-ten days ago, when he and Felix had been speaking in Fracian-Natalie could understand every word. Atst, Jensen realized why Natalie had left so decisively after he abandoned her to take Sharon¡¯s call. She had already discovered everything he had tried to hide. She had known, ten days ago, that he and Sharon were legally married. She refused to be the mistress in his marriage. That was why she didn¡¯t want him anymore. Jensen copsed onto the sofa,ughing wildly, but theughter broke into sobs. His so-called cleverness seemed like a pitiful joke before Natalie. ¡°Why? If you already knew the truth back then, why didn¡¯t you ask me? Natalie, if you had asked, I would have told you everything. I only got the marriage license with Sharon to pity her. She once saved my life. She has cancer. She¡¯s dying! I only wanted to grant herst wish. The one I truly love is you!¡± But the moment Jensen said it, he faltered. Was that really true? Was it really only to fulfill Sharon¡¯s wish? Then why had he been so excited that day? It was because he thought he could hide it perfectly. Because after five peaceful years with Natalie, suddenly Sharon¡¯s fiery return had rekindled something wild in him. He thought-it was only three months. If he could bnce things carefully between Natalie and Sharon, he could indulge himself, realize the youthful dream he had once left behind. Arrogantly, he believed Natalie couldn¡¯t understand Fracian. He had felt smug, speaking openly to Felix in front of her. But he had forgotten who Natalie was. She might look gentle and mild, but she was not someone who could tolerate betrayal. Otherwise, why had he never dared to tell her the truth about marrying Sharon? HereSelf 32 Chapter 32 The Underground King He was afraid. Afraid that if he told the truth, Natalie would leave him. Afraid that she would never want him again. But in the end, he still lost her. Tears of regret streamed down Jensen¡¯s face. ¡°Natalie, I¡¯m sorry! It was my fault! Please forgive me, will you? Come back to me, please? I swear I won¡¯t care about Sharon anymore. I¡¯ll divorce her, I¡¯ll marry you! I¡¯m begging you,e back!¡± His voice was raw with grief, but no one would ever answer him again. Like a madman, he began searching for everything Natalie had left behind. But when Jensen realized that all the things that carried their shared memories were gone, panic took overpletely. ¡°Where is it? Where are all the keepsakes?¡± He ran to the basement, the storage room, anywhere that might hold something of her. But the vi was spotless, as if Natalie had never lived there at all. ¡°No! Natalie, you can¡¯t be this cruel to me! You can¡¯t!¡± Clinging to thest thread of hope, he turned again to the smart assistant. But the video only showed Natalie, her face streaked with tears, burning away everything that had once represented their love. At that sight, Jensen finally lost control and copsed into unconsciousness. Meanwhile, Sharon discovered Jensen had gone missing. She searched everywhere until she confirmed he was at their residence. But without facial recognition or fingerprints, she couldn¡¯t get inside. She called his phone over and over. It rang, but no one picked up. She pleaded with the guards to let her in, but they demanded proof she was an owner of their residence. That single vi became a chasm Sharon could not cross. She could only scream helplessly at the gates until the guards dragged her away. Far across the ocean, in Murica, Natalie had no idea how much devastation she had caused Jensen. Even if she did know, she would not have cared anymore. When she woke, two days had already passed since her surgery. The unfamiliar room filled her with panic. She instinctively tried to get up, but the stabbing pain made her cry out. ¡°Ms. Summers, you¡¯re awake?¡± A woman¡¯s unfamiliar voice sounded at her side. Natalie turned quickly and saw someone she didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Who are you? Where is this?¡± Her voice came out hoarse and broken, apanied by searing pain. The woman hurried to pour a ss of water and held it out to her. ¡°Ms. Summers, your throat was damaged in the fire. You¡¯ll need a long recovery and treatment. It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t speak for now. My name is Yvonne Saunder. I¡¯m your private nurse. I¡¯ll be fully responsible for your daily care from here on. You suffered severe burns, and you¡¯ll need multiple skin graft surgeries in the future. But your body isn¡¯t ready for such major operations yet-we need to focus on recovery first. You¡¯re in Murica. You were saved by our boss. His name is Baron Gunn. He¡¯s the underground king here¡ª you could think of him as the godfather of the underworld.¡± Natalie froze in shock. The godfather of the underworld? When had she ever met someone like that? ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think I know Mr. Gunn.¡± Checktest chapters at Find?Novel Even though speaking tore at her throat, she forced the question out. Yvonne gave a faint smile. ¡°Mr. Gunn is the man you spent the night with in Ocean City.¡± Natalie¡¯s eyes flew wide open. That man she had grabbed on a whim to vent her anger-he had such a terrifying identity? ¡°Where is he now?¡± Yvonne¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Ms. Summers, when your ident happened, Mr. Gunn¡¯s business here was under attack. He had no choice but to rush back. After a bloody struggle, he managed to stabilize the situation, but he was badly injured. Even so, when he learned you were in danger, he risked everything to go to Ocean City and save you. He returned only to fall unconscious, and he still hasn¡¯t woken up.¡± Mr. Gunn had forbidden them from revealing that he was the Ghost Doctor, but he had said nothing about hiding the price he had paid to save Ms. Summers. Yvonne reminded herself of this silently. Their Mr. Gunn had risked his life for Ms. Summers. She couldn¡¯t allow Ms. Summers to keep another man in her heart. Hearing Yvonne¡¯s words, Natalie grew anxious. ¡°How is he now? I want to see him.¡± She tried to push herself up, but the sharp pain made her body seize violently. Yvonne panicked at the sight. ¡°Ms. Summers, you mustn¡¯t move! Your burns cover most of your body, and your wounds aren¡¯t healed yet. Mr. Gunn put everything into saving you-if you get an infection or your injuries worsen, and he finds out, he¡¯ll have my head!¡± Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Yvonne instinctively stepped in front of Natalie, a throwing knife clenched in her hand, ready to strike the intruder. The door swung open, and it was Finn who stepped inside. HereSelf 33 Chapter 33 The Price of Protection ¡°She¡¯s awake?¡± Finn¡¯s tone was sharp. His attitude toward Natalie was far from friendly-after all, if not for her, Baron wouldn¡¯t still be unconscious. Natalie hadn¡¯t gotten out of bed, but she could clearly feel Finn¡¯s hostility. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the mattress. Yvonne let out a quiet breath when she saw it was Finn. ¡°Finn, Ms. Summers is awake. Her heart rate and vitals all look stable. But you came in without sterile gear -if Ms. Summers gets infected, Mr. Gunn won¡¯t be happy.¡± ¡°Shut it. Mr. Gunn can¡¯t me anyone while he¡¯s still unconscious. There¡¯s an attack happening outside. Keep her safe. If necessary, move her to the underground facility.¡± Finn cast Natalie a look of disdain. ¡°That scarred-up freak¡­ I don¡¯t know what Mr. Gunn even sees in her.¡± ¡°Finn!¡± Yvonne frowned, clearly disapproving, but didn¡¯t dare argue back too loudly. Finn sneered. ¡°Your sister died in Ocean City because of her, and you still treat her like she¡¯s worth something. What kind of spell does this woman have on you and Mr. Gunn?¡± Suddenly, the sound of gunfire echoed from outside. Natalie stiffened. What was happening? Why had Yvonne¡¯s sister died because of her? And¡­ was that really gunfire? Natalie had spent her life in a peaceful country. She¡¯d never imagined she¡¯d be caught up in something this terrifying. No-she had, once. When she was ten, she¡¯d traveled abroad with Mrs. Xie and had been caught in a terrorist attack. ?????? ???? find{n}ovel She¡¯d nearly died that day. But because of a little boy, she had survived. The two of them had gotten separated afterward, and she never saw him again. The distant memory had resurfaced all at once-along with the paralyzing fear that came with it. Natalie looked at Yvonne, her voice tight. ¡°Yvonne¡­ what happened to your sister?¡± ¡°Ms. Summers, I¡¯ll exinter. For now, let me get you to the underground safe room.¡± Yvonne began packing things quickly. Natalie asked urgently, ¡°What about Baron?¡± That man had risked his life for her-just because of a single night they shared. She owed him far more than she could ever repay. He was still unconscious. If the attackers got inside, would he be in danger? The helplessness crushed her. She couldn¡¯t do anything. It made her want to cry. Yvonne didn¡¯t stop packing, answering quickly as she worked. ¡°Mr. Gunn is still unconscious. Finn and Shauna are handling everything for now. But knowing how cautious they are, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll move him to the underground facility too.¡± Natalie finally let out a shaky breath. The gunfire outside grew louder. There was nothing she could do but let Yvonne wheel her into the hidden elevator. It dropped rapidly, and with a soft ding, the doors slid open. Bright light flooded the room ahead. Inside was a space outfitted like a top-level medical center. Doctors in white coats moved around efficiently. Medical equipment lined the walls, and there was a sealedb nearby. No one seemed surprised to see Yvonne arrive. Natalie was pushed inside. Immediately, she saw the hospital bed to the side-and Baron lying in it. This was nothing like the man she remembered. His face was pale, utterly drained of color. He looked thinner. His eye sockets had sunken slightly. His eyebrows and hair were scorched and uneven from the fire. His wrists still showed visible burns. The man who used to flirt so easily was now lying silently in bed, barely alive. Something in Natalie¡¯s chest twisted. Her eyes stung. What was it about her that made this man-someone she¡¯d only spent one night with-so willing to risk everything for her? ¡°Baron¡­¡± Her voice was raspy, barely above a whisper. But Baron didn¡¯t respond. Yvonne spoke softly. ¡°Mr. Gunn found out you were in danger, and even though he was already physically drained, he forced himself to act. He took a drug that hasn¡¯t been fully developed yet. It gave him a temporary boost in strength and rity-but the side effects are severe. After he got you out, he copsed. He¡¯s been unconscious for two days now. All the researchers here are our people. They¡¯re working on a way to counter the effects of the drug. But if they can¡¯t find a solution, there¡¯s no telling when-or if¡ªMr. Gunn will wake up.¡± Natalie felt a deeper ache settle in her chest. ¡°Is there anything I can do?¡± ¡°Ms. Summers, the best thing you can do right now is take care of yourself. Wait for Mr. Gunn to wake Leave the rest to us.¡± Yvonne meant it kindly, but the words made Natalie feel worse. Baron had done so much for her. But now, when he was lying on the edge of life and death¡­ she couldn¡¯t do a damn thing to help.
HereSelf 34 Chapter 34 A Bond in Blood How useless she was. When Sharon hurt her, she hadn¡¯t been able to save herself. And now she was dragging Baron down with her. Living like this felt worse than dying. But then she remembered Jensen¡¯s betrayal, Sharon¡¯s cruelty-how could she be willing to just die like that? Natalie¡¯s heart was a tangled storm. Outside, things were chaotic, and Yvonne grew worried. ¡°Ms. Summers, stay here. I¡¯ll go take a quick look. Don¡¯t move around.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Natalie nodded. For more chapters visit find(?)ovel She felt like nothing more than dead weight now. If she couldn¡¯t help them, then at the very least she shouldn¡¯t be their burden. After Yvonne left, the only sounds in the safe room were the faint clinks of ss as the doctors worked with their medicines. Natalie was exhausted, but she refused to sleep. The pain of her burns scorched through every inch of he body, making rest impossible. To distract herself, she turned to look at Baron. He was strikingly handsome. She had never seen a man like him before. Jensen was handsome too, but in a different way. Baron¡¯s allure wasn¡¯t just in his features-it was in the noble sharpness of his bearing, a dangerous aura o power and violence that drew people in even as it warned them to stay away. Natalie slowly lifted her hand. She realized she could just barely hook her finger around his. With her pinky wrapped gently around his, she whispered, ¡°Baron, I¡¯m already awake. How long do you n on sleeping?¡± But Baron gave no response. Just then, Shauna rushed inside. 1 When she saw Natalie awake, she blurted out, ¡°Ms. Summers, I want to borrow some of your blood, may 1?¡± Natalie thought she¡¯d misheard. ¡°You want to borrow what?¡± ¡°Blood! Your blood!¡± Shauna¡¯s eyes shone with urgency. ¡°Ms. Summers, you may not realize it, but your blood can help Mr. Gunn. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t take much -just a little. It won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Natalie frowned in confusion. She and Baron had never shared any connection. Why would her blood help him? Yet Shauna¡¯s expression was too serious to be a lie. Baron had saved her life, risked everything for her. If he wanted her blood-or even her life-she would give it without hesitation. As for the reason, she decided she would wait until Baron woke up to ask. ¡°Alright. What do I need to do?¡± Her ready agreement nearly brought Shauna to tears. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything. Doctor! Draw some blood from Ms. Summers and prepare the medicine using the form Mr. Gunn left. Hurry!¡± Shauna¡¯s words carried weight. The doctors quickly moved to take blood. It wasn¡¯t much, but with Natalie¡¯s body so badly burned, finding a ce for the needle took some time. Natalie could feel their cautious care. Was this because of Baron¡¯s orders? Since meeting Jensen at eighteen, she had ignored all other men, even going out of her way to avoid them. Only now did she realize-there were men besides Jensen worth knowing. Noticing how Natalie¡¯s gaze never left Baron, Shauna said softly, ¡°Ms. Summers, your body is still very weak. Please rest now. This ce is safe. No one can get in. Mr. Gunn will be fine. Who knows-maybe when you wake, he¡¯ll be awake too.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Natalie was truly exhausted. Her body, scorched by the mes, felt unbearably fragile. 22/3 Though everything here was unfamiliar, there was something about Shauna and Yvonne that gave her a sense of peace. Or maybe it was because of Baron. The man who had pulled her from the fire-he was someone she could trust. When Natalie¡¯s breathing finally evened out, Shauna turned to the doctors. ¡°Well? Any progress?¡± ¡°Shauna, Ms. Summers¡¯s blood really does work against the poison. We¡¯re making breakthroughs.¡± The doctors¡¯ voices trembled with both shock and excitement. Shauna wasn¡¯t surprised. Five years ago, when Jensen had begged Baron to save him, it was because Baron had discovered Natalie¡¯s blood held something unique that he agreed. But why had Mr. Gunn needed that from her back then? Shauna couldn¡¯t figure it out. She only knew Baron had always treated Natalie differently. Even five years ago. Since she couldn¡¯t untangle it, she stopped trying. Following her instructions, the doctors soon developed the antidote. Shauna fed it to Baron herself. By the time Finn and Yvonne came back, the turmoil outside had been calmed. They entered to find Baron¡¯s face already looking less pale, hisplexion warmer. He hadn¡¯t woken yet, but it was clear he was better than before. HereSelf 35 Chapter 35 Shattered Illusions ¡°Shauna, you gave Mr. Gunn the miracle drug?¡± Finn¡¯s face lit up with joy. Shauna shot him a re. ¡°It was Ms. Summers¡¯s blood that saved Mr. Gunn. From now on, you treat Ms. Summers with respect. She¡¯s Mr. Gunn¡¯s savior.¡± Finn looked doubtful, but he didn¡¯t argue. ¡°If she can really protect Mr. Gunn, I¡¯d give her my life without hesitation.¡± ¡°You said it. Don¡¯t forget it.¡± Shauna shoved him out of the way. Baron¡¯s breathing had steadied, and his condition looked far less dire. Shauna ordered that Natalie and Baron be moved into a guarded room together. Meanwhile, across the ocean, Jensen regained consciousness. By then, night had fallen. The viy inplete darkness. Out of habit, he called out, ¡°Natalie, why haven¡¯t you turned on the lights?¡± Then he froze, the stabbing pain in his body forcing him down against the sofa. ¡°Natalie¡­¡± He whispered her name, but that gentle voice would never answer him again. Every trace of her life here had been wiped away. It shouldn¡¯t have been like this. Clutching his chest, Jensen forced himself up. He had to find Natalie. He had to beg her forgiveness. He stumbled out of the vi-only to run into Sharon at the door. Seeing him, Sharon burst into tears and threw herself at him. ¡°Jensen! The security here is awful-they wouldn¡¯t let me in to see you! They even dragged me out. Tell them to stop!¡± Read full story at find~novel As she lunged for him, Jensen instinctively stepped aside. With a thud, Sharon fell to the ground. Staring up at his cold indifference, she couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Jensen, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± But all Jensen could think of was Natalie¡¯s broken despair. Whatever pity or tenderness he had once felt for Sharon was gone. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Natalie hated when you touched me!¡± His voice was icy, making Sharon¡¯s eyes widen in shock. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I¡¯m your wife-we¡¯re married! Natalie¡¯s dead. What does it matter what she liked or didn¡¯t like?¡± She shouldn¡¯t have said that. The moment she brought up the marriage certificate, Jensen snapped. Dropping to a crouch, he seized Sharon by the throat. His voice was venom. ¡°Ten days ago, when I agreed to marry you, didn¡¯t I tell you no one could ever know? I only did it to grant you that wish. So why? Why, even after the license was signed, did you have to call me? You knew it was Natalie¡¯s birthday. Why did you have to call me then?¡± Feeling his fingers tightening, Sharon¡¯s breath caught. Rage burned through her fear. ¡°You keep saying it was Natalie¡¯s birthday-but it was mine too! You told me we¡¯d celebrate after the license was signed. I only sent a simple message-¡®I miss you. You¡¯re the one who came running to me, eager to spend the night together. How is that my fault?¡± Her words struck Jensen like a p across the face. She was right. That night, just one message from Sharon had been enough. He had abandoned Natalie-who had been ready to give herself to him-and rushed straight to Sharon. He and Sharon were both unforgivable. Suddenly, Jensen broke into wild, maniacalughter. The sight terrified Sharon. ¡°Jensen, what¡¯s wrong with you? Let me help you inside, you need to rest.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± He shoved her away violently, his eyes filled with disgust she had never seen before. Just then, his assistant Chen Huai approached, holding a phone. ¡°Sir, as you ordered, I had Ms. Natalie¡¯s SIM card reced and recovered all her phone data and messages.¡± At that, Sharon¡¯s mind raced. She remembered the texts and videos she had once sent Natalie. Panic struck. ¡°Jensen, Natalie¡¯s dead! Why do you need her phone? Give it to me!¡± She stretched on tiptoe, trying to snatch the phone from Chen Huai¡¯s hand. Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°Don¡¯t touch Natalie¡¯s things.¡± He shoved Sharon aside with force. She had thought that with Natalie gone, Jensen would finally spoil her endlessly. But why was this happening instead? Sharon fell hard to the ground, the pain breaking herposure. She burst into tears. ¡°Jensen, how can you treat me like this? I¡¯m your legal wife! And Natalie-what was she? She¡¯s dead, yet you¡¯re humiliating me for her sake? Have you forgotten you carry my rib in your body? Without me, would you even be standing here lording over me now?¡± HereSelf 36 Chapter 36 The Cruel Truth Jensen¡¯s chest ached with every word Sharon spat at him. Looking at her frenzied state, he suddenly realized just how blind he had been all these years. In beauty, in grace-how could Sharon everpare to Natalie? Even though the Summers family had raised the wrong child, those eighteen years of careful upbringing had left Natalie with a natural elegance, a deep-rooted refinement Sharon, who grew up wild, could never possess. So why had he been drawn to Sharon¡¯s fiery nature? It was because he himself had been born into wealth, surrounded by polished heiresses his whole life. He had wanted to know what it felt like to taste the recklessness of a ¡°wild girl.¡± And for that youthful thrill, he had nearly lost his life. He should have hated Sharon, but because one of her ribs had saved him, he found himself bound by guilt-caught between love and hate. Over time, it was Natalie¡¯spanionship that anchored him, and his feelings shifted to her. He kept telling himself he married Sharon only to fulfill her dying wish. But only now did he dare face the truth. Those were excuses. He had simply wanted excitement. He had believed too firmly that Natalie loved him too deeply to ever leave-that she had no family, no friends, no one but him. He was certain she would never walk away. And yet¡­ she had. At the productunch, Natalie¡¯s actions had screamed of her resolve, but he hadn¡¯t listened. He had even med her for being unreasonable. Later, when her fingers were shattered, when her career as a designer was destroyed, he had known she was suffering-yet he still stood by Sharon. Wasn¡¯t that enough to repay Sharon¡¯s so-called lifesaving grace? So why did he still have to lose Natalie? Now, hearing Sharon harp on that same debt again, Jensen suddenly found it meaningless. ¡°Your lifesaving debt-I¡¯ve already repaid it with the title of Mrs. Luke. As long as you¡¯re alive, you¡¯ll have that title. But don¡¯t expect anything more. And from now on, you are forbidden to set foot in the Grand Pavilion again. You will never touch anything rted to Natalie. And if I find something in this phone I don¡¯t want to see¡­ I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do.¡± Snatching the phone from Hansel, Jensen turned and walked away. Sharon froze. ¡°Jensen, what do you mean by that?¡± She scrambled to block his path, but Hansel stepped in. ¡°Ms. Summers, please show some self-respect.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Mrs. Luke! Didn¡¯t you hear him say it? I¡¯m Jensen¡¯s wife! How dare you call me Ms. Summers?¡± The title cut her like a knife. Hansel¡¯s voice was calm, indifferent. ¡°Mr. Luke ordered it. You may be his wife in name, but in reality-you will always be Ms. Summers. For the rest of your life.¡± ¡°Ridiculous! I don¡¯t believe Jensen would treat me this way. You¡¯re just a secretary-how dare you speak to me like this? I¡¯ll have Jensen fire you!¡± Her eyes burned scarlet with rage, but Hansel merely pulled his hand back, unmoved by her outburst. Inside the car, Jensen opened Natalie¡¯s phone. His own number sat fixed at the very top of her chats. Scrolling through their messages, he realized that for the past ten days, his replies to her had been nothing but curt excuses- business trips,te nights, noting home. And what had he really been doing? Spending his nights with Sharon. Then he saw Sharon¡¯s name among Natalie¡¯s recent contacts. Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed. Recalling Sharon¡¯s desperate attempt to grab the phone, he quickly opened their chat. Ten days ago, the night he told Natalie he was workingte, Sharon had sent her a photo of the marriage certificate. This content belongs to Find[F]ovel The next day, she had sent a video-of him kneeling to propose. And the ring¡­ the ring was the wedding band Natalie herself had designed for him. Jensen¡¯s blood turned to ice. Why had he given Sharon that ring? Because Sharon had begged. She said she loved it, said she was dying, said she only wanted to wear it once for a photo. Just for the memory. Her pleading eyes had seemed so pitiful that he had lost his mind and slipped Natalie¡¯s ring onto Sharon¡¯s finger. At the time, he hadn¡¯t thought it mattered. It was only a ring. Sharon would give it back. Natalie would never know. Just a moment-what harm could it cause? He never imagined Sharon would send the video to Natalie. And now, for the first time, he truly grasped what Natalie must have felt in that moment. HereSelf 37 Chapter 37 Shattered Foundations If the wedding ring he had painstakingly designed and long dreamed of ended up on another man¡¯s finger because of Natalie, what would he do? He might just kill Natalie and that bastard. So when Jensen heard Natalie¡¯s next words-¡°I¡¯m not interested in being a mistress¡±-he wasn¡¯t surprised. But the pain hit so hard it nearly stole his breath. So the person who had hurt Natalie the most¡­ was him. He was the one who had personally handed Sharon the sword that stabbed Natalie¡¯s heart. Suddenly, Jensen raised his hand and pped himself across the face. The sharp crack of the p echoed harshly through the closed car. Hansel flinched in shock, about to speak-but when he nced at Natalie¡¯s phone, he fell silent and quietly started the engine. Jensen hit himself again. And again. Over a dozen ps in a row. His cheeks were burning with pain, but it didn¡¯te close to the torment inside his chest. He would never forgive himself. But before that, he wasn¡¯t going to let Sharon off easy, either. Sharon had once saved his life, and now she was dying-so he couldn¡¯t touch her. But the Summers family? Who said they were off- limits? The thought sent a fist flying into the car window. Blood welled up from his knuckles, but Jensen didn¡¯t even flinch. His eyes went cold. ¡°Hansel, I want the Summers family erased from Ocean City¡¯s upper ss in three days.¡± Wasn¡¯t Sharon so obsessed with her pedigree? She believed she was born to be noble. Even though she¡¯d been switched at birth, once she returned to the Summers family, she had used their status and connections to whip and humiliate Natalie as she pleased. Well, Jensen was going to destroy everyst bit of her support. Hansel looked at the man beside him, who seemed on the brink of madness, and hesitated. ¡°Mr. Luke¡­ you mean bankruptcy?¡± Jensen¡¯s bloody hand was still dripping. At Hansel¡¯s question, he paused for a moment. ¡°Do your job. Don¡¯t ask questions you don¡¯t need the answer to.¡± His voice was low and chilling. Hansel instantly understood. Mr. Luke might be acting like he loved Miss Natalie deeply, but it was only because her death had shocked him so badly. Hansel didn¡¯t deny that Mr. Luke did love Miss Natalie, but his attitude toward Sharon left Hansel unsure what to think. If he truly wanted justice for Natalie, he should uproot the Summers family entirely and see Sharon punished for what she did. But all Mr. Luke wanted was to bankrupt them. In a way, he was still protecting Sharon. This so-called justice for Natalie was just Mr. Luke¡¯s way of easing his own guilt. Once Hansel figured that out, he didn¡¯t argue anymore. He ryed Jensen¡¯s order and drove off. ¡°Where to, Mr. Luke?¡± ¡°To thepany.¡± Natalie was gone now. The Eternal Love collection she¡¯d designed had be a one-of-a-kind treasure. Jensen knew that if he made the designer Sunny¡¯s death public, this collection would bring Luke Corp unimaginable fortune. But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. Hansel drove him to Luke Corp and quickly summoned the family doctor to treat Jensen¡¯s wounds. Jensen didn¡¯t resist. Once the doctor was done, he headed to the storage room. Inside was the only disyed set of the Eternal Love collection. Just a few days ago, Natalie had been arguing about whether she could attend theunch event. Now, everything felt so distant- like the world had shifted. ¡°Natalie, you designed this Eternal Love collection for our fifth anniversary. I¡¯m going to seal it away forever. Just like our love-it¡¯ll never fade.¡± As Jensen packed away the jewelry, he realized one ring was missing. Then it came back to him. Sharon had it. ¡°Hansel, go get the ring from Sharon. It¡¯s part of the Eternal Love collection.¡± Jensen called Hansel directly. Hansel hesitated slightly. Discover more novels at FindN0vel ¡°Mr. Luke, that ring¡­ you gave it to Ms. Summers. How do I exin asking for it back?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t exin. Just take it back. If she refuses, take it by force.¡± Hansel paused again at Jensen¡¯s words, but didn¡¯t say anything else. Sharon had already been furious after Jensen left her on the side of the road. She barely managed to make it back to the vi, only to see Hansel show up asking for the Eternal Love ring. ¡°I¡¯m not giving it back! Jensen gave it to me-who do you think you are to take it? Hansel, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. You look down on me, don¡¯t you? Let me tell you something-I¡¯m Mrs. Luke of Luke Corp! And I¡¯m the eldest daughter of the Summers family! If you piss me off, I¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡± Hansel remained expressionless at her outburst, though he was deeply scornful inside. Eldest daughter of the Summers family? That ring might be expensive, but it wasn¡¯t something the Summers family couldn¡¯t afford. And yet it never urred to her to buy it herself. Not like Miss Natalie. HereSelf 38 Chapter 38 The Ring and the Ruin Miss Natalie never troubled Jensen over the things she wanted. She would always earn them through her own efforts. And she never behaved like a hysterical shrew, screaming and throwing tantrums. What a shame. Why did it have to be Miss Natalie who died? Hansel hadn¡¯t interacted with Natalie much, but even so, he knew how much she had contributed to thepany. A woman like her-quietly devoted-was the one who truly deserved to be thedy of the Luke household. Mr. Luke had simply chosen the wrong woman. As Hansel sighed inwardly, Sharon was still shrieking and cursing, even grabbing things around her and hurling them at his feet. ¡°You¡¯re just Jensen¡¯spdog! And now you dare raise your voice at me? Hansel, get the hell out of here right now!¡± Watching her scream like a madwoman, Hansel found it hard to believe she was supposed to be sick. His gaze turned cold as he called out to the bodyguards outside the room. ¡°Ms. Summers is refusing to return the Eternal Love ring. Mr. Luke has ordered us to retrieve it. Since she won¡¯t cooperate, lend me a hand.¡± Sharon immediately understood the implication behind his words. Her expression changed on the spot. ¡°Hansel! Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Hansel didn¡¯t acknowledge her. With a flick of his wrist, the bodyguards entered the room and forcibly restrained Sharon, yanking the ring off her finger with no regard for courtesy. ¡°Ah! You bastards! I¡¯ll make sure Jensen fires everyst one of you! Just you wait!¡± Since returning to the Summers family at eighteen, Sharon hadn¡¯t been treated like this in a very long time. Now it was happening-at the hands of Jensen¡¯s own people. She couldn¡¯t ept it. Hansel, however, responded tly, ¡°Then we¡¯ll be waiting. Goodbye, Ms. Summers.¡± With that, he turned and walked out, not sparing her a second nce. When Jensen received the ring from the Eternal Love collection, his brow furrowed slightly upon noticing it had been bent out of shape. ¡°Have it cleaned. I want every trace of someone other than Natalie scrubbed off.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Hansel took the ring and left. Almost immediately, Sharon¡¯s name lit up on Jensen¡¯s phone-call after call, like a curse. Jensen nced at the screen once, then switched the phone to silent. He didn¡¯t want to hear Sharon¡¯s voice. Not even for a second. Hansel returned quickly with the cleaned ring. Jensen locked the entire Eternal Love collection in the safe. But as he turned away, a wave of emptiness washed over him. Without Natalie, Luke Corp felt unbearably hollow. He sat in his chair, staring at the photo of himself and Natalie on his desk. His eyes turned red once more. In the photo, Natalie was smiling so brightly-so joyfully. How had he let someone like her slip away? Footsteps in heels echoed outside the office. Jensen snapped his head around and instinctively called out, ¡°Natalie!¡± But when the office door opened, it was Louis from the secretarial department, hesitantly stepping in. ¡°Mr. Luke, something just arrived. It¡¯s something Sunny hadmissioned before.¡± Jensen blinked in surprise. Natalie had always arranged for her deliveries toe directly to thepany, and he had personally signed for them. But the Eternal Love collection was already finished. What else was there? ¡°Bring it here. Let me see.¡± Louis ced the package on Jensen¡¯s desk and quickly backed out. Everyone in thepany had been walking on eggshellstely. No one wanted to test Jensen¡¯s temper. Not that Jensen cared whether they stayed or left. He opened the box-and the moment his eyesnded on the cufflinks inside, they turned red again. These were the cufflinks Natalie had designed before her hand was severed. What must she have been feeling when she designed them? Was she still dreaming of marrying him? Were these her wedding gift to him? They looked even more beautiful than the sketches had shown. Jensen¡¯s tears spilled down his face uncontrobly. ¡°Natalie¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry. If you came back, I¡¯d do anything you asked.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? His voice broke as he sobbed. With trembling hands, he fastened the cufflinks to his sleeves. The gleam of the metal caught the light, reflecting the raw anguish on his face. But there was no one left in the world who would care enough tofort him. To dull the stabbing pain in his chest, Jensen turned to alcohol, drinking like a madman. Luke Corp was soon engulfed in an atmosphere of unbearable tension and unease. Unable to reach Jensen by phone, Sharon stormed over to Luke Corp in person, demanding to see him-only to be blocked at the entrance by security. ¡°Ms. Summers, Mr. Luke gave strict orders. You¡¯re not allowed inside Luke Corp. Please leave.¡± ¡°Look again! I¡¯m Sharon! I¡¯m Jensen¡¯s wife! Move!¡± After suffering blow after blow in a single day, Sharon¡¯sposure finally began to crack. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this. This humiliation-this rejection-should¡¯ve been Natalie¡¯s fate, not hers. Jensen had loved her so much. The only reason he was treating her this way had to be because Natalie had just died. She¡¯d made a mistake. She shouldn¡¯t have killed Natalie. She should¡¯ve let Natalie live-barely. Long enough to suffer and regret every breath. If Natalie were still alive, Jensen wouldn¡¯t have cared about her. His love and his attention would¡¯ve belonged to Sharon and Sharon alone. HereSelf 39 Chapter 39 A Lie, A Wake-Up, A Warning Sharon clenched her fists so tightly that she didn¡¯t even notice her freshly done manicure snapping. What could she do to make Jensen care about her again? Right. Her illness. When the security guards refused to budge, she shot them a hateful re and stormed off. She pulled out her phone and called her doctor. ¡°Get an emergency room ready. I want records showing my cancer¡¯s spreading. I don¡¯t care what you have to do, just make sure Jensenes to see me at the hospital.¡± The doctor nearly burst into tears over the phone. ¡°Ms. Summers, I¡¯ve told you-there are no current cancer patients in the hospital. Where am I supposed to get you those records?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! If you can¡¯t make it happen, I¡¯ll go public with your past embezzlement. And that malpractice incident-you want to go to prison?¡± Her voice was cold and threatening. Right now, Sharon didn¡¯t care what she had to do. As long as she could win Jensen back, anything was worth it. The doctor, cornered and desperate, had no choice but to agree. But he still mumbled a warning under his breath. ¡°Ms. Summers, you¡¯re going too far. What happens when three months go by and you¡¯re still alive? How are you going to exin that to Mr. Luke?¡± ¡°Three months is more than enough for me to lock down my ce in the Luke family. By then, Jensen will bepletely in love with me. You can just say it was a misdiagnosis.¡± Her answer made the doctor¡¯s mouth twitch. ¡°Ms. Summers, this is cancer we¡¯re faking-not a minor cold. You think you can just brush it off as a misdiagnosis? And you write up chemo reports. There¡¯s data now. If Mr. Luke decides to look into it, you¡¯ll have holes everywhere.¡± For the first time, the doctor regretted ever working with her. Sharon let out a low, mockingugh. ¡°That¡¯s your problem. You took my case, so figure it out. Now do exactly what I said.¡± She hung up without waiting for a response. had me She didn¡¯t believe for a second that Jensen would still turn his back on her once he found out she was in the ER, dying of cancer. Just imagining it brought a sh of smug satisfaction to her eyes. Sure enough, when Jensen was informed that Sharon had been rushed to the ER in critical condition, he set aside his work and went to the hospital. Meanwhile, in Murica, Baron finally regained consciousness thanks to the doctors¡¯ relentless efforts. He looked around at the familiarb, his mind racing to catch up, and immediately threw off the covers and tried to get out of bed -only to be stopped by Finn. ¡°Mr. Gunn, for God¡¯s sake, can you try valuing your life a little? Do you even know how close you were to dying this time?¡± Baron didn¡¯t react to Finn¡¯s yelling. His face was expressionless. ¡°How long was I unconscious?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°Four days.¡± Finn could brag to anyone, but when Baron spoke-even calmly-he felt an undeniable pressure settle over him. That was the weight of true authority. Baron pulled the IV out of his hand, stretched his stiff limbs, and started putting on his shoes. Get full chapters from Find_Novel(. ¡°How did I wake up?¡± He knew exactly how unstable the drug he¡¯d taken was. Even before he swallowed it, he was aware that his. body might not survive its side effects. The form was still iplete. Falling into aa had meant there was a high chance he wouldn¡¯t ever wake up again. So waking after just four days¡­ he already had a theory. Finn didn¡¯t answer. His brow furrowed into a deep scowl. In his eyes, Natalie didn¡¯t deserve any thanks for Baron¡¯s survival. If it hadn¡¯t been for Natalie, Baron wouldn¡¯t havee so close to death in the first ce. No matter how he looked at it, Mr. Gunn had been the one to give more. Baron could read Finn¡¯s face like a book. He pped a hand on Finn¡¯s shoulder-hard. Finn instinctively hunched, his face twisting in pain. ¡°M-Mr. Gunn¡­¡± Cold sweat beaded on Finn¡¯s forehead, but he didn¡¯t dare wipe it away. Baron said quietly, ¡°She¡¯s mine. Whatever I do for her, I do willingly. If you¡¯ve got a problem with her, you can leave right now. I¡¯ll split the organization-half the men and half the assets. They¡¯re yours.¡± Finn panicked instantly. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I¡¯m not trying to break up the family.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t ever let me catch you looking at her with anything but respect again.¡± Baron released him. He stood tall, his regal air tinged with a dangerous edge that swept through theb like a de. No one dared to breathe too loudly. They all stood at attention and shouted in unison, ¡°Mr. Gunn!¡± ¡°Everyone gets a bonus.¡± With that, Baron walked out of the safehouse. Finn scrambled to follow. Baron¡¯s first destination was Natalie¡¯s room. She was still fast asleep. Yvonne lit up with joy when she saw him. ¡°Mr. Gunn, you¡¯re awake! Are you feeling better?¡± ¡°How is she?¡± Baron didn¡¯t wait for an answer. He walked straight to Natalie¡¯s bedside and began flipping through the medical reports Yvonne hadpiled over the past few days, scanning all of Natalie¡¯s recorded data with focused intensity. HereSelf 40 Chapter 40 mes and Doubt Yvonne quickly reported the facts. ¡°Ms. Summers is recovering steadily, but the burns are extensive. We can¡¯t risk touching her carelessly. And every time she wakes up, she¡¯s in excruciating pain. I can¡¯t give her too many painkillers either. Thankfully, you¡¯re finally awake, Mr. Gunn.¡± As Yvonne spoke, Baron¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. Natalie¡¯s body was covered in burns. Her skin was severely fused and damaged-she wasn¡¯t even eligible for a skin graft at this point. But just standing by and watching her suffer¡­ he couldn¡¯t breathe properly with that thought stuck in his chest. Whoever had hurt her needed to pay. Even if Natalie nned to take revenge herself someday, that didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t start collecting interest now. ¡°Go investigate the exact cause of the fire that injured Natalie. The reports from Phantom were scattered and iplete. I want full details-everything.¡± At the mention of Phantom, Yvonne paused. ¡°I¡¯ll go, Mr. Gunn. I need to know what really happened to my sister in Ocean City.¡± By all logic, Phantom was supposed to be a top-tier agent. Protecting someone like Natalie shouldn¡¯t have cost her life. Yvonne couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. Baron nced at her. ¡°Whatever the results are, I want to be the first to know. And if you ever take your sister¡¯s death out on Natalie, you¡¯ll leave her side. Understood?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Gunn. I¡¯ll take good care of Ms. Summers. I won¡¯t hold anything against her.¡± Yvonne made her position clear. Baron said nothing more and took over Natalie¡¯s treatment himself. Seeing that Baron had no intention of speaking to him, Finn slipped out of the room quietly. Yvonne followed soon after. ¡°Finn,¡± she asked as they walked, ¡°was my sister on another mission before she left for Ocean City?¡± Finn frowned faintly. ¡°What are you getting at?¡± ¡°My sister wouldn¡¯t make rookie mistakes. Both times Ms. Summers was attacked, my sister wasn¡¯t there. That¡¯s not normal.¡± Yvonne had done her homework on Natalie¡¯s incidents. When Sharon arranged to have Natalie¡¯s hand severed, Phantom wasn¡¯t there. When Natalie was drugged and kidnapped, Phantom was also absent. 1/ That wasn¡¯t something apetent bodyguard would let happen-not twice. Finn lowered his voice. ¡°Your sister¡¯s gone. There¡¯s no need to dig too deep. She died saving Natalie. From now on, Mr. Gunn will look after you. As long as you don¡¯t cross his bottom line, your path will be smooth from here on out. Just focus on finding out who kidnapped Natalie-forget the rest.¡± He turned to leave. But Yvonne¡¯s eyes narrowed. Was Finn hiding something? Checktest chapters at F¦Énd£Îovel How could that be? A thread of doubt passed through her mind. She immediately went off to investigate the fire and the details Baron had asked for-but she also resolved to secretly look into Phantom¡¯s death and why she had failed to protect her charge. Whatever the truth was, Yvonne didn¡¯t want to go through life in the dark. Baron adjusted Natalie¡¯s treatment n but didn¡¯t leave her side. Holding her medical chart in his hand, his long, pale fingers clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He looked down at the sleeping Natalie-her brow tightly furrowed, her muscles twitching involuntarily from the burns. His heart ached unbearably. ¡°Still as foolish as you were five years ago.¡± His voice was quiet, but Natalie¡¯s eyes suddenly opened. When she saw him sitting there, she thought it was a hallucination. ¡°Baron?¡± ¡°Well, would you look at that. You actually remember my name. That¡¯s progress.¡± His tone had a sharp edge of sarcasm. But Natalie quickly realized it wasn¡¯t a dream. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± She lit up and tried to sit up, but the motion tugged at her wounds. Her face twisted in pain, and the corners of her lips cracked- blood beading immediately. Baron¡¯s expression changed in an instant. ¡°Don¡¯t move! Do you even know what condition you¡¯re in?¡± He moved to help her up, but stopped short, afraid to touch her and make the injury worse. He hovered awkwardly, clearly agitated. Natalie didn¡¯t get mad at his harsh tone. Instead, she smiled happily. ¡°Why are you smiling? Did the fire fry your brain?¡± He couldn¡¯t stand the sight of that smile. That kind of bright, radiant smile didn¡¯t belong on a face covered in burn scars. But Natalie felt her eyes sting. If not for him, she would¡¯ve been dead. Even though she was barely alive now, she still owed him her life. ¡°Baron, I¡¯m just d you¡¯re okay. Please don¡¯t do anything so reckless again. We¡¯ve barely met. You didn¡¯t have to almost die saving me.¡± ¡°Natalie, are you saying I should¡¯ve minded my own business?¡± His face darkened instantly. HereSelf 41 Chapter 41 A New Face He remembered how, even in the middle of surgery, Natalie had murmured Jensen¡¯s name over and over again. The thought made his chest ze with fury, and the temperature in the room seemed to plummet. Natalie noticed the shift immediately and rushed to exin. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I-¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Baron interrupted. ¡°Whatever you meant to say, whatever you think you¡¯re feeling-let it go. If you want to fully recover, it¡¯ll take a long time. Rest and surgery. I¡¯ve already contacted Witch Doctor. Once your body¡¯s stable, he¡¯ll perform the skin grafts. Your face might not look the same afterward. But if you want it to, Witch Doctor might be able to restore it.¡± Natalie paused. She raised a hand instinctively, trying to touch her face-but she stopped halfway and let it drop again. Her skin couldn¡¯t handle the pressure. Even a light touch could cause damage. What is she now, really? A monster? A child would cry just looking at her. If she¡¯d survived, it was only because of Baron. She owed him her life. But since the fire hadn¡¯t killed her, she wasn¡¯t going to let what Sharon and Jensen did slide. The old Natalie was gone. Whether her face could be restored or not didn¡¯t matter anymore. ¡°Baron, I want a new face.¡± Before she turned eighteen, she was the misidentified daughter of the Summers family. After that, she was the gilded canary Jensen kept under lock and key. Even though she never relied on Jensen for support-and even sacrificed everything for him-in the public eye, she was always someone he protected. Then the fire at twenty-three severed her from Jensen forever-and left scars she couldn¡¯t erase. Original content can be found at F?nd-Novel From now on, she would belong to no one but herself. Baron saw the determination in her eyes and finally rxed a little. ¡°Skin grafts and facial reconstruction are painful. The process is long and grueling. Are you sure about this, Natalie?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. Thank you, Baron. I know you didn¡¯t save me to hear me say that, but right now it¡¯s all I have to offer. Witch Doctor never helps anyone without a price. You can contact him for me, but I¡¯ll negotiate with him myself.¡± Natalie knew the rules Witch Doctor lived by. Baron¡¯s tone was calm. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with thatter. First, focus on healing for the next month. Don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Natalie nodded. ¡°Close your eyes and rest. That¡¯s what you need right now. If the pain bes unbearable, tell me. I¡¯ll have someone bring you pain relief sticks.¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. I want to remember this pain. Every single moment of it.¡± She bit down on her lip. Her eyes were steely. But when she looked at Baron again, there was a flicker of warmth in them. ¡°Baron, I made you something to thank you. It might be thest piece I ever design.¡± He froze. He remembered her mentioning a giftst time they¡¯d met-but he had assumed it was just something she¡¯d said in passing. Now it turned out she hadn¡¯t been bluffing¡­ ¡°What did you make me?¡± A strange anticipation bloomed in his chest-mixed with a flicker of joy he didn¡¯t quite know how to ce. A gift? It had been years since anyone had given him one. This was different from the things he demanded from others. This was something Natalie had created herself-just for him. Baron leaned in close. His gaze was so clear, so focused, that Natalie felt like she was staring into the eyes of a child. She couldn¡¯t help but smile a little, even though it hurt. There was a warmth in her chest she couldn¡¯t exin. ¡°I designed a pair of cufflinks for you. They¡¯re with an old craftsman I¡¯ve worked with for years. By now, they should be finished. I¡¯ll give you the number-you can just say I sent you.¡± She wished she could see what those cufflinks looked like on him. She would never draw again. But thankfully, she¡¯dpleted the sketches before the fire and had the craftsman start on them. She used to worry she¡¯d never have the chance to give them to him. But now, seeing him here, she knew a pair of cufflinks couldn¡¯t possibly repay him for saving her life-but she still wanted him to have them. Baron¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You designed them just for me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± She nodded, and he couldn¡¯t stop the slight lift of his lips. Even the tiny mole at the corner of his eye seemed to burn a deeper red. ¡°Give me the phone number and the address. I¡¯ll go pick them up myself.¡± He sounded eager now. To Natalie, he really did seem like a child again. She couldn¡¯t move. She needed time to recover. She couldn¡¯t show her face yet. And she definitely couldn¡¯t let the world know she was alive. But Baron could go. ¡°All right. Just tell them you¡¯re my client. I have a senior partner in Murica. She receives all my deliveries. The package should include the design sheet and an order form with my signature and watermark. Baron¡­ for now, I want to stay hidden.¡± HereSelf 42 Chapter 42 A Secret Meeting Natalie¡¯s words made Baron understand immediately. ¡°I see. You need to rest now. You don¡¯t want the cufflinks to expose that you¡¯re alive and give Jensen the chance to hound you again, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Natalie was surprised at how quickly Baron grasped her thoughts. It was almost as if the two of them shared some unspoken understanding. And yet they hadn¡¯t known each other for long. Baron didn¡¯t raise any objections. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll go now. Stay here and rest. When Ie back, I¡¯ll bring you something good to eat.¡± Natalie couldn¡¯t help but smile. Whether she could eat or not wasn¡¯t the point-his tone made her feel like a child being carefully looked after. Jensen had once spoiled her endlessly too, but in the end she learned she had only ever been his second choice. With Baron, she only felt gratitude. She didn¡¯t want to think about anything else for now. Discover more novels at find~novel Seeing she was tired, Baron pulled the nket over her and called Yvonne in to care for her. Then he left the room. Finn rushed to meet him as soon as he stepped out. ¡°Mr. Gunn, are you sure you¡¯re fully recovered? Maybe you should rest a little longer?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m going out.¡± Baron didn¡¯t stop walking. Finn froze. ¡°Mr. Gunn, where are you going? I¡¯ll drive you. I¡¯m worried about your condition.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. If I woke up, that means Shauna saw my form, used Natalie¡¯s blood as the catalyst, and the trial seeded. That means my body is fine.¡± By the time he finished speaking, he was already at the door. He pulled out his car keys and said to Finn, ¡°You don¡¯t need to follow. I¡¯m going to Grant International Holdings.¡± The moment he heard it, Finn¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Mr. Gunn, where?¡± ¡°Grant International Holdings.¡± Baron started the engine. But Finn immediately blocked the car. ¡°Mr. Gunn, you can¡¯t go! The people at Grant International Holdings would love nothing more than to see you dead. Last time you barely escaped alive. Wouldn¡¯t you just be walking into a trap?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too timid.¡± Baron¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not going there to fight. I¡¯m going there to find a woman. Move.¡± ¡°What?¡± Finn almost doubted his own ears. Mr. Gunn¡­ looking for a woman? Impossible. Natalie alone had been shocking enough. Everyone knew Mr. Gunn had always been cold to women. Could there be someone else now? While Finn stood in disbelief, Baron had already driven off. He arrived at the headquarters of Grant International Holdings. The towering skyscrapers loomed ahead, bringing back memories of the ruthless assassination attempts and the crushing of his business only days before. A dark chill flickered through his eyes. One day, the top executives of Grant International Holdings would wee him in person. Baron parked nearby and dialed the number Natalie had given him. ¡°Hello, this is Renee. Who¡¯s calling?¡± Her voice was clear, polite, and a little distant. Baron had already looked into her-Renee was clean, simple, and kind. She¡¯d gone to school with Natalie and had looked after her often. On Natalie¡¯s ount, Baron spoke inly. ¡°Underground parking, first level, spot 201. I have news about Natalie.¡± Then he hung up. Within ten minutes, Renee came rushing down. ¡°Sir, are you the one who said you had news of Natalie?¡± She wasn¡¯t remarkable in appearance, but she carried a unique air about her-something faintly reminiscent of Natalie herself. Baron opened the car door. As soon as she got in, Renee blurted out, ¡°Natalie and I had arranged to meet here at Grant International Holdings. She was supposed to fly over four days ago. I haven¡¯t been able to reach her since. What happened to her?¡± So the fire hadn¡¯t been reported. Baron¡¯s eyes darkened. A life-silenced just like that. Jensen¡¯s doing? Or Sharon¡¯s? His pale, elegant fingers curled slightly, and he spoke in a low voice, recounting what had happened to Natalie. By the time he finished, Renee was trembling, her eyes filling with tears. ¡°Can I see her?¡± ¡°Not yet. When she¡¯s fully recovered, I¡¯ll bring her to you. But until then, you must keep her survival a secret.¡± Baron¡¯s aura turned deadly cold. Renee flinched under it. She didn¡¯t know why Natalie was tied to someone like this man-but then she thought of Jensen. She nodded quickly. ¡°All right. I won¡¯t tell anyone. But when Natalie is better, you must let me see her right away.¡± HereSelf 43 Chapter 43 Proof of Trust ¡°Fine. Now give me her things.¡± Baron didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with his demand. But Renee frowned slightly. ¡°Who are you? What¡¯s your rtionship with Natalie?¡± She could feel the dangerous aura rolling off him, heavy with bloodshed. Even though she was afraid, she couldn¡¯t stop worrying about Natalie. Natalie had always been like a flower raised in a greenhouse. Jensen hadn¡¯t wanted her in the spotlight, which was why she¡¯d been bullied and suppressed for so long. Now, how had she gotten involved with a man as dangerous as Baron? Renee hadn¡¯t voiced her suspicions, but Baron caught the guarded look in her eyes. He was d Natalie had a friend who truly cared for her, but he didn¡¯t want to waste words. ¡°I slept with her. What do you think our rtionship is?¡± Renee¡¯s eyes widened. No one knew Natalie¡¯s modesty better than she did. She had loved Jensen for five years without ever giving herself to him-yet she had slept with this man? ¡°You¡¯re sure you¡¯re not lying?¡± ¡°I have no reason to lie.¡± ¡°Then¡­ do you love her?¡± The question made Baron pause. In a low voice, he answered, ¡°She was my first woman. And she will be the only woman in my life.¡± It wasn¡¯t the direct answer Renee had expected, but it silenced her nheless. She studied him again. He was dangerous-that much was clear. But he was also striking, with that unmistakable beauty, especially the small mole at the corner of his eye, as vivid as a drop of cinnabar. Renee steadied herself. ¡°I¡¯ll give you her things-but only if you let me talk to her first.¡± Baron didn¡¯t mind her caution. He called Yvonne. ¡°Has Natalie woken up? If she has, let her take the phone.¡± 1 Updates are released by Find[F]ovel Yvonne saw Natalie¡¯s eyes move. She knew Natalie couldn¡¯t sleep with the burns tormenting her, so she held the phone to her. ¡°Ms. Summers, it¡¯s Mr. Gunn.¡± Natalie couldn¡¯t hold the phone herself, so Yvonne switched it to speaker. ¡°Baron.¡± At the sound of her voice, Renee¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°Natalie! Are you okay? How are you now?¡± Hearing Renee¡¯s voice made Natalie¡¯s nose sting. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Baron is my friend. Give him my things. I can¡¯t see you right now, but once I¡¯m healed, I¡¯lle to you.¡± Renee was the only friend she had left. ¡°Okay,¡± Renee said quickly. ¡°I just needed to confirm his identity. Natalie, take care of yourself. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± ¡°Thank you. As for Grant International Holdings, please withdraw my application.¡± ¡°Why? I could keep your spot open.¡± Renee thought it was a shame to waste Natalie¡¯s talent. But Natalie answered with a heavy voice. ¡°My hand was shattered by Sharon. I¡¯ll never hold a pen again.¡± ¡°What?¡± Renee trembled with fury. ¡°How could Sharon do that? And Jensen didn¡¯t stop her?¡± ¡°Jensen said he would take care of me for the rest of my life. He said it didn¡¯t matter if I could no longer draw. And he forbade me from suing Sharon. You know how it is in Ocean City-if he says no, I have no choice.¡± Renee was furious at her friend¡¯s suffering. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jensen won¡¯t hear a word from me about you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After the call ended, Renee gave Baron the package Natalie had sent her. When he heard that Sharon had broken Natalie¡¯s hand, and that Jensen had silenced her so brutally, his expression turned dark and terrifying. He took the package, ced it in the trunk, and lit a cigarette once he was back in the car. Smoke curled around him, hiding his face from view. He sent Yvonne a message. ¡°Take good care of Natalie. For the next few days, follow my new prescription for her treatment. If it doesn¡¯t work, add pain relief sticks.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Gunn,¡± Yvonne replied instantly. Baron sent another message. ¡°I¡¯ll be in Ocean City for the next few days. Don¡¯t tell anyone where I¡¯ve gone-not even Finn or Shauna.¡± Yvonne froze for a moment. Finn and Shauna were the people Mr. Gunn trusted most. Why was he keeping even them in the dark? But Yvonne was obedient. ¡°Yes, Mr. Gunn. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take good care of Ms. Summers.¡± ¡°Stay by her side. Don¡¯t repeat your sister¡¯s mistake. If anything happens to Natalie under your watch, you know what I¡¯ll do.¡± The words stung. So Mr. Gunn had never forgiven her sister¡¯s failure. 3/ HereSelf 44 Chapter 44 The Battle for the Cufflinks ¡°Mr. Gunn, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll protect Ms. Summers with my life.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your life. I only want her safe. If she gets hurt under my roof, then not only you-all of you-will answer for it.¡± After saying that, Baron booked a ticket and drove straight to the airport. The flight departed on time. Once onboard, Baron pulled out the order form Natalie had given him, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied it. Several hourster, hended in Ocean City and headed directly to Foster. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m a client of Designer Sunny. I¡¯m here to collect the cufflinks she designed for me.¡± Baron handed over the order form. Foster froze when he saw that it really was Sunny¡¯s order. ¡°But¡­ I already sent those cufflinks to Mr. Luke.¡± Baron¡¯s face darkened instantly. ¡°Did Sunny instruct you to hand them over to him?¡± His voice was cold, carrying such an aura of menace that Foster shivered involuntarily. ¡°N-no, but all of Sunny¡¯s designs have always been delivered to Luke Corp for Mr. Luke to sign for.¡± ¡°This was a personalmission. I came here with Sunny¡¯s signed order, and you¡¯re telling me they were sent to Jensen?¡± Baron gave a coldugh. He didn¡¯t raise his voice, but Foster felt crushed by the pressure all the same. ¡°I-I¡¯ll call Mr. Luke right now.¡± Hands trembling, Foster dialed Jensen. Jensen was at the hospital. Sharon had just been wheeled out of surgery. The doctor, faced with Jensen¡¯s icy expression, broke into a nervous sweat. ¡°Mr. Luke, Ms. Summers¡¯s cancer has spread. For now, she must avoid any emotional shocks. Please make sure she keeps calm.¡± Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed tightly. ¡°As long as she doesn¡¯t throw herself in my way, I won¡¯t bother her.¡± The doctor blinked. Something about his tone seemed¡­ off. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find1Novel On the other end, Foster¡¯s nervous voice came through. ¡°Mr. Luke, about those cufflinks-did you receive them? I¡¯m sorry, but they were a personalmission for another client. That client is here right now to pick them up. Could you return them?¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes went hard, the killing intent radiating from him filling the room. He thought he must have misheard, Those cufflinks-Natalie had designed them for him. How could they possibly belong to someone else? But then he remembered her expression when she had drawn the designs, the subtle details. Had she already given up on him back then? Were the cufflinks never meant for him at all? A sharp pain seized his chest. ¡°Where is the client?¡± His voice was hoarse. Foster answered quickly. ¡°He¡¯s here with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right there. But I won¡¯t hand the cufflinks over. Ask him how much he wants for them-I¡¯ll buy them.¡± These cufflinks were thest design Natalie had left behind. There was no way he would give them up. Baron¡¯s coldugh carried clearly over the line. ¡°I¡¯m not selling. They were custom-made for me. Return what belongs to me, Mr. Luke.¡± Even if Jensen¡¯s touch had already tainted them, even if they felt soiled, they were still Natalie¡¯s design for him. He would not part with them-not a single piece. Jensen frowned. The voice was familiar, but he couldn¡¯t ce it. ¡°We¡¯ll talk in person.¡± ¡°No need, Mr. Luke. I don¡¯t want to meet you. If I did, I¡¯m not sure I could stop myself¡­* Stop myself from killing you. The thought stayed locked inside Baron¡¯s chest. Every time he remembered Natalie¡¯s body burned and scarred beyond recognition, rage consumed him. He wanted to tear Jensen apart with his bare hands. 2/ Baron¡¯s voice came back low and deadly. ¡°Jensen, by sunset today, you¡¯ll return my cufflinks. I¡¯ll send you the address. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll pay the price.¡± He hung up and left. Jensen hadn¡¯t been threatened like this since taking over Luke Corp and bing Ocean City¡¯s most powerful man. Who was this stranger who dared speak to him that way? ¡°Foster. What did the client look like?¡± Jensen¡¯s tone was frigid. He clutched the cufflinks so tightly that the pin jabbed into his finger, blood dripping down unnoticed. This was Natalie¡¯sst design. He would never let it go. Foster stammered. ¡°Mr. Luke, I don¡¯t have the words. But he was¡­ very handsome. Carried himself with a terrifying aura, all killing intent. He scared me so badly I didn¡¯t dare look too closely at his face.¡± HereSelf 45 Chapter 45 The Wrong Move ¡°Send me the surveince footage.¡± Foster looked uneasy. ¡°Mr. Luke, the cameras broke down. They haven¡¯t been fixed yet.¡± Jensen felt a surge of frustration choke his chest. Why did it seem like ever since Natalie¡¯s death, nothing in his life had gone right? ¡°Give me the customer¡¯s address.¡± This time Foster didn¡¯t hesitate. He sent it straight to Jensen. The address showed a five-star hotel. Jensen decided he would go there himself and confront this man. Baron, however, wasn¡¯t thinking about Jensen at all. His mood was already dark. Natalie¡¯s first personal design for him-those cufflinks-had been tainted by Jensen¡¯s hands. Filthy. But since it was Natalie¡¯s final creation, even if he never wore them, he would never let Jensen keep them. Jensen didn¡¯t deserve them. Baron realized he was being greedy. He wanted Natalie to keep designing things for him. Not just cufflinks. But her hands¡­ His brow furrowed. He went straight to the hospital where Natalie¡¯s hand had once been treated. The halls were crowded with peopleing and going. Not wanting to draw attention, Baron slipped on a white coat, pulled on a mask, and walked naturally toward the office of the attending physician he¡¯d learned about. Moving with such ease, no one thought to stop him. Inside the office, Baron went straight to the filing cab. He quickly found Natalie¡¯s medical record. The moment his eyesnded on the description of her right hand-bloodied, mangled, almost unrecognizable-his vision burned red. That kind of injury wasn¡¯t an ident. It had been deliberate. Phantom had been one of his most reliable operatives, and yet she¡¯d disappeared right when Natalie needed her most. That didn¡¯t N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find[f]ovel make sense. Baron¡¯s gaze turned icy. He snapped pictures of the medical file with his phone, returned it neatly to the cab, and left the office. Meanwhile, Sharon had been waiting in her hospital room for a long time, growing more impatient by the minute when Jensen didn¡¯t appear. ¡°Where¡¯s Jensen? Why isn¡¯t he here yet? Did you even tell him my cancer¡¯s spread?¡± She grabbed a nurse by the arm, her voice shrill with hysteria. The nurse jumped, frightened. ¡°Mr. Luke has already been here. He discussed your condition with the attending doctor.¡± At once Sharon broke into a smile. ¡°I knew it. He still cares about me. In his heart, I¡¯m still the one. The moment something happens to me, he¡¯ll drop everything toe. So where is he? When will hee see me?¡± Her eyes shone with eager hope. The nurse frowned slightly. She didn¡¯t know what had gone on between Sharon and Jensen, but Sharon¡¯s current state of mind unsettled her. ¡°Ms. Summers, Mr. Luke has already left.¡± ¡°What did you say? That¡¯s impossible! He couldn¡¯t have left without seeing me.¡± Sharon shoved her away, refusing to believe it. ¡°If he came to ask about my condition, that means he still cares. He wouldn¡¯t leave without seeing me. You¡¯re lying, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re lying to me!¡± She raised her hand, about to strike the nurse. ¡°You bitch! Did you block Jensen froming in? Did you stop him?¡± Terrified, the nurse bolted out of the room. Sharon¡¯s fury boiled over. She swept everything off the table, crashing it to the floor. ¡°Why? Why is it like this? Why?¡± Mrs. Summers had rushed over the moment she heard Sharon was hospitalized. When she arrived, she found her daughter in a frenzy, and hurried forward to hold her. ¡°Sharon, what¡¯s wrong? Who made you upset?¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Sharon copsed into her arms, sobbing. dixin Natalie¡¯s grave, scatter her ashes! Otherwise I¡¯ll never be rid of this anger!¡± Mrs. Summers blinked, startled. Then she sighed, troubled. ¡°Sharon, I know you¡¯ve been wronged. But you can¡¯t touch Natalie¡¯s grave. Don¡¯t be foolish. You should never have let her die in that fire. To truly break someone, it¡¯s easier when they¡¯re alive. By killing her, you forced Jensen into guilt. That¡¯s where you made your mistake.¡± Baron had been on his way out. But hearing the conversation in the corridor, he froze. Even dead, Natalie couldn¡¯t rest because of these women? And Mrs. Summers too-like mother, like daughter. He¡¯stopped in his tracks, his expression hard. Inside, Sharon ranted freely, unaware she was being overheard. In her mind, she was Jensen¡¯s beloved. Now that she was in the hospital, surely his bodyguards were stationed outside to protect her. So she spoke without a shred of caution. HereSelf 46 Chapter 46 The Trap ¡°Mom, I hated Natalie so much back then. You don¡¯t even know-she turned out to be Designer Sunny! As long as she was around, Jensen had to rely on her to keep Luke Corp thriving. I couldn¡¯t stand her having any more contact with him.¡± -? ????? ?? ? Just mentioning it made Sharon¡¯s whole body shake with rage. She had thought Sunny belonged to Jensen, and had wanted to take on that name to add weight to her own reputation. Who could¡¯ve guessed that Sunny was really Natalie, that wretched woman? Natalie had only reached that level because she had stolen Sharon¡¯s rightful eighteen years. Now Sharon was only taking back what was hers-what was so wrong about that? Jensen had even agreed, had even nned to publicly dere her as Sunny. But Natalie had ruined it all. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find[F]ovel Even though Jensen had used his connections to suppress the scandal and the fiasco at the press conference, Sharon still couldn¡¯t swallow the humiliation. ¡°Mom, if you hadn¡¯t mixed us up eighteen years ago, then all of Natalie¡¯s aplishments would¡¯ve been mine!¡± She shoved Mrs. Summers angrily, almost knocking her over. But when Mrs. Summers saw the hatred zing in her daughter¡¯s eyes, guilt flickered across her face. ¡°Sharon, I didn¡¯t know there had been a mix-up back then! You¡¯re right-without the Summers family¡¯s support, Natalie would never have be Sunny. But my dear, if you wanted that title, we could have nned it carefully. There was no need to kill her. If she had to die, it should¡¯ve been quietly, with everyone believing she¡¯d run off with some man. That would¡¯ve been the perfect oue.¡± Sharon waved her off irritably. ¡°Well, she¡¯s already dead, so what¡¯s the point of saying this now? What you should be doing is helping me win Jensen back. Ever since Natalie died, he¡¯s been treating me terribly. Even now, lying here like this, he hasn¡¯te to see me once.¡± Mrs. Summers frowned with concern. On her way here she had overheard her husband saying Luke Corp had just withdrawn its cooperation with the Summers family. Mr. Summers had already rushed off to Luke Corp to ask why. If Jensen no longer cared for Sharon, then their whole family could be ruined. ¡°Sharon, listen to me,¡± Mrs. Summers said quickly. ¡°Natalie¡¯s death must have hit Jensen hard. They were together five years-he can¡¯t just erase that. For now, you need to hold back, endure a little. Try to sleep with him. If you can get pregnant with his child, then your position as Mrs. Luke will be secure.¡± She sighed and went on, ¡°Even if Jensen still feels for Natalie, she¡¯s dead. A dead woman can¡¯tpete with a man¡¯s own blood. Besides, if Luke Corp really has withdrawn cooperation with our family, that¡¯s a very bad sign. Sharon, you must hold onto Jensen no matter what.¡± Sharon froze. ¡°Jensen canceled cooperation with our family?¡± ¡°Yes. Your father¡¯s already gone to Luke Corp, but we don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll even be able to see Jensen. That¡¯s why you have to do your part too.¡± Sharon frowned. ¡°Mom, the nurse told me Jensen came when I was in the emergency room. He even spoke with the doctor about my condition. That means he still cares about me. Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do-go home for now. I¡¯ll stage another scene to draw Jensen over, and then I¡¯ll make sure things happen between us. It just so happens I¡¯m ovting these two days.¡± Mrs. Summers brightened at that, nodding with a smile. ¡°Good. I believe in you. Tell me what you need.¡± ¡°I know. Now go-I need to think.¡± Sharon waved her off, sending her mother away. Baron, who had heard everything from the hallway, turned and went straight to the nurses¡¯ station. It was empty. He grabbed a syringe and a vial of tranquilizer from the pharmacy, then wheeled a cart down to Sharon¡¯s room. Inside, Sharon thought her mother hade back. She was already annoyed. ¡°What is it now?¡± ¡°Injection.¡± Baron¡¯s voice was calm. Sharon blinked. ¡°Who are you? Where¡¯s Dr. Johnson?¡± She had only been pretending to be sick. What injection? But Baron, dressed in a doctor¡¯s coat and moving with such casual confidence, looked perfectly legitimate-just someone who¡¯d walked into the wrong room. Sharon frowned irritably. ¡°You must have the wrong room. I don¡¯t need an injection! Get out!¡± She only ever yed the sweet, gentle patient in front of Jensen. When she was in a bad mood, she had no patience for anyone- not even her own mother. Baron only smirked, filled the syringe with the tranquilizer, flicked out the air, and stepped toward her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? I said you¡¯ve got the wrong room! Get out!¡± HereSelf 47 Chapter 47 Human Hell When Sharon saw Baron step up to her, syringe in hand, really about to inject her, she exploded. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m Jensen¡¯s wife, the president of Luke Corp. If you dare cross me, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t survive in Ocean City!¡± She threw out her title, convinced it would make him back off. But Baron acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard a word. He drove the needle straight into her arm. ¡°You-¡± Sharon tried to swing at him, but Baron was too fast. Just as she lifted her arm, he had already pressed the plunger down. Then t palm cracked across her face. The sharp p echoed in the room. Sharon was knocked t onto the bed. Follow current nov?ls on find(?)ovel Her cheek burned, the sting telling her this was no nightmare. She had actually been struck. Wide-eyed, she stared at him in disbelief. ¡°You hit me? You-some lowly doctor-dared to hit me?¡± Ever since she¡¯d returned to the Summers family at eighteen, her parents had bent over backward to make up for those missir years. She¡¯d been spoiled, coddled, given everything she asked for. Now she was Jensen¡¯s wife, Ocean City¡¯s queen. How could she endure such humiliation? Shrieking, she leapt up and wed toward Baron¡¯s face. His eyes darkened. With a sharp kick, his long leg mmed into her stomach. Her body flew back, smacking against the wall before crashing to the floor. She wailed in pain, unable to rise. Baron vaulted over the bed, nting his foot firmly on her chest. Murder radiated from him. ¡°Sharon, that p was just a gift. Now¡­ wee to hell.¡± Though his mask still covered his face, his striking eyes and the mole at the corner revealed him instantly. ¡°You? You¡¯re the man who helped that bitch Natalie at the press conference!¡± Pain seared her gut, but fury burned hotter. ¡°Guards! Are you all dead out there? Arrest this man!¡± Her voice rose in a scream. But Baron only smiled faintly. A prick at her neck, and darkness swallowed her vision. When she came to, she was strapped to a cold iron bed. Her wrists and ankles were shackled. ¡°What-who are you? Let me go! I¡¯m Jensen¡¯s wife! If you dare harm me, he¡¯ll never let you live!¡± Fear crept in. Her arrogance had alwayse from the Summers family and Jensen¡¯s favor. Now, stripped of it, she was nothing but prey. Bound, helpless, in a bleak room with a cracked ceiling above, memories wed at her. Her first family-the one that had raised her by mistake-had been poor, brutal, and favored sons over daughters. Beatings had been her childhood. That was why, when she learned she was the Summers family¡¯s true daughter, her mind twisted. Why had I, born with a silver spoon, lived like that? Why had Natalie, that slut, enjoyed my eighteen years instead? The Summers¡¯ love and indulgence had buried those memories. But now, bound and trembling, she felt like that beaten little girl again. Her body shook. Baron sat in a chair not far away, watching her with a cold smile. ¡°So, you do know fear.¡± At the sound of his voice, she turned her head sharply. He sat there in ck,zy in posture but sharp with killing intent. She swallowed hard. ¡°What do you want? Tell me, whatever it is-I¡¯ll give it to you. Just let me go!¡± ¡°Let you go? When you had Natalie¡¯s hand smashed, did you ever think of sparing her?¡± His eyes lifted, gleaming like des of ice as they cut into her. At Natalie¡¯s name, Sharon flinched. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about! Natalie¡¯s hand was broken by rk-it had nothing to do with me!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. You didn¡¯t swing the hammer yourself. But that doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯ll get to feel the pain she felt.¡± Baron rose to his feet. His height pressed down on her like a mountain. ¡°What are you going to do? I¡¯m warning you-hurting me is a crimal And I¡¯m loncon¡¯s wifol If you touch me ho won¡¯t forgive vo HereSelf 48 Chapter 48 Retribution Sharon once again clung to the Luke family¡¯s name. Baron¡¯s lips curved into a dark, wicked smile. ¡°Perfect. I never nned on sparing Jensen anyway. I¡¯ll just start with you.¡± As he spoke, he stepped toward her. Only then did Sharon notice what was dragging at his feet-a massive iron hammer. The scrape of metal against the floor echoed in the empty room, chilling her to the bone. She froze, terror flooding her. ¡°No! Don¡¯t! Please, let me go! I¡¯ll do anything you want, just don¡¯t hurt me! Natalie¡¯s already dead-whatever you do now, she¡¯ll never know. How about this-I¡¯ll give you money, a lot of money! Just let me go!¡± For the first time in years, Sharon felt genuine fear. This man was insane. She could see the madness burning in his eyes. And she couldn¡¯t lose her hand-she wasn¡¯t a designer, but she knew how much pain it would bring. Baron smirked at her pleas. ¡°Oh? A lot of money? And how much is a lot?¡± ¡°Name a price! Whatever you ask, I¡¯ll give it. If the Summers family can¡¯t, then the Luke family can!¡± Seeing him pause, as if in thought, Sharon¡¯s heart leapt with desperate hope. Baron¡¯s voice came cold. ¡°And how much do you think you¡¯re worth?¡± ¡°Ten million! I¡¯ll give you ten million!¡± She blurted it out, afraid hesitation would cost her dearly. Baron sneered. ¡°So you¡¯re only worth ten million?¡± ¡°No, no! Fifty million! A hundred million! I¡¯ll give you a hundred million, just please let me go!¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find(?)ovel She scrambled to raise the stakes, her voice shaking. Watching her grovel, Baron felt disgust coil in his gut. ¡°Someone like you¡­ what right do you have to evenpare yourself to Natalie? You¡¯re not worth a single finger of hers.¡± His words stung, but Sharon dared not shout back. If he would let her live, she¡¯d endure anything. But Baron only thought of Natalie-and his rage boiled hotter. This pathetic creature was the one who left her scarred and broken? She isn¡¯t even worthy to breathe the same air as her. His eyes turned to ice. Before Sharon could react, he swung the hammer down onto her right hand. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The blownded with a sickening crack. Sharon hadn¡¯t imagined retribution woulde so fast-too fast to even scream before pain consumed her. The agony was blinding, the kind that begged for unconsciousness, but cruelly she remained awake. Her bones shattered under the strike. Baron¡¯s voice was a de. ¡°A hundred million? You¡¯re worth nothing. When Natalie¡¯s hand was smashed, her pain was far worse than this.¡± He raised the hammer again. Sharon¡¯s shrill screams filled the room. Her body convulsed, drenched in sweat, the chains holding her fast. Blood sprayed across Baron¡¯s face, the crimson setting off the mole at his eye-like the mark of death itself. ¡°No! Please, I beg you, let me go! Please!¡± Her sobs turned to incoherent wails. But Baron felt no pity, no mercy. When he hadn¡¯t been at Natalie¡¯s side, she had been left to suffer like this, beaten and broken. And Jensen-Jensen had dared to forbid her from even seeking justice. Unforgivable. If thew had denied her a path, then he, the underworld¡¯s king, would deliver vengeance by his own hand. The hammer rose and fell again. Sharon¡¯s cries weakened, then fell silent as her body finally gave out, mercifully fainting away. Her right hand was shattered, bones splintered, flesh mangled beyond recognition. Baron left her barely breathing. After cleaning the scene, he dumped her broken body at Jensen¡¯s front door. Meanwhile, Jensen was focused elsewhere. He had gone to find Foster, but then remembered the design sketch. He couldn¡¯t believe the cufflinks hadn¡¯t been meant for him. He had to see the original drawing. Ignoring Sharon¡¯s condition entirely, Jensen drove straight to the Grand Pavilion. Natalie had always had a habit of backing up her designs on herputer. He hadn¡¯t found herptop, but he knew her cloud password. Quickly, he located the cufflink design file. Staring at the drawing, he saw no initials-no mark of his name. Jensen¡¯s chest tightened painfully. ¡°They really weren¡¯t for me¡­ Natalie, why? You told me you¡¯d only ever design for one man.¡± The truth burned. He couldn¡¯t ept it. ¡°No. No matter what it costs, I¡¯ll keep these cufflinks. They¡¯ll never leave me.¡± His eyes reddened again as he clutched Natalie¡¯s design in his hands. HereSelf 49 Chapter 49 Suspicions The man was staying in a five-star hotel. For Natalie to have personally designed cufflinks for him, his status had to be extraordinary, and he certainly wasn¡¯t short of money. How could Jensen possibly persuade such a man to give them up? The thought left him restless and agitated. Just then, security called. ¡°Mr. Luke, there¡¯s a woman lying outside the Grand Pavilion. Her right arm is covered in blood. You shoulde take a look. I think it¡¯s the same woman who tried to force her way in here the other day.¡± Jensen froze. ¡°Sharon? What happened to her?¡± ¡°Not sure. Looks like her right hand was smashed to pieces-bloody, a real mess. It¡¯s terrifying.¡± The words jolted Jensen upright so violently that the tablet on hisp ttered to the floor, forgotten. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°Her right hand¡¯s been shattered-blood everywhere. It¡¯s gruesome.¡± The security guard¡¯s clearer exnation made Jensen¡¯s heart pound. Not long ago, Sharon had been the one who ordered Natalie¡¯s right hand broken. Back then, he had forced Natalie to swallow her pain, forbidding her to press charges. Now Sharony mangled in the same way. Could it be¡­ Natalie was still alive? The possibility made his pulse race. ¡°I¡¯ming right now. Call an ambnce!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Luke.¡± He hung up and ran out the door. He had to see Sharon¡¯s injury with his own eyes. If it mirrored Natalie¡¯s, then it meant only one thing-Natalie might still be alive. The thought filled him with wild hope. If Natalie lived, he would find her. He had to. hawand recognition When Natalie¡¯s hand had been destroyed, he hadn¡¯t seen it before she went into surgery. The doctors had told him it was pulverized, that she would never hold a pen again. But now, seeing Sharon¡¯s wrecked hand, his chest clenched painfully. Had Natalie looked like this, too, when she was carried in? His body trembled as he stood frozen, afraid to even touch Sharon, terrified his fingers might destroy what was left. The ambnce arrived quickly. He watched the medics lift Sharon inside and climbed in after her. She was rushed into emergency surgery as soon as they reached the hospital. The rightful source is find?novel Jensen¡¯s face was like stone, shadowed and grim. ¡°Sharon was already hospitalized. Who attacked her? And who dumped her at the Grand Pavilion? I want the full surveince footage-nothing missing.¡± Hansel stiffened, then hurried off to check. ¡°Wait.¡± Jensen stopped him suddenly. ¡°Find me the surveince from when Natalie was admitted, too. I want to see the footage from before she was taken into the ER.¡± Hansel hesitated, then asked carefully, ¡°Mr. Luke, should we notify the police about Ms. Summers?¡± ¡°No. Lock this down. No one is to leak word that Sharon¡¯s hand was smashed. If anyone asks, we¡¯ll say she fell and broke it herself. In his mind, the image of Natalie¡¯s face came back-anguished, resentful, crushed beneath the weight of hismand not to pursue charges. Was it her? Natalie, was it you who returned? Because I silenced you, forced you to endure that pain in silence-was this your revenge? No. It couldn¡¯t be. She had been too kind, too gentle, too soft-hearted. She could never have done something this brutal. But that fire¡­ Two voices shed inside him. Part of him longed for it to be true, that Natalie was alive, avenging herself. Another part recoiled, unable to ept that he had driven such a radiant woman to darkness. While Sharon remained in surgery, Hansel returned with the recordings. ¡°Mr. Luke, this is the surveince of Ms. Natalie¡¯s arrival at the hospital. Ms. Summers¡¯s is here too, but there was nothing 2/ suspicious caught on camera.¡± He handed the files to Jensen. Jensen went straight to Natalie¡¯s footage first. She was unconscious on the stretcher, blood dripping from her shattered hand in a trail across the floor. Her hand dangled grotesquely, crushed and twisted, worse even than Sharon¡¯s was now. Jensen tugged at his cor, breathless. Why hadn¡¯t he looked? Why had he forced her to endure humiliation and silence without ever seeing her pain for himself? On the screen, Natalie¡¯s paper-white face wavered before his eyes. His whole body shook. She must have been in agony then. The one who owed Sharon a debt had been him. But he had made Natalie pay it. He had wronged her. HereSelf 50 Chapter 50 Witch Doctor If Natalie were still alive, no matter what she had be, he would stay by her side. Jensen closed the video, his chest tight with suffocating pain. He quickly pulled up Sharon¡¯s footage, desperate to catch even the faintest shadow of Natalie in it. But no matter how many times he reyed the surveince, there wasn¡¯t a single trace of her. How could that be? If it wasn¡¯t Natalie, who else could hate Sharon enough to do this? Who else would crush her hand in the exact same way? Jensen¡¯s mind spun, no answer in sight. Hansel noticed his eyes glued to the tablet and finally spoke. ¡°Mr. Luke, I checked. After Ms. Summers came out of the ER, the only visitor was Mrs. Summers. No one else came. The nurses said Ms. Summers was unstable-she drove them out, so no doctors or staff went in afterward. The next time anyone saw her was when she turned up at the Grand Pavilion. But¡­ this video, it looks like it¡¯s been edited.¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Get someone who knowsputers. I want the original restored-no matter what it takes.¡± His heart was pounding wildly now. He suddenly grabbed Hansel by the cor, his voice trembling. ¡°Natalie¡¯s remains-was DNA ever tested?¡± ¡°No. Ms. Summers insisted it was her and had the body taken for cremation immediately.¡± Hansel¡¯s answer lit a spark of hope inside him. ¡°In that fire¡­ besides Sharon and Natalie, was anyone else inside?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Find out!¡± Jensen¡¯s mind raced. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find_Novel(. If there had been a third person, then maybe the body hadn¡¯t been Natalie¡¯s. Maybe she was still alive. But was that possible? The fire had been so massive. Even from outside, the heat had nearly seared him. Could Natalie really have escaped? He was the only one she had in this world. Was it because of Sharon? Jensen slumped against the wall, crushed by a suffocating weight. Natalie, if you¡¯re still alive, pleasee back to me. I swear I¡¯ll never wrong you again. Do whatever you want, I¡¯ll never stop you. The debts I owe, I¡¯ll pay myself. His eyes were bloodshot, glistening with unshed tears, but there was no one beside him to hear. Hansel watched quietly, shook his head, and left to carry out the task. If only he¡¯d realized sooner. Why now, when it¡¯s toote? Jensen¡¯s gaze stayed locked on the glowing light above the ER door. When it finally flicked off and Sharon was wheeled out, he rushed forward instinctively. The doctor¡¯s face was grave. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Luke. Ms. Summers¡¯s hand was shattered. Even if it heals, she¡¯ll never carry weight with it again. In cold or stormy weather, the pain will be unbearable. Unless¡­ unless Witch Doctor himself were to operate. Then perhaps her hand might still be saved.¡± ¡°Witch Doctor?¡± Jensen froze. That codename was one he knew too well. Five years ago, after his car ident, it had been Witch Doctor who¡¯d saved his life. Without him, Sharon¡¯s rib donation would never have been enough. Of course. And the one who had found Witch Doctor back then¡­ was Natalie. If she were still alive, then maybe-maybe both her hand and Sharon¡¯s could be healed. Jensen¡¯s pulse surged. He had Sharon moved to a room, then immediately called Felix. ¡°Finn, where did Natalie find Witch Doctor back then?¡± Felix blinked in surprise at the question. ¡°I don¡¯t know. At the time, you were unconscious. Whenever Natalie heard a rumor about Witch Doctor, she chased it down. Most were false leads. She exhausted every channel she had, and when another lead came in, we all thought it was fake too. But Natalie went anyway. And she brought Witch Doctor back. But afterward, her body was weak, her face pale-she¡¯d pushed herself too hard.¡± Felix had thought poorly of him. In recent days, he¡¯d even tried calling Natalie, though he never knew what to say. He¡¯d avoided her instead. Now, hearing Witch Doctor mentioned, he couldn¡¯t help but speak up for her again. ¡°Jensen, Natalie-whether it was five years ago or all these years since-she gave everything, for you, for Luke Corp. And then you went and married Sharon. That was beyond cruel. Tell me-what¡¯s be of Natalie now?¡± Jensen¡¯s heart twisted at Felix¡¯s words. HereSelf 51 Desecrated Grave +20 Free Coins He clenched his back teeth, swallowing the stabbing pain in his chest. ¡°I¡¯ll make Natalie happy. Tell me-when she went to find Witch Doctor, did she leave an exact address?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact address. But back then they said Witch Doctor was somewhere in the Ocean City ck market.¡± That was all Jensen needed. He hung up quickly. Could Natalie really still be alive? f she was, then whose body had been burned? And if he found Witch Doctor, could Natalie¡¯s hand be healed? Questions battered his mind, one after another, refusing to stop. All he could do now was wait for Hansel¡¯s investigation. He didn¡¯t notice the flicker on the hospital¡¯s security monitor at the ER door. Baron sat before a screen, watching the hospital¡¯s feed. Hearing Jensen probe Felix about him, his lips curved faintly. ¡°Yvonne, leak word that Witch Doctor is in the Ocean City ck market.¡± He called directly, and Yvonne pushed the rumor through the dark web within minutes. Hansel picked it up almost instantly. ¡°Mr. Luke, rumor has it Witch Doctor is in the Ocean City ck market.¡± Jensen¡¯s pulse leapt with excitement. ¡°How¡¯s the investigation on the fire? Were there any others inside besides Ms. Summers and Natalie?¡± If a third person had been there, Jensen could dare to believe Natalie still lived. But Hansel shook his head. ¡°At the time it was only Ms. Summers and Miss Natalie. That body was most likely hers. And, Mr. Luke, the hackers restored the full surveince. Someone went into Ms. Summers¡¯s room-a man in a mask and white coat. But I checked: no one at the hospital recognized him. His face was blurred, hard to see clearly.¡± Jensen¡¯s heart, burning hot a moment ago, iced over. This text is hosted at fin?novel Not Natalie. 1:00 pm ¡ê Chapter 51 Desecrated Grave Then she really was dead? But who was the man who had taken revenge for her? Jensen burned to know. ¡°Find him. No matter the cost, uncover that doctor¡¯s identity.¡± His fists clenched so hard that nails dug into flesh, blood welling without him feeling it. When had Natalie met another man? Why hadn¡¯t he known? The doctor standing nearby perked up at Hansel¡¯s mention of Witch Doctor. ¡°Mr. Luke, if Witch Doctor really is in Ocean City, then Ms. Summers¡¯s hand might still be saved.¡± Jensen looked at Sharon¡¯s face, pale as death, and in it he saw Natalie¡¯s own broken figure. Natalie was gone now. He could not let Sharon-the woman who had once saved him-fall too. +20 Free Coins ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll go to the ck market myself to find Witch Doctor. In the meantime, take good care of Sharon.¡± The doctor nodded quickly. At that same hour, Baron went to Phantom¡¯s grave. Hidden from view, he dug it open and took away her ashes. But the inscription on the stone caught his eye-and filled him with disgust. It read: ¡°Here lies my wife Natalie. Erected by Jensen.¡± Baron¡¯s lips twisted in a coldugh. The next moment, he raised a hammer and smashed the headstone. Fragments flew up, one shard slicing his cheek. Blood streaked down, mixing with the red mole at his eye until he looked deranged. Heughed again, low and chilling. ¡°You think you deserve to call Natalie your wife?¡± He swung the hammer again, smashing Jensen¡¯s name into rubble, as though destroying the man himself. The noise carried farther than he¡¯d meant. Hearing footsteps approach, Baron gathered the urn and vanished into the night. Inside was Phantom¡¯s ash. Whatever her failings, she had been his subordinate, Yvonne¡¯s sister. 1:00 pm & Chapter 51 Desecrated Grave +20 Free Coins Baron would take her back. Not long after he left, others arrived. They found Natalie¡¯s grave dug open, her headstone shattered. They called Jensen at once. ¡°Mr. Luke, bad news-Miss Natalie¡¯s grave has been desecrated!¡± ¡°What?¡± Jensen¡¯s fury exploded. ¡°Who did it?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know. We only came after hearing noise. The cameras were destroyed.¡± The report made Jensen¡¯s whole body thrum with rage. Who was it? Why wouldn¡¯t they let Natalie rest in peace, even in death? He rushed straight to the cemetery. Not long after he left, Sharon woke. Pain ripped through her, and her screams tore down the corridor. Mrs. Summers arrived in a panic when she heard her daughter¡¯s hand had been smashed. ¡°Sharon! My poor girl. Who did this to you?¡± ¡°Natalie!¡± Sharon¡¯s teeth ground together as she spat the name, her eyes bloodshot, her face twisted into something monstrous-no trace left of a pampered youngdy. 1:00 pm HereSelf 52 Phantom¡¯s Ashes Mrs. Summers froze when she heard the name. ¡°Natalie? But isn¡¯t she dead?¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°She is dead. But the man she hooked up with isn¡¯t! He¡¯s the one who destroyed my hand! Mom! I¡¯m going to tell Jensen-Natalie was cheating on him behind his back all along!¡± Sharon¡¯s eyes darted around the room, searching for Jensen¡¯s shadow, but he wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Where¡¯s Jensen? I¡¯m like this now, why isn¡¯t he here?¡± Her whole body shook with rage. The doctor hurried in after hearing she had woken. ¡°Ms. Summers, please calm down. Mr. Luke was just here, but he had an urgent matter. He heard Witch Doctor is in Ocean City, and he¡¯s going to the ck market himself to find him so your hand can be treated. Don¡¯t worry-if Witch Doctor operates, your hand has a chance to recover.¡± Sharon¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Jensen said that?¡± ¡°Yes. Mr. Luke personally ordered Assistant Hansel to track down Witch Doctor. Ms. Summers, Mr. Luke cares about you. He was the one who rushed you here, and he reviewed the surveince himself to see who had taken you. Think about it-when Natalie¡¯s hand was shattered, Mr. Luke never showed this much concern.¡± The doctor knew exactly what Sharon wanted to hear and fed her the words. Atst, Sharon¡¯s expression softened. Mrs. Summers quickly added her ownfort. ¡°Sharon, you¡¯re Mr. Luke¡¯s wife. Of course he won¡¯t abandon you. Remember, it was for your sake that he forced Natalie not to press charges back then. He¡¯ll give you justice this time too. You just focus on recovering and wait for Mr. Luke to bring Witch Doctor back. As for that bastard who hurt you-we¡¯ll take our time dealing with him.¡± Sharon still simmered with resentment, but the memory of Baron¡¯s vicious eyes and ruthless strikes made her shiver, Official source is fin?novel ¡°Mom, that man is a demon! He really is-a demon!¡± ¡°There, there. Don¡¯t be afraid, Sharon. Mom¡¯s right here with you.¡± Mrs. Summers¡¯s eyes filled red with tears. 1:00 pm & Chapter 52 Phantom¡¯s Ashes How could her precious daughter suffer like this? +20 Free Coins The doctor examined Sharon, finding only a slight fever, and then tried to call Jensen. But Jensen never answered. Left with no choice, he sent a message instead: ¡°Mr. Luke, Ms. Summers is awake. All her vitals are stable. Once Witch Doctor is located, the surgery has every chance of sess.¡± But Jensen, standing at Natalie¡¯s desecrated grave, was in no state to look at his phone. ¡°Who did this? Who was it?¡± He stared at the smashed headstone he had carved himself. Even her ashes were gone. He was losing his mind. Natalie had been by his side for five years. He had known her every move, every breath. Not even a fly buzzed around her without his notice. Who could have taken her ashes without him knowing? ¡°Find them! I don¡¯t care if you tear Ocean City apart brick by brick-bring me the one who stole Natalie¡¯s ashes! Lock down every port, every airport, every train and bus station!¡± A sudden heat surged up his throat. He doubled over and vomited a mouthful of blood, the crimson spray sttering across the carved word ¡°Natalie¡± on the stone. And then he copsed, unconscious. ¡°Mr. Luke!¡± Hansel caught him quickly and rushed him back to the Grand Pavilion. Meanwhile, Baron had already sent Phantom¡¯s ashes back to Murica through hidden channels. Yvonne received the urn, and atst her tears broke free. ¡°My dear¡­¡± She cradled the cold container, her chest aching with grief. Phantom had not been new blood. She had been one of Mr. Gunn¡¯s veterans, always the one toplete even the hardest missions. Why had she failed this time? Why had it cost her life? Yvonne¡¯s mind boiled with unanswered questions. All she had now was this cold box. She asked Shauna for leave, arranging someone else to watch over Natalie, and went toy Phantom properly to rest. Natalie watched Yvonne¡¯s stricken back, and only then realized that the nurse who had once cared for her in the 1:00 pm 2 Chapter 52 Phantom¡¯s Ashes hospital-Phantom-had been Yvonne¡¯s sister, sent by Baron to protect her. Truthfully, Natalie¡¯s impression of Phantom hadn¡¯t been deep. +20 Free Coins She¡¯d kept a low presence, tending to her quietly, tidying up, rarely speaking. At the time, Natalie¡¯s fingers had been in constant pain, and Jensen had forbidden her to go to the police. She had been drowning in despair, unable to spare attention for a caregiver. She had thought Phantom was someone Jensen had assigned-someone to watch her. Why would she have spoken with her? But now, recalling the details, she remembered Phantom taking calls. Every time, she¡¯d gone out to answer, and when she came back, her eyes had been red. Natalie hadn¡¯t thought much of it then. But now she realized-could it have been Yvonne on the other end? Missing her sister? 1:01 pm HereSelf 53 Chapter 53 A Promise of No Escape Chapter 53 A Promise of No Escape If not for protecting her, perhaps Phantom would still be alive now, happily living with Yvonne. The thought left Natalie¡¯s chest heavy. Just then, a video call from Baron came through. She forced her hand to swipe it open, and when she saw where he was, her eyes widened. ¡°Baron, you went to Ocean City? You even went into the ck market?¡± She recognized it instantly. +20 Free Coins Five years ago, in order to save Jensen, she had gone there alone to beg Witch Doctor for help. If luck hadn¡¯t been on her side, she might have lost her life in that ce. The sight of the dark alleys behind Baron made her pulse leap. ¡°What are you doing in the ck market?¡± Her question made his sharp eyes narrow. He, too, remembered the first time he had seen her-five years ago, throwing away her life for Jensen. It had irritated him, unsettled him. And now she was worried for him? His lips curved faintly upward. ¡°You¡¯re worried about me?¡± This content belongs to Find_Novel(. He deflected, but Natalie grew even more tense. ¡°Of course I¡¯m worried about you. The ck market is crawling with danger. If it isn¡¯t something absolutely urgent, don¡¯t go in there.¡± She knew Yvonne had told her Baron was Murica¡¯s crime boss, but this was Ocean City. His smile deepened. ¡°I need something from here. If you want your right hand restored, I¡¯ll have to scour this ce. And I heard Witch Doctor is here. If I find him, your hand can be healed.¡± Her heart jolted. ¡°You went to the ck market for me? To find Witch Doctor?¡± 1:01 pm Chapter 53 A Promise of No Escape ¡°Are you touched? Want to marry me to show your gratitude?¡± He said it with a crooked grin, but his other hand, hidden from view, was curled tight in a sweating fist. Natalie froze. ¡°Baron, you saved my life. If you want me to marry you, I will.¡± His lips stiffened. ¡°I don¡¯t want you forcing yourself. And I, Baron, don¡¯t make women do anything against their will.¡± What he wanted was her to stay with him by choice- To love him with the same reckless abandon she had once given Jensen. Not out of obligation. His chest felt oddly hollow, almost aching. Natalie opened her mouth to say more, but he cut her off. ¡°Still, I¡¯ll remember what you said. If one day you try to leave me, I won¡¯t let you go.¡± Bitter fruit was still fruit. Until one tasted it, who could say for certain that it was bitter? He almostughed at himself. Who was he? He was Baron. If he wanted someone, what did it matter if she came willingly or not? Ever since she had provoked him-ever since she had slept with him-Natalie belonged to him. Natalie didn¡¯t fully understand his words, but she didn¡¯t argue. After five years with Jensen ending in betrayal, she had little left to hope for in love. Baron was good to her. If he wanted her in return, she didn¡¯t resist. In truth, she had nothing else with which to repay him. Her voice dropped. ¡°I won¡¯t leave you. As long as you don¡¯t drive me away yourself, I¡¯ll never go. ¡°Remember what you just said.¡± +20 Free Coins 1:01 pm S Chapter 53 A Promise of No Escape He made to hang up. His mood was ck, and he didn¡¯t want it spilling onto her. But before he could end the call, Natalie spoke quickly. ?:? +20 Free Coins ¡°Baron,e back. I don¡¯t need Witch Doctor. I don¡¯t need my hands treated. What matters to me more than recovery is your safety. Witch Doctor¡¯s conditions for treatment are harsh-I don¡¯t want you sacrificing anything for me.¡± Her plea made his gaze harden. ¡°You¡¯re not the one who loves designing? And you still owe me work. The cufflinks you made for me-Jensen dirtied them. I don¡¯t want them anymore. You still owe me another gift.¡± Her brow furrowed. ¡°Foster sent them to Jensen?¡± She pieced it together instantly. ¡°My fault. I should have been clear with Foster.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Once your hands are healed, design me another pair.¡± He smiled faintly, though a streak of violence shed deep in his eyes. Even if Jensen had tainted those cufflinks, they never should have touched his wrists. Natalie knew from his tone-he was still going into the ck market to find Witch Doctor. 1:01 pm ¡ê HereSelf 54 Chapter 54 The ck Market Disguise Chapter 54 The ck Market Disguise +20 Free Coins ¡°Baron, listen to me. I can try designing with my left hand. It¡¯s just a right hand, I don¡¯t care. Don¡¯t go to Witch Doctor for me! That man is insane!¡± Natalie thought of that moment five years ago, and even now her heart still trembled with fear. She absolutely could not let Baron risk himself. ¡°Baron, you have so many people depending on you. And you have plenty of enemies, don¡¯t you? You really don¡¯t need to do this for me. Just being alive is already enough for me. As long as I survive, I¡¯ll take my revenge myself. A woman¡¯s face is only appearance-it isn¡¯t her life. Please,e back now!¡± Her panic was so raw that she tried to sit up, only to tear at her wounds, her face turning pale with the pain. Baron saw her like this, and his restlessness and violence suddenly eased. ¡°Trust me. Witch Doctor can¡¯t hurt me.¡± ¡°No! Witch Doctor really is a madman! Baron, pleasee back, will you? I don¡¯t know anyone here. I¡­ I miss you.¡± Thatst line made Baron¡¯s pale hand clench hard around the phone, his fingers pressing so tightly against the edge it nearly cracked. ¡°Say thatst part again.¡± His voice was hoarse, but his gaze burned with heat. Natalie realized she shouldn¡¯t have said that. She didn¡¯t even know why Baron was so good to her. Was it really just because they had slept together once? Still, she couldn¡¯t deny the gratitude she felt for him saving her. If he ended up hunted by Witch Doctor, if he lost something important because of her, she would never forgive herself. Biting her lip, she caught the burned skin and blood welled across her mouth. The sting made her whole body flinch, but she stared at Baron and forced out each word. ¡°Baron, please,e back. I miss you.¡± Her hoarse voice, scraped raw by fire, wasn¡¯t beautiful. Yet now it was like the sweetest music, sinking straight into his chest, And with the red blood staining her lips, Baron¡¯s pulse surged hot and wild. ¡°All right. I¡¯lle back tomorrow.¡± 1:01 pm Chapter 54 The ck Market Disguise He hung up. +20 Free Coins His lips curved upward, his eyes bright withughter, but his hands yanked a scalpel from his coat pocket and rolled it in his palm. Natalie missed him. He had to get back quickly. But before returning, there were things-and people-he still had to deal with. Natalie hadn¡¯t expected that the moment she spoke, Baron would end the call. And what did he mean? Why tomorrow? Did he still intend to find Witch Doctor for her? N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find[f]ovel She shook her head hard. No, no, no. Her survival was already a miracle. She couldn¡¯t let Baron sacrifice anything more for her sake. She tried to call him back, but no one picked up. She thought of asking Yvonne for help, but Yvonne wasn¡¯t there. Anxious and desperate, Natalie struggled to rise, but every movement tore fresh agony across her body. The pain was inhuman. Her mind filled with Sharon¡¯s gloating face. She had given Jensen up. So why had Sharon still needed to take her life? And Jensen- Five years of devotion, thrown to the dogs. If she still had breath in her, she would repay this blood debt with her own hands. Forcing herself upright, she rubbed her torn skin raw. Blood gushed, the pain like being yed alive. She couldn¡¯t bear it, and fainted dead away. The nurse heard the crash and rushed in. One look at the blood and she screamed, running out for help. The whole vi was suddenly in chaos. 1:01 pm D Chapter 54 The ck Market Disguise Baron knew nothing of this. He toyed with the scalpel in his hand, then strode into a ck market shop. +20 Free Coins Outside, the ce looked ordinary. But inside, the d¨¦cor wasvish-and more importantly, it held the most advanced surgical suites and equipment in the world. Upstairs, Baron stripped off his coat and changed into ck casual clothes. Facing the tall mirror, he stared at his reflection, at the scar across his chest. His eyes hardened. That scar had been there for years. He touched it lightly with his pale, slender fingers, his lips curling into a bloody smile. From a cab, he took paints, blended the colors, and began painting over his neck and shoulders. Soon a bluish tattoo spread across his skin. He used special pigment to cover the red beauty mark at the corner of his eye. Atst, he lifted a silver mask and fastened it over his face. 1:01 pm ¡ê HereSelf 55 Chapter 55 The Tomb and the Lie Chapter 55 The Tomb and the Lie In that moment, Witch Doctor¡¯s name once again resurfaced in the world. When Jensen woke up, barely half an hour had passed. He stared up at the familiar ceiling, realizing he had been brought back to the Grand Pavilion. Hansel, worried, had remained by his side the whole time. Seeing Jensen stir, he immediately stepped forward. +20 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Luke, you¡¯re awake? Do you feel unwell anywhere? I¡¯ve already called the family doctor. Should I have him take a look at you?¡± Jensen shook his head. His chest felt tight and heavy. And his mind kept reying the moments before he had cked out. ¡°Did you find Natalie¡¯s ashes?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Hansel lowered his eyes. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel ¡°Mr. Luke, this matter reeks of something strange. Miss Natalie barely had any friends, and you basically knew everyone in her circle. Her death was suppressed from the public too. Who on earth would hate her enough to dig up her grave? What kind of grudge would it take?¡± Over the years Hansel had received more than a little help from Natalie. She may have helped him for Jensen¡¯s sake, but Hansel still remembered the debt. And the fact that Jensen had hidden his marriage to Sharon without warning Natalie beforehand made Hansel feel he already owed Natalie dearly. Now she was dead-why couldn¡¯t others let her rest in peace? Jensen¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Hansel froze under his gaze, thinking he had overstepped. ¡°Mr. Luke, I spoke out of turn.¡± ¡°No. Yourst words. Say them again.¡± ¡°What kind of grudge, what kind of hatred?¡± 1:01 pm D Chapter 55 The Tomb and the Lie Hansel repeated himself. Jensen¡¯s mind instantly conjured Sharon¡¯s image. If anyone hated Natalie the most, it was Sharon. +20 Free Coins Now Sharon¡¯s hand had been smashed, and Jensen himself had recently treated her coldly because of Natalie. Could it be Sharon who sent someone to desecrate Natalie¡¯s grave? Who else would even know where Natalie was buried? And the smashed tombstone-his tombstone, the one he carved with his own hands. Jensen felt he had found the answer. ¡°To the hospital!¡± He shot to his feet, his body radiating a killing aura, and strode toward the door. Hansel didn¡¯t know exactly what Jensen had realized, but it had been a long time since he had seen his employer filled with such murderous fury. Thest time had been when Natalie risked everything to beg Witch Doctor to save him. Back then, no one knew what price Natalie had paid to convince Witch Doctor. But everyone had seen how pale she was, how frail her body had be. That time Jensen had nearly torn Witch Doctor¡¯s ck market shop apart, and only Natalie-dragging herself there on a broken body-had been able to stop him, sparing them all from a bloody war. And now, Jensen was once again consumed with rage. Still, Hansel thought bitterly, the cause was once more tied to Natalie. He shook his head and quickly followed. Jensen drove straight to the hospital and stormed into Sharon¡¯s ward. Even with the pain pump, Sharon was still screaming at the top of her lungs. ¡°Are you all dead? I¡¯m in agony, and you idiots can¡¯t think of a single solution? If this pain doesn¡¯t stop, I¡¯ll make sure each of you loses a hand!¡± She was aplete madwoman, no trace of elegance left. Mrs. Summers didn¡¯t flinch at her daughter¡¯s behavior. To her, Sharon was Mr. Luke¡¯s wife, the future mistress of the Luke family. The hospital even had Luke family shares in it. If the mistress of the house was in agony and the doctors couldn¡¯t solve it, then the fault was theirs, not Sharon¡¯s temper. 1:01 pm S Chapter 55 The Tomb and the Lie +20 Free Coins But Jensen had never seen this side of Sharon before. Yes, she had been spoiled, arrogant, and unreasonable with him-but this viciousness, these venomous words, were something new. His brows furrowed tightly. The nurse spotted him at the door and opened her mouth, but Jensen silenced her with a look. He wanted to hear and see with his own eyes what Sharon was really like when she thought no one was watching. The nurse instantly shut her mouth and stepped aside. Sharon, oblivious to Jensen¡¯s presence, was lost to the bone-deep pain, unable to keep her mask in ce. She shrieked, smashing everything in reach, her voice ragged with hate. ¡°Natalie! Even dead you won¡¯t leave me alone? You filthy bitch-you should¡¯ve been left without a grave, without ashes, eaten by wild dogs!¡± The words fell, and outside the door Jensen¡¯s face turned darker than a thunderstorm. ¡°So it was you who dug up Natalie¡¯s grave, wasn¡¯t it?¡± He kicked the door wide open and stepped inside. Cold, lethal air poured from him, dropping the room¡¯s temperature to ice. Sharon froze, caught off guard. The twisted hatred on her face had no time to fade. And Jensen saw it all. 1:01 pm & HereSelf 56 Chapter 56 The Question of the Grave Chapter 56 The Question of the Grave Jensen suddenly couldn¡¯t remember what it was he had ever liked about Sharon. +20 Free Coins This woman might have been fiery and sharp, different from Natalie¡¯s gentle nature, but why did the same face he once thought attractive now feel nauseating to look at? Mrs. Summers, older and more experienced, noticed the disgust and murderous intent in Jensen¡¯s eyes. She quickly tugged Sharon¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Luke, Sharon only said those things because the pain was too much. She didn¡¯t mean it. No matter what, Natalie was once part of our family as an adopted daughter. Now that she¡¯s gone, how could we possibly dig up her grave? And Sharon has been here in the hospital since her hand was broken.¡± Jensen didn¡¯t even nce at her. His gaze stayed locked on Sharon, voice as cold as frost. ¡°She may be here, but to get something done doesn¡¯t require lifting her own hands, does it? Sharon, five years ago you saved me. What I promised you, I will never go back on. Before you die, I will grant you the status and honor of Mrs. Luke. But you should never have touched Natalie¡¯s grave.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Sharon frowned. She hadn¡¯t expected Jensen to see her at her ugliest. She had been stunned and at a loss, but now hearing his usation, she truly felt confused. ¡°What grave? Why would I bother with Natalie¡¯s grave?¡± ¡®I¡¯ll give you one more chance. Hand over Natalie¡¯s ashes, and I¡¯ll let bygones be bygones. Otherwise¡­¡± Though Jensen didn¡¯t finish the sentence, the cold threat in his tone was enough to make anyone¡¯s heart pound in fear. Mrs. Summers opened her mouth to defend her daughter, but Jensen¡¯s words sliced through like a de. ¡°Mrs. Summers, you still have time to argue with me here? Do you not know Summers Corp is already in trouble?¡± ¡°What?¡± Mrs. Summers¡¯ heart gave a violent jolt. Sharon¡¯s face also shifted slightly. ¡°Jensen, what do you mean? Hasn¡¯t our family¡¯s business always had your support? What do you mean something¡¯s happened now?¡± She reached to grab Jensen¡¯s arm, but he shook her off. 1:01 pm Chapter 56 The Question of the Grave +20 Free Coins His voice was like ice. ¡°Back then, when you and Natalie were kidnapped, why didn¡¯t you tell me right away that Natalie was trapped in that warehouse too?¡± The mention of it made Sharon¡¯s heart seethe with hatred toward Natalie again. Natalie was dead already, yet Jensen¡¯s mind was still filled with her. And now he even came questioning Sharon because of her? But Sharon also knew she couldn¡¯t afford to anger Jensen now. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find¡¤novel She bit down on her lip, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°Jensen, are you ming me? I was terrified at the time, I didn¡¯t even have time to think. And when the fire broke out, you rushed in and grabbed me straight away. I was in shock. But when we got out, didn¡¯t I remember? I reminded you then, didn¡¯t I?¡± Her exnation pressed Jensen¡¯s lips into a tight line. Knowing Sharon¡¯s temperament, she only ever screamed and panicked in a crisis, never calm or rational. She was nothing like Natalie. He still remembered the time he and Natalie had been ambushed while on a business trip. Natalie had been trembling all over, her voice shaking, but she still stayed calm enough to direct others and organize their escape. Compared to that, the ache in Jensen¡¯s chest grew sharper. All this time, Natalie¡¯s outward softness had hidden how strong and resilient she truly was. She almost never cried, and because of that, he had overlooked the fact that she was just a woman too. She could be afraid as well! So why had he assumed she would be strong enough to bear even the betrayal of him marrying Sharon behind her back? Why had he believed she could endure it and forgive him? Jensen¡¯s chest tightened painfully. He leaned back against the wall, his face pale, his eyes icy as they fixed on Sharon. Yes. Faced with danger, Sharon would certainly forget about Natalie. But that knowledge only made him more unsettled. He couldn¡¯t shake the suspicion that Sharon had deliberately kept silent about Natalie being in that warehouse. 1:01 pm A Chapter 56 The Question of the Grave Hadn¡¯t she once wanted to whip Natalie to death? +20 Free Coins Jensen¡¯s silence made Sharon deeply uneasy. She couldn¡¯t tell if he believed her words or not. Mrs. Summers, meanwhile, was burning with worry, desperate to know what had happened to Summers Corp. But Jensen¡¯s terrifying presence held her back from speaking. All she could do was look pleadingly at Sharon. Sharon, once bold enough to say whatever she pleased to Jensen, now found herself unsettled by his change since Natalie¡¯s death. With unease trembling in her voice, she asked, ¡°Jensen, I was really just too scared, I forgot. You believe me, don¡¯t you?¡± Jensen gave her one look, and instead of pressing further, he asked a new question. ¡°Who broke your hand?¡± 1:01 pm A HereSelf 57 Chapter 57 The usation Chapter 57 The usation +20 Free Coins This was the question Jensen should have asked the moment Sharon first woke up. But he hadn¡¯t been there then. Now that Natalie¡¯s ashes had been stolen and her grave smashed, he couldn¡¯t shake the suspicion that Sharon was the biggest suspect. And he didn¡¯t even know if he was losing his mind, because some part of him kept whispering the thought that Natalie might still be alive. That thought made his entire body tremble. Sharon had wanted to say that the man who broke her hand was the same one who had stood up for Natalie at the productunch. But just the memory of Baron¡¯s chilling face made her shiver uncontrobly. ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t see clearly. He had his face covered, and I think I was knocked out. When I woke up again my hand was already broken. After that, the man went crazy, smashing at me again and again. I cked outpletely. I really didn¡¯t see who it was.¡± As Sharon said this, her body trembled on its own, her face pale as death. Her fear wasn¡¯t an act. It was seeping out from her very bones. Even Mrs. Summers, seeing Sharon like this, couldn¡¯t hold back her tears. When had her daughter ever suffered something so cruel? ¡°Mr. Luke, Sharon has endured so much pain. You must stand up for her.¡± But Jensen was unmoved. He stepped forward and seized Sharon¡¯s chin, forcing her to raise her head and meet his ice-cold gaze. ¡°Sharon. Tell me. Was it a man or a woman who broke your hand?¡± The look in his eyes was cold enough to freeze a soul. Sharon¡¯s jaw ached under his grip. She struggled but couldn¡¯t break free, tears spilling down her cheeks. ¡°Jensen, you¡¯re hurting me.¡± ¡°Speak!¡± Before, Jensen might have softened at her tears. But now, nothing was more important than any trace of Natalie. He was desperate to know if the suspicion gnawing at him was true, 1:01 pm & Chapter 57 The usation The mere thought that Natalie might still be alive made his heart seize with painful hope. Sharon saw something in his eyes then. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find¡¤novel And jealousy twisted her words. +20 Free Coins ¡°It was a man! Tall and thin. I don¡¯t know what I did to provoke him. Maybe he was one of Natalie¡¯s admirers. Or maybe one of her lovers, who knows? Why else would he break my right hand?¡± She had wanted to say this all along. When Natalie had been alive, Jensen hadn¡¯t cared for her like this. But now that she was dead, everything was different. She was the one who was Mrs. Lukewfully recognized, legitimate! Why was Jensen questioning her like this over another woman? Shouldn¡¯t he be worried about her broken hand instead? Jensen hadn¡¯t expected to hear such wordse out of Sharon¡¯s mouth. His face darkened instantly. ¡°You¡¯re spouting filth! Natalie was always pure and self-respecting. You think she¡¯s like you?¡± His grip tightened. Sharon thought her jaw would snap under the pressure, but even so, her reddened eyes red back as she hissed, ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth! Natalie wasn¡¯t as innocent as you think. Why do you think five years ago she managed to persuade you to bring her home after just one nce? She was a tramp! You have no idea how skilled she was at seduction. She might have been sneaking around behind your back with another man all along!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes red red, the pressure of his hand threatening to crush her jaw. He couldn¡¯t stand to hear another word from her. Sharon¡¯s body shook with pain, but seeing his rage only drove her to hurl more filth at Natalie. ¡°What are you so afraid of? Jensen, think about it. Five years ago, when you needed surgery after the car ident, when everyone begged Witch Doctor and he refused-why did he say yes to Natalie? And when she came back, her face was pale, her body weak. Didn¡¯t you ever wonder if she sold herself to him to buy your cure?¡± ¡°I told you to shut up!¡± With a roar, Jensen flung Sharon down onto the bed. ¡°Sharon!¡± 1:01 pm Chapter 57 The usation Mrs. Summers had never seen Jensen like this before. Terrified, she rushed to help her daughter up. Sharon, her face flushed red and purple from rage and humiliation, red up at him. 0441 +20 Free Coins ¡°Jensen, admit it-you¡¯ve suspected it yourself, haven¡¯t you? You just never dared to confirm it! Otherwise, why did you never touch her in those five years together? Because you were afraid. Afraid she¡¯d really slept with another man for you. You couldn¡¯t face it. And now she¡¯s dead, so what¡¯s the point of putting on this act of deep devotion? You¡¯re my husband. Mine!¡± Her words were like knives, each one slicing deeper, peeling back Jensen¡¯s flesh to expose the rawest wound in his heart. 1:01 pm D HereSelf 58 Chapter 58 The Price of Betrayal Chapter 58 The Price of Betrayal +20 Free Coins Five years ago, Natalie had brought Witch Doctor to save Jensen¡¯s life. Jensen had been deeply grateful, but when he asked her what price she had paid for such a miracle, Natalie told him not to ask again. She kept her lips sealed. That silence had left a knot buried in Jensen¡¯s chest. Throughout history, when women as powerless as Natalie sought help, how else could they bargain? What could they offer, if not their bodies? But she had done it to save his life. So even if Jensen had felt an ache of unease in his heart, he had buried it deep, telling himself it was all for him, all for his survival. He had sworn to treat Natalie well, to cherish her for a lifetime. And yet each time he kissed her, each time he tried to go further-he found himself unable to. He loved her so much. Her talent, her grace, her beauty, everything about her. But why was it that, in that most intimate way, he could not move forward? He had told himself time would heal everything. That was why he had promised Natalie he would propose to her on their fifth anniversary. He had prepared himself to take that step, to finally give her all of himself. But then Sharon appeared. She wanted him to marry her. At the time, Jensen had felt¡­relieved. He told himself Sharon was dying, with only a few months to live. If he stalled just a little longer, he could purge this knot inside him before it strangled his love for Natalie. But what he hadn¡¯t expected-was that this choice would be the beginning of the end for him and Natalie. Now Sharon had dragged into the open the one thing Jensen most dreaded to confront, and the words felt like poison searing through his chest. If his eyes could kill, he would have torn Sharon into pieces on the spot. ¡°Sharon,¡± Jensen said, each word bitten out like steel, ¡°you will pay for insulting Natalie today.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± 1:01 pm S Chapter 58 The Price of Betrayal For the first time, Sharon¡¯s confidence wavered. But Jensen turned to Mrs. Summers, a cold smile curving at his lips. ¡°Mrs. Summers. Why don¡¯t you open your phone and take a look at thetest news?¡± A chill stabbed through Mrs. Summers¡¯ heart. She didn¡¯t know what madness had seized Jensen, but right now he frightened her. +20 Free Coins And only moments ago, he had mentioned that Summers Corp was in trouble. Panic pressed against her ribs. She opened her phone with trembling hands. Updates are released by Find?Novel There it was, ring from the headlines: Summers Corp had gone bankrupt. ¡°How can this be?¡± Her eyes flew wide, disbelief etched on her face. Sharon saw it too. Her heart jolted as she turned to Jensen. ¡°You did this? Jensen, was it you who destroyed the Summers family?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The answer came without pause, without a shred of pity. Jensen¡¯s voice was cool. ¡°The Summers family let you whip Natalie nearly to death. If Natalie were still alive, perhaps I would not have bothered to settle that debt. After all, without your cruelty, I might never have met Natalie, loved her, cherished her. But Natalie is gone. And for that, the Summers family must pay. I¡¯ve only taken your fortune. I didn¡¯t leave you drowning in debt-that¡¯s me sparing you, for your sake, Sharon.¡± Sharon stared at him, stunned. Before she could speak, Hansel burst through the door. ¡°Mr. Luke. We just received word-Natalie¡¯s ashes were sighted in the ck market. And¡­Witch Doctor¡¯s clinic has opened its doors, Witch Doctor is in Ocean City!¡± The words made Sharon¡¯s heart leap. ¡°Jensen, Witch Doctor is here! Help me. I can¡¯t live with a crippled right hand. Jensen, the doctors said only Witch Doctor can heal it. You can¡¯t abandon me! If not for me giving you my rib back then, would you even be standing here alive?¡± Jensen¡¯s face darkened. Mrs. Summers wavered, torn between her daughter¡¯s injury and the fate of their copsing family. 1:02 pm & Chapter 58 The Price of Betrayal +20 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Luke,¡± she pleaded, ¡°no matter how wrong the Summers family has been, for Sharon¡¯s sake, for the rib she gave you, I beg you-spare our family.¡± She tugged anxiously at Sharon¡¯s sleeve. Sharon opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Jensen said coldly, ¡°I have never forgotten that Sharon saved me. And I am fulfilling my promise. But I will only agree to one thing-either the Summers family¡¯s revival, or Sharon¡¯s hand. Choose one.¡± The color drained from Sharon¡¯s face. ¡°Jensen, you-¡± ¡°You can¡¯t have everything. Sharon, Natalie never once used the fact she saved me to demand anything. On that alone, you cannotpare to her.¡± With that, Jensen turned and strode out of the room.. Mrs. Summers rushed to block Sharon before she could chase him. ¡°Sharon, I know your hand hurts, but you are Jensen¡¯s wife. The Luke family won¡¯t ept a cripple as their daughter-inw. Jensen will find a way to heal your hand. But the Summers family¡­if we go bankrupt, we¡¯ll be driven out of Ocean City¡¯s high society. With time, everyone will forget us. Without your family to back you, how will you stand strong in the Luke family? Sharon, you must beg Jensen to give the Summers family a way to survive!¡± 1:02 pm HereSelf 59 Chapter 59 A Choice Between Family and Survival Chapter 59 A Choice Between Family and Survival +20 Free Coins Get full chapters from find?novel Mrs. Summers couldn¡¯t bear to see Sharon suffer, but when she weighed that against losing her wealth and her ce in high society, she knew she couldn¡¯t endure such a fall. How could she, a woman of her age, go from living as ady of luxury to an ordinary woman? Sharon had always believed she was her mother¡¯s favorite. But now, hearing Mrs. Summers urge her to give up her chance at healing for the sake of the Summers family, shepletely lost it. ¡°Eighteen years ago you switched babies and let me suffer outside for eighteen years. I finally came home, finally enjoyed a few days of the life I was supposed to have, and now you want me to give up fixing my hand for the sake of the Summers family? Are you even my mother? What am I to you? My hand hurts so badly I could die. If I miss the best window for treatment, it¡¯ll be ruined for life. Did you even think about that? So what if the Summers family goes bankrupt? I¡¯m Mrs. Luke now, thedy of the Luke family. As long as my hand recovers, I can easily get money from the Luke family to support you and Dad. That¡¯s more than enough.¡± Sharon stormed toward the door. She would never give up this chance to save her hand. The hospital room door hadn¡¯t closed all the way, so every word Sharon said carried clearly to Jensen, who was standing just outside. His lips curled into a bitter, mocking smile. He couldn¡¯t help but think of Natalie. If it were Luke Corp in danger, and she had to choose between thepany¡¯s survival and her own hand, Natalie would have chosen Luke Corp without hesitation. Because to Natalie, he-Jensen-was everything. Always her first choice. But this woman, so good, so selfless¡­was the one he had lost. And not only had he lost her, he couldn¡¯t even protect her ashes. A wave of heat rose up in Jensen¡¯s chest, metallic and bitter, threatening to spill over. Hansel saw him sway and instinctively reached out, but Jensen pushed his hand away. ¡°This is all my own doing. When Natalie loved me with her whole heart, I didn¡¯t cherish her. Now she¡¯s gone, and everywhere I look, I see her shadow. Hansel, tell me-do you think Natalie really died? Is there any chance she¡¯s still alive?¡± Hansel hesitated, unsure how to answer. ¡°Mr. Luke, with a fire that big¡­unless by some miracle, there¡¯s no way she survived.¡± Jensen¡¯s face darkened further. Inside, the argument between Sharon and Mrs. Summers only grew louder, but Jensen no longer had any desire to 1:02 pm S Chapter 59 A Choice Between Family and Survival +20 Free Coins stay. ¡°Let¡¯s go. To the ck market. I need to find Natalie¡¯s ashes. And I want to see Witch Doctor. I want to know exactly what Natalie promised him five years ago to save my life.¡± Hansel gave a small nod, silent. He knew Jensen had always carried that doubt in his heart. When Natalie was alive, Jensen never dared ask, afraid it would ruin what they had. Now that she was gone, Hansel couldn¡¯t guess what Jensen would do once he learned the truth. Back inside the room, Sharon and Mrs. Summers argued until their voices were hoarse. When they finally stepped out, Jensen was already gone. The realization made Sharon snap. ¡°This is all your fault! If Jensen doesn¡¯t fix my hand, forget the Summers family-I won¡¯t even care about you and Dad anymore!¡± Mrs. Summers had never imagined her daughter would say such a thing. Her chest heaved as she jabbed a trembling finger at Sharon. ¡°Sharon, I am your mother! Do you have any idea what I¡¯ve done for you all these years? Now that the Summers family is in trouble, you only care about yourself? How can you call yourself a daughter of the Summers family?¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t! If you won¡¯t recognize me, fine. I¡¯m still Mrs. Luke, Jensen¡¯s wife. Without you, I¡¯ll live even better! And today no one will stop me from fixing my hand!¡± Her words were sharp, cold, and merciless. The pain in her hand was unbearable. If Mrs. Summers truly cared about her, why should the fate of Summers Corp matter more than her suffering? Mrs. Summers¡¯ face twisted in anguish. Her lips moved as if to argue again, but before she could speak, rage and heartbreak made her vision go ck. She fainted on the spot. Sharon didn¡¯t spare her a nce. She quickly grabbed her phone, demanded a nurse pull up Jensen¡¯s number, and dialed again and again. She had to fight for her chance at surgery. Jensen, sitting in the car, looked at Sharon¡¯s calls shing on his screen. Irritation prickled through him. He rejected the call and set his phone to silent. At that moment, their car rolled to a stop outside the ck market. Hansel parked in the designated lot and got out. ¡°Mr. Luke, the rules here are strict. No cars past this point. From here, we walk.¡± 1:02 pm Chapter 59 A Choice Between Family and Survival +20 Free Coins ¡°Fine.¡± Jensen straightened his jacket, expression grim. He had been to the ck market before. He knew its ways. With Hansel at his side, he stepped forward into the underworld. 1:02 pm ¡ê HereSelf 60 Chapter 60 The Ambush in the ck Market Chapter 60 The Ambush in the ck Market ?:?? +20 Free Coins Security in the ck market was strict. Every person who entered had to be searched for weapons or anything dangerous-the ce¡¯s safety was too sensitive. After Jensen and Hansel were checked, Hansel pointed down a narrow street. ¡°Mr. Luke, they say Miss Natalie¡¯s ashes were seen inside a shop at the far end of this street.¡± ¡°Go! Take me there!¡± The moment Jensen heard a lead on Natalie¡¯s ashes, he strode off quickly toward the street. But he hadn¡¯t gone far when a bup sack dropped from above, yanking tight around him. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F¦Énd£Îovel Before he could react, a storm of fists and boots rained down, pounding him from every direction. ¡°Ah! Who-who¡¯s hitting me?¡± Jensen fought to break free, but every move only made the blows harsher. At some point, the whole street had been cleared. Hansel was seized too, gagged and blindfolded, dragged away by force. Baron¡¯s eyes glinted coldly in the shadows. He¡¯d grown up in the slums, thrown into the streets while still a boy. By the time he was a teenager, he was running with gangs. He knew exactly where to hit a man so the pain cut deep without leaving permanent damage. Truthfully, his first instinct was to end Jensen here and now with a single strike. This was the man who broke Natalie¡¯s heart, who left her for dead in the fire. Even killing him ten thousand times would never be enough to settle that score. But Baron knew-both Jensen and Sharon had to be dealt with by Natalie herself. Her own revenge, by her own hands. Still, that didn¡¯t stop him from collecting some interest in advance. He didn¡¯t hold back. Each punchnded heavy, each kick sharp. Jensen cursed through gritted teeth, his cries turning hoarse. In all his life, Jensen had never been beaten like this. ¡°Coward! If you¡¯ve got any guts, let me out and fight me one-on-one!¡± His voice cracked as he shouted from inside the sack. Baron gave a sharpugh and answered through a voice changer. ¡°Fight you? You¡¯ve watched too many TV dramas. If I¡¯m here to take you down, why would I let you out? Idiot.¡± 1:02 pm & Chapter 60 The Ambush in the ck Market +20 Free Coins Thest word was crude, totally unfitting for someone as poised as Baron. But right now, nothing fit better. Jensen had tried to bait his attacker into speaking, hoping to recognize the voice. But the use of a voice changer dashed that hope. ¡°Who the hell are you? Do you dare give me your name? Only cowards hide like this.¡± ¡°Oh sure, you¡¯ve got the high ground. You¡¯ve got it all-ying both sides, milking Natalie¡¯s designs for your fortune, while smiling and signing a marriage license with your crush. Sweet as honey. And when Natalie wasn¡¯t useful anymore? You burned her alive, left her with no remains. Who could possibly stand taller than you?¡± Baron¡¯s fury mounted with every word. How blind Natalie must have been, to ever love this man. Jensen froze, startled by how much the stranger seemed to know. ¡°Who are you? What¡¯s your connection to Natalie? Are her ashes with you?¡± He hade here for one reason: to find Natalie¡¯s ashes. And this man spoke like he knew everything. Jensen thrashed inside the sack, struggling with desperate force. For a moment, his strength even pressed back against his attackers. Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed, then he drove a fist into Jensen¡¯s skull. A dull crack sounded. Jensen gave a low groan, then copsed, unconscious. Baron yanked the sack off, crouching over him. Jensen¡¯s body was covered in bruises, blue and purple blotches everywhere. Finally, the sight was bearable. His gaze dropped to Jensen¡¯s wrist. There, gleaming in the light, was a pair of uniquely designed cufflinks. ¡°My things¡­on you?¡± Baron sneered, ripped them off, and without hesitation clipped them onto his own sleeves. Disgust tugged at him, but they were Natalie¡¯s creation. He couldn¡¯t let them remain in Jensen¡¯s hands. ¡°They do look good. Natalie always had an eye.¡± He pressed his lips together, gave Jensen onest kick, and stood. He had thought of leaving a permanent mark on Jensen, maybe taking a piece of him as a souvenir. But for Natalie¡¯s sake, he restrained himself. The final blow had toe from her. Only then would it be true vengeance. 1:02 pm & Chapter 60 The Ambush in the ck Market Baron disappeared into the shadows. +20 Free Coins Momentster, Hansel was released. He rushed to the street and found Jensen sprawled out, unconscious, beaten to a pulp. His face and body were swollen with bruises, his lips split. Hansel stood frozen, half in disbelief, half resigned. Should he even wake him? He hesitated for three seconds, then finally crouched down and shook him awake. Jensen stirred, every breath raw with pain. ¡°Did you¡­see who it was?¡± His jaw ached with every word. HereSelf 61 Chapter 61 The Trail Toward Witch Doctor Chapter 61 The Trail Toward Witch Doctor Don¡¯t let him find out who attacked him, or he¡¯d never let them live. +20 Free Cons Hansel shook his head. ¡°Mr. Luke, the ck market¡¯s always been chaotic. Peoplee in and expect trouble- beatings aren¡¯t rare. When I was grabbed just now, they blindfolded me and gagged me, dragged me out. I wasn¡¯t beaten as badly as you, but I still took a few hits. I heard that when Miss Natalie came here years ago, she was also beaten. She almost got assaulted.¡± Jensen¡¯s fury froze in an instant. Natalie had been beaten here too? He could barely stand the pain himself-how had she endured it, a young woman all alone? ¡°How do you know that?¡± Jensen turned sharply toward Hansel. ¡°You¡¯ve never told me this before.¡± Hansel lowered his gaze, aware of the dangerous edge in Jensen¡¯s eyes. ¡°When Miss Summers came to the ck market, I was with her. I stayed until we saw Witch Doctor, then I was ordered to leave. As for the beating, Miss. Natalie told me not to mention it to you. She said if your surgery seeded, if you survived, then everything was worth it. She didn¡¯t want you weighed down by guilt.¡± Jensen fell silent. His chest clenched with a crushing ache, almost choking him. The more he learned about what Natalie had endured for him, the more monstrous he felt. But what could he do now? She was gone. Whatever regret or remorse he carried, it was toote to give her anything back. He forced himself to stand. His whole body throbbed, but the physical pain was nothingpared to what gnawed inside his chest. He nced around the empty street, mind reying the stranger¡¯s voice and words. Why had that man known everything-about Natalie, about Sharon, about him? Was he truly just some admirer of Natalie¡¯s? Or was there some hidden power behind her that Jensen had never seen? If this man cared so much about her, then maybe¡­ maybe Natalie was still alive. Jensen¡¯s mind raced. Hansel stayed silent, waiting. When he finally spoke, Jensen¡¯s voice was low. ¡°Do you know who runs this ck market?¡± 1:02 pm R Chapter 61 The Trail Toward Witch Doctor +20 Free Coins Hansel shook his head. ¡°No. It¡¯s been here for years, but no one knows who¡¯s really behind it. What¡¯s certain is that no one dares stir up real bloodshed here. Once, a powerful family tried to seize control of the market. The next day they all came down with some strange illness. Within weeks, they were wiped out, not a soul left. Since then, no one has daredy a hand on this ce. There¡¯s another reason too-it¡¯s said Witch Doctor himself is tied to it. His shop is here in the market.¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed. Witch Doctor. Everything always circled back to them. Could it be that the force behind Natalie¡­ was the Witch Doctor? If so, then there was still hope. She could still be alive. Jensen¡¯s pulse quickened with a surge of desperate excitement. ¡°Where is Witch Doctor¡¯s shop?¡± ¡°At the very end of this street,¡± Hansel answered. He didn¡¯t know why Mr. Luke suddenly looked so animated, but since Natalie¡¯s death Jensen had rarely been himself. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Jensen started forward, though every step tore through his battered body with fresh waves of pain. Damn it. Whoever beat him today-he would find out, and they would pay. ¡°Can we pull surveince footage here?¡± he asked. Hansel shook his head. ¡°This is the ck market. All the security systems are run by their own people. We won¡¯t get ess.¡± ¡°Not even with a hacker?¡± ¡°No. The system here is too strong. There was a hacker who tried once-didn¡¯t get a single byte. Instead he ended up losing his mind,pletely insane, unable to live a normal life again.¡± Discover more novels at Find_Novel(. Jensen¡¯s brows drew tight. The power behind this ce¡­ was even greater than he imagined. ¡°The government doesn¡¯t interfere?¡± Hansel sighed. ¡°It seems they can¡¯t. And since no murders or outright crimes ever surface here, everything that goes on in the market is presented as legal. Rare treasures, unique goods-things you can¡¯t find anywhere else. But illegal trades like organs? Those don¡¯t happen here, at least not openly.¡± 1:02 pm Chapter 61 The Trail Toward Witch Doctor Jensen gave a harsh, humorlessugh. ¡°A ck market that¡¯s ¡®legal.¡¯ What a joke.¡± +20 Free Coins 1:02 pm D HereSelf 62 Chapter 62 Hades Pharmacy Chapter 62 Hades Pharmacy Jensen froze for a moment at Hansel¡¯s words. If that were true, then the ck market was surprisingly clean. +20 Free Coins But if it was so clean, why call it a ck market at all? Why not just open a legitimate auction house and make money that way? A momentter he understood. A proper auction required detailed registration, making it impossible to fully hide the powers behind it. No matter how careful they were, there¡¯d always be a trail to follow. But the ck market was different-chaotic, full of every sort of person. It looked like multiple factions tangled together, yet in truth there had to be one powerful force controlling it from the shadows, So who was really behind this ce? And did it have anything to do with Natalie? And what role did Witch Doctor y? Jensen¡¯s mind spun. Before long, he and Hansel arrived at the entrance to Witch Doctor¡¯s shop. ¡°Hades Pharmacy?¡± Jensen murmured, frowning at the ck signboard with gold lettering. Hansel quickly exined, ¡°Yes, this is his shop. Witch Doctor¡¯s skills are legendary-especially in surgery. People say there¡¯s nothing he can¡¯t do, nothing he can¡¯t repair. That¡¯s why he¡¯s called Witch Doctor. He¡¯s not like any ordinary doctor. And this sign? He chose the name himself. They say it¡¯s called Hades Pharmacy because his price isn¡¯t money. He always demands the most precious thing a person has. As long as they¡¯re willing to give it up, he¡¯ll save them.¡± Jensen¡¯s jaw tightened. He had never investigated Witch Doctor in depth. All he¡¯d known was that the man¡¯s medical skill was extraordinary. Updates are released by F?nd-Novel Five years ago, when doctors had given up on him and told his family to prepare for his funeral, Natalie had somehow tracked Witch Doctor down and dragged him back to perform surgery. She¡¯d pulled him out of the jaws of death. And yet, Witch Doctor was a thorn that had lodged in his heart ever since. He demanded the most precious thing. And Natalie¡­ what could she possibly have had that was so precious? 1:02 pm Chapter 62 Hades Pharmacy +20 Free Coins She had been alone, with nothing-no family wealth, no protection. Nothing but her beautiful face and her perfect figure. Jensen couldn¡¯t think of anything else. So what had she given away that day? Hansel saw the storm brewing in Jensen¡¯s eyes and wisely kept silent. He never spoke carelessly when he didn¡¯t know the truth. Jensen forced himself to take a deep breath, shoving his thoughts down. Then he stepped forward into Hades Pharmacy. From the outside, the shop looked in. But inside, thevish interior gleamed with the world¡¯s most expensive materials. Witch Doctor clearly wasn¡¯t hurting for money. Of course not. A man the whole world fought to hire wouldn¡¯t ever be short of cash. Jensen¡¯s expression darkened. Besides money, he truly had nothing else left to offer. At that moment, a guard stepped in front of him and Hansel. ¡°Who are you? What do you want here?¡± Hansel quickly bowed, speaking before Jensen could. ¡°Hello. We¡¯vee to request an audience with Witch Doctor.¡± Jensen stiffened at Hansel¡¯s deferential tone. In Ocean City, he was king. For five years he¡¯dmanded storms with a word. When had he ever needed to bow to anyone? The guard studied Jensen, clearly noting the pride in his eyes and the aura ofmand about him. Then the man smirked. ¡°To see Witch Doctor, there are rules. Which of you is the one seeking him?¡± ¡°Me.¡± Jensen¡¯s voice was t. His body still ached from the earlier beating, but he forced himself to stand tall. The guard nodded, ¡°Very well. The one seeking Witch Doctor stays. The other waits outside.¡± Hansel hesitated, but Jensen gave him a look. Hansel bowed once more and stepped out. When the door closed, the guard pointed to a shallow basin of clear water beside them. ¡°Anyone who wishes to see Witch Doctor must first ce both hands in this water for ten minutes. If you can endure it, you earn the right to meet him. If not, you may leave, Mr. Luke.¡± Jensen¡¯s brows knit as the man addressed him by name. He nced at the basin. The water was so clear he could see the bottom. What game was this? 1:02 pm ¡ê Chapter 62 Hades Pharmacy ¡°Everyone has to do this?¡± he asked. ¡°Of course.¡± The answer made Jensen¡¯s thoughts snap to Natalie. ¡°Women too?¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°Even children, even the elderly. No one is spared. It¡¯s the gate you pass before seeing Witch Doctor. Endure ten minutes, or turn back.¡± The smug tone scraped against Jensen¡¯s pride. But he swallowed it down. He had to see Witch Doctor. Somehow, this man was tied to Natalie. For her, Jensen would do it. Without another word, he stripped off his suit jacket, tossed it onto a chair, rolled up his sleeves, and lowered both hands into the basin of water. 1:02 pm S HereSelf 63 Chapter 63 The Test Chapter 63 The Test +20 Free Coins The next instant, Jensen¡¯s eyes flew open, his body trembling as he nearly yanked his hands back out of the basin. ¡°What¡¯s this? Mr. Luke wants to give up already?¡± The attendant spoke with mock solemnity, though a trace of ridicule flickered in his eyes. Jensen froze. His forehead broke out in a sheet of cold sweat, his face draining pale. It made no sense. It was only clear water-yet the moment his hands went in, it felt like a thousand needles stabbing into his skin, the pain spreading up both arms until even the bones felt as though they were splintering apart. His teeth rattled together, and he forced himself to ask through clenched jaws, ¡°What¡¯s in the water?¡± ¡®Nothing more than a few special herbs,¡± the attendant replied casually. ¡°They won¡¯t kill you, and they won¡¯t leave a mark. The point is to see if you can endure pain. Every patient who seeks Witch Doctor is already in dire straits. If you can¡¯t withstand even this much, you¡¯re not worth his time.¡± The exnation made Jensen¡¯s jaw tighten until it ached. Five years ago¡­ had Natalie endured this same ordeal? f she had, then she¡¯d suffered far worse than he could ever have imagined. He was a grown man, strong and trained, and even he was on the edge of copse. How had she borne it back hen? The water in the basin rippled faintly, but the sensation was unbearable-like salt and fire poured into an open wound, a torture that made him want to rip his arms free. One movement and the pain would be gone. But doing that would mean the end of any chance to learn the truth about what Natalie had faced here. fis body swayed as if it might fall. The sensation crawled deeper, scouring through his nerves, burning into every corner of his being. It was agony beyond words. But in that agony, Natalie¡¯s face emerged in his mind¡¯s eye-soft, gentle, her quiet beauty like a balm. She had never been fiery like Sharon; she had been water, not me. Once he had thought fire was more dazzling, more consuming. Now, with the water gone, he realized he had lost the only thing that gave him life. ¡°Natalie¡­¡± 1:03 pm S Chapter 63 The Test Her name slipped from his lips in a hoarse whisper. ?:{ +20 Free Coins Behind the screen, Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed at the sound, a sh of killing intent surging so sharp it cut through the air like a de. Jensen stiffened. He had felt it-the sudden murderous chill. His head snapped up just as a man in a silver mask stepped from behind the screen. ¡°Witch Doctor.¡± The attendant bowed deeply and stepped aside. Jensen locked his gaze on the figure. Danger-that was the first and strongest impression. This man radiated it. ¡°I hear you wanted to see me?¡± The voice was low and rasping, like that of an aged man at death¡¯s door. But something about it felt wrong to Jensen-off. A voice changer? No¡­ the tones carried too much texture, too much emotion. Machines couldn¡¯t produce that. It must be his real voice. But still, Jensen couldn¡¯t shake the sense that something was amiss. And stranger still, the man felt¡­ familiar. As if they had met before. Jensen was already at his limit, his arms shaking violently in the basin. But he refused to pull them out. His eyes, sharp as a hawk¡¯s, locked on the masked man. ¡°You¡¯re Witch Doctor?¡± ¡°None other,¡± Baron answered smoothly. He noted Jensen¡¯s swollen, trembling hands, and beneath the mask, his lips curved slightly. The basin water was harmless to most-at worst, a mild stinging itch. But Jensen was injured, his body full of bruises. The medicine in the water was drawn to damaged tissue, burrowing deep to repair it. In ten minutes, Jensen¡¯s bruises would vanish without a trace. Baron didn¡¯t want anyone iming Witch Doctor was just a butcher who healed nothing. But the side effect was exquisite-it multiplied the pain a thousandfold. The injuries would heal, but the agony would linger for months, invisible to any doctor¡¯s eye. A perfect punishment. Natalie lived with fire-ravaged pain every waking moment. Why should Jensen escape with nothing but crocodile Find the newest release on find?novel tears? He and Sharon both deserved to rot in torment. Baron¡¯s eyes chilled to shards of ice. 1:03 pm Chapter 63 The Test Jensen narrowed his own. ¡°Witch Doctor, do you and I have a grudge?¡± ¡°None,¡± Baron repliedzily. ¡°This is simply procedure.¡± 1:03 pm HereSelf 64 Chapter 64 Witch Doctor¡¯s Price Chapter 64 Witch Doctor¡¯s Price Baron felt a chill settle in his chest. So Jensen was the kind of man with exceptionally sharp senses. But that didn¡¯t mean he intended to let him off the hook so easily. +20 Free Coins With that thought, Baron returned to the head seat, nced at the time, and said calmly, ¡°Three minutes left. Can you still hold on, Mr. Luke?¡± In truth, Jensen could barely hold on anymore. He simply couldn¡¯t understand it-how could a bowl of seemingly clean water make his entire body feel as if every bone had been shattered, the pain relentless and inescapable? But then, he remembered Natalie from five years ago. If this truly was just part of the standard procedure, how had Natalie survived it back then? It must have been her love for him that carried her through. Yes. She had loved him so deeply. To save him, she had endured every bitter moment behind everyone¡¯s back. And he -how had he failed her so badly? In that moment, the guilt Jensen felt for Natalie surged to an unbearable peak. Baron saw the red in his eyes and knew exactly what he was thinking. But guilt alone meant nothing. Natalie had made it through because he, Baron, had arrived just in time. He didn¡¯t even dare imagine-if he¡¯d been a moment toote, Natalie would¡¯ve vanished from this world without a trace. Empty guilt was nothing more than self-righteous hypocrisy. Baron lowered his gaze. At some point, a sharp scalpel had appeared in his hand. The de twirled between his pale fingers, gleaming with a cold, metallic light. ¡°Mr. Luke, what an unexpected guest. I thought that after Natalie came to beg me to save you five years ago, you¡¯d never set foot in this ce again. And yet, here you are. I¡¯m quite curious-who exactly are you here for this time? Because from what I hear, your current Mrs. Luke is not Natalie.¡± The moment those wordsnded, Jensen¡¯s eyes lit up. 1:03 pm Chapter 64 Witch Doctor¡¯s Price +20 Free Coins ¡°You remember Natalie?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Checktest chapters at Find?Novel Baron shot him a nce and let out a soft chuckle. ¡°A fool like her isn¡¯t easy to forget. She gave up everything to save you. Left quite an impression.¡± At that, Jensen grew tense. ¡°Witch Doctor, can I ask¡­ what exactly did Natalie sacrifice back then to get you to treat me?¡± He looked straight at Baron as he asked, ignoring the searing pain coursing through his body. It was a question that had haunted him for five years. If he had known what Natalie truly gave up that day, he never would¡¯ve stayed away from her all this time. He loved her-how could he not want to be her husband in every sense of the word? But every time he saw her look at him with affection, his mind would spiral. Natalie was so alluring, so full of charm-had the Witch Doctor already seen her like that? Had he been the first to touch her? She was like a fragile lily, something to be cherished. Had she already been imed by someone else? Jensen knew these thoughts were wrong. Even if Natalie had truly slept with the Witch Doctor, she¡¯d done it to save him. And in the five years since, to give him peace of mind, she had turned away from every social engagement. She lived like a vineflower, clinging only to him-the tree she wrapped herself around. Jensen wasn¡¯t oblivious to how lonely she must have felt. People needed friends, needed interaction. He¡¯d even tried it himself-five days without leaving the house, without talking to anyone but Natalie, without scrolling through videos or chatting online. Just watering nts, sketching designs, and talking to her. He could barely endure it. That kind of istion could drive a sane person mad. But Natalie had done it for five years, just to make him feel secure. At first, he felt guilty and told her she didn¡¯t need to go that far. He said she could talk to people online if she wanted, maybe make some friends. But she refused. She said there were too many temptations out there, and she didn¡¯t want to give him any reason to doubt her. 1:03 pm R Chapter 64 Witch Doctor¡¯s Price She said she liked the peace and quiet. That seeing him every day made her happy. Even her education-she finished it with him at her side the whole time. And yet¡­ why had hee to take that for granted? Was it because Natalie was too obedient? Too easy to love? Or had his heart simply grown restless, bored by a life so calm and vorless? Suddenly, Jensen saw his own heart for what it was, and the weight of it nearly made him copse. He had been wrong. The more he learned about what Natalie had done for him, the more it tore him apart. She had been such a good woman. And he had ruined her. That was why he had to know today-what had she truly sacrificed to save him? The thought gave his eyes new resolve. Baron had been watching his every expression. The scalpel in his hand paused slightly. +20 Free Coins The image of Natalie from five years ago, risking everything for Jensen, flickered through his mind again. A deep, bitter jealousy welled up in his chest-but only for a moment. Then he forced his expression back to calm. 1:03 pm S HereSelf 65 Chapter 65 The Price of a Memory +20 Free Coins Baron suddenly let out a wickedugh and countered, ¡°Tell me, what do you think was her most precious possession back then?¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes darkened at once, a lethal tension instantly thickening in the air. Though Baron still wore hiszy, nonchnt expression, the moment Jensen¡¯s killing intent surged, his own gaze turned cold, the atmosphere between them charged with undisguised hostility. It was like the crackle of gunpowder-ready to explode at any second. The attendant instinctively took a step back, afraid of bing coteral damage. Jensen yanked his hands from the basin and took two steps toward Baron, each one radiating murderous energy. Baron didn¡¯t stop him. After all, the ten minutes were up. The drug had already taken effect. For the next two months, he could guarantee that Jensen would suffer pain worse than death. Jensen¡¯s eyes brimmed with rage. He saw the provocation in Baron¡¯s gaze. As a man, he wanted nothing more than to kill him with his bare hands, but he had to force down the fury rising in his throat. Gritting his teeth, he asked, ¡°Witch Doctor, everyone says you act with integrity. Since you epted something from Natalie back then, there¡¯s no reason you can¡¯t tell me what it was, is there?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t butter me up. Integrity depends on who I¡¯m dealing with. But what Natalie gave up-yeah, it was precious. I still remember it clearly after all these years.¡± ¡°You bastard!¡± Jensen could no longer restrain himself. He lunged forward with a punch aimed straight at Baron¡¯s face. Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. In the next instant, the scalpel in his hand flew through the air. The cold, gleaming de seemed almost alive as it sliced toward Jensen¡¯s head with a piercing whistle, moving fast and with lethal force. Instinctively, Jensen ducked just in time. The scalpel grazed his scalp and embedded itself deep into the wall behind him with a violent ng. Cold sweat drenched Jensen¡¯s back. Chapter 65 The Price of a Memory That de-Baron had thrown it to kill. Jensen looked back at him, eyes burning. Baron rose from his seat, voice icy. ¡°You dare raise a hand in Hades Pharmacy? Jensen, have you thought about how you n to leave the ck market alive?¡± Jensen¡¯s expression twisted in anger and frustration. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he had no choice-he had lost this round. Whether as a man or as the ruler of Ocean City, he had no power at all against the Witch Doctor. ¡°I came here today to ask about Natalie,¡± Jensen said, his mouth tasting of iron. He realized he had bitten through his lip. Only pain and the tang of blood could keep his rage from consuming him. But Baron responded coldly, ¡°This is a clinic, not a gossip booth. If you¡¯re looking for information, go buy it from one of the stalls outside. Though¡­ I heard your darling wife Sharon broke her arm. Isn¡¯t that why you came today?¡± Baron hoped Jensen was here for Sharon. After all, he¡¯d once tormented Natalie so badly for Sharon¡¯s sake-nearly got her burned alive. True love like that shouldn¡¯t go to waste, right? But Jensen simply replied, ¡°She brought that on herself. It¡¯s what she deserves for what she did to Natalie. I¡¯m not here to get her treatment. If you can¡¯t give me the information I need, I won¡¯t waste your time.¡± Baron¡¯s expression soured. Who was Jensen putting on this show of devotion for? For him? Or for Natalie? Too little, toote-worth less than dirt. He hoped Jensen and Sharon would never get divorced. Checktest chapters at F¦ÉndNovel Just as he was about to say something, a man in ck entered the clinic. He walked straight up to Baron and whispered in his ear, ¡°Witch Doctor, Ms. Summers is in trouble.¡± Jensen turned abruptly, eyes locked on Baron. 1:03 pm & Chapter 65 The Price of a Memory ¡°What did he just say? Who¡¯s in trouble?¡± The bodyguard seemed to notice Jensen only now and frowned slightly. Baron¡¯s icy re swept over him, making the man feel as if he¡¯d just walked through a freezer. +20 Free Coins The guard immediately rified, ¡°Ms. Sarah. Ms. Sarah¡¯s surgery site got infected. Her condition isn¡¯t good.¡± As soon as he said it, Baron¡¯s re deepened. ¡°Leaking a patient¡¯s information. That¡¯s a punishable offense. Go downstairs and take your punishment.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The guard flinched but quickly exited the room. Jensen¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. Was it really Ms. Sarah? Why had he just heard ¡°Ms. Summers¡± so clearly? But looking at Baron¡¯s calm expression-and the way the bodyguard had cowered-it didn¡¯t seem like a setup. Maybe he was just so consumed with thoughts of Natalie that he was starting to hallucinate. 1:03 pm S HereSelf 66 Chapter 66 The Cufflink Clue Chapter 66 The Cufflink Clue A flicker of disappointment passed through Jensen¡¯s heart. +20 Free Coins Deep down, he had hoped the Witch Doctor might have saved Natalie. That would at least mean she was still alive somewhere in this world. Baron caught that fleeting trace of sorrow in his expression and let out a cold scoff. ¡°Mr. Luke, weren¡¯t you leaving? Or have you changed your mind ande to plead for your dear wife¡¯s sake? If it¡¯s you, I might lower the bar a little. After all, I did promise Natalie when she begged for your life that if you ever came for help, I wouldn¡¯t make things too difficult.¡± Every word stabbed into Jensen¡¯s chest like a dagger. He already felt like his heart had been torn to shreds, but Baron always knew how to drive the de in deeper. Natalie had endured unimaginable hardship to secure that promise for him-how could he possibly waste it on Sharon now that Natalie was gone? He¡¯d already let her suffer in life. If he betrayed her again in death, how could he ever face her soul in the afterlife? For the first time, Jensen found the Witch Doctor truly repulsive. ¡°No need. Like I said-she brought that on herself. Witch Doctor, if it¡¯s possible, I¡¯d like to use this chance to ask about Natalie¡¯s whereabouts.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re asking the wrong man. You¡¯d better go ask Hades in hell.¡± Baron twisted the knife again. Jensen stumbled slightly, then turned and walked out of Hades Pharmacy. Pain wracked his entire body, an unbearable itch crawling under his skin like a swarm of ants devouring him from the inside out. It had to be that basin of water. That¡¯s why Natalie had looked so pale and frail when she came back all those years ago, wasn¡¯t it? And in the end, he still hadn¡¯t gotten the answer he came for. The moment Jensen walked out of Hades Pharmacy, Baron suddenly stood up and said to the attendant beside him, ¡°Prepare the helicopter. I need to return to Murica immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The attendant rushed off to make the arrangements. 1:03 pm & Chapter 66 The Cufflink Clue Baron pulled out his phone and dialed. Original content can be found at find?novel +20 Free Coins ¡°Find a good opportunity to make Sharon and Jensen consummate their marriage. Then leak it to the media. I want the whole world to know Sharon is the Mrs. Luke Jensen married.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Gunn.¡± Baron hung up and removed his silver mask with one hand. The face underneath was both alluring and cold, full of disdain and mockery. If Jensen had hurt Natalie for Sharon¡¯s sake, then he would never get another chance to go near Natalie again. That kind of opportunity didn¡¯te twice. Baron turned and said to one of the shop attendants, ¡°Tell that gossip vendor Li Si to keep his mouth shut. If any news about Natalie leaks from him, he can go pick out a grave early.¡± Someone immediately slipped away to carry out the order. With that done, Baron quickly made his way to the back of the clinic. There, hidden from sight, was a private airstrip that few knew about. He boarded the helicopter and flew straight back to Murica. Meanwhile, Jensen left Hades Pharmacy with his mind in chaos. Had he imagined it all? Natalie was dead. He had seen it with his own eyes. The fire had been massive. No firefighters had even made it in. Who could possibly have saved her? It had to be nothing but delusion-wishful thinking. Jensen staggered slightly. Hansel noticed immediately and stepped forward to catch him. ¡°Mr. Luke, are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Jensen shook his head. The sunlight reflected off the tie clip on Hansel¡¯s tie, shing in Jensen¡¯s eyes. Chapter 66 The Cufflink Clue He shut his eyes for a moment-and a memory surged into his mind. +20 Free Coins Back when the Witch Doctor attacked him, when that scalpel had skimmed over his scalp, he thought he saw something familiar: a cufflink on the Witch Doctor¡¯s sleeve. At the time, he hadn¡¯t paid attention-his life had been on the line. But now that he thought back, that cufflink looked exactly like thest design Natalie had ever created. But how could that be? That pair of cufflinks was supposed to be with him. Jensen instinctively looked down at his own wrist-only to find the cufflink missing. ¡°My cufflink¡­ where is it?¡± Panic seized him. That cufflink had been thest thing Natalie left behind. She¡¯d destroyed everything else¡ªeven her toothbrush hadn¡¯t been spared. It was the only piece of her he had left. And now it was gone. Unless¡­ He suddenly recalled the moment he entered the ck market-when he was ambushed and beaten. Was that when they¡¯d stolen it? Did the Witch Doctor have it now? Was it the Witch Doctor who attacked him? Jensen¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Take me back to Hades Pharmacy.¡± He hadn¡¯t seen clearly whether the cufflink on that sleeve had really been Natalie¡¯s design-but it didn¡¯t matter. He was going back to find out. 1:03 pm HereSelf 67 Chapter 67 Forbidden Authority Chapter 67 Forbidden Authority +20 Free Coins Hansel didn¡¯t know why Jensen suddenly wanted to return to Hades Pharmacy, but he nodded anyway. The two of them rushed back-only to find the ce locked up tight. ¡°Where is everyone? Anyone here? Witch Doctor! Come out!¡± Jensen pounded on the door like a madman, but no sound came from within. The outer gate was locked with heavy chains. He couldn¡¯t even get through the front. Thinking back to what that bodyguard had said, Jensen felt something was very wrong. ¡®Go! Alert our people. Lock down every exit of the ck market. The moment Witch Doctor¡¯s vehicle shows up, I want a tail on him-no matter where he¡¯s headed. And find out who that ¡®Ms. Sarah¡¯ really is.¡± There was no Ms. Sarah in all of Ocean City. Jensen prided himself on knowing every major figure in the city-political, military, business. But not a single nfluential woman bore that surname. He was beginning to feel certain now: what he¡¯d heard wasn¡¯t Ms. Sarah at all-it had to be Ms. Summers. Which meant the Witch Doctor may have saved Natalie! f he could just track the Witch Doctor¡¯s movements, follow the trail, he¡¯d uncover the truth sooner orter. Hansel nodded and made the call without hesitation. Meanwhile, Baron had already boarded his private jet and flown straight back to his vi in Murica. But the moment he saw Natalie¡¯s condition, his expression darkened, and a sh of pure murderous intent burned in his eyes. ¡®Yvonne. Before I left, didn¡¯t I tell you to take good care of Natalie?¡± His voice was icy, devoid of warmth. Yvonne immediately dropped to her knees, unable to defend herself. Finn stepped in, trying to defuse the tension. ¡°Mr. Gunn, this isn¡¯t Yvonne¡¯s fault. She had just received Phantom¡¯s ashes and went to bury him. She¡¯d arranged for someone to keep an eye on Natalie. But Natalie insisted on getting out of bed, and that¡¯s what caused the infection. Our nurse can¡¯t be on watch every second. Even ICU patients need to take responsibility for their own recovery, don¡¯t they?¡± Before Finn could finish, Baron¡¯s hand shot out. 1:03 pm S Chapter 67 Forbidden Authority The sharp crack of a p echoed through the vi. Finn was knocked clean off his feet and crashed to the floor in front of everyone. The room fell deathly silent. No one even dared to breathe. Everyone knew Finn was Baron¡¯s right-hand man-the second-inmand of the organization. For him to be pped in front of everyone, just for speaking against Natalie-this was unheard of. Finn sat in stunned silence, his mind nk until the dull pain began to pulse across his cheek and jaw. Only then did he understand what had just happened. But disbelief still filled his face. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ you hit me over her?¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the years you¡¯ve stood by my side through war and blood, I¡¯d have greeted you with a de instead of a p.¡± ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FindN0vel Baron didn¡¯t even nce his way again. He turned and calmly pulled on a sterile suit before walking into the operating room. Finn sat there clutching his swollen face, stunned. ¡°She¡¯s nothing but Jensen¡¯s leftover trash. And you hit your own brother over her?¡± Shauna stepped forward quickly and pped a hand over his mouth. ¡°Shut up! Are you trying to get yourself killed?¡± But Finn didn¡¯t stop. His voice was thick with injustice. ¡°Shauna, we¡¯ve followed Mr. Gunn through life and death for years. How are we less than that woman? She nearly got him killed! And I get pped just for pointing that out?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get it yet? Mr. Gunn¡¯s attachment to Natalie goes far deeper than we thought. We both know her condition is critical-she needs someone by her side twenty-four-seven. Yvonne did take leave, and yes, she failed to ensure proper coverage. That¡¯s on her. Mr. Gunn is strict but fair. Don¡¯t go asking for more trouble.¡± She helped him up roughly. Finn touched his aching cheek and muttered, ¡°I just can¡¯t stand watching Mr. Gunn throw himself into danger for her.¡± ¡°Feelings aren¡¯t something you or I can judge, Finn. Don¡¯t test Mr. Gunn¡¯s limits. Even if you look down on Natalie, don¡¯t challenge his authority. You know as well as I do-Mr. Gunn didn¡¯t rise to power by being soft.¡± ¡°We¡¯re his brothers. He protects us. But now Natalie¡­ she¡¯s everything to him. If you keep antagonizing her, what do you think he¡¯ll do to you?¡± 1:03 pm ¡ê Chapter 67 Forbidden Authority ¡°You don¡¯t really think Mr. Gunn would kill me over that woman¡­ do you?¡± Shauna said nothing. Finn froze. Then his eyes widened in sudden realization. 1:03 pm & HereSelf 68 Chapter 68 The Woman on the Ind Chapter 68 The Woman on the Ind ¡°You¡¯re saying Mr. Gunn would actually kill me over Natalie?¡± +20 Free Coins Shauna sighed in exasperation. ¡°Did you forget the woman on the ind? How did Mr. Gunn treat her?¡± ¡°He would¡¯ve given her the stars if she asked. Hell, he wanted to hand her the whole world,¡± Finn muttered. Shauna pressed her lips together, leaned in, and whispered, ¡°Natalie¡¯s burns are so severe she¡¯ll need full-body skin grafts. If I¡¯m right, Mr. Gunn is going to ask the woman on the ind to donate skin for her.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Finn¡¯s voice shot up in disbelief-only to be muffled by Shauna¡¯s hand. ¡°You wanna die, go right ahead. Just don¡¯t drag me with you.¡± The rightful source is find?novel But Finn wasn¡¯t listening to anything else she said. His expression turned grim. ¡°No. No way! Mr. Gunn adores her. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d let her give up her skin for someone like Natalie.¡± ¡°You better watch your mouth. I don¡¯t care what Natalie¡¯s history with Jensen is. Right now, she¡¯s under Mr. Gunn¡¯s protection-and she might very well be our future matriarch. Keep calling her ¡®trash,¡¯ and when you lose your tongue, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± With that, Shauna turned and walked away. As she passed Yvonne, she said coolly, ¡°Go report for punishment. But don¡¯t go overboard. Once Natalie¡¯s surgery is over, you¡¯ll need to be there to take care of her. Don¡¯t me Mr. Gunn for this.¡± Yvonne nodded tearfully. ¡°It was my failure. I don¡¯t me Mr. Gunn. I just hope Ms. Summers makes it.¡± Shauna let out a soft sigh. ¡°With Mr. Gunn acting as the Witch Doctor, Natalie¡¯s not allowed to die. Go on.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Once Yvonne was gone, Finn remained frozen, still reeling. Shauna ignored him and immediately began preparing post-op arrangements. Inside the sterile room, Baron stepped in and saw Natalie soaked in blood. Her burns had gone septic, the infection spreading fast. She was unconscious, face scrunched in agony-whether from pain or a nightmare, he couldn¡¯t tell. Baron¡¯s eyes grew heavy with cold fury. ¡°You really can¡¯t go one day without making a mess, can you? You knew you shouldn¡¯t move. Why did you get up? 1:03 pm S Chapter 68 The Woman on the Ind He knew she couldn¡¯t hear him, but it didn¡¯t stop the anger from boiling over. His chest ached. It felt like something was squeezing his heart tight, making it hard to breathe. He nced down at her right hand-crushed during the fire. +20 Free Coins The flesh was unrecognizable now, just a ckened, broken limb. And he knew those shattered bones weren¡¯t going to heal on their own anytime soon. With a sigh, he picked up his tools and began carefully treating the wounds and infected areas. It was delicate work. Normally, he left this to others. But this was Natalie. So he did it himself. It took over two hours to stop the bleeding and disinfect the wounds. By the end, Baron¡¯s sterile suit was soaked in cold sweat. Just as he finished, Natalie began convulsing-frothing at the mouth. Baron¡¯s bloodstained hands trembled ever so slightly. His eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, he grabbed her jaw and quickly drew a blood sample for analysis. When the toxic markers shed on the screen, a terrifying coldness flooded his expression. There was no time to waste. He crushed the antidote vial and tried to administer it to her directly, but her body rejected it. Even with his grip on her jaw, the medicine wouldn¡¯t go down. Baron narrowed his eyes, lifted the antidote to his lips, and drank it himself. Then he leaned down and sealed her mouth with his own. This kiss had no romance, no tenderness. The fire had turned a once-stunning woman into something unrecognizable. Her skin was burned, fused in patches. The sight would make most people recoil. But Baron didn¡¯t flinch. He kissed her without hesitation, forcing her lips open and pouring the antidote into her mouth with his own. The mixture of bitter medicine and his own breath slid down her throat. 1:04 pm & Chapter 68 The Woman on the Ind Natalie reflexively swallowed, trying to open her eyes-but it was no use. +20 Free Co Her entire body throbbed in unbearable pain, magnified a thousandfold. Even someone as strong as her could hardly endure it. Her abdomen ached horribly, like something inside was twisting her from within. She couldn¡¯t speak. Couldn¡¯t move. All she could do was lie there, waiting to die. And yet-Baron¡¯s mouth against hers brought a strange new awareness. She could smell him. She knew it was him. 1:04 pm ¡ê HereSelf 69 Chapter 69 The Poison Within Chapter 69 The Poison Within It was him. He was kissing her? +20 Free Coins Natalie wasn¡¯t unaware of how terrifying she looked now. How could Baron bring himself to kiss her like this? She didn¡¯t know why, but a sharp ache bloomed in her chest. She suddenly felt a heavy, swelling sensation-like she was about to cry. She knew Baron cared for her. But she also knew not everyone in this ce shared his feelings. Even though she had been unconscious for most of the poisoning, she wasn¡¯t entirely unaware. And now she was terrified-terrified Baron might do something reckless because of what happened to her. She wanted to wake up, to stop him, but her body wouldn¡¯t allow it. Why was she so useless? For the first time, Natalie had the thought¡­ Maybe it would be better if I just died here. A single tear slid from the corner of her eye, streaking across her burned skin-bringing with it another wave of pain. Baron saw it just after delivering the antidote. That single tear twisted something in his chest. He couldn¡¯t even wipe it away with his hands. ¡®Natalie, stay alive. You still owe me. No matter what happens, I¡¯m here. Trust me-everything will be okay.¡± His voice was low and hoarse. It was clear he was barely holding it together. Natalie wanted to answer, wanted to speak, but a wave of dizziness swept over her and dragged her back into unconsciousness. Baron immediately ran a check. The toxin levels in her blood were finally decreasing, and he exhaled in relief. There could be no more dy on her skin graft surgery. But first, he had to treat her right hand. His gaze darkened as itnded on the mangled limb. Without hesitation, he began working. 1:04 pm S Chapter 69 The Poison Within Baron immersed himself in saving her,pletely unaware of the time passing. Outside, Finn and Shauna were growing restless. ¡°Shauna¡­ it¡¯s been over ten hours. Shouldn¡¯t we bring him something to eat?¡± Shauna shot him a re. ¡°Go ahead, if you want to die. Just don¡¯t take me with you.¡± Finn shrank back instinctively. He valued his life too much. As night finally fell, Baron emerged from the operating room. +20 Free Coins Yvonne had just returned from her punishment. Still dressed in blood-soaked clothes, she rushed up to him the moment she saw him. ¡°Mr. Gunn, how¡¯s Ms. Summers?¡± Baron gave her a long look. Her pale face and the iron scent on her made it clear-she had taken her punishment. ¡°Change your clothes. Clean yourself up. Go in and look after her. This time, you¡¯re not to leave her side-not even for the bathroom.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes welled with emotion. She had been terrified she¡¯d lose her position, but Baron¡¯s words filled her with new determination. Shauna immediately handed him a ss of water. He hadn¡¯t eaten or drunk anything in over ten hours. He looked terrible. Finn looked like he wanted to speak, but Baron didn¡¯t spare him a nce. After drinking, Baron finally looked a little better. Shauna spoke quickly, ¡°I¡¯ve had food prepared. Mr. Gunn, please eat something. Yvonne and I will keep watch- there won¡¯t be another mistake.¡± ¡°No rush.¡± Baron waved her off, his gaze sharp and frosted as itnded on Finn. Finn instantly felt like he¡¯d been tossed into a frozenke. Baron¡¯s open killing intent made him swallow hard. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ I know I ran my mouth, but you already pped me. You¡¯re not going to punish me more, are you?¡± He instinctively stepped back. 1:04 pm F Chapter 69 The Poison Within +20 Free Coins Shauna, seeing this, hurried to intervene. ¡°Mr. Gunn, Finn may have a foul mouth, but he¡¯d never darey a hand on Ms. Summers.¡± ¡°Natalie was poisoned.¡± At those words, both their faces changed. Finn, especially-his eyes went wide, and he flinched instinctively. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ you don¡¯t actually think I did it, do you?¡± Right then, Finn wanted to die. God help him-he¡¯d run his mouth, sure. He didn¡¯t like Natalie, true. But he knew better than to cross Baron. He wasn¡¯t suicidal. But now, because of everything he¡¯d said, Baron had reason to suspect him. And that made Finn feel truly wronged for the first time in his life. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I swear on my life-I neverid a finger on Natalie!¡± Shauna¡¯s heart dropped. This ce-this tightly guarded, inner sanctuary-was only essible to Baron¡¯s most trusted inner circle. And Natalie had been poisoned here? Readplete version only at Find?Novel Even Shauna felt a chill creep down her spine. No wonder Baron was out for blood. 1:04 pm D HereSelf 70 Chapter 70 Poisoned Ties Chapter 70 Poisoned Ties ¡°Mr. Gunn, Finn wouldn¡¯t do something like that,¡± Shauna said firmly. Content originallyes from F¦Énd£Îovel +20 Free Coins Baron didn¡¯t even turn around. ¡°Then find out who did. By dawn. If there¡¯s no answer by then-Finn, you know what happens.¡± With that, he strode off, leaving a deathly silence in his wake. Finn copsed onto the sofa, looking like he was about to cry. ¡°Shauna, this is a damn disaster! I¡¯m innocent! You believe me, right?¡± Shauna gave him a long, unreadable look. ¡°If we can¡¯t find the real culprit, you¡¯re the most likely suspect. You know Mr. Gunn-he¡¯d rather kill.the wrong man than let the real one escape.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna die for nothing!¡± Finn pped himself in frustration, looking utterly miserable. Shauna finally softened a little. ¡°If you¡¯ve got time to whine, use it to investigate. I¡¯ll check with the kitchen staff- logistics are my area anyway.¡± She understood something that Finn hadn¡¯t quite grasped yet. Natalie was Mr. Gunn¡¯s bottom line. His reverse scale. For her to be poisoned here¡ªin their most secure base-was terrifying in and of itself. And if someone could use her as a proxy to target Baron himself? Shauna¡¯s blood ran cold just thinking about it. She hurried off, and Finn didn¡¯t dare waste another second. He jumped to his feet andunched into his own investigation. Meanwhile, behind the privacy of his bedroom door, Baron copsed to the floor the moment it shut behind him. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips-dark and ominous. The poison was strong. His limbs were already going numb. Truth be told, he had known he was poisoned from the moment he administered the antidote to Natalie. The toxin had been applied directly to her skin-just touching her was enough to be infected. Which meant the real target hadn¡¯t been Natalie at all. 1:04 pm Chapter 70 Poisoned Ties +20 Free Coins It had been him. Natalie was just the vessel. But even knowing that, Baron had prioritized her life-had fought to detox her, had evenpleted the surgery to restore her right hand. If he hadn¡¯t forced himself to hold out until just now, he wouldn¡¯t have managed to keep hisposure in front of Finn and Shauna. Now, his limbs were paralyzed. Driven by sheer survival instinct, he forced his shaking hand into his pocket and pulled out a candy-like pill, shoving it into his mouth. Then he curled up on the floor as agony ripped through his body. He rolled across the cold tile, fingers digging into his sleeve until they found a familiar metal touch-the cufflink Natalie had designed just for him. He paused. Natalie¡¯s skin graft surgery still needed his hands. He had to pull through. His bloodshot eyes burned as cold sweat poured down his temple, soaking his sharp features. The single beauty mark by his eye looked even more striking against the sheen of pain. Elsewhere, Jensen had waited outside the locked Hades Pharmacy for hours with no sess. By the time night fell, there was still no trace of the Witch Doctor. And no sign of him in the ck market either. Hansel eyed Jensen¡¯s increasingly grim expression. ¡°Mr. Luke, the Witch Doctor¡¯s movements are always unpredictable. Maybe we should head back. You don¡¯t look well.¡± He didn¡¯t just look unwell-Jensen felt like his bones were shattering from the inside out. His entire body itched like a million ants crawling under his skin. And he could do nothing about it. He called Foster to ask what the person who retrieved the cufflink looked like. But Foster stammered, saying he didn¡¯t remember. 1:04 pm Chapter 70 Poisoned Ties A man in his early forties with no memory? Of something that happened recently? +20 Free Coins Jensen found that deeply suspicious. He pressed Foster with other unrted questions-Foster answered fluently. But when it came to the person who took the cufflink, he drew aplete nk. ¡°Mr. Luke, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with me. I have zero memory of that person. Can¡¯t even recall their height or build¡­¡± Foster sounded frightened. Maybe he was losing his mind. Jensen hung up, furious. He had Hansel pull security footage from outside Foster¡¯s home-yet there was no record of anyone entering. It didn¡¯t make sense. Either the footage was tampered with-or Foster¡¯s mind really had been wiped. And now, with Natalie¡¯s final design piece lost, Jensen felt a deep, consuming darkness settle over him. Even the Witch Doctor had vanished. For the first time, Jensen was forced to face the truth: his power wasn¡¯t absolute. ¡°Keep this ce under surveince. The moment the Witch Doctor shows up-call me.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Hansel quickly nodded. Jensen¡¯s body was giving out. He left the ck market with Hansel¡¯s support. Once in the car, Hansel immediately began arranging food for him. And that was when Sharon called again. Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed tight. For the first time ever-he found Sharon truly unbearable. HereSelf 71 Fevered Trap +20 Free Coins Jensen tossed the phone to Hansel and muttered, ¡°Tell her the Witch Doctor didn¡¯t show up. I waited all day and passed out from exhaustion. Tell her not to bother me.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Hansel swiped to answer, and Sharon¡¯s shrill voice immediately burst through the speaker. ¡°Jensen! Did you find the Witch Doctor? When¡¯s he going to treat my hand?!¡± A flicker of mockery passed through Hansel¡¯s eyes, though his tone remained perfectly respectful. ¡°Ms. Summers, Mr. Luke waited at the ck market all day without finding the Witch Doctor. He¡¯s left someone to keep watch. Mr. Luke copsed from fatigue. Please focus on recovering and don¡¯t add to his stress.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find[f]ovel ¡°What? How can that be? Wasn¡¯t the Witch Doctor at the ck market? How did you not find him?! What am I supposed to do without him?! What about my hand?!¡± Sharon¡¯s frantic screams came loud and clear, echoing in Jensen¡¯s ears. His gaze darkened. The woman who imed to love him-upon hearing he had copsed-showed not one ounce of concern. All she cared about was herself. About her hand. Howughable. For the first time, Jensen saw Sharon¡¯s so-called love for what it was. And to think, he¡¯d destroyed Natalie-the woman who truly loved him-for this. If Natalie had heard he passed out from exhaustion, she wouldn¡¯t have even asked about the Witch Doctor. She¡¯d have been consumed with worry for him. Some people are priceless. Others aren¡¯t even worth the dirt underfoot. He used to treat this trash like a treasure. Jensen cast a single look at Hansel, who promptly ended the call. ¡°Where to now, Mr. Luke?¡± ¡°Back to Grand Pavilion.¡± Even though Natalie was gone-and every trace of her had been removed-he still felt closest to her there. ¡°Oh, and have Foster use the design sketch to remake the cufflinks.¡± 1:05 pm ¡ê Chapter 71 Fevered Trap He couldn¡¯t let go of the fact that he¡¯d lost Natalie¡¯s final creation. It stung like hell. +20 Free Coins Fortunately, he still had the original design. Foster could recreate them. But the original¡¯s absence left a heavy emptiness in his chest. Sharon was furious. ¡°That damn Hansel! A lowly assistant dares hang up on me?!¡± Her anger exploded. ¡°Screw this-I¡¯m going to the ck market myself! I¡¯ll find the Witch Doctor and make him fix my hand!¡± She stormed out of the hospital like a woman possessed. But just as she reached her car, a shadow struck her from behind-knocking her out cold. Back at Grand Pavilion, Jensen returned home, exhausted. Hansel offered to make him something to eat, but Jensen waved him off. Natalie had always cherished the quiet. He didn¡¯t want anyone disturbing that peace now. Hansel didn¡¯t argue. He quietly ordered takeout and left. Jensen wasn¡¯t hungry. Even though his stomach was growling, the stabbing pain and maddening itch across his body made him want to rip his skin off. But he knew this was the Witch Doctor¡¯s doing-there was no cure unless the Witch Doctor gave it. No point going to the hospital, And with Sharon there, he wouldn¡¯t go even if there was a cure, What a twisted irony. Back when Natalie was alive, he had sought out Sharon at every opportunity. Even if they never crossed the final line, he couldn¡¯t say they were innocent either. There had been kisses. There had been heat. But now Natalie was gone, and Sharon was his legal wife. No more sneaking, no more guilt. And yet he felt nothing for her. Not even the faintest trace of desire. +20 Free Coins 1:05 pm ¡ê Chapter 71 Fevered Trap What a sick bastard I am, he thought,ughing bitterly. Hey back on the couch, lips curling into a self-deprecating smile. Maybe it was his imagination, but the air in Grand Pavilion seemed to carry a faintly sweet scent tonight. Still, no one could get in without fingerprint clearance. He told himself he was just being paranoid. Eventually, sleep imed him. He had no idea how long he was out before the doorbell rang, jerking him awake. He opened his eyes groggily and remembered-he was home. It was the takeout. He opened the door, signed for it, and brought it inside. Now that the pain and itching had faded slightly, his hunger returned. He didn¡¯t care if the food was good or not-he devoured it. Afterward, he downed a ss of water and tossed the containers in the trash. But soon after, a strange heat flushed through him. He tugged at his cor, suddenly parched and burning from the inside out. One ss of water turned into two. His head grew heavy. He stumbled into the bedroom to lie down. And just as he disappeared into the bathroom for a shower¡­ A shadow dropped silently from the balcony. Over their shoulder was a sack, The figure crept into Jensen¡¯s bedroom, quiet as a whisper. In the distance, the sound of running water masked every movement. 1:05 pm D HereSelf 72 Chapter 72 Honey Trap Chapter 72 Honey Trap +20 Free Coins The shadowy figure opened the sack and dragged out the unconscious Sharon, tossing her onto Jensen¡¯s bed without the slightest care. Then, they lit a single stick of aphrodisiac incense on the bedside table. Their taskplete, they exited silently through the balcony, carefully wiping away every trace of their presence. Jensen emerged from the shower, but the heat inside him had only intensified. Even the cold water hadn¡¯t cooled his burning skin. Still dazed, he walked out of the bathroom and copsed onto the bed-only to freeze. There was someone else on it.. He turned his head sharply-and saw Natalie lying peacefully beside him. His breath hitched. ¡°Natalie? Is that you? You¡¯re back? Or¡­ am I dreaming?¡± He reached out, trembling, afraid that touching her would shatter the illusion. At that moment, Sharon began to stir. Her entire body felt strange, flushed with heat, ovee by an unfamiliar craving. What was happening to her? She opened her eyes-only to find Jensen gazing at her with such deep affection, it made her heart pound. ¡°Jensen?¡± She blinked in disbelief. Since Natalie¡¯s death, she hadn¡¯t seen Jensen look at her like that-hadn¡¯t felt that kind of hunger from him. Her heart swelled, She suddenly remembered Mrs. Summers¡¯ words: If you can get pregnant with Jensen¡¯s child, the Mrs. Luke title will be yours for good. Now that Natalie was dead, she couldn¡¯t allow another woman to take her ce. With that thought, Sharon slipped her arms around Jensen¡¯s neck and whispered sweetly, ¡°Jensen¡­¡± Jensen felt the soft breath on his ear and his body surged with fire. 1:05 pm ¡ê Chapter 72 Honey Trap +20 Free Coins This wasn¡¯t a dream-he could feel her. Natalie¡­ she was alive. ¡°Natalie!¡± he choked out, pulling her into his arms, holding her so tightly it was as if he wanted to fuse her into his very bones. But the moment Sharon heard that name, her eyes shed with hatred. That bitch is dead, and she¡¯s still ruining things for me? Original content can be found at f?ndnovel But it didn¡¯t matter. As long as she and Jensen slept together and she got pregnant, Natalie would be nothing but a shadow in his past. She leaned up and kissed his ear. Already burning, Jensen lost thest thread of control. He flipped her over, pinned her down, and kissed her hungrily, overtaking her breath in seconds. Sharon moaned, responding eagerly. In matters like this, she preferred passion and dominance. She vaguely recognized the setting-this was Grand Pavilion. She didn¡¯t know how she got there, but none of that mattered. She was going to make sure Jensen never left her again. The two of them quickly sank into desire. The room¡¯s temperature spiked, hot and heady. Outside, the shadowy figure stood watching from a distance. They smiled coldly, then began forwarding a message to every major news outlet: ¡°Want to know who Luke Corp CEO Jensen has been hiding away all these years? Come to Grand Pavilion, Vi 302.¡± Missionplete, the figure vanished into the night. ¡­ Not long after, reporters flooded toward Grand Pavilion. Normally a fortress of privacy, Grand Pavilion¡¯s security system inexplicably failed that night. No guards appeared, no rms sounded. It was as if the gates had been left wide open. After their passionate encounter, Jensen and Sharon had both passed out, tangled in exhaustion. 1:05 pm D Chapter 72 Honey Trap The reporters arrived, hesitated briefly at the front door, then knocked. No response. Someone pushed. To everyone¡¯s shock, the door swung open. They stared at one another, stunned. ¡°What¡¯s going on? It¡¯s not locked?¡± ¡°No clue. But we¡¯re here-let¡¯s go.¡± The urge for a scoop outweighed any hesitation. One by one, they slipped inside. +20 Free Coins After all, Jensen-the ever-reclusive CEO of Luke Corp-had never been seen with a woman. Rumors swirled for years that he might not even like women. Yet every Valentine¡¯s Day, Jensen would order exclusive jewelry and luxury gifts. No one knew who he was giving them to-until now. This could be the scandal of the decade. They tiptoed through the vi, drawn by the faint sound of movement behind a bedroom door. And when they opened it- Jensen and Sharon stirred at the same time. ¡°Ahhh!¡± A piercing scream tore through the air. Sharon jolted awake to a crowd of strangers with cameras and shing lights aimed directly at her. And worst of all-she was naked under the sheets. She screamed instinctively, her arms clutching the nket to her chest. Jensen, groggy and disoriented, sat up with a pounding headache-just in time to see the room full of shing cameras. And he immediately understood, 1:05 pm ¡ê HereSelf 73 Chapter 73 Ruinous Exposure Chapter 73 Ruinous Exposure The woman in his bedst night¡­ was Sharon? A surge of violent fury flooded Jensen¡¯s chest. Before he could process further, a bold reporter stepped up. ¡°Mr. Luke, is Ms. Sharon the woman you¡¯ve been hiding in this vi for the past five years?¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Luke, rumors say you¡¯ve been deeply devoted to only one woman all these years-is that Ms. Sharon?¡± ¡°Mr. Luke, with such a strong rtionship, when¡¯s the wedding?¡± Reporters rushed in all at once, bombarding them with questions, snapping photos, and giving them no time to dress. Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed into a sharp, unforgiving line. ¡°This is private property. How did you get in here?¡± His voice was low-lethal-and shaking with barely restrained rage. Sharon, after her initial scream, quickly realized the situation was a godsend. Clutching the sheets close to her chest, she gave the crowd a demure look and cooed, ¡°Please don¡¯t¡­ we deserve a little privacy, don¡¯t we? Actually, Jensen and I are already married. We just haven¡¯t had the chance to hold a ceremony.¡± ¡°What?! Ms. Summers is already Mrs. Luke?¡± ¡°I think I heard Mr. Luke went to the courthouse not long ago. So it was to register with Ms. Summers!¡± ¡°They¡¯re such a perfect couple. Truly a love that withstands everything!¡± The flurry of praise made Sharon smirk triumphantly. But Jensen¡¯s eyes turned colder than ice. This update is avable on f?ndnovel ¡°Sharon. Did you forget what I warned you about?¡± His voice wasn¡¯t loud-but it was enough to freeze the blood in her veins. He had explicitly told her never to reveal their marriage-back when Natalie was still alive, And now that Natalie was gone, why was he still keeping it a secret? Discontent began to stir in Sharon¡¯s heart. ¡°Jensen, I know the Summers family went bankrupt recently. Maybe we don¡¯t look good enough for you anymore. But when we registered our marriage, my family was still standing. Now that it¡¯s already out there, what¡¯s the point 1:05 pm Chapter 73 Ruinous Exposure of hiding it?¡± The reporters paused at that, their expressions shifting. Yes, the Summers Corp had copsed recently. They remembered the sight of Mr. Summers groveling for help from all corners of Ocean City. Their gaze toward Jensen grew sharp. ¡°Mr. Luke, will you help Summers Corp rise again?¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Luke, after all you¡¯ve done for Ms. Summers over the past five years, is there more to this bankruptcy than meets the eye?¡± The questions turned increasingly pointed, and Jensen¡¯s fury spiked. At the same time, the pain and itchiness in his body came rushing back. That gnawing, unbearable sensation wed up his spine. And Sharon-under the covers-wasn¡¯t exactly behaving. Jensen¡¯s expression turned pitch ck. ¡°Get out! This is my private residence! You entered without permission. I¡¯ll have you charged with trespassing and viting my privacy!¡± He made no attempt to hide his fury now. Finally realizing things weren¡¯t as rosy as they seemed, the reporters noticed the storm darkening Jensen¡¯s face. At first, they¡¯d thought he was just mad about being caught with his secret lover. But now, the tension was something else entirely. Still, a scandal like this was gold. Hansel arrived just in time. Seeing Jensen¡¯s face like thunder, he nearly dropped the phone in his hand. Without another word, he ordered security to clear the reporters out immediately. The damage was done. Enough footage and photos had been taken to ster headlines across the city. Inside the room, only Jensen and Sharon remained. Sharon made to flee to the bathroom, but Jensen grabbed her by the throat and mmed her against the headboard. ¡°How did you get in here? Didn¡¯t I tell you-Grand Pavilion is not a ce you can enter? And those reporters-did 1:05 pm D Chapter 73 Ruinous Exposure you call them? Are you that desperate to unt your title as Mrs. Luke?¡± Jensen¡¯s voice was dangerously low, but his rage was lethal. This house-Natalie¡¯s home-had been defiled. He had touched Sharon in Natalie¡¯s sanctuary. He felt sick. Disgusted. He wanted to rip Sharon apart. +20 Free Coins Sharon, who had been so pleased with herself earlier, now panicked. Jensen¡¯s hand crushed her airway, and her breathing turned ragged. His eyes held no joy. Only disgust. Cold contempt. Her heart dropped. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know how I got here. I was going to the ck market from the hospital¡­ but someone hit me and knocked me out. When I woke up, I was already here. Jensen, why are you looking at me like that? You¡¯re disgusted? Butst night, you held me. You didn¡¯t let me go. You wanted me again and again. You even made me bleed, remember?!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Jensen¡¯s mind reeled as fragments ofst night flooded back. 1:05 pm & HereSelf 74 Chapter 74 Shattered Illusions Last night-it had been him. Jensen had been the one to initiate everything. But only because he thought Natalie hade back. If he had known it was Sharon-he would rather have died than touched her. Sharon raised her injured right hand. The gauze was already soaked through with blood, ringly red. +20 Free Coins ¡°Jensen, you can¡¯t just pretend this never happened! We¡¯re legally married. What we did was normal, reasonable- even expected. What do you mean by treating me like this now?¡± ¡°Get out. Now.¡± Jensen flung her off him, seething. How had ite to this? He wasn¡¯t the kind of man who acted on impulse. He hadn¡¯t drunk a dropst night. So how-how-had he mistaken Sharon for Natalie? His eyes flicked to the remains of incense powder on the nightstand. They narrowed sharply. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find_Novel(. Sharon was in pain-her hand throbbed miserably. Sure, Jensen¡¯s attitude right now was harsh, but it didn¡¯t matter. They had slept together. The media had already taken photos. Soon, the entire Ocean City would know she was Mrs. Luke. Once that status was made public, her ce would be secure. As for Jensen, she had time. She could wear him down slowly. What mattered most now was her right hand. ¡°Jensen, are you sure the Witch Doctor isn¡¯t at the ck market? What am I supposed to do about my hand?¡± ¡°Go to a hospital. Maybe they¡¯ll fix it, maybe they won¡¯t. That¡¯s your fate to bear. Now get out of Grand Pavilion before I drag you out.¡± He turned away, stepping to the nightstand and picking up the remnants of the incense. His eyes gleamed with red. He hadn¡¯t even managed to remain faithful to Natalie¡¯s memory. 1:05 pm Chapter 74 Shattered Illusions Disgusting. ¡°Hansel!¡± Jensen¡¯s voice rang cold and hard. Hansel walked in immediately, carrying a ss of water and two small pills. Sharon paled. ¡°Jensen¡­ what are you doing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you pregnant. Take the pills. Don¡¯t make me force you.¡± Sharon froze. ¡°What did you say?¡± He didn¡¯t want the child? ?:? +20 Free Coins She tried to reach for his arm, then hesitated, realizing she was still naked under the covers. With Hansel present, she curled back in the nkets and whispered pitifully, ¡°Jensen, you know my health is fragile¡­ I might never be able to conceive. Taking contraceptives could ruin that chance forever. Please¡­ don¡¯t make me¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why you shouldn¡¯t get pregnant. Didn¡¯t the doctors say you had only three months to live? A baby wouldn¡¯t survive that timeline. You¡¯d just suffer needlessly. Be rational. Take the medicine.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± Sharon shook her head, tears spilling. ¡°They only estimated three months. What if I beat the odds? What if motherhood gives me strength? I might not even be pregnant-why are you so cruel?¡± Jensen¡¯s brow creased deeper. He was done. Grand Pavilion was supposed to be a quiet sanctuary for him and Natalie. Untouched, untainted. Now Sharon had polluted it-in the worst possible way. He couldn¡¯tsh out physically, not when she was his legally wedded wife. Not when she had saved his life. But the suffocating disgust wouldn¡¯t go away. He shot a nce at Hansel. Hansel moved instantly. He grabbed Sharon¡¯s jaw and shoved the pills into her mouth. ¡°No! Don¡¯t-Hansel, how dare you?! I¡¯m Mrs. Luke! Mmph-!¡± 1:05 pm S Chapter 74 Shattered Illusions She kicked and squirmed, but Hansel¡¯s grip was merciless. Before she could spit the pills out, he poured the entire ss of water into her mouth. ¡°Cough! Cough-!¡± +20 Free Coins She choked violently, but the pills dissolved on contact with water and slid down her throat before she could stop them. ¡°You bastard!¡± She pped Hansel across the face with all her strength. His cheek swelled immediately, but Hansel remained stoic, stepping silently to the side. Sharon wed at her throat, trying in vain to make herself throw up. But it was toote. Nothing worked. She gagged and retched to no avail. Jensen stood coldly across the room, watching without emotion. ¡°I¡¯ll have Hansel bring you clothes. Get dressed and leave. If you ever show up here again, I won¡¯t care about your ¡®life-saving grace.¡±¡± Sharon froze. She stared at Jensen, unrecognizable to her now-like a stranger wearing the face of someone she used to know. ¡°Are you saying¡­ you married me just to repay a favor?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The wordnded like a de. ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± Sharon asked, voice cracking, ¡°that you never had any feelings for me? That you married me just because I donated a rib to save your life?¡± Jensen didn¡¯t answer. But his silence was louder than anything he could¡¯ve said. 1:05 pm D HereSelf 75 Chapter 75 Ashes and Regret Chapter 75 Ashes and Regret Sharon¡¯s voice rang with sharp usation. +20 Free Coins And though Jensen had alreadyid his heart bare to himself-already admitted he had once, briefly, been moved -he couldn¡¯t bring himself to admit it to her face. ¡°You should leave.¡± His voice was cold, final. He turned to go, but as he passed Hansel, he said quietly, ¡°Go to Finance. Have them give Sharon two hundred thousand. Compensation for the p.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Luke.¡± Hansel nodded, entirely unbothered. A p for two hundred grand? He wasn¡¯tining. In fact, his mood even improved. He turned to Sharon, tone cool and detached. ¡°Ms. Summers, you have five minutes to dress. I¡¯ll wait outside.¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Sharon shrieked, feeling utterly humiliated. Slept with and discarded, disrespected by Jensen¡¯s assistant-she felt like a fool. Hansel didn¡¯t bother responding. He simply walked out and closed the door behind him. Jensen entered the guest bathroom and scrubbed himself down with a fury bordering on self-loathing. He felt filthy. Even if he had legally married Sharon, he¡¯d never betrayed Natalie in body-untilst night. And all because, in a moment of weakness, he thought Sharon would die soon. He figured after she passed, he¡¯d still belong to Natalie. But now he had touched Sharon. Whether or not it was of his own will-it had happened. No excuse would wash that away. He wanted to scrape off his own skin just to feel clean again. 1:05 pm ¡ê Chapter 75 Ashes and Regret The suffocating frustration and helplessness made his chest tighten. Natalie¡­ would you hate me for this? His whisper dissolved into the sound of water. No answer came. +20 Free Coins When Jensen emerged, Sharon was gone. He tore the sheets off the bed, everything she had touched, and dragged it all outside to burn. Then he disinfected the entire vi with alcohol and sprayed it down with freshener until the air itself stung. The rightful source is find~novel And still-it felt dirty. What now? He dropped to the floor, knees against the cold tiles, eyes hollow with grief. The pain was back. That bone-deep ache, that maddening itch-it consumed him. Desperate, he mmed his head against the wall, again and again, as if the physical pain could drown the agony in his heart. He needed to see Natalie. Even just once. Just to know she was out there. But there was no news. Nothing. Not even her ashes remained. Meanwhile, Hansel escorted Sharon back to the Summers estate. The once-proud family had crumbled. Mr. Summers was out begging like a dog, and Mrs. Summers had been bedridden ever since, sick from anger and exhaustion-and without anyone to tend to her. In her lonely hours, she found herself thinking more and more about Natalie. Back when Sharon wasn¡¯t home, Natalie had been the daughter anyone would envy. Obedient, graceful, intelligent-she absorbed every lesson on the first try. Especially her poise and manners. Whenever Mrs. Summers brought her out, the social circles would praise her endlessly. And when Mrs. Summers fell ill, despite the house being full of servants, Natalie stayed at her bedside through every night, afraid that any slip-up would worsen her condition. 1:05 pm Chapter 75 Ashes and Regret How could a child like that¡­ not be her real daughter? +20 Free Coins Mrs. Summers had poured everything into Sharon these past years. Groomed her, spoiled her, defended her. She¡¯d turned a blind eye to the kindness and patience of Natalie in order to focus solely on Sharon. Now, Mrs. Summers regretted it all. So what if Natalie wasn¡¯t born to her? If she were here today-even with the Summers family bankrupt-she¡¯d be the one racking her brain for a way to save them. Not like Sharon, who only cared about herself. Mrs. Summers murmured Natalie¡¯s name again and again, eyes wet with remorse. Sharon, still furious from everything at Grand Pavilion, stormed into the house only to hear her mother muttering Natalie¡¯s name. Her face twisted. ¡°Now you remember Natalie?¡± she snapped. ¡°Where was all this love when I was beating her bloody with a whip? You didn¡¯t stop me then-why cry about her now?¡± Her voice shook with rage. ¡°You forget-it was you who lost me as a baby. You let me suffer for eighteen years. You think you get to judge me now? After all I¡¯ve done for you?¡± Fuming, Sharon began smashing things in her mother¡¯s room. Mrs. Summers, already on the brink from days of stress and illness, struggled to breathe. As Sharon raged, she suddenly gasped-and copsed, Eyes rolling back, she passed out cold. :06 pm HereSelf 76 Chapter 76 Shadows and Silence Chapter 76 Shadows and Silence +20 Free Coins Just before Mrs. Summers passed out, she had pointed at Sharon, her body trembling violently, eyes bulging with fury-yet she hadn¡¯t managed to get a single word out. Sharon didn¡¯t care. If she had been humiliated by Jensen, then she was going to take it out on someone else-and who better than the parents who gave her life? After flipping the room upside down, Sharon copsed onto the couch, chest heaving, her eyes dark and stormy. ¡®Natalie. Even in death, you won¡¯t let me live in peace. I should¡¯ve ground your bones to dust!¡± Her fury made her chest ache. She grabbed the water ss nearby, only to find it filled with cold water. She exploded. ¡®Is everyone here dead?! My mom¡¯s water is ice cold-do you all want to lose your jobs?!¡± Since the Summers family¡¯s copse, many of the servants had already left. The ones that remained hadn¡¯t been aid in weeks and were hanging on by a thread. One of them finally snapped. ¡®The Summers family is bankrupt. We haven¡¯t been paid. How do you expect us to keep working?¡± Sharon hurled the ss at the woman¡¯s feet with a loud crash. ¡®The Summers family may be bankrupt, but the Luke family isn¡¯t! I¡¯m Jensen¡¯s wife-the rightful matriarch of the Luke family! You think the Lukes can¡¯t afford your pitiful wages? Now get me some water. And call a doctor for my mom!¡± The outspoken servant was about to answer when another quickly grabbed her arm and showed her something on her phone. Thetest entertainment headlines were all over the screen: photos of Sharon and Jensen in bed, confirmation of their marriage-scandal stered across every page. The change was immediate. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Right away.¡± Sharon watched their groveling with disgust, but said nothing. She¡¯d known since she was a child-status was everything. Without power, you¡¯d be stepped on, humiliated, forgotten. 1:06 pm F Chapter 76 Shadows and Silence Now that she was officially Mrs. Luke, she¡¯d w and bite to protect everything she¡¯d gained. +20 Free Coins She even itched to leak to the press that Natalie had been the third party all along. But she couldn¡¯t risk it. Not now. With the Summers family gone, she had no backup. Jensen was her only lifeline. And ever since Natalie¡¯s death, Jensen had changed. He treated Natalie like some sacred memory-untouchable and glorified. Sharon could bully others by unting her title, but she knew she couldn¡¯t control Jensen. Not yet. So, despite the bitterness in her throat, she swallowed it. Still, her injured hand wouldn¡¯t stop throbbing. And the thought of it festering made her furious. Not waiting for the doctor, Sharon stormed out of the-house and returned to the ck market. But bad news awaited her there-Witch Doctor had left Ocean City. No one knew where he¡¯d gone. Sharon nearly screamed in frustration. Left with no other option, she slunk back to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, in a dark room in Murica, Barony curled up on the floor, drenched in cold sweat, body wracked with pain. Get full chapters from Find1Novel It felt like a thousand des were carving him open inch by inch. He bit down hard on his lip to keep himself from crying out. This was the most vulnerable he¡¯d ever been-and no one could know. If word got out, he wouldn¡¯t be able to protect Natalie. He passed out from the pain several times but fought his way back each time. When night finally fell, the agony lessened just enough for him to crawl over to the nightstand. He opened a drawer, pulled out a pill bottle, and swallowed two tablets. Only then did he feel the faint stirrings of life return to his body. Just as he was about to shower, Finn knocked and entered. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I¡¯ve got updates from Ocean City.¡± The room was dark, and Finn squinted, fumbling for the switch. Light flooded the space-and what he saw made his blood run cold. 1:06 pm Chapter 76 Shadows and Silence Baron sat on the edge of the bed, shirt clinging to him from sweat, face pale as paper, eyes sharp as ice. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ did I do something wrong? And¡­ what happened to you? Should I call a doctor?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Baron rasped. His voice sounded as though it had been dragged across broken ss. Finn panicked. +20 Free Coins ¡°Sir, what happened? Was it a nightmare? Or did the surgery for Natalie take too much out of you? I still say, that woman-¡± He never finished the sentence. Because Baron¡¯s eyes suddenly sliced through the room like drawn des. If looks could kill, Finn would have been a bloody mess on the floor. He shut up immediately, throat tight, and shrank back with a shiver. 1:06 pm ¡ê HereSelf 77 Chapter 77 Ind of Secrets This content belongs to Find_Novel(. Chapter 77 Ind of Secrets +20 Free Coins Baron didn¡¯t say much more. He withdrew his gaze with a calm expression and asked hoarsely, ¡°What¡¯s the news. from Ocean City?¡± ¡°Oh-right,¡± Finn replied. ¡°The story about Jensen and Sharon being legally married is everywhere now. The Luke family will probably start closing in on Sharon soon. Jensen hasn¡¯t issued any statements or left Grand Pavilion- seems like he¡¯s shut himself off from the outside world.¡± That was exactly the oue Baron had ordered his men to orchestrate. And it pleased him. He brushed his thumb over the cufflink on his wrist, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Got it. For the next couple of days, you¡¯ll handle things at HQ. I need to rest and gather strength-I¡¯m preparing or Natalie¡¯s skin graft surgery.¡± Finn hesitated, but said nothing in the end. He nodded and quietly left the room. Baron knew exactly what Finn was worried about. But Natalie¡¯s condition couldn¡¯t wait any longer. After freshening up, he returned to Natalie¡¯s side. She was still running a low fever. Though the burns and infected areas had already been treated, without skin grafts soon, Natalie would be in for unimaginable pain and suffering. And for that surgery, the best donor was either herself-or a direct blood rtive. Baron sat beside her sleeping form and whispered, barely audible, ¡°Five years ago, I took the most precious part of you. Back then, you gave it up for Jensen without even blinking. Honestly, I never nned on telling you what I did with it. But now¡­ to save you, I have to hurt him. Please don¡¯t hate me when you find out.¡± Natalie¡¯s brows twitched slightly, as if she could hear him. But her eyes remained shut, heavy and unmoving. Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. Baron¡¯s eyes darkened. He immediately activated the sterile settings around Natalie before stepping out. Shauna was already waiting outside. ¡°Mr. Gunn, the boat¡¯s ready. Are you sure you don¡¯t want backup for the ind?¡± ¡°No. She scares easily. If too many of us show up, it¡¯ll just frighten her.¡± He cast a final look toward the sterile room, his gaze filled with longing and worry. 1:06 pm A Chapter 77 Ind of Secrets Yvonne quickly stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Gunn, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll guard Ms. Summers with my life.¡± Baron didn¡¯t respond to her. Instead, he turned to Shauna. ¡°How long have you worked for me, Shauna?¡± ¡°Almost ten years,¡± she answered, confused but respectful. +20 Free Coins ¡°Ten years¡­ a long time.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes turned solemn. ¡°Natalie means more to me than my own life. While I¡¯m gone, can you keep her safe for me?¡± Shauna froze, stunned by the gravity in his voice. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I¡¯d walk through fire for you. Of course I will. But this is our turf-what exactly are you worried about?¡± ¡®I¡¯m worried someone might resent Natalie. I¡¯m worried someone wille under the guise of protecting me, when really, they want her dead.¡± Shauna stiffened. Then she quickly stepped back and bowed. ¡°So long as I¡¯m alive, no one will touch Ms. Summers. They¡¯d have to walk over my corpse first.¡± ¡®What if it¡¯s Finn?¡± Baron asked, his voice low and sharp. Shauna¡¯s breath hitched. Her heart thudded. But her reply was unwavering. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter who it is.¡± ¡®Remember that,¡± Baron said. ¡°I want you alive. And I want Natalie untouched, safe, and waiting for me when I eturn. As for everyone else-if I¡¯m not here, do whatever you want with them.¡± Without waiting for a response, Baron turned and walked away. (vonne stood there, mouth agape, utterly stunned, ¡®Shauna¡­ what does Mr. Gunn mean?¡± Shauna¡¯s brows furrowed. Her expression was unreadable, but her voice was steady. ¡°Whatever he meant, Ms. Summers¡¯ safety is now the top priority. Until Mr. Gunn returns, no one is to go near her. If anything happens,e to me immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Shauna.¡± A strange heaviness filled the air. Yvonne couldn¡¯t help but wonder-was Mr. Gunn saying that Finn couldn¡¯t be trusted? 1:06 pm D Chapter 77 Ind of Secrets Impossible. Wasn¡¯t Finn the one who had dragged Baron out of a pile of corpsesst time? Still, Yvonne knew Baron didn¡¯t speak lightly. Which made the task of guarding Natalie feel suddenly monumental. +20 Free Coins Meanwhile, Baron left the vi. The path led directly to the sea. A yacht waited quietly at the dock, engines humming low. He boarded the ship, and without a sound, it set sail-silent and unnoticed by the outside world. The yacht drifted through the night, cutting through waves under a shroud of darkness. When morning sunlight finally spilled into the cabin, the captain gently knocked on Baron¡¯s door. ¡°Mr. Gunn, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Baron cleaned himself up, changed into a crisp white casual outfit, and picked up a carefully prepared gift. Then he stepped out onto the deck. In the distancey a private ind-one that belonged to Baron alone. Secluded, secure, and protected better than any fortress. 1:06 pm HereSelf 78 Chapter 78 The Ind¡¯s Secret Chapter 78 The Ind¡¯s Secret +20 Free Coins The moment Baron set eyes on the lush greenery and birdsong of the ind, a rare softness flickered across his gaze. ¡°Dock the boat, rest up, and be ready to sail back at mymand.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Gunn.¡± The captain hurried off to ry the order. Baron stepped ashore, servants bowing deeply as he passed. ¡°Greetings, Mr. Baron.¡± ¡°Where are the others?¡± he asked coldly, not sparing them a nce as he strode forward. The butler quickly stepped up. ¡°Madam hasn¡¯t risen yet. Sir should be in the back hills.¡± Baron¡¯s brows drew together. Without hesitation, he turned toward the rear of the ind. The butler, however, discreetly pressed a sensor hidden in his pocket. Momentster, an rm red somewhere in the back hills. A boy, cap pulled low, dressed in camouge, froze. ¡°Damn, Dad¡¯s back.¡± He scrambled to pack away his things before sprinting toward his room. The sunlight caught his young face-mischievous, defiant, and startlingly simr to Natalie¡¯s. ¡°Sean!¡± Baron¡¯s voice cracked like a whip, making the boy stumble and fall t on his face in the undergrowth. ¡°Ow!¡± Before he could get up, Baron had him by the cor, dangling him like a disobedient cub. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay out of the back hills? Do you think my words mean nothing?¡± Baron¡¯s expression was dark as thunder. Sean kicked and iled, yelling, ¡°Put me down, Baron! If you¡¯re so tough, fight me fair! Bullying kids doesn¡¯t make you a man!¡± 1:06 pm 1 Chapter 78 The Ind¡¯s Secret Baron couldn¡¯t help but let out a short, coldugh. +20 Free Coins ¡°I don¡¯t need you to tell me what makes me a man. Brat, you¡¯re standing at attention for two hours when we get back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doing it!¡± Sean shot back instantly. He screwed up his face and howled, ¡°Boo-hoo! I¡¯m just a poor little cabbage! If my mommy were here, she¡¯d never let you bully me like this! You¡¯re always busy, barely show up once in half a month, and the second you do, you punish me! Are you even really my dad? Boo-hoo!¡± But not a single tear touched his cheeks-only exaggerated wails and the asional peek to see if Baron was softening. Normally, this act would work. Baron¡¯s eyes would flicker, he¡¯d sigh, and then let the boy go with a gruff word of warning. But not this time. Sean kept waiting, but instead of setting him down, Baron carried him firmly toward the vi. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re upset I don¡¯t spend enough time with you? Fine. Today I¡¯ll make sure you get all my attention. I need to straighten you out-otherwise when your mommy sees you acting like this, she¡¯ll be horrified.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Sean blinked, hupping mid-cry. Wait-what did Dad just say? Every time he¡¯d brought up Mommy before, Baron would go quiet, grief-stricken, like the life had been drained out of him. Sean and his little sister had long thought their mother was dead. But now¡­ did that mean she was alive? Sean¡¯s eyes went wide. He twisted in Baron¡¯s grip, desperate to see his father¡¯s face. And yes-Baron¡¯s sharp features had softened, his lips curved faintly, as if he were¡­ happy. Sean¡¯s heart thudded. ¡°Daddy! Hey, Daddy-Mommy¡¯s here, isn¡¯t she? She¡¯se to see us, hasn¡¯t she?¡± Baron said nothing. He had never once spoken of Natalie in front of the children. But five years ago, when he demanded the most precious thing from her-it hadn¡¯t been her body, but her eggs. 1:06 pm S Chapter 78 The Ind¡¯s Secret At first, Natalie had resisted. But Baron had left her no choice. ¡°Leave-or give me what I want.¡± His tone back then had been absolute, merciless. He could still picture her trembling, humiliated, tearful. ?.? +20 Free Coins No woman would ever willingly surrender something so intimate. And he himself had been the one to perform the procedure, making the ordeal all the more unbearable for her. For more chapters visit f?ndnovel He¡¯d thought such terms would make her balk-that she¡¯d refuse, and walk away from saving Jensen. But after only a few moments of hesitation, she had agreed. With tears in her eyes, she had given in. If not for his irond self-control, Baron might have killed Jensen with his bare hands that day. And yet¡­ he was d. Because without her sacrifice, he wouldn¡¯t have these two children now. Still, he had never told them about her. Never allowed Natalie¡¯s name to touch their world. Because deep down, Baron knew-he couldn¡¯t give them a family that was whole. 1:06 pm & HereSelf 79 Chapter 79 The Gift Chapter 79 The Gift Baron¡¯s original n had been simple. +20 Free Coins He wanted children of his own with Natalie-but if she and Jensen lived happily ever after, then he would never let the little ones know who their mother was. But things had changed. Natalie and Jensen were over. She had shared his bed. And now that she was his, Baron would never let go again. Alone, he might not be able to catch her. But with the three of them-him and the twins together-he refused to believe Natalie could escape. The corner of his lips lifted at the thought. Sean was still waiting for an answer. Instead, Baron just smiled faintly to himself. The boy¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Baron! I¡¯m talking to you-ow!¡± His words cut off when Baron flicked a finger against his forehead. ¡°Calling me by name, shouting like that-where¡¯s your upbringing? If your mommy heard you, she¡¯d me me for raising you poorly.¡± Sean froze. His eyes lit up. ¡°So¡­ Mommy really is here?¡± ¡°No.¡± Baron doused him in cold water without a hint of hesitation. Sean slumped, deted. ¡°Then why bring her up at all?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m taking you and your sister to see her.¡± Sean¡¯s head snapped up, his whole face breaking into a wide grin. ¡°Really? We¡¯re going to see Mommy?¡± Baron¡¯s chest softened at the sight of his son¡¯s joy. He had enemies everywhere. Even with power at his back, he had never dared to keep the twins at his side. They had grown up hidden away, four years old now, their world limited to this ind. He came every two weeks, without fail-but even so, they were children whocked a real family. If he could, he¡¯d keep them all together. A family of four. Whole. His vision stung. 1:06 pm D Chapter 79 The Gift +20 Free Coins ¡°Sean, listen. Your mommy has suffered greatly. She may not look like you imagine. She might even frighten you. Do you still want to meet her?¡± ¡°Yes! If she¡¯s my mommy, I don¡¯t care if she¡¯s ugly-I¡¯ll never be ashamed of her!¡± Baron¡¯s throat tightened. Warmth flooded his chest. ¡°And what if she needs your skin? Grafts are painful. You may not be able to bear it at your age.¡±¡® This was why he¡¯de. Sean froze, then asked, ¡°It¡¯s Mommy who needs it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡®Then she can have it! You told me skin grows back. If it¡¯s for Mommy, I¡¯d give her all of mine. But Daddy-don¡¯t make Susie do it. She¡¯s a girl. Scars would ruin her.¡± Baron¡¯s nose burned. He almost lost control. ¡°My skin will work too. I¡¯ll give mine first.¡± Sean shook his head stubbornly. ¡°No! You have to do the surgery. If you¡¯re hurt, you might slip up. Let me do it. I¡¯m not afraid of pain-I¡¯m a man, right? You always said men bleed but don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ve never even met Mommy. I¡¯ll make this my gift to her. She¡¯ll keep it forever, won¡¯t she?¡± He looked up proudly, puffing out his little chest. And Baron-Baron nearly wept. ¡°Let¡¯s check if your sister¡¯s awake.¡± ¡°Put me down, then. I can walk!¡± This time, Baron obliged. The boynded on his feet and bolted off, tossing a cheeky face over his shoulder. ¡°Bleh!¡± Baron couldn¡¯t help but smile. Sean dashed into the vi, yelling at the top of his lungs. ¡°Susie! Daddy¡¯s here!¡± The staff didn¡¯t even blink. They were used to it. For the twins, their father¡¯s visits were the most important days in their quiet, secluded lives. 1:06 pm Chapter 79 The Gift +20 Free Coins At the sound of her brother¡¯s cry, Susie stirred. She flung back her nket and stumbled out of bed barefoot. ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy?¡± she asked in a soft, syrupy voice-so sweet it made everyone¡¯s heart melt. Sean frowned at once. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing shoes again? Grandpa Butler!¡± The old butler hurried over with a pair of bunny slippers. Sean snatched them and knelt down, carefully slipping them onto his sister¡¯s feet. Only then did Susie blink the sleep from her eyes, a dimpled smile breaking across her delicate porcin face. Sunlight turned her into a dolle alive, so perfect she drew every eye. But Susie, oblivious to her own charm, only asked innocently, ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy?¡± Chapter 80 The Hidden Room Chapter 80 The Hidden Room ¡°She¡¯s outside.¡± The moment Sean answered, Susie tore off like a little whirlwind. Sean wrinkled his nose, jealous at once. ¡°Slow down! You¡¯ll trip! Baron isn¡¯t going anywhere!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk about Daddy like that!¡± Susie puffed her cheeks, then spotted Baron¡¯s tall frame ahead. ¡°Daddy!¡± She flung herself into his arms like a butterfly. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel Baron bent quickly, catching her and sweeping her up in one effortless motion. Her soft little face pressed against his cheek. ¡°Daddy, I missed you so much! Did you miss me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Baron pinched her nose, smiling in a way few ever saw. In that instant, he was neither Mr. Gunn nor the feared Witch Doctor-only a father. Just a father. +20 Free Coins Sean, for once, didn¡¯t fight for attention. On this ind, they only had each other. When Baron was gone, Sean carried the burden of being ¡°big brother,¡± even if he was only a few minutes older than Susie. Now he watched the two together and quietly wandered over to where Baron¡¯s gift sat. Nothing new. Same trinkets as before. Sean leaned close to the butler. ¡°Grandpa Butler¡­ did Daddye alone this time?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sean¡¯s eyes dimmed. So Mommy wasn¡¯t here. What did she look like? What had she gone through? Why did Daddy say she needed his skin to save her? The questions pressed on his chest, heavy, But he couldn¡¯t ask them in front of Susie. It was suffocating. 1:06 pm & HereSelf 80 Chapter 80 The Hidden Room Chapter 80 The Hidden Room ¡°She¡¯s outside.¡± The moment Sean answered, Susie tore off like a little whirlwind. Sean wrinkled his nose, jealous at once. ¡°Slow down! You¡¯ll trip! Baron isn¡¯t going anywhere!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk about Daddy like that!¡± Susie puffed her cheeks, then spotted Baron¡¯s tall frame ahead. ¡°Daddy!¡± She flung herself into his arms like a butterfly. Baron bent quickly, catching her and sweeping her up in one effortless motion. Her soft little face pressed against his cheek. ¡°Daddy, I missed you so much! Did you miss me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Baron pinched her nose, smiling in a way few ever saw. In that instant, he was neither Mr. Gunn nor the feared Witch Doctor-only a father. Just a father. +20 Free Coins Sean, for once, didn¡¯t fight for attention. On this ind, they only had each other. When Baron was gone, Sean carried the burden of being ¡°big brother,¡± even if he was only a few minutes older than Susie. Now he watched the two together and quietly wandered over to where Baron¡¯s gift sat. Nothing new. Same trinkets as before. Sean leaned close to the butler. ¡°Grandpa Butler¡­ did Daddye alone this time?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sean¡¯s eyes dimmed. So Mommy wasn¡¯t here. What did she look like? What had she gone through? Why did Daddy say she needed his skin to save her? The questions pressed on his chest, heavy, But he couldn¡¯t ask them in front of Susie. It was suffocating. 1:06 pm & Chapter 80 The Hidden Room ¡°Daddy, did you eat breakfast?¡± Sean finally asked. 0:40 +20 Free Coins Baron blinked. He had nibbled on something aboard the yacht, but it had been tasteless. Now, looking at the twins, he smiled. ¡°Not yet. Butler, prepare breakfast. I¡¯ll eat with them.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Baron carried Susie into the lounge. She clung to him like a sparrow, chattering endlessly, as though half a month apart had been an eternity. Sean didn¡¯t join them. He slipped away to his room, showered quickly, and came back out, ears pricked. Hearing Susie¡¯s voice still filling the downstairs, he turned down a different hall. Toward the locked room. The one they¡¯d been forbidden from entering. Even the butler had no key. Sean¡¯s instincts screamed-Mommy¡¯s secret was inside. For weeks he¡¯d studied the lock. Today, he was ready. Daddy said they¡¯d see Mommy soon. But if she needed his skin, then she must have suffered terribly. Sean couldn¡¯t wait a second longer. He crept up to the door, checked downstairs-Baron was stillughing with Susie-and sprinkled a fine white powder over the keypad. Fingerprints glowed faintly on certain numbers. Sean entered them in order. Beep. The lock clicked open, He slipped inside and shut the door behind him. Light flooded the room. Sean¡¯s eyes widened. It was a studio. Paintings covered every wall-every one of them the same subject. A woman. Sean knew instantly. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± 1:07 pm S Chapter 80 The Hidden Room +20 Free Coins She was beautiful. He scrambled for his phone, snapping photo after photo. Then he stared at one of the portraits and touched his own lips, his eyes. He looked like her. He really looked like her. Sean¡¯s grin split his face wide. He tucked the phone away, carefully restored the room, and padded back into the hall, heart pounding like a drum. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FindN0vel Never again. Too risky. But worth it. He pulled out his phone again, staring at the image glowing on the screen. ¡°Hi, Mommy. My name¡¯s Sean. Daddy says it means patience and strategy-or sometimes, farewell and decision. Why¡¯d he give me such a weird name? It¡¯s not lucky at all. But since he spoils me, I¡¯ll forgive him.¡± Sean¡¯s smile softened, eyes shining. ¡°Mommy¡­ what¡¯s your name?¡± HereSelf 81 1 A Father¡¯s Warning Sean chattered on and on, mumbling happily to himself as he stared at his phone. When Baron walked into his room, he found his son grinning like a fool, whispering to the screen. Baron had seen many sides of this boy, but never this. ¡°Sean, what are you doing?¡± ¡°N-nothing!¡± Sean jerked upright, shoving the phone behind his back. His voice.cracked. ¡°I was¡­ watching videos.¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°Less screen time. Bad for your eyes. Come down for breakfast. After we eat, I¡¯ll take you and Susie off this ind¡­ to see your mommy.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The source of th?s content is FindN()vel Sean nearly burst with joy. He scrambled off the bed, eyes wide, practically bouncing in ce. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re a man. You have to keep your word. Otherwise, you¡¯re a puppy!¡± Outside, anyone who dared call Mr. Gunn-or worse, the Witch Doctor-a puppy would be dead before the words left their lips. But from his son, Baron only smiled faintly. *Alright.¡± He flicked the boy¡¯s nose, then led him downstairs. Breakfast that day was filled withughter. Susie¡¯s dimples shed with every giggle, too delighted to hide her excitement. Sean stuffed food into his mouth as if every bite brought him closer to Natalie. The butler¡¯s heart, however, grew heavy. ¡°Sir, perhaps my wife and I shoulde along. We¡¯ve raised the children since birth. Some of their habits¡­ servants elsewhere might not know how to handle them.¡± Baron considered, then nodded. ¡°Fine. Pack what you need. You¡¯lle.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Susie pped her hands. ¡°I like Grandpa Butler and Grandma together!¡± Sean¡¯s thoughts were already far away, fixed on the moment he would finally see his mother. An hourter, the twins stood beside Baron on the deck of the yacht. The sea stretched endlessly before them as the ship cut across the waves toward Murica. 1:07 pm & Chapter 81 A Father¡¯s Warning Baron¡¯s face wasposed, but inside his chest tightened. +20 Free Coins If not for Natalie¡¯s need, he would never have let the children step into the open. Bringing them into the world meant more eyes, more risk, more enemies to guard against. It meant more weight on his shoulders. And more blood, if need be. His phone rang. Yvonne. Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed. Trouble? He raised a hand, stopping Sean and Susie from boarding the waiting car. Then he answered. ¡°Speak.¡± His voice was low, controlled, dangerous. Yvonne faltered, then quickly exined. ¡°Mr. Gunn, where are you? Ms. Summers isn¡¯t well. I took her temperature two hours ago-low-grade fever. The sterile ward hasn¡¯t been entered, I checked the surveince. No one came close. I fear her burns are infected again.¡± Baron¡¯s expression eased a fraction. ¡®I understand. Keep her stable. I¡¯ll be back immediately. The infections won¡¯t stop until surgery. I¡¯ll arrange it soon.¡± ¡®Yes, Mr. Gunn.¡± She hesitated before hanging up. ¡°What else?¡± Yvonne drew a sharp breath. ¡°I¡­ I have news about my sister.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes flickered, then cooled. ¡°Later. When I return.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The call ended. Baron¡¯s gaze darkened, thoughts sharpening to a de¡¯s edge. Phantom¡¯s death, her failure to protect Natalie¡­ none of it had ever sat right with him. He had let silence mask his suspicion, waiting. Now Yvonne¡¯s words confirmed it-his instincts had not been wrong. Someone had betrayed them. Someone had hurt Natalie. :07 pm Chapter 81 A Father¡¯s Warning And Baron would not let it go. He slipped the phone into his pocket and crouched before his children. +20 Free Coins ¡°Alright, little ones. Daddy¡¯s taking you to see Mommy. But you need to be prepared. She went through a terrible fire. Her body¡­ it¡¯s covered in burns. She may not look the way you imagine. She may even look frightening.¡± Sean and Susie¡¯s wide eyes fixed on him, serious now. ¡°If you feel scared, tell me. I¡¯ll take you out right away. But you cannot scream, or cry, or disturb her. Do you understand?¡± Baron¡¯s voice was gentle-but beneath ity steel. And both children understood, as only his children could, that this was the moment their father was at his most dangerous. 1:07 pm S HereSelf 82 Chapter 82 The First Meeting Chapter 82 The First Meeting The twins nodded quickly, their little hands clutching each other¡¯s tightly. 0 +20 Free Coins Sean slipped his phone into Susie¡¯s palm. ¡°This is what Mommy looks like. But Daddy said she might not look the same now¡­ maybe you shouldn¡¯t look.¡± He tried to pull it back, regret shing in his eyes, but Susie clutched it tighter. ¡°I want to see.¡± She frowned, stubborn as ever, and tapped the gallery open. The moment Natalie¡¯s portrait filled the screen, Susie¡¯s lips parted in awe. ¡°You look just like Mommy.¡± ¡°And you too.¡± Sean¡¯s mouth curved into a faint, proud smile. He liked the thought of carrying his mother¡¯s features. The two of them whispered back and forth in the car, voices bright with anticipation. Baron rode ahead in another vehicle, his gaze on documents, handling business matters with his usual cold precision. By the time the final contract was closed, the convoy had reached the vi. He stepped out first, setting the papers aside, and walked to the twins¡¯ car. Susie quickly pressed the phone back into Sean¡¯s hand before anyone could see. Together, hand in hand, they followed Baron inside under the watchful care of the butler and his wife. Finn and Shauna were waiting. When they caught sight of the children, both froze. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ children?¡± Neither had ever imagined Baron with more than one heir. Yet here stood not just Susie, but a boy too-sharp-eyed and handsome, unmistakably his blood. Baron didn¡¯t answer. His silence wasmand enough. With a child in each hand, he strode past them into the Vi. ¡°Prepare two children¡¯s rooms,¡± he ordered coolly. ¡°Tighten security. Nothing touches them.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Finn hurried off. Shauna lingered a moment, stealing a nce at the twins. They were breathtaking-so like Baron, and so like Natalie, it made her chest tighten. She quickly busied herself with arranging quarters for the butler couple. Baron intended for the children to rest before meeting Natalie. But the twins refused. ¡°Daddy, take us to Mommy now. Please-we want to see her.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sean chimed in, his small voice steady. ¡°She doesn¡¯t even know we exist, does she?¡± 1:07 pm Chapter 82 The First Meeting 0: +20 Free Coins Baron¡¯s eyes darkened. He paused before speaking. ¡°No¡­ your mother doesn¡¯t know. So when you see her, you must be quiet. Don¡¯t wake her. Just one look, then you rest. Daddy has to heal her.¡± ¡°Okay. We promise.¡± Gone were their mischievous grins. They were solemn, obedient. Baron felt a rare flicker of relief. He led them, one in each hand, into the sterile ward. On the bedy Natalie. Get full chapters from find?novel She had been unconscious since Baron left, slipping in and out of fever, her body broken by fire and relentless pain. Even with medication, the agony left its imprint on every line of her face, every twitch of her body. The twins froze. Only moments ago, they¡¯d been giggling over her painted likeness, beautiful and full of life. Now they stood before the reality-her body ravaged, her skin burned beyond recognition. Susie¡¯s tears spilled over instantly, round drops falling like pearls. Sean said nothing, but his face darkened, jaw clenched, eyes fierce and stormy-the very image of Natalie herself. ¡°Why does Mommy look like this?¡± His voice was low, brittle. Baron had braced himself for screams, fear, rejection. Instead, his daughter wept for Natalie, and his son¡¯s face clouded with silent rage. Something in Baron¡¯s chest loosened. ¡°She must hurt so much¡­¡± Susie¡¯s soft voice trembled. ¡°Daddy, who hurt her? Who¡¯s the bad man?¡± Baron swallowed the surge of emotion, about to answer-when Natalie¡¯s fingers twitched. ¡°Natalie?¡± He bent low, calling her name. But her eyes remained closed, her breath shallow, her mind trapped in fevered dreams. Still, that single movement was enough to twist his heart with hope-and with pain. 1:07 pm S HereSelf 83 Chapter 83 Children by Her Side Chapter 83 Children by Her Side Had his eyes deceived him? +20 Free Coins Baron almost reached for Natalie¡¯s hand, but the sight of her inmed, broken skin stopped him cold. He clenched his fist, then loosened it, calling the twins closer instead. ¡°Come,¡± he said softly. ¡°Introduce yourselves to your mommy. She doesn¡¯t know you exist yet.¡± Susie hesitated, nervous now that the moment was here. Sean stepped forward without pause. Standing by Natalie¡¯s bedside, he spoke clearly: ¡°Mommy, my name is Sean. Daddy gave me this name, but I don¡¯t like it. The meaning¡¯s terrible. When you wake up, can you give me a new one?¡± ¡°Sean!¡± Original content can be found at F?ndNovel Baron¡¯s face darkened. He¡¯d expected a tender, heart-wrenching speech to move Natalie even in her sleep. Instead, the boy¡¯s first words were toin about the name he¡¯d chosen. But strangely enough, the heaviness in the room eased a little. Susie, emboldened, took her turn. ¡°Mommy, my name is Susie. I don¡¯t know why Daddy picked it, but I like it. Do you like it too?¡± Baron¡¯s chest warmed. A daughter was indeed the softest armor a man could have. He cast Sean a side-eye. Sean ignored him, eyes fixed on Natalie¡¯s face. ¡°Mommy¡­ I¡¯m four years old already. You missed all my birthdays. This year, will you celebrate with me and Susie together?¡± Baron¡¯s heart twisted. Natalie drifted in her fever, caught between awareness and the void. Sometimes she could hear voices; sometimes she could not. But she always felt safe here, because Baron was near. Last night, she had lost even that faint sense of him. Panic pressed at her chest, but her body refused to obey. She thought she would remain in that emptiness forever-until two bright, childish voices pierced the haze. Mommy. Someone was calling her Mommy. The word warmed her chest, melted something frozen inside her. Sean¡­? Baron¡¯s son? Had Baron married? Then why¡­ why did he still cling to her? 1:07 pm & Chapter 83 Children by Her Side +20 Free Coins Confusion clouded her fevered mind. Then another voice came, soft and sweet as a bell. A little girl¡¯s voice, tender, sticky-sweet. Natalie longed to open her eyes, to see the child¡¯s face, but her body betrayed her. The children talked and talked, pouring their hearts out. Natalie heard every word, yet her eyes would not open. Atst, Baron called an end. ¡°Enough for now. Rest two days. In that time, I¡¯ll stabilize your mommy. Then¡­ we may need you.¡± His voice was firm. Cruel, even. But it was the only way. Sean had known all along why they¡¯de; his face showed no surprise. Susie, still too young, nodded earnestly anyway. The children were led away. Baron lingered, staring at Natalie¡¯s still form, words rising but dying on his tongue. He turned and walked to theb instead. If the surgery was to seed, he needed a wless n. In her room, Susie tugged her brother¡¯s hand. ¡°Sean¡­ does Mommy need us to help her?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he said, his voice steady. ¡°But I¡¯ll handle it. You stay here. When Mommy wakes up, keep herpany. Talk to her. That¡¯s enough.¡± Susie shook her head fiercely. ¡°No. I want to help too. That¡¯s why Daddy brought us here, right? You know. Tell me.¡± Sean¡¯s lips curved faintly. He smoothed her hair. ¡°I know. So listen to me, okay?¡± Hand in hand, they returned to their room. Watching from the shadows, Finn¡¯s eyes flickered with envy. ¡°Maybe I should have a child too. Look at how sensible Mr. Gunn¡¯s are.¡± Shauna appeared behind him, her tone cool. ¡°Even if you did, it wouldn¡¯t be like this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? You looking for a fight?¡± Finn bristled, annoyed. Shauna only rolled her eyes, jerking her chin toward theb. Her voice dropped. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡¯s care for Ms. Summers is beyond anything you or I imagined. Watch your mouth, Finn. Next time, I might not be able to save you.¡± HereSelf 84 Chapter 84 Dreams and Truths Chapter 84 Dreams and Truths +20 Free Coins Finn left with a dark look, Shauna¡¯s warning still ringing in his ears. Not long after, Yvonne came to theboratory door. She raised her hand, wanting to knock, but hesitation held her back. If she disturbed Baron while he worked, she might pay for it dearly. So she waited quietly outside. Inside the sterile room, Natalie stirred awake. The first rush of awareness was pain-burning, gnawing, suffocating pain. A cry slipped from her lips before she clenched her jaw against it. Would this torment never end? The fire had faded long ago, yet it still consumed her. Blinking, she searched the room. Empty. No children, no soft voices. She let out a breathyugh, thin and brittle. She must have gone mad-imagining children in this ce, calling her ¡°Mommy.¡± Absurd. She and Baron had only just crossed that line; there could never be children between them so soon. And yet¡­ the voices had felt so real. Clear enough to linger in her ears, warm enough to lodge in her heart. Her mind flicked back to five years ago, to the bargain she had struck with the Witch Doctor. He had demanded her most precious thing. She¡¯d thought her heart would shatter when she realized what he meant-her eggs. The memory still made her stomach twist. Could it be? Could those children she dreamed of be real-created from what had been taken from her? But then why would they bear the surname Gunn? The thought tangled her mind. Witch Doctor¡­ Baron¡­ she could not make the pieces connect. Her own suspicion feltughable, yet it refused to leave. When the door opened and Baron entered, she was staring at the ceiling, caught in the whirl of impossible thoughts. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± His voice, low and familiar, broke through her haze. She turned her head, a faint smile on her ruined face. ¡°A ridiculous dream. I woke up analyzing whether it could be real, and now I feel silly for it.¡± Baron stilled. ¡°A dream? Tell me.¡± ¡°You want to hear it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Talking dulled the edge of her pain, and she weed the chance. Baron was rarely at her side when she woke. ¡°I dreamed¡­¡± her eyes brightened, sparking like stars against the shadows of her face, ¡°that two adorable children 1:07 pm A Chapter 84 Dreams and Truths +20 Free Coins were calling me Mommy. They were so sweet, so lively. When they called me, I felt as if my heart melted. It was wonderful. But that¡¯s impossible, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m a single woman. How could I have children? So isn¡¯t that the most absurd dream you¡¯ve ever heard?¡± Sheughed softly and looked at him, expecting a teasing remark, a shake of the head. But Baron only stared, silent, gaze heavy and unreadable. Her pulse skipped. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± His throat tightened. He hesitated, then asked quietly, ¡°Do you hate the Witch Doctor?¡± The question startled her. Hate? She thought about it. ¡°No. From his standpoint, he only set his condition. Whether I epted was my choice. It was a transaction. He took what he wanted, and he gave me what I needed. Fair trade, I suppose. Why should I hate him?¡± Her tone was calm, rational-almost detached. But to Baron, it was like a de twisting. He had hoped for anger, resentment-something that tied her to him. Instead, she dismissed it all as apleted bargain. And if she knew the truth-that her ¡°dream¡± was no dream at all, but their children¡­ Would she still speak so easily? Would she ept them-or turn her eyes away? Baron¡¯s chest tightened as the silence stretched between them. 1:07 pm S Readplete version only at find?novel HereSelf 85 Chapter 85 Reunion +20 Free Coins Chapter 85 Reunion ¨C But the fact that the children existed that was something she had to know. It was no longer something he could put off. Baron had never been the type to hesitate when making decisions, but for once, he found himself wavering. Natalie noticed the look on his face and couldn¡¯t help but feel a little curious. ¡°Why are you asking about the Witch Doctor?¡± ¡°Because the egg the Witch Doctor got from you back then wasbined with mine to make a test-tube baby.¡± Baron took a deep breath, turned to face Natalie, and spoke quickly. ¡°Natalie, we have a pair of twins. They¡¯re four years old now. The boy is Sean, the older brother, and the girl is Susie, the younger sister. You weren¡¯t dreaming, and you didn¡¯t hallucinate it ¨C I really brought them here. Not long ago, they were talking to you right here.¡± Baronid everything out like he had nothing left to lose. Natalie frozepletely. She could understand every single word he said ¨C but somehow, when they were strung together, none of it made sense. She and Baron had children? Was that even possible? Seeing how shocked she looked, Baron pulled out his phone, scrolled through his gallery, and handed it to her. ¡°These are them. If you want to see them, I can have theme over right now.¡± Natalie looked down at the photo of the two kids, and her heart warmed almost instantly. Just by looking at them, she believed it. Sean and Susie looked so much like her. Her fingers slowly reached out, her eyes softening as theynded on the two smiling faces. They looked happy, healthy radiant, like theirughter could light up the entire world. They were her blood. Ever since Natalie had been kicked out of the Summers family at eighteen, she¡¯d lived like an orphan. 1:08 pm S Chapter 85 Reunion +20 Free Coins Sharon¡¯s adoptive parents weren¡¯t hers. She didn¡¯t know where she came from, didn¡¯t know who her real parents were. The only keepsake that might¡¯ve helped her find them had been pawned to save Jensen. All this time, she¡¯d believed she was alone in this world ¨C until now. Baron was telling her she had two beautiful children. ¡°Sean? Susie?¡± Natalie whispered their names, eyes brimming with tears. So it hadn¡¯t been a dream. They really hade to see her. She was overwhelmed. Baron had expected her to be angry, to scream at him. But seeing her like this ¨C tearful, trembling-something in his chest tightened painfully. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to yell at me?¡± ¡°Yell at you for what? For giving me a son and a daughter? Or for raising them so well?¡± For the first time, Natalie looked straight at Baron. She¡¯d always known he was attractive. Back then, when she had thrown caution to the wind and spent the night with him, wasn¡¯t it partly because of that face? But now, this man was the father of her children. He¡¯d pulled her out of the mes, cared for her, treated her wounds with painstaking attention. She couldn¡¯t find a single reason to hate him. She remembered him saying at the productunch that he was friends with the Witch Doctor. So¡­ was the Witch Doctor¡¯s request for her egg because of Baron? ¡°Baron,¡± she asked suddenly, ¡°did we know each other before?¡± The moment the words left her mouth, Baron¡¯s hand paused midair. His face lit up with something close to joy. ¡°You remember?¡± Seeing his reaction, Natalie suddenly understood. They really had known each other before. 1:08 pm Chapter 85 Reunion But why didn¡¯t she remember any of it? ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± she admitted. The joy in Baron¡¯s eyes faded in an instant. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said lightly. ¡°It¡¯s not that important.¡± +20 Free Coins He made it sound casual, but Natalie reached out and grabbed his hand ¨C even though the pain made her wince, she held on tight. ¡°Tell me. Where did we meet?¡± Baron looked into her eyes, saw the determination there and suddenly smiled. That little beauty mark by his eye only made his smile more charming, more dangerous. ¡®If you can¡¯t remember, let it go for now. What matters most is getting you healthy again. I¡¯ll be doing some anti- inmmatory treatments over the next couple of days, then I¡¯ll bring the Witch Doctor here to start the skin grafts. Natalie, your burns are extensive. If we want a sessful graft, it might take anywhere from six months to a year. You need to be prepared.¡± He changed the subject deliberately. Natalie didn¡¯t remember him. That hurt. But Baron wasn¡¯t the kind of man to dwell on the past. What happened before didn¡¯t matter. Content originallyes from find?novel What mattered was that Natalie was here with him now ¨C and they had the children. He didn¡¯t believe for a second that she¡¯d stay indifferent to him forever. 1:08 pm S HereSelf 86 Chapter 86 A Promise of Forever Chapter 86 A Promise of Forever
+20 Free Coins In love, it didn¡¯t matter who fell first ¨C what mattered was mutual affection and staying together in the end. That was the future Baron hoped for. Hearing the way he changed the subject, Natalie could tell Baron didn¡¯t want to talk about their past. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little guilty. How could she have forgotten someone like him? It didn¡¯t make sense. Baron had a face anyone would remember and that beauty mark near his eye was far too distinctive to overlook. If he had truly appeared in her life before, there was no way she could¡¯ve forgotten him. But the truth was ¨C she didn¡¯t remember a single thing. And if Baron really had been part of her past, it would certainly exin why he treated her so differently. But what kind of history wouldpel him to risk his life charging into a burning building to save her? Even though she¡¯d been drifting in and out of consciousnesstely, she¡¯d still heard bits and pieces from Yvonne and the other nurses- stories of how hard Baron had worked to keep her alive. That kind of desperate, reckless devotion reminded her all too much of herself five years ago, when she¡¯d done the same for Jensen. Her heart suddenly clenched at the thought. ¡°Baron,¡± she asked abruptly, ¡°do you¡­ like me?¡± Baron¡¯s body tensed ever so slightly. Then, all at once, he smiled. It was a smile like sunlight breaking through the clouds- direct and radiant, cutting straight through to her heart. ¡°I thought I made it obvious. Yes, Natalie. I like you.¡± His honesty made her heart pound. Suspecting it was one thing-hearing it from him was something else entirely. She quickly turned her face away. ¡°Sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t know.¡± 1:08 pm Chapter 86 A Promise of Forever ¡°That¡¯s okay. We¡¯ve got decades ahead of us. I can wait until you have room for me in your heart.¡± He said it withplete confidence. Natalie had never met a man like him. +20 Free Coins She¡¯d been with Jensen for five years, and even though he¡¯d treated her well, he had never once told her he liked her. She¡¯d always believed love didn¡¯t need pretty words ¨C but just now, when Baron said those three simple words, she finally understood. Sometimes, love did need to be said out loud. A smile slowly spread across her face, like a weight had lifted from her chest. ¡°If ¨C and I mean if ¨C I get a second chance at life, I¡¯d be willing to try sharing the rest of it with you.¡± ¡°It would be an honor.¡± Baron¡¯s happiness was written all over his face. And Natalie felt lighter, too. Jensen¡¯s betrayal had left her hurt, disappointed, even numb. But that didn¡¯t mean every man in this world was heartless. Everything Baron had done for her ¨C she felt it in her bones. Gratitude might not be love, but it could be the start of something real. And besides¡­ they had children together. Thinking of Sean and Susie softened her expression. ¡°Did you bring the kids so I¡¯d have something to hold onto? So I¡¯d fight to stay alive?¡± she asked gently. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to. I¡¯ll make it through this. No matter how painful it gets, I can take it. There are still debts I need to settle- with my own hands.¡± Baron paused. Original content can be found at F¦ÉndNovel There were things Natalie would have to learn eventually. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°I brought them because you¡¯re about to undergo skin graft surgery. The Witch Doctor said the best donor is a direct blood rtive. I could donate, but there¡¯s a higher chance your body would reject it.¡± Natalie¡¯s eyes widened in shock. 1:08 pm S g Chapter 86 A Promise of Forever ¡°No. Absolutely not!¡± +20 Free Coins The image of her two children being stripped of skin for her sake shed through her mind ¨C and it made her chest ache so badly she could hardly breathe. ¡°Baron, they¡¯re just four-year-old kids! I won¡¯t let them go through something like that, no matter what. And even if we used their skin, they¡¯re still so small ¨C it wouldn¡¯t even be enough!¡± She tried to sit up, but the sudden movement tore open her wounds. Blood seeped through the bandages and onto the bedsheets, ring red. Baron gripped her shoulders and held her down. ¡°This is the safest option,¡± he said softly. ¡°Then I¡¯d rather stay like this for the rest of my life! I won¡¯t let my children suffer for me. Baron, they¡¯re innocent. You raised them for four years ¨C you of all people should know what that would do to them!¡± Her voice broke. ¡°For so long, I thought I waspletely alone in this world. And I still managed to survive. Now that I know I have family my own flesh and blood ¨C how could I possibly let them suffer like that?¡± Tears streamed down her face. They mingled with the blood on her cheeks, making her look raw and ravaged ¨C but in her eyes, there was nothing butpassion and resolve. And that look cut Baron to the heart. 1:08 pm ¡ê HereSelf 87 Chapter 87 No Greater Love Chapter 87 No Greater Love ¡°Natalie, the kids already agreed. You don¡¯t need to keep resisting.¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°No! I don¡¯t agree. And if you insist on using them, then I¡¯d rather not have the skin graft at all. So what if I look ugly? It¡¯s been four years, and I haven¡¯t done a single thing for them. I didn¡¯t even carry them ¨C I didn¡¯t know they existed until just recently. So what right do I have to let them suffer through something as agonizing as having their skin taken just because we¡¯re rted by blood? I can¡¯t ept that. I just can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Baron, if you really like me ¨C if you truly care about me ¨C then please respect my decision!¡± Baron hadn¡¯t expected this to be the obstacle. He¡¯d been worried about the kids being scared, about them refusing to donate. But they were willing. And now Natalie was the one saying no.. He felt frustrated all of a sudden. ¡°Natalie, your condition can¡¯t wait any longer. You need the skin graft as soon as possible. If I go out now to search for a match, there¡¯s no guarantee I¡¯ll find one quickly. Do you understand?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. I still won¡¯t let the children go through that.¡± Her stance was immovable. Seeing how determined she was, Baron started to panic. ¡°Stop being so stubborn!¡± The moment he said that, Natalie shoved him away and tried to get out of bed. Every movement scraped against her burned skin. Her wounds split open again, fresh blood seeping into the sheets ¨C a ghastly sight. Baron rushed forward, brow furrowed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Her voice was firm. ¡°I¡¯m grateful you saved me, and if I ever get the chance, I¡¯ll repay you with everything I have. But starting now, I¡¯m refusing your help. All of it.¡± Baron could feel his blood boiling. The fury coiled in his chest made him want to explode ¨C but the woman in front of him was the one person he couldn¡¯t bring himself tosh out at. ¡°Lie down!¡± he growled. ¡°Natalie, I risked my life pulling you out of that fire. From the moment I carried you out, your life became my responsibility. You don¡¯t get to just give up now. I won¡¯t allow it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll starve myself.¡± 1:08 pm & Chapter 87 No Greater Love She said it so calmly but her soft, warm breath carried a threat that chilled him to the bone. Baron nearly lost it. ¨C ¡°You¡¯re really going to go this far?¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°Yes.¡± Her gaze was unwavering. ¡°They¡¯re my children. I¡¯ve never done a single thing for them ¨C not once. I won¡¯t let them suffer pain they should never have to bear just because of me.¡± Her words were sharp and resolute. Baron knew then: the skin grafts wouldn¡¯t being from the kids. And to be honest¡­ he didn¡¯t have the heart for it either. He¡¯d raised them with his own two hands. If it weren¡¯t for Natalie, he never would¡¯ve even considered it. But it had seemed like the safest way. Still, without Natalie¡¯s cooperation, the surgery would carry much more risk. So be it. Baron let out a long sigh. ¡°Fine. You win, Natalie. I promise I won¡¯t use the kids¡¯ skin. But I¡¯ll need time to search for a suitable donor. I might be away for a few days. If you think they¡¯re too noisy, I can send them back to the ind.¡± ¡°No. I want to see them.¡± She could hardly wait to meet them. Baron clenched his jaw in frustration. ¡°Fine. Whatever you say. Now can you please lie down properly? Look at your wounds! They just started healing, and now you¡¯ve torn them open again. What, do you think I have nothing better to do with my time?¡± His words were harsh, but oddly enough¡­ Natalie could feel the care hidden underneath them. She nced at him from the corner of her eye, watching him fuss over her with a mixture of anger and gentleness as he helped her lie back down. A strange warmth crept into her chest. It hurt ¨C but it was alsoforting. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± she asked softly, Then she hooked her pinky around his. ¡°If I cook something nice for youter, will that make up for it?¡± ¡°You¡¯d have to cook for me for a whole year to even start making up for it.¡± 1:08 pm D Chapter 87 No Greater Love ¡°Okay.¡± Her answer was gentle and sincere. +20 Free Coins And just like that, Baron felt something warm brushing across his chest ¨C something light, something tender- and suddenly, the anger vanished like mist. What a pathetic man he was. He mentally mocked himself, but the corners of his mouth still lifted into a smile. Clearly, his mood had improved. Natalie saw the change in him and finally felt relieved. ¡°Can I see the kids now?¡± she asked. Baron¡¯s smile froze. Back when she didn¡¯t know about them, she only ever thought of him. Now that they¡¯d only been around for a few days, suddenly all she wanted was those two little brats? He was beginning to regret bringing them here. Newest update provided by F?nd-Novel HereSelf 88 Chapter 87 No Greater Love Chapter 87 No Greater Love ¡°Natalie, the kids already agreed. You don¡¯t need to keep resisting.¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°No! I don¡¯t agree. And if you insist on using them, then I¡¯d rather not have the skin graft at all. So what if I look ugly? It¡¯s been four years, and I haven¡¯t done a single thing for them. I didn¡¯t even carry them ¨C I didn¡¯t know they existed until just recently. So what right do I have to let them suffer through something as agonizing as having their skin taken just because we¡¯re rted by blood? I can¡¯t ept that. I just can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Baron, if you really like me ¨C if you truly care about me ¨C then please respect my decision!¡± Baron hadn¡¯t expected this to be the obstacle. He¡¯d been worried about the kids being scared, about them refusing to donate. But they were willing. And now Natalie was the one saying no.. He felt frustrated all of a sudden. ¡°Natalie, your condition can¡¯t wait any longer. You need the skin graft as soon as possible. If I go out now to search for a match, there¡¯s no guarantee I¡¯ll find one quickly. Do you understand?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. I still won¡¯t let the children go through that.¡± Her stance was immovable. Seeing how determined she was, Baron started to panic. ¡°Stop being so stubborn!¡± The moment he said that, Natalie shoved him away and tried to get out of bed. Every movement scraped against her burned skin. Her wounds split open again, fresh blood seeping into the sheets ¨C a ghastly sight. Baron rushed forward, brow furrowed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Her voice was firm. ¡°I¡¯m grateful you saved me, and if I ever get the chance, I¡¯ll repay you with everything I have. But starting now, I¡¯m refusing your help. All of it.¡± Baron could feel his blood boiling. The fury coiled in his chest made him want to explode ¨C but the woman in front of him was the one person he couldn¡¯t bring himself tosh out at. ¡°Lie down!¡± he growled. ¡°Natalie, I risked my life pulling you out of that fire. From the moment I carried you out, your life became my responsibility. You don¡¯t get to just give up now. I won¡¯t allow it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll starve myself.¡± 1/3 Latest content published on find?novel 1:08 pm & Chapter 87 No Greater Love She said it so calmly but her soft, warm breath carried a threat that chilled him to the bone. Baron nearly lost it. ¨C ¡°You¡¯re really going to go this far?¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°Yes.¡± Her gaze was unwavering. ¡°They¡¯re my children. I¡¯ve never done a single thing for them ¨C not once. I won¡¯t let them suffer pain they should never have to bear just because of me.¡± Her words were sharp and resolute. Baron knew then: the skin grafts wouldn¡¯t being from the kids. And to be honest¡­ he didn¡¯t have the heart for it either. He¡¯d raised them with his own two hands. If it weren¡¯t for Natalie, he never would¡¯ve even considered it. But it had seemed like the safest way. Still, without Natalie¡¯s cooperation, the surgery would carry much more risk. So be it. Baron let out a long sigh. ¡°Fine. You win, Natalie. I promise I won¡¯t use the kids¡¯ skin. But I¡¯ll need time to search for a suitable donor. I might be away for a few days. If you think they¡¯re too noisy, I can send them back to the ind.¡± ¡°No. I want to see them.¡± She could hardly wait to meet them. Baron clenched his jaw in frustration. ¡°Fine. Whatever you say. Now can you please lie down properly? Look at your wounds! They just started healing, and now you¡¯ve torn them open again. What, do you think I have nothing better to do with my time?¡± His words were harsh, but oddly enough¡­ Natalie could feel the care hidden underneath them. She nced at him from the corner of her eye, watching him fuss over her with a mixture of anger and gentleness as he helped her lie back down. A strange warmth crept into her chest. It hurt ¨C but it was alsoforting. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± she asked softly, Then she hooked her pinky around his. ¡°If I cook something nice for youter, will that make up for it?¡± ¡°You¡¯d have to cook for me for a whole year to even start making up for it.¡± 1:08 pm D Chapter 87 No Greater Love ¡°Okay.¡± Her answer was gentle and sincere. +20 Free Coins And just like that, Baron felt something warm brushing across his chest ¨C something light, something tender- and suddenly, the anger vanished like mist. What a pathetic man he was. He mentally mocked himself, but the corners of his mouth still lifted into a smile. Clearly, his mood had improved. Natalie saw the change in him and finally felt relieved. ¡°Can I see the kids now?¡± she asked. Baron¡¯s smile froze. Back when she didn¡¯t know about them, she only ever thought of him. Now that they¡¯d only been around for a few days, suddenly all she wanted was those two little brats? He was beginning to regret bringing them here. HereSelf 8HereSelf 89 Chapter 89 The Cost of Protection Chapter 89 The Cost of Protection All Sean wanted was for Mommy to get better as soon as possible. ¨C Baron looked at his son and felt a surge of warmth in his heart. +20 Free Coins ¡°If your mommy knew what was in your heart, she¡¯d be really proud of you. But I can¡¯t go against her wishes. If I really used your skin, she¡¯d never forgive me.¡± ¡°Daddy, isn¡¯t that why you brought me and Susie here in the first ce? For Mommy¡¯s skin graft surgery? Susie¡¯s a girl she can¡¯t have scars. But I¡¯m a boy. I can take it. As long as you don¡¯t tell Mommy, she won¡¯t know.¡± Sean¡¯s words made Baron hesitate. He had nned to go out and search for apatible donor. But Natalie¡¯s condition was deteriorating. If they couldn¡¯t find a donor in time, the risk of infection ¨C even death ¡ª was very real. It wasn¡¯t a hypothetical. And yes, part of the reason he¡¯d brought the kids from the ind¡­ was exactly for this. ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t hesitate. Go ahead and test me and Mommy. I won¡¯t stop you from going to find another donor, but at least have a backup n. What if something happens while you¡¯re away and she needs an emergency graft?¡± Baron sighed. As much as he didn¡¯t want to admit it, the boy had a point. He crouched down to look Sean in the eyes. ¡°Skinning someone hurts. A lot.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. My life belongs to Mommy. What¡¯s a little skinpared to that?¡± Sean¡¯s gaze was steady, shining with rity and determination ¨C and that moved something deep inside Baron. ¡°¡­Alright. I¡¯ll run the test on you and your mom right now. And if it¡¯s a match, I swear I¡¯ll do it in a way that doesn¡¯t hurt you too much.¡± ¡°I trust you, Daddy.¡± Baron scooped Sean up in his arms, and father and son headed into theb. Back in the room, Yvonne was adjusting Natalie¡¯s IV when her phone buzzed. She nced at the screen and froze. Another email. Same mysterious address. This time, there was no text-only a string of photos. 1:09 pm ¡ê Chapter 89 The Cost of Protection Yvonne¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡± She scrolled through them rapidly every image was a nude photo of her sister, Phantom. Her heart flipped. Her sister wasn¡¯t that kind of person. She would never take photos like this. And yet¡­ in the images, Phantom¡¯s eyes were dazed, her expression ssy. Drugged. Someone had drugged her and taken these pictures. But who could have drugged Phantom? ?¡¤{ +20 Free Coins She was one of the most skilled operatives in their circle. Mr. Gunn wouldn¡¯t have ced her at Natalie¡¯s side if she weren¡¯t exceptional. If Phantom had truly been drugged¡­ maybe that was why she failed to protect Ms. Summers that day. Yvonne¡¯s mind raced as tears welled in her eyes. If this was true ¨C if Phantom¡¯s failure had led to Natalie¡¯s suffering ¨C then she owed both Mr. Gunn and Natalie far more than she could ever repay. Original content can be found at find?novel And since her sister was gone now, Yvonne would be the one to bear the consequences. She quickly typed a reply: ¡°Who are you?¡± The response came instantly, almost as if the sender had been waiting. ¡°If you want to know what happened to your sister,e to National Tower, Suite 303. You¡¯ll find your answers there.¡± Yvonne stared at the address, frowning deeply. Her first instinct was to go ¨C immediately. But she stopped herself. Mr. Gunn had made it clear before leaving: her top priority was Natalie. Her sister¡¯s mistake had already brought harm to Natalie. She couldn¡¯t let it happen again ¨C not on her watch. She remembered what Baron had said and sent him everything. 1:09 pm S Chapter 89 The Cost of Protection Meanwhile, Baron was still in theb, processing the skinpatibility tests for Natalie and Sean. The results wouldn¡¯t be immediate. +20 Free Coins Sean¡¯s little face had gone pale, but he stayed silent and followed all of Baron¡¯s instructions without a singleint. Once the samples were collected and the data fed into the system, Baron had someone take Sean back to rest. Theputer could handle theparisons automatically. Only then did Baron finally check his phone. The moment he saw Yvonne¡¯s message, his expression darkened. Someone had deliberately chosen this time to lure Yvonne out. But why? Was this how Phantom had been drawn away, too? Who were they really targeting ¨C Natalie¡­ or him? Baron¡¯s face turned grim. If they were after Natalie, he would make them suffer a death so brutal it would be legendary. If they were after him, but had dared to hurt Natalie in the process¡­ He would grind them to dust. After sending the message, Yvonne put her phone aside. She would wait for Mr. Gunn¡¯s response ¨C and whatever he decided, she¡¯d follow. But until then, her only mission was to stay at Natalie¡¯s side. No matter what. 1:09 pm & HereSelf 90 Chapter 90 Shadows Beneath the Surface Chapter 90 Shadows Beneath the Surface Just then, someone knocked at the door. Yvonne blinked, surprised. She quickly stepped outside the sterile room and found herself face-to-face with Finn. ¡°Finn? What are you doing here? Something wrong?¡± Finn nced through the crack in the door, his tone casual. ¡°How is she?¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°Not great,¡± Yvonne replied with a frown. ¡°The burns cover too much of her body ¨C infection is a huge risk. Mr. Gunn ordered me to monitor her IVs and keep her stable with anti-inmmatory drips for now. But honestly, she needs skin grafts as soon as possible.¡± Worry lingered in her voice. The extensive burns meant Natalie would need arge amount of skin reced, and the surgery couldn¡¯t be done all at once. On top of that, they needed a donor with a high skin match to reduce the risk of rejection ¨C even then, the recovery would be long and agonizing. Painkillers could only do so much. And all of this¡­ might¡¯ve happened because her sister failed in her duty. Natalie shouldn¡¯t have had to go through this. Yvonne¡¯s heart ached with guilt. Finn narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°Even if she gets the surgery¡­ what are the odds of it actually seeding?¡± ¡°If Mr. Gunn performs it himself, the chances are decent,¡± Yvonne said honestly. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Finn gave a vague shake of his head. ¡°No reason. Just seems like our entire operation is on hold because of her. So much work is piling up while Mr. Gunn runs himself into the ground over her. Makes me wonder if it¡¯s really worth it.¡± Yvonne¡¯s expression darkened. Her rank might be lower than Finn¡¯s, but she didn¡¯t like his tone. ¡°Finn, regardless of her chances, you know how important Ms. Summers is to Mr. Gunn. If I were you, I¡¯d avoid making her your enemy.¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about? Since when have I made her an enemy?¡± Finn snorted. ¡°She¡¯s just a disfigured freak-what¡¯s there to be jealous of?¡± With that, he turned and stormed off. 1:09 pm & Chapter 90 Shadows Beneath the Surface Yvonne, however, had gonepletely still. +20 Free Coins That hostility the contempt in Finn¡¯s words ¨C wasn¡¯t new. He¡¯d always seemed cold toward Natalie. But now¡­ she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had something to do with her sister¡¯s death. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. How could she even think that? Finn was Mr. Gunn¡¯s most trusted right-hand man. He¡¯d dragged Mr. Gunn out of death¡¯s grip more than once. He¡¯d never do anything to hurt him¡­ right? But that bitterness toward Natalie had been obvious. Should she tell Baron? Before she could decide, Natalie¡¯s pain pump wore off. A cry of pain slipped from her lips, her body trembling as the agony surged back. Yvonne¡¯s chest tightened as she watched her suffer- burned, broken, barely clinging to consciousness. If this was her sister¡¯s fault¡­ Then how could she possibly keep anything from Mr. Gunn? Without hesitating, Yvonne typed up everything ¨C Finn¡¯s visit, his words, and his attitude ¨C and sent it straight to Baron. When Baron received the message, his expression darkened immediately. He nced at thepatibility scan ¨C still over thirty minutes left. At such a critical moment, he couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes. Finn¡­ If you¡¯re the traitor, don¡¯t me me for forgetting our brotherhood. His eyes flickered with a cold light ¨C a sh of killing intent that vanished as quickly as it came. He responded to Yvonne: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him for now. Take care of Natalie. Leave everything else to me.¡± Then he turned his full attention back to the test results. Meanwhile, a small figure quietly appeared outside the sterile room. By the time Yvonne noticed, the child was already dressed in full clean gear and had slipped inside. ¡°How did you get in here?¡± It was Susie. 1:09 pm D Chapter 90 Shadows Beneath the Surface Yvonne rushed to her side. Susie pressed a finger to her lips in a shushing motion. ¡°Don¡¯t wake Mommy,¡± she whispered. ¡°I just want to see her.¡± She tiptoed to Natalie¡¯s bedside. That was her mommy, after all. But her mommy looked nothing like the drawings. Daddy and Sean had said bad people hurt Mommy ¨C and that¡¯s why she looked like this now. Unforgivable. ?????? ???? find(?)ovel Susie¡¯s innocent, doll-like eyes suddenly glinted with sharp, terrifying intensity. For a split second, Yvonne was stunned. That aura ¡ª that pressure ¨C it was exactly like Mr. Gunn¡¯s. ¡°Su¡­ Susie?¡± she blurted, rubbing her eyes, wondering if she was imagining it. But just as quickly, the killing intent in Susie¡¯s gaze vanished. Her sweet little face lifted, brightened by a warm, soft smile ¨C like a perfect porcin doll. +20 Free Coins 1:09 pm D HereSelf 91 Chapter 91 Secret Between Us Chapter 91 Secret Between Us ¡°You were calling me?¡± +20 Free Coins Seeing Susie standing there with a sweet little smile, Yvonne let out a quiet sigh of relief, scolding herself for being paranoid. How could such a soft, gentle little girl possibly give off any sense of danger? ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Ms. Summers hasn¡¯t woken up yet. Do you want to go rest for a bit? I¡¯ll bring you back when she wakes up,¡± Yvonne offered. ¡°No, I want to whisper something to Mommy. Yvonne, can you wait outside for a little while?¡± Yvonne hesitated at Susie¡¯s request. ¡°My job is to take care of Ms. Summers and make sure no suspicious peoplee in and hurt her. So I can¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯d hurt Mommy?¡± As soon as Susie asked, her face fell. Her beautiful eyes welled up with tears, threatening to spill at any moment. Yvonne suddenly felt like the worst viin in the world. How could she say something so cruel to a child who looked like a porcin doll? ¡°Please don¡¯t make this harder for me. I really¡­¡± Yvonne didn¡¯t know how to exin herself. Just as she was feeling stuck, a wave of dizziness hit her. Her vision blurred. What¡¯s going on? She instinctively reached for the stand next to her, but the vertigo overwhelmed her, and she copsed with a look of shock. Tears still clung to the corners of Susie¡¯s eyes, but the moment Yvonne fell, she nimbly hooked a chair over with the tip of her foot. It just happened to catch Yvonne¡¯s body and eased her into a seated position. The sweet, innocent look on her little porcin face had vanished without a trace. Once Susie confirmed Yvonne was fully unconscious, she walked over to Natalie¡¯s bedside. Natalie¡¯s appearance could really scare small children at this point. Susie looked at her, her brow furrowed, skin covered in burns. She softly called out, ¡°Mommy.¡± pm Chapter 91 Secret Between Us Natalie was in excruciating pain, but suddenly, it was as if she heard someone calling her ¡°Mommy.¡± Mommy? She struggled to open her eyes-and saw a little girl standing in front of her, delicate and doll-like. +20 Free Coins Her porcin-white skin and exquisitely familiar features carried a sense of blood-deep connection. Natalie¡¯s nose tingled, and her eyes swelled with tears. ¡°Susie? Susie?¡± Her voice was hoarse from the fire, her vocal cords still not fully healed. Even just speaking made her throat burn- but she didn¡¯t care. She tried to sit up. Susie immediately pressed down on her wrist and smiled. ¡°Mommy, you can¡¯t move. You¡¯ll pull your wounds. Does it hurt a lot? I will blow on it for you.¡± She leaned over Natalie¡¯s bed and puckered her lips, gently blowing on the burn wounds. Natalie couldn¡¯t hold back her tears anymore. ¡°You¡¯re my daughter, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Susie nodded. She wanted to hug her mom so badly, but there wasn¡¯t a single spot on Natalie¡¯s body that wasn¡¯t injured. She didn¡¯t know where to even start. ¡°Mommy, who did this to you?¡± Her soft, sugary voice sounded like she was pouting. Natalie suddenly felt like all the pain in her body was nothingpared to her daughter¡¯s one smile. This was her child. She was immensely grateful now that the witch doctor had taken her egg back then. If not, how else could she have had such a beautiful daughter? ¡°You don¡¯t need to know what happened to me. I¡¯ll take care of it myself. But do I scare you like this?¡± Natalie suddenly remembered how frightening she must look. But Susie shook her head. ¡°Nope. Mommy¡¯s really pretty. Daddy¡¯s whole studio is filled with paintings of you. I know you¡¯re a total beauty.¡± :09 pm & Chapter 91 Secret Between Us Th?s chapter is updated by F?nd-Novel Hearing that, Natalie froze. Baron¡¯s studio was filled with paintings of her? How? +20 Free Coins She suddenly remembered she had once asked Baron if they had known each other before. What did he say back hen? Oh, he said, ¡°You remember now?¡± Natalie¡¯s heart twisted with guilt. hey really had known each other before. But she had forgotten him. How could she forget someone like Baron? Susie, did Daddy ever tell you how he and I met?¡± Susie shook her head. ¡®Daddy said it was a secret. Just between him and Mommy.¡± She puffed out her cheeks, clearly displeased. ¡®But I want a secret with Mommy too. One that¡¯s just between the two of us, okay?¡± Susie suddenly grinned, and that dazzling smile lit up Natalie¡¯s heart. ¡®Okay. So what secret do you want to tell me?¡± 1:09 pm & HereSelf 92 Chapter 92 Secrets, Traces, and Traps Chapter 92 Secrets, Traces, and Traps ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t Mommy the one who has a secret to tell me?¡± +20 Free Coins Susie¡¯s puzzled expression made Natalieugh out loud. Even though the movement tugged at her wounds and made her hurt all over, her heart still felt sweet and warm. ¡°But I doesn¡¯t really have any secrets.¡± Natalie had never interacted with children before, but when it came to her own daughter, everything feltpletely natural. Looking at her daughter¡¯s lovely little face, she suddenly felt a little guilty for having no secrets at all-it was almost like she¡¯dmitted a crime. With that thought, Natalie smiled gently. ¡°Then how about I tell you another name of mine?¡± ¡°Yay! Does Sean know?¡± Susie¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. Natalie shook her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t even met your brother yet.¡± ¡°Perfect! Mommy, you can¡¯t tell Sean, okay? This is just between the two of us.¡± Susie¡¯s childish secrecy made Natalie want tough, but she nodded. ¡°I have a name called Sunny.¡± ¡°Whoa, Mommy has a different name! Can I have one too someday?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Natalie really, really liked Susie. For the first time, she felt a strong desire to stand up-just to hold her daughter tight. But her body simply wouldn¡¯t let her. A wave of frustration and helplessness churned in her chest, making her already exhausted body feel even more drained. Susie noticed the forced strength behind her mom¡¯s smile and quickly said, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m a little sleepy now, so I¡¯m going back first. You should rest too, okay? Promise me you¡¯ll get better fast, and then we¡¯ll go out together, just the two of us. I¡¯ve never gone shopping with Mommy before.¡± That beautiful image shed through Natalie¡¯s mind like a dream. Her blood almost felt like it was heating up with excitement. 1:09 pm Chapter 92 Secrets, Traces, and Traps ¡°Okay, I promise. No matter how hard it is, Mommy will get better and take you out to y.¡± ¡°Pinkie promise!¡± Susie beamed and skipped out of the room. +20 Free Coins Natalie had wanted to talk to her a bit longer, but since the little one was tired and her own body couldn¡¯t handle more strain, she knew it would have to wait. Her daughter was this sweet and adorable-what kind of boy would her son be? Natalie drifted off to sleep, filled with dreams and curiosity about her son. After leaving the sterile room, Susie immediately returned to her own bedroom. She pulled out her tablet, and her pretty little face waspletely void of any smile now. Her fingers flew across the screen, and soon, everything rted to the name ¡°Sunny¡± appeared before her. But there wasn¡¯t much info about the designer named Sunny-and no record of any ident either. Susie¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. She tapped the tablet again, and a stream of code shed across the screen in quick session. It didn¡¯t take long for her to locate aputer registered under the name Sunny. But thisputer wasn¡¯t in Murica-it was all the way in Ocean City, Zarovia. And it was inside amunity called Grand Pavilion. The rightful source is f?ndnovel Susie immediately hacked into the system and found that theputer was filled with design blueprints, perfectly matching her mommy¡¯s identity as a jewelry designer. She even discovered an old graduation photo of her mom tucked inside. Susie instantly knew-this was Natalie¡¯sputer. She scrolled through the jewelry designs with wide, amazed eyes, unable to look away. Mommy¡¯s a design genius! This is amazing! Susie waspletely absorbed, admiring every single one of Natalie¡¯s past creations. Suddenly, a loud rm red from theputer. Susie¡¯s face went pale. 1:09 pm go Chapter 92 Secrets, Traces, and Traps There was an anti-hacking rm system installed? She quickly pulled back and erased all traces of her intrusion. At that exact moment, in a downtown office, Jensen¡¯s phone buzzed hard on his desk. +20 Free Coins He looked down-and saw that the anti-hacking alert he had nted in Natalie¡¯sptop had just been triggered. Someone had essed herputer. He smirked coldly. ¡°Finally caught you.¡± He opened his phone immediately and began tracking the intrusion using the data left behind by the system. His heart surged with excitement. Only he and Natalie knew about thatptop. Her final cufflink design had gone missing, and the client had vanished. Jensen had always felt that Natalie might still be alive. That¡¯s why he installed the anti-hacker system on herptop. All her designs were her life¡¯s work. If she was still alive, she would never let her creations fall into someone else¡¯s hands. But Jensen also knew-if Natalie really had survived, she would never return to Grand Pavilion to retrieve theptop. She was gentle by nature, yes, but when she decided something, no one could change her mind. The day she cleared all traces of herself from their home, Jensen knew-she was nevering back. 1:09 pm HereSelf 93 Chapter 93 Smoke and Traces Chapter 93 Smoke and Traces If Natalie wanted to get her design files back, hacking was the only way. +20 Free Coins But Jensen couldn¡¯t be sure she had survived that massive fire-especially when there had been a body found at the scene. Installing the anti-hacking system had just been a desperate move to soothe his own mind. Who would¡¯ve thought the rm would actually go off? So Natalie might really still be alive? Jensen¡¯s hands trembled, his blood boiling. As long as she was alive, there was nothing he wouldn¡¯t give to find her. But when he opened the system, there wasn¡¯t a single trace left behind. No clues, nothing useful at all. ¡°What the hell?¡± All the hope that had just bloomed in Jensen¡¯s chest shattered in an instant. He felt like he couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°If no one hacked in, why did the rm go off?¡± Jensen called the installer like a man possessed, his voice low and cold. ¡°The rm went off, but there¡¯s no sign of intrusion. How do you exin that?¡± The technician could feel how pissed Jensen was and hurried to exin. ¡°Mr. Luke, in these situations there are usually two possibilities. One, the hacker was extremely skilled and wiped all traces the moment the rm. triggered. But that¡¯s unlikely. There are only a handful of hackers in the world who can do that, and none of them. would bother with a job like this.¡± ¡°And the second possibility?¡± Jensen knew Natalie had some basic hacking skills, but erasing all digital footprints in real time? That was beyond her. Besides, he¡¯d been monitoring all her financial ounts. If she¡¯d hired a hacker, there would¡¯ve been some activity. But her ounts had beenpletely quiet. So was it really not Natalie? Disappointment flooded him again-but he still needed to hear that second possibility. Maybe, just maybe, it would lead back to her. The technician quickly said, ¡°The second possibility is that someone physically moved theputer, and the system interpreted it as tampering. That can sometimes trigger the rm.¡± 1:09 pm S Chapter 93 Smoke and Traces ?: +20 Free Coins ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± No sooner had he said it than Jensen suddenly remembered-he had hired part-time cleaners for Grand Pavilion. Could it have been one of them? He hung up and immediately called the cleaning service. ¡°Did you touch theptop in the living room just now?¡± His tone was harsh and impatient. The cleaner was stunned. ¡°Mr. Luke, I just lifted it to wipe the table.¡± ¡°Who told you to touch theptop? Next time you do it, I¡¯ll dock your pay tenfold.¡± Jensen ended the call and threw the phone hard. It shattered instantly-just like his mood. The fire had been massive. There was no way anyone could¡¯ve survived that. He¡¯d even seen Natalie¡¯s remains with his own eyes. So why did he still believe in miracles? Gripping his hair with both hands, Jensen copsed over his desk like a madman. His eyes were wet again, and his chest throbbed with pain. Was his Natalie really nevering back? No. He refused to believe that. Jensen immediately grabbed thendline and called Hansel. ¡°Hansel! Check every patient currently in need of skin grafts. I want names and details¨Cnow!¡± If Natalie was still alive, she would¡¯ve suffered severe burns. Given her condition, she wouldn¡¯t be able to undergo skin graft surgery on her own. She¡¯d need a donor. Th?s chapter is updated by Find¡ïNovel ¡°Focus on patients who needrge-scale grafts!¡± Hansel didn¡¯t know what Jensen was up to this time, but if it involved Ms. Natalie, he¡¯d follow through. Everyone said Ms. Natalie was dead, but Mr. Luke refused to ept it. Especially after her ashes went missing-he seemed to spiral even deeper into obsession. 1:09 pm Chapter 93 Smoke and Traces As his assistant, Hansel could only follow orders. ¡°Understood, Mr. Luke.¡± He hung up. +20 Free Coins Jensen sat alone, listening to the dead line on the phone. No one was left to check on him, to care for him. No one like her. Meanwhile, after backing out of the system, Susie patted her chest with her tiny hands. ¡°That scared the heck out of me! Why was there an anti-hacker rm? That couldn¡¯t have been Mommy¡¯s doing, right?¡± She muttered to herself, but her mind kept circling back to the location she had traced theptop to- Ocean City in Zarovia. The Grand Pavilionplex? Susie grabbed her tablet again and began typing rapidly. Soon, she found the cloud drive linked to the living room¡¯s smart assistant. It took some effort, but she cracked the password and broke in. Right away, a video popped up-Jensen and Sharon, speaking on the phone in the living room. That shameless woman was actually trying to impersonate Mommy? And Jensen agreed to it? What did they take Mommy for? Susie didn¡¯t quite understand the rtionship between Jensen and her mom, so she started digging. And once she did, everything Natalie had ever done for Jensen came pouring into view. 1:09 pm HereSelf 94 Chapter 94 Contamination and Confrontation. Chapter 94 Contamination and Confrontation Susie stared at the screen, her brows tightly furrowed. +20 Free Coins ¡°No wonder Daddy had to use Mommy¡¯s egg to create me and Sean¡­ Mommy never loved Daddy at all. The person she loved was Jensen. She really did throw everything away for him.¡± A wave of heaviness pressed down on Susie¡¯s chest. Every kid wants to believe they¡¯re the product of their parents¡¯ love. She could tell that Daddy loved Mommy deeply-but why had Mommy fallen for this Jensen guy five years ago? And now that she was covered in burns, could that be Jensen¡¯s fault too? From what she saw in the video, Mommy seemedpletely disillusioned with Jensen. Did that mean Daddy still had a chance? If she and Sean helped, maybe Mommy and Daddy could finally be together? Susie¡¯s little brain was spinning nonstop. Just then, Baron received the DNAparison results. He stared at the report, his eyes narrowing. What the hell? Natalie and Sean were mother and son. Biologically, their DNA match should have been nearly identical. But the data said otherwise. How could that be? Baron¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. It didn¡¯t make sense. Unless¡­ Sean wasn¡¯t Natalie¡¯s biological child. But Baron knew better than anyone-Sean was his and Natalie¡¯s son. So why the mismatch? Baron couldn¡¯t figure it out. He crushed the report in his hand and walked out of theb in a rush. ¡°Mr. Gunn, did the resultse in?¡± 1:10 pm Chapter 94 Contamination and Confrontation Baron had barely stepped out before running into Finn. +20 Free Coins His gaze darkened, especially at Finn¡¯s question. The irritation bubbling in his chest surged even stronger. ¡°Nothing going on in the organization today? You¡¯ve got time to wander around here?¡± He moved to leave, but Finn blocked his way. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I know you don¡¯t want to hear this, but as your brother, I have to say-¡± ¡°If you know I don¡¯t want to hear it, then shut your mouth. Don¡¯t go ruining what¡¯s left of our friendship.¡± Baron cut him off coldly, not even letting him finish. ¡°Finn, you¡¯ve been with me for years. You know exactly what I¡¯m like. If someone touches what¡¯s mine, you know better than anyone what I¡¯ll do. ¡®So don¡¯t test me.¡± Baron shot him a sharp look and walked off. Finn was left stunned. He hadn¡¯t even said anything yet-so why did it feel like a de had just pressed against his throat? Official source is Find[F]ovel Baron ignored himpletely and headed straight to Sean¡¯s room. Sean had perked up slightly after taking the supplements Shauna gave him, though he was still exhausted and had dozed off a little. As soon as he heard Baron¡¯s footsteps, he jolted awake and opened his eyes. ¡°Daddy? Are the results in?¡± It was all Sean had been thinking about. Seeing how much pain Mommy was in, he would¡¯ve given anything to take her ce. Baron felt a pang of sympathy looking at his son. He sat down beside him and pulled Sean into hisp-only to notice faint bluish marks on his skin. ¡°What¡¯s going on with your arm?¡± Sean looked at his arm, still half asleep, then suddenly sat up in rm. ¡°My arm¡¯s turning blue? Daddy, did I get poisoned?¡± Baron quickly ran a check, and soon discovered that something seemed to be on Sean¡¯s skin-some kind of residue. 1:10 pm & Chapter 94 Contamination and Confrontation That might exin why the DNA results had been so off. +20 Free Coins ¡°Think carefully. From the time you visited the sterile room to when you came to see me-who did youe into contact with?¡± A sh of sharpness crossed Sean¡¯s eyes. He frowned, thinking hard. ¡°Not really anyone¡­ Ms. Shauna brought me to the room, and I was feeling a bit tired, so Iy down for a nap.¡± Baron didn¡¯t say a word. He quickly pulled back the nket-and immediately noticed a thinyer of blue powder on the surface. His gaze turned icy. Shauna? Was it her? But why would she do this? ¡°Go take a shower. I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± Baron patted his son on the head. Sean nodded quickly and headed to the bathroom. Baron wasted no time and summoned Shauna. ¡°Did you personally prepare everything in this room?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Shauna didn¡¯t know why Baron had called her in, but she answered his question without hesitation. A 1:10 pm ¡ê HereSelf 95 Chapter 95 Powder and Betrayal Chapter 95 Powder and Betrayal +20 Free Coins Baron knew Shauna well, but he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. He asked again, ¡°Was anyone else with you when you prepared everything?¡± Shauna didn¡¯t understand why Baron was pressing, but she thought for a moment and answered honestly, ¡°No one else. But while I was airing out the bedding, Finn came by to talk to me.¡± ¡°What did he want?¡± Baron¡¯s expression had already darkened. Shauna felt a pang of sadness. It must¡¯ve been something Finn did to upset Mr. Gunn. But she had always been loyal to him. ¡°He came to vent,¡± she said quietly. ¡°He said he was worried you were giving up too much for Ms. Summers¡ªthat you¡¯d end up with nothing in return.¡± Baron¡¯s face grew even colder. ¡°Besidesining, what else did he do?¡± ¡°Nothing much. He sneezed all of a sudden and said he wasn¡¯t feeling well. Asked me to find some cold medicine in the house.¡± The moment the words left her mouth, Shauna seemed to realize something. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ did Finn do something? Does it have to do with Sean? Is he okay?¡± She knew how much Baron treasured those two children. Now that he had entrusted her with everything rted to their care, being called in like this could only mean something was wrong with Sean. But if something had happened to Sean¡­ who would be the prime suspect? Shauna¡¯s heart sank. She, Finn, and Baron had grown up together in the slums. They weren¡¯t blood rtives, but their bond was even deeper than family. If Finn had truly done something to hurt Sean, how devastated would Mr. Gunn be? Baron didn¡¯t answer her question. Instead, he tossed her the nket. Shauna¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the faint blue powder coating the fabric. ¡°This is cyan powder? If it touches the skin and finds an open wound, it seeps into the bloodstream and causes sepsis. A person dies in agony. Finn did this?¡± 1:10 pm D Chapter 95 Powder and Betrayal Shauna¡¯s entire body trembled. No. +20 Free Coins Impossible. Finn respected Mr. Gunn more than anyone. How could he possibly harm his child? She opened her mouth to defend him, but Baron spoke first. ¡°Sean didn¡¯t have any open wounds. Under my protection, he wouldn¡¯t. But he wanted to save his mother-so he asked me to run a skinpatibility test. That would require breaking the skin. And once that happens¡­ the toxin gets in. Sean¡¯s probably already been poisoned.¡± Shauna instinctively didn¡¯t want to believe it. ¡°No¡­ Mr. Gunn, there has to be a misunderstanding. Finn respects you so much. He knows how much you love those kids. Why would he ever hurt Sean? He has no reason!¡± Baron¡¯s lips curled into a cold, sharp smile. ¡°What if this was to stop Sean from donating skin to Natalie?¡± ¡°What?¡± Shauna froze. ¡°Does Finn have a grudge against Ms. Summers?¡± Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°That¡¯s what I intend to find out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll investigate, Mr. Gunn. I¡¯ll make sure you get answers. But what about Sean¡¯s condition¡­?¡± Shauna¡¯s chest ached just thinking about it. Baron had kept Sean and Susie isted on a private ind all these years to protect them. She never expected. that right after bringing them back, something like this would happen. Baron waved her off. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this. Stay out of it for now. But keep eyes on Finn. Don¡¯t spook him. I want to know if he leaves the house today.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Shauna still felt awful, but she followed Baron¡¯s orders without hesitation. Baron thought of the message Yvonne had sent him. If it turned out that Finn had dyed Phantom¡¯s arrival to Natalie¡¯s side¡­ if he was the reason she almost burned to death¡­ 1:10 pm S Chapter 95 Powder and Betrayal Baron shut his eyes, his teeth sinking into his lower lip until the taste of blood filled his mouth. All those years. That kind of brotherhood. Please¡­ don¡¯t make me choose. He repeated the silent plea to himself. Shauna could see how pale he looked and knew he was hurting. +20 Free Coins Baron always presented himself to the world as cold and ruthless, but Shauna understood-he had always treated her and Finn as his own flesh and blood. If his most trusted friend had poisoned his son¡­ If that was true¡­ This content belongs to ?ovelFind What would it do to him? Shauna¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ maybe this isn¡¯t what it looks like.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I want evidence.¡± Baron¡¯s voice was ice-but steady, 1:10 pm S HereSelf 96 Chapter 96 The Scent of Doubt Chapter 96 The Scent of Doubt Shauna nodded and stepped out. +20 Free Coins After showering, Sean came out to find Baron sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. He walked over. ¡°What¡¯s with that face? I¡¯m just poisoned, not dying. You look terrible.¡± ¡°Sean.¡± Baron was already in a foul mood, and this little brat still had the nerve to joke around-didn¡¯t even take his own life seriously. That only made Baron more irritable. Sean reached out and patted Baron¡¯s head, acting like a wise old man. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s just cyan powder. Nothing ! can¡¯t handle. You know I¡¯ve always liked messing with your poisons. I¡¯ve sworn I¡¯m going to be a toxicologist, remember?¡± As he spoke, he pulled out a porcin bottle from his treasure chest, poured out a pill, and popped it in his mouth without a second thought. He chewed and swallowed it down. Baron stared at him, speechless. ¡°I haven¡¯t even tested that antidote yet.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll work! I made it myself. I never mess up.¡± After drinking a ss of water, Sean looked up. ¡°Daddy, was the powder why the skinpatibility results were wrong?¡± ¡°Yeah. But for now, you can¡¯t do the test again. I¡¯m worried the toxins might transfer to your mom. Until they¡¯repletely flushed from your system, don¡¯t go into the sterile room.¡± Sean groaned dramatically. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re so cruel! Can¡¯t I at least look at her through the ss?¡± ¡°You¡¯re poisoned. Act like it.¡± Baron stood to leave. Sean couldn¡¯t be tested, but Natalie¡¯s skin graft couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He had to find a suitable donor-and fast. Just as he turned to go, Sean grabbed his pinky. Baron paused. ¡°What now?¡± 1:10 pm A Chapter 96 The Scent of Doubt Sean nodded, rummaged through his treasure chest again, and handed Baron a small bottle. +20 Free Coins ¡°I overheard you told Shauna to keep an eye on Uncle Finn. But Shauna¡¯s too busy, and they know each other too well. Finn can read her just from a look. If he really did it, fine-but if he didn¡¯t, wouldn¡¯t that hurt your rtionship? Everyone knows Finn cares about you a lot.¡± Baron was slightly impressed. ¡°A kid like you meddling in grown-up business now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care who it is. Anyone who threatens you or Mommy or me is going to pay.¡± Sean smiled faintly at that, then quickly suppressed it. He cleared his throat. ¡°Anyway, that stuff in the bottle-it¡¯s colorless, odorless. Sprinkle a bit on Finn, and I¡¯ll be able to track his movements. No need to follow him.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Baron sounded doubtful. Sean snorted. ¡°Baron, don¡¯t underestimate me. In this field, I¡¯m the expert! Ow!¡± Before he finished bragging, Baron flicked his forehead hard. ¡°What did you just call me?¡± ¡°Daddy!¡± Sean instantly fell in line. He knew he couldn¡¯t win a fight with Daddy-and definitely didn¡¯t dare try. Satisfied, Baron said in a gentler tone, ¡°I¡¯ll take the bottle. Make sure you send me his movements. Until I¡¯m back, you¡¯re to rest properly. Cyan powder doesn¡¯t clear in one go. If you need anything-anything at all-you contact me. Asking your dad for help isn¡¯t a weakness.¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Got it.¡± Sean pouted and nodded. Baron ruffled his hair before finally walking out. But not long after Baron left, Sean rushed to the bathroom and coughed up a mouthful of ck blood. After spitting it out, though, hisplexion looked a lot better. Meanwhile, Baron returned to his room to fully disinfect himself, then changed clothes. He picked up the tools needed for Natalie¡¯s skin graft and headed for the sterile room. 1:10 pm 3 Chapter 96 The Scent of Doubt To his surprise, Yvonne was slumped over in a chair-fast asleep. Immediately on alert, he called out, ¡°Yvonne! Wake up!¡± But as he approached, a faintly sweet, cloying scent hit his nose. Sleeping incense? Someone had used it on her? Was Natalie okay? Baron¡¯s face wentpletely pale. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F¦ÉndNovel He rushed toward Natalie, forgetting the tools still in his hand. +20 Free Coins As he passed by Yvonne, the edge of the instrument brushed her hand, cutting a small sliver of skin and leaving behind a thin red line. 1:10 pm & HereSelf 97 Chapter 97 Bloodline Revtion. Chapter 97 Bloodline Revtion Baron didn¡¯t have time to worry about anything else. â} +20 Free Coins He carefully examined Natalie and the entire bed. Only when he confirmed there was no trace of sleeping incense did he finally breathe a sigh of relief. Just then, the tool in his hand gave a soft beep, making him freeze. What was that? He instinctively looked at the extractor-and saw that it had registered a sessful skin match. He stared at it in disbelief. There were still remnants of Natalie¡¯s skin sample in the device, but just to be sure, Baron had intended to collect a new one today. He looked around quickly-and that¡¯s when he saw Yvonne¡¯s hand. Blood was trickling from a cut on the back of it. Yvonne? Baron vaguely recalled brushing past her with the tool a moment ago. So¡­ the extractor had sampled Yvonne¡¯s skin and matched it against Natalie¡¯s stored sample-and it came back as a perfect match? How? Sean was Natalie¡¯s biological son. His test result had been affected by the toxin, but Baron hadplete confidence in that match. Yvonne and Natalie, however, had no known familial rtionship. How could their skin samples match? And more importantly-how had the toolpleted the match so quickly? That could only happen if the two samples belonged to direct blood rtives. But how could Yvonne and Natalie be directly rted? Baron was stunned. Yvonne noticed him staring and was caught off guard. She suddenly remembered her responsibilities and, ignoring the blood on her hand, shot to her feet. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I didn¡¯t mean to fall asleep! I don¡¯t know what happened, I just¡­¡± This update is avable on FindN0vel Susie¡¯s face shed through her mind. 1:10 pm & Chapter 97 Bloodline Revtion +20 Free Coins But how could that be? She was just a sweet little girl-so innocent, so adorable. No way she would do anything to her. ¡°Who was here?¡± Baron pulled himself out of his thoughts. Yvonne hesitated, then said, ¡°Susie came by. She said she wanted to talk to Ms. Summers, but she didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Baron narrowed his eyes. Susie? ¡°Was there anyone else?¡± ¡°Before Susie, Finn came by to ask me something. I already told you about that, Mr. Gunn.¡± Yvonne¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Susie wouldn¡¯t have done this. Which meant¡­ it was likely Finn. He¡¯d always had something against Ms. Summers. What was he trying to do? Baron¡¯s face darkened. The incident with Sean already had Finn¡¯s fingerprints all over it. And now Natalie¡¯s side did too. Could Finn really be targeting both her and the children? Baron¡¯s chest felt tight. He waved a hand. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it. I¡¯ll examine you in a bit-just to be safe.¡± ¡°No need, Mr. Gunn. I¡¯ll ask a doctor to check me.¡± Yvonne was caught off guard by the offer. Baron was the Witch Doctor. Aside from Ms. Summers, who else ever had the privilege of being examined by him personally? But Baron spoke tly. ¡°My extractor nicked your hand. It still contains Natalie¡¯s skin sample. The match between your samples was unusually close. I want to test it again.¡± He didn¡¯t hide the truth. Yvonne blinked, 1:10 pm S Chapter 97 Bloodline Revtion ¡°My skin sample matches Ms. Summers¡¯?¡± +20 Free Coins ¡°That¡¯s what the machine showed. Scientifically, such a match only happens between direct blood rtives. There are rare exceptions-but they¡¯re very rare. I want to confirm.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yvonne agreed without hesitation. Ms. Summers had ended up like this because her sister had failed to protect her. As her younger sister, it was only right to make up for it however she could. And Mr. Gunn had always been kind to her. If she could donate her skin to help Ms. Summers recover, that would be an honor. Baron looked at his loyal subordinate with aplex expression. ¡°Yvonne, I have to remind you-donating skin isn¡¯t a small matter. Especially for a young woman, it¡¯s a painful ordeal. You could be left with scars, maybe even disfigurement. You¡¯re still young. You haven¡¯t dated, haven¡¯t gotten married. If one day your boyfriend or husband can¡¯t ept the way you look¡­ there¡¯s no going back.¡± He could pay for a donor if needed. But before that, he had to make sure she understood the risks. Yvonne smiled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, Mr. Gunn. Whether I want to get married or not, that¡¯s a different story. But even if I do- and the person I¡¯m with can¡¯t ept some scars on my body-then he¡¯s not someone I need in my life anyway. Women don¡¯t need love to survive. I remember what you once said: people need to live brilliantly for themselves. That¡¯s the only way to make the most of this life.¡± 1:11 pm D HereSelf 98 Chapter 98 Shadows from the Past Chapter 98 Shadows from the Past Yvonne¡¯s words and the warm smile on her face reminded Baron of Phantom. +20 Free Coins Phantom used to face life with the same spark, full of enthusiasm. When had that changed? When had she grown so silent and withdrawn? He had failed to notice the shift in time-and even sent Phantom to Natalie¡¯s side. That decision had left Natalie helpless when Jensen and Sharon targeted her. It nearly led to irreversible consequences. ¡°Yvonne, people change. I still want you to think this through. I¡¯m going to have Shaunae take over for a while. Come with me to theb. Maybe it was just the extractor malfunctioning.¡± Baron still couldn¡¯t believe Yvonne¡¯s skin would match Natalie¡¯s. Yvonne nodded. Shauna arrived shortly after and didn¡¯t ask any questions. Baron brought Yvonne to theb. This time, he not only collected another skin sample but also drew her blood. Yvonne remained calm and cooperative from beginning to end. Once they were done, Baron spoke in a low voice. ¡°It¡¯ll take some time to get results. I want you to really think about this. If the samples do match, are you truly willing to donate? Yvonne, if you are¡­ from that moment on, you¡¯ll be my sister. As long as I¡¯m alive, no one will ever be allowed toy a hand on you.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes grew wet. Phantom had been her only family. Now that her sister was gone, she was truly alone in the world. She had felt it- just for a moment-that aching emptiness. But she was also self-aware. ¡°Mr. Gunn, you don¡¯t need to do that. I want to donate to Ms. Summers because I can tell how much you care about her. She¡¯s also the mother of the kids¡­ and what happened to her was partly because my sister failed to protect her. I don¡¯t need special treatment, I¡¯m doing this because I choose to.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that. We still don¡¯t know everything about what happened with Phantom. Even if we put that aside, you¡¯re your own person. You should live this life for yourself, not carry someone else¡¯s debt. Everyone is their own being. Just because Phantom was your sister doesn¡¯t mean you owe her cause and effect. So go think it over. Give me your answer when the resultse in.¡± Baron finished speaking and let her leave first. Yvonne was deeply moved. 1:11 pm Chapter 98 Shadows from the Past She had never met a leader as kind and principled as him. But just as she was leaving theb, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a shadow turning the corner. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± +20 Free Coins Yvonne quickly chased after it-but whoever it was, they moved fast. By the time she reached the spot, they were gone. She frowned. That figure had looked¡­ familiar. Turning back, she spotted something on the ground by the wall. She bent down and picked it up-only to realize it was an old photo of her and her sister from childhood. Each of them had their own copy of this photo. Hers had always been in her bedroom. So whose was this one? Yvonne¡¯s heart began to pound. She rushed back to her room. Sure enough, the photo on her nightstand was still there. So where had this onee from? Her head was spinning with questions. Just then, her phone lit up with a message. ¡°Your sister was so good to you all her life. And now she¡¯s dead without answers. Don¡¯t you want to know what really happened to her?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Yvonne typed back quickly-but the message wouldn¡¯t send. And the one that came in just seconds before? Gone. Erased without a trace. Someone had hacked her phone, Find the newest release on f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel Who were they? 1:11 pm Chapter 98 Shadows from the Past What connection did they have to her sister? What had Phantom really gone through? Yvonne¡¯s mind was a chaotic storm. She wanted to tell Baron-but now there was no proof. Would it help to say anything? She frowned deeply. Was this aimed at her? Or at Natalie? +20 Free Coins Taking a deep breath, she set the photo down, washed and disinfected her hands, and returned to the sterile room. Shauna was still tending to Natalie. When she saw Yvonne return, she was about to speak-then noticed how pale she looked. ¡°Yvonne, what¡¯s wrong? Did something happen?¡± She reached out, concerned, and touched Yvonne¡¯s forehead. Yvonne shook her head. ¡°Shauna¡­ I remember you said you were the one who brought my sister in.¡± ¡°I did. She was excellent. Hardworking too. She told me once that she had a little sister to take care of, so she didn¡¯t have the luxury to rest. I really admired her. Phantom¡­ she was a damn good sister.¡± Shauna¡¯s praise was genuine. Yvonne opened her mouth-but in the end, couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask. Shauna caught the look in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re still thinking about her, aren¡¯t you?¡± Yvonne nodded. ¡°I miss her.¡± 1:11 pm HereSelf 99 Chapter 99 The Ashes and the Lie Chapter 99 The Ashes and the Lie Yvonne¡¯s eyes were slightly red, and the sight made Shauna¡¯s chest tighten. +20 Free Coins ¡°I miss her too. But she¡¯s gone, and there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. The best thing you can do now is take care of yourself, live your life to the fullest. That¡¯s what your sister would¡¯ve wanted most.¡± Yvonne nodded, her eyes still wet. Just then, Shauna got a call from one of her people. ¡°Shauna, Jensen¡¯s men have been snooping around Ocean City asking questions about Phantom¡¯s ashes. We¡¯ve just found a potential lead. Do you want us to cut the trail?¡± Both Shauna and Yvonne froze for a moment. They had thought the ck market in Ocean City was airtight. How had someone managed to pick up a trace? ¡°Clean it up. Completely.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Shauna hung up, her expression turning serious. ¡°I need to handle this. I¡¯m leaving Ms. Summers¡¯ safety to you.¡± ¡°Got it, Shauna.¡± Yvonne pulled herself together immediately. Whatever had caused her sister¡¯s failure, now wasn¡¯t the time to investigate. Right now, the priority was keeping Natalie safe. And she was starting to suspect someone inside the organization was a mole. She had to stand firm-for Mr. Gunn¡¯s sake. Meanwhile, on Jensen¡¯s end, he had just installed a new phone, SIM card and all, when an anonymous message popped up. ¡°Heard you¡¯re digging into Natalie¡¯s missing ashes. Do you really think the person who died was Natalie? If it was, and Natalie has no family left in this world, who would risk stealing her ashes?¡± Jensen, already questioning whether Natalie was truly dead, lit up the moment he read the message. For original chapters go to FindN()vel ¡°Who are you?¡± He immediately called the number, but the line was disconnected. 1:11 pm D Chapter 99 The Ashes and the Lie +20 Free Coins A virtual number? Jensen¡¯s gaze turned dark. ¡°Hansel!¡± The moment he called, Hansel stepped into the room. ¡°Mr. Luke.¡± ¡°Any updates on the ashes?¡± Hansel bowed slightly. ¡°Someone saw Ms. Natalie¡¯s urn being moved over in the ck market. But our people can¡¯t get inside. First Hall is like the management agency of the ck market-only those with authority can enter.¡± ¡°Then find out what it takes to get into ck market management. I don¡¯t care what it costs.¡± Jensen wasn¡¯t letting go of even the faintest thread. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Hansel nodded, then hesitated. ¡°Mr. Luke¡­ things on Ms. Summers¡¯ side don¡¯t seem good.¡± ¡°Is she dying?¡± Jensen¡¯s tone was cold as ice-like he was asking about the weather. Yet not long ago, he had ignored Natalie¡¯s life for Sharon¡¯s sake. Hansel sighed inwardly, though his face remained neutral. ¡°No. She¡¯s just ill.¡± ¡°Then get her a doctor. Why tell me? Do I look like a physician?¡± Annoyance flickered in Jensen¡¯s eyes. Hansel immediately caught on. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll arrange a doctor right away.¡± He turned to leave, a trace of contempt surfacing in his heart. Now that Sharon¡¯s sick, you¡¯re suddenly saying get her a doctor? Back when Ms. Natalie was around, if Sharon so much as said ow, Mr. Luke would nearly kill himself to make her smile. People only treasure what they¡¯ve lost. 1:11 pm Chapter 99 The Ashes and the Lie But not everything gives you a second chance. Hansel shook his head as he walked out. +20 Free Coins Jensen checked his phone again-twenty missed calls from Sharon, plus unread messages on WhatsApp and via text. What once used to stir something in his chest now just annoyed him. It was because of her that he lost Natalie. If she hadn¡¯t saved his life years ago, he wouldn¡¯t have given her anything-not even a sliver of dignity. He deleted every one of Sharon¡¯s messages and texts. Then he opened a photo of him and Natalie. She was smiling in the picture, beaming at him. Her entire expression was filled with love-nothing but him in her eyes. His hand clenched around the phone, knuckles turning white. ¡°Natalie¡­ are you really dead? If you are, why don¡¯t you ever show up in my dreams? Do you hate me that much now¡­ that you won¡¯t evene into my dreams?¡± He muttered under his breath, eyes red. Just then, shouting broke out outside his door. Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed, his mood darkening. ¡°What¡¯s all that noise?¡± ¡°Mr. Luke! I¡¯m Sharon¡¯s mother! I need to talk to you-it¡¯s urgent!¡± Mrs. Summers was outside, shouting at the top of her lungs. The Summers family had gone bankrupt. Her husband had aged ten years overnight from the copse. No matter how many hands they shook or how low they bowed, no one would help. Only after digging deeper did they learn-it was all Jensen¡¯s doing. Mrs. Summers wasn¡¯t stupid. Why would Jensen strike at the Summers family now, of all times? It had to do with Natalie¡¯s death. 1:11 pm D HereSelf 100 Chapter 100 Bargaining with the Dead Chapter 100 Bargaining with the Dead +20 Free Coins Mrs. Summers had been bedridden these past few days, but her own daughter Sharon acted like she was blind to it ing home only toin and throw tantrums. The mother-daughter warmth that used to be there was long gone. Mrs. Summers couldn¡¯t help but think of Natalie. After all, she¡¯d raised that girl for eighteen years. And now that she was seeing Sharon for who she really was, all those once-forgotten warm moments with Natalie started toe back to her. Only now did Mrs. Summers realize how horribly she had treated her adopted daughter. If¡­ if only she hadn¡¯t favored Sharon so much¡­ if only she¡¯d been kinder to Natalie even after Sharon came back¡­ maybe the Summers family wouldn¡¯t be in the mess it was now. But there¡¯s no such thing as ¡°if¡± in this world. Now, Jensen was the only one who could save the Summers family. Before, she had thrown everything into protecting Sharon. But now, after seeing just how selfish Sharon really was, Mrs. Summers made up her mind: she had to secure a future-for herself and her husband. The Summers family couldn¡¯t fall. So the moment she felt even a little better, she headed straight to Jensen¡¯spany. But the secretary wouldn¡¯t let her through, and she couldn¡¯t even catch a glimpse of Jensen. Jensen hadn¡¯t been sleeping welltely. The shouting outside was giving him a pounding headache. Face like a storm cloud, he walked out of his office. Mrs. Summers lit up when she saw him. ¡°Mr. Luke! I know something about Natalie!¡± That did make Jensen¡¯s expression soften, just a little. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I want the Summers family to be like before. Mr. Luke, we can¡¯t go under. We raised Natalie for eighteen years. Even if we weren¡¯t rted by blood, she was still brought up by me. There are things only I know. If you help restore the Summers family, I promise to tell you everything I know about Natalie.¡± She looked at him, eyes filled with hope. Jensen frowned. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± 1:11 pm S Chapter 100 Bargaining with the Dead +20 Free Coins ¡°No, no! I really do know things about Natalie. And-if you help the Summers family-I¡¯ll even tell you something about Sharon.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Sharon had heard Mrs. Summers hade to see Jensen. Despite feeling sick, she rushed out in a panic-but she was toote. She arrived just in time to hear her mother¡¯sst sentence. Get full chapters from fin?novel A secret about her? Was she going to expose the truth about her faking her illness? Or was she going to bring up the rib donation from five years ago? No. No, no, no! She couldn¡¯t let Mrs. Summers spill those things. Whether it was the cancer lie or the rib donation-it all had to stay buried forever. Sharon was panicked as she rushed forward, gripping her mother¡¯s arm with a forced smile. ¡°Mom! What are you doing? Jensen is really busy-have you thought about how this makes me look?¡± She was fuming inside. That old witch. It was bad enough she lost her at birth-but now she was back to ruin the life she¡¯d worked so hard to build? All because she didn¡¯t help the Summers family? But Sharon knew better than tosh out. Not now. Not when her mother had something that could destroy her. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve never stopped caring about the Summers family. Jensen¡¯s just been busytely, but I promise-once he¡¯s got time, he¡¯ll help us. Don¡¯t worry, okay? If ites to it, I¡¯ll give you and Dad everything I have for retirement.¡± She spoke sweetly, but her hand was pinching the soft flesh of Mrs. Summers¡¯ arm-hard. Mrs. Summers winced. She was beginning to lose trust in her daughter. Sharon, seeing her mother hesitate, added quickly, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of dragging Natalie into this again, are you? You think Jensen¡¯s that easy to fool? If you really had any secrets on Natalie, wouldn¡¯t you have used them years ago? Besides, how did you treat her back then? If there was something, you¡¯d have used it to control her a 1:11 pm & Chapter 100 Bargaining with the Dead long time ago. Mom-Natalie¡¯s dead. Don¡¯t use her name to trick Jensen.¡± Her words made Jensen pause. Yeah¡­ +20 Free Coins If Mrs. Summers had any real dirt on Natalie, she would¡¯ve used it long ago. But for the past five years, she and Natalie hadn¡¯t had any contact. So was she just bluffing to save the Summers family? His face darkened. ¡°Mrs. Summers, is what Sharon said true?¡± Mrs. Summers began to panic. ¡°No, Mr. Luke, please let me exin-¡± ¡°Mom! You¡¯re still not well. I know you¡¯re worried the Summers family will fall apart, but don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m here, it won¡¯t.¡± HereSelf 101 Chapter 101 The Bargain Chapter 101 The Bargain Sharon quickly cut off Mrs. Summers and turned to Jensen with a weak smile. +10 Free Coins ¡°Jensen, my mom has been sick for days. The doctor said it was from anger hurting her heart. You know Summers Corp is my parents¡® whole life, and now that it¡¯s like this, they really can¡¯t take it. No matter what my mom did, please don¡¯t hold it against her, okay? I know you¡¯re grieving Natalie¡¯s death. How about this¨CI¡¯ll go home and see if there¡¯s anything of Natalie¡¯s left in the Summers family home. If I find anything, I¡¯ll bring it to you, alright?¡± Jensen didn¡¯t really want to hear Sharon talk, but her words still stirred something in him. Follow current nov?ls on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Everything of Natalie¡¯s had already disappeared from the Grand Pavilion. Even her toothbrush was gone. He missed Natalie so much. If he could get his hands on something of hers now, he might actually let the Summers family off the hook. ¡°Alright. As long as you can bring me something of Natalie¡¯s, I¡¯ll consider letting the Summers family back into Ocean City¡¯s circle of influence.¡± Mrs. Summers lit up at once, but Sharon felt sick inside. Why should that bitch Natalie, even after death, still hold a ce in Jensen¡¯s heart? But she didn¡¯t dare act rashly now. She clearly understood how insane Jensen became when it came to Natalie, and that was something she could never afford to provoke. Still, Mrs. Summers had actually dared to stab her in the back today, Sharon wasn¡¯t about to let that old woman off easy. Mrs. Summers, on the other hand, was thrilled. ¡°Mr. Luke, of course we still have Natalie¡¯s things. I promise I¡¯ll bring them to you. I even have her baby swaddles from when she was little.¡± The wild joy in Mrs. Summers¡¯s eyes stabbed Sharon like a de. She grabbed her mother¡¯s arm and forced a smile. 18:27 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 101 The Bargain : ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go home now. Don¡¯t bother Jensen while he¡¯s working.¡± Mrs. Summers nodded quickly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go right away.¡± Sharon supported her and turned to leave. But Jensen¡¯s voice stopped them. 52 +10 Free Coins ¡°Sharon, aren¡¯t you unwell? If it¡¯s serious, you should check into the hospital. Don¡¯t keep running around outside, it¡¯s too easy to catch an infection.¡± He could see her face was pale, her breathing unstable. Though he resented her, she had still saved his life. And with her days numbered, he couldn¡¯t be too cruel. Hearing his concern, and then remembering how much more he cared about Natalie¡¯s belongings just moments earlier, Sharon could no longer lie to herself that Jensen held her in his heart. She had begged him before, on behalf of Summers Corp, but he hadn¡¯t budged. Now he was willing to help them just for a few of Natalie¡¯s keepsakes. Sharon longed to scream at him, but she didn¡¯t dare. Her rage churned in her chest until it hurt, but she forced a brittle smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, I¡¯m not dying yet. Besides, my parents are like this because of me. I need to be here for them.¡± A flicker of guilt passed through Jensen¡¯s eyes. He had med her too much. Back in the fire, anyone would have chosen self¨Cpreservation first. Sharon had always been timid; of course she¡¯d cry out for him to save her. But hadn¡¯t she thought of Natalie in the end too? He had gone too far these past days. She was a dying woman, his lifesaver at that. Treating her and the Summers family like this would only draw gossip. Chapter 101 The Bargain ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re my wife, Sharon. The Summers family will not fall.¡± That gave Sharon a measure of recognition. 52 +10 Free Coins People at thepany already knew she was his wife, but since Jensen had recently forbidden anyone from calling her Mrs. Luke, they¡¯d assumed she¡¯d lost favor. Now that he acknowledged her, their eyes toward Sharon shifted instantly. Sharon froze. Was he admitting her status atst? Her heart leapt, though her face remained soft and weak. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll take my mother home now.¡± She pulled Mrs. Summers away, half¨Cforcing her out of Luke Corp. The moment they stepped outside, Sharon shoved her. If Mrs. Summers hadn¡¯t caught herself on the wall, she would¡¯ve fallen t. ¡°Sharon, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I should be asking you what you were nning.¡± Sharon¡¯s face twisted with anger. She stepped closer, ring at her mother. ¡°Just now, if I hadn¡¯t shown up, were you nning to tell Jensen about my fakete¨Cstage cancer? I¡¯m your daughter! Is the Summers family that important to you? You¡¯d sell out your own flesh and blood for it?¡± Mrs. Summers faltered under her daughter¡¯s fury. HereSelf 102 Chapter 102 The Leverage Chapter 102 The Leverage 52 +10 Free Coins ¡°I didn¡¯t. I just want the Summers family to rise again¨Cwhat¡¯s wrong with that? If you won¡¯t help us, can¡¯t I find another way out?¡± ¡°A way out? I¡¯m your daughter. As long as I¡¯m Mrs. Luke, the Summers family will never fall. So what if we¡¯re temporarily bankrupt now? Didn¡¯t you hear what Jensen said just now? As long as I¡¯m Mrs. Luke, the Summers family will be safe.¡± Sharon¡¯s words left Mrs. Summers speechless. Jensen had treated both the family and Sharon so harshly before¨Cit wasn¡¯t unreasonable for her to worry. But now, if Jensen could be persuaded to spare the Summers family for Sharon¡¯s sake, she no longer wanted to risk exposing her daughter. Mrs. Summers swallowed hard. ¡°I was just anxious, that¡¯s all. Didn¡¯t you see how your father¡¯s hair turned white overnight? If the Summers family copses, even as Mrs. Luke, will anyone still respect you? How long do you think you can keep up the act of being terminally ill? Once the truthes out, what then? Jensen could crush you with a single finger!¡± ¡°And if the Summers family survives, what real help can you give me? Didn¡¯t Jensen already drive you to bankruptcy once?¡± Sharon¡¯s words cut deep, nearly taking Mrs. Summers¡¯s breath away. ¡°That¡¯s only because we tied everything to Luke Corp. When Jensen struck, we had no way to fight back. But your father¡¯s heard about a rising foreignpany. We¡¯re nning to work with them. Jensen¡¯s reach won¡¯t extend overseas. Even if your secret is exposed one day, the Summers family will be there to protect you. Sharon, without your family behind you, you won¡¯tst.¡± Her words cooled Sharon¡¯s murderous thoughts. She was right. Jensen¡¯s moods were unpredictable. If the truth about her fake cancer came out, Sharon couldn¡¯t be sure she could control him. The Summers family still had its uses. After all, she was their blood. Sharon frowned slightly. ¡°Is that +10 Free Coins Chapter 102 The Leverage ¡°Very. Your father already looked into it. But investing in their project will take a lot of money. Back then, all our funds were tied up with Luke Corp, so we couldn¡¯t act. Now that Jensen wants to make it up to you, get some money from him for us. Once the Summers family rises again, we¡¯ll be your strongest support.¡± Mrs. Summers sighed and pressed on. ¡°Sharon, you¡¯re my daughter. Of course I want you to live well. But the Summers family is your foundation. You can¡¯t lose it, and you can¡¯t let it fall. Help us stand again, and I swear no one will ever be able to bully you.¡± She knew Sharon was selfish, but she was still her child. Natalie was gone now¨Cthis was the only daughter she had left. If she could draw Sharon back to her side, she still hoped for some semnce of a mother¨Cdaughter bond. Sharon wasn¡¯t stupid; she knew where her advantagey. She nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to get the money. But before that, you¡¯re not allowed to go to Jensen again. And Mom, are you really nning to give him Natalie¡¯s swaddles? Aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll use them to track down her real parents?¡± Mrs. Summers¡¯s face drained of color. Sharon narrowed her eyes. ¡°Mom, do you know something about Natalie¡¯s background? I was the one who got switched at birth, so logically Natalie should¡¯ve been that peasant woman¡¯s child. But the DNA test proved otherwise. Her identity has never been investigated. For five years, she was blinded by love, thinking Jensen was all she needed. Why didn¡¯t you investigate? Why weren¡¯t you curious?¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find1Novel For a moment, Mrs. Summers¡¯s eyes flickered with panic, then she smoothed it away. ¡°She wasn¡¯t my daughter anymore. Why should I care who her parents are? If she didn¡¯t bother to look, why would I?¡± With that, she turned and walked off, her pace betraying a hint of retreat. Sharon¡¯s eyes narrowed further. She had the feeling her mother knew something. But with Natalie dead, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to dig further. Back home, Mrs. Summers pulled out a few of Natalie¡¯s old school design awards. Sharon nced at them and curled her lip. ¡°Mom, you raised Natalie so well, but she never contributed to the Summers family. Meanwhile, I, the daughter you lost, am the one holding everything together. From now on, Chapter 102 The Leverage 52 +10 Free Coins don¡¯t you dare say anything reckless in front of Jensen. If I lose his favor, the Summers family won¡¯t have any future either.¡± HereSelf 103 Chapter 103 Poisoned Bonds Chapter 103 Poisoned Bonds : ?? 52 +10 Free Coins When Sharon spoke, her tone was lofty and cold, as if Mrs. Summers weren¡¯t her mother at all but merely a pitiful woman clinging to her for survival. Mrs. Summers had never suffered such humiliation before. And worst of all, it came from her own daughter. Rage boiled in her chest, her jaw tight enough to shatter her teeth. ¡°As long as you still care about the Summers family, that¡¯s enough. Hurry back now. Didn¡¯t Jensen get a doctor for you? While you have the chance, act spoiled a little and get him to give you money quickly. That¡¯s what matters.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Sharon rose and left. As she crossed the courtyard, she ran into the family¡¯s housekeeper, Jenn. ¡°Jenn.¡± Jenn quickly smiled when she saw her. ¡°You¡¯re back? I should thank you again¨Cfor hiring that specialist for my grandson the other day. Without you, he wouldn¡¯t have survived. From now on, my life belongs to you.¡± Sharon waved it off, then nced toward the main hall and lowered her voice. ¡°My mom¡¯s been a bit too activetely. Get some medicine and mix it into her food¨Csomething to make her rest more.¡± Jenn froze, paling. ¡°You¡­ you want me to drug Madam?¡± ¡°What are you thinking? That¡¯s my mother. How could I harm her? I just mean something with a little sedative, so she can sleep more and recover.¡± Jenn exhaled in relief. ¡°Ah, sleeping medicine.¡± ¡°Right. Don¡¯t let her know. She¡¯s been restless over thepany matters, and if this goes on her health will copse.¡± Sharon put on the mask of a dutiful daughter. Jenn beamed. ¡°I understand. You¡¯re so filial¨Cif Sir knew, he¡¯d be pleased.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell my dad either.¡± Chapter 103 Poisoned Bonds : Irritation shed across Sharon¡¯s face. Jenn was far too talkative. 52 +10 Free Coins But then Sharon¡¯s eyes flickered with calction. ¡°Forget it. Don¡¯t get the medicine yourself. If my mom finds out, she¡¯ll fire you. I¡¯ll handle it and send it to youter. Then you just put it in her food. Even if she suspects, it won¡¯t fall on you.¡± Find the newest release on ?ovelFind Jenn sighed in relief again. ¡°Of course, of course. I¡¯ll keep it secret.¡± Sharon left, climbed into her car, and immediately dialed a number she knew by heart. ¡°Get me a slow¨Cacting poison¨Ccolorless, tasteless, impossible to detect. I know you can find it. Whatever the price, I¡¯ll pay.¡± She hung up, lips curling into a cold smile. Old hag. She wanted to sell her out for the Summers family? So what if she was her mother? Everything Sharon had now, she¡¯d wed out for herself. The Summers family had robbed her of eighteen years, and now they still wanted to leech off her? Dream on. Still, the old hag wasn¡¯t wrong. Before she died, Sharon needed Summers Corp strong enough to cover her. After that, everything would be hers alone. She pressed the gas, the car speeding away from the Summers estate. Meanwhile, Baron received a report. ¡°Witch Doctor, someone¡¯s looking to buy slow¨Cacting, colorless, tasteless poison.¡± He had just finished cross¨Cchecking data when the call came. His voice waszy. ¡°Who¡¯s the buyer?¡± ¡°Sharon.¡± His eyes darkened. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Jensen¡¯s wife, Sharon.¡± 18:28 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 103 Poisoned Bonds : 52 +10 Free Coins ¡°Find out who she wants to use it on. Track everything from the purchase forward¨Cleave evidence at every step.¡± Baron had made up his mind. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The call ended, and Baron smirked faintly. ¡°She really doesn¡¯t know when to quit. Sharon already has enough skeletons, and now she¡¯s handing me proof herself. Convenient.¡± With that, he looked back at the data results. As expected, his manual calctions matched the machine¡¯s. Yvonne¡¯s skin sample matched Natalie¡¯s perfectly. The blood he had drawn, however, had been sent out for DNA testing. Even expedited, it would take two days. He wasn¡¯t sure why he was doing this, but better to be cautious. Holding the matching report, Baron¡¯s eyes grew heavy. Someone out there was watching him and Natalie closely. This result could never be exposed. He forged a false ¡°non¨Cmatch¡± report, tossed it on the desk, and burned the real one to ash. Only then did he head toward Natalie¡¯s sterile room. HereSelf 10 4 Chapter 104 Hidden Motives Chapter 104 Hidden Motives Yvonne quickly stood, her eyes full of unspoken questions. Baron gave her a slight nod. +10 Free Coins Yvonne¡¯s face immediately lit up. ¡°Does that mean Ms. Summers can finally have her surgery?¡± ¡°As long as you agree, the operation can begin at any time,¡± Baron replied calmly. ¡°Yvonne, have you made your decision?¡± ¡°I have. I¡¯m willing to donate skin to Ms. Summers. Mr. Gunn, I don¡¯t want any reward. I¡¯m only doing this to atone to my sister.¡± Warmth flickered in Baron¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°Silly girl. I told you, Phantom¡¯s sins aren¡¯t yours to carry. I¡¯ll announce it to everyone¡ª from today onward, Yvonne is my sister. My real sister.¡± Yvonne¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears at his words. Just then, a message from Sean came in. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯ll never guess where Finn went! He¡¯s at National Hotel, room 303.¡± Both Baron and Yvonne froze. Yvonne remembered all too well¨Cthe address in that mysterious email had been the very same. Could Finn really be the one behind it all? Her face showed disbelief. Baron¡¯s expression grew grim. ¡°Sean, cover your tracks. You¡¯re not to interfere in this any further.¡± He didn¡¯t want the children dragged into such tangled grudges. Sean didn¡¯t argue, simply agreed and hung up. Yvonne¡¯s eyes were red. ¡°Mr. Gunn, it can¡¯t be true, can it? I don¡¯t believe Finn is that kind of man! My sister might¡¯ve been brought up by Shauna, but she and Finn got along well all these years. He had no reason to harm her.¡± Her voice was shaking. Chapter 104 Hidden Motives : 52 +10 Free Coins Baron¡¯s own heart wasn¡¯t any lighter. His bond with Finn had been closer than with a brother. And now¨Cbetrayal. But he wasn¡¯t a man to show his emotions. ¡°Yvonne, some people change.¡± ¡°But why? What happened between him and my sister? Why would Finn despise Ms. Summers so much? If I recall, before this, he didn¡¯t even know her.¡± Her doubts mirrored his own. But only Finn could answer them now. ¡°Enough. Stop crying. Get ready¡ªwe¡¯re going to the National Hotel.¡± This content belongs to Find1Novel Yvonne blinked, startled, then nodded firmly. ¡°I understand, Mr. Gunn. I¡¯ll ask Finn myself why he did this.¡± She quickly arranged for others to watch over Natalie before leaving. Even then, she hadn¡¯t forgotten her sister¡¯s safety. Her care moved Baron. ¡°Yvonne, I meant what I said. From today, you¡¯re my sister. Natalie will be My children will be your niece and nephew.¡± He had said it before, but repeating it made her heart warm all over again. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Gunn. We¡¯ll talk about thister.¡± With that, Yvonne left. your sister¨Cinw. Baron¡¯s eyes darkened as he spun his ck phone between his pale, elegant fingers. Soon after, he typed a single word: ¡°Action.¡± Sliding the phone away, he turned back. Natalie had woken at some point. Sunlight streamed in through the window, bathing Baron in a soft golden glow. He looked almost unearthly, like a figure descended from a painting, too radiant to see clearly¨Clike an exiled immortal. Natalie had always known he was handsome. Otherwise, in her lowest moment, she wouldn¡¯t Chapter 104 Hidden Motives : have chosen him at first sight, wanting only to sleep with him. But now, scarred and disfigured, how could she deserve a man like Baron? +10 Free Coins She didn¡¯t know if the surgery would seed. She didn¡¯t know if the Witch Doctor would even agree to it, or what price Baron would have to pay. Her mind was a mess. The more she noticed his beauty, the deeper her inferiority grew. She hadn¡¯t been like this before. But now, without her face, she felt stripped bare, her confidence gone. She lowered her eyes¨Cthen flinched when a glint from his cufflink caught them. A soft cry escaped her lips. ¡°Natalie? You¡¯re awake?¡± Baron turned quickly, seeing her shielding her eyes with her arm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He feared she was in pain. Natalie murmured, ¡°Your cufflink shed into my eyes.¡± For a moment, Baron froze. Then the corner of his lips curved faintly. ¡°Even if someone ruined it, I still love this design. Natalie, you truly are a genius.¡± HereSelf 105 Chapter 105 The Truth in Blood Chapter 105 The Truth in Blood 52 +10 Free Coins Baron¡¯s words made Natalie freeze. She quickly nced at his cuff and realized it was the pair of cufflinks she had once designed for him. ¡°You got them back?¡± ¡°Of course. You designed them for me¨Cwhy should they ever be on anyone else? But you promised me, you¡¯d make another set for me someday.¡± Natalie wanted to, but when she thought of her crippled fingers, her expression dimmed. ¡°That might not be possible anymore. My hand is ruined.¡± ¡°Who said so? The Witch Doctor already operated on your hand. Haven¡¯t you noticed? Your right hand is in a cast. Give it time to heal¨Cit won¡¯t stop you from holding a pen again. And even if it came to that, you could still use your left hand. The Natalie I know isn¡¯t someone who gives up so easily.¡± His voice was gentle, his eyes steady. The warmth in them made her want to cry. She quickly turned away, only then realizing Yvonne wasn¡¯t in the room. ¡°Where¡¯s Yvonne?¡± ¡°She went out to take care of something. She¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Baron longed to pull Natalie into his arms, but he couldn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t dare. Natalie¡¯s fragile state tugged at his heart. But it wouldn¡¯t be long now. Soon she could live like anyone else again. Thinking of Yvonne¡¯s skin test results, Baron finally told her. Natalie hadn¡¯t expected Yvonne¡¯s skin to match her own so well. Surprise flickered across her face, but unease quickly followed. ¡°Will Yvonne agree? And what if such a major surgery leaves her with side effects? She doesn¡¯t even have a boyfriend yet, she¡¯s still so young, she- ¡°Natalie. Calm down.¡± Baron¡¯s voice carried a power that steadied her heart instantly. She looked up at him, wide- eyed. Chapter 105 The Truth in Blood : 52 +10 Free Coins He smiled faintly. ¡°If Yvonne hadn¡¯t agreed, I¡¯d never force her. Since she¡¯s willing to donate, I¡¯ve already taken her in as my sister. From now on, I¡¯ll guarantee her a life of honor and smooth roads ahead. As Baron¡¯s sister, when she chooses a man to marry, I¡¯ll make sure she finds happiness. These aren¡¯t things you need to worry about. What you should know is something else.¡± Natalie¡¯s curiosity stirred. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Scientifically, such a match only appears between close blood rtives. It¡¯s not impossible for strangers, but the probability is extremely low. That¡¯s why I took both your blood samples for a DNA test. The results will be out the day after tomorrow.¡± Natalie suddenly understood. ¡°You think Yvonne and I might be directly rted?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. Especially since she did look a little like you¡­ before.¡± Natalie frowned slightly. ¡°Before? What do you mean?¡± Seeing her interest, Baron¡¯s eyes softened. Ever since the fire, she had so rarely shown curiosity about anything. She put on a brave front, but he knew she avoided mirrors, avoided anything that might show her scars. The shining, radiant designer Sunny had perished in that ze. Baron knew how hard it was for a woman, once so beautiful, to face such a cruel change. That was why he had never forced her into anything these past weeks. If she wanted to rest, she rested. If she wantedpany, she had it. At first, he¡¯d feared she wouldn¡¯t even want to see the children. But he had been wrong. Natalie¡¯s longing for them was real, her tolerance genuine. Though she feared frightening them with her face, she didn¡¯t retreat. Her eyes carried light again. That was why he had brought Yvonne to her. Yvonne was cheerful, lively, positive¡ªjust the kind of presence Natalie needed to help her step out of the shadows, What he hadn¡¯t expected was for Yvonne¡¯s skin to match hers perfectly. Seeing Natalie¡¯s interest now, he felt a trace of relief. ¡°Yvonne didn¡¯t always look like this,¡± he said quietly, his gaze distant. ¡°She and Phantom were orphans, raised in the same orphanage. Phantom was three years older and always cared for her like a sister. When Shauna took Phantom away, she made sure to bring Yvonne out too. From then on, the two called each other sisters. Later, Phantom¡¯s face was exposed during a mission, and enemies came after her. Yvonne got dragged into it. On her way to school, someone staged a car crash. She nearly died. Though she survived, her face was shredded by the windshield. In the end, reconstructive surgery was uit my opon. Th?s chapter is updated by Find1Novel HereSelf 106 Chapter 106 Facing the Mirror 52 +10 Free Coins ¡°Yvonne was still young back then. As she grew, her face began to look more natural. Even Shauna nearly forgot what she used to look like.¡± Natalie had never known Yvonne carried such a past. These days, she had often heard Yvonne talk about her sister with admiration. Natalie had met Phantom as well. That woman hardly spoke, but her hands were quick, her work efficient. Beyond that, Natalie hadn¡¯t paid much attention. She had always assumed Yvonne and Phantom were real sisters. Though she once wondered why they had different surnames, she hadn¡¯t asked. Seeing her surprise, Baron smiled faintly. Natalie thought he looked devastatingly handsome when he smiled, especially with that tear mole at the corner of his eye. It was a charm that could seduce anyone. Her heart clenched when she thought of her own state. Her body covered in burn scars. Her hair and eyebrows gone. Her face pitted and uneven, with only her features intact. Beside Baron, who looked like a being exiled from heaven, she was nothing but a demon dragged from hell. But wasn¡¯t that what she was? The demon Jensen and Sharon had forced into existence, Suddenly, she felt thatpared to Yvonne, her own scars were nothing at all. Biting her lip, she whispered, ¡°Baron, can you get me a mirror?¡± He hesitated, worry flickering in his eyes. ¡°Why do you want a mirror?¡± ¡°I want to see what I look like now. And if you can¡­ take a picture. I want to remember this.¡± Her eyes were rimmed with red. Painnced through Baron¡¯s chest. He wanted to refuse, to promise her she would be healed, but the words died on his lips. Chapters first released on find[f]ovel Chapter 106 Facing the Mirror 52 +10 Free Coins He understood¨CNatalie needed to face herself. Only then could she stand strong again. It tore at him, but he supported her choice. With conflicted emotions, he pulled out his phone, opened the camera, and handed it to her. The moment Natalie saw her reflection, she nearly dropped the phone. Calling herself a demon had been kind. Even demons would fear this face. And the ones who had reduced her to this were Jensen and Sharon. Her fingers clenched around the phone so tightly the skin split, blood welling out. She didn¡¯t care. She wanted to burn this pain into her memory. Baron took a step forward, then stopped himself. ¡°Have you decided? Do you want to take your revenge with your own hands? If you do, I¡¯ll stand with you. Your strongest support.¡± His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but every wordnded with weight and power. Natalie¡¯s heart trembled. She lifted her gaze, meeting his steady eyes, his unwavering support. For the first time, she thought maybe the heavens hadn¡¯t been so cruel to her after all. Not everyone got to meet a man like this. ¡°Baron, I know how you feel about me. I want to answer you, but right now¡­ I can¡¯t. Not until my hatred is avenged. Please don¡¯t me me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. As long as you stay with me and the children, I¡¯ll wait. For as long as it takes.¡± His words drew a fragile smile from her lips. ¡°Alright.¡± She felt as if she¡¯d seen sunlight, glimpsed tomorrow. Before, she had worried what price the Witch Doctor might demand. But now? She wasn¡¯t afraid of death itself¨Cwhat else was there to fear? ¡­ : 52 Chapter 106 Facing the Mirror +10 Free Coins ¡°Baron, I know getting the Witch Doctor to heal me isn¡¯t easy. Whatever his terms, I¡¯ll ept them. This is my debt. You can¡¯t take it on for me.¡± She was firm. She had seen the Witch Doctor¡¯s strange, impossible conditions before. She wouldn¡¯t let Baron shoulder them. He had already risked everything to save her from the fire. If he sacrificed more, she would never be able to repay him. She expected him to argue. Instead, he smiled and agreed without hesitation. ¡°Alright.¡± Relief softened her face. She snapped a picture of herself and didn¡¯t even care that it was saved on Baron¡¯s phone. Her resilience made his heart ache all the more. Just then, a knock sounded. Shauna burst inside. ¡°Mr. Gunn¨CYvonne¡¯s in trouble!¡± Baron¡¯s face darkened instantly. Even Natalie pushed herself up, panic shing through her. She had only just grown close to the girl, only just started to like her¨Cand maybe, just maybe, discovered a deeper connection between them. She hadn¡¯t even asked yet. And now trouble hade? ¡°What happened?¡± HereSelf 107 Chapter 107 A Death on the Road +10 Free Coins Baron¡¯s voice came low and steady, speaking the question Natalie couldn¡¯t. Shauna swallowed hard, sorrow shing across her face. ¡°Yvonne was in a car ident on the way to the National Hotel. She died at the scene. By the time she reached the hospital, it was toote.¡± The words mmed into Natalie like a stone, suffocating her chest. How could this be? Such a bright, kind girl¨Cgone in an instant? Baron¡¯s eyes turned darker than storm clouds. ¡°She was driving herself?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And the driver?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in custody. The traffic police have stepped in. We¡¯ll have results soon.¡± Baron nced at Natalie, his tone softening. ¡°I know you¡¯re hurting, but I need to deal with this. I¡¯ll leave someone here with you.¡± ¡°Go. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Natalie longed to go herself, but she knew her body wouldn¡¯t allow it. Her hand gripped the edge of the bed so tightly her knuckles whitened, her chest burning with pain. Yvonne had been so warm, always chatting with her, telling her stories, brightening her darkest moments. How could she suddenly be gone? Baron wanted to offerfort, but the words stuck. He set men to guard Natalie and followed Shauna out, His first question was sharp as a de. ¡°Where¡¯s Finn?¡± ¡°He went out early. He hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± The man answering broke into a sweat under Baron¡¯s re. ¡°Call him back. Now,¡± Shauna quickly dialed. Finn picked up, sounding puzzled. ¡°Shauna? What is it?¡± Chapter 107 A Death on the Road ¡°Come back immediately. Yvonne¡¯s had an ident.¡± Yvonne had grown up before all their eyes. They all saw her as a younger sister. When Phantom first joined the organization, she had brought Yvonne along. After Yvonne was scarred in a revenge¨Cdriven crash, they had taken turns looking after her. She wasn¡¯t just a subordinate. She was their sunshine, their bright little sister. Finn¡¯s heart lurched. ¡°What happened to Yvonne?¡± ¡°She¡¯s gone.¡± Shauna¡¯s voice broke. Finn hung up without another word, racing back as if chased by demons. By the time he reached the vi, silence weighed on the air. A bodyy nearby, lifeless and broken. The police had already confirmed it. Yvonne was dead. The driver had been drunk, admitted fault immediately. But Baron couldn¡¯t ept that answer. A life snuffed out because of a drunk behind the wheel? Impossible to forgive. Yet no matter how he pressed, the driver repeated the same line¨Cit was his fault, his alone. Shauna, furious, struck the man. It was understandable, but assaulting someone in front of officers led to her being taken away for twenty¨Cfour hours¡® detention. The source of th?s content is findnovel When Finn finally arrived, the whole truth wasid out for him. He stared nkly at the body in the corner, broken beyond recognition. ¡°This¡­ how? Is Yvonne forever bound to car idents?¡± Once, a crash had stolen her face. Now, another had stolen her life. Finn sank down before her, tears burning his eyes until they hurt. He wanted to touch her, to stroke her cheek onest time, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to. Instead, he copsed forward, fists pressed to the floor, sobbing like a child. Baron¡¯s own eyes burned red, ¡°Leave us.¡± ¡­ : 52 Chapter 107 A Death on the Road +10 Free Coins At hismand, the others slipped out, leaving only Baron and Finn in the quiet room. Baron strode forward, grabbed Finn by the cor, and mmed a fist into his face. ¡°You dare cry? You know damn well why Yvonne went out today!¡± Blood streamed from Finn¡¯s nose. He didn¡¯t wipe it, too stunned by the usation. ¡°What are you saying?¡± Baron¡¯s fist crashed into him again. ¡°You really don¡¯t know? Finn, Yvonne died because of you. You know it.¡± ¡°No! It wasn¡¯t me!¡± Finn¡¯s head shook frantically, but his face had gone pale, lips trembling. Baron flung him aside with a vicious kick. ¡°Then say it! Say it to Yvonne¡¯s face¨Cthat her death has nothing to do with you. And say Phantom too¨Cthat you had no part in hers either!¡± it to HereSelf 108 : Chapter 108 Shattered Brotherhood The moment Baron¡¯s words fell, Finn copsed onto the floor, terror in his eyes. Looking at Baron¡¯s fury, he suddenly understood everything. ¡°You knew all along?¡± ¡°I gave you more than one chance, Finn.¡± 52 +10 Free Coins Baron¡¯s voice shook with barely restrained rage, his eyes bloodshot. His teeth clenched as he ground out, ¡°If I¡¯d known giving you chances would cost Yvonne her life, I¡¯d have ended you the first time.¡± Finn¡¯s body went ck. Heughed and sobbed at once, like a madman. Baron didn¡¯t stop him. At this moment, there was no strength left for empty arguments. After a while, Finn crawled over to Yvonne¡¯s body and knocked his head to the ground three times. ¡°Yvonne¡­ I¡¯m sorry! It¡¯s my fault! The one who should be dead is me!¡± He pressed his forehead to the floor and wailed, his voice tearing out of his chest. Baron yanked him away. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? fin?novel ¡°Don¡¯t you dare sully her path to the afterlife! She respected you, trusted you like a brother¡ª yet what did you do? People change, I know that, but I never thought it would be you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to! I had no choice!¡± Finn¡¯s face twisted in agony. Regret burned through him¨Cif he had known Yvonne would be dragged into this, he would never have done any of it. Baron¡¯s eyes held no mercy. He sat in the main chair, gaze like a de cutting through Finn¡¯s pitiful figure. ¡°Talk. When did you start betraying me? How did you control Phantom, forcing her to fail in protecting Natalie? And why did you send Yvonne to the National Hotel? What were you after?¡± The questions hit like hammers. Finn had expected exposure, but not this thorough. Baron knew everything. He had just kept silent. Chapter 108 Shattered Brotherhood : Now Finn understood what he meant by ¡°giving him chances.¡± 52 +10 Free Coins He slumped against the floor, despair in his eyes. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ I never wanted to betray you. Never.¡± ¡°Useless words. Look at Yvonne. How will you answer to her? You knew what Phantom meant to her, and yet you let Phantom die. Tell me, how did you face Yvonne¡¯s trusting eyes every day?¡± Finn¡¯s eyes flooded again. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill Phantom. I only stopped her from protecting Natalie in that moment¡ª¡® 11 ¡°But you knew,¡± Baron cut him off coldly. ¡°You knew Phantom would be punished for failing her mission. Whether or not she burned in that fire, she would not have survived after failing to guard Natalie. The moment you dragged her down, you signed her death sentence.¡± Silence swallowed the room. Finn bit down so hard on his lip that blood trickled down his chin. He didn¡¯t care. The air grew heavy, every breath thick and suffocating. Finally, hoarse and broken, Finn whispered, ¡°Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted her harmed? I loved her more than anyone.¡± His shoulders shook, tears dripping to the floor. Gone was the second¨Cinmand of the organization. In his ce was a man crumbling with guilt. Baron said nothing, waiting. Finn drew a ragged breath. ¡°Phantom and I were lovers. We never announced it. I wanted to give her a name, but she always said her rank was too low. She told me to wait. I never thought that wait wouldst forever.¡± He nced up at Baron, saw no surprise in his eyes, and knew then that their secret had never been a secret to him. Of course. Baron was the one who held everything in his hands. Finn had only deluded himself, thinking he could hide his sins, that his growing power would shield him. But there was no wall in this world that didn¡¯t let wind through. Chapter 108 Shattered Brotherhood Finn¡¯sst defenses crumbled. : ¡°You knew everything. Why didn¡¯t you ask me before?¡± 52 +10 Free Coins ¡°Because it was your private life. Who you loved wasn¡¯t my business. As your brother, I only wished you happiness, a family, children of your own.¡± Baron¡¯s voice was calm, but every word rang with truth. Finn¡¯s eyes reddened again. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ I¡¯ve failed you, failed our brotherhood. Do with me what you will.¡± His face was hollow, resigned to death. But Baron¡¯s voice dropped, deep and cutting. ¡°Punishment is certain¨Cwhether for Phantom, or for Yvonne, they deserve justice. But before that, you¡¯re going to tell me everything. Who is behind this? Who is worth your betrayal?¡± HereSelf 109 Chapter 109 The Truth Revealed Chapter 109 The Truth Revealed ¡°I wasn¡¯t serving them willingly! I had no choice.¡± 52 +10 Free Coins Finn drew in a sharp breath before continuing. ¡°I found my real parents. Their lives were miserable. I wanted to help them, give them money. But someone set my father up¡ª overnight, he was drowning in loan¨Cshark debts. To repay them, he sold my mother. By the time I found out, it was already toote.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°You found your parents¨Cwhy didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°You had too much on your te. And it was my private matter. I had money, I thought I could handle it. My mother¡¯s mental health was unstable. I wanted to get her treatment first before telling anyone. But before she could recover, my father fell into trouble.¡± Regret twisted Finn¡¯s face. If he¡¯d known how far things would spiral, he would have told Baron from the start. Get full chapters from find?novel Baron hadn¡¯t expected such a twist, and for a moment, even he had no words. Finn went on, his voice hoarse. ¡°My father never told me. He was afraid I¡¯dsh out at him. He tried to run, but they caught him. Then I got the call. They threw my father into some foreign facility¨Ctold me if I didn¡¯t obey, they¡¯d chop him up and sell him piece by piece. I checked. He really is overseas. ¡°My mother, they kept under control. She was already sick, and in an unfamiliar ce, she broke downpletely. She screamed my name over and over. I wanted to save them. I had to. But if I told you, if I tried anything, they¡¯d kill them. So I agreed to one task. Just one. They didn¡¯t say what it was. I was worried, but also relieved.¡± Baron¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Later, when you went to Ocean City, they asked me only to pass along your whereabouts. I asked if that would be enough to free my parents. They said no¨Ctold me to wait. I realized then they already had people monitoring you while you were with Natalie. ¡°Then Natalie¡¯s ident happened. They called, ordering me to create chaos. They coordinated with me to pull you away, leave you stretched thin. I swear, I didn¡¯t know Natalie was their target. If I had known, I never would have let Phantom go. Even if it meant defying your order, I¡¯d have kept her back.¡± Baron¡¯s voice dropped to ice. ¡°So that chaos¨Cyou created it?¡± Chapter 109 The Truth Revealed Finn¡¯s teeth clenched. Atst, he nodded. : Baron¡¯s fury exploded. His kick sent Finn sprawling across the floor. 52 JP +10 Free Coins ¡°Do you know how many brothers we lost in that chaos? Money is nothing¨Cbut those men trusted you, fought for you. They had families waiting at home. And because of your decision, they never returned! How do you face them?¡± Finn rolled, coughing, but didn¡¯t protest. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I was wrong. I was wrong!¡± ¡°Wrong? The dead can¡¯t hear your apology. You say you only wanted to dy me¨Cthen why did Phantom fail her mission? Was that your order?¡± A surgical knife shed in Baron¡¯s hand, gleaming coldly. Finn trembled, wracked with pain, unable to hide the torment in his eyes. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my order. But it was still because of me.¡± His voice broke. He gripped his cor, gasping. ¡°They found Phantom too. They said if she didn¡¯t cooperate, they¡¯d expose me¨Cexpose my betrayal. They¡¯d ruin me, make me an outcast. Phantom couldn¡¯t bear to see me destroyed. So she¡­ she deliberately failed, for me.¡± Baron¡¯s rage roared in his chest, nearly consuming his reason. ¡°All because I loved Natalie? You targeted her for that? Haven¡¯t Jensen and Sharon tortured her enough? She¡¯s already been dragged through hell. And you still chose to help push her further? What did she do wrong? Was it a crime to love someone? Did she deserve to pay with her life for it?¡± His fury shook the room. He hurled the scalpel¨Cit sliced past Finn¡¯s head and buried itself deep in the wall behind, quivering with a metallic hum. HereSelf 110 Chapter 110 The Fracture +10 Free Coins Finn didn¡¯t even flinch. In that instant when Baron¡¯s de had flown past him, he almost wished it had ended his life. But Baron hadn¡¯t finished him. That hurt more than death itself. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ kill me. I deserve it.¡± ¡°You do deserve it!¡± Baron yanked a report from his jacket and hurled it at him. ¡°Read it.¡± Finn¡¯s trembling hands tore open the envelope. His eyes widened, horror filling them. Then blood spurted from his lips, but even as his body convulsed, he clutched the paper with desperate strength. Discover more novels at Find¡ïNovel ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ this isn¡¯t real, right? Tell me this isn¡¯t real!¡± ¡°It¡¯s real.¡± Baron¡¯s voice was iron. ¡°Phantom was pregnant. She left this behind before her mission. I was already preparing a wedding for you two. But you destroyed her. You destroyed your child.¡± ¡°No!¡± Finn¡¯s scream tore from his chest. His world shattered. He had grown up without parents. He knew better than anyone the agony of being an orphan. With Phantom, he had sworn their child would never suffer what he had. He would love that baby with everything he had. And yet Phantom had carried his child, and he hadn¡¯t even known. And his choices had killed them both. For the first time, Finn¡¯s regret drowned himpletely. Baron turned away, unable to look at him. His voice dropped low, bitter. ¡°Even if I had slept with Natalie, it was one night, nothing more. Did you really think I¡¯d lose myself over that?¡± Chapter 110 The Fracture +10 Free Coins Finn¡¯s bloody lips trembled. ¡°Because of me. I knew¡­ I knew you liked Natalie long before. If five years ago she hadn¡¯t fallen for Jensen, if she hadn¡¯t thrown herself away for him, you would have kept her by your side.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Baron¡¯s fury exploded. He kicked Finn across the floor, sending him sprawling in blood. But it wasn¡¯t enough. He seized Finn by the cor, dragging him up, eyes burning scarlet. His words struck like ice. ¡°You were my brother! I never hid anything from you. Even my feelings¨CI never concealed them. You betrayed me, fine. But why involve Natalie? Do you know that if you hadn¡¯t exposed my feelings, she might never have¡ª¡± ¡°She would have!¡± Finn¡¯s roar was broken, his eyes wild. ¡°Mr. Gunn, even if I hadn¡¯t exposed you, Natalie¡¯s fate was sealed. From the moment she fell for Jensen, that fickle bastard, she was doomed. She gave everything for him¡ªthat¡¯s what killed her! Even without me, even without outside enemies, Sharon would have burned her alive anyway. That was her destiny! ¡°Phantom died because of her! My woman, my child¨Cgone because of her stupidity! Tell me why, Mr. Gunn. Why do you love such a foolish woman? Why risk your life for her again and again? My brothers, my woman, my child are all dead because of her. Don¡¯t I have the right to hate her? To wish her torn to pieces?¡± His voice broke into a guttural howl, like a beast trapped in its own cage. Baron¡¯s eyes froze cold. ¡°So you sent Yvonne to the National Hotel¨Cone, to reveal Phantom¡¯s true cause of death, and two, to push her into helping you kill Natalie?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Finn¡¯s voice was venom. ¡°Because of Natalie, you¡¯ve lost yourself. Because of her, my woman and child are gone. I want her dead! Once she¡¯s gone, my hatred will rest, and you¡¯ll return to what you were¡ªthe ruthless, untouchable king. Even if I fall, you¡¯ll still have your empire. Natalie is your weakness. With her alive, anyone can control you.¡± Baron¡¯s lips curved into something that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. His tone was calm, steady, but every word crashed like thunder. Chapter 110 The Fracture ¡°No one controls me. What exists is my own choice. ¡°Finn, are you truly that blind¨Cor just lying to yourself?¡± Finn¡¯s bloodied face twisted. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ what are you saying?¡± 52 +10 Free Coins ¡°I¡¯m saying you¡¯re deluding yourself. I, Baron, have the power to protect my woman, my children, and even my brothers. You simply couldn¡¯t stand that you weren¡¯t my equal. That¡¯s why your heart betrayed you.¡± 18:29 Wed, Sep 24 HereSelf 111 Chapter 111 The Confrontation Chapter 111 The Confrontation Baron finallyid everything bare. 52 +10 Free Coins Finn¡¯s face twisted. He wanted to argue, but no words came. His petty schemes were nothing in front of Baron¡¯s insight. Suddenly, Finn let out augh¨Cugly, broken, more painful than tears. ¡°Mr. Gunn, you can read everyone¡¯s heart¡­ but can you read Natalie¡¯s? That woman wasted five years of her life on a piece of trash like Jensen. She¡¯s nothing but a whore! You could have any woman you want¨Cwhy her?¡± The words had barely left his mouth before Baron¡¯s fist smashed across his face. Just as he reeled back, ready to spew more venom, a hoarse voice cut through the air. ¡°Stop!¡± Baron froze. He turned to see Natalie, supported by a nurse, staggering out. This text is hosted at find[f]ovel ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be out here,¡± he said at once, leaving Finn to rush to her side. His arm slipped around her carefully, recing the nurse¡¯s support. ¡°With burns like yours, an infection could kill you.¡± Every step sent waves of agony tearing through Natalie¡¯s body, but she still lifted her toward Finn. gaze From the moment she¡¯d opened her eyes after the fire, she had sensed his hatred. She hadn¡¯t known why¨Cuntil now. He and Phantom. So that was the reason. Her chest tightened with guilt for the woman who had died, but when she met Finn¡¯s eyes, zing with hate, there wasn¡¯t a flicker of fear in her own. ¡°Finn. You hate me because of Phantom, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes! You¡¯re a curse! If not for you, my Phantom would still be alive!¡± ¡°No,¡± Natalie said steadily. ¡°Even without me, Phantom would have died. Because of you.¡± Chapter 111 The Confrontation : 52 +10 Free Coins She didn¡¯t deny that Phantom had died protecting her, that Phantom had given her the chance to escape. She would never forget that debt. But Finn¡¯s betrayal had sealed Phantom¡¯s fate long before. Her words nearly sent Finn into a frenzy. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not spouting nonsense,¡± Natalie replied coldly. ¡°From the day you betrayed Baron, Phantom¡¯s death was inevitable. You couldn¡¯t protect her.¡± The words cut deeper than any de. ¡°You¡¯re lying! If Mr. Gunn hadn¡¯t sent her to protect you, she would have lived!¡± Natalie¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Really? Then why couldn¡¯t you even protect your own parents?¡± The blownded true. Finn¡¯s chest heaved, breath ragged, but no words came to refute her. Natalie¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°You hate your parents, don¡¯t you? They lost you as a child through their carelessness. That resentment has never left you, no matter how much sess you¡¯ve achieved. You crave their love, yet despise them for their neglect. That¡¯s why you kept them a secret from Baron. Because you never forgave them.¡± Finn flinched but didn¡¯t deny it. Natalie knew she was right. ¡°If your mother hadn¡¯t been ill, maybe you wouldn¡¯t have cared at all, would you? But because she was sick, you gave yourself a reason to stay close. Deep down, what you wanted most was to hear them say ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡®-sorry for losing you. But your mother was too far gone to say it, and your father, desperate and selfish, saw you only as a lifeline for money. He could never give you what you wanted. Isn¡¯t that the truth?¡± Finn¡¯s eyes burned red again. He turned his head away, refusing to answer. Natalie sighed. ¡°That¡¯s why you were torn apart inside¨Clove tangled with hate, never knowing what to do. And that¡¯s why they could use them to control you. By the time you realized your hesitation had left them in their hands, you were already filled with regret. You wanted to save them, but you couldn¡¯t admit them as your parents. So you acted alone.¡± Her gaze hardened. ¡°But how could you fight against people who had nned this from the start? The moment you agreed to do ¡®one thing¡® for them, your life was no longer yours. Phantom became their Chapter 111 The Confrontation pawn. And you, trapped in their game, had no strength left to protect her.¡± 52 +10 Free Coins Her voice faltered as she thought of Phantom¨Csilent, withdrawn, with a face that never smiled. She had once thought it was simply hardship that had made her that way. Now she understood. Her voice faltered as she thought of Phantom¨Csilent, withdrawn, with a face that never smiled. She had once thought it was simply hardship that had made her that way. Now she understood. Phantom had been drowning in pain all along. HereSelf 112 Chapter 112 The Copse +10 Free Coins ¡°Finn, even if Phantom hadn¡¯t gone to protect me, do you really think they would have spared her?¡± The answer struck him like a hammer. No¨Cthey wouldn¡¯t. Deep down, Finn knew the truth. He just couldn¡¯t bear to admit that Phantom¡¯s death hade because of him. So he had shoved all the me onto Natalie. Natalie saw the flicker in his eyes and knew he understood. Baron exhaled slowly, relief passing through him at herposure. He pped his hands. Shauna stepped inside. At the sight of her, Finn froze. ¡°You¡­ weren¡¯t you detained?¡± ¡°That was just to fool you.¡± Shauna¡¯s gaze was heavy with sorrow. ¡°Finn, after everything we¡¯ve gone through, how could you-¡± Her voice broke, words dying in her throat. She had heard Natalie¡¯s words from outside. As an orphan herself, she understood the storm Finn had felt when he found his parents. Natalie had spoken the truth. They had all lived bitterly, scraping survival from the edge of des. No matter how hardened they became, there was always resentment toward the parents who had lost them, always the ache of wanting love that never came. If not for that mistake, would their lives have been so hard? And yet, despite all that anger, the yearning for a simple ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± had never left. Shauna knew that if her parents ever stood before her and apologized, she would forgive them¨Ceven if it cost her life. But Finn¡¯s parents had never given him what he needed. His mother¡¯s illness, his father¡¯s selfishness-both had failed him. The less he received, the more he chased it, until he had lost himselfpletely. Shauna¡¯s eyes glistened as she handed him a folder. ¡°Look.¡± 1/3 Content originallyes from F?ndNovel Chapter 112 The Copse : 52 +10 Free Coins Fear coiled in Finn¡¯s gut. His instincts screamed that whaty inside would destroy him. Yet his hands, beyond his control, took it. Slowly, trembling, he opened it. Photographs and documents spilled to the floor. The images showed his parents butchered like animals, their blood staining the ground. His vision blurred. Even with all his resentment, he had never wished them dead. And now¡­ he had betrayed his brothers, betrayed Baron, dragged Phantom and their unborn child to death¨Cand his parents were gone all the same. The dates on the documents crushed him. The very day after he had agreed to ¡°do one thing¡± for them, his parents had already been killed. His sacrifice, his torment, his endless guilt¨Call for nothing. ¡°How¡­ how could they?!¡± Finn¡¯s voice cracked as madness twisted through him. If everything he had done was meaningless, then what was the point of all this suffering? Hisughter and sobs tangled together in hysteria. Baron instinctively pulled Natalie behind him, shielding her. Her chest tightened as she looked on. She had heard every word¨Cabout Yvonne, Phantom, Finn¡¯s betrayal. She had wanted to see Yvonne¡¯s body with her own eyes and had asked the nurse to bring her. She hadn¡¯t expected to stumble into this truth. Now she finally understood Finn¡¯s hatred of her. It had never been baseless¨Cit had been born from Phantom¡¯s death. But she couldn¡¯t let him keepshing at Baron. So she had stepped forward. Still, Finn¡¯s usation echoed inside her. He had called her Baron¡¯s weakness. Why? Why would a man like him be so bound to her? Chapter 112 The Copse : 51 +10 Free Coins She remembered nothing of their past, yet he insisted they had met before. For the first time, she cursed her broken memory. Shauna¡¯s eyes filled as she looked at Finn. ¡°They were never going to keep their promises. To them, we were never people.¡± Finn knew that now. Far, far toote. He wept until his voice was raw, then rasped, ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ the ones who forced me¨Cit was the current head of the Gunn family.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes darkened. He had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed set his jaw like stone. ¡°Sharon¡­ is she connected to them?¡± Pieces slid into ce in his mind. Natalie¡¯s quiet five years with Jensen had been uneventful¡ª until Sharon entered the picture. Finn shook his head. HereSelf 113 Chapter 113 The Banishment Chapter 113 The Banishment +10 Free Coins ¡°It wasn¡¯t direct,¡± Finn admitted, ¡°but Sharon met a branch member of the Gunn family overseas. He mocked her for giving up on Jensen, told her what a big figure he¡¯d be. He asked if she regretted it. Sharon couldn¡¯t stand the humiliation, so she came back determined to steal Jensen away. Even the excuse of her te¨Cstage cancer¨Cthat was given to her by him.¡± Natalie lowered her head with a coldugh. Yes, there had been outside maniption. But if Sharon had been a woman who knew her ce, she wouldn¡¯t havee back to snatch another woman¡¯s man. And Jensen¨Cif he¡¯d truly loved her, no flimsy lie could have shaken him. In the end, it wasn¡¯t fate or schemes. It was simply that the love hadn¡¯t been deep enough. Shaking her head, Natalie said quietly, ¡°Flies only gather on cracked eggs. Sharon and Jensen ending up together¨Cmaybe that¡¯s their destiny. Finn was right about one thing. I loved too blindly. I was foolish.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that about yourself.¡± Baron¡¯s tone was sharp, unable to bear hearing her demean herself. But Natalie only smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. If I can face my mistakes honestly, my path forward will be steadier and longer.¡± Shauna nced at her, startled. She had always thought Natalie was fragile, a hothouse flower that needed Mr. Gunn¡¯s protection. Now she realized how wrong she¡¯d been. Finn, too, looked at Natalie in a new light. Freed from the chains of love, she was calm, incisive, seeing truths deeper than most. Baron, seeing her steady again, felt his own tension ease. His face, however, grew hard. ¡°Shauna, find out who that Gunn branch bastard is. I want him to suffer a fate worse than death.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Shauna strode out to make the call. Finn¡¯s emotions had steadied. He lowered his head. ¡°Mr. Gunn, punish me. I¡¯ve done unforgivable things. I have no one left. Let my life pay for the brothers I cost.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want revenge?¡± Chapter 113 The Banishment : 51 +10 Free Coins The question snapped Finn¡¯s head up. His heart throbbed with longing. He wanted nothing more than vengeance. But would Mr. Gunn give him the chance? Baron¡¯s sigh was low. ¡°There is a chance. The question is whether you¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°Mr. Gunn, name it. Through fire or des, I won¡¯t hesitate.¡± Baron shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t need you in fire or des. I need you to leave the organization -and for me to hunt you down.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F?ndNovel Finn went rigid. Leave? After decades, after rising step by step from a boy at Baron¡¯s side? It felt worse than death. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ better you kill me now.¡± ¡°Killing is illegal. I don¡¯t break thew,¡± Baron said tly. Even Natalie nearly rolled her eyes¨Cif there was anyone who feared thew least, it was him. Finn slumped, despair swallowing him. Just then, Shauna returned. She saw his face, snorted, and kicked him in the side. ¡°Has your brain gone to the dogs?¡± Finn grimaced in pain. ¡°What did dogs do to deserve that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re worse than a dog.¡± She red at him. ¡°Think. The Gunns destroyed your family, and we already have proof you betrayed your brothers. If you stay here, who would follow you? Better to y along¨Cleave the organization, let Mr. Gunn issue a kill order. What choice will you have but to survive?¡± The realization struck him. ¡°I¡¯d¡­ have to seek the Gunn family out. Pretend to side with them.¡± Baron¡¯s voice was cool. ¡°Call it what you like. I¡¯m giving you a chance to take revenge with your own hands.¡± Tears rimmed Finn¡¯s eyes again. This was mercy, and it was also a path¨Conest bond of brotherhood extended to him. He turned to Natalie. Seeing her calm face, herck of resentment, shame burned in him. He knelt and knocked his forehead to the floor. Chapter 113 The Banishment : ¡°Ms. Summers, I¡¯m sorry. For everything. Please¨Ctake care of Mr. Gunn.¡± Natalie flushed scarlet. Take care of Baron? What right did she have to- Before she could respond, the sound of rushing footsteps echoed from outside. 51 +10 Free Coins Baron¡¯s face hardened instantly. ¡°Get Ms. Summers back to the sterile room. Activate the security systems.¡± The vi¡¯s design allowed the sterile wing to be reached directly from the lounge, without needing to go through the main doors. HereSelf 114 Chapter 114 The Betrayal Chapter 114 The Betrayal The footsteps pounded from the main entrance. Baron acted instantly. Natalie knew if she stayed, she would only drag him down. ¡°Baron, be careful.¡± ¡°I will.¡± His eyes softened as he looked at her. She left quickly, escorted back toward safety. 51 +10 Free Coins Shauna and Finn braced themselves. For now, personal grudges meant nothing¨Cthere was only the enemy. But when the front doors burst open, Baron froze, his fury copsing into stunned disbelief. Two little figures stood there. ¡°¡­ What are you doing?¡± It was Susie and Sean, trailed by bewildered bodyguards. The guards were pale¨Cwhy had the air felt so heavy with killing intent? Had they imagined it? ¡°Papa,¡± Susie asked, wide¨Ceyed, ¡°what are you all doing?¡± ¡°Nothing. Why are you here?¡± Baron slipped the surgical knife back into his sleeve. Shauna awkwardly lowered her fighting stance. Finn¡¯s hands hovered, caught between guilt and panic. Sean nced at Finn, then back at Baron. ¡°We heard Ms. Yvonne¡­ something happened. We wanted to see.¡± At once, Susie¡¯s tears spilled over. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? ?ovelFind ¡°Papa, is it true? Is Ms. Yvonne really gone? Will I never see her again? I want Ms. Yvonne!¡± Her wails split the room. Finn¡¯s heart, already weighed down with guilt, was crushed further. He couldn¡¯t meet her eyes. He couldn¡¯t meet anyone¡¯s eyes. Baron bent toward his daughter, voice thick. ¡°Susie, don¡¯t cry. Ms. Yvonne wouldn¡¯t want to see you like this.¡± Chapter 114 The Betrayal : But Susie tore away, running to the corner where Yvonne¡¯s bodyy. ¡°Ms. Yvonne, wake up! You promised to y jump rope with me! Please, Ms. Yvonne!¡± 51 +10 Free Coins Sean¡¯s eyes glistened. He and Susie had not been here long, but Yvonne had treated them with kindness sending treats, chatting on video, being a friend and a mentor rolled into one. ¨C Now shey lifeless before them. His throat tightened. He turned on Finn, anger bursting out. ¡°This is your fault! Why did you send her out? If not for you, she¡¯d still be alive. I hate you!¡± Sean lunged, fists flying, kicking and pounding against Finn. And Finn¨CFinn didn¡¯t fight back. Because Sean was right. If not for him, Yvonne would never have died. Phantom¡¯s only sister was gone because of him. Even beneath the ground, Phantom would curse him. He deserved every blow. He deserved worse. And yet, in his chest, another thought flickered. Baron wanted him out¨Cwanted him couldn¡¯t just slip away quietly. gone. He His hand clenched. In one swift motion, he seized Sean by the arm, yanking him up. A knife appeared in his grasp, gleaming as he pressed it to the boy¡¯s throat. ¡°Stay back! One more step and I¡¯ll kill him!¡± The room froze. Baron¡¯s face turned to stone. ¡°Finn! If you hurt my son, I swear you won¡¯t leave here alive!¡± ¡°Alive, dead¨Cwhat¡¯s the difference? I¡¯ve already betrayed you. Why should I care about taking one more down with me? Baron, all these years I¡¯ve carried the work of the organization, while you sat at the top. And now, for one mistake, you cast me aside? You¡¯re ruthless!¡± Murder glinted in Finn¡¯s eyes. Shauna staggered, shock sweeping over her. This wasn¡¯t an act. Finn truly meant it. Sean¡¯s life was on the edge of the de. 18:29 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 114 The Betrayal ¡°Finn, don¡¯t do this!¡± Shauna pleaded. ¡°Put him down! Don¡¯t scare him like this!¡± Susie¡¯s sobs hitched into hups. ¡°Hic¡­ hic¡­ Finn¡­ put down¡­ hic¡­ my brother!¡± 51 +10 Free Coins She stumbled forward, desperate to reach Sean, but Baron scooped her up by the cor, cradling her tightly. ¡°Susie, stay back!¡± She thrashed in his grip, tears streaming, crying for her brother. Sean¡¯s voice cracked, but he forced strength into it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, Susie. Listen to Papa. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± But Finn¡¯s grip was iron. Sean couldn¡¯t break free. ¡°Finn, this is a crime,¡± Sean tried to reason, even now. ¡°Shut up!¡± Finn barked, pressing the knife tighter. 18:29 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 115 Blood Price HereSelf 115 Chapter 115 Blood Price Chapter 115 Blood Price 51 +10 Free Coins Finn dragged Sean tight against him, the de gleaming at the boy¡¯s throat. ¡°Clear the way. Prepare me a car¨Cor I¡¯ll kill him.¡± ¡°Do as he says.¡± Baron¡¯s voice was calm, cold as an arrow of ice. The guards scattered to obey. Whispers rippled¨Ceveryone knew by now. The once¨Crespected second¨Cinmand was holding his leader¡¯s son hostage. It left a bitter taste in every mouth. Finn¡¯s own heart twisted painfully. He looked at Baron, eyes dark. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I never thought it woulde to this between us.¡± ¡°Save your words. Yvonne¡¯s death is on you. You colluded with outsiders and cost Phantom her life. And now you darey hands on my son. Our brotherhood is finished, Finn. Next time we meet, I will not spare you.¡± Baron didn¡¯t raise his voice, but the silence around him made every syble strike like a hammer. To all who heard, it carried more weight than any bounty. Sean stood stiff in Finn¡¯s grip. He was mischievous at times, but he knew the difference between y and death. He didn¡¯t dare struggle. His little body shook, but he forced his chin high¨Cfor his sister, for his mother. ¡°Finn,¡± he whispered, ¡°could you¡­ move the knife a little farther away?¡± The question twitched at Finn¡¯s mouth. Even now, the child tried to bargain with calmness. The car arrived. Finn yanked Sean toward it¨Cbut before he could shove him inside, a figure burst forward like lightning. Instinct made Finn fling Sean aside andsh out with a savage kick. His boot connected with flesh. A cry split the air. The figure crumpled, skidding across the ground. 18:29 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 115 Blood Price ¡°Ms. Summers!¡± the nurse screamed. ¡°Mommy!¡± +10 Free Coins Sean¡¯s eyes widened, horror flooding him. The one who had rushed in¨Cwas Natalie. She had promised Baron she would retreat. But she couldn¡¯t. She had hidden just beyond the corridor, watching. When Finn¡¯s knife pressed too close to her son, her heart clenched. She hadn¡¯t trusted Finn¡¯s restraint. Not when everything he stood to lose weighed heavier than reason. She had gambled on one chance¨Cthe moment to snatch Sean free. And she had paid the price. Pain tore through her battered body, every nerve ame. Yet seeing Sean stumble clear, Natalie managed a trembling smile before the world spun and darkness imed her. Baron arrived just in time to see her broken form strike the floor. His vision went red. ¡°Finn! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± The fury in his roar seemed to shake the air itself. The temperature of the entire vi dropped to ice. Finn flinched. Without another word, he leapt into the waiting car, mmed the elerator, and vanished in a blur. Baron¡¯s voice was a death knell. ¡°Issue the kill order. Even at the ends of the earth, Finn dies by my hand.¡± He dropped to his knees beside Natalie. Blood covered her, her wounds torn open, flesh raw. For a moment, his own breath caught, as if the sight of her pain stole the air from his lungs. ¡°What are you waiting for? Ready the operating room!¡± His roar jolted everyone to motion. Shauna¡¯s face was tight, her voice trembling. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­ in this condition, I¡¯m afraid she¡ª¡® ¡°With me here, even if Hades himselfes to im her, he¡¯ll have to go through me first.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes burned, frost and fire all at once. Sean stood frozen, heart hammering. He hadn¡¯t even properly met his mother yet¡ªand she had thrown herself into death¡¯s jaws to save him. Chapter 115 Blood Price Tears streamed unchecked. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t scare me! Please don¡¯t leave me!¡± 51 +10 Free Coins Susie stumbled forward, clutching Natalie¡¯s limp hand. Her own tears fell heavy, but behind them glinted something darker, sharper. Hatred. Finn. She would never forgive him. Fresh chapters posted on f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel Chapter 116 The Operation HereSelf 116 Chapter 116 The Operation Chapter 116 The Operation : 51 +10 Free Coins Baron nced at the two children, then barked an order at Shauna. ¡°Take them away and keep them safe. While I¡¯m in surgery, no one interrupts.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Shauna sped a small hand in each of hers. Sean¡¯s voice wavered. ¡°Papa¡­ you¡¯ll save Mommy, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Baron couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold him. None of this was the child¡¯s fault, but his heart was a knot of pain. After this, Natalie couldn¡¯t wait any longer¨Cthe skin grafts had to be done now. Susie said nothing. She bit her lip hard, her gaze fixed on her mother, her little heart silently begging Natalie to hold on. When the children were led away, Baron carried Natalie himself to the operating room. The vi was sealed, every corridor locked down. The moment Natalie was ced on the table, a hidden panel slid open. A figure stepped out. Yvonne. ¡°Mr. Gunn, Ms. Summers¡­ she¡¯ll be alright, won¡¯t she?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let her die,¡± Baron answered, his eyes cutting to her, ¡°But Yvonne, now I need your skin for her grafts. Will you give it?¡± Yvonne didn¡¯t hesitate. She nodded firmly. ¡°I will. If you hadn¡¯t known something would happen at the hotel¨Cif you hadn¡¯t sent a nanobot replica in my ce¨CI¡¯d be the one lying dead out there now. This life is yours, Mr. Gunn. Donating skin is nothing.¡± Baron showed no surprise. ¡°Your fake death was to provoke Finn. But don¡¯t worry¨Cafter the surgery, I¡¯ll give you a new identity.¡± ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m ready.¡± Chapter 116 The Operation : 51 +10 Free Coins She stripped off her outer clothes without shame. Baron¡¯s hands were already moving, disinfecting Natalie¡¯s ruined flesh. The risk was immense. Normally, such grafts had to be staged over multiple procedures. But Natalie¡¯s new injuries left no choice¨CBaron had to do it all in one night. It was a battle where two lives wereid on the line. Breathing deep, he injected Yvonne with anesthetic. The harsh lights flooded the room. Outside, Sean and Susie refused to sleep. They clung to Shauna¡¯s hands, waiting at the operating theater door. Shauna crouched tofort them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Ms. Summers wille out safe. She¡¯ll be better.¡± Susie¡¯s voice was small. ¡°Shauna¡­ did Papa find the right donor for Mommy?¡± Sean blinked at her. He¡¯d wanted to donate before, but because of the chemical burns he couldn¡¯t. Had Papa found someone? Shauna¡¯s lips pressed together. She couldn¡¯t tell them the truth. ¡°Trust your parents. Everything will be fine.¡± The children didn¡¯t argue, but their stubborn little bodies wouldn¡¯t leave. Shauna stayed with them. Hours passed. Ten, twelve¡­ the night stretched long. Eventually exhaustion forced the siblings away. Shauna saw them safely settled, then returned to pace outside alone, nerves raw. Would Natalie survive? Would Yvonne? And Baron¨Ccould his body endure such strain? Since returning from Ocean City, he¡¯d never fully recovered. Finally, after endless waiting, the lights above the doors flicked off. Shauna¡¯s head snapped up. Baron stepped out, face haggard, his frame swaying. ¡°Mr. Gunn-¡± Before she could finish, he copsed. ¡°Mr. Gunn!¡± Shauna caught him, horrified at the heat zing from his skin. Fever. His face beneath the Chapter 116 The Operation mask was bloodless. : Panic wed at her, but she forced herself calm. ¡°Help! Now!¡± Guards rushed in. ¡°Take him to the safe house. Bring doctors¨Cquickly!¡± 51 +10 Free Coins Her voice rang sharp, steady despite the storm inside her chest. Baron¡¯s health could not be allowed to spark chaos. They carried him off. Within the fortified safe house, medical specialists descended on him. Meanwhile, other experts were ushered toward the operating room. Shauna pointed inside. ¡°Two patients. See what follow¨Cup they¡¯ll need. Give me a n. I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The doctors vanished through the doors. Minutester, they emerged again. 18:30 Wed, Sep 24 Discover more novels at find¡¤novel Chapter 117 The Awakening HereSelf 117 Chapter 117 The Awakening GD +10 Free Coins ¡°Shauna, both patients have been stabilized. They only need to remain in sterile istion for twenty¨Cfour hours. If they pass the critical window, they¡¯ll be safe. But absolutely no visitors in the meantime¨Cno risk of infection.¡± Shauna exhaled in relief. That meant the surgery had been a sess. She dismissed the specialists to rest next door, telling herself over and over that since the doctors said Natalie and Yvonne were stable, then they were stable. Word spread quickly. The children came rushing. ¡°Shauna, how¡¯s my mommy?¡± Susie¡¯s voice trembled, her little eyes wide with fear. Sean didn¡¯t speak, but the worry in his gaze pierced like a de. Shauna repeated the doctors¡® words patiently. ¡°You two must be good. It isn¡¯t time to see her yet. Wait until she¡¯s stronger, then you can visit.¡± Sean¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Where¡¯s Papa?¡± Shauna¡¯s tone softened. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡¯s in the safe house. His body gave out when he came out of surgery¨Che spiked a fever from overwork. He hasn¡¯t rested properly since Ocean City. His body was warning him to stop.¡± The children fell silent for a long moment. Then Sean said firmly, ¡°We want to see him.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll take you.¡± In the safe house, doctors had already diagnosed Baron¡¯s condition¨Cno grave danger, just extreme exhaustion. By the time Shauna brought the children, Baron was hooked up to an IV drip, still unconscious, his face pale but calmer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± one physician assured. ¡°What he needs most is rest.¡± Shauna and the children finally let out the breath they¡¯d been holding. Baron slept for two full days and nights. When his eyes finally opened, the world felt blurry. ¡°Mr. Gunn, you¡¯re awake?¡± Shauna hurried to him. Baron blinked, then all at once memory mmed back. He bolted upright. ¡°Natalie! How is Chapter 117 The Awakening This text is hosted at find?novel she?¡± : 51 +10 Free Coins ¡°I¡¯ve arranged specialists. She¡¯s stable¨Calready awake. But with the grafts, she can¡¯t move yet.¡± Shauna¡¯s own face bore exhaustion, dark circles bruising her skin. Baron noticed. He passed her a small vial. ¡°Take this, then rest. From here, I¡¯ll handle things.¡± ¡°Alright. But please, Mr. Gunn, take care of yourself too.¡± Shauna bowed out, leaving him. Baron pushed himself up, steady now, and left the safe house. At Natalie¡¯s sterile room, he found the children inside, chirping to her as shey swathed in bandages. The sunlight nted across the scene, gilding them all in gold. A warmth settled in Baron¡¯s chest. This¡ªthis peace¨Cwas what he longed to hold. He lingered at the door, just watching. Sean spotted him first, his eyes lighting up. ¡°Papa, you¡¯re awake!¡± Natalie¡¯s gaze whipped to the door. Beneath the wrappings, only her eyes were visible, and they glistened with sudden moisture. When she had first woken, Baron hadn¡¯t been there. Shauna had told her he¡¯d copsed after bringing in Witch Doctor to save her, had even shown her a photograph of him sleeping in the safe house to prove he was alive. She had clung to that picture, waiting¨Cone day, then another. Now, atst, he was here. She hadn¡¯t realized until this moment how deeply rooted he had be in her heart. Not love¨Cat least not yet¨Cbut importance. Dependence. And just seeing him standing there, leaningzily against the frame with that calm gaze, steadied the storm inside her. Susie wrinkled her nose at the silence between them. Too quiet. Too sticky¨Csweet. She coughed loudly, tugged Sean¡¯s sleeve. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s go eat.¡± Sean blinked, then nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 117 The Awakening 51 +10 Free Coins As they passed Baron, Susie tilted up her chin with a mischievous grin. ¡°Papa, don¡¯t forget to buy me something tasty.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Baron¡¯s answering smile curved like a de of light¨Ctoo beautiful, too dangerous. Natalie¡¯s heart beat fast as he crossed the room toward her. ¡°Baron¡­ thank you.¡± It was all she could say. Chapter 118 The Stone Family Chapter 118 The Stone Family HereSelf 118 : Baron only gave a light smile as he sat down at Natalie¡¯s side. ¡°Your recovery will take time. Don¡¯t push yourself.¡± 51 +10 Free Coins ¡°I can wait,¡± Natalie murmured. Her eyes darkened. ¡°But I want to know¨Cwhose skin is on me now?¡± When she¡¯d woken, Shauna had told her the grafts had worked, even that her face had been slightly adjusted. Natalie had been stunned. Findingpatible donors wasn¡¯t simple, and Yvonne was supposed to be dead. Who else could have given? Baron¡¯s smile widened faintly as he told her the truth of Yvonne¡¯s staged death. Natalie stiffened, worry rushing in. ¡°If Yvonne gave me everything, what about her? Will she have aftereffects? Where is she now?¡± Baron knew her heart too well. If Natalie saw Yvonne¡¯s condition, guilt would eat her alive. ¡°She¡¯s being looked after,¡± he reassured softly. ¡°Her body needs time, but she¡¯ll recover. I¡¯ll find skin for her too. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Natalie¡¯s brow furrowed. She had read enough to know¨Cone couldn¡¯t give away all their skin without courting death. And the aftermath of grafting was brutal. Even a minor infection could kill. A life for a life. Her chest tightened. ¡°Baron, don¡¯t lie to me. Tell me the truth. Can Yvonne live? Can she truly be well?¡± ¡°She can.¡± He caught her bandaged hand gently, voice lowering. ¡°Before Yvonne agreed, I already reached out to the ck market. Three other donors matched you. I didn¡¯t take all from Yvonne¨C1 split the grafts among four. She¡¯s my sister now. You think I¡¯d use her life to buy yours? I know you¡¯d never ept it.¡± Natalie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course. I still have the records. Want to see?¡± She nodded quickly. These people had saved her. She needed to know them. Baron handed her his phone. On it were three profiles. To her surprise, they were all from one Updates are released by F?nd-Novel Chapter 118 The Stone Family family. ¡°A family?¡± : 51 +10 Free Coins ¡°Yes. Quite a coincidence.¡± His lips curved faintly. ¡°They aren¡¯t ordinary folk either. Merchants. They don¡¯tck money, but they¡¯ve dedicated themselves to charity. They even founded a relief foundation after losing a young daughter to illness. To honor her memory, they¡¯ve given and given, for years. Their eldest son recently took over the familypany, still learning the ropes.¡± Natalie listened with quiet awe. ¡°When I¡¯m stronger, I want to thank them myself.¡± ¡°You will.¡± Baron¡¯s gaze softened. Seeing her alive again, with hope in her eyes, made everything worth it. Their name was Stone. In Murica, the Stone family was no small force. Though they kept a low profile, their fortune was vast¨Ca hidden power in the business world. Baron himself had been surprised they¡¯d consented to donate. But in the urgency of Natalie¡¯s condition, there¡¯d been no time to question fate. Now it all rested on her recovery, on whether her body would ept the grafts. After a little more talk, fatigue imed her. Baron tucked the nket closer. ¡°Rest. We¡¯ll have all the time in the world to talkter.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Hershes fluttered closed. He stayed a while longer, watching, before leaving for Yvonne¡¯s room. She had woken earlier, but pain made every breath heavy. When Baron entered, she tried to rise instinctively. He pressed her shoulder gently down. ¡°Stay put. Heal. You¡¯ve suffered enough. I¡¯ll have the housekeeper bring you good food to build your strength.¡± Yvonne¡¯s lips curved faintly. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I¡¯m not a child.¡± ¡°You¡¯re my sister now. My real sister. From today on, your name is Yvonne Gunn.¡± HereSelf 119 Chapter 119 Bloodlines Chapter 119 Bloodlines Baron¡¯s words made Yvonne¡¯s eyes redden. +10 Free Coins She had never truly known her surname. The orphanage director had told her she¡¯d been abandoned at the gate; ¡°Saunder¡± was just the director¡¯s name. To her, names were empty. But Baron¡¯s promise, his recognition, wrapped her in a warmth she hadn¡¯t felt before¨Clike family. ¡°Mr. Gunn¡­¡± ¡°Call me brother,¡± he cut in with a smile. ¡°No one¡¯s ever called me that before.¡± Yvonne froze, then whispered, almost shyly, ¡°My dear brother.¡± ¡°Eh!¡± Baron answered with easy cheer, as though he¡¯d been waiting his whole life for it. ¡°When you¡¯re healed, I¡¯ll tell everyone. You¡¯re my sister¨Cjust back from overseas.¡± Her eyes brimmed. ¡°Thank you.¡± He ruffled her hair gently. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Hurts.¡± She winced. ¡°If I¡¯m in this much pain from just a few grafts, then Ms. Summers¡­ her whole body¡­ how much worse must it be?¡± Baron¡¯s gaze softened with hidden ache. ¡°That pain¨Cshe¡¯ll repay it, in her own way. For you, rest is the only duty now. Heal quickly. Don¡¯t make her worry.¡± ¡°I know.¡± She nodded with a small smile. They talked a while longer until Baron drew out a card and pressed it into her palm. ¡°You¡¯re my sister now. This is your gift. Spend it however you want. If you need anything, tell me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need this. I have money. I don¡¯t even go out- ¡°What¡¯s yours is yours. This is mine for you. Keep it.¡± He tucked it into her hand with finality before leaving. Yvonne¡¯s vision blurred again. She knew she shouldn¡¯t cling to this affection¨Cit came from sacrifice¨Cbut she couldn¡¯t help it. For the first time, she felt like someone¡¯s family. She swore she¡¯d repay it¨Cby caring for Ms. Summers, by helping her ¡°brother¡± and his two children. Her heart was light with purpose. Chapter 119 Bloodlines Meanwhile, Baron left her room, his focus shifting instantly. 51 +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Gunn,¡± a subordinate reported. ¡°We¡¯ve traced Finn. He entered Gunn Corp and hasn¡¯te out since.¡± Baron¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Keep watching.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He turned to hisb. On the desky an unopened envelope. He had nearly forgotten¨Cthe DNA results. He tore it open. The findings made him pause. Yvonne and Natalie shared blood ties¨Cbut not as sisters. Not sisters¡­ cousins. Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed. If Yvonne was younger, then she was likely Natalie¡¯s cousin on one side of the family. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on him. He had just dered Yvonne his sister¨Conly to learn she might be Natalie¡¯s. Brother or brother¨Cinw? Baron smirked to himself. He preferred ¡°brother.¡± He tucked the report away. It would have to be shared¡ªbut not while they were both recovering. Days passed in quiet rhythm. Natalie grew ustomed to her recovery, her days softened by the children¡¯s chatter and Baron¡¯s steady presence. Slowly, peace seeped into her heart. More than a monthter, the day came. The bandages were ready toe off. As the heavyyers unwound, Natalie¡¯s chest tightened. Baron and Witch Doctor had spoken of a new face. What would she see? At the final strip, she shut her eyes tight. Baron looked first, relief shing across his features. Smooth skin. No rejection. She was whole. Watching hershes tremble, eyes screwed shut in fear, he teased gently, ¡°What are you of? Don¡¯t trust Witch Doctor¡¯s skills? Or worried you¡¯ll be too ugly?¡± afraid ¡°Of course not.¡± Chapters first released on Chapter 119 Bloodlines She frowned, drew a deep breath, and forced her eyes open¡ª Only to freeze, stunned by the reflection staring back at her. Chapter 120 The Forgotten Memory HereSelf 120 Chapter 120 The Forgotten Memory 51 +10 Free Coins Her reflection still looked like herself, yet not quite. Most of her features remained, but her contours had been subtly refined. At first nce, she was still Natalic. Look longer, and she had be something else entirely. Before, Natalie¡¯s beauty had been soft, like a lily¨Cdelicate and pure. Now, she was a zing red rose, sharp¨Cedged, dangerous, breathtaking with a kind of defiant allure. ¡°Is this really me?¡± She raised a trembling hand, fingers brushing her new skin. Baron¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°It¡¯s you. At sixteen, you were already this dazzling, this untamed.¡± Sixteen? Natalie blinked. She wanted to argue¨Cwhen had she ever been so bold? But then, unbidden, a memory she had long buried broke the surface. That year, she had gone abroad for a dancepetition. For once, away from home, she dared to try a striking makeup look¨Cfierce, smoldering. The effect was stunning. Too stunning. Strangers stared, whispered, followed. What should have been triumph ended in fear. She remembered the leers, the mockingughter, and the usation that her beauty was an invitation. She had cried, ashamed. In that moment she learned¨Csometimes, beauty itself was treated as a sin. After that, she swore off heavy makeup. She wore simplicity like armor, and over time, even the memory blurred. The Summers couple had never known about it. She had believed it was hers alone to carry. And yet here was Baron, recalling it so easily. Read full story at f?ndnovel Her breath caught. Hadn¡¯t he once said they had met before? Could it have been then¨Cduring that verypetition? Her mind raced, searching the fragments of that night. And suddenly¨Cshe saw it. She had been fleeing down a back alley, heels ttering against stone, her heart pounding after the harassment. She ducked behind a row of trash bins, praying to get back to the hotel unseen. Chapter 120 The Forgotten Memory And then¨Cshe stumbled. A body. +10 Free Coins A man sprawled on the ground, blood soaking his chest. His face was smeared, indistinct in the dark, but when she tried to retreat, a hand mped around her ankle. ¡°Help me,¡± he rasped¨Cin the local tongue. Natalie nearly screamed. She had never seen so much blood, never been this close to death. Her instincts shrieked at her to run, but his grip was iron. Panicked, she pulled free what little she had¨Cher wallet, her phone¨Cand dropped them beside him. ¡°I¡¯m just a student. I don¡¯t want trouble. Here¨Ctake this. Call someone. We never saw each other, all right?¡± She tugged at her leg, desperate. The man groaned, rolling back against the filthy bricks. Only then did she see the knife, buried deep in his chest. Her stomach lurched at the copper stench, the sight of so much red. ¡°Just pull it out,¡± he whispered. ¡°Bandage me, and whether I live or die¨CI¡¯ll swear we never met.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!¡± she hissed, horrified. He was ckmailing her? ¡°I gave you everything! Call an ambnce, damn it!¡± ¡°If I could go to a hospital, do you think I¡¯d be lying here?¡± His voice shook with weakness, but his gaze was unyielding. ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t have medicine,¡± she stammered. ¡°My pocket. But I can¡¯t reach.¡± Natalie bit her lip. So he had no strength to reach for medicine¨Cbut enough to keep her trapped? 51 Chapter 120 The Forgotten Memory +10 Free Coins She realized then¨Che wasn¡¯t letting her leave unless she did this. And time was running out. Soon her coach would notice her absence; she¡¯d lose her spot in thepetition. Terror and desperation warred inside her. Finally, with trembling hands, she crouched, steeling herself. And in one swift motion¨Cyanked the knife free. HereSelf 121 Chapter 121 The Scar Revealed Chapter 121 The Scar Revealed : 61 +10 Free Coins Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find[F]ovel The sound was sickening¨Cblood gushed out the instant she yanked the de free, hot stters painting her face. ¡°Ah!¡± Natalie had never seen anything like it. Her scream tore through the alley, only to be cut short by the man¡¯s sharp growl. ¡°Shut up! Do you want the police here? Press the wound! Now¨Cgrab the medicine from my pocket!¡± Her mind went nk. She moved like a puppet, obeying without thought, hands trembling as she pressed down, fumbling for the vial. She knew one thing with absolute rity¨Cshe couldn¡¯t get tangled in a scandal. If she was dragged into this, thepetition would be over, her years of training wasted, her parents¡® expectations shattered. So she did as he said. The bleeding slowed, but the sight of his torn flesh left her shaking. She copsed onto the ground, panting hard. The man went still, so still she thought he¡¯d died. ¡°H¨Chey. Don¡¯t you dare. Say something!¡± She nudged him with her foot. Nothing. Natalie¡¯s heart leapt into her throat. She turned and bolted¨Conly to skid to a halt after a few steps. With a whimper, she spun back, dropped her wallet and phone beside him, and whispered shakily, ¡°You promised. We never met.¡± Then she ran for her life. By the time she staggered back, fever already brewing, she copsed. Thepetition went on without her. When she returned home, the Summers couple scolded her harshly, while she locked the memory away so deep it rotted in silence. Until now. Her gaze locked on the scar across Baron¡¯s chest. In a rush, the realization hit her. That night- Chapter 121 The Scar Revealed the bleeding man in the alley- It had been him. Without thinking, she tore open his shirt. Buttons popped, scattering across the floor. Shauna¡¯s eyes went wide. +10 Free Coins Sean and Susie gawked, then pped their hands over their faces¨Cthough their fingers left just enough room to peek. Baron blinked at her brazenness before chuckling low. ¡°So eager? But sweetheart, your body¡¯s not ready for¡­ anything too vigorous yet.¡± Natalie froze, then flushed crimson, realizing how it must have looked. ¡°Baron! Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± She fumbled to cover his chest, only to notice she had ripped half the buttons away. Mortified, she turned away, face ame. Shauna coughed discreetly. Was this something she was supposed to witness for free? Mr. Gunn¡¯s physique was¡­ too much. Natalie stammered, ¡°I just wanted to see the scar. You¨Cyou¡¯re that bastard who forced me to pull the knife, aren¡¯t you?¡± Baron caught her shoulders, his eyes bright with unguarded joy. ¡°You remembered?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± His grin lit the room. ¡°If not for the money and phone you left behind, I might not have survived. Natalie¨Cback then, you saved me.¡± ¡°I was forced to! Because of you, I missed mypetition and got scolded half to death!¡± Her bitterness at the Summers couple¡¯s treatment surfaced, tugging at her chest. Baron, however, only looked at her with tenderness. He had known she¡¯d missed thepetition. He¡¯d investigated afterward, piecing together her identity. At the time he¡¯d been too weak to approach, too afraid to drag her into his bloody world. By the time he had power enough to protect her, Natalie was already with Jensen, blindly devoted. He had burned with jealousy, wanted Jensen gone from existence¨Cbut he knew killing him would only turn her hatred on himself. So he had left Ocean City, swallowing the ache. : 51 Chapter 121 The Scar Revealed +10 Free Coins And yet, fate had brought them back together. This time, battered but alive, she was in his arms atst. Baron pulled her close, holding her as if he would never let go again. HereSelf 122 Chapter 122 His Little Secret : 51 +10 Free Coins Baron bent close, voice low at her ear, carrying the hint of a grievance. ¡°I thought when you asked me that night if I wanted to sleep with you, it was because you recognized me.¡± Natalie¡¯s cheeks burned hotter than fire. Did this man forget there were still children in the house? She pinched the soft flesh at his waist with a sharp twist. Baron finally let her go, though his face was full of wounded reluctance. ¡°You forgot me, slept with me, and now you¡¯re abusing me? Am I your poor little wife now?¡± Natalie¡¯s eyes went wide. She pped a hand over his mouth, then nced behind her¨Conly to see the children had been whisked out by Shauna. Her breath left her in relief. Thank goodness. At least she hadn¡¯t embarrassed herself in front of them. But Baron caught her hand again, eyes shining with mischief, his voice dripping with pitifulint. ¡°Natalie, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to pull your pants back up and pretend not to know me. If you dare forget me this time, I swear I¡¯ll¨Cmmph-¡± She silenced him with her palm once more, gritting her teeth. ¡°Will you shut up already?¡± Something about him feltpletely different¨Clike the ruthless man had been swapped for a shameless rogue. Outside the door, Shauna and the children were eavesdropping, eyes wide. Susie tugged on Shauna¡¯s sleeve, whispering with innocent curiosity, ¡°Shauna, what does pulling your pants back up and pretending not to know someone mean?¡± Shauna nearly tripped over her own feet. Inside, Baron and Natalie heard every word loud and clear. ¡°Shauna!¡± Baron¡¯s growl rolled like thunder. Shauna bolted, one child under each arm, vanishing down the hall. Natalie wanted to bury herself six feet deep. 18:31 Wed, Sep 24 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find1Novel Chapter 122 His Little Secret 51 +10 Free Coins ¡°Baron!¡± she snapped, diving under the quilt, hiding her flushed face. ¡°Just let me die here!¡± Baron¡¯sugh rumbled low. ¡°Your stitches just came out. Don¡¯t cover your face.¡± ¡°Go away!¡± Her voice came muffled through the nket, tinged with shy anger¨Cso unlike the hollow shell she¡¯d been before. Baron loved this side of her. He scooped her up quilt and all, murmuring at her ear, ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. I waited too long for you toe back to me. You¡¯ll have to kill me to make me leave.¡± Natalie¡¯s heart hammered. She never imagined fate tying her and Baron like this. His scent enveloped her, dizzying and warm, making her blush down to her ears. ¡°Put me down first,¡± she muttered. ¡°No.¡± He refused with the petnce of a child. She sighed, exasperated. This was supposed to be the ck¨Chearted king of the underworld? ¡°Baron, you¡¯re hurting me.¡± Instantly he loosened his grip, panic shing in his eyes. ¡°Where? Tell me where it hurts. Let me see.¡± He reached for her nket, but she shoved him back with her foot. ¡°Don¡¯t move! Just stand there. I want to see my face.¡± She hadn¡¯t had a proper look yet. Baron recognized the bluff, but let it slide, lips curving in indulgence. ¡°Want me to take a photo for you?¡± ¡°No.¡± She snatched his phone, snapped a few selfies, studying the girl in the ss¨Chalf familiar, half reborn. When she went to send one, she remembered it wasn¡¯t her phone. ¡°Baron, can you buy me a phone? And get me a new SIM card?¡± 18:31 Wed, Sep 24 ¨C Chapter 122 His Little Secret ¡°Of course.¡± 51 +10 Free Coins He¡¯d only kept her offline out of worry, not wanting her distracted or hurt by gossip while healing. Sharon had been busy ttering Jensen, the Summers family was crawling back into Ocean City¡¯s high society. Baron had considered crushing them, but¡­ Natalie¡¯s rebirth was near. Some things would be sweeter if she handled them herself. Now that she was healing, he had no reason to refuse her. Natalie bit her lip. ¡°I have money.¡± ¡°Can you even ess it right now?¡± Her face fell. No, she couldn¡¯t. If Jensen had cut her off, every cent she earned these years might already be in Sharon¡¯s pocket. The thought made her chest ache. Years of hard work, all stolen. past five And then there was Witch Doctor. She still didn¡¯t know what kind of twisted price he would demand for her face. 18:31 Wed, Sep 24 ¡­ HereSelf 123 Chapter 123 The Unwanted Interruption Chapter 123 The Unwanted Interruption +10 Free Coins Even with Baron¡¯s presence shielding her, Natalie never believed Witch Doctor would simply let her off. Add to that all the resources Baron had poured into her already¨Cher debt to him was a mountain on her chest. For the first time, Natalie saw clearly: she needed money of her own. Baron caught the flicker in her eyes. He knew exactly what she was thinking. ¡°Natalie, try using your right hand. It¡¯s been over a month. It¡¯s not fully healed, but you should be able to test it.¡± Her heart leapt. Of course. Witch Doctor had repaired her hand. ¡°Do you have a brush?¡± ¡°No, but I¡¯ll get you one.¡± Baron¡¯s tone was matter¨Cof¨Cfact, as if buying the entire art supply store would be nothing. Natalie caught the depth in his eyes and turned away, unable to meet it. ¡°Baron, consider it a loan. When I have money, I¡¯ll repay you.¡± She expected him to be displeased. Instead, he nodded. ¡°All right. But to be able to say I lent money to Sunny, the elusive designer¨Cthat makes me one of a kind.¡± His words made her pause. He¡¯d guessed exactly what she intended. ¡°You¡¯re not against it?¡± ¡°Why should I be?¡± His palm brushed her hair in a gesture so gentle it almost broke her. ¡°No one knows what Sunny looks like. Except Jensen. But everyone knows her style. You¡¯ve healed this long¨Cdo you mean to hide forever, let Jensen and Sharon have thestugh?¡± Her eyes hardened. ¡°No. I¡¯ll make them pay for every patch of skin I lost.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Baron¡¯s voice deepened. ¡°But¨CJensen¡¯s been ying the grieving widower at Grand Pavilion. Pretending to pine for you. You loved him once. Would you forgive him? After all, it wasn¡¯t him who set you alight.¡± The sour note in his words was unmistakable, though he tried to bury it. Natalie shot him a sidelong nce that nearly unraveled his self¨Ccontrol. ¡°I regret it,¡± he murmured suddenly. Chapter 123 The Unwanted Interruption She blinked, ¡°What?¡± (61) +10 Free Coins Baron crouched, his gaze drinking in her reborn face. His voice dropped low, hoarse with want. ¡°I regret letting Witch Doctor make you this stunning. One look from you and I want to drag you into bed and-¡± ¡°Baron!¡± She jabbed his forehead before he could finish. Caught off guard, he toppled backward onto the floor. Both froze for a beat before Natalie burst into helplessughter. Baron sprang back up, feigning a scowl. ¡°Natalie, are you rebelling against me now?¡± She squealed and tried to dart away, but he caught her, pinning her to the bed. His long pale fingers dove for her sides. ¡°Mr. Gunn, thrown to the floor by a woman?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t! Hahaha¨Cstop!¡± Herughter spilled bright and free, tears glimmering at the corners of her eyes. Color returned to her cheeks, blooming vivid against her fragile face. Baron¡¯s throat bobbed, heat shing in his eyes. He caught her wrists, pressing them above her head, his nose brushing hers, breathing hard. Natalie¡¯s pulse raced. She knew what this meant. Part of her recoiled, but another part¡­ burned. Her lips parted unconsciously. Baron didn¡¯t wait. He kissed her, hard, stealing her breath and sweetness, stoking the fire already crackling between them. Her arms looped his neck, his hands mped tight around her waist. The room thickened with heat. Then- Knock, knock. ¡°Daddy, there¡¯s a handsome man looking for you!¡± Susie¡¯s milky voice sang through the door. Fresh chapters posted on F¦ÉndNovel Baron and Natalie jerked apart like guilty teenagers. Natalie dove under the nket, her face red to her ears. ¡°Go. See who it is!¡± Chapter 123 The Unwanted Interruption 61 +10 Free Coins Baron sat frozen, jaw clenched, his whole body wound tight. At that moment, he bitterly regretted ever bringing his children back from the ind. HereSelf 124 Chapter 124 The Stones¡® Request : Chapter 124 The Stones¡® Request 51 +10 Free Coins Baron¡¯s voice was still hoarse, his body tense. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m fit to go out there like this?¡± Natalie¡¯s face burned hotter. She must have been crazy, letting herself get swept up in his pull like that. Crazy, and yet¡­ she couldn¡¯t deny the truth. After that night they¡¯d spent together, her body no longer knew how to push him away. And they had children together. Maybe this was natural. Maybe it was allowed. She cleared her throat, voice dropping to a mutter. ¡°I don¡¯t care¨Cjust go handle it.¡± Her tone was stubborn, but Baron only found it endearing. ¡°Fine. Freshen yourself up. I¡¯ll step out first.¡± He drew in a long breath, wrestled himself back under control, and finally opened the door. ¡°I heard you,¡± he growled through clenched teeth. Susie blinked up at him, craning her neck to peer past his legs. ¡°Daddy, what were you doing? Why¡¯d it take so long to open the door? Where¡¯s Mommy? I want Mommy!¡± ¡°She just had her stitches removed. She needs rest. You¡¯reing with me.¡± Before Susie could wiggle further inside, Baron scooped her up by the cor and carried her out. Only when they were gone did Natalie throw off the nket, gulping in air. Her skin was still fever¨Cwarm at the memory of his touch. Dangerous. Baron¡¯s beauty was a trap. She had things to do, goals to reim. Money to earn. She pushed herself up, found found pen and paper, and dared her right hand to draw. The first few lines trembled, but they held. Her chest filled with relief. Her feelings toward Witch Doctor tangled into knots. Five years ago, the humiliation he¡¯d inflicted was a wound she couldn¡¯t forget. But now? He had given her back her hand, her face, her skin. A debt she couldn¡¯t deny. Maybe¡­ maybe she could design something for him. A gesture of gratitude. Later, she¡¯d ask Baron what that entric man might value. For now, she opened herptop. If she was to return as Sunny, it couldn¡¯t be with the same Chapter 124 The Stones¡® Request : 51 +10 Free Coins style she¡¯d created for Jensen and Luke Corp. She would tear that chapter apart and design anew¨Cjewelry like a butterfly breaking its cocoon, fierce and radiant. Ideas swirled as she sketched. Meanwhile, Baron marched Susie down the hall. Shauna, trying to slip away, was called back sharply. ¡°Where¡¯s Sean?¡± ¡°In his room, working through thest of the green powder detox.¡± Baron nodded, dropped Susie into her arms. ¡°Keep her with you. Don¡¯t let her bother Natalie.¡± Susie¡¯s lips puckered into a pout. ¡°Daddy¡¯s mean! You get to be with Mommy, but I can¡¯t? Not fair!¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m not as noisy as you,¡± Baron saidzily. ¡°You bully me! I¡¯ll tell Mommy!¡± Her indignant squawks echoed as Shauna carried her off. Baron¡¯s mouth curved despite himself. The taste of Natalie still lingered. She hadn¡¯t resisted. She¡¯d wanted it, at least a little. Tonight, maybe, he wouldn¡¯t have to sleep alone. Whistling softly, he strolled into the reception room¡ªonly to pause. ¡°Mr. Stone?¡± The visitor stood quickly. Flynn Stone, eldest son of the family who had donated skin for Natalie¡¯s grafts. ¡°Mr. Gunn,¡± Flynn said, bowing his head slightly. ¡°Forgive the intrusion, but I¡¯vee with a request.¡± ¡°Speak. For what your family gave my woman, anything within my power is yours.¡± Flynn exhaled, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. ¡°I heard you have ties to Witch Doctor. My mother¨Cshe¡¯s fallen critically ill. A sudden coagtion disorder. The hospital suspects it¡¯s linked to the skin donation. They said¡­ only Witch Doctor might know how to handle it. And since he performed the grafts, I came here hoping you could persuade him to see her.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed. He had expectedplications, but hearing it aloud still set his jaw Chapter 124 The Stones¡® Request hard. Mrs. Stone¡¯s illness was likely the price of her sacrifice. 51 +10 Free Coins ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll handle it,¡± he said finally. ¡°But Witch Doctor isn¡¯t avable on a whim. When I secure his time, you¡¯ll be notified.¡± He didn¡¯t let his expression shift, didn¡¯t reveal the truth behind the mask. For now, Flynn didn¡¯t need to know that Witch Doctor stood right before him. Original content can be found at Find~Novel HereSelf 125 Chapter 125 Bloodlines Chapter 125 Bloodlines : 51 +10 Free Coins Flynn dipped his head gratefully. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it in your hands, Mr. Gunn. I need to return to my mother¡¯s side.¡± Baron didn¡¯t try to stop him. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone see you out.¡± ¡°No, no¨Cthat¡¯s not necessary.¡± Flynn was clearly uneasy in this world of Baron¡¯s, and hurried toward the exit. Out in the courtyard, Natalie had stepped away from her room. Her sketches had stalled, inspiration slipping through her fingers, so she¡¯d gone out to breathe and reset. The crunch of footsteps on stone made her turn. Flynn stopped short. Their eyes met. For a heartbeat, his face showed not admiration but shock. The kind of shock that said you shouldn¡¯t exist. Natalie frowned. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Flynn startled, color rushing back into his face. ¡°Forgive me, miss. You just¡­ you look very much like someone from my family. Someone who¡¯s passed away. I didn¡¯t mean to stare.¡± Baron emerged just in time to hear those words. Family? Flynn and Natalie? He remembered the donor reports, the uncanny match. A possibility took root. Could Flynn truly be tied to Natalie by blood? Natalie had been ready to scoff at a cheap line, but Baron cut in smoothly. ¡°Natalie, let me introduce him properly. This is Flynn Stone¨Cone of the people who donated skin for your grafts.¡± Her breath caught. She stepped forward quickly, offering her hand, ¡°Mr. Stone, I¡¯m sorry, I was rude a moment ago.¡± ¡°No harm done.¡± Flynn¡¯s grip was brief, his eyes lingering on her face. Too much like¡­ too much. If not for his sister¡¯s grave, he could have sworn she stood here now. Chapter 125 Bloodlines But fate hadn¡¯t given her that kind of grace. : He forced a smile. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Safe travels.¡± Baron gestured for a man to escort him out. Natalie¡¯s gaze trailed after Flynn, her brows faintly furrowed. 51 +10 Free Coins Baron¡¯s arm slid around her waist, tugging her close. ¡°Natalie, you n to stare at another man in front of me? Am I invisible to you?¡± She blinked, thenughed under her breath. ¡°You¡¯re imagining things. Besides you, who would ever look twice at me?¡± ¡°They¡¯re blind, then.¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? fin?novel His blunt protectiveness made her shake her head, amused and exasperated all at once. Still, her eyes followed Flynn¡¯s shadow. ¡°Why was he here? He didn¡¯te for money, did he?¡± Baron chuckled. ¡°The Stone family? Hardly. Their fortune isrger than you¡¯d think. Flynn came to ask me to reach Witch Doctor. His mother¨CRuby Stone, another donor¨Cdeveloped a clotting disorder.¡± Natalie¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°Because of the donation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. Or something else entirely. Only Witch Doctor will know for sure.¡± Natalie studied him sidelong. ¡°You and Witch Doctor must be close. No one else can ever find him, yet you¡­ he does everything you ask.¡± Her words made his pulse hitch. For a moment, he nearly told her the truth¨Cthat Witch Doctor was him. But then he remembered the sins of five years ago, the shame she still carried. He tried carefully: ¡°And¡­ what do you think of Witch Doctor?¡± Natalie¡¯s lips curved in a cold half¨Csmile. ¡°A weirdo. Brilliant hands, rotten soul.¡± She turned away. Baron¡¯s chest sank heavy and cold. HereSelf 126 Chapter 126 Cocoon to Butterfly Chapter 126 Cocoon to Butterfly +10 Free Coins People often said his character was bad, and Baron had never cared, but Natalie¡¯s littleugh just now unsettled him. What did she mean by that? Was she still angry over him taking her five years ago? What should he do? Say something, or keep quiet? He found himself caught in the dilemma. egg Before he could decide, Natalie suddenly spoke. ¡°Baron.¡± He snapped out of his thoughts. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re close to Witch Doctor, do you know what he likes?¡± Her question startled him. ¡°Why are you asking that?¡± ¡°I want to design him a tie clip. He did save me, after all, and I want to repay that debt myself.¡± She spoke calmly, but her words carried determination. Baron brightened with joy. ¡°Whatever I like, he likes. Just design it ording to my taste.¡± Natalie gave him a look and shook her head. ¡°Where¡¯s the paper and pen I asked for? I already have an idea in my mind.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have someone bring them right away.¡± He answered quickly, then slipped his arms around her from behind. Resting his chinzily on her shoulder, he whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you still owe me a pair of cufflinks.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you wearing cufflinks already?¡± she asked, ufortable with his clinginess. Her mind drifted to the five years she had spent with Jensen. Though their rtionship had looked fine on the surface, intimacy had been almost nonexistent. Even something as simple as kissing or holding hands had always been her initiative. Jensen had never once taken the lead. Only now did she realize how blind she had been. If he had truly loved her, how could he never have touched her? How could every small gesture of intimacy be left for her to initiate? A trace of mockery crossed her eyes. Suddenly, Baron nipped her earlobe. It hurt, tingling and numbing at once. ¡°What are you doing? Are you some kind of dog?¡± she snapped, exasperated, trying to push him away but failing. His voice came low and rough, tinged with grievance. ¡°Which man were you thinking about just now? Am I that easy to forget?¡± 18:32 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 126 Cocoon to Butterfly 51 +10 Free Coins Natalie almostughed in disbelief. ¡°Do your men know you¡¯re this jealous and petty?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if they know or not. What matters is that you know. If you treated me better, would I need to be jealous and petty?¡± His tone grew more wounded with each word. His face loomed so close to hers that Natalie¡¯s heart softened against her will. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll design something for you. But this time my theme is breaking the cocoon and bing a butterfly. It doesn¡¯t really fit a man.¡± ¡°Who says it doesn¡¯t? You¡¯re Sunny. As long as you want to, you can make it work.¡± This update is avable on find?novel His words lifted her confidence instantly. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡± She shrugged and added with mock disdain, ¡°Now move your head away, will you? You¡¯re like some overgrown husky.¡± The moment the words left her mouth, she froze. It really did feel like that. She looked at him again, and his smile spread wide and dazzling, yet it carried an edge of danger. ¡°I don¡¯t think my body¡¯s fully healed yet. I¡¯m going back to rest.¡± She turned quickly to leave. ¡°Natalie! Are you asking for trouble? Who are you calling a dog?¡± Baron leapt up to chase her. The courtyard rang with herughter and yful cries for mercy. Sean and Susie stood in the corridor watching, shaking their heads at the childish scene. ¡°I seriously suspect my high IQ came from a gic mutation.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± Shauna, however, wasughing happily. It looked like Mr. Gunn¡¯s good days weren¡¯t far off. ¡°So, are you two still going to find Ms. Summers?¡± Shauna asked. ¡°Forget it. Didn¡¯t Mom say she hasn¡¯t rested enough yet?¡± Susie answered seriously, leaving Shauna speechless. Sean rolled his eyes, tugged Susie along, and led her away. Meanwhile, Flynn had just returned to the Stone family home when he found his mother Ruby suffering another attack. Even so, she clutched a photograph tightly in her hand. ¡°Mom! Are you alright? Butler, get the car! We¡¯re going to the hospital!¡± Flynn held her tightly and rushed out. Ruby¡¯s face was pale as paper, her body cold, yet when she saw Flynn she didn¡¯t panic. Instead, Chapter 126 Cocoon to Butterfly 51 +10 Free Coins there was faint relief in her expression. ¡°Flynn, don¡¯t bother saving me. I¡¯ve lived long enough. I want to go find my daughter. Once I die, I¡¯ll see her again. It¡¯s been so many years¡­ I don¡¯t even know if she¡¯ll still recognize me.¡± Her words made Flynn¡¯s eyes burn. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t talk nonsense! We¡¯ll go to the hospital first. I¡¯ll call Dad right now.¡± ¡°I miss my daughter so much¡­¡± Ruby¡¯s tears slid down her cheeks. Her breathing was alreadybored from her clotting disorder, and every breath was a struggle. Flynn was terrified she might really slip away. The entire ride, he urged the driver again and again to go faster. HereSelf 127 Chapter 127 A Mother¡¯s Wound But Ruby showed no desire to keep living. +10 Free Coins ¡°Mom! I already went to see Mr. Gunn, and he¡¯ll contact Witch Doctor to treat you. Don¡¯t scare me like this! Even though Susie is gone, you still have me and Dad. Can you really bear to leave us both behind? Mom, don¡¯t be so cruel.¡± Flynn¡¯s hands trembled as he clutched her. Ruby closed her eyes, her voice breaking. ¡°I¡¯ve been with you and your father for more than twenty years, but my daughter has had no one. Flynn, I know I haven¡¯t been a good mother to you, nor a good wife to your father. Because I insisted on donating my skin, I dragged both of into it as well. Why couldn¡¯t you just let me do it alone? That poor child of mine¨Cshe left the moment she was born. I never even got to hold her properly, never got to love her. Does that mean she hated me as her mother? Otherwise, why would she leave this world so soon aftering into it?¡± you The death of her daughter had left a scar on Ruby¡¯s heart. More than twenty years had passed, and she still couldn¡¯t let go. The doctors had said she¡¯d fallen into postpartum depression back then, and with her sister¡¯s passing soon after, her condition had never truly improved. For years Flynn and his father, Waylon Stone, had been terrified she might do something rash. They had cared for her in every possible way, but her illness had always returned in cycles. This time, Baron had been looking for skin donors for Natalie. In truth, there had been no need for a family like the Stones to step forward, yet Ruby somehow learned about it and insisted on donating her skin¨Cgoing so far as to say she would donate it entirely. It was madness. It was suicide. Naturally, Waylon and Flynn had refused. But Ruby¡¯s temper was iron¨Cwilled. Once she made up her mind, no one could change it. With no other option, Waylon and Flynn had finally agreed to be tested alongside her. If their tissue matched, they would donate too, so that Ruby might still be left with enough to survive. Ruby hadn¡¯t rejected theirpromise, but neither had she looked happy about it. Now that the surgeries were long past, both Waylon and Flynn had recovered without incident. Only Ruby¡¯s body had failed her. Chapter 127 A Mother¡¯s Wound (??) +10 Free Coins Flynn had always suspected that his mother had brought this illness on herself deliberately. Her depression seemed to have returned once more. Even as he tried tofort her, Flynn pulled out his phone and called Waylon. ¡°Dad, Mom¡¯s not doing well. I¡¯m taking her to the hospital now¨Churry and meet us there.¡± He gave the address, then hung up. Suddenly he thought of Baron and quickly dialed him. ¡°Mr. Gunn, can you reach Witch Doctor? My mom¡¯s condition looks really bad. We¡¯re on our way to Alice Hospital now.¡± Baron had just finished bringing Natalie her paper, pens, and phone when Flynn¡¯s call came through. His brow furrowed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll contact him immediately.¡± He was about to leave when Natalie stopped him. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. After all, this all happened because they donated skin for me. Before, when my body was too weak, I couldn¡¯t go thank them. Now that I know what they¡¯ve done, if I don¡¯t go, it would feel wrong.¡± Baron didn¡¯t oppose Natalie interacting with the Stone family, but if she went, wouldn¡¯t it be harder for him to keep hiding his identity as Witch Doctor? ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡°Why don¡¯t I have Shauna take you instead? I need to find Witch Doctor.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t argue. ¡°That¡¯s fine. You¡¯re busy anyway. Yvonne cane with me.¡± She already knew about Yvonne from Baron and had no objection to her being his little sister. They might even be cousins, but Natalie herself didn¡¯t even know who her real parents were. If Yvonne stayed with Baron, it was better for her. And once Natalie reimed her ce and her honor, she would make sure Yvonne was well cared for. Seeing her agree so easily, Baron nodded at once and called for Yvonne, When Yvonne saw Natalie, she beamed with happiness. ¡°How are you feeling? Have you full checkup yet? I heard one of the donors developed clotting symptoms. Natalie, if you ever feel unwell, you have to tell me and my brother right away.¡± had a Natalie smiled at her concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Her reassurance startled Yvonne, and then Natalie¡¯s cheeks turned pink. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡± ¡°Why not? You and my brother are bound to be together sooner orter. You already have a child.¡± Chapter 127 A Mother¡¯s Wound 51 +10 Free Coins ¡°Yvonne!¡± Natalie¡¯s voice sharpened, but the deepening blush on her face betrayed her emotions. Yvonneughed, not pushing her further. ¡°Alright, alright. So when are we going?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll stop and buy some things first, then head over. I heard they¡¯re at Alice Hospital.¡± When Natalie had first arrived here, she had been covered in wounds, then underwent surgery and recovery. To be honest, she hadn¡¯t even had a chance to properly explore the shops around here yet. 18:32 Wed, Sep 24 HereSelf 128 Chapter 128 The Shadow of the Past 51 +10 Free Coins Yvonne naturally had no objections, and Baron, watching the two of them chatting together as if he no longer existed, could only shake his head with a bitter smile. ¡°Take a few more bodyguards with you. I really can¡¯t get away right now, butter I¡¯ll make time to take you out shopping myself.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Natalie nodded, and Baron left quickly. Not long after, a man in a silver mask¨CWitch Doctor¨Cslipped out from the vi¡¯s back door and got into a car, leaving immediately. Meanwhile, Natalie and Yvonne went to the mall, bought a few things, and then headed to Alice Hospital. The rightful source is find?novel By the time they arrived, Ruby had already been pushed inside for treatment, and Witch Doctor was there as well. Flynn spotted Natalie the moment she walked in and rushed toward her. ¡°Ms. Summers, why are you here?¡± ¡°I heard Mrs. Stone¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t good, so I came to see her. How is she?¡± Flynn shook his head, his expression heavy. ¡°It¡¯s not just clotting. My mom¡¯s mental state isn¡¯t good either. But still¡­ thank you, Ms. Summers, foring to see her.¡± ¡°Of course. After all, this only happened because she donated her skin for me. If anything happens to her, I won¡¯t be at peace with myself.¡± While they were speaking, Waylon hurried in, sweat streaming down his face, his expression anxious and deeply worried. Seeing him like that stirred something in Natalie. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t worry, Witch Doctor has already gone in. Mrs. Stone will be fine.¡± Waylon turned toward the voice. The moment his eyesnded on Natalie¡¯s face, he froze. ¡°You¡­¡± His eyes widened, as though he were seeing a ghost. Natalie stiffened at his expression and instinctively nced at Flynn. Flynn quickly tugged his father¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Dad, this is Ms. Summers, the one who received the skin donation. She heard about Mom¡¯s condition and came to see her.¡± 18:32 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 128 The Shadow of the Past 51 +10 Free Coins Sensing something wrong in Waylon¡¯s reaction, Yvonne immediately stepped forward, pulling Natalie behind her protectively. ¡°What are you doing?¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time Natalie had seen such an expression on Waylon¡¯s face. Her brows furrowed as she asked, ¡°Mr. Stone, is there something wrong with my face?¡± Waylon startled out of his trance and hurriedly shook his head. ¡°No. It¡¯s just¡­ you look so much like my wife when she was young.¡± If their daughter had lived, perhaps she too would have been this beautiful. The thought of his lost child brought a heaviness to Waylon¡¯s heart. That early death had left his wife with a wound she could never heal. Natalie was momentarily stunned. Flynn had once said she resembled one of their rtives who had died, and now Waylon was saying she looked like his wife, though his wife was clearly still alive. The contradictions only left her more puzzled. ¡°Mr. Stone, isn¡¯t Mrs. Stone inside being treated right now? What exactly is going on with her?¡± Waylon¡¯s gaze lingered on Natalie¡¯s face, so uncannily like his wife¡¯s younger self, before he let out a long sigh. Slowly, he told her about their daughter. By the time he finished, his eyes were red. ¡°My poor little girl¡­ she was beautiful from the moment she was born. My wife was overjoyed, saying she looked just like her. We thought it was such a blessing. Who would have thought that just three dayster, she would suddenly die? From that moment on, my wife was never the same. She med herself, and her depression only worsened. To tell you the truth, Ms. Summers, sometimes I wonder if her clotting now isn¡¯t something she¡¯s brought on herself.¡± Natalie frowned. ¡°Why? Why would she do that to herself?¡± Waylon gave a bitter smile. ¡°Why else? She¡¯s tired of living. If my son and I hadn¡¯t kept such a close watch, she would have taken her own life countless times by now. She¡¯s carried the guilt of our daughter¡¯s death all these years. She believes it was her fault, that she didn¡¯t take proper care of the baby, and that¡¯s why our little girl died so young. She¡¯s never been able to let it go.¡± Natalie fell silent, not knowing what to say. A mother like that was undeniably devoted, but it was unfair to Flynn and Waylon. After all, she wasn¡¯t just the mother of the daughter she had lost¨Cshe was still the wife and mother of the family she had left. ¡°Mr. Stone, hasn¡¯t she seen doctors for this?¡± ¡°She has, but it never helps. She insists on locking herself into that memory. After giving birth, she was weak, but she refused to let anyone else feed the baby. She was too tired, and while Chapter 128 The Shadow of the Past 51 +10 Free Coins nursing, she dozed off. By the time she woke up again, the baby had suffocated. No mother could bear such a blow. Flynn and I never med her, but she¡¯s never forgiven herself.¡± Hearing this, Natalie could only sigh. After all the pain of bringing a child into the world, only to lose her so cruelly¨Chow could anyone truly recover from that? HereSelf 129 Chapter 129 The Cry of a Mother 51 +10 Free Coins Natalie let out a long sigh, at a loss for what to say. At that moment, the emergency light above the door went dark and Ruby was wheeled out. Natalie¡¯s gaze fell once again on Witch Doctor. Even after five years, he still carried that same icy, untouchable air. Flynn and Waylon hurried forward. ¡°Witch Doctor, how is my wife?¡± ¡°Her clotting disorder was caused by a bacterial infection. I recall warning you that donors are left with severely weakened immunity afterward, making them highly vulnerable to bacteria and viruses. And yet, surrounded by all this risk, none of you noticed?¡± His voice was cold, stripped of warmth. For some reason, Natalie found something about him oddly familiar. Yvonne¡¯s palms were damp with sweat. For Mr. Gunn to appear so openly before Natalie¨Cwasn¡¯t he afraid she would recognize him? Baron let his eyes brush across Natalie¡¯s face before pulling his gaze back. Hearing his words, Waylon and Flynn exchanged a look. They knew the truth¨CRuby hadn¡¯t wanted to live. The Stone family was no ordinary household; after such a major surgery, every precaution had been arranged. For her to still contract an infection could only mean she had done it deliberately. Baron¡¯s voice dropped a notch. ¡°Try to reach her somehow. I can save her this time, but not the next.¡± Waylon seemed to age several years in an instant. Flynn nodded quickly in agreement, Just then, Ruby¡¯s eyes fluttered open. ¡°Ruby, how do you feel?¡± Waylon sped her hand anxiously. Her eyes held no light. She turned her head from him¨Conly for her gaze tond on Natalie. In the next second, Ruby sat bolt upright and lurched toward her. ¡°My daughter! My daughter! It¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it?¡± Her sudden frenzy terrified Waylon and Flynn. ¡°Mom, what are you doing?¡± Read full story at find?novel 51 Chapter 129 The Cry of a Mother ¡°Ruby, you¡¯ve mistaken her!¡± +10 Free Coins The two men grabbed her from either side, struggling to hold her back. Yvonne instantly pulled Natalie behind her. Baron¡¯s foot shifted forward, but he stopped himself. Narrowing his eyes, he took advantage of themotion to discreetly tug a few strands of Ruby¡¯s hair and hide them away. Natalie was stunned by Ruby¡¯s reaction. She had not expected to be looked at this way. Ruby thrashed wildly, her cries shattering the air. ¡°She¡¯s my daughter! She is my daughter! Don¡¯t hold me back! Daughter, I¡¯m your mother! I¡¯m your mother!¡± Her wails were hoarse and desperate, tearing through the corridor. The sound made Natalie¡¯s nose sting, her eyes swelling with unshed tears. Seeing Ruby¡¯s breakdown, Flynn shouted, panic rising in his voice. ¡°Dad, call the doctor, now!¡± Witch Doctor was there to treat her clotting disorder, but for her emotional copse, Flynn trusted the hospital¡¯s own staff. Waylon quickly called out to the nearby nurses. Natalie had never witnessed anything like this. Ruby looked deranged, struggling in their arms, yet her eyes never left her. They were filled with nothing but pure, overwhelming motherly love. Natalie felt her chest tighten painfully, as though a heavy sponge had been pressed inside her heart, smothering her breath. Before she realized it, she pushed Yvonne¡¯s arm aside and stepped slowly toward Ruby. The moment Ruby saw her approach, she went still. Her eyes locked on Natalie, tears spilling endlessly down her face. Natalie¡¯s own eyes were red, her vision blurred as she looked back at the broken woman before her. Ruby no longer fought, no longer screamed. Only tears kept flowing as she whispered, ¡°You¡¯re my daughter, aren¡¯t you?¡± Natalie¡¯s throat tightened. Reaching out, she gently tucked Ruby¡¯s disheveled hair behind her ear, then forced a faint smile. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, I can try. But only if you take care of yourself. You can¡¯t keep hurting your body like this.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of myself, I promise! Just don¡¯t leave me again, please. I was wrong. I won¡¯t sleep, I¡¯ll keep my eyes on you all the time. Don¡¯t leave me, don¡¯t leave your mother.¡± Chapter 129 The Cry of a Mother 0:0 Her plea was fragile, desperate, so pitiful it drew tears from Natalie¡¯s eyes. 51 +10 Free Coins What wrong had Ruby trulymitted? Many new mothers were exhausted after childbirth. What fault was it to want to feed her own baby with her own hands? She had wished more than anyone for her daughter¡¯s safety. To others, the death of a three¨Cday¨Cold infant might have been a tragedy they could mourn and then move past. But for a mother who had carried that life for ten long months, who had endured the brush of death to bring her child into the world, only to lose her dayster¨Csuch grief was a wound carved into her soul, one she could never escape for the rest of her life. 18:33 Wed, Sep 24 HereSelf 130 Chapter 130 The Sketch of a Daughter 51 +10 Free Coins Natalie couldn¡¯t stop her tears no matter how hard she tried. She was a mother herself, but she had never endured pregnancy, never felt the pain of childbirth, and yet in this moment she felt an inexplicable bond with Ruby. This woman was pitiful. ¡°I won¡¯t leave. But you need to rest first¨Conly if you rest can you take care of me, isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ yes, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Ruby¡¯s eyes never moved from Natalie¡¯s face, clinging to her as if afraid she might vanish at any second. Watching the scene, Flynn and Waylon both turned their heads away, their own tears silently falling. Natalie helped Ruby settle onto the stretcher, letting the nurse wheel her into the ward. Through it all, Ruby¡¯s hand clutched hers tightly, unwilling to let go, terrified that Natalie might disappear if she blinked. Waylon and Flynn stepped aside to make room as Natalie apanied Ruby all the way inside. Yvonne started to follow, but Baron caught her by the arm. ¡°Brother, Sister Nat¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Take these samples to theb for an urgent DNA test.¡± Beforeing here, Baron had collected a strand of Natalie¡¯s hair from her pillow. Just now, he had discreetly taken some of Ruby¡¯s as well. A DNA test was simple enough, and the coincidence was too strong to ignore. Yvonne stared at the samples in surprise. ¡°Brother, whose are these?¡± ¡°Stop asking questions. Just go.¡± He flicked her forehead, making her yelp, then shoved the envelopes into her hands. She still grumbled but hurried off toward theboratory. Natalie, unaware of any of this, remained with Ruby. She helped the nurses lift her onto the bed, soothed her with water, and tried to coax her into resting. Flynn stepped forward to say something, but Waylon caught his arm. Chapter 130 The Sketch of a Daughter 51 +10 Free Coins ¡°Dad, Ms. Summers is still recovering herself. I¡¯m worried Mom¡¯s madness will frighten her.¡± Waylon¡¯s brow furrowed. He lowered his voice. ¡°Find a way to get a strand of Ms. Summers¡¯s hair. Run a DNA test with yours.¡± Flynn blinked, stunned, then widened his eyes. ¡°Dad, Mom may be delusional, but How could Ms. Summers possibly be my sister? She died back then. We buried her.¡± ¡°Just do it.¡± you too? Waylon knew the truth¨Chis daughter had died long ago. Yet seeing Natalie¡¯s face so uncannily like his wife¡¯s youth, watching how Ruby clung to her as though to life itself, he couldn¡¯t help but waver. For just a moment, he believed his wife might be right all along. What if Ms. Summers really was their daughter? The thought was absurd, but it refused to leave his mind. Flynn let out a helpless sigh. Still, when his eyes fell on Natalie and Ruby¡¯s entwined hands, his throat tightened. If she really were his sister, maybe their mother wouldn¡¯t keep choosing death. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll find a chance.¡± A crooked smile touched his lips. If this was madness, so be it. Better the whole family be mad together than one left sane and alone. Natalie knew nothing of their thoughts. She sat by Ruby¡¯s side, coaxing her gently, helping her drink water, speaking softly to calm her. But Ruby refused every suggestion of rest. ¡°No! I won¡¯t sleep again. Never again!¡± Natalie understood. It was sleep that had stolen Ruby¡¯s child. That memory had left a scar too deep to heal. ¡°Alright, then we won¡¯t sleep. How about I draw you a picture instead?¡± Natalie didn¡¯t know what else to say. The strange wave of empathy she felt earlier was still strong, but she didn¡¯t know Ruby¡¯s history well enough to reach her. If drawing could ease her heart, then she would do that. Her words startled both father and son. ¡°Ms. Summers¡­ you can draw?¡± Waylon asked. ¡°I studied it, and I¡¯ve always loved it.¡± Natalie nced back at them with a small smile. Chapter 130 The Sketch of a Daughter 51 Get full chapters from F¦Énd£Îovel +10 Free Coins The smile made them both catch their breath. The resemnce was uncanny¨CRuby¡¯s younger self lived again in her expression. Could fate really be so cruel, or so strange? Flynn turned wide eyes toward his father. Waylon¡¯s brow knitted tighter and tighter. Ruby lit up with joy at Natalie¡¯s reply. ¡°My daughter takes after me! I always loved to draw too.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then let me draw you something. Would you like that?¡± Natalie¡¯s smile softened further, warm and tender. ¡°Yes!¡± Ruby¡¯s happiness shone through her tears. Waylon immediately sent Flynn running for paper and pencils. It wasn¡¯t long before Flynn returned, out of breath, with supplies in hand. Natalie set up the easel, clipped a sheet of paper into ce, and sat down. Her pencil moved with confidence, and she began sketching Ruby¡¯s portrait. HereSelf 131 Chapter 131 The Portrait of Resemnce Chapter 131 The Portrait of Resemnce 46 +10 Free Coins The ward was silent, the only sound the soft scratch of Natalie¡¯s pencil moving across paper. Ruby couldn¡¯t take her eyes off her, lips curved with a faint smile, her gaze filled with nothing else, as though Natalie were her entire world. Waylon and Flynn watched with damp eyes. In more than twenty years, it was the first time they had seen Ruby smile so happily. For two grown men, the sight was almost unbearable. Baron, no longer in his Witch Doctor disguise, stood quietly at the doorway. His chest tightened as he watched. If¨Cjust if¨Cthe Stone family really was Natalie¡¯s family, wouldn¡¯t that be something? Natalie had no idea what the others were thinking. For her, inspiration had struck. Ruby was beautiful, her features refined despite the traces of age, and Natalie felt an urge to capture her exactly as she was in this moment. As she sketched, she realized Ruby truly did look a lot like her. No wonder she had mistaken her. She was so absorbed that she didn¡¯t even notice Flynn slip up behind her and pluck a few strands of her hair. He slipped out quickly, but when he spotted Baron at the door, he faltered, embarrassed. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I¡­¡± ¡°Go ahead. I want to know too¨Cwhether she has any connection to your family. Natalie was switched at birth, but the people who raised her aren¡¯t her biological parents. I want to know if her real parents are you.¡± Flynn froze. ¡°Ms. Summers doesn¡¯t know who her real parents are?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t.¡± Baron¡¯s blunt reply left Flynn oddly hopeful. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Gunn.¡± He hurried off toward theb. Baron didn¡¯t stop him. Neither he nor Waylon wanted to break the quiet moment inside. Instead, they lingered and watched until Natalie finally set down her pencil. She held up the portrait like a child showing a prize. ¡°Look. What do you think?¡± Ruby¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°Your fundamentals are very strong.¡± Natalie smiled. ¡°When I was little, nothing made me happier than losing myself in painting.¡± Her soft expression was full of warmth. Ruby reached out and stroked the paper, flickering in her eyes. hesitation 19:15 Wed, Sep 24 46 Chapter 131 The Portrait of Resemnce ¡°What is it?¡± Natalie asked gently. +10 Free Coins Ruby¡¯s voice was cautious. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful. But maybe here¨Cif the strokes were a little lighter- it would be even better. Don¡¯t be upset with me, I¡¯m just rambling.¡± Natalie looked at the spot Ruby pointed out and suddenly felt rity. ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s exactly what it needed. I could even use this touch for my Cocoon to Butterfly series.¡± Inspiration surged in her heart. Seeing that she could help, Ruby lit up with delight, her smile the brightest it had been in decades. Soon the two of them were deep in discussion about painting techniques, Ruby animated and alive, no longer resembling a patient at all. At the doorway, Yvonne whispered irritably, ¡°Brother, when are we taking Natalie away?¡± ¡°Not yet. She¡¯s happy. For so long, her life has been nothing but Jensen. She¡¯s lived like a desert with nothing in it. Now she¡¯s finally found someone who shares her passion. This is better than her locking herself away.¡± Yvonne nodded reluctantly. Waylon, standing nearby, caught the name Jensen. He quietly made up his mind to look into that manter. Time slipped by unnoticed until noon. When Baron finally stepped forward, Natalie and Ruby were still talking as if they¡¯d known each other all their lives. ¡°Finding a kindred spirit is wonderful,¡± Baron said with a smile, ¡°but Ms. Summers, isn¡¯t it time we had lunch?¡± Natalie blinked, startled by how quickly the hours had passed. She turned to Ruby with a warm smile. ¡°Madam, rest well. I¡¯lle back this afternoon.¡± But Baron cut her off without mercy. ¡°No. You¡¯re still not fully recovered. You need a midday rest. Don¡¯t push yourself.¡± Natalieughed softly. ¡°Fine, then. I¡¯lle see you tomorrow instead.¡± Ruby flinched at the word Madam, unused to the formality, but when she heard Baron mention Natalie¡¯s frailty, her heart clenched with worry all over again. Updates are released by Find1Novel HereSelf 132 Chapter 132 The Possibility of Blood Ties +10 Free Coins Newest update provided by Ruby¡¯s expression had steadied, so Baron spoke calmly. ¡°Mrs. Stone, Natalie is the one who received your skin donation. She was badly burned in a fire, had graft surgery not long ago, and like you, she needs rest. If you cooperate with your treatment, I¡¯ll let here sit with you every morning. But if you don¡¯t, then I won¡¯t allow it.¡± Ruby immediately straightened, blurting out, ¡°I¡¯ll cooperate. I¡¯ll be active with treatment, I promise.¡± ¡°Good. Then, Mrs. Stone, we¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± Baron took Natalie¡¯s hand and led her away. Natalie was surprised to find that she didn¡¯t dislike his overbearing tone. His palm was dry and and that warmth seemed to seep through her skin and settle deep in her chest. warm, ¡°Mrs. Stone really is pitiful,¡± Natalie murmured. Baron gave a faint smile. ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever thought you might actually be her daughter?¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Natalie cut him off at once. ¡°I asked Mr. Stone. He said Mrs. Stone fell asleep while feeding her baby, and the child suffocated. If you really were that daughter, how would you still be alive?¡± Natalie shook her head. ¡°Exactly. If I were her child, I¡¯d have been gone already.¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Baron¡¯s words made her falter. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He leaned in slightly. ¡°Newborns all look nearly the same at three days old. How could anyone tell? If you want to know the truth, a DNA test would answer it.¡± Natalie frowned. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem right. Mrs. Stone mistook me because of her grief. If I went to them with a DNA test, wouldn¡¯t people think I was mad?¡± Baron hesitated, then said, ¡°The Stone father and son already took your hair sample. They¡¯re running a test. In about three days, we¡¯ll have an answer.¡± ¡°What?¡± Natalie stared in shock. He exined how Flynn had pulled a few strands from her hair while she was absorbed in Chapter 132 The Possibility of Blood Ties drawing. ¡°Are you angry?¡± 46 +10 Free Coins ¡°No.¡± Natalie shook her head. ¡°All the skin on my body came from the Stone family. If my presence can help Mrs. Stone heal, then I¡¯ll count it as repaying kindness. It¡¯s only a strand of hair. If they want to test, let them test.¡± She was calm about it, but Baron disliked her resignation. His woman should be cherished by family, adored by her husband, and loved by her children¨Cnot simply resigned to whatever fate handed her. He pulled out documents he¡¯d already had investigated and set them before her. ¡°Look. More than twenty years ago, Mrs. Stone and Mrs. Summers gave birth at the same hospital.¡± ¡°What?¡± Natalie froze. How could it be such a coincidence? Her eyes widened in disbelief. Baron nodded. ¡°Strange, isn¡¯t it? That¡¯s why it needs checking. Back then, Sharon and you were switched. Sharon was taken home by a rural family, but blood testster showed you weren¡¯t theirs either. So what if there was a third mix¨Cup that day? If so, then the Stone family may well be your true parents.¡± His reasoning was sharp and clear, but Natalie¡¯s emotions tangled. ¡°Do you really think it was a switch at birth?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. But we won¡¯t know until the resultse back. Once we have them, the truth will follow.¡± Natalie¡¯s lips curved faintly. ¡°Thank you, Baron. If it were just me, I¡¯d never think of all this. But with you¡­ things are clearer.¡± He chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re only going to thank me with words? Shouldn¡¯t you show it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll design you a pair of cufflinks.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t count¨Cyou owed me those already.¡± He scowled in mock displeasure. Natalie furrowed her brows, uncertain what else she could offer. Baron tapped his cheek with a smirk. ¡°Then give me a kiss.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± She shot him a re and walked off, but the corners of her mouth tilted upward, and the faint red at her earlobes betrayed her flustered heart. Baron followed with easy patience, not the least bit offended. Chapter 132 The Possibility of Blood Ties 46 +10 Free Coins Back in the ward, however, the air was no longer peaceful. Ruby¡¯s face had hardened, her eyes narrowed, thoughts buried deep within them. Waylon and Flynn exchanged uneasy nces. ¡°Ruby, what are you thinking?¡± Waylon finally asked. Ruby¡¯s voice was firm, unshakable. ¡°She is our daughter.¡± HereSelf 133 Chapter 133 A Fragile Hope : 46 +10 Free Coins Waylon didn¡¯t know how to respond. Flynn, seeing his mother so certain, asked cautiously, ¡°Mom, how can you be sure? I¡¯ve learned a little about Ms. Summers from Mr. Gunn. She was caught in a fire, burned over much of her body, even her face. Witch Doctor did reconstructive surgery, so her looks aren¡¯t exactly the same as before. You can¡¯t decide she¡¯s my sister just because of a resemnce. After all, she¡¯s been gone for more than twenty years.¡± Ruby¡¯s lips trembled as she whispered, ¡°What if the one who died wasn¡¯t my daughter?¡± Her words stunned both father and son. ¡°Ruby, what are you saying?¡± they asked in unison. ¡°I mean it,¡± Ruby insisted. ¡°It¡¯s my instinct. I can feel she¡¯s my daughter. That infant back then wasn¡¯t ours. Waylon, look into the other mothers who gave birth at the same time as me. Find out what happened to them. I think our baby was switched.¡± Waylon¡¯s eyes darkened, but he nodded slowly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll investigate. But Ruby, you must cooperate with your treatment. If Ms. Summers truly is our daughter, then you¡¯ll have no reason to think of dying. You¡¯ll have to live¨Cfor her.¡± ¡°As long as my daughteres back, I won¡¯t want to die. I¡¯ve owed her a mother¡¯s love for more than twenty years. How could I abandon her again?¡± Ruby¡¯s lips curved faintly, remembering the way Natalie had smiled at her. She turned to Flynn. ¡°When your sisteres home, don¡¯t fight with her for attention. I know I¡¯ve failed you, but your sister¡­¡± Flynn interrupted softly, ¡°Mom, if she really is my sister, she can have everything. I¡¯ll spoil her too. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Tears welled in Ruby¡¯s eyes again, but this time they were tears of joy. Waylon and Flynn exchanged worried nces. If Natalie truly turned out to be their child, then all would be well. But if not, they didn¡¯t know whether Ruby could survive another shattering blow. Later, when Waylon left the ward, Flynn murmured, ¡°Dad, whether or not Ms. Summers is really our child, the only way Mom will live is if she bes my sister.¡± Waylon frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean,¡± Flynn said steadily, ¡°if she truly is my sister, she¡¯ll be the treasure of this family. But Chapter 133 A Fragile Hope 46 +10 Free Coins even if she isn¡¯t, we can ept her as a goddaughter. Mr. Gunn said she¡¯s an orphan. Giving her a home would be no bad thing.¡± Waylon was silent for a long moment, then nodded. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll wait for the results first, but if ites to that, we¡¯ll do it your way.¡± Atst, a fragile peace settled between them. Meanwhile, Natalie hadn¡¯t let Baron¡¯s words change her. Returning home, she went straight to see the children. Ruby¡¯s desperate love had touched her deeply, stirring her own guilt. She hadn¡¯t been with her children these past years and suddenly felt how much she owed them. Baron, however, seemed unbothered. He had Shauna bring the children to the dining room, where the four of them sat down for a proper meal. Natalie spent the entire time fussing over their food, making sure each bite was right, until Baron¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°They¡¯ve got hands and feet. You should eat your own meal.¡± Susie, noticing her father¡¯s displeasure, quickly peeled a shrimp and ced it in Natalie¡¯s bowl. ¡°Mommy, eat more protein. It¡¯s good for your recovery.¡± Sean, not to be outdone, hurried to ce a piece of fish before her. ¡°Mommy, eat more fish¡ª it¡¯s good for your brain.¡± The two childrenpeted to serve her until the table looked like a battlefield. Baron¡¯s face darkened as he watched. ¡°I think you two should go back to the ind.¡± Susie froze, then clung to Natalie¡¯s arm. ¡°Mommy, no! On the ind it¡¯s just me and Sean, and it¡¯s so boring. I want to stay with you.¡± ¡°Me too!¡± Sean cried. ¡°I¡¯m staying with Mommy too!¡± Natalie, who had already learned about the ind from Shauna, frowned at the suggestion. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to your daddy. Mommy could never send you away. From now on, you¡¯ll stay with me. Alright?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± both children shouted, bouncing with joy. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find~Novel Baron¡¯s regret deepened. Why had he brought these little brats into the world to begin with? He hadn¡¯t even won his beauty¡¯s heart yet, and now they were stealing her away. The children didn¡¯t care about his mood at all. They happily finished the meal with Natalie, then insisted on napping with her too. ¡­ 46 +10 Free Coins Chapter 133 A Fragile Hope Baron was about to object when Natalie said cheerfully, ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll take you both to nap me. Let¡¯s go!¡± with Hand in hand, she led the children away, leaving Baron standing alone in the dining room, as though forgotten entirely. : HereSelf 134 Chapter 134 Hidden Pieces on the Board : Chapter 134 Hidden Pieces on the Board 46 +10 Free Coins Baron was already sulking from being abandoned at the dining table when a call came in from Ocean City. His eyes narrowed as he answered. ¡°Mr. Gunn, Jensen¡¯s men have already set their sights on our ck market branch. Our people can¡¯t hold out much longer.¡± Baron¡¯s voice was calm, almost indifferent. ¡°Then close it. The entire ck market is ours. Losing one branch is nothing. Pull everyone back to safer ground.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°And about the poison Sharon requested¨Cwater it down. Don¡¯t let Mrs. Summers die too soon. Some things she needs to see for herself.¡± He rolled his phone idly in his palm, a cold smile tugging at his lips. ¡°It¡¯s arranged, Mr. Gunn.¡± ¡°Good. Stay low. Everything moves on my word.¡± Natalie would soon recover fully. When she reappeared before the world, Jensen and Sharon would be stunned¨Cand then crushed by her own hands. Baron almost looked forward to it. He ended the call and turned back to his work. Finn¡¯stest intelligence was weighty, and Baron needed to deal with it all before taking Natalie back home. Natalie, unaware of his machinations, had tucked the children in for a nap. She herself had no sleep in her, only a restless surge of inspiration. Quietly, she slipped from the bed, opened herptop, and began sketching furiously. Perhaps only pain could unlock such hidden reserves of creativity. After talking with Ruby, Natalie¡¯s earlier designs had shifted, new ideas blooming from their conversation. She was soon lost in her work. When Susie and Sean woke, they peeked into the room. Seeing their mother absorbed in creation, they tiptoed back out. ¡°Sean, Mommy¡¯s amazing. All the jewelry she designs looks so beautiful.¡± Sean frowned slightly. ¡°How do you know?¡± Susie hesitated, biting her lip. Sean gave her a pointed look. ¡°Did you hack something?¡± 19:15 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 134 Hidden Pieces on the Board Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n fin?novel Her guilty smile gave her away. ¡°You knew?¡± (46) +10 Free Coins Sean gave a smallugh. ¡°Of course I knew. I¡¯ve covered for you plenty of times¨Cotherwise you¡¯d have been caught already. But tell me, whose system did you break into?¡± Susie confessed. She had hacked into Natalie¡¯s oldptop and discovered that all her designs had fallen into Jensen¡¯s hands. Sean¡¯s brows drew together. ¡°You mean all of Mommy¡¯s work ended up with that scumbag?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Susie muttered angrily. The fire that had nearly killed Natalie had left no trace online; it must have been buried deliberately. Jensen was surely involved. And now that man held her mother¡¯s designs, her notebook. The thought burned her up inside. Sean¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Check whether Mommy ever signed a contract with Luke Corp.¡± They hurried to their room. Susie¡¯s small fingers flew across the keyboard. Soon results appeared: a few records about the mysterious designer ¡°Sunny¡± working with Luke Corp, designing certain collections. But nowhere did it explicitly state that she was a contracted designer. The siblings exchanged uncertain looks. ¡°What are you nning, Sean?¡± Susie asked. Her brother¡¯s mind was sharper, darker than hers, and it made her uneasy. After a moment, Sean replied, ¡°We¡¯ll ask Dad.¡± ¡°What?¡± Susie balked. ¡°If Daddy finds out what I can do, won¡¯t he be angry?¡± ¡°Probably not,¡± Sean said after a pause. ¡°He dotes on us too much.¡± Still unsure, Susie nodded. Together they sought out Baron. They found him in the middle of dealing with a traitor. Baron lounged in his chair, expression unreadable, while a man knelt on the floor, trembling and bound. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I was wrong. Please, let me go. I¡¯ll never dare again. I was forced into this!¡± The man sobbed and banged his head against the floor. Baron didn¡¯t even nce at him. His tone waszy, but sharp as a de. ¡°From the day you followed me, didn¡¯t I tell you? If you ever wanted out, you could leave. I¡¯d even give you enough money to vanishfortably. And I promised I¡¯d nevere after you. Didn¡¯t I?¡± Chapter 134 Hidden Pieces on the Board 46 +10 Free Coins The man¡¯s body jolted, then he nodded frantically. ¡°Yes, Mr. Gunn. You¡¯ve always been good to us. You never shorted us, not even on money.¡± 19:15 Wed, Sep 24 HereSelf 135 Chapter 135 The Children¡¯s Leverage Chapter 135 The Children¡¯s Leverage 46 +10 Free Coins ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, what reason did you have to betray me? You¡¯ve been taking my wages every month. Doesn¡¯t thate with at least some professional integrity?¡± Baron¡¯s voice never rose nor fell, yet it pressed down on the room with suffocating weight. The traitor was drowning in regret. ¡°Mr. Gunn, I was wrong, I swear I¡¯ll never dare again. Please, spare me! I¡¯ll give back every cent I took. I¡¯ll never do it again, Mr. Gunn, I swear!¡± Baron¡¯s tone remained t, almost casual. ¡°Every house has its rules, every state itsws. You made your choice, now you pay for it. We¡¯re all adults¨Cdon¡¯t y at being a child. Take him down. The wolves on the back hill must be hungry.¡± His words were light as air, but the traitor nearly lost control of his dder in terror. ¡°No! Please, don¡¯t! Mr. Gunn, I was wrong! Mr. Gunn!¡± The guards stepped forward at once, gagged him, and dragged him away screaming. It was at that very moment Sean and Susie walked in. The two children froze, wide¨Ceyed at the scene. ¡°Daddy, what¡¯s going on?¡± Baron had always been gentle before them, and the sudden glimpse of this darker side left them unsettled. Sean reacted instantly, covering Susie¡¯s eyes with his hand, though his own gaze narrowed. Interesting. Their father wasn¡¯t quite the man they thought he was. Baron hadn¡¯t expected them toe in. Hiszy demeanor vanished in an instant as he shot to his feet, his face darkening. ¡°Who let them in? Whoever¡¯s on duty today, line up and take your punishment.¡°. The guards trembled but kept silent. Sean quickly spoke up. ¡°Daddy, it was us. We came on our own. Don¡¯t me them.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes flicked between the guards and the children. ¡°Stay out of my business. What are you doing here?¡± He strode forward, scooped both children up¨Cone under each arm¨Cand carried them out. Sean¡¯s hand never left Susie¡¯s eyes. She was still small, and he didn¡¯t want her seeing such things. 19:15 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 135 The Children¡¯s Leverage Susie, however, pursed her lips in frustration. Same birthday or not, Sean was far too protective. 46 +10 Free Coins She wriggled a little and asked, ¡°Daddy, did Mommy sign with Luke Corp as the designer Sunny?¡± Baron nearly stumbled, almost dropping them both. ¡°Daddy, careful! If you can¡¯t hold us, just put us down,¡± Sean said, patting his chest in lingering rm. Baron¡¯s mouth twitched, but he quickly regainedposure. After setting them down outside, he studied Susie¡¯s innocent gaze and realized, with a jolt, that he didn¡¯t know this sweet little daughter as well as he thought. ¡°How do you know about your mommy¡¯s identity? Who told you?¡± Natalie¡¯s secret was known only to him¨CYvonne hadn¡¯t even been told. How had this child learned it? Susie fiddled with her fingers, her round eyes darting nervously. Clearly she was scrambling for an excuse. Baron reached out and flicked her forehead. ¡°Little one, already trying to y tricks on Daddy? Be honest.¡± ¡°Ow!¡± Susie pouted, rubbing her head, looking properly aggrieved. Sean stepped forward at once. ¡°Don¡¯t bully Susie, Daddy. If you do, I¡¯ll tell Mommy. Then she¡¯ll ban you from the bedroom.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes widened in outrage. ¡°Sean! Do you even hear yourself? What kind of child says that?¡± Sean crossed his arms smugly. ¡°So what? Mommy dotes on us now. If Susie and I tell her we¡¯re scared at night and need her to sleep with us, do you think she¡¯ll refuse?¡± Susie brightened immediately. ¡°Right! Let¡¯s go tell Mommy!¡± She started to dash off on her little legs, but Baron grabbed both of them back. ¡°You little rascals! Forgotten who raised you, have you?¡± Sean arched his brows at Susic, signaling. She grinned. ¡°Then Daddy has to apologize to me.¡± ¡­ Chapter 135 The Children¡¯s Leverage ¡°You¨Cthis little girl¡­¡± 23 ? (46 ] +10 Free Coins ¡°Mommy!¡± Susie drew in a breath, ready to shout. Baron pped his hand over her mouth. ¡°Fine! I was wrong.¡± Discover more novels at Find~Novel Susie tilted her head smugly. ¡°Alright then, I forgive you.¡± Her triumphant tone nearly made Baron choke with anger. HereSelf 136 Chapter 136 The Little Hacker : After a bit of yful squabbling, Sean finally came out with Susie¡¯s secret talent. Baron froze. ¡°You can code? You¡¯re telling me you¡¯re a little hacker?¡± 46 +10 Free Coins He looked down at the tiny girl who wasn¡¯t even as tall as his thigh, and for a moment he doubted reality. Was this some kind of gic mutation? Or had Natalie¡¯s side of the family produced this kind of genius? Otherwise, how could he possibly have ended up with two children this sharp? Susie pouted at his skeptical look. ¡°It¡¯s true! If you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll show you.¡± Right in front of him, Susie broke into Jensen¡¯s corporate system. Baron stared without blinking as his daughter¡¯s small fingers flew over the keys. Within minutes she had slipped into Luke Corp¡¯s servers, pulling up confidential files as though it were child¡¯s y. His lips curled into a slow grin. ¡°Susie, do Daddy a favor.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Crack those files and leak them online.¡± From what he could see, they contained Luke Corp¡¯s internal bidding data. Before, he hadn¡¯t minded waiting for Natalie to take her revenge herself. But now, knowing his daughter had this gift, he saw no reason not to let her strike a blow. It would keep Jensen too busy to bother with his ck market dealings. Susie didn¡¯t know what the data was worth, but the gleam in her father¡¯s eyes reminded her exactly of Sean when he was plotting mischief. She realized then that Daddy was nning to ruin someone¨Cand she liked the idea. ¡°Got it.¡± Her hands darted across the keyboard, and within minutes the files were unlocked and dumped onto the web. At the same time, Jensen was being informed. ¡°Mr. Luke, ourpany has been hacked. The tender documents have been exposed. What do we do?¡± 19:16 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 136 The Little Hacker Hansel¡¯s words made Jensen¡¯s face harden. ¡°What are our IT staff being paid for?¡± : 46 +10 Free Coins Hansel flinched. ¡°The intruder¡¯s skills are on another level. We tried to block them, but they breezed through everything. Now the entire system is down.¡± Jensen smashed his mouse against the desk. ¡°Then fix it! What the hell do you think I can do?¡± While Jensen raged, Susie calmly wiped her traces and nted a virus. If anyone tried to crack it, their servers would go up in smoke. ¡°Daddy, it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°My girl is brilliant!¡± Baron beamed, suddenly in high spirits. Sean, watching them gloat together, rolled his eyes. ¡°Have you two forgotten our real purpose?¡± ¡°Oh, right!¡± Susie pped her hands. She turned serious again. ¡°Daddy, Sean and I checked. Mommy never actually signed a contract with Luke Corp. They paid her for each jewelry collection, but it wasn¡¯t a monthly wage. And she never got any profit shares.¡± Sheid out what she had found. Baron had always assumed Natalie had been bound to Luke Corp under a formal contract. Now it seemed she hadn¡¯t been an employee at all. If there was no contract, then her designs might still belong entirely to her. That thought set a fire under him. ¡°Go y, both of you. I need to talk to your mommy. If there¡¯s no contract, Susie, I¡¯ll need your help again soon.¡± He pinched her cheek and rose to his feet. ¡°Then I want an extra drumstick,¡± Susie called after him. ¡°No problem.¡± He waved without turning back, striding away so quickly his steps blurred. Sean shook his head. He almost couldn¡¯t bear to look at the two of them scheming together. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n ?ovelFind Natalie had just finished sketching a design and was stretching when Baron burst into the 19:16 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 136 The Little Hacker 46 +10 Free Coins room. At the same moment, her phone chimed with a notification from her cloud drive. Her face tightened. Jensen still had the password to that drive. And inside it¨Cher entire archive of designs. If Jensen insisted on iming her work for Sharon, those files alone could trap her with no way to prove the truth. How could she have been so careless? Back then she¡¯d only wanted to make it easier for him to ess her drafts. But now, with their ties long severed, why had she never changed the password? 19:16 Wed, Sep 24 HereSelf 137 Chapter 137 The Forgotten Notebook Chapter 137 The Forgotten Notebook +10 Free Coins Natalie hurriedly grabbed her phone and logged into her cloud drive. Sure enough, she saw another login alert. Her fingers flew as she reset the password and changed the verification number. At the same time, Jensen, already furious about the hacking of hispany¡¯s system, had instinctively tried to secure Natalie¡¯s old design files. He logged into the drive and saw them still there¨Conly to suddenly be locked out. The system shed an error: incorrect password. He tried again. And again. Nothing. ¡°What the hell?¡± Jensen muttered, stunned. That password should only have been known to him and Natalie. Back at the vi, Natalie wasn¡¯t reassured even after changing her password. Her heart dropped. No¨Cher oldptop was still in Jensen¡¯s possession. Baron walked in just as she grew frantic. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Natalie grabbed his wrist without thinking, her voice urgent. ¡°Baron, do you know any reliable hackers?¡± He arched a brow, his gaze fixed on her hand clutching his. She had reached for him herself. His chest erupted like fireworks, but he forced his face to stay calm. Natalie didn¡¯t notice his inner turmoil. ¡°My oldptop is still with Jensen. If he uses the drafts on it and passes them off as Sharon¡¯s, then even if I design something new, I¡¯ll never be able to use my name again.¡± She remembered the hospital days when she was too injured to think clearly, too burned and too broken. She hadn¡¯t imagined Sharon would go so far as to want her dead. Her sketches, her drafts¨Cher life¡¯s work¨Chad all ended up in Jensen¡¯s hands. Now that she finally realized it, there was no way she¡¯d let him or Sharon profit from them. Baron¡¯s eyes sharpened. He¡¯d nearly forgotten why he¡¯de here. ¡°The hacker issue can wait a moment. I need to ask you something first.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Her clear gaze held his without hesitation. After all, he had saved her life¨Cwhat secrets could she possibly keep from him now? He led her to a chair. ¡°When you designed for Luke Corp, did you sign an employment 19:16 Wed, Sep 24 46 Chapter 137 The Forgotten Notebook contract with them?¡± +10 Free Coins Natalie blinked. ¡°No. Jensen said my identity couldn¡¯t be exposed, and that the board at Luke Corp couldn¡¯t know about me. He said I was his secret weapon.¡± Baron¡¯s lip curled in contempt. Typical maniption¨Cstringing her along with empty promises while taking everything from her. He shot her a look that made her shift uneasily. ¡°What?¡± she asked. He bit back the urge to tell her how foolish she¡¯d been. She had already suffered enough. ¡°Didn¡¯t you realize that without an employment contract, your rights weren¡¯t protected at all?¡± Natalie¡¯s shoulders slumped. At the time, she had believed Jensen was her savior, her light, her only family and love. She hadn¡¯t thought of anything else. She had watched him fight for control of Luke Corp, watched him struggle against opposition. She thought she was helping him. Now, under Baron¡¯s piercing stare, she felt the full weight of her naivet¨¦. ¡°I was young and stupid,¡± she muttered, ashamed to meet his eyes. Baron¡¯s jaw tightened, but seeing her so embarrassed, he let it
  1. go.
¡°Since you never had a formal employment rtionship with Luke Corp, all your designs remain your independent intellectual property. Did you at least sign any authorization or exclusivity contract with Jensen?¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find¡ïNovel Natalie frowned. ¡°I think I signed something with him¡­ but he kept the papers. I never looked closely.¡± Her voice dwindled smaller and smaller. She felt like a fool. Baron sighed inwardly. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll handle it. I¡¯ll make sure every design is returned to you, and Jensen won¡¯t be able to say a word.¡± Relief flooded her face. ¡°Thank you¡­ really, thank you,¡± Baron¡¯s expression softened, though inside his chest still burned with anger¨Cfor all the years she had been used, and all the scars she now carried. 19:16 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 138 Severing the Chains : HereSelf 138 Chapter 138 Severing the Chains : Chapter 138 Severing the Chains 46 +10 Free Coins Natalie had no connections of her own. If it weren¡¯t for Baron, she truly wouldn¡¯t have known what to do. Baron only smiled. ¡°Just remember to design a few extra things for meter.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she agreed without hesitation. He would have liked to stay with her longer, but the thought of the so¨Ccalled authorization contract and Jensen¡¯s scheming¨Cforced him away. He went straight to Susie. ¨C ¡°Princess, do Daddy a favor and I¡¯ll add an extra chicken leg to your dinner.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Now that her secret was out, Susie no longer bothered to hide her talent. Her tiny hands danced across the keyboard. ¡°Daddy, buy me my ownptop. The best one.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Sean, unwilling to be left out, darted over. ¡°Daddy, then you¡¯d better bring me back some rare poison nts. You can¡¯t y favorites.¡± Baron shoved his son¡¯s head aside. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about thatter.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go ask Mommy,¡± Sean threatened. Baron scowled. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± In the end, he gave in, agreeing to the poison nts. While father and son bickered, Susie had already hacked into Natalie¡¯s oldptop at the Grand Pavilion. In minutes she copied all of Natalie¡¯s designs and drafts, sent them to Baron¡¯s email, and nted a virus. The machine shorted, smoked, and died on the spot. Next she moved on Jensen¡¯s system. At that moment, Jensen was still fuming over his cloud drive lockout when his phone frozepletely. No matter what he tried, it wouldn¡¯t respond. ¡°Damn it! Bastard!¡± He shook with rage and called Hansel. ¡°Get me the best hacker there is! My phone¡¯s been hacked!¡± Hansel, startled by his fury, quickly summoned the security department. 19:16 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 138 Severing the Chains 46 +10 Free Coins Meanwhile, Susie slipped through his devices like they were an open field. Before long she found what she was looking for: the authorization contract Natalie had mentioned. ¡°Daddy, is this it?¡± She pushed the screen toward him. Baron¡¯s jaw tightened as he read. It was indeed an authorization agreement¨Cone that granted Jensen exclusive rights to everything Sunny ever designed. Baron¡¯s face darkened. Jensen had deliberately avoided tying the contract to Luke Corp, binding it only to himself. If he ever left thepany, Sunny¡¯s work would go with him. And nowhere in the agreement was there any mention of royalties orpensation. It was outright exploitation. Natalie had given him her trust, her talent, her devotion. And he had shackled her with this parasitic document, only to n to hand all her brilliance to Sharon. Baron¡¯s fury simmered so hot it nearly spilled over. He wanted Jensen¡¯s head on a tter. ¡°Destroy it. Completely.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Susie tapped a few keys, and the contract dissolved into nothing. Baron finally exhaled, some of the tightness in his chest easing. ¡°Good girl. Now wipe the trail. need me to have someone cover your tracks?¡± Do you Susie waved a tiny hand. ¡°Rx. Even if they chase the trace, they¡¯ll never find me. I routed everything through an overseas hub. They can¡¯t pin me down.¡± Baron¡¯s heart swelled with pride. ¡°Excellent.¡± He kissed the top of her head and strode off to Natalie¡¯s room. ¡°I¡¯ve recovered your designs,¡± he said. ¡°And I destroyed the authorization contract with Jensen. From now on, you have no ties to him. Your work is yours alone.¡± He forwarded the files from his email to hers. Natalie stared at her reimed designs, her chest tightening. ¡°My oldptop¡­?¡± ¡°Gone. Even if someone repairs it, the contents are wiped clean. No one will touch your work again.¡± Only then did she let out a long breath, relief softening her features into a smile. 19:16 Wed, Sep 24 Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find_Novel(. Chapter 138 Severing the Chains ¡°Baron,¡± she murmured, ¡°if I didn¡¯t have you, how could I possibly survive?¡± Her words sent his heart thundering, wild as a caged animal desperate to break free. HereSelf 139 Chapter 139 A Name to Belong To Chapter 139 A Name to Belong To 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°So you can¡¯t ever leave me!¡± Baron said as he leaned forward, trying to pull Natalie into his arms. She smelled faintly of soda water¨Cclean, crisp, with a sweetness that was uniquely hers. The scent made him dizzy, made him want to sink into her. But Natalie dodged out of reach. ¡°My body hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet. Don¡¯t touch me like that. And I did say I¡¯d consider being with you, but you have to give me time.¡± Baron¡¯s face fell at once. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you still expect us to sleep in separate rooms.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that normal?¡± Natalie¡¯s cheeks burned. Back when her body was covered in burns, she hadn¡¯t thought about such things. But now that she had healed, of course Baron would want to share a bed. Even so, it still felt too fast. His voice grew pitiful. ¡°You¡¯re throwing me out? Before, when you were hurt, fine, we didn¡¯t sleep together. But now you¡¯re healthy again, and you still want me gone? How will that look to the kids?¡± Natalie blinked. She had forgotten about the children. ¡°They¡¯re still little. There¡¯s no need to exin this kind of thing to them.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not that little. They¡¯re about to start preschool. What if they ask me why all their ssmates¡® parents sleep together, but their daddy and mommy don¡¯t? What am I supposed to say?¡± Natalie opened her mouth, but no words came. ¡°Would they really ask something like that?¡± Baron only gave her a wounded look, and somehow she couldn¡¯t bear it. This was Baron¨Ccold, untouchable, feared by so many. The man whose power made others tremble. Yet here he was, looking aggrieved, almost pitiful. The sight left her heart aching. ¡°But us being together without any status¡­ that¡¯s not right either.¡± ¡°Then give me a status. The courthouse is still open. Let¡¯s register now.¡± Natalie froze. ¡°Re¡­ register?¡± 19:16 Wed, Sep 24 Chapter 139 A Name to Belong To 45 +10 Free Coins ¡°Of course. You said yourself¨CI saved your life, you¡¯d repay me with marriage. You said you might not give me the love I want, but you¡¯d try. We already have two children, and your health is better now. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re nning to go back on your word.¡± His gaze was full of hurt and doubt. Natalie¡¯s lips parted, but nothing came out. He wasn¡¯t wrong¨Cshe had said those things. But wasn¡¯t this too fast? Marriage papers, just like that? Baron pressed on. ¡°And think about the children. They¡¯ll start preschool soon. If their files say they¡¯re illegitimate, how will that look? Before, when you were with Jensen and didn¡¯t know about them, it couldn¡¯t be helped. But now? Now you know. Now you¡¯re with me. And still you¡¯d let them be called bastards? Do you want them mocked and bullied?¡± Natalie¡¯s mind shed back to her own childhood¨Cher fall from grace after leaving the Summers family, the sneers and taunts, the cruel bullying from so¨Ccalled friends who turned on her. No. Never. She couldn¡¯t let her children go through what she had suffered. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I wouldn¡¯t marry you. I just thought it was too-¡± Checktest chapters at Find_Novel(. ¡°Then let¡¯s go! I¡¯ll have Shauna bring the car around.¡± Before she could finish, Baron had bolted out the door. Natalie stared after him, torn between exasperation andughter. She had only meant it was too soon, yet he acted as though she might vanish at any moment. But Baron wasn¡¯t about to waste time. He had waited long enough. If they registered before the Stone family¡¯s DNA test results came back, then Natalie would already be Mrs. Gunn. No amount of disapproval could undo that. They wouldn¡¯t dare ask their daughter to divorce. And with the way Mrs. Stone clung to Natalie, he wasn¡¯t about to risk dy. The more he thought about it, the better the n seemed. ¡°Shauna! Shauna!¡± Baron thundered down the hall, shouting for her. Shauna, who had followed him for years, had never seen him like this. rmed, she bolted out, thinking something had gone terribly wrong in the organization. ¡°Mr. Gunn, what happened? What¡¯s the emergency?¡± Chapter 140 Mrs Gunn HereSelf 140 Chapter 140 Mrs Gunn ¡°Hurry! Find my ID and call the courthouse¨CI¡¯m getting married!¡± Baron was so excited that even his words slipped into roughness. Shauna froze, thinking she had misheard. ¡°Mr. Gunn, who¡¯s getting married?¡± ¡°Me! Your Mr. Gunn is getting married! Now go!¡± He spun her toward the door and gave her a shove. Still dazed, Shauna scrambled off to make the calls. Yvonne, rmed by all the shouting, came running, half expecting some crisis in the organization¨Conly to see Baron practically dancing with glee. For a moment she wondered if her eyes were deceiving her. Was this really the same man who could stare down chaos with an expression carved from stone? But when she realized what he meant, her heart leapt. He was marrying Natalie? ¡°Then I¡¯m the bridesmaid!¡± she dered. ¡°Approved.¡± Baron¡¯s grin stretched wide. ¡°I¡¯ll help Natalie find something beautiful to wear!¡± Yvonne darted off before he could reply. That jolted Baron¡¯s memory. He hadn¡¯t prepared clothes for her yet. ¡°Someone! Get the newest season¡¯s dresses in her size. No¨Cget them in Mrs. Gunn¡¯s size.¡± The words sent a thrill straight through him. Mrs. Gunn. He could have listened to that name on a loop forever. Orders flew, and preparations spun into motion. Natalie, meanwhile, was still reeling from the idea of marrying so suddenly when Yvonne burst in, brimming with excitement. ¡°Natalie, you¡¯re marrying my brother, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯m your bridesmaid!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be the flower children!¡± Sean and Susie chimed in, racing up. Natalie¡¯s face went scarlet. ¡°How do you all know already?¡± ¡°My brother wants to announce it to the whole world,¡± Yvonneughed. Warmth spread through Natalie¡¯s chest, though bittersweet. She thought of how deeply she had once loved Jensen, how she had given everything for him¨Cyet never heard a word of marriage from his lips. And now Baron, after such a short time together, wanted nothing more than to im her openly and forever. For the first time, she admitted to herself that even without the children, she would still fall for this man. ¡°Mommy, can Sean and I be the flower children?¡± Susie asked, eyes bright. ¡°Yes,¡± Natalie answered gently. ¡°Then will Daddy propose to you too?¡± Susie tilted her head. On television, the groom always knelt on one knee, ring in hand. Fresh chapters posted on f?ndnovel Natalie hesitated. Baron was in such a rush to register, she doubted there would be a grand proposal. His world wasn¡¯t one where such things could be disyed. A faint pang of regret tugged at her. But she ruffled her daughter¡¯s hair with a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know, sweetheart. Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t say yes too fast,¡± Susie insisted. ¡°Make Daddy ask a hundred times. I heard that a daughter¡¯s worth a hundred proposals before she marries.¡± Baron had just stepped into the room and nearly tripped t on his face. ¡°Susie, thank you very much!¡± What kind of daughter plotted against her own father like this? Natalie broke intoughter, Yvonneughed until she cried, and Sean just shook his head at his sister, wondering if she was truly that na?ve or just ying a deeper game. The atmosphere was light and joyful. Shauna¡¯s efficiency proved itself once again. Before Baron could get impatient, she returned with news. ¡°Mr. Gunn, you can take your wife to register now.¡± The way she called Natalie Mrs. Gunn made Baron¡¯s heart sing. ¡°Well done. Go to Financeter and collect five million¨Ca wedding gift.¡± Shauna¡¯s eyes shone with delight. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Gunn!¡± Soon Natalie, dressed by Yvonne in a crimson dress, was seated beside Baron in the car on the way to the courthouse. The children had begged to go along, but Baron had firmly refused. He was registering his marriage¡ªwhat kind of man brought two little tagalongs to something so important? Natalie still thought the whole thing hasty, but sitting next to Baron, she felt safe. And beneath the nerves, there was a small, undeniable sweetness in her chest. HereSelf 141 Chapter 141 The Exploding Notebook Chapter 141 The Exploding Notebook Marrying him¨Cshe might actually be happy. 69 +10 Free Coins The courthouse visit was swift. With Baron¡¯s wealth smoothing every step, they walked straight in and walked out with marriage certificates in hand, no waiting required. Natalie stared down at the little red booklet in her palm, dazed. Married? Just like that? Baron, terrified she might rethink it, plucked the certificate from her grasp. ¡°You spend all day using your brain on designs. Let me handle things like keeping track of important documents.¡± He tucked both booklets safely away, snapped a photo, and immediately posted it to his social feed. The excitement in his eyes was contagious. Natalie reached out,cing her fingers through his. Baron nearly burst with joy, his eyes lighting like twin stars. While he reveled in triumph, Jensen¡¯s world was copsing. Hansel had finally managed to get Jensen¡¯s phone functioning again, but when Jensen scrolled through its contents, his face drained of color. The contract¨Cthe irond authorization agreement binding all of Sunny¡¯s designs to him¡ªwas gone. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He wed through every folder, frantic. ¡°There was a contract in here. Where is it? Can you recover it?¡± The hacker examined the device and shook his head. ¡°No. It¡¯s been destroyed. Completely.¡± At the same time, word arrived from thepany: the tender baseline data for several bids had leaked, and clients were demanding updated proposals. Jensen¡¯s temples pounded. ¡°Hansel, get R&D to redo everything. Overtime pay, double it if you have to.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Hansel hesitated. ¡°Don¡¯t you want toe to the office yourself?¡± ¡°I have other matters.¡± Jensen grabbed his coat and bolted out the door, thoughts racing. Why had his phone been targeted? Why that one contract erased, when all his other files remained untouched? And why had his ess to Natalie¡¯s cloud drive suddenly been blocked? 14:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 141 The Exploding Notebook 69 +10 Free Coins A chilling realization crept into his chest. Only Natalie would care about that contract. Only Natalie would fight to reim her designs. Which meant she was alive. His heart pounded with savage exhration. Five years of silence, five years of believing she had died in mes¨Cand she had survived. He needed proof. One look at her oldptop would tell him everything. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel Driving like a madman, Jensen tore through red lights until he reached Grand Pavilion. He stormed inside, spotted theptop on the table, and snatched it up. Hands shaking, he flipped it open. A sharp bang cracked through the air. The machine detonated in hisp. Jensen screamed as fire and shrapnel burst outward, his hand catching the brunt of it. Pain seared through him¨Cwhen he looked down, a finger was gone, sted clean away. Blood gushed between his clenched knuckles as he staggered, shrieking for an ambnce. His eyes, burning red with fury, narrowed to slits. ¡°Natalie¡­ do you hate me so much you¡¯d rather kill me?¡± Trembling, he remembered. He had bought that notebook for her five years ago, her first birthday gift after he brought her into his home. She had promised she would use it until the end of time. Now it had be a bomb, robbing him of flesh and bone. Hansel arrived just as paramedics rushed Jensen away. Sharon, hearing of the ident, drove like a demon, but reached only in time to see the ambnce ze past. She screeched to a stop outside Grand Pavilion, teeth grinding, then turned her wheel toward the hospital. By the time she arrived, Jensen was already in emergency surgery. Sharon, breathless and wild¨Ceyed, saw Hansel in the hall and kicked him hard. ¡°How did this happen? How could Mr. Luke lose a finger under your watch?¡± Hansel winced but did not argue. ¡°Thepany¡¯s systems and Mr. Luke¡¯s phone were hacked. We were repairing thework when he insisted oning here. He opened aptop¨Cand it ¡­ Chapter 141 The Exploding Notebook exploded.¡± HereSelf 142 Chapter 142 The Finger Lost Chapter 142 The Finger Lost : When Hansel exined, Sharon let out a sharp, mockingugh. 69 +10 Free Coins ¡°You think I¡¯m an idiot? Aptop exploding? Why not say Jensen blew himself instead?¡± up Hansel bit back his frustration. ¡°It¡¯s true. The notebook belonged to Miss Natalie. Mr. Luke insisted no one else touch it.¡± Sharon¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Whose notebook?¡± He realized his slip toote. ¡°Nothing. Forget it.¡± But his hesitation only poured fuel on Sharon¡¯s rage. ¡°Natalie! Again Natalie! What is she, some ghost that won¡¯t die? Why leave herptop in Grand Pavilion? She¡¯s dead, don¡¯t you understand? Dead! Keeping a dead woman¡¯s things is disgusting!¡± She was nearly shrieking. Hansel tried to soothe her. ¡°Mr. Luke gave the order. Everything in Grand Pavilion was to remain untouched.¡± ¡°You¡¯re his assistant. Why didn¡¯t you advise him when he was being irrational? Sometimes I think you¡¯re nothing but Natalie¡¯s spy, left behind to ruin him! Let me tell you¨Cif Jensen¡¯s fine, good. But if anything happens to him, I¡¯ll destroy you!¡± She vented all her fury on Hansel. Inside, she burned with another bitterness. Recently Mrs. Summers had started slipping, calling her by the wrong name, even blurting out ¡°Natalie.¡± The old woman¡¯s tongue should have been cut out. Sharon was her true daughter. Natalie was supposed to be gone forever¨Cyet her name still lingered like a curse. Unforgivable. And now Jensen too? Natalie¡¯s shadow, everywhere. Sharon¡¯s chest heaved with fury. This wasn¡¯t the life she wanted. She had wed her way up to be Mrs. Luke, envied by everyone. But Jensen no longer looked at her with love. He avoided her, resented her. She had won the title but lost the man. It wasn¡¯t fair. 14:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 142 The Finger Lost 69 +10 Free Coins Two hours crawled by before the light over the operating room flickered off. Sharon lunged forward and grabbed the doctor by his coat. ¡°How¡¯s my husband¡¯s finger? Do you know who he is? He¡¯s Jensen, president of Luke Corp! If you can¡¯t fix him, I¡¯ll make sure none of you ever work again!¡± The surgeon, already exhausted, stiffened in anger. ¡°Mrs. Luke, I did everything possible. But the finger was blown off at the scene. No one alive could reattach it. Even if he were a gode down to earth, the treatment would be the same.¡± ¡°You-!¡± Hansel quickly pulled Sharon back, afraid she would provoke the man further. ¡°Doctor, what about the rest of him?¡± The doctor exhaled. ¡°Mr. Luke is stable. His life is not in danger. But the finger cannot be saved.¡± Hansel lowered his head, the weight of it heavy. Sharon, who had been fuming over being called Ms. Summers earlier, now erupted anew. ¡°Useless quacks! Of course the finger can be reattached! Get back in there and try again!¡± Her own ruined right hand throbbed at the memory¨Cevery storm, every shift of the weather brought agony. Now Jensen too was maimed. Was it Natalie¡¯s curse? Was that woman¡¯s ghost still wing at them? A chill scraped her spine. She turned to Hansel, eyes wild. ¡°Should we go to a church? Get a blessing? A cleansing?¡± Hansel¡¯s brow creased deeply. Now he understood perfectly why Jensen avoided her bed, why he¡¯d rather sleep at the office. She was unhinged. ¡°Mrs. Summers, it¡¯s a new world. Science, not superstition. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself.¡± He ordered Jensen transferred to intensive care. When Sharon tried to follow, Hansel blocked her. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Mr. Luke. You should go home and rest.¡± Blocked again and again, Sharon¡¯s face twisted with fury. ¡°Hansel, I¡¯m Mrs. Luke! I¡¯m Jensen¡¯s wife! If you call me Ms. Summers one more time, I swear This update is avable on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡­ Chapter 142 The Finger Lost I¡¯ll have him fire you!¡± 14:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter HereSelf 143 143 The Ghost Returns Chapter 143 The Ghost Returns : ¡°Ms. Summers, call yourself whatever you want,¡± Hansel said tly, still refusing to acknowledge Sharon as Mrs. Luke. 69 +10 Free Coins Her face twisted in rage. She tried to force her way into the ICU but was blocked by the guards Hansel had stationed there. ¡°Ms. Summers, you know perfectly well what kind of rtionship you and Mr. Luke have. If you still want to save face, leave now. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have you dragged out. Mr. Luke needs peace and quiet.¡± ¡°You dare!¡± Sharon shrieked, but Hansel didn¡¯t so much as flinch. At his signal, two guards seized her, mped a hand over her mouth, and dumped her outside. She was left trembling with fury, powerless. The rightful source is FindN0vel Inside, Jensen drifted back to consciousness. Pain throbbed in his hand, sharp enough to wrench a groan from his throat. Hansel hurried to his side. ¡°Mr. Luke, how do you feel?¡± Jensen¡¯s lips tightened. ¡°My hand¡­¡± Hansel hesitated, then said carefully, ¡°The doctors did everything they could. But your finger¡­ it couldn¡¯t be saved.¡± Jensen turned his head, staring at the heavy bandages where something should have been. The absence gaped like a hole inside him. Natalie had taken a piece of him. So cruel. She must truly hate him now. Otherwise, how could she have let him bleed like this? His chest squeezed with the weight of it. ¡°Theptop?¡± His voice rasped. Hansel shook his head. ¡°I had it examined. Useless. Even if it could be rebuilt, it would be gutted¨Cno files, nothing left. Motherboard, CPU, hard drive, all destroyed. It¡¯d be like buying a new machine.¡± Jensen had known, the instant it blew apart in hisp. Still, hearing it confirmed tore 14:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 143 The Ghost Returns something raw in him. : She would rather see her creations burn than leave them in his hands. ¡°Natalie¡¯s alive,¡± he whispered hoarsely. ¡°This is her revenge.¡± 69 +10 Free Coins Hansel froze. ¡°Mr. Luke¡­ the fire was enormous. It was impossible for her to survive. We even saw her remains.¡± ¡°We saw bones. No one ever did a DNA test!¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes burned. ¡°Why else would the ashes have been stolen? And what about the nurse I hired for her? She vanishedpletely. No calls, no texts. What if that body was hers?¡± rity sharpened his voice. Hansel didn¡¯t argue. The thought had haunted him before too¨Cthe hurried cremation, the missing details. Natalie had had no friends, nowork. Who would have stolen her ashes¡­ except Sharon? ¡°Do you think it could have been Ms. Summers?¡± Hansel asked softly. ¡°Could she have taken them?¡± The idea made Jensen¡¯s gut twist. Perhaps. But deep down, he didn¡¯t want to believe it. He wanted to believe Natalie still walked somewhere in this world. The silence in the ward grew heavy, pressing down on both of them. Hansel finally sighed. ¡°Mr. Luke, I¡¯ll get you something to eat.¡± Jensen almost told him he had no appetite, but the ache in his chest made him nod instead. When Hansel left, Jensen pulled out his phone, scrolling news feeds. Each headline about lost contracts and shattered bids stabbed at him. Then he froze. Sunny¡¯s Twitter had updated. Sunny is back! I hope everyone who once supported me will continue to do so! Jensen¡¯s pulse roared in his ears. He stabbed the call button. ¡°Hansel! Hansel!¡± Hansel burst back into the room, rmed. ¡°Mr. Luke, what is it? Are you in pain?¡± ¡°Not that!¡± Jensen seized his wrist, shoving the phone at him. His voice cracked with desperation. ¡°Trace this login. Find out where it came from¨Cnow!¡± 14:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapte HereSelf 144 r 144 The Name That Wouldn¡¯t Die Content originallyes from Find1Novel Chapter 144 The Name That Wouldn¡¯t Die 69 +10 Free Coins Hansel blinked at the glowing screen. ¡°But isn¡¯t Sunny the designer you already know, Mr. Luke? If she posted a message, why don¡¯t you just call her directly?¡± ¡°She is Natalie!¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes burned with a feverish light. ¡°Natalie isn¡¯t dead. She¡¯s alive!¡± His intensity made Hansel uneasy. ¡°Mr. Luke, maybe the ount was hacked. Miss Natalie really did die that night.¡± He wanted to add more¨Cthat the fire had left nothing, no trace of escape, only remains. But Jensen wasn¡¯t listening. ¡°I don¡¯t care! Trace the IP. Wherever that login came from, that¡¯s where she is!¡± Hansel sighed, helpless. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll start the search.¡± He slipped out, leaving Jensen alone with the bandaged stump of his finger. Jensen stared down at it,ughing and crying in turns. ¡°Natalie¡­ you hate me enough to take a piece of me, but you¡¯re still here.¡± Across town, Sharon saw the same update and froze. ¡°No. No, that slut can¡¯t be alive. Impossible! This isn¡¯t her¨Cit¡¯s Jensen, it has to be!¡± She paced like a caged animal, clutching her phone as if she could crush the tweet out of existence. Mrs. Summers, overhearing, stiffened. ¡°Natalie¡­ you¡¯re saying Natalie is alive? Is it true?¡± ¡°False!¡± Sharon exploded. She lunged at her mother, fisting her cor and yanking her close. ¡°You still think of her, don¡¯t you? The day you let me whip her, she learned to hate you! And you dare dream of fixing things now? Foolish old woman!¡± Mrs. Summers wheezed, wracked with coughs. Her health had been failing, weakness dragging her lower each day. Sharon¡¯s impatience had only grown crueler. If she was treated like this now, while she could still walk, what would happen once she was bedridden? Her thoughts drifted back to Natalie. Quiet, obedient Natalie, who had always brought back gifts afterpetitions, never forgetting her parents. Sharon had never once done the same. Sharon only demanded, never gave. Mrs. Summers had onceforted herself with the thought: at least Sharon is mine by blood. But as she stared at Sharon¡¯s twisted face, she ached for the girl they had cast out. 14:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 144 The Name That Wouldn¡¯t Die 69 +10 Free Coins Natalie was gone, or so she thought. The regret gnawed at her daily. Yet now¨Cnews she might still be alive stirred a fragile hope. If Natalie still breathed, she and her husband would not face old age alone. After all, they had raised her for eighteen years. Mrs. Summers resolved to investigate in secret, when Sharon wasn¡¯t watching. Sharon hurled her back onto the bed. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare look for her! Even if she crawled out of that fire, I¡¯ll finish her myself. If she shows her face, I¡¯ll make sure she suffers!¡± The words dripped with venom. Mrs. Summers swallowed hers, hiding her fear behind a mask of gentleness. ¡°Sharon, don¡¯t talk nonsense. The fire was too big. Natalie couldn¡¯t have survived. That ount must have been hacked.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Sharon said quickly, eager to convince herself. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± She smoothed her dress, already heading for the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Jensen about this.¡± Mrs. Summers didn¡¯t stop her this time. She¡¯d seen the way Jensen looked at Sharon now¡ª cold, distant, bound to her only by obligation. And she had seen the way his voice softened whenever Natalie¡¯s name came up. As soon as Sharon left, Mrs. Summers turned to the butler. Her voice was quiet but firm. ¡°Go. Find out where that Sunny ount was essed from.¡± The butler bowed and slipped away. But before long, the news reached Sharon¡¯s ears as well. 14:25 Thu, Sep 25 HereSelf 145 Chapter 145 The Return Sparks Chaos Chapter 145 The Return Sparks Chaos Sharon¡¯s face was dark and terrifying. +10 Free Coins ¡°That old hag really is still thinking about Natalie, that adopted brat. What now? She feels like she can¡¯t count on me anymore, so she wants to rely on Natalie instead? Ha. What a joke. How na?ve.¡± She told the butler to do exactly as Mrs. Summers had instructed. Sharon also wanted to know whether Natalie was truly alive or dead. Natalie, of course, had no idea that a single post on Twitter had thrown Ocean City into chaos. Even if she knew, she wouldn¡¯t care. She only hoped that Jensen and Sharon were ready for her return ¨C ready for her revenge. After posting the tweet, Natalie tossed theputer aside. ¡ª Today was the day she and Baron got their marriage certificate. No matter what, it was something worth remembering. ¡°Let¡¯s all go out for a family dinner.¡± Natalie¡¯s words made Baron pause in surprise. ¡°You want to go out to eat with me?¡± He wasn¡¯t quite sure if he¡¯d heard right. Natalie nodded. ¡°Why not? Or is there some reason you don¡¯t want to?¡± ¡°No! None at all. I¡¯ll get it arranged right now.¡± Baron spoke quickly, the corners of his lips lifting in a way that made Natalie¡¯s chest ache with bittersweet emotion. So high and untouchable a man, a feared underworld boss, and yet in front of her he was so uncertain, socking in confidence. Being loved wholly and unreservedly like this it was warm, it was happiness itself. Natalie decided she would change the passwords to all her ounts soon. 14:25 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 145 The Return Sparks Chaos Her money ¨C why shouldn¡¯t she be the one to use it? Besides, she needed to buy Baron a wedding gift. And her children too. 69 +10 Free Coins They were already four years old, and as their mother she hadn¡¯t bought them anything yet. Natalie picked up her phone and called the bank. Not long after, her ount information was changed. News of it reached Jensen almost immediately. This time, he jolted upright from his hospital bed. ¡°It¡¯s her! It really is her!¡± His eyes lit up with a feverish joy. He snatched up his phone and started dialing Natalie¡¯s number. But no matter how many times he tried, all he heard was the same message: the number you have dialed is no longer in service. Disconnected? How could that be? He had been the one who got that number for her. That night when Natalie had been beaten nearly to death in the Summers family¡¯s backyard and he had found her, he¡¯d set up a new phone number for her using the exact date and time they had met. Natalie had said that was their fated moment, and she would use that number for the rest of her life. She had told him he was her sunshine, her salvation, her harbor forever. So why was the number now gone? Jensen¡¯s eyes flushed red, and his chest throbbed with pain. What had he done? 14:25 Thu, Sep 25 69 Chapter 145 The Return Sparks Chaos +10 Free Coins How could he have driven away the woman who had once loved him with her whole heart ¡ª to the point where she even abandoned the memories they had shared? No. He refused to ept it. He would get her back. They had spent five years together. That had to count for something. His gaze brimmed with regret and sorrow. Meanwhile, Natalie had withdrawn her money and opened a brand¨Cnew ount. Baron had already made arrangements. When he saw that Natalie hadn¡¯t changed into new clothes yet, he asked, ¡°Shauna didn¡¯t bring over the outfit?¡± ¡°She did, but I was busy changing my bank password.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t bother hiding it. Baron froze for a moment. ¡°So you¡¯ve decided to let him know you¡¯re alive?¡± ¡°It¡¯s time for me toe back.¡± Natalie smiled and slid her arm through his. ¡°Baron, we registered our marriage today. Shouldn¡¯t we celebrate?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t we going out to dinner?¡± Inside, Baron felt fireworks bursting in his chest, one after another, dazzling and overwhelming. Natalie leaned in and brushed a kiss against his cheek. That light, fleeting touch made his whole body lock up, ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°What? Can¡¯t I kiss you? Husband?¡± When Natalie said that word, Baron felt the blood in his veins boil. He cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes, his voice hoarse and low. ¡°Do you even 69 Chapter 145 The Return Sparks Chaos realize what you just said, Mrs. Gunn?¡± +10 Free Coins ¡°Of course. Mr. Gunn, I¡¯ll be in your care from now on. But if you ever be like Jensen, if you ever betray me, I¡¯ll walk away without a second thought.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll never live to see that day.¡± He grabbed the back of her head and crushed his lips down onto hers, a hot, demanding kiss that stole her breath. Natalie liked his wildness. Maybe it was because her five years with Jensen had been like being boiled slowly in warm water, but now she needed this ferocity from Baron proof that she was alive, proof that her heart could still pound. ¡ª She let him take her breath, let his passion consume her. Their lips parted only when they were both gasping, and his storm¨Cdark eyes bore into hers. ¡°Mrs. Gunn,¡± he rasped, ¡°I think I want to eat you first¡­ and then go out to dinner.¡± ¡°No way!¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? FindN0vel Natalie wriggled free under his arm, pulled a face at him, and bolted out of the room. HereSelf 146 Chapter 146 The Pendant +10 Free Coins ¡°Baron, today¡¯s a good day. Let¡¯s go get matching phone numbers. We can use today¡¯s date for the number. Think of it as a little celebration for registering our marriage.¡± Natalie¡¯s smile was radiant. Baron¡¯s chest trembled. Changing numbers on the spot would cause plenty of inconvenience, but her words moved him. A number tied to the day of their marriage, a matching pair¡­. it meant Natalie truly wanted to share her life with him. ¡°All right.¡± He caught up to her at once andced his fingers with hers, holding tight. They got in the car together, and only then did Natalie notice the children weren¡¯t there. ¡°Where are the kids?¡± ¡°We registered our marriage today. Why would I bring them along? For today, you¡¯re mine alone¨Cmy Mrs. Gunn.¡± His jealous tone left Natalie speechless, but she didn¡¯t argue. Baron had kept the children hidden all these years, protecting them from the world. She didn¡¯t yet have the power to protect them herself, so for now she could only let him handle it. ¡°Where are we going for dinner?¡± Natalie watched the scenery sh by outside, her heart unexpectedly light. ¡°You¡¯ll see when we get there,¡± Baron said with a smile. Half an hourter, the car pulled up to what looked like a rustic farmhouse restaurant. Natalie followed him inside. From the outside, it was simple. Inside, it opened into a carefully designed retro space, the d¨¦cor warm and striking. ???? 14:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 146 The Pendant ¡°This ce is beautiful,¡± Natalie said, impressed. ¡°As long as you like it.¡± Baron pulled out a chair for her himself. Natalie froze. 69 +10 Free Coins In the five years she had spent with Jensen, the times they¡¯d gone out to eat together could be counted on one hand. He had certainly never pulled out her chair. She had told herself it didn¡¯t matter¨Che was Luke Corp¡¯s president, too important to bother with small gestures. . But now she realized how blind she had been. Whether a man loved you or not showed in the details. Maybe from the moment Jensen saved her five years ago, he had already decided she existed only to cling to him. She had been too foolish to see it, too foolish until the pain broke her. At least it wasn¡¯t toote. She still had a chance at another life, at another choice. Baron saw her distracted expression, the shadow in her eyes, and knew she was thinking of Jensen again. His gaze darkened. One day, he would make sure she had no room left in her heart to think of that man. ¡°What do you want to eat? Order whatever you like¨Cyour husband¡¯s paying tonight.¡± He handed her the menu. Natalie scanned it and chose a few dishes. Then Baron slid a small box across the table toward her. ¡°See if you like this.¡± Natalie blinked. A box that size¨Cwas it a ring? 14:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 146 The Pendant She suddenly thought of Susie¡¯s question. Was Baron about to propose? 69 +10 Free Coins Official source is FindN()vel They had already registered their marriage. There was no need for formality. But if this was just a casual way of handing her a wedding ring, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little disappointed. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked automatically. ¡°Open it and see.¡± Baron propped his chin on his hands, watching her with a smile. Natalie drew a breath. Fine. Even if it was a ring, it didn¡¯t matter. They were already together. They didn¡¯t need ceremony. And after what Jensen had put her through, she couldn¡¯t demand romance. She was with Baron now because of the children and because he had saved her. If he wasn¡¯t the type for grand gestures, so be it. She lifted the lid¡ªthen her eyes widened in shock. ¡°This¡­ this is¡­¡± Insidey an emerald pendant, gleaming with vivid green light, unmistakably precious. Not a ring at all. Baron rose, took out the pendant, and fastened it gently around her neck. Then he lifted his phone and snapped a photo of the two of them together. Resting his chin lightly on her shoulder, his voice low against her ear, he said, ¡°This is the only thing my mother left me.¡± Natalie froze. She realized how little she knew of his family. All this time, it had been Baron caring for her. She had never even asked about his past. Guilt stirred in her chest. ¡°Your mother, she¡­¡± 14:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 146 The Pendant ¡°She¡¯s gone. She passed away years ago.¡± There was a quiet pain in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Baron. I didn¡¯t know. Something so valuable¨CI can¡¯t take it.¡± She started to lift it off, but he caught her hands. ¡°My mother would want it given to her daughter¨Cinw. It looks perfect on you.¡± Baron smiled faintly, then sat back down. Natalie touched the cool pendant at her throat. She understood its weight. 69 HereSelf 147 Chapter 147 The Hidden World Chapter 147 The Hidden World : Natalie looked at Baron, suddenly feeling the weight of pressure. ¡°Baron, with you treating me like this, I really don¡¯t know how to repay you.¡± 69 +10 Free Coins ¡°Just treat me with a normal heart. Do whatever you want. Remember, you¡¯re Natalie first, then Mrs. Gunn, then a mother. I only want you to be happy. Now eat. After dinner, I¡¯ll take downstairs to see something.¡± His words caught her off guard. ¡°Downstairs? There¡¯s a downstairs in this farmhouse?¡± ¡°Eat first.¡± Baron left her hanging with a secretive smile. Natalie didn¡¯t think for a second that he would sell her off. She started enjoying the food with him. She had to admit, the dishes here were really delicious. Baron saw how much she liked them and kept piling food onto her te, barely eating anything himself. It wasn¡¯t until Natalie was full that she noticed his te was almost untouched. ¡°Do you have no appetite? Or don¡¯t you like the food?¡± you ¡°No. I¡¯m just too happy today. I have this lousy quirk¨Cwhen I¡¯m happy, I can¡¯t eat much.¡± In his eyes was nothing but her reflection. Sensing his unease, Natalie reached for his hand and said softly, ¡°That won¡¯t do. It¡¯ll ruin your stomach. Here, let me put some food on your te.¡± ¡°All right.¡± He didn¡¯t refuse. She picked out a few light dishes that were easy to digest and set them in front of him. 14:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 147 The Hidden World 69 +10 Free Coins No matter what Natalie served, Baron ate without hesitation, as though even poison would taste like a feast if it came from her hands. Her heart ached for him. ¡°From now on, when we eat together, you need to take care of your stomach. I don¡¯t want us to be seventy or eighty years old and still have you suffering because of it.¡± Baron¡¯s hand paused, then he broke into a grin. ¡°You want to stay with me till we¡¯re seventy or eighty?¡± ¡°Of course. We¡¯ve already got the marriage certificate. Are you still worried I¡¯ll run away?¡± His smile grew even brighter, pride and joy overflowing. ¡°You¡¯re right. You¡¯re my Mrs. Gunn now.¡± The smug, triumphant look on his face was almost unbearable. ¡°Eat before it gets cold.¡± Natalie poured him a ss of warm water. Baron epted everything she offered. The rightful source is find?novel The whole meal was steeped in tenderness. When they were finished, Baron lowered his voice. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go downstairs and walk it off.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Natalie blinked, but followed him out of the private room. Behind a rock garden outside, she spotted a passageway. Her sharp eyes noticed it led underground. She froze for a second. As they approached, several people nearby started to greet Baron¨Cbut then their eyes caught the pendant at Natalie¡¯s throat. They all stopped short, then bowed deeply and respectfully. ¡°Greetings, Boss!¡± 14:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 147 The Hidden World Natalie stared, stunned. ¡°Are they talking to you?¡± ¡°They¡¯re talking to you. From now on, you¡¯re their Boss.¡± His words left her dizzy. ¡°Come downstairs first, I¡¯ll exinter.¡± Baron held her hand and led her through the stone passage. At the bottom, Natalie found herself standing in a massive underground auction hall. She was struck dumb with awe. 69 +10 Free Coins ¡°Baron, you don¡¯t need to tell me about your business empire,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I just want to design.¡± But Baron smiled. ¡°This isn¡¯t my business empire. It was my mother¡¯s legacy.¡± He guided her into an office and turned on several surveince feeds. ¡°See? That¡¯s the auction floor. It¡¯s like the ck market in Ocean City. Anything you can¡¯t find outside, you¡¯ll find it here. Of course, the prices are much higher. This was the foundation of my rise. Without the money from this ce, no matter how strong I was, I couldn¡¯t have be the crime lord so quickly.¡± He toyed idly with her hand, savoring its soft warmth. Natalie didn¡¯t pull away. Listening to him, she began to understand, ¡°What about that room?¡± She pointed at another feed, showing rows of people atputers, fingers flying across keyboards. ¡°That¡¯s the investment team. They control stock prices abroad.¡± ¡°And over there¨Cthat¡¯s the intelligence division. Whatever you want to know, they can dig it up and deliver it to you in the shortest time possible.¡± Baron exined each one. 0:0 69 Chapter 147 The Hidden World +10 Free Coins Natalie felt as though he wasying himself bare before her, exposing everything without fear she might betray or sell him out. That kind of trust, that deep love, made her eyes sting. ¡°Baron.¡± She suddenly spoke, cutting him off, her gaze lingering on him with tenderness. HereSelf 148 Chapter 148 A Dangerous Kiss Chapter 148 A Dangerous Kiss : 69 +10 Free Coins Baron froze for a moment, his heart giving a sudden thump when he met Natalie¡¯s eyes. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I want to kiss you.¡± L Her words made his eyes fly wide. He¡¯d always known Natalie to be a little old¨Cfashioned and reserved, the kind of woman who blushed just from a kiss at home¨Cyet now she was saying this outside. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Baron thought maybe he¡¯d misheard. The next second, Natalie cupped his face in her hands, and her hot lips pressed against his. His throat worked as he swallowed, the jelly¨Csoft touch breaking his control. He mped his arm around her waist, pulling her sharply up onto the desk, turning from passive to active in an instant as the air around them shattered. Natalie had only meant to give him aforting kiss, but now she waspletely swallowed by his wildness. The suffocating heat made her clutch his cor desperately¨Conly for the fabric to rip open under her grip, the buttons scattering across the floor with a sharp tter¡­ Both of them froze. Baron¡¯s eyes burned with a storm. Startled, Natalie looked at what she¡¯d done and flushed scarlet. ¡°I want to go home. The kids are waiting¨Cmmm¡­¡± Before she could finish, Baron¡¯s hand caught her, and his scorching, forceful kiss swept away every breath she had. Whatever else she¡¯d been about to say, he gave her no chance at all. She felt like every bit of air in her lungs was being pulled away by him, her legs going weak, her heart pounding like thunder. ¡°Baron¡­¡± 14:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 148 A Dangerous Kiss : Her voice was hoarse and breathy, tinged with both shyness and a helpless sweetness. 69 +10 Free Coins His throat bobbed as he forced his voice lower. ¡°Mrs. Gunn, today is our wedding registration day. Can I take you to the bridal chamber tonight?¡± The question left her stunned, unsure how to answer¨Cbut within it she heard his caution, his respect. She knew with certainty that if she said no, no matter how hard it was for him, Baron would never cross the line. That thought made her ache for him. ¡°What about the children?¡± She still didn¡¯t refuse outright. The light in his eyes red. He knew he had a chance. ¡°Let Shauna watch them for two days. Besides, they can¡¯t appear in public yet. I haven¡¯t perfected the protection measures for them.¡± It wasn¡¯t just an excuse. Natalie thought for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Here?¡± ¡°Ahem. Mrs. Gunn, you¡¯re a wild one, huh? There are cameras everywhere down here. You sure you want it here?¡± Before he finished, she stomped on his foot. ¡°Ahh¨Cyou¡¯re murdering your husband!¡± Baron toppled forward into her arms, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying himself in her scent. Natalie nearlyughed in exasperation. ¡°Baron, if your men saw you like this, would you still have any dignity left as a crime lord?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m not the one afraid to look¨Cthey¡¯re the ones afraid to watch.¡± ¡°Get off! You¡¯re heavy.¡± 2/3 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find¡¤novel 14:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 148 A Dangerous Kiss ¡°Let me hold you a little longer.¡± : He muttered into her, his face full of contentment. Natalie gave up fighting, leaving him clinging like an overgrown golden retriever. 69 +10 Free Coins She sat perched on the desk while he held her, her eyes drifting to the surveince feeds- rows of traders hammering away at their keyboards, moving who knew how much money at theirmand. She thought back to her five years with Jensen. In all that time, he¡¯d never once let her set foot inside Luke Corp. She remembered one time when Jensen was sick. She¡¯d made food and gone to deliver it to him, but she hadn¡¯t even been allowed through the lobby. Hansel, the assistant, hade down to take it instead. That day had stung badly. Jensen¡¯s excuse had been that her identity as Sunny had to remain hidden, that if the shareholders saw her around too often, they might dig into her background. If they discovered her past, he¡¯d lose his only card to hold his position. Though it had left her ufortable, she¡¯d epted it, swallowing her own pride for the sake of Jensen¡¯s career and status. From that day on, she never went to Luke Corp again. As for Luke Corp¡¯s annual g, she was never allowed to attend at all. Now, looking back, she realized the truth: in those five years of so¨Ccalled love, she¡¯d been nothing more than his hidden mistress, tucked away out of sight, Jensen had once said he didn¡¯t want her beauty exposed to other men, that his jealousy couldn¡¯t stand it. But only now did Natalie understand¨Cthose were just excuses, lies. Jensen had never wanted her anywhere near the Luke family¡¯s core, never wanted anyone to know about their rtionship. HereSelf 149 Chapter 149 Bridal Chamber Chapter 149 Bridal Chamber She had been so foolish. : Five years of silent devotion, convincing herself that was love. Natalieughed at herself bitterly. Baron sensed the shift in her mood and immediately let her go. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you feel unwell?¡± ¡°No.¡± 69 +10 Free Coins She shook her head, then cupped his face with both hands and asked with a smile, ¡°You¡¯ve shown me everything, put all of this in my hands. Aren¡¯t you afraid that one day I¡¯ll betray you? Sell you out? If that happens, you¡¯ll be finished.¡± Baron rubbed his cheek into her palm, answering casually, ¡°From the moment you agreed to marry me, this life of mine has been yours. Take it whenever you want. I¡¯ll give it willingly.¡± The depth in his eyes seared her. Natalie quickly turned her gaze away. ¡°Are you stupid? Who gives their life away like that?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t buy my willingness with all the money in the world.¡± His answer was flippant, almost childish. Her chest tightened with a faint ache. This man always knew how to pierce right through her defenses. ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to take me to the bridal chamber?¡± Her words caught him off guard. ¡°Now? Are you sure?¡± He realized maybe he didn¡¯t know Natalie as well as he thought. She seemed wilder by the day. Was this still the reserved little woman she used to be? Her smile turned sly. ¡°What? Don¡¯t want to? Then I¡¯ll just go back.¡± 69 Chapter 149 Bridal Chamber ¡°In your dreams!¡± Baron hoisted her onto his shoulder in one smooth motion and strode off. Natalie¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Baron, put me down!¡± +10 Free Coins What was she, a sack of potatoes? He was actually carrying her out like this? Did she not need her dignity anymore? Baron smacked her backside as he walked. ¡°Shut up and behave.¡± Her face flushed red to the tips of her ears. ¡°Baron, you¡¯re dead meat.¡± She ground the words out, but he only grinned. Around them, his men stared in shock until Baron was far out of sight before whispering among themselves. ¡°Was that really Mr. Gunn?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t seeing things, right? Mr. Gunn actually smiled?¡± ¡°Something¡¯s off today. Maybe we should brace for some big action tonight.¡± Nervous murmurs rippled through them. Baron couldn¡¯t have cared less about the waves of shock he left behind. He carried Natalie out of the underground auction and straight into one of the farmhouse¡¯s rooms. He was like a boy too eager to wait. Kicking the door open with one foot, he tossed Natalie onto the bed, then immediately leaned down to kiss her¨Conly to be stopped by her long, pale leg pressing firmly against his chest. That porcin foot held him back. ¡°Baron, did you just dare to smack me?¡± 14:26 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 149 Bridal Chamber : Her eyes glittered dangerously, her whole body trembling with indignation. Fresh chapters posted on fin?novel Baron only chuckled, caught her foot, and bent down to kiss the arch of it. 69 +10 Free Coins With a shock like thunder, the tingling shot through her body from her sole, leaving her melting into helpless warmth. What followedsted two full days and nights. Natalie hardly left the bed. She nearly wanted to kick Baron out entirely. When he tried to continue again, she finally snapped. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to touch me for a month!¡± She red coldly, though her face was flushed, her features glowing with a beauty that made Baron ache all over again. But he could see she was truly angry now. He coughed lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t. I just broke my fast. If you make me go a whole month without, you¡¯ll kill me.¡± ¡°Then die.¡± Her whole body was sore, like she¡¯d been taken apart and reassembled. Whoever saidnd couldn¡¯t be exhausted but oxen could¨Cshe felt like the opposite. The ox just kept getting stronger while thend was about to copse. Seeing the bruises darkening faintly along her skin, Baron cursed himself for being socking in restraint. But how could he have held back? After all these years, finally having the woman he loved, legally his¨Chow could he have resisted? ¡°I¡¯ll get you some water and oil. A soak will help.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t even look at him. He rubbed his nose and slipped away quietly. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. With his presence gone, Natalie finally breathed a sigh of relief. 14:26 Thu, Sep 25¡­ Chapter 149 Bridal Chamber The man had far too much stamina. : 69 +10 Free Coins She rubbed her aching neck, leaned against the headboard, and drifted into sleep without realizing. When Baron came out, that was the sight that met him. His guilt crashed over him in waves. Damn. Next time, he swore he would control himself. He lifted her carefully into his arms. She didn¡¯t stir. Together they sank into the bathtub. After twenty minutes soaking, he carried her out, dried her body tenderly, andid her back on the bed, pulling the nket up over her. HereSelf 150 : Chapter 150 The Truth Revealed From beginning to end, Natalie slept deeply. 69 +10 Free Coins Baron adjusted the room to afortable temperature. Just as he was about to lie down beside her and keep watch for a while, his phone rang. He nced at Natalie and saw her brow crease slightly, a faint trace of annoyance flickering across her sleeping face though she didn¡¯t wake. Baron quickly silenced the call and slipped out to the balcony, thoughtfully closing the door behind him. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mr. Gunn, the DNA results for Ms. Summers and Mrs. Stone are out.¡± At those words, Baron instinctively looked back at Natalie, still sound asleep. His eyes with tenderness. ¡°Send me the results. And forward Flynn¡¯s report too.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± It didn¡¯t take long before both sets of resultsnded in his inbox. softened Baron opened them. Just as he had expected¨CNatalie was the daughter of Waylon and Ruby. At the same time, Flynn received the report. The atmosphere in the hospital room was tense. Ruby had done nothing but wait for the DNA results, clinging to hope. Flynn was the first to see them. As he read the line showing a 99.9% match, he burst into tears andughter all at once. ¡°Dad, Mom¨CMs. Summers is my sister! She¡¯s my real sister!¡± Ruby snatched the paper from him. When she saw the result, she broke into uncontroble sobs. ¡°My daughter didn¡¯t die! She¡¯s alive¨Cshe¡¯s still alive! Why didn¡¯t I investigate back then?¡± Her grief tore through the room, raw and devastating. 1/3 For more chapters visit f?ndnovel Chapter 150 The Truth Revealed : Waylon stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. 69 +10 Free Coins ¡°Ruby, don¡¯t do this. No one could have known. We all saw the child was gone. Your condition at the time was so fragile¨CI was terrified you would fall apartpletely, so I buried the baby quickly.¡± Regret weighed heavily in his voice. If only he had been more careful back then¨Cif only he had paid closer attention¨Cperhaps he would have discovered their child had been switched. But who would have dared? Could it have been that poor rural couple? Waylon doubted they had the means. This was something he would have to dig into thoroughly. Ruby¡¯s cries grew harsher, as though she wanted to pour out all the years of grief and longing in one breath. Flynn¡¯s chest tightened. He remembered when his baby sister was born¨Ctiny and soft, wrapping her little fingers around his, cooing at him. That sweet little sister¡­ he had barely gotten the chance to hold her before being told she had died. The loss had always stung. Especially with Ruby¡¯s repeated suicide attempts, driven by despair over losing her child. He and Waylon had been consumed just trying to keep her alive, leaving little space for mourning. But now, more than twenty yearster, to learn that his sister was alive¨Calive and standing before them under such circumstances¨Cit was overwhelming. Seeing Ruby sobbing so hard she could barely breathe, Flynn spoke gently, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t cry anymore. You need to take care of yourself. Sister¡¯s health has only just recovered¡ªyou can¡¯t let her see you like this.¡± Waylon nodded quickly. ¡°He¡¯s right. Think of this as a blessing¨Cwe¡¯ve found our daughter, we know she¡¯s alive. From now on we¡¯ll give her everything, make up for all she¡¯s missed. But only if you¡¯re well enough to do it.¡± 14:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 150 The Truth Revealed Ruby gasped for breath, then nodded fiercely. :. 68 +10 Free Coins ¡°Yes, yes! I¡¯ll live well. I¡¯ll make up for everything we¡¯ve owed her. But¡­ she¡¯s with Mr. Gunn now. After all she¡¯s suffered, what if she mes us for not searching for her all these years?¡± Her voice trembled with fear. Waylon soothed her, his tone firm. ¡°She won¡¯t. Our blood flows in her veins. This is fate, Ruby. It¡¯s karma. Just focus on getting well, so you can fight for her when the timees. I¡¯ve already heard she was treated horribly.¡± Even before the results were in, Waylon had sent Flynn to dig into Natalie¡¯s past. What he discovered shocked him. Rage red. He had nearly booked a flight to Ocean City right then to tear Jensen, the Summers family, and Sharon apart. But he had also seen what Baron had done for Natalie. Without proof, he had no standing to act. But now? With the truth confirmed, no one would darey a hand on his daughter again. ¡°Flynn, notify our men. I want Luke Corp fully investigated. Every detail of thest five years.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Flynn¡¯s eyes shed coldly as he epted the order. HereSelf 151 Chapter 151 Her True Identity Chapter 151 Her True Identity : ¡°And the Summers family. I heard they¡¯re rising again, and I don¡¯t like it one bit.¡± 68 +10 Free Coins ¡°Forget the Summers family and the Luke family for now¨CI just want to see my daughter. Her name is Natalic, isn¡¯t it? My poor child¡­¡± Ruby tried to get out of bed, but Waylon stopped her. ¡°Your body can¡¯t take this kind of strain right now, and your blood clotting disorder needs proper treatment. If you want to spend many years with your daughter, Wanru, you need to take care of yourself first.¡± Waylon used the opportunity to persuade her. Ruby nodded quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll do it, I¡¯ll cooperate! Whatever the doctor says, I¡¯ll follow it. I only gave up on living because I thought my daughter was dead; now that I know she¡¯s alive¨Cand even being bullied like this¨Chow could I just lie here wasting away?¡± At this point, Ruby wanted nothing more than to recoverpletely as soon as possible. Seeing her like this, Waylon and Flynn were both overjoyed. ¡°Then we¡¯ll hold you to that. If you want to leave a good impression on your daughter, you¡¯d better cooperate with the doctors these next few days.¡± ¡°Fine, fine. But what do you mean by this¨Care you not going to let me see her?¡± Ruby immediately bristled. Before Waylon could answer, Flynn spoke up. ¡°Mom, Ms. Summers still doesn¡¯t know about her true identity. We need to think carefully about how to tell her. Besides, with someone like Mr. Baron by her side, it¡¯s not so easy to approach her directly.¡± Original content can be found at find(?)ovel Flynn was well aware of Baron¡¯s reputation. Though he was known as a crime lord, the business empire under his name was not to be underestimated. If a man like that was genuinely devoted to Natalie, then fine; but if he wasn¡¯t, the Stone family Sep Chapter 151 Her True Identity would have a real problem on their hands. Ruby¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. 68 +10 Free Coins ¡°I don¡¯t care about Mr. Baron or whoever he is. Natalie is our daughter. We lost her for over twenty years; when she was bullied not long ago, we weren¡¯t there for her. Now that we know she¡¯s ours, no matter what the truth back then was, as her father and her brother, shouldn¡¯t you both be the first to stand in front of her and give her the protection and support she needs most?¡± Her words were blunt and direct. Waylon and Flynn both looked embarrassed. ¡°Yes, yes, we¡¯ll go now¨Cit¡¯s just, with you here¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t I have special care assigned to me? Do you think I don¡¯t want to go with you? But you¡¯re the ones saying I can¡¯t leave the hospital yet, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ruby was frantic. She wished she could heal instantly. Waylon, seeing how anxious she was, quickly tried to soothe her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just rest. Flynn and I will go see Natalie right away.¡± ¡°Then go, hurry!¡± Ruby all but pushed them out the door herself. It was the first time Flynn had ever seen his mother so full of energy. ¡°Dad, let¡¯s go together.¡± Waylon nodded. The two of them went to the vi to find Natalie and Baron, but Shauna told them the pair had gone to the fishing lodge. With no choice, they headed there instead. Looking at the lodge, Waylon¡¯s eyes grew thoughtful. ¡°This ce isn¡¯t simple. I¡¯ve heard that even the wealthy and powerful have trouble getting reservations here. The food is secondary; what really matters is the underground auction held afterward. Mr. Baron is no ordinary man.¡± 14:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 151 Her True Identity Waylon¡¯s words made Flynn cautious. : 69 +10 Free Coms ¡°Dad, do you think someone with Mr. Baron¡¯s status and methods could really be sincere with my sister?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But considering he risked his life charging into a burning building to save her, and even managed to get the Witch Doctor to perform her skin graft, the Stone family already owes him a great debt. As long as he treats Natalie well, we¡¯ll acknowledge that debt for life. But if he ever dares to hurt her¨Ceven if it means risking the entire Stone family¨CI¡¯ll make sure he pays the price.¡± After finishing, Waylon steadied his aura and strode toward the lodge. The guards at the entrance stopped him immediately. ¡°We¡¯re closed right now. Please leave.¡± Flynn stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯re here to see Mr. Baron and Natalie. Could you pass this along? Mr. Baron will want to see us after looking at it.¡± He handed the guard a paternity test report. ¡°Wait here.¡± The guard carried the report inside. Natalie was still resting when Baron nced at it. ¡°Let them in,¡± he said calmly. Only then were Waylon and Flynn brought into the lodge¡¯s main hall. Not seeing Natalie, Flynn grew anxious. ¡°Mr. Baron, where¡¯s my sister?¡± ¡°She¡¯s tired and still resting.¡± Baron was wearing nothing but a bathrobe, the open cor revealing bruises along his skin- clear signs of what he had been doing not long ago. HereSelf 152 Chapter 152 So You Buried Her Fast Chapter 152 So You Buried Her Fast Waylon and Flynn¡¯s expressions had turned grim. ¡°Mr. Baron, there¡¯s something I¡¯m not sure I should ask.¡± Flynn was the one who finally spoke. 68 +10 Free Coins Waylon, after all, was the elder; it didn¡¯t feel appropriate for him to press, though his face clearly darkened. Baron, of course, noticed their reaction. Their expressions were far better than those of Natalie¡¯s foster parents in the Summers family. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Baron rose and began brewing a pot of tea for Waylon and Flynn. He wasn¡¯t the kind of man who brewed tea for just anyone. The two before him¨Cone his father¨Cinw by blood, the other Natalie¡¯s brother¡ªhad treated Natalie decently enough; because of that, he was willing to engage with them. As for whether Natalie would acknowledge them, Baron still had to wait for her decision. Watching Baron calmly prepare tea, Flynn felt a flicker of anger. ¡°Mr. Baron, I want to ask¨Cwhat exactly is your rtionship with my sister right now?¡± Calling her my sister made Baron¡¯s hand pause slightly. ¡°You¡¯d better stick with Ms. Summers for now. She hasn¡¯t made her stance clear yet. Yes, the test proves you¡¯re family, but what kind of family doesn¡¯t even know their daughter is alive for over twenty years?¡± There was a thread of reproach woven through Baron¡¯s words. If the Stone family had discovered the baby switch earlier, would Natalie have suffered so much? Waylon¡¯s aura copsed in an instant. ¡°To tell you the truth, the situation back then wasplicated. Not long after Natalie was born, Sep 25 Chapter 152 So You Buried Her Fast 68 +10 Free Coins my wife developed postpartum depression. She could n¡¯t bear to let the servants care for the baby, insisted on doing it herself, but she wasn¡¯t strong enough. One day, while nursing, the baby suffocated. My wife broke downpletely; she nearly followed the child into the grave.¡± He let out a heavy sigh as he spoke of the past. ¡°I know¨Cyou probably think I failed as a father, that I wasn¡¯t strict enough about how we handled our child¡¯s death. But I was also a husband. My wife had just endured childbirth, only to face the loss of our daughter; her depression had spiraled. Faced with that, I had to put the living first, didn¡¯t I?¡± Waylon¡¯s exnation was reasonable enough; still, Baron¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°So you buried your daughter in a rush? You didn¡¯t even bother confirming whether she was truly your child?¡± His voice was frigid, stripping away all courtesy. Waylon had spent decadesmanding the business world; few had ever dared confront him so bluntly. Flynn started to speak, but Waylon stopped him. He met Baron¡¯s eyes directly. And from them, he saw just how deeply Baron loved Natalie. The seasoned businessman suddenly felt heat sting his eyes. ¡°Of course not. Natalie was the princess our entire family had prayed for; even if she had died, how could we have treated it carelessly? I remember¨Cwe asked rtives to arrange a paternity test beforeying her to rest.¡± Waylon frowned as he recalled, his voice low. ¡°My wife, Ruby, was in terrible shape, and Flynn was still so young. I couldn¡¯t handle everything on my own. I asked my younger brother, Xenon, to take care of it. At the time, Ruby would try to kill herself whenever anyone mentioned our daughter. I couldn¡¯t let her see the child again. So I entrusted everything to my brother, insisting he get a test done. The results from back then are still locked in my safe.¡± From the look on Waylon¡¯s face, Baron could tell he wasn¡¯t lying. Hearing that there had been a paternity test, Baron had to admit Waylon¡¯s actions hadn¡¯t been careless, His expression softened slightly. ¡°Sit. Have some tea. It¡¯s a fine green.¡± 14:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 152 So You Buried Her Fast : 68 +10 Free Coins Baron poured three cups with smooth precision and set them before himself and the two men. Waylon watched the way he handled the tea, unable to resist giving him another look. They said Baron was a ruthless devil who killed without blinking, cruel and violent, never kind to anyone. But a man who could brew tea with such skill. Could he really be so heartless? Waylon suspected the rumors about Baron were wrong. Newest update provided by Or perhaps Baron simply didn¡¯t want outsiders to see this side of him. Waylon pulled Flynn down to sit opposite Baron and raised his cup. The aroma was rich; the taste, calming. Only when he saw Waylon drink did Baron continue, ¡°Now that the DNA test is out, it proves Natalie is your daughter, the one you thought died back then. Which raises the question¡ªwhat happened with that original test? Mr. Waylon, didn¡¯t you ever ask your good brother about it?¡± The crux of it ally with Waylon¡¯s younger brother. Waylon sighed at Baron¡¯s question. ¡°My brother has already passed away.¡± 14:27 Thu, Sep 25 HereSelf 153 Chapter 153 Can We See Her ¡°What do you mean?¡± 68 +10 Free Coins ¡°The third year after my daughter¡¯s death, my younger brother and his wife took their one- year¨Cold daughter on a trip. They were in a car ident halfway there; all three of them died.¡± Waylon still felt a pang of grief as he spoke of it. After all, it had been his own brother. Baron¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. ¡°It was really just an ident?¡± This text is hosted at find?novel Of course, Waylon knew what Baron was thinking. He lowered his voice. ¡°The police were called at the time; the insurancepany was also involved. Everything was ruled an ident¨Cthe driver was drunk. It all seemed reasonable enough. I didn¡¯t think much of it back then, but now that we know Natalie is alive, I can¡¯t help feeling my brother¡¯s family of three might have been silenced.¡± This was something he could only say to Baron; if he¡¯d said it to Ruby, she would have lost her mind. Flynn had been raised to manage the family business from a young age; Waylon had never let him touch the darker side of things. Now, hearing his father suggest that Xenon¡¯s death might have had anotheryer of truth, Flynn¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Dad, are you saying that when my sister was switched at birth, it could have been deliberate?¡± Waylon nced at his son, saying nothing, but his eyes gave away the answer, Flynn¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°No way! After mom got pregnant, they were so kind to us. How could they have worked with outsiders to take my sister?¡± Flynn wasn¡¯t stupid. ¡°Back then, Waylon had left everything in his younger brother Xenon¡¯s hands; it had all seemed airtight. They truly believed their daughter had died. For Ruby¡¯s sake, they suppressed 14:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 153 Can We See Her their grief and forced themselves to let go of the child they thought they had lost.¡± 68 +10 Free Coins But now it had been revealed that the dead baby wasn¡¯t from the Stone family at all¨Cthat Natalie had been switched, possibly even deliberately ced with the Summers family. And the only ones with the chance to manipte things were people closest to the Stone family, people they trusted. Xenon was the biggest suspect. Especially considering that only two yearster, Xenon¡¯s entire family had conveniently perished in an ¡°ident.¡± The more one thought about it, the more chilling it seemed. Baron had been in the underworld long enough to have seen every dirty trick imaginable; he showed no surprise. ¡°Mr. Waylon, you should investigate this thoroughly. Even if those directly involved are dead, there are still clues to follow. That farmer couple back then may not have been as innocent as they looked.¡± Baron had struck right at the heart of it. He could easily take on the investigation himself¨Cand in fact, he had already sent people to do just that. But outwardly, he wanted to see how the Stone family treated Natalie. Her first foster parents had already hurt her badly; even with her biological family, unless Baron was certain they truly loved her, he had no intention of letting go. Waylon nodded naturally at Baron¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ll have people look into it right away.¡± Baron inclined his head, saying nothing further. He clearly had no intention of letting them see Natalie, Flynn grew anxious. ¡°Mr. Baron, can we see my sister?¡± Baron checked the time, then said calmly, ¡°Why don¡¯t youe back tomorrow? This has hit her hard. She¡¯s exhausted and will probably sleep until morning. I don¡¯t want to disturb her rest.¡± Waylon and Flynn immediately understood the meaning behind his words. 14:27 Thu, Sep 25 68 Chapter 153 Can We See Her Their faces darkened again. +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Baron, you still haven¡¯t answered me. What exactly is your rtionship with my sister?¡± Flynn set down his teacup with a huff. Before, when they hadn¡¯t known Natalie was his sister, it hadn¡¯t mattered; but now that they knew she was the Stone family¡¯s princess, how could they allow her to stay by Baron¡¯s side without a name, tied to such a dangerous man? Waylon, however, was far calmer than Flynn. He looked at Baron with a faint smile that never reached his eyes. ¡°Mr. Baron, how about this? Tomorrow we¡¯ll exin everything to Natalie. If she epts us, we¡¯d like to bring her back to the Stone family.¡± The words had barely left his mouth when Baron¡¯s teacup shattered with a sharp crack in his hand. Tea and leaves sshed out along with shards of ss, soaking his pale fingers; yet somehow the sight sent a chill straight to the bone. Flynn¡¯s body went rigid. Waylon, though, held him back. He looked at Baron and said evenly, ¡°Mr. Baron, whether you like it or not, Natalie is the Stone family¡¯s daughter. She¡¯sing home.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Baron tossed aside the broken cup and gave Waylon a cool look. ¡°Mr. Waylon¨Cplease.¡± Waylon didn¡¯t take offense; he simply left with Flynn. Flynn¡¯s face was clouded with anger. 3/3 HereSelf 154 Chapter 154 Protecting Two Women Always Chapter 154 Protecting Two Women Always ¡°Dad, what did Mr. Baron mean by that?¡± 68 +10 Free Coins ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what Mr. Baron meant; in the short term, he won¡¯t harm Natalie. What we need to look into is that rural couple from back then, and Uncle Xenon¡¯s death.¡± Waylon¡¯s eyes were cold; there was none of theposure he had shown in front of Baron. Flynn hesitated, as if he wanted to speak but held back. ¡°Dad, do you think Uncle Xenon really did something like that?¡± ¡°What I think doesn¡¯t matter; the fact is, your sister was switched, and we were kept in the dark. All I want now is the truth. Can¡¯t you see? Mr. Baron¡¯s meaning is obvious¡ªif the past isn¡¯t exined, whether Natalie returns to the Stone family is still uncertain. On that point, Mr. Baron treats your sister quite well.¡± As he spoke of Baron, a flicker of admiration passed through Waylon¡¯s eyes. Flynn said nothing, deeply shaken. Waylon looked at his son and sighed. ¡°I was too narrow¨Cminded before. I wanted you to inherit the Stone family business without ever being stained by the world¡¯s ugliness; I forgot how much darkness there really is out there. When your sisteres home, you¡¯ll need to bear more responsibility. We¡¯re men, and it¡¯s our duty to protect the two women in our family. ¡°I understand, dad.¡± Flynn nodded, and the two got into the car and left. Baron waited until Waylon was gone before speaking in a low voice. ¡°Change the investigation of that couple to be handled in secret; let the Stone family take the lead.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Baron.¡± Someone answered and quickly withdrew. Baron went to wash his hands, then returned to the bedroom. Natalie was sleeping soundly. Seeing the marks of their passion on her body, Baron couldn¡¯t help but curve his lips. 14:27 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 154 Protecting Two Women Always 68 +10 Free Coins He slipped off his robe, lifted the nket carefully, and slid under it; his arm immediately circled around Natalie. She frowned slightly in protest and let out a small hum, but she was too exhausted to wake. Nestling into his arms to find afortable position, she quickly fell back into deep sleep. Baron was thoroughly pleased with this instinctive reaction. Holding her close, he too drifted into slumber. It was a restful night. When Natalie woke the next morning, the sight of a handsome face so close startled her for a moment. But opening her eyes to such an attractive view wasn¡¯t a bad way to start the day; she felt ratherfortable. Baron¡¯s skin was wless¨Cso wless Natalie almost felt jealous. Suddenly she reached out and gently pinched his nose. In the next instant, his hand on her waist shifted. ¡°Ah!¡± Natalie gasped, just as Baron opened his eyes. Thosezy eyes glinting with amusement left her flustered. ¡°It¡¯s too early to be fooling around.¡± Content originallyes from Natalie swatted his wandering hand away. Baron looked a little disappointed, but he didn¡¯t press further. Plenty of time to tease her . ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll have them prepare it. And there¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡± Right in front of her, Baron lifted the nket without hesitation. Natalie¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Baron! You¡¯re not wearing anything!¡± ¡°Why wear clothes to sleep with my wife? Besides, we¡¯re legally married. It¡¯s fine; I don¡¯t mind 68 Chapter 154 Protecting Two Women Always you looking.¡± +10 Free Coins Faced with his shamelessness, Natalie rolled her eyes; though she had to admit, his body was impressive. Scars aside, he had both looks and physique. He didn¡¯t stop her from looking either; instead, his lips curved slightly, a touch smug. Natalie could hardly stand it. As she watched him pull on his robe and start toward the door, there came a knock outside. ¡°Mr. Baron, are you awake?¡± Baron paused, then looked back at Natalie. ¡°Freshen up first; I¡¯ll first; I¡¯ll step out.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Natalie nodded. After he left, she finally got up to wash, though her exhaustion weighed heavily on her. That beast! Natalie cursed inwardly as she dragged her sore legs into the bathroom. Outside, Baron shut the bedroom door and turned to the bodyguard waiting there, his face dark. ¡°This early, you¡¯d better have something urgent, or you won¡¯t like the consequences.¡± Seeing his expression, the bodyguard hurried to report, ¡°After Mr. Waylon and his son left yesterday, something happened.¡± ¡°What?¡± Baron tensed immediately. Whatever else, they were Natalie¡¯s father and brother. The bodyguard lowered his voice. ¡°It seems they had a car ident. Fortunately, they¡¯re fine. At the crucial moment, Mr. Waylon pulled his son out of the car; they only suffered minor scrapes.¡± HereSelf 155 er 155 I¡¯ll Tell Her Myself Chapter 155 I¡¯ll Tell Her Myself Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed. : 68 +10 Free Coins ¡°They had just started digging into the past, and then this happened¨Chow could that be a coincidence? And to know their exact route, to know they¡¯d left my ce¡­ it seems the other side has eyes everywhere. Pass the word down; have our men investigate themselves. If you find a traitor, take care of it immediately.¡± His voice wasn¡¯t loud, barely carried any inflection; yet it sent a chill through the heart. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The bodyguard hurried away. Baron¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. Just then, Waylon¡¯s call came through. He paused, then swiped to answer. ¡°Mr. Waylon, are you and your son alright?¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine, thank you for your concern, Mr. Baron. Yesterday shook me more than I¡¯d like to admit. I wanted to let you know¡ªwe won¡¯t being today, or anytime soon. Once I¡¯ve cleaned up matters within the Stone family, I¡¯ll officially wee Natalie home.¡± Baron found himself agreeing with Waylon¡¯s approach. ¡°Do you want me to tell her about your rtionship?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Waylon couldn¡¯t wait another day. Natalie was his daughter; even if he couldn¡¯t bring her home openly yet, he would as soon as possible. Baron gave a small nod, ¡°Alright. In the meantime, I¡¯ll take good care of her. You focus on cleaning house. I don¡¯t want Natalie returning only to be targeted and watched all over again.¡± With that, he ended the call. Just then, one of his men ran up and whispered a few words in his ear. Baron¡¯s face changed 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 155 I¡¯ll Tell Her Myself instantly. ¡°Get things ready. I¡¯m going to Ocean City.¡± At hismand, the man rushed off. : 68 +10 Free Coins When Natalie came out after washing up, she found Baron standing before the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, a cigarette between his fingers. He wasn¡¯t a heavy smoker; most of the time, he simply yed with the habit. But now, his figure radiated a quiet loneliness that Natalie couldn¡¯t ignore. Her chest tightened with sudden sympathy for him. People said that once a woman began to feel sorry for a man, it meant she was falling in love. Natalie didn¡¯t know if she was in love, but in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to hold him. So she did she stepped forward and slipped her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek against his back. His back made her feel safe. ¡°What is it? Did something happen?¡± Her voice was soft, still raspy from sleep; her scent drifted into his lungs. He quickly put out his cigarette and caught her fingers at his waist. ¡°There are two things I need to tell you.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± She didn¡¯t let go, still leaning into him. Follow current nov?ls on f?ndnovel Without her gaze on him, it felt easier for Baron to speak. ¡°Natalie, you already know about the Stone family¡¯s DNA test. The results came out yesterday -you¡¯re Waylon and Ruby¡¯s biological daughter. As for why you were switched, the Stone family promised to uncover the truth. Back then, after they thought you¡¯d died, they had Uncle Xenon do a paternity test on the dead infant. He said the child was indeed from the Stone family, which is why they never realized you were still alive. And then, coincidentally¡ª or not¨CXenon and his entire family died in a car ident within three years.¡± Baron didn¡¯t give her time to process,ying it all out at once. 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 155 I¡¯ll Tell Her Myself Natalie wasn¡¯t especially shocked. : 68 +10 Free Coins She already knew much about Ruby, about those years; and with how closely her own features matched theirs, even she had doubted she could be anything but blood. Now that her suspicions were confirmed, it felt like a stone had finally lifted from her chest; beyond that, she didn¡¯t feel much. ¡°The Stone family will get to the bottom of it. But¡­ no one came to see me?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but ask. From what she had seen, the Stone family had cared deeply for that child. Now that they knew she was the one, surely someone would havee? Baron turned to face her, his voice low. ¡°They came yesterday. But you were too tired and asleep, so I told them toe back today. Then, on their way, they got into a car ident.¡± ¡°What?¡± Natalie¡¯s heart jumped. ¡°Are they alright?¡± ¡°They¡¯re fine. But it¡¯s clear this ties back to a traitor in the Stone family. Your father just called me¨Che doesn¡¯t n to take you home yet, but he wanted me to tell you who you are. He said once he¡¯s purged the Stone family, he¡¯ll bring you back.¡± Baron feared she might be upset. After all, the Summers family had abandoned her the moment they learned she wasn¡¯t theirs. HereSelf 156 Chapter 156 Comfort Me : 68 +10 Free Coins Now that Natalie had finally found her biological parents, another crisis loomed; Baron feared she might start overthinking. Natalie, however, only nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not really interested in these power struggles. But doesn¡¯t this mean I can¡¯t even visit Mrs. Stone in the hospital?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still calling her Mrs. Stone? She¡¯s your mother.¡± Seeing that she wasn¡¯t upset, Baron finally breathed a little easier. Natalie smiled faintly. ¡°I can¡¯t call her that yet; I¡¯ll need time. Didn¡¯t you say there were two things? What¡¯s the other one?¡± Baron¡¯s eyes chilled, though he didn¡¯t answer immediately. Natalie picked up on it instantly. ¡°Does it have to do with Jensen?¡± Baron¡¯s gaze shifted toward her, full of wounded grievance, as if she had just said something that wronged him. Natalie was speechless. ¡°Baron! Talk! You realize, don¡¯t you, that I¡¯ll be bringing up Jensen¡¯s name more and more in front of you from now on?¡± Her matter¨Cof¨Cfact tone unsettled him. He pulled her into his arms, his voice muffled. ¡°I know. You want revenge yourself; you¡¯ll have to bring him up, maybe even face him again. But every time I imagine you having to deal with him, I can¡¯t stand it.¡± ¡°So what do you want?¡± Natalie felt helpless toward this big golden retriever of a man. She couldn¡¯t erase the five years she had spent with Jensen; but she had also cut him offpletely, and she could never forgive him for nearly letting her burn to death. Baron knew he was being unreasonable, but since she¡¯d asked, he muttered with a hint of grievance, ¡°Maybe you could kiss me? Comfort me a little?¡± 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 156 Comfort Me 68 +10 Free Coins Natalie cupped his face gently, looked at the striking man before her, and suddenly rose on tiptoe to press a tender kiss to his lips. ¡°Mr. Baron, don¡¯t be insecure. I¡¯m your wife¨Cwe¡¯re legally married. I can¡¯t promise I already love youpletely, but I can promise my body belongs only to you; and sooner orter, my heart probably will too.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes turned red at the edges. He wrapped her tightly in his strong arms, his voice low. ¡°You said it. I¡¯m taking it seriously.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Natalie¡¯s soft reply seemed to settle him, and only then did she ask, ¡°So what¡¯s the second thing?¡± Baron finally answered. ¡°Jensen found out Ms. Sunny is still alive. He went crazy, buying information about you on the ck market. My monopoly has already been forced to shut down; now, because he still can¡¯t find you, he¡¯s throwing fits there. But the ck market is my territory. I need to go back to Ocean City.¡± Hearing how unhinged Jensen had be, Natalie couldn¡¯t help but find it ironic. ¡°For men, is it always that what they can¡¯t have is the most precious? When I was with him, he couldn¡¯t have Sharon, so she became his so¨Ccalled first love. Now that he¡¯s married Sharon and I¡¯m gone, suddenly I¡¯ve turned into his unattainable dream?¡± Her words made Baron dere instantly, ¡°That doesn¡¯t include me! I¡¯ve never had a first love. You¡¯re the only one for me. Marrying you and having our two adorable kids¨Cthat¡¯s my greatest joy and aplishment in this life.¡± Natalie couldn¡¯t help but smile at that. Baron really did seize every chance to prove his loyalty and devotion. And Natalie found herself starting to like that feeling. This text is hosted at find?novel ¡°I want to go back to Ocean City too. It¡¯s been long enough; Jensen and Sharon owe me, and it¡¯s time they start paying me back.¡± Her words ended with a flicker of murderous intent in her eyes. Baron had no objection to her return, though he hesitated. ¡°What about the kids? Should I send them back to the ind?¡± 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 156 Comfort Me The moment he finished, Natalie kicked him. : 68 +10 Free Coins ¡°What nonsense! The kids are old enough for kindergarten. I think Ocean City has plenty of good ones. They¡¯ll stay with me.¡± Her kick wasn¡¯t hard, and Baron ignored the faint mark it left on his trousers; if anything, he found the tiny footprint adorable. Hearing that she wanted to bring the children, Baron asked, ¡°So how exactly are you nning this?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Natalie didn¡¯t understand. Baron sighed. ¡°No one outside knows Ms. Sunny¡¯s true identity. The only person who does is Jensen. If you¡¯re going to step back into the world, do you n to acknowledge us publicly¨Cas a family of three? If not, then I¡¯ll take the children myself. But if you will, then we¡¯ll all go back together.¡± 1 He had thought it through in detail. Natalie couldn¡¯t help butugh at the way this man seemed desperate for recognition every chance he got. 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 HereSelf 157 Chapter 157 Just You And No One 68 +10 Free Coins Natalie shot back, ¡°Plenty of women would kill to marry you. You really think no one would give you a proper title?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else¨Cjust you.¡± Baron¡¯s hand wandered again, sliding up her back, but Natalie pped it away. ¡°I¡¯m tired. Quit messing around.¡± She turned and went to sit on the sofa. Baron casually poured a ss of warm water and handed it to her. ¡°Drink some warm water¨Cit¡¯s good for you.¡± ¡°You sound just like a doctor.¡± Though she grumbled, Natalie still epted the ss and drank it down. Baron¡¯s eyes flickered; his lips parted slightly, but in the end he didn¡¯t dare reveal that he was the Witch Doctor. When he saw she had finished the water, he immediately had breakfast brought in. ¡°Eat while we talk.¡± Natalie nced at the spread¨Ceverything she liked. It made her warm up to him even more. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether we separate or not. We¡¯re husband and wife; that isn¡¯t fake, and the kids are ours. There¡¯s no reason for the four of us to split up. As for what other people think- that¡¯s not something I can control.¡± She thought of how Jensen had gone mad after dying in the fire; her lips curled in a mocking smile. Hearing her words, Baron¡¯s brows and eyes softened into a smile. ¡°Mm, I think you¡¯re right. I¡¯ll have the private jet prepared, and let Shaunae along too.¡± ¡°Bring Yvonne¡± Natalie¡¯s gaze darkened slightly as she lowered her voice. ¡°The Stone family is already falling apart inside and out. I don¡¯t want to get involved, but I can¡¯t sit by and do nothing either. My 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 157 Just You And No One test results with Yvonne show we¡¯re cousins. I suspect she¡¯s Uncle Xenon¡¯s child.¡± Baron raised a brow. ¡°Do you have proof?¡± Natalie shook her head. 68 +10 Free Coins ¡°No. But I don¡¯t think Uncle Xenon was that stupid. Even if he knew he was doomed, he¡¯d have left something behind. That child who supposedly died in the car ident? It was the Stone family who handled everything¨Cno one cared enough to verify if the kid was really his. So I think he swapped the child beforehand, and Yvonne may very well be his biological daughter.¡± Her reasoning wasn¡¯t without merit. Baron ced some vegetables into her bowl and said, ¡°Whether she is or isn¡¯t, let the Stone family deal with it. But you¡¯re right¨Cnow that Yvonne is my sister, there¡¯s no reason to let anyone bully her. Fine, we¡¯ll take her back with us.¡± Natalie looked at the vegetables in her bowl and frowned. She really didn¡¯t want to eat them. But judging by Baron¡¯s expression, if she refused, he might actually feed her himself. With a sigh, Natalie forced herself to eat them. Baron¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. ¡°I need to head back to the viter. My design draft is starting to take shape. Ms. Sunny¡¯seback can¡¯t be without a new piece. I want to release something first¨Cbut I can¡¯t use Jensen¡¯s factory anymore.¡± She had worked with Foster for five years; it had been good, but since his factory was under Luke Corp, she really didn¡¯t want any more ties to it. Baron set down his chopsticks gracefully, picked up a napkin, and wiped his hands before speaking. ¡°That¡¯s easy. Your husband isn¡¯t just a mafia godfather; I¡¯m also apany president.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Natalie froze. She genuinely hadn¡¯t known that. Then she suddenly remembered the traders in the basement. 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 157 Just You And No One ¡°A venture capital firm?¡± ¡°No¨CGrant International Holdings.¡± The moment he said it, Natalie¡¯s eyes widened. : ¡°You¡¯re the president of Grant International Holdings?¡± 68 +10 Free Coins Grant International Holdings had risen in just two or three years to be amercial powerhouse. Every project it invested in had long¨Cterm vision, and its financial backing was rumored to be bottomless. But thepany¡¯s president never appeared publicly; no one knew if the person was male or female, young or old. Natalie had never imagined Baron would turn out to be the president of Grant International Holdings. I must have saved the gxy in my past life¡­ otherwise how did I end up with a husband like him in this one? Fresh chapters posted on find[f]ovel Seeing her stunned expression, Baronughed heartily. He reached out and brushed her nose with his finger. ¡°Surprised?¡± ¡°Yes! Completely surprised.¡± Natalie nodded, looking adorably dazed. ¡°If you¡¯re such a business genius, why stay a godfather?¡± ¡°Habit.¡± Baron had no intention of exining further, and Natalie was smart enough not to push it. She studied him, hesitating. ¡°Something you want to say?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m just figuring out how best to put it.¡± Frustration welled up in her chest. Back when she was with Jensen, she had wasted five whole years working for Luke Corp¨Cfor free, really¨Cjust paving the road for him. HereSelf 158 Chapter 158 You nned My Life Again Chapter 158 You nned My Life Again 68 +10 Free Coins She couldn¡¯t afford to make the same foolish mistake again. Sharon¡¯s attempt to steal Sunny¡¯s name had opened her eyes to just how vital exclusivity truly was. But she and Baron were bound as husband and wife. And Baron treated her with such devotion¨Cso much that she had no way to repay him. To raise the idea of signing a contract with Grant International Holdings now would feel like a betrayal of his trust. Her chest tightened, her heartbeat unsteady. Still, if she refused to sign, she would remain adrift, propped up by Grant International Holdings with no foundation of her own. No¨Cshe wouldn¡¯t allow herself to keep drifting. She wanted to stand on her own! She wanted her own brand; she would no longer be the clinging vine that survived only by relying on a man. But how was she supposed to say that? Baron noticed the way she hesitated, words on the tip of her tongue, and smiled. ¡°I have a suggestion¨Cwant to hear it?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Natalie looked up slightly. Baron pulled out an agreement and handed it to her. ¡°Ms. Sunny is world¨Cfamous; everyone¡¯s after you. So can I shamelessly use my husbandly privilege to recruit you into mypany? Or¨Cyou could establish your own studio, and our Grant International Holdings could partner with it. This is the contract; take a look.¡± His words brought a sting of heat to Natalie¡¯s eyes. Everything she wanted to say but couldn¡¯t¨Che had already thought of. Not only that; he had already paved the way for her. A studio of her very own? 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 158 You nned My Life Again 68 +10 Free Coins The thought made her heart race. Back when she first graduated, her dream had been to build her own studio. If not for helping Jensen, she would never have wasted so many years propping him up. And now, Baron was the one to put her old dream into words. Truly, whether someone loved you could be seen in the smallest details. Her chest warmed. ¡°Baron¡­ how can you be so good to me?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not good. I just want to be good to you¨Cand only you.¡± His cool, slender fingers brushed away her tears; his gaze brimmed with tenderness. Natalie clutched the contract, suddenly at a loss for words. Baron pulled her to her feet with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve already chosen the studio¡¯s location. Want to see it?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t run a studio all by myself.¡± His way of taking action before she even asked left her both touched and exasperated. Baron onlyughed. ¡°Yvonne has nothing to do at home anyway; and since she might be rted to you, wouldn¡¯t it be perfect to train her as an assistant? Besides, I trust her skills. With her by your side, I¡¯ll feel reassured.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already made all the arrangements; I just don¡¯t know if Yvonne¡¯s even interested in design.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t mind. If Yvonne wanted to learn, so much the better. She really did like this little sister. But ultimately, it would be up to Yvonne to decide. Baron squeezed her hand with a grin. ¡°Of course, she¡¯ll like it; she wants to learn everything. And I think I still have your senior Renee¡¯s contact information¨Cshould I bring her in? She seems to care about you.¡± Natalie truly didn¡¯t know what to say. 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 158 You nned My Life Again : ¡°Baron, how do you always know exactly what I¡¯m thinking?¡± ¡°What? I do? Then show me so I can be sure!¡± He bent toward her belly, making her shriek and bolt away. Sunlight spilled over her body like a golden glow. 68 +10 Free Coins Coupled with her bright, carefreeughter, Baron thought this moment was the very definition of peace. After a bit of yful chasing, he personally drove her to one of Grant International Holdings¡® properties used for business leasing. ¡°This is yourpany¡¯s?¡± Natalie was quite pleased. The view, the setting¨Ceverything here was excellent. Even though she¡¯d be returning to Ocean City, having a studio here and working with Grant International Holdings was still a great idea. Once word got out, she could finally cut ties with Jensenpletely. With that thought, Natalie called Renee. Meanwhile, Baron arranged for people toe in and clean. When Renee heard that Natalie was establishing her own studio¨Cand that she was Ms. Sunny -she was overjoyed, and immediately said she¡¯de work for her. Th?s chapter is updated by fin?novel Natalie asked what about her current job. Renee said she¡¯d just resign; no one respected her at that design office anyway. That answer made Natalie truly happy. Baron, seeing how quickly the team wasing together, used his authority as president of Grant International Holdings to establish and register the studio at once. In less than a single day, Natalie¡¯s studio had opened its doors. Renee and Yvonne became its first employees. And to prepare for her return home, Natalie took out hertest designs. 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 HereSelf 159 Chapter 159 Daddy Loses To Kids : Chapter 159 Daddy Loses To Kids 68 +10 Free Coins Renee went over the details with her, made the final adjustments, and then confirmed the draft. Baron had people work through the night to have it produced. And he and Natalie formally signed their contract with the utmost seriousness. ¡°Here¡¯s to a good partnership, Ms. Sunny.¡± ¡°To a good partnership, Mr. Baron.¡± Their hands sped tightly as they both broke intoughter. Seeing the respect and care Baron showed Natalie, Renee quietly felt happy for her. Baron then brought Natalie back to the vi. Sean and Susie spotted them walking in and immediately fixed them with little stern faces, making Baron rub his nose in embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s sote¨Cwhy aren¡¯t you two asleep yet?¡± Sean rolled his eyes at him. ¡°Daddy, you ran off with Mommy. Did you even ask us first?¡± ¡°Yeah! Daddy, mommy doesn¡¯t just belong to you. How can you hog her all to yourself?¡± Susie pouted, clearly displeased. Natalie waspletely charmed by the two of them. ¡°Sweethearts, I missed you too. Come here, give me a hug.¡± The children leapt off the sofa, one on each side, throwing themselves into her arms. ¡°Mommy, can Susie sleep with you tonight?¡± Susie¡¯s bold request made Baron¡¯s cyes widen. ¡°No!¡± 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 159 Daddy Loses To Kids ¡°I¡¯m talking to mommy! Daddy, you¡¯re so annoying.¡± Susie shot him a re. For original chapters go to 68 +10 Free Coins Baron instinctively tugged at Natalie¡¯s hand. Come on, I had only just gotten my wife back in his arms, and now I was about to be exiled again? If the kids slept with her tonight, what am I supposed to do? Natalie clearly caught the meaning in his eyes, but she only smiled faintly and pretended not to notice. ¡°All right. Tonight I will sleep with Susie and Sean. How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Me too?¡± Sean lit up with surprise and delight. Baron felt his heart sink. ¡°No! You¡¯re a boy!¡± He argued with conviction. But Natalie lifted her son into her arms and said calmly, ¡°A four¨Cyear¨Cold boy can certainly sleep beside his mommy once in a while. Besides, I¡¯ve never gotten the chance to be there for them while they grew up.¡± The regret in her voice cut him down instantly. Baron couldn¡¯t stand to see even a trace of sadness in her. ¡°Fine! The three of you sleep together¨CI¡¯ll take the guest room. Happy now?¡± Resigned, he turned to leave, only for Sean to grab his sleeve. ¡°Daddy, why can¡¯t the four of us sleep together?¡± Baron¡¯s eyes lit up at once. He might not be able to keep his wife all to himself, but at least he could share the same bed; that was something. Natalie noticed his expression and couldn¡¯t helpughing. ¡°Well, if the bed¡¯s big enough, the four of us could share it.¡± 14:28 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 159 Daddy Loses To Kids ¡°It¡¯s big enough¨Cabsolutely big enough!¡± : Baron scooped Sean and Susie into his arms and headed for the bedroom first. ¡°I¡¯ll take the kids in. You can follow after.¡± He dashed off as soon as the words left his mouth. Watching him, Natalie¡¯s lips curved again. Being with Baron made every day feel so full. When she entered the bedroom, Baron was already bathing Sean. Natalie turned to Susie, smiling. ¡°Sweetheart, want me to give you a bath?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Susie clung to her eagerly. ¡°Mommy, watch closely¨Cwhen I grow up, I want to be as pretty as you.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Natalie took her daughter into the bathroom. Soon after, the four of them climbed into the big bed together. 68 +10 Free Coins Nataliey in the middle; Sean nestled on her left, Susie on her right. Baron had no choice but to take the spot beside Sean. He felt a little dejected, but no one paid him any mind. Natalie told the children a bedtime story; before long, they had drifted off to sleep. Baron automatically wanted to move them back to their rooms, but Natalie stopped him. ¡°Let them stay. Tomorrow we¡¯re going back to Ocean City.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve really decided?¡± Baron studied her face as he asked. Natalie nodded lightly. 14.28 Thu, Sep 25 ¨C Chapter 159 Daddy Loses To Kids ¡°It¡¯s time I took back what¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll arrange everything in the morning¡± He shifted Sean aside and pulled Natalie into his arms. ¡°Wife, I¡¯m holding you while I sleep.¡± ¡°Baron, are you seriouslypeting with the kids for my attention?¡± She kept her voice low, afraid of waking the children, but her expression toward this golden retriever of a man was nothing but exasperation. Baron didn¡¯t bother answering, he simply held her close and drifted off. Natalic sighed helplessly and soon dozed off too. The night passed in a blur. When Natalie woke the next morning, the children had already been taken to wash up, and Baron was nowhere in sight. HereSelf 160 Chapter 160 Jensen Is Losing His Mind Chapter 160 Jensen Is Losing His Mind The massive bed held only Natalie. For the life she had now, she felt more than content. She unlocked her phone and found a message from Renee. Baron¡¯s factory had already finished the sample and delivered it to the studio. 68 +10 Free Coins Seeing the ne¨Cmore stunning than the sketch itself¨CNatalie felt a surge of joy she couldn¡¯t put into words. ¡°Renee, release a promo video under Sunny Studio¡¯s name. Announce that this design will debut soon at aunch in Ocean City.¡± Renee froze for a moment when she heard that. ¡°Natalie, are you sure? This is basically a direct challenge to Jensen.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. I should¡¯ve faced him a long time ago. Do as I said.¡± With her firm answer, Renee got to work immediately. Natalie also posted the official teaser on her own Twitter ount. In an instant, the entire design industry exploded. ¡°Ms. Sunny has a new piece again? But why isn¡¯t Luke Corp backing it this time?¡± ¡°Did anyone notice¨CMs. Sunny seems to have started her own studio?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t she working with Luke Corp before? Did they split?¡± ¡°I remember Luke Corp iming they¡¯dunch Ms. Sunny¡¯stest work, but the show never happened.¡± The inte buzzed with heated debate. Naturally, Luke Corp caught wind of the news. A flood of shareholders stormed into Luke Corp¡¯s headquarters, straight into the president¡¯s office. 14:29 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 160 Jensen Is Losing His Mind : 68 +10 Free Coins ¡°Jensen, didn¡¯t you say Ms. Sunny was deeply connected to you, that she¡¯d only ever partner Th?s chapter is updated by F?ndNovel with us?¡± ¡°Jensen, what¡¯s going on here?¡± The shareholders demanded answers, but Jensen¡¯s eyes were locked on Sunny¡¯s Twitter post; his hands trembled faintly. ¡°Hansel! Have you traced the IP?¡± He didn¡¯t care what the shareholders said. Only one thought consumed him. Natalie was alive. She was still alive! Nothing in the world thrilled him more. Hansel had seen the news as well, but he still hadn¡¯t been able to trace Ms. Sunny¡¯s IP. ¡°Mr. Jensen, her IP is protected; we can¡¯t find it. But she said it herself¨Cthe new release will be in Ocean City. I think she¡¯sing back.¡± Hearing that, Jensen shot to his feet and began pacing. ¡°Yes, yes, she¡¯sing back. Have people clean up Lanju. She loves lilies¨Cfill the whole ce with lilies.¡± His manic behavior only deepened the shareholders¡® frustration. ¡°Jensen, are you even listening to us?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you give us an exnation today?¡± Their relentless pressure frayed his nerves. ¡°What exnation? Get out¨Call of you!¡± He barked the order, and Hansel, afraid of things spiraling out of control, quickly had people usher the shareholders away. But Jensen grew even more restless. ¡°Hansel, should I get a haircut? Natalie always liked when I parted it on the left.¡± 14:29 Thu, Sep 25 Chapter 160 Jensen Is Losing His Mind : 68 +10 Free Coins Hansel hesitated, words stuck in his throat. Has Mr. Jensen forgotten how Miss Natalie left Ocean City in the first ce? Now that she was returning, Hansel highly doubted it was to rekindle anything with Jensen. But with Jensen so unhingedtely, Hansel dared not say more. Meanwhile, Sharon had seen the post as well. She swept everything off the table with a crash and let out a sharp scream. ¡°Natalie is still alive? How is that possible? In a fire that big, she couldn¡¯t have escaped alone! Who? Who saved her?¡± Panic flickered in her eyes. Before staging Natalie¡¯s death in that fire, she¡¯d overheard Sharon faking her cancer; if Natalie had survived, and Jensen found out, what then? Sharon bolted from the Summers¡® house and called Johnson. ¡°Natalie is alive! The fake cancer scheme we pulled¨Conce it¡¯s exposed, we¡¯re finished. Have your contact get rid of her!¡± Johnson nearly dropped his phone. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she burned to death in that fire? How is she still alive? Are you sure?¡± ¡°Absolutely sure. Which is why you have to make sure that man finds her and kills her before she makes it back to Ocean City! Otherwise, you and I are both doomed!¡± ¡°You make it sound so easy. Do you think the person behind me is that simple to reach?¡± Johnson was nearly shouting himself. But Sharon no longer cared. ¡°I don¡¯t care! It was your people¡¯s idea for me to fake cancer to fool Jensen in the first ce. If I go down, none of you will have it easy,¡± HereSelf 161 Sharon shot him a sharp re, her irritation clear. AC *5 Free Coins. He didn¡¯t dare press her further. He quickly had the tainted dishes thrown out and ordered fresh ones to be made. Even with all these precautions, Sharon still felt unsettled. Jensen wasn¡¯t the only one she had deceived. What should I do? The thought of him stirred aplicated look in her eyes. That man¡¯s heart was still full of Natalie; now that Natalie was about to return, Sharon needed to find a way to make Jensen feel guilty toward her. With that thought in mind, Sharon left the Summers estate and drove straight to Luke Corp. When Hansel heard she had arrived, he came down immediately to block her path. ¡°Ms. Sharon, Mr. Jensen said you shouldn¡¯te to thepany unless it¡¯s urgent.¡± ¡°I need to see Jensen.¡± Her arrogance had dulled considerablypared to before. Hansel had no idea what scheme she was plotting this time, but he didn¡¯t treat her any differently. He simply told her to wait while he went inside to report. Seeing Hansel¡¯s cold indifference, Sharon¡¯s hands curled so tightly together that her nails nearly broke. Damn Hansel! He¡¯s just a glorified assistant, and he dares to stop me? I¡¯m Mrs. Luke! One day, I¡¯ll make sure he pays for this humiliation. Hansel, of course, didn¡¯t care what she thought. He went straight to Jensen¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Ms. Sharon is here. She says she needs to see you.¡± Jensen¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What is she doing here? Well, I happen to need to speak with her too. Let her in.¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find1Novel As soon as the words left his mouth, Hansel went back out. Momentster, Sharon was ushered inside. ¡°Jensen.¡± 47 Chapter 161 Don¡¯t You Dare Touch Natalie s She stood there looking pitiful, her fingers clutching the hem of her blouse, her face pale. The fear and unease in her eyes stirred a flicker of guilt in Jensen. ¡°Sit down. Hansel, get her some hot water.¡± Hansel hesitated for a beat at Jensen¡¯s tone, but left without protest. Before long, a cup of steaming water was set before Sharon, and Hansel tactfully excused himself. Sharon didn¡¯t miss the guilt flickering in Jensen¡¯s eyes. Her fingers slid gently over the rim of the cup as she lowered her voice. ¡°I saw the news on Twitter this morning. Natalie¡¯s still alive, isn¡¯t she?¡± The moment she mentioned Natalie, Jensen¡¯s brows knit tightly. ¡°What are you nning? Sharon, I¡¯m warning you¨Cyou are not to touch her.¡± ¡°Is that really what you think of me?¡± Tears welled up and spilled down Sharon¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Jensen, I admit I was jealous of her, that I hated her. But I never wanted her dead. Otherwise, back during the fire, I could¡¯ve just kept quiet and let you believe she wasn¡¯t inside, couldn¡¯t I?¡± Her words gave Jensen pause. He thought back. If Sharon had simply dragged him out that day, he really wouldn¡¯t have known Natalie was still trapped inside. And with the Summers family¡¯s influe e, quietly covering it all up would¡¯ve been possible. A trace of doubt flickered across his eyes. Sensing it, Sharon seized the moment. ¡°Jensen, I¡¯ve realized something over this time¡­ the one you truly love is Natalie. You only married me out of pity.¡± Jensen¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. For some reason, he found himself unable to argue. If Sharon had stormed in screaming, he would¡¯ve had every reason to push back. But now, seeing her so fragile, as if she might shatter at any second, the guilt inside him surged uncontrobly. 15:56 Fri, Sep 26 HereSelf 162 : Chapter 162 My Life, My Leverage After all, he had been the one to suggest marriage in the first ce. He had wanted to give Sharon a title; to give her a home. Get full chapters from Find¡ïNovel ¡°Sharon, I-¡± 47 s ¡°Jensen, you don¡¯t need to say anything. I know I took a ce that was never meant to be mine. Now that Natalie¡¯s back, I¡¯ll step aside for her. Let¡¯s go to City Hall and get divorced.¡± Her words made Jensen pause. Until now, that had indeed been his n. He had already failed Natalie once; he couldn¡¯t betray her a second time. This time, once he saw her again, he was determined to win her back. He had been agonizing over how to bring up the subject of divorce with Sharon, but he never expected her to take the initiative herself. Looking at her pale face, her fragile frame that seemed like it could copse at any moment- remembering how she had given up one of her ribs to save his life five years ago¨CJensen¡¯s heart softened. ¡°Enough. My attitude was wrong before. Now that I know Natalie¡¯s alive, I¡¯ll fight for her. As for you¡­ focus on your health. We¡¯ll talk about divorceter.¡± In the end, Jensen couldn¡¯t bring himself to agree to divorce Sharon right then. The Summers family wasn¡¯t as strong as it once had been; if he abandoned her now, Sharon might truly die even faster. How could he treat the woman who had saved his life so cruelly? Natalie didn¡¯t know what had happened five years ago. As long as he carefully exined that debt of gratitude, Natalie would understand. Sharon listened to his words. Even though she had achieved the oue she wanted, her chest still felt unbearably tight. She hadn¡¯t missed the shift in his emotions. If she hadn¡¯t mentioned divorce first today, she knew very well Jensen would have. 15:56 Fri, Sep 26 Chapter 162 My Life, My Leverage For Natalie¡¯s sake, he really had been prepared to leave her. Sharon¡¯s fingers twisted hard into her thigh as tears slipped down her face. 47 +10 Free Coins ¡°Jensen, if I¡¯d known my illness would cause you this much pain, I never should¡¯vee back.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± The anguish in Jensen¡¯s voice deepened. ¡°I¡¯ll handle everything with Natalie. But once she¡¯s back, don¡¯t see her; don¡¯t go after her. Can you just¡­ live in peace with her¨Cfor me?¡± His words filled Sharon with hatred, though she didn¡¯t dare let it show. ¡°I just don¡¯t want her to make things hard for me.¡± Her voice was soft, but it carried the perfect amount of wounded grievance. Jensen quickly assured her, ¡°She won¡¯t. I¡¯ll have people protect you. In the time you have left, I won¡¯t let anyone harm you. What happens between me and Natalie has nothing to do with you; we¡¯ll deal with it ourselves. All you need to do is focus on your health.¡± When he finished, he instructed Hansel to take Sharon home. She rose weakly to her feet¨Conly to faint right in front of him. ¡°Sharon!¡± Panic shot through Jensen. ¡°Call an ambnce, now!¡± He scooped her into his arms and rushed downstairs. The ambnce arrived quickly. Sharon was taken straight into the emergency room. Johnson¡¯s face went pale with anger. ¡°Sharon, what game are you ying now? How am I supposed to exin this to Jensen? That the cancer has already spread? That you¡¯re about to die? Are you nning to fake your own death?¡± Chapter 162 My Life, My Leverage +10 Free Coins Seeing that the room was filled only with her own people, Sharon finally sat up. Her eyes were sharp and venomous. ¡°Fake my death? I worked too hard to take the title of Mrs. Luke¨Cwhy would I throw that away? Just say I fainted from low blood sugar brought on by stress. There¡¯s no need to mention cancer.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind? You¡¯ll never be able to wrap this up cleanly.¡± Johnson paced the room in agitation, regretting ever teaming up with such a foolish woman. But Sharon¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Wrap it up? Once Natalie is dead, everything will be wrapped up. I told you to find out where she is¨Cdid you?¡± Johnson sighed in frustration. ¡°Natalie¡¯s movements are impossible to track. All we know is that she set up a studio overseas and is now working with Grant International Holdings. And you know as well as I do¨Cwe have no way of reaching people at that level.¡± ¡°Why is she always so lucky? Switched at birth, she enjoyed eighteen years of luxury that should¡¯ve been mine. Not even a fire could kill her¨Cand now she¡¯s managed tond Grant International Holdings? Damn her!¡± Sharon was seething, consumed with the urge to tear Natalie into pieces. Johnson, unwilling to listen to more of her ranting, had his staff give Sharon some routine care before wheeling her back out. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Ms. Sharon¡¯s been emotionally unstabletely. Combined with low blood sugar, that¡¯s why she fainted. It¡¯s nothing serious.¡± He had no choice but to stick to Sharon¡¯s story. Jensen let out a breath of relief. ¡°Her health is holding up, then?¡± Under Jensen¡¯s searching gaze, Johnson found¨Cfor the first time¨Cthe words stuck in his throat. HereSelf 163 Chapter 163 Baron Hates Cute Tricks ¡°For now, Ms. Sharon¡¯s condition isn¡¯t serious.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± +10 Free Coins Jensen had Sharon ced in the best hospital suite, with a private nurse assigned to her around the clock. Meanwhile, under Baron¡¯s arrangements, Natalie and the children boarded his private jet. Sharon¡¯s n to track Natalie through flight informationpletely copsed. But Baron didn¡¯t sit idle; he went ahead and publicly announced Natalie¡¯s return. In an instant, the news of Sunny¡¯s arrival time and location flooded the inte. By the time Hansel saw it, Jensen had just finished settling Sharon in. ?????? ???? Find1Novel ¡°Mr. Jensen, there¡¯s news about Natalie.¡± Hansel¡¯s words sent a surge of excitement through Jensen. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°Here¨Creports say her flightnds at two this afternoon.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go! To the airport!¡± Jensen strode out without sparing a nce at Sharon¡¯s face, which had da ened so much it seemed ready to drip ink. Natalie¡¯s flight at two in the afternoon? She cannot be allowed to back alive! Sharon immediately ryed the news to Johnson. She texted: ¡°Use whatever means necessary¨CI want Natalie dead!¡± Johnson frowned at the message. The other side had announced her return so openly. It was a tricky situation. Natalie, however, felt no such burden. Watching the two little ones at her side curiously looking around the cabin, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of concern. ¡°Will it really be okay bringing the kids along?¡± ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Baron understood her all too well. In a low voice, Natalie said, ¡°Originally, I wanted to make your identity public. But Grant International Holdings has always kept a low profile; revealing that card now feels premature. And with the children¡­ I don¡¯t want to expose them to too much risk yet.¡± ¡°You mean to walk into this alone?¡± Baron immediately grasped her meaning. Seeing the stormy look on his face, Natalie tugged at his arm, her tone soft. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to have people protecting me?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it absolutely safe.¡± ¡°But it could draw the real mastermind out. Sharon definitely won¡¯t be able to resist trying to kill me; if we use this moment to pull her and whoever backs her into the open, it¡¯s the perfect chance.¡± She blinked her big eyes, throwing him yful looks over and over. ¡°Natalie, that¡¯s cheating!¡± Baron shoved her head aside, still scowling. But Natalie knew he was wavering. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll protect myself. And didn¡¯t you agree before? That my revenge was mine to carry out?¡± Her retort left Baron momentarily speechless. ¡°Do you even realize what I¡¯m afraid of?¡± ¡°I do. You¡¯re worried those people, desperate and reckless, might hurt me. But I¡¯m just as afraid they might turn on the children. I¡¯ve never really fulfilled my duties as a mother; dragging them into this dark storm doesn¡¯t sit right with me either. But I also know¡­ you¡¯re capable of protecting them, aren¡¯t you?¡± Coins Looking at her now, Baron couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, for the time being, I can¡¯t im you publicly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pout. Later, I¡¯ll make sure you and the kids have the most glorious recognition. How¡¯s that?¡± With Natalie speaking like that, Baron could only indulge her. Just as the ne touched down, a group of people suddenly rushed toward them. Baron¡¯s face hardened instantly. ¡°Have our men ready. If anyonees near with the slightest threat to Madam or the Sir and miss, take them out¨Cno hesitation.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Baron¡¯s jet carried bodyguards of its own, not to mention therge team waiting outside to receive them. Natalie, however, hesitated briefly before murmuring, ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re here to cause trouble. They don¡¯t carry any killing intent.¡± ¡°You can sense killing intent now?¡± Baron reached out and flicked her nose. The two children burst into giggles beside them. ¡°Listen, you two follow Yvonne for now. Don¡¯t rush off the ne, understand?¡± He gave the instructions carefully. The children nodded quickly; in this, at least, they were obedient. Baron wanted Natalie to wait as well, but she stopped him. ¡°What¡¯s meant to +10 Free Coins much. Natalic, once your father and brother finish purging the traitors from the Stone family, I¡¯lle bring you home myself.¡± Ruby¡¯s eyes were red, tears spilling uncontrobly. Natalie had seen her before; she knew how heavily Ruby had carried the weight of her supposed death, so she remained forgiving toward her. ¡°Take care of yourself. I¡¯ve grown up now¨CI won¡¯t let myself be taken advantage of.¡± As soon as she said this, Waylon added, ¡°Natalie, you are the Stone family¡¯s eldest daughter. Everything we have in Ocean City is at your disposal. Chris is in charge here; you can trust him. And about your name¡­¡± ¡°Fine. Change it to Natalie Stone.¡± To Natalie, it hardly mattered. Her ties to the Summers family had long since ended. When Sharon hadshed her mercilessly with a whip, eager to see her die, her adoptive parents had watched with cold detachment. Everything Sharon had done afterward bore their fingerprints as well. Whatever debt of upbringing there had been, she had repaid it in full. As for how her birth parents in the Stone family might treat her, she no longer held much expectation. Step by step, I¡¯ll just see as I go. If they treat me well, I¡¯ll return the kindness. If they try to use me¡­ I¡¯m no fool. I¡¯ll fight back. When Waylon and Ruby heard her agree to the name change, their eyes instantly turned red with emotion. ¡°Good, good! Chris, make the arrangements immediately.¡± ¡°Thank you for everything you¡¯ve done. I happen to need it.¡± Natalie¨Cno, now Natalie Stone¨Cspoke calmly. Her words made Baron¡¯s expression darken. ¡°The Gunn family isn¡¯t exactlycking in people or property.¡± She knew perfectly well what he was dissatisfied about, but she only smiled lightly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll hang up for now.¡± ¡°All right. Call your father and mother anytime you need anything.¡± Waylon¡¯s words earned only a small nod from her. After the call ended, Baron pulled Natalic firmly against his side. ¡°You really n to live in the Stone family¡¯s house? You don¡¯t miss me and the kids?¡± The way he looked at her, if she had uttered even a single word of refusal, he might have carried out justice on the spot. Natalie onlyughed, wrapping her arms around his neck to give him a measure of reassurance. ¡°Would Mr. Baron be willing to bring the children and stay with me at the Stone residence?¡± The moment she spoke, Baron understood her intention. ¡°You don¡¯t want me exposed so soon?¡± ¡°Exactly. Why waste a sledgehammer on a chicken? Sharon and Jensen aren¡¯t worth your hand. I can deal with them myself. I know I¡¯d be safe under your identity, but I need an alternative¡ª one that isn¡¯t Mrs. Gunn.¡± Her words made Baron bristle. ¡°Being Mrs. Gunn is such a disgrace?¡± ¡°No.¡± Natalie shot him a sharp look before continuing. ¡°What Sharon values mo<* is being Mrs. Luke. She¡¯s always believed I still pined for Jensen. Some people¨Cif you nt to truly destroy them¡ªyou have to strip away what they cherish most. The more she clings to that title, the more determined I am to take it from her.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes darkened; he pulled her hard into his chest. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you do, but you cannot rekindle anything with Jensen. If you do, I¡¯ll lose my mind right in front of you.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t happen. I¡¯ve never been in the habit of eating grass I¡¯ve already grazed.¡± Her yful retort drew the edge from his fury. Watching the two of them, Chris finally pieced things together. ¡°So this must be the son¨Cinw, I¡¯ll have rooms prepared immediately.¡± The way ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? FindN0vel he addressed Baron made him falter for a moment. ¡°What did you just call me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re Ms. Stone¡¯s husband, aren¡¯t you? That makes you the Stone family¡¯s son¨Cinw.¡± §à HereSelf 165 Chapter 165 Jensen Still Can¡¯t Let Go Natalie burst intoughter. Mr. Baron¡­ son¨Cin¨C. Same sound, different meaning¨Cit was amusing. Clearly, Baron was pleased by the title too; his expression shifted instantly, storm clouds giving way to sunshine. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right¡ªI¡¯m your son¨Cinw. Let¡¯s go.¡± Heced his fingers tightly with Natalie¡¯s and led the way. Sean watched the two of them and couldn¡¯t help shaking his head. ¡°Susie, doesn¡¯t it feel like Daddy¡¯s being married off into Mom¡¯s family along with us?¡± With a lollipop in her mouth, Susie answered carelessly, ¡°Married off? You mean a wedding? As long as daddy and mommy are together, I¡¯m happy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right about that.¡± Sean paused, then tugged her along after their parents. The Stone family had special channels in Ocean City. Through them, Natalie and her family of four slipped smoothly out of airport and went straight to the Stone family vi. At the same time, Jensen arrived at the airport in a rush. He scanned the crowds frantically, desperate to catch sight of Natalie the moment she stepped out. ¡°Mr. Jensen, the reporters outside are swarming. Should we wait somewhere else?¡± Hansel nced nervously at the press, who were already turning their cameras in their direction. Rumors had long linked Sunny to Luke Corp, but her recent Twitter statements made no mention of thepany. Worse, her previous design drafts had all been destroyed in the explosion of herptop. If she didn¡¯t show soon, the waiting press might very well turn on Luke Corp. Jensen blinked at Hansel¡¯s suggestion. Chapter 165 Jensen Still Can¡¯t Let Go +10 Free Coins ¡°Why would I wait somewhere else? Natalie and I had five years together. No matter what, I¡¯m going to wait here for her!¡± A strange obsession burned inside him. Back then, when the fire broke out, he hadn¡¯t saved Natalie in time¨Cit had haunted him ever since. He thought he would carry that regret for the rest of his life; but now, Natalie was alive. Finally, he had a chance to make things right. Hansel saw the fervor in Jensen¡¯s eyes but felt far less optimistic. Ever since the fire, Natalie had severed all ties with Jensen. She didn¡¯t even inform him when she released new designs. So, where does Mr. Jensen get this confidence that she would still back to him? Hansel shook his head. As an assistant, he had done his duty. Whether Jensen listened was no longer his concern. Jensen waited, but as thest passengers from the flight filed out, Natalie never appeared. The reporters grew restless. Some bolder ones pressed closer. ¡°Mr. Jensen, wasn¡¯t Ms. Sunny long associated with Luke Corp? Now that she¡¯s returned so publicly, why did she choose Grant International Holdings instead? Was there a falling out?¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen, are you also here to greet Ms. Sunny? It¡¯s been said you had a .ose rtionship. Can you tell us about it?¡± Their questions irritated him¨Cuntil one struck a chord. For more chapters visit f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Right. He had never publicly acknowledged his rtionship with Natalie, For five years, he¡¯d known she wanted to; but the memory of that one incident always caught in his throat. Even though he loved her deeply, he could never step over that hurdle. No man could easily ept that his woman had sacrificed herself for another to save him. But that night, Natalie had done it for his life. Chapter 165 Jensen He had no right toin¨Cno right to be angry. So, year after year, he¡¯d lived tangled in that contradiction. He knew exactly how he felt about her, but he also knew better than anyone that he couldn¡¯t ept the stain on her past. Every time Natalie had tried to bring up going public, he¡¯d changed the subject. But now things were different. He wasn¡¯t clean anymore either; he¡¯d been with Sharon. They had both crossed lines, so he couldn¡¯t judge. And he truly did love her. This time, nothing would make him let her go. With that conviction, Jensen looked toward the terminal, his gaze filled with longing. ¡°She¡¯s my lover. We¡¯ve been in love for five years. She¡¯s always been pure and innocent, and I was afraid she might be taken advantage of, so I never revealed our rtionship publicly. This time¡­ yes, we¡¯ve had some issues, but it doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯ll reconcile.¡± His deration stunned everyone. Those who knew the situation frowned. ¡°Mr. Jensen, ording to our records, your wife is Ms. Sharon. So¡­ does th rtionship with Ms. Sunny was an affair?¡± mean your HereSelf 166 Chapter 166 Sharon Who Never Heard That reporter was gutsy; he asked the question outright. Jensen¡¯s expression instantly darkened. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Sharon and I are just friends.¡± The moment those words left his mouth, the entire ce went silent. Hansel broke out in a cold sweat. Mr. Jensen is digging his own grave. How am I supposed to fix this as his assistant? Maybe I should just quit, this job is way too much. He tugged at Jensen¡¯s sleeve, trying to get him to stop talking and just head back, but Jensen didn¡¯t even notice. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Sharon and I arepletely innocent. Stop spreading rumors! The only woman I¡¯ll ever love in this lifetime is Sunny; the only woman I¡¯ll ever marry is her!¡± With that, Jensen spun around and stormed off. The reporters were stunned. After all, talk of Jensen and Sharon¡¯s marriage had always been nothing more than hearsay. Their records at City Hall were encrypted and untouchable to outsiders. On Sharon¡¯s end, she¡¯d vaguely hinted that she was Jensen¡¯s wife, but there had never been solid proof. Now, with Jensen dering things so firmly, everyone began to wonder¨Ccould he actually be telling the truth? For the past five years, all of Sunny¡¯s designs had been licensed exclusively to Luke Corp. Could Jensen be right? Some of the reporters were already filling in the nks, imagining a romance between the two; some even had headlines drafted in their minds. Even without Ms. Sunny showing up today, getting a bombshell like this made the trip worthwhile. A few reporters hurried off, eager to rush their stories out. Chapter 166 Sharon Who Never Heard Back in the car, Hansel felt utterly helpless. +10 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Jensen, you were too impulsive today. Yes, your marriage records with Natalie are encrypted, but if someone really wanted to dig, they could still find traces. And Natalie hasn¡¯t contacted you since the fire. If she hears what you just said, she might resent it. Reconciling with herter won¡¯t be easy.¡± He had to voice his concerns. Jensen kept his gaze fixed outside, narrowing his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m forcing her toe out. If she really is Natalie, I¡¯ll give her everything. But if someone¡¯s pretending to be her, using her name to cash in, then they¡¯d better not me me for being ruthless.¡± Hansel froze. ¡°Mr. Jensen, what do you mean by that?¡± A glint of ice flickered in Jensen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Natalie¡¯s right hand was shattered by Sharon; she¡¯ll never be able to hold a paintbrush again. How could she possibly be designing now? Even if she hadn¡¯t died in that fire, she would have been gravely injured. She wouldn¡¯t have had enough time to heal, let alone train herself to draw with both hands.¡± Hansel couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°So you¡¯re saying Ms. Sunny is a fake?¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Jensen¡¯s gaze darkened; his fingers tapped lightly against the armrest. ¡°Ur ss the person who saved her back then took her to the Witch Doctor. He¡¯s the only one in this world who could¡¯ve healed her that quickly. That¡¯s why I have to see this Sunny with my own eyes. I need to know if she¡¯s really my Natalie.¡± Updates are released by Find[F]ovel Jensen hated admitting it, but he was jealous. Five years ago, when he was on the brink of death, Natalie had begged the Witch Doctor to save him. That was when he realized she might have had a rtionship with that man. If that connection existed, and if Natalie had been rescued, then finding the Witch Doctor again¨Cgiven their one¨Cnight history¨Cmight have been enough for him to save her too. Now Jensen was torn, he wanted Natalie to be alive, yet the thought of her surviving because of the Witch Doctor drove him to the edge of despair. His face grew so grim it seemed to drag the temperature of the car down with it. Tee Coins Hansel wisely stayed quiet. He knew Jensen had been carrying a knot in his heart for the past five years, but he believed the only way to untangle it was to talk directly to Miss Natalie. Otherwise, all this guessing was nothing more than self¨Ctorment. Hansel could understand his conflicting emotions, but what Jensen might do next was anyone¡¯s guess. Once again, Hansel found himself questioning whether he should quit this job. News of the airport incident spread quickly online. When Baron saw the headlines on his phone, his face turned thunderous. Jensen really had no shame. Sleeping with Sharon was bad enough, but now he dared to drag his wife into it? Absolutely shameless. Baron pulled out his phone, hammering out a long string of words¨Conly to delete them all in the end. Natalie hadn¡¯t said anything yet; he couldn¡¯t make decisions for her. HereSelf 167 Chapter 167 Daddy Looks Ready To Kill The rage building inside him was suffocating; he regretted more than anything agreeing to let Natalie take her own revenge. ¡°Chris!¡± Baron hurled his phone aside and shouted for the Stone family¡¯s butler. ¡°Sir, what is it?¡± Chris treated Baron with the utmost respect. He knew Baron¡¯s true identity, and as the husband of the eldest daughter, Baron was someone Chris understood he needed to serve well. Baron asked coldly, ¡°Does the house have a gym?¡± ¡°Yes. Shall I take you ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± there?¡± Baron had to let his fury out somehow; otherwise, he was afraid he¡¯d tie Natalie to the bed and refuse to let her set foot on the floor. Chris didn¡¯t know why Baron was so furious, but he still dutifully led him to the gym¨Cand also reported the situation with the eldest daughter and the two children to Waylon. When Waylon and his wife learned that Natalie had twins, they nearly jumped on a ne right then and there; only Flynn¡¯s calm reassurance kept them from rushing ove¡¤ Sean and Susie, watching their father head to the gym with a stormy face, whispered to each other. ¡°Did you feel it? Daddy¡¯s got killing intent.¡± ¡°More than that; I think he looks like he wants to kill someone right now. It¡¯s terrifying!¡± Sean shuddered. Daddy¡¯s beatings hurt. He quickly turned to Susie. ¡°Susie, maybe we should go to mommy. I¡¯m kinda scared.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Susie obediently took his hand and led him straight to Natalie¡¯s room. Natalie had just finished a shower and was blow¨Cdrying her hair when the two children came in, leaving her momentarily surprised. ¡°Do you like this vi?¡± ¡°We love it!¡± Susie immediately threw herself into Natalie¡¯s arms. ¡°Mommy, you smell so good.¡± Being a girl, Susie had no trouble fighting for affection. Sean wanted to fling himself into her arms too, but being a boy, he felt shy; instead, he muttered with a touch of reluctance, ¡°Susie, Mommy¡¯s still drying her hair. Don¡¯t bother her.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± Susie turned and stuck her tongue out at him, leaving Sean grinding his teeth in frustration, powerless to do anything about it. Natalie adored their bickering, though it made her heart ache for her son¡¯s thoughtfulness. ¡°Sean,e here, sweetheart.¡± Hearing her call, Sean finally walked over and sat quietly by her side. But Natalie scooped him right up and settled him on herp. Sean¡¯s cheeks flushed; he squirmed, trying to get down. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m heavy. You should just hold sister.¡± my ¡°It¡¯s fine. Mommy can hold both of you. I didn¡¯t even know you existed these past few years, let alone get to hold you. Let me feel what it¡¯s like to have my babies in my arms, alright?¡± After she put it that way, how could Sean refuse? Still, his little eyes grew misty. Mommy really did smell so good. And she was soft, not at all like being held by Daddy, Hel ved Mommy¡¯s embrace. Chapter 167 Daddy Looks Ready To Kill Sean rxed and leaned into her, quiet and obedient. Susie wasn¡¯t thrilled that her brother was taking up half of Mommy¡¯s arms, but since he was her brother, fine¨Cshe¡¯d let him share for now. Besides, she was a girl; she could cling to Mommy all the time. With that thought, Susie felt much better. Natalie soaked in the warmth of the moment with her two children, but then she suddenly noticed that Baron¨Cwho was usually glued to her side¨Cwas nowhere to be seen. ¡°Where¡¯s your daddy?¡± Her question made Sean sit up straighter, his voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°Mommy, Daddy¡¯s really scary right now! He saw something on his phone, and his whole face went dark; he looked like he wanted to kill someone.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, it was terrifying. Chris took him to the gym; otherwise, my brother and I wouldn¡¯t have dared to move.¡± Susie patted her chest with lingering fear. Natalie frowned. Baron usually cared deeply about the kids and kept his temper in check; for him to scare them like this, what on earth had he seen? ¡°Sweethearts, y on your own for a bit. I need to check my phone.¡± Natalie knew Baron wasn¡¯t the type to get angry for no reason. She had to see what had set him off. Although the children wanted to stay in her arms, they listened and climbed onto the bed to y quietly. Natalie unlocked her phone and saw Jensen¡¯s deration at the airport¨Calong with the reporters¡® wild spections about their supposed romance. Her brows knit tightly. She had loved that man for five years, she had realized just how shameless he truly was. He had already registered his marriage with Sharon, yet he dared to publicly deny it. Fresh chapters posted on ?ovelFind HereSelf 168 Chapter 168 Jensen Is Getting Pulverized Here +10 Free Coins There was no way something like this could stay hidden. The moment Sharon produced their marriage certificate, she would be branded the mistress¨Cno questions asked. Jensen¡¯s every move made it clear he was set on destroying her, and nothing short of her ruin would satisfy him. Natalie¡¯s eyes turned icy; anger condensed inside her chest, rising bit by bit. No wonder Baron had been furious. The fact that he hadn¡¯t cut Jensen down on the spot already showed remarkable restraint. So he went to the gym¡­ was it because of me? Because I insisted on taking revenge myself, he held back¨Ceven though it was eating him alive? Her heart suddenly ached for Baron. ¡°Sweethearts, keep ying for a while. I¡¯m going to check on your daddy.¡± She didn¡¯t even bother finishing with her hair; she set the dryer aside and ran straight for the gym. Meanwhile, Baron¡¯s men had sent him a message. ¡°Mr. Baron, we spotted assassins at the airport. They seemed to be targeting Madam.¡± Baron¡¯s gaze sharpened, murderous intent ring. ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°Yes. They¡¯ve been watching the exits. At first we thought they were after u, so we ran full scans¨Cbut found no traces aimed your way. Instead, they slipped in under the cover of Madam¡¯s designer return; their target is clear.¡± The words sent a fresh wave of killing intent crashing through Baron, nearly suffocating in its intensity. Heughed coldly, though the sound never touched his eyes. The red tear mole at the corner glowed like a drop of blood, sharp and dazzling. ¡°Find out who¡¯s behind this! Leave none of those assassins alive¨Celiminate them all.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± When the call ended, Baron¡¯s urge to kill surged so violently he felt like blowing the entire gym to pieces. Someone dared to touch his woman? They¡¯d better be ready for him to tear them limb from limb. But for now, he couldn¡¯t strike openly. His beloved wife wanted to take her own revenge; he had to let her. Still, the murderous fire in him refused to settle. Baron found a sandbag and pounded at it like a man possessed. At the same time, Natalie reached the gym. Through the frosted ss door came the heavy, guttural thuds of impact, rumbling like a beast¡¯s growl against her eardrums. She shoved the door open; a wave of hot, masculine scent mixed with salt¨Cslick sweat crashed over her. Baron¡¯s torso was bare, bronze muscles pulled taut like a bowstring; sweat slid down the groove of his spine, tracing a damp, gleaming arc along his waist. The sandbag groaned under his furious punches, the chain rattling with each bone¨Ccrushing blow. His ck workout pants were soaked through, stered to the taut lines of his thighs; every savage side¨Ckick made the buried power beneath his skin explode outward in terrifying bursts. Natalie¡¯s gaze locked onto the sharp cut of his jaw. Sweat trailed down the cords of his neck, rolled past his heaving chest, an lisappeared into the ridges of his abs. When he twisted andshed a whip¨Ckick through the air, the crack against the sandbag reverberated through the room; she finally saw his eyes- Violence and raw possession churned inside, barely caged within his body. The crimson tint at his eye corners was like des tempered in fire and blood; each strike looked as if he were smashing Jensen into dust inside that sandbag. Sweat pattered against the floor in a hot, relentless rhythm. Natalie was stunned speechless. She had never seen this side of Baron. She thought she¡¯d be afraid; instead, desire flickered from deep inside her, rising unbidden to +10 Free Coins zeu riere her mind. Her knees weakened; she wanted to throw herself into the arms of this man who made her heart race. Baron sensed her presence instantly. His sharp gaze snapped toward her. The moment he saw Natalie, half¨Cdamp hair framing her flushed lips, the violence in his eyes solidified into a bottomless ck. He strode over, seized the back of her head, and pinned her against the frosted ss¡ªhis scorching, domineering kiss stole every breath from her lungs. Natalie drowned in his raw masculinity; every surface she touched was firm muscle without a trace of softness. Her mind went nk, her body betraying her, responding to the force of his kiss. Baron pulled back before shepletely unraveled. His breath was ragged, storm raging in his eyes; yet he restrained himself until his gaze was bloodshot with the effort. ¡°Running over here with your hair still wet? You¡¯ll catch a cold!¡± Without waiting for her response, he dragged her into the lounge, grabbed a blow dryer, and began drying her hair himself. The warm air swept across her scalp; she still hadn¡¯t caught up to what just happened. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not going to shower?¡± The words slipped out before she could stop herself; Natalie instantly wished her tongue off. ?????? ???? find(?)ovel HereSelf 169 Chapter 169 Blow Dry Before World Ends Natalie scolded herself. What on earth am I saying? Why would those kinds of words even out of my mouth? And what did I here for again? Baron was caught off guard by her slip, but when he saw the frustration on her face, the violence and anger clouding him eased considerably. ¡°You want me to shower for you to watch?¡± ¡°Baron!¡± Natalie cut him off quickly. ¡°I heard you saw something on the news and came here upset, so I came to check on you.¡± The blow dryer paused in his hand. Suddenly, he felt as if his heart was flowing through his fingers with her hair; just like her strands sliding past his touch, her concern smoothed away the storm that had been raging inside him. ¡°Worried about me? And you ran here with your hair still wet?¡± His voice was low, husky, carrying a rasp that made Natalie¡¯s pulse stutter. He¡¯s not seriously thinking of taking me right here, is he? No, no, no! That¡¯s not why I came here at all. ¡°Baron, I saw the news. I¡¯ll deal with Jensen right away; I won¡¯t let him run his mouth like that. If you¡¯re still angry, you can always put a sack over his head tonight and at him senseless.¡± Natalie moved to get up, but Baron pressed a hand firmly on her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t move falls¨Cv yet. From now on, no matter what happens¨Ceven if the sky Catching a cold will be your own misery to bear.¡± e; it made her heart tremble in a way she hadn¡¯t expected. her head with a helplessugh, the corners of her lips curving up. Alright.¡± Neither of them mentioned Jensen again. For that moment, the air between them was quiet, harmonious; the kind of peace you wished you could freeze forever. When Baron finally finished drying her hair and set the dryer aside, he said, ¡°Do whatever you want; don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re safe. Remember this¨Ceven if you poke a hole in the sky, your husband will clean it up for you.¡± Natalie¡¯s eyes grew damp. For original chapters go to findnovel ¡°Mm. Then I¡¯ll go take care of things online.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Baron reluctantly let her go. §à He would have loved to pull her into the shower with him, but clearly that wasn¡¯t happening right now. Natalie stood, turned, and rose on tiptoe to kiss him lightly on the lips. ¡°If something bothers you, don¡¯t bottle it up. If you need to vent, go after Jensen¨CI won¡¯t mind. Just don¡¯t expose your identity or leave evidence behind. I can¡¯t let my husband be dragged down by trash like him.¡± Baron¡¯s temper dissolved instantly; the corners of his lips practically curled on their own. ¡°Alright.¡± Only then did Natalie leave the gym. But the moment she stepped out, the softness in her eyes hardened into steel. If Jensen wanted to ruin her, then she would show him no mercy. Natalie opened her Twitter and posted a direct statement: ¡°I, Sunny, have no connection whatsoever to Luke Corp¡¯s Mr. Jensen. Please show some self¨Crespect, Mr. Jensen.¡± The inte exploded. ¡°What? Mr. Jensen was lying?¡± ¡°Is this the first time Ms. Sunny has fought back this hard?¡± ¡®But weren¡¯t all of Ms. Sunny¡¯s past designs licensed through Mr. Jensen?¡± In no time, debates filled the web, public opinion shoving Jensen and Luke Corp into the harshest spotlight. The shareholders of Luke Corp immediately confronted him. ¡°Jensen, what the heck are you doing? Do you even know Ms. Sunny at all?¡± you ¡°Jensen, do realize how much our stock has dropped? And you dared to spout nonsense about Ms. Sunny?¡± ¡°If you really have such a good rtionship with her, then fix this mess right now. Otherwise, Luke Corp is finished.¡± Their voices buzzed like a swarm of angry birds, but Jensen didn¡¯t react; his hawk¨Clike eyes were glued to Natalie¡¯s statement. She had denied their rtionship. No. This woman could not be his Natalie. ¡°Shut up!¡± His sudden roar silenced the room, leaving the shareholders frozen in fear. Jensen¡¯s face was a storm of darkness, his expression so murderous that no one dared speak again. ¡°Gentlemen, Mr. Jensen will handle this matter. Please, go back for now, Hansel said, stepping in as his assistant to usher them out. Once the office was empty, Jensen¡¯s eyes burned crimson. He quickly typed out a private message under Natalie¡¯s statement: ¡°Who are you? You are not Natalie! How dare you use her Twitter to spout lies? I warn you¨Cdelete that statement, or I will you regret it.¡± make HereSelf 170 Chapter 170 Doctor Wants A One Way Ticket Chapter 170 Doctor Wants A One Way Ticket +10 Free Coins Natalie read Jensen¡¯s private message on Twitter, her eyes growing colder by the second. ¡°Mr. Jensen truly has a short memory. Coincidentally, several of my works have been released by yourpany without my consent, profiting off me while I, the creator, have had no say. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time we had a conver sation? Why don¡¯t you pick a time and ce, and we¡¯ll talk in person?¡± Her words instantly lit Jensen up with excitement. ¡°Fine, you set the time and ce.¡± ¡°Whatever suits you, Mr. Jensen.¡± ¡°Two o¡¯clock this afternoon, Cloud Cafe.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Natalie logged off immediately after. If she was going to return for revenge, then she had to face Jensen properly. Natalie snapped a screenshot of the time and location, then sent it straight to Sharon. Sharon was in her hospital ward, eyes boring holes into her phone screen as she scrolled through Twitter. Natalie was still alive¨Calive enough to respond to the online chatter. Those useless fools! Her grip on the phone tightened until several of her freshly manicured nails snapped, but she had no time to care. Then came Natalie¡¯s screenshot. The image hit her like a brutal p across the face. ¡°What a bastard!¡± Fury boiled over; she wanted to smash something, only to realize the ward was bare of anything she could break. ¡°Where¡¯s Dr. Johnson? I want Dr. Johnson!¡± Her voice cracked with helpless rage. The nurse quickly reported the outburst to Johnson. His brow furrowed deeply, his face dark. ¡°I understand. Go calm her down; I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡± This update is avable on find?novel Once alone in his office, he locked the door, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number. ¡°Boss, Sharon is spiraling. I can¡¯t stay in Ocean City any longer¨Cget me out of the country. My wife and kids are already abroad. I¡¯ve done all I can here.¡± ¡°Mm. I¡¯ll arrange it.¡± The voice on the other end was mechanical, clearly disguised by a voice changer. Relief swept through Dr. Johnson. ¡°Alright, boss. I¡¯ll wait for your word.¡± He hung up, exhaled sharply, then headed for Sharon¡¯s ward. The moment he stepped in, Sharon hurled a pillow at him. ¡°Are youpletely useless? You can¡¯t even deal with someone as weak as Natalie?¡± Disgust shed in Johnson¡¯s eyes. He dodged the pillow easily and said coldly, ¡°Sharon, rein in that spoiled¨Cprincess attitude. I¡¯m not your servant.¡± ¡°Natalie¡¯s about to meet with Jensen. What do you n to do about that` She shoved the screenshot in his face. His brow creased slightly. Sharon saw his reaction and pressed on, her voice dripping with menace. ¡°If they meet, our little scheme about the fake cancer won¡¯t stay buried. Do you really think you¡¯ll walk away unscathed? With Jensen¡¯s methods, forget about warning your backers to leave¨Cwhether you yourself get out alive will be the bigger question. Johnson, you and I are tied together now; don¡¯t think you can cut me loose and run abroad alone.¡± His stomach dropped. The boss¡® arrangement would take time, and if Natalie revealed anything to Jensen in the meantime, he really could end up in danger. Chupar 170 kontor Wants A One Way Ticker The flicker of pen in his eyes sold Shuron she¡¯d truck the muk The worch You¡¯d hater think carefully. I may have ricked Jensen, but I did save his life free years ago. No matter how much he hates me for faking cancer to marry him, he won¡¯t kill me. mon, I can I only did a because I loved him too much. Bon you? Won¡¯t be rent all his fary on you bucate Fill echon drained from John¡¯s face. Ms. Sharon, you can¡¯t throw me under the bus like this. You¡¯re the one who said- ¡°What I said back then doesn¡¯t matter. What matters now is this, the cancer diagnosis came from you. You ran every one of those checkups, didn¡¯t you?¡± Her words sent his nerves into overdrive. ¡°What exactly do you want from me? I can¡¯t do anything right now. Since Natalie returned, no one knows where she is. Even reporters can¡¯t find her. I¡¯m just a doctor¨Cwhat power do you think I have to stop them from meeting? Rage simmered inside him he¡¯d known working with Sharon would cause this many e agreed in the first ce. headaches, he never Sharon on, finally let out a breath of relief and a way, Johnson. And this chance¨Cit¡¯s yours alone to take.¡± HereSelf 171 Chapter 171 Crazy fs Chapter 171 Crazy ns Johnson didn¡¯t know why, but the moment he saw Sharon smiling like that, a chill ran down his spine. ¡°What exactly is this ¡®opportunity¡® you¡¯re talking about?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but take a step back. Sharon sneered. ¡°Johnson, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. That Cloud Cafe¨Cyour mistress runs it. And she¡¯s using your money, isn¡¯t she? All you need to do is have someone slip something into Natalie¡¯s coffee and let her die in front of Jensen; then it¡¯ll all be over.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Johnson¡¯s face drained of color again. He looked at the vicious woman in front of him; cold sweat broke out across his forehead. ¡°Cloud Cafe is indeed run by my mistress. But do you have any idea how messy things will get if someone dies there? And aren¡¯t you Jensen¡¯s wife? If Jensen gets tied up in a murder case, do think he could still hold on to Luke Corp? Forget eighty percent shares¡ªeven if he owned one hundred percent, once there¡¯s a death involved, he won¡¯t survive it. What exactly are you trying to do?¡± you His words brought Sharon back to her senses. ¡°You¡¯re right. Right now, I don¡¯t own a single share of Luke Corp. Even though I¡¯m Jensen¡¯s wife, if something happens to him, I won¡¯t be the first heir. Jensen¡¯s too shrewd for that. Then change it to a sedative.¡± A flicker of madness crossed Sharon¡¯s face. ¡°Have your mistress drug their coffee. Doesn¡¯t Cloud Cafe have a lounge upstairs? Once those two end up in bed together, I¡¯ll bring people in to catch them in the act. I still have the marriage certificate with Jensen. By then, what does it matter if Natalie calls herself Ms. Sunny? As long as she¡¯s caught red¨Chanded, tell me¡ªhow will she show her face in Ocean City, let alone the entire country?¡± The more Sharon spoke, the more excited she became about the idea. She would ruin Natalie¡¯s reputation; make her life worse than death. And she wanted to with me? An orphan with no known parents dared to dream of it? Sharon¡¯s Chapter 171 Crazy ns eyes burned with fury and venom. When Johnson heard her n, he didn¡¯t say much. +10 Free Coins If Sharon could be destroyed in the process, his boss would probably approve too. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll help you with this. You should prepare yourself as well. But afterward, you¡¯d bettere clean to Mr. Jensen about your cancer. Hiding it forever isn¡¯t an option. The hospital just got in a new experimental drug¨Cyou might be able to use that as leverage.¡± Sharon gave him a small nod. ¡°I know.¡± Right in front of Sharon, Johnson called his mistress and gave her instructions; the n matched Sharon¡¯s idea almost exactly. On the other end of the line, his mistress promised to carry out the task. That was when Sharon finally smiled. ¡°Working with Dr. Johnson really is the best. But this time, we cannot afford to fail.¡± Johnson gave her a look, said nothing, and turned to leave. Deep inside, though, his unease only grew stronger. Quickly, he dialed another number. ¡°Have the men at the airport reported back yet? I need an update.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dr. Johnson. None of the men we sent to the airport have returned.¡± Johnson¡¯s face immediately changed. Not a single one of them? Impossible. Those men were elite killers; unless¡­ A trace of fear crept into his eyes. No, no, no! Natalie is just an ordinary woman. How could she possibly have that kind of power? But the knot of unease in his chest only tightened. Chapter 171 Crazy ns Swallowing hard, Johnson hurried back to his dorm and applied for leave. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He had to leave Ocean City right away. No matter what happened between Jensen, Natalie, and Sharon in the end, he had to put his own survival first. Checktest chapters at Find_Novel(. He packed hastily, didn¡¯t even bother resigning, and drove straight toward the airport. But the moment he left the hospital dorm, Baron received word. ¡°Mr. Baron, Johnson just left the dorm. Looks like he¡¯s trying to run.¡± ¡°Intercept him. Find a safe ce and keep him under control for now.¡± Baron¡¯s gaze was dark and sharp; a faint killing intent radiated from him. Yet Johnson didn¡¯t get far. Shortly after leaving the hospital dorm, he crashed at an intersection; the car was totaled, and he died instantly. News of the ident spread online almost immediately. When Natalie saw the headline, her brows furrowed. This Johnson had been colluding with Sharon, and now he suddenly ended up dead. The timing was suspicious. She couldn¡¯t help but grow more cautious. Natalie sent the time and location of her meeting with Jensen to several well¨Cknown reporters, attaching it with screenshots. She made sure to send it under the name Ms. Sunny. She believed it¨Canyone chasing a big scoop would swarm in. With so many eyes watching, any scheme would copse the moment it was exposed. After setting everything up, Natalie finally changed into a new outfit. HereSelf 172 Chapter 172 Guess Who Runs This ce The two children clung to Natalie, ying with her for a while before she started helping them pick out a kindergarten. Baron came out of the gym, took a brisk shower, and then joined his wife and kids for a bit of ytime. Neither of them spoke about the storm quietly brewing beneath the surface. Part of it was to keep the children from worrying; part of it was because they both believed they could handle it. After lunch together, the children were taken off for their nap. Baron still had work to attend to, so he headed to the Ocean City branch of Grant International Holdings. Natalie, meanwhile, called Chris. ¡°Chris, take the Stone family men ande with me to Cloud Cafe.¡± She had never intended to face Jensen alone. Five years ago, she had been foolish. Back then, Jensen had been her salvation; her only light. She never imagined that in the end, she would nearly die at his hands. All the love she had poured out meant nothing to him. This time, she was determined to guarantee her own safety. After all, she wasn¡¯t alone anymore. Chris obeyed Natalie¡¯s order without question. Yvonne was left behind to watch over the kids. When Natalie arrived at Cloud Cafe, Jensen was already there. He had been picturing what the woman he loved most might look like now. Chapter 172 Guess Who Runs This ce That fire had been so severe; surely her skin had been burned. +10 Free Coins In such a short time, it would be nearly impossible to undergo skin grafts. Finding matching skin would be even harder¨Ceven with the Witch Doctor, it seemed unlikely. But it didn¡¯t matter. No matter how Natalie had changed, he would never let her go. Jensen¡¯s gaze stayed locked on the door of Cloud Cafe, his anticipation growing unbearable; anyone who looked remotely unusual caught his eye. But after more than half an hour, she still hadn¡¯t appeared. Get full chapters from FindN0vel The old Natalie would never have stood him up. She would have arrived half an hour early, saved him a seat, even ordered his favorite cappino. So this was what waiting felt like. For the first time, Jensen experienced the same anxious anticipation Natalie had once endured. Then the wind chime above the caf¨¦ door jingled. At the sound, Jensen¡¯s head snapped up¨Conly to be utterly stunned by what he saw. Two rows of men in ck strode swiftly into the cafe. Chris cleared the ce in a matter of seconds. The spectacle made Jensen frown slightly. The fact that he hadn¡¯t been cleared out along with everyone else meant only one thing, Natalie had to be behind this. But how? Where had she found the kind of power to clea cafe? ut an entire As he wrestled with the thought, Chris bowed respectfully toward the entrance. ¡°Miss, you maye in.¡± The wind that rushed in as the ss door swung open rattled the chimes; Jensen¡¯s grip on his cup tightened to the point of strain. The figure that stepped in on high¨Cheeledbat boots shattered every image he had prepared himself for. 15:59 Fri, Sep 26 Chapter 172 Guess Who Runs This ce Not a fragile silhouette wrapped in scarves; not a shrunken figure hiding in shame. She was a bloodstained de wrapped in a battle cloak. +10 Free Coins A ck double¨Cbreasted coat whipped in the draft, its military¨Cgrade leather belt cinched tight to carve a sharp, aggressive waistline. A silver fox¨Cfur cor framed her cold, perfect jawline; her ink¨Cdark hair was slicked back, twisted into a razor¨Csharp knot at the back of her head, exposing her smooth brow and two fierce brows shing toward her temples. With every strike of her boots against the marble floor, the sharp metal heels rang out, freezing the caf¨¦¡¯s air in an instant. Jensen¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed uncontrobly. The countless burn scars, contracted skin, and graft marks described in those medical reports dissolved like smoke. In their ce was a porcin¨Cwhite throat peeking between the high cor of her coat and¡­ A silver mask covering the right side of her face. Steel¨Cforged serpentine patterns coiled across the mask; two ck diamonds embedded in the snake¡¯s eyes devoured the light overhead. The half of her face left uncovered was breathtaking¨Cred lips curved like a poisoned de. When that silver mask turned toward him, thorny patterns etched along its edge stretched to her cheekbone, and beneath them faint crimson scars pulsed faintly with her cold smile. ¡°Mr. Jensen.¡± The metallic timbre of her voice sliced through the frozen air. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting.¡± Spiderweb cracks spread across the cup Jensen was holding. Coffee seeped through his knuckles, trailing down his hand, but he didn¡¯t even notice. The girl who once ironed every wrinkle from his shirts now idly brushed gloved fingertips across the table. As her sleeve slipped back, an obsidian ouroboros tattoo revealed itself, coiled around her wrist bone. The delicate chain dangling from the side of her mask swayed suddenly, glinting sharp light into his constricted pupils. Hanging at the end of it was a warped tinum ring- The very wedding band he had once slipped onto Natalie¡¯s finger with his own hands. Jensen shot to his feet, instinct driving him toward the mask on her face. HereSelf 173 Chapter 173 Wrong Girl Right Eyes Chris stepped forward quickly, blocking Jensen¡¯s hand. ¡°Mr. Jensen, please control yourself.¡± Chris¡® grip was firm, though slightly restrained. Sweat broke out across Jensen¡¯s forehead. But he refused to give up. ¡°Natalie? You¡¯re Natalie, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why is Mr. Jensen so agitated?¡± Natalie sat down across from him. §à The warmth and tenderness that once brimmed in her eyes¨Call for him¨Cwere gone; in their ce was only cold distance and unfamiliarity. But those eyes were undeniably Natalie¡¯s. Jensen¡¯s throat tightened. A thousand words flooded his mind, yet it was as if his voice had been stolen; he couldn¡¯t get a single syble out. His eyes were bloodshot, a faint mist of tears shimmering in them. If Natalie had truly lost her memory, she might have believed this man was madly in love with her. His expression was so vivid; so raw with shock and joy. ¡°Heh¡­¡± Natalie let out a soft, mirthlessugh, then waved her hand. Chris immediately released Jensen and stepped respectfully behind Natalie. Only then did Jensen realize that all these men in ck¡ªand Chris himself¡ªhad been brought here by the woman before him. Was she really Natalie? ¡°Natalie, it¡¯s such a relief you¡¯re alive. I didn¡¯t know you were in the warehouse that day, otherwise I never would have-¡± Chapter 173 Wrong Girl Right Eyes ¡°Mr. Jensen, perhaps you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else. Yes, my name is Natalie, but I am Natalie Stone, daughter of Waylon Stone and sister of Flynn Stone. I¡¯m the heiress of Stone Group in Murica. I¡¯ve never been to Ocean City before; this is my first time.¡± Her cool words froze the joy on Jensen¡¯s face in an instant. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°If Mr. Jensen¡¯s ears aren¡¯t working properly, you should have them checked at a hospital.¡± Natalie¡¯s voice remained t, her gaze unchanged, as though this really were the first time they had ever met. Jensen faltered. Could she truly not be Natalie? Looking closer, while they were the same height, their temperaments couldn¡¯t have been more different. His Natalie had been a flower raised in a greenhouse; this woman was a de fresh out of its sheath, radiating sharpness. Yet those familiar eyes¨Cthough stripped of all warmth¨Cwere unmistakable. And the ring dangling from her mask¡¯s chain¡­ Heat surged in Jensen¡¯s chest again. ¡°Natalie, I know you me me, and maybe you don¡¯t want to forgive me. That¡¯s fine; as long as you¡¯ll admit who you are, I¡¯ll do anything. If you¡¯re not my Natalie, then why are you still carrying the ring on your mask? That was our token of love.¡± ¡°Oh, this?¡± Natalie slipped off her glove. Her long, pale fingers brushed the ring lightly; then she smiled. ¡°I picked it up. I thought it was pretty¨Cthere¡¯s a kind of fractured beauty to some ng burned and broken. So I kept it. Why? Was this yours, Mr. Jensen? My apologies; I assumed it was ownerless.¡± She turned to Chris without hesitation. ¡°Chris, transfer Mr. Jensen some moneyter. Consider the ring something I bought.¡± ¡°Yes, miss.¡± Chris bowed his head in deference. Chapter 173 Wrong Girl Right Eyes Jensen¡¯s expression froze at her words. ¡°How can you measure this ring with money?¡± ¡°And what else, Mr. Jensen? Do you want it back? That¡¯s fine too.¡± Natalie tugged the ring free and tossed it casually onto the table. +10 Free Coins ¡°There. Satisfied? Surely this isn¡¯t why you asked me here today¨Cover a worthless ring?¡± For more chapters visit find(?)ovel Her gaze on him was calm; detached. Jensen stared at her face, desperate to find even the faintest trace of the past in her eyes¨Cbut there was nothing. It felt as if something lodged in his throat, neither up nor down. A dull darkness dimmed his eyes. Why wouldn¡¯t Natalie acknowledge me? It had to be because she was still angry about the fire. Yes. That had to be it. Jensen thought back to what Ms. Sunny had said when she arranged this meeting. She mentioned past work. If she wasn¡¯t his Natalie, why would she bring up her old designs? Jensen felt like he had found his opening. Excited, he was just about to speak when the barista walked over carrying two cups of coffee. ¡°Here you are¨Cyour coffee.¡± Jensen had no choice but to swallow his words, ring at the barista in irritation. Doesn¡¯t this fool know how to read a room? Under Jensen¡¯s re, the barista¡¯s eyes darted away, his hands trembling slightly. A little of the coffee sloshed over the rims of the cups. Natalie narrowed her eyes. Something about this barista wasn¡¯t right. She kept her face impassive and said nothing, simply watching coldly as the barista set the cups down in front of her and Jensen. HereSelf 174 Chapter 174 Protect Me Or Ruin Me sen tried to lighten the mood. alie, this is your favorite cappino. Try it! They say the coffee here is really good; I¡¯d meaning to ask you out for one, but I just never found the time.¡± poke, his voice trailed off. new better than anyone whether it was truly ack of time. talie answered coolly, ¡°Mr. Jensen, I¡¯ve never liked coffee. What I enjoy is ck tea.¡± At those words, Jensen froze. His mind shed back to their time at Lanju; Natalie had indeed liked to steep a pot of tea on the balcony and drink alone. But every time he came home, she would grind the beans herself and brew him a cup of coffee. Discover more novels at Find¡ïNovel So why was I only realizing it now? Even during those five years, she never truly drank with him -she¡¯d take a sip at most, then set it aside. And in all that time, he never once noticed that she didn¡¯t even like coffee. Jensen¡¯s throat tightened; he had no idea what to say. Natalie looked at his expression, a coldugh curling in her heart at her own past foolishness. Now, seeing Jensen like this only made her feel disgust. From the corner of her eye, Natalie caught sight of reporters already lurking outside. She quickly smoothed her expression and said evenly, ¡°Mr. Jensen, let¡¯s get to the point. I hope you¡¯ll stop spreading lies about our rtionship online. As far as I know, you¡¯re a married man. When you stand in front of reporters and im I¡¯m your lover, what exactly do you mean by that? Do you want the public to attack me as the mistress in your marriage, force me out of the design industry?¡± If her tone before had been restrained, this time her words were razor¨Csharp; she left Jensen no room to hide or retreat. His eyes widened in shock. ¡°Natalie, what are you saying? How could I ever treat you that way?¡± By then, Natalie saw that the reporters had reached the caf¨¦¡¯s entrance. Her eyes flickered; the guards at the door immediately let them through. Her voice rang out in the same instant. ¡°Oh? Then what you¡¯re saying, Mr. Jensen, is that you never intended to destroy me?¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯d ruin anyone in this world before I¡¯d ever ruin you!¡± Jensen blurted the words, terrified she might walk away from him forever if he hesitated. Natalie only let out a coldugh, leaning back in her chair before speaking. ¡°Then Mr. Jensen isn¡¯t married? The name on your marriage certificate isn¡¯t mine?¡± Her words struck Jensen like a hand around his throat; he couldn¡¯t force a sound out. His face flushed, his voice strained as he said, ¡°Natalie, you know¨Cit was never about loving Sharon. It¡¯s not what you think. The only woman I¡¯ve ever wanted to marry in this life is you.¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen!¡± Natalie cut him off before he couldunch into another deration. ¡°Let me rify a few things. First, whoever you choose to marry is your business, not mine; I have no right to interfere, and you certainly don¡¯t owe me an exnation. Second, you and I are not close enough for you to casually say you want to marry me¨Cotherwise my husband might get the wrong idea. Third, every design I created under the name Ms. Sunny was never licensed to you, nor entrusted to Luke Corp for sale. So over the past five years, every cent earned from my work¨Cplease prepare a full ounting, and have yourwyer contact mine to return it as soon as possible.¡± Her words lit a fire under Jensen. ¡°Natalie, even now, you won¡¯t admit who you are? If you weren¡¯t my Natalie, how could I have five years¡® worth of your designs? Five years ago, I was the one who took you out of the Summers family and fell in love with you. Every design you made was to help me secure my position in Luke Corp, wasn¡¯t it? You told me you were willing to stand behind me; you told me everything of yours was mine. That¡¯s why we never signed any licensing agreements¡ª because putting something like that on paper would have cheapened our love.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± From her angle, Natalie caught the reporters¡® astonished expressions perfectly. Her lips curved into the faintest smile. ¡°If everything you¡¯re saying is true¨Cif I really did spend five years in love with you, working tirelessly to help you secure Luke Corp¨Cthen tell me, Mr. Jensen, why in all that time did never once make our rtionship public?¡± you ¡°That was because so many shareholders in Luke Corp still opposed me. I needed you¨CMs. Sunny¡¯s name¨Cto hold them in check. Not making our rtionship public was to protect you. Natalie, you have no idea how ruthless those shareholders are. Five years ago I pulled you out of the Summers family¡¯s mud; how could I ever let you suffer again because of me?¡± HereSelf 175 Chapter 175 Money Talks So Pay Up The curve of Natalie¡¯s lips deepened. ¡°Oh? So Mr. Jensen has been protecting me all along?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Jensen rushed to affirm it. Natalie¡¯s smile only grew brighter, though it never reached her eyes. ¡°Then if you cared about me so much, Mr. Jensen, why haven¡¯t I received a single cent from all the profits my designs brought in over the past five years?¡± Newest update provided by f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel ¡°You lived in the Lanju apartment I bought for you. I covered all the household expenses, even hired cleaners toe on schedule. You didn¡¯t need money.¡± That one statement was enough to make the reporters behind her widen their disbelief. What kind of reasoning is that? eyes in Natalie¡¯s smile sharpened. ¡°Whether I need money or not is irrelevant. I put in thebor; I designed the products. I never signed an agreement with you¡ªor with Luke Corp¡ª authorizing their use. You profited off my work; shouldn¡¯t some of that profit have gone to me?¡± Jensen flushed at her words, shame creeping across his face. Biting his lip, he muttered, ¡°It¡¯s not that I wouldn¡¯t give you anything. We were going to get married eventually; what¡¯s mine would be yours. If you needed money, no matter how much, I would¡¯ve given it to you. You know Luke Corp only looked morous from the outside- inside, thepany needed money everywhere. I just¡­ hadn¡¯t given you your share yet.¡± ¡°So ording to you, Mr. Jensen, since you would eventually marry me, the profi rom my designs would one daye back to me?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then why did you marry Sharon?¡± Natalie¡¯s expression hardenedpletely. Jensen¡¯s voice faltered. He suddenly understood what truly mattered to her. Uneasy, he tugged at his cor; still feeling suffocated, he quickly unbuttoned two more buttons as if only then could he breathe. ¡°Natalie, that was my mistake. I shouldn¡¯t have married Sharon on our fifth anniversary. But I had my reasons.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Natalie realized that once she had let go of all feelings for him, the illusion surrounding him had shattered. The same handsome face that once seemed so dear now made her sick. Seeing no trace of emotion on her face, Jensen¡¯s chest tightened in a dull ache. ¡°Natalie, believe me. The only woman I¡¯ve ever loved is you. I married Sharon because she has cancer; she doesn¡¯t have much time left. Her final wish was to die as my wife¨CI couldn¡¯t let her leave this world with regret.¡± ¡°You could have told me. You could have said you intended to marry Sharon. We could have ended things cleanly. But, Mr. Jensen, you never thought to tell me about your marriage to her. So what was your n? A wife in your arms while keeping me as your mistress?¡± Natalie¡¯s voice turned ice¨Ccold. ¡°No, no¨Cthat wasn¡¯t it! I only thought that once Sharon passed, we¡¯d get married immediately. I wouldn¡¯t touch her, I swear!¡± As he spoke, he reached for Natalie¡¯s hand. Natalie instead picked up her coffee and threw it directly in his face. ¡°Jensen, you¡¯re disgusting.¡± Brown liquid sshed across him, even seeping into his open mouth before he could close it. Natalie rose to her feet, her voice cutting through the stunned silence. ¡°From the moment you married Sharon, everything between us ended. So stop telling the media you¡¯ll marry me or that we¡¯re in a rtionship.¡± ¡°Secondly, the profits from my designs over the past five years¨Csince I never authorized you or Luke Corp to use them¨Ccalcte every cent and return it. Otherwise, I¡¯ll take legal action.¡± With that, she turned and walked away. ¡°Natalie, don¡¯t treat me like this! I know I was wrong. Just give me another chance!¡± Jensen reached instinctively for her arm, but Chris blocked him. ¡°Mr. Jensen, you¡¯d better focus on exining yourself to the reporters.¡± At those words, the journalists surged forward. ¡°Mr. Jensen, is what you just said true? Did you really marry another woman behind Ms. Sunny¡¯s back?¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen, has Luke Corp truly not given her a single cent for five years of designs?¡± Their sudden barrage of questions surrounded Jensen in the cafe. Because he had wanted to meet Natalie alone, he hadn¡¯t brought Hansel with him. And now, faced with this situation¨Cif Jensen still didn¡¯t realize Natalie had orchestrated everything¨Cthen he didn¡¯t deserve to sit in Luke Corp¡¯s president¡¯s chair at all. HereSelf 176 ght, every bit of the image he had built crumbledpletely. Natalie stood outside, watching the chaos inside the Chapter 176 Move Over Sharon Your Turn Still, the fact that the one scheming against him turned out to be Natalie was something Jensen could hardly ept. ¡°Move! Get out of my way!¡± He tried to break through the encirclement, but it was useless. Reporters swarmed around him, pelting him with questions; in one nicafe with calm, untroubled eyes. She had pretended not to know Jensen earlier just to see how he would behave, but his actions only left her disgusted. Now that the reporters had arrived and the stage was set, there was no point in keeping up the act any longer. After all, Natalie deserved an exnation, a reckoning, for everything that had happened between them. Now that she had it, she finally felt a measure of relief. Chris had no idea what Natalie was thinking. He only saw her standing in front of the car, gaze fixed on the mess inside the cafe. He spoke up, ¡°Miss, we¡¯ve already restrained the barista.¡± ¡°Find out what she put in the coffee.¡± Natalie wasn¡¯t a fool. Back when she had been with Jensen, she hadn¡¯t bothered to think too deeply; to her, he was family, a lover, someone who would walk with her through storms for a lifetime. So whatever Jensen said, she epted. But after brushing past death, what could she possibly not see through? Jensen might have been a big shot in Ocean City, but he wasn¡¯t so fearsome that a mere nce could make a barista¡¯s hands tremble and spill coffee. That was nothing but guilt written all over her face. Natalie had to admit¨Cthe Stone family¡¯s Chris was useful. One subtle look from her and he understood exactly what needed to be done, carrying it out withposure; it pleased her. Hearing her question, Chris quickly reported, ¡°We pressed her; she said Dr. Johnson ordered her to drug both your coffee and Jensen¡¯s, to make you lose control and hook up upstairs. Sharon would then storm in with reporters to catch you in the act. She¡¯d pull out her marriage certificate with Jensen and nail you down as the mistress.¡± Natalie¡¯s lips curved into a mocking smile. ¡°Sounds exactly like something Sharon would do.¡± She had only just returned to the country and hadn¡¯t had the time to deal with Sharon; yet Sharon couldn¡¯t resist striking first. Chris paused, then added, ¡°Miss, our people also found out that when you and Mr. Jensennded yesterday, there were assassins lurking near the airport. They were clearly targeting you, but his men took care of them.¡± ¡°Assassins?¡± Natalie¡¯s brows drew together. Judging from Jensen¡¯s attitude today, this couldn¡¯t have been his doing. That left only one person who most wanted to keep her froming home, Sharon. What a Sharon, ruthless as ever. ¡°Chris, send someone to grab Sharon. Force the barista¡¯s drugged coffee down her throat, then throw her in a room with some random man. I want the reporters she called to follow her script to the letter¨Conly the leading man and woman will change. Let¡¯s see how tomorrow¡¯s headlines explode.¡± With that, Natalie tore off the mask on her face and tossed it to the ground. The silver mask gleamed coldly, reflecting her wless, icy beauty in the sunlight. She pulled open the car door and slid inside. As the luxury car roared to life, Sharon arrived at the scene. She immediately called her people. ¡°Have the reporters I arranged at Cloud Cafe in five minutes.¡± She was about to look up at the caf¨¦ when she sensed a shadow flicker behind her. Pain shot through her neck, and she cked out. A man in ck caught her before she copsed and hurried her into the caf¨¦¡¯s back kitchen. The restrained barista was forced to pour the drugged coffee down Sharon¡¯s throat. Just as they were about to carry her upstairs to the lounge, a stranger walked in. with Mr. Baron. He had me bring in a beggar for Sharon to enjoy. And Jensen¡¯s about to -Mr. Baron already had his men sh his tires. Today, Jensen has to stay and watch this to the end.¡± oved the filthy beggar inside and left. received the update almost immediately. Baron, everything went ording to n.¡±
  1. d. Leave the rest to the Stone family; just make sure my
wife stays safe.¡± Yes, sir.¡± Baron ended the call, standing by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. Below him, traffic streamed endlessly; in his phone, the recording of Natalie¡¯s cold, clear confrontation with Jensen yed on a loop. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find(?)ovel HereSelf 177 Chapter 177 No Rest For Revolver He paused the video on the exact moment Natalie said, ¡°Don¡¯t let my man get the wrong idea,¡± and set it to loop; the corner of his mouth curved upward. His wife, Baron thought, was nothing short of dazzling. Still, he¡¯d have to tell Waylonter¨Cthe Stone family¡¯s bodyguards were obedient enough, but their reflexes left much to be desired. If he hadn¡¯t slipped his own men into their ranks to block the reporters in time, those vultures would have rushed in, cameras shing, and ruined the rhythm Natalie had carefully set, Jensen admitting, in front of everyone, that he had taken advantage of Ms. Sunny for five years without giving anything back. The fragile white flower of yesterday had transformed into this sharp, striking woman; Baron¡¯s heart ached with fierce tenderness. ¡°Revolver!¡± Baron called in the head of Grant International Holdings¡® Ocean City branch, its local president, Revolver. ¡°Mr. Baron.¡± Revolver entered with deference, standing respectfully before him. Baron tossed the quarterly report across the desk. ¡°You¡¯ll keep running things here. I trust your ability and loyaltypletely. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Revolver frowned. ¡°Mr. Baron, since you¡¯vee all this way, at least take a look at your own holdings. The workload has be overwhelming; I haven¡¯t had a single day of rest in weeks, I¡ª¡± ¡°Ah,e on. You¡¯re alone; what do you need rest for? Not like me¡ªI have to get nome and cook dinner for my wife and kids.¡± ¡°What?¡± Revolver froze. Cook dinner? What kind of thing was Mr. Baron saying? Baron didn¡¯t care what he thought; all he wanted was to hurry back. Natalie had been breathtaking in that mask earlier¨Cstunning, almost sinfully alluring. And the serpent tattoo winding around her wrist had stirred in him a strange urge to press his lips to it. He needed to get back quickly, make dinner, serve her well; once she was satisfied, it would be her turn to take care of him. With joy bubbling in his chest and heat coursing through his veins, Baron strode out of Grant International Holdings. Meanwhile, Natalie had the driver stop when they passed a shopping mall. Chris assumed she needed something and quickly asked, ¡°Miss, do you have further instructions?¡± ¡°Have the others head back. Youe with me to the mall.¡± Natalie had thought of the two children at home. Before, when she hadn¡¯t known they existed, she could ignore such things. But now that she knew, she had to be a good mother. The twins were already four years old, and she had never bought them a single toy, never chosen a single outfit. She knew Baron would never let them go without, but she wanted¨Cneeded¨Cto buy something for them herself. This update is avable on find?novel Chris saw her step out of the car and quickly waved the others off, keeping only his vehicle. ¡°Miss, I¡¯ll park. Wait for me here a moment.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t object. Chris drove off toward the underground parking lot. Natalie¡¯s eyes fell on a children¡¯s clothing boutique not far away. The little princess dress in the window was impossibly cute, impossibly pretty. She immediately thought of Susie¡¯s round, cherubic face. Her expression softened, and she walked to the shopfront. ¡°Excuse me, can I get that dress in a size 120?¡± She pushed the door open, her voice rising slightly. Just then, Quincy, startled by the sound, turned her head¨Cand her gaze locked with Natalie¡¯s. Her eyes flew wide. ¡°Natalie? Is that you?¡± Quincy hurried over, only to see up close that the woman merely bore a striking resemnce. Her features were simr, but her beauty carried a sharp, untouchable edge¨Csomething the old Natalie had never possessed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I mistook you for someone else.¡± Quincy apologized quickly, though her eyes couldn¡¯t tear themselves away. She suddenly missed Natalie desperately. Back when she hadn¡¯t known Natalie wasn¡¯t her biological daughter, they used to shop together often. Natalie had been so dutiful, always making sure she had water when she grew tired, trailing patiently by her side all morning with noint. But after Sharon returned, Quincy never again felt the joy of strolling with a daughter. Sharon only everined that she walked too slowly, that her taste was awful; beyond asking her for money, Sharon had no interest in apanying her anywhere, let alone buying her anything. Before, Quincy hadn¡¯t thought much of it. But in recent days, she found herself missing those moments with Natalie more and more. Now, seeing this woman who looked so much like her, Quincy¡¯s eyes welled up. ¡°So much alike¡ªso much! But she isn¡¯t my Natalie. My Natalie died long ago in that fire.¡± Her voice rambled, disoriented, her spirit drifting. Beside her, the housekeeper, Lucy, quickly supported her. ¡°Madam, you must be tired from shopping and mistaken her for someone else. Why don¡¯t we head home?¡± HereSelf 178 Chapter 178 Smile For The Camera Lucy tried to forcefully pull Quincy away. But Quincy shook her off and once again stepped into Natalie¡¯s path. ¡°Miss, could I take a picture with you?¡± Regret gnawed at Quincy now. Back when Sharon had first returned, because Sharon couldn¡¯t stand even the faintest trace of Natalie in the house, Quincy had burned and destroyed every photo of Natalie and their little family of three. Now, aching with longing for Natalie, Quincy couldn¡¯t find a single photograph left. Staring at Natalie¡¯s simr face, she couldn¡¯t help blurting out her sudden request. Natalie never expected to run into Quincy here. Just as Natalie puzzled over it, Lucy yanked at Quincy again, but Quincy suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood with a sickening stter; then, with a heavy thud, she copsed unconscious to the floor. ¡°Madam!¡± Lucy cried out, shoving Natalie aside, but in the same motion she discreetly scattered some powder onto Natalie¡¯s sleeve. ¡°What did you do to her?¡± The brazen usation almost made Natalieugh. ¡°If your eyes are failing, you should get them checked. If you¡¯re trying to pin som me, this shop probably has surveince cameras. But I¡¯d suggest you call an ambnce for yourdy instead. She¡¯s coughing blood, and you still have the time and energy to stage some scam with me?¡± ing on Natalie could only shake her head. She wanted nothing more than to avoid any further entanglement with the Summers family, yet somehow even a simple trip to the mall turned into theater. And she hadn¡¯t missed the flicker of shock and fear in Lucy¡¯s eyes the moment she saw her. Natalie knew her current face wasn¡¯t exactly the same as before; still, seven or eight parts alike was enough that those who had lived with her for years would hardly be fooled. She was certain Lucy recognized her, even if she couldn¡¯t quite believe it. After all, no ordinary person could have survived that fire. Yet even with her doubts, Lucy still chose to frame her. That was telling. Natalie¡¯s ¡®s gaze made Lucy falter. Clutching Quincy¡¯s chest, Lucy cried out, ¡°Is anyone calling an ambnce for Madam? And the police too! Her color is all wrong! That woman in front of us must have poisoned her!¡± Natalie¡¯s brow furrowed. Poison? Her eyes drifted to Quincy¡¯s face. Sure enough¡ªher lips were turning purple. It did look like poisoning. So Lucy had poisoned Quincy herself, and now wanted to pin it on me? But why? Her trip to the mall had been a spur¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmoment decision; no one could have nned for it. Which meant Lucy was improvising too. Natalie¡¯s mind worked quickly. She didn¡¯t flee or protest; she simply pulled out her phone and called the police. Lucy froze at the sight. I was trying to frame Natalie¨Cshouldn¡¯t Natalie be panicking, scrambling to exin herself? This involved someone¡¯s life, after all. So why was she so calm? Why would she even call the police herself? For the first time, unease flickered through Lucy. ¡°Don¡¯t think calling the cops will clear you. Just wait.¡± She fumbled for her phone and dialed Sharon. As long as Sharon came and saw this woman¡¯s face, she would back her up and pin Quincy¡¯s poisoning on her. Fresh chapters posted on find{n}ovel It was true she had cut off Quincy¡¯s medication for thest two days, and Quincy¡¯s health was fragile; today she had insisted on going for a checkup at the hospital. Lucy had dragged her into the mall instead, nning to call Sharon, report in, and ask for next steps. Who could have guessed Natalie would walk right in before she even made contact? Seeing that face so like Natalie¡¯s, Lucy thought opportunity had fallen into herp. Hence her little performance just now. But Natalie wasn¡¯t reacting the way she expected, leaving Lucy no choice but to lean harder on Sharon. At that moment, Sharon¨Cdrugged out of her senses¨Cwas already burning with heat, mind consumed only by the urge to release herself. The beggar had woken too. Faced with such a beautiful woman wing at her own clothes, he wasted no time, lunging on top of her. The shrill ringtone of the phone pierced the room, but to the pair lost in their frenzy, it was nothing but noise. The beggar tossed the phone under the bed and pressed on. Lucy dialed over and over, but no one picked up; her face grew paler with each attempt. Natalie still hadn¡¯t moved. Chris and the police arrived at almost the exact same time. HereSelf 179 Chapter 179 Nice Try With The Powder ¡°Who called this in?¡± The officers nced over the scene, brows knitting tightly. ¡°What happened to the woman on the ground?¡± ¡°Officer, thisdy suddenly coughed up blood and copsed. The woman beside her is her servant, yet instead of calling for an ambnce right away, she tried to frame me, iming I poisoned her. That¡¯s why I called the police¨Cand an ambnce. I imagine it should be here any minute.¡± Natalie spoke clearly and logically, beating Lucy to the punch. At that moment, the ambnce pulled up with a wail of sirens. Following protocol, they prioritized saving lives; Quincy was lifted onto a stretcher and rushed away. Chris hurried over to Natalie. ¡°Miss, what happened?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Natalie¡¯s tone was light, dismissive. Some officers followed the ambnce to the hospital, while Lucy and Natalie were kept behind. The police pulled footage from the boutique¡¯s cameras. The angle was perfect¨CNatalie had entered facing the lens directly, every movement captured with absolute rity, down to the smallest detail. From the moment she stepped inside to the moment Quincy spoke to her, there had always been a person¡¯s distance between them. Even when Quincy stepped closer, mistaking her for someone else, Natalie had instinctively shifted back, maintaining a safe space. With that distance, neither Natalie nor Quincy could have done anything discreet; every gesture would have been visible. The footage showed inly that there had been no physical contact between them. When Lucy saw the video, her face drained of color. She had never considered the possibility of such a sharp camera angle. Could it be that this woman had been on guard from the very moment she walked in? The thought chilled her. ¡°Who are you?¡± Her voice trembled. ?????? ???? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Natalie let out a coldugh. ¡°You¡¯re not qualified to know.¡± The steely look in her eyes, the force in her bearing¨Cthis was nothing like the Natalie raised by the Summers family. Chris stepped forward, his voice edged with lethal intent. ¡°Who gave you the courage to frame our Miss?¡± Lucy¡¯s legs nearly buckled. ¡°Miss? Whose¡­ whose miss are you?¡± ????? ???????? Natalie didn¡¯t even spare her a nce this time. She turned instead to the officers. ¡°Officer, I walked in here to buy clothes and was ndered. I demand a reasonable exnation from this woman.¡± ¡°No¨CI didn¡¯t nder you! It has to be you. Otherwise why would Madam, perfectly fine while shopping, suddenly copse from poisoning after seeing you?¡± Lucy blurted frantically, ¡°Officer, I suspect she¡¯s carrying poison powder on her!¡± It was the stuff Sharon had bought off the ck market. In food, the powder dissolved without color or taste; but brushed against clothing or skin, it left ck stains behind. Lucy¡¯s eyes darted to the dark marks on Natalie¡¯s sleeve, and triumph curled across her lips. ¡°Officer, look at her sleeve! That¡¯s definitely poison powder!¡± She thought she had found irrefutable proof, and pointed at Natalie¡¯s cuff with a feverish excitement. ¡°Fool.¡± Natalie sneered, not even bothering to argue. But the officers exchanged nces; with a silent signal, one of them stepped forward and seized Lucy instead. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯ve got the wrong person!¡± Lucy froze, stunned. Natalie didn¡¯t even feel the urge to defend herself. Chris, with a trace of mercy, spoke up. ¡°Miss, from the moment the officers arrived, they haven¡¯t found any source of poison. Yet you managed to identify the powder instantly. Isn¡¯t that a confession in itself? And our Miss never touched your Madam after entering. Do yourself a favor¨Cif you want to frame someone next time, at least try harder. Otherwise, do you really think everyone is as stupid as you?¡± The color drained further from Lucy¡¯s face. ¡°No¨Cit wasn¡¯t me! It really wasn¡¯t! It was her! Officer, you have to believe me!¡± She struggled and pleaded, but the officers waved her off, signaling for their colleagues to take her away. Still, one of them turned back to Natalie. ¡°Miss, what your man said makes sense. Still, we¡¯ll need you toe to the station for questioning. We need to determine the source of the powder on your sleeve.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t refuse. ¡£ ?? ? ? Chris, however, grew uneasy. The Miss goes shopping and ends up hauled to the police station¡ªdoesn¡¯t that make this my failure? Before Natalie noticed, he quickly sent a message to Baron. ¡°Mr. Baron, Natalie has been taken to the station. What should we do?¡± Baron had just returned with groceries, ready to impress Natalie with a home¨Ccooked meal, when the text arrived. His eyes went cold at once. ¡°What happened?¡± HereSelf 180 Chapter 180 Try Harder Next Time ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel Chris instinctively fell back a few steps and made a quick call, briefly recounting everything that had happened. A bloodthirsty curve tugged at Baron¡¯s lips. ¡°So the Summers family¡¯s servants dare to insult my woman now, is that it? Looks like I¡¯ve been giving them too much face.¡± He hung up and drove straight to the station. Natalie had only just arrived when Baron appeared, bringing with him a man in sses. ¡°Wife, are you alright?¡± Baron didn¡¯t care about the stares from others; the moment he walked in, his eyes were fixed only on Natalie. Seeing the thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, Natalie shook her head and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I can handle something this small myself.¡± But Baron¡¯s gaze slid to her sleeve. How could he not recognize the color of that powder? The police, meanwhile, wanted Natalie to remove her jacket for testing. At that moment, the man beside Baron spoke up. ¡°Officer, I¡¯m Alen, head of the ck market. That powder looks like the pesticide we sell there.¡± ¡°What?¡± The word ¡°ck market¡± instantly made the officers wary. ¡°Why would pesticide from your ck market end up on Ms. Stone¡¯s clothing?¡± Alen answered calmly, ¡°That I don¡¯t know. But I checked, about a month ago, someone secretly sold off some of our pesticide. Here are the transaction records. Officer, you should take a look. I also brought the seller.¡± The officer took the ledger and surveince footage Alen handed over, his expression growing heavier. ¡°Check this video for signs of tampering.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Once the evidence was secured, Alen continued, ¡°Brian, this powder is just pesticide. If it were to kill a person, it would take at least twenty days of umtion in the body before showing symptoms. After first contact, there¡¯s no reaction at all.¡± Baron seized on the exnation. ¡°My wife and I only returned from Murica less than two days ago. You can check our flight records.¡± Brian immediately ordered an investigation, and sure enough, customs¡® facial recognition confirmed Natalie and Baron¡¯s re¨Centry just yesterday. On timing alone, Natalie could not possibly have poisoned Quincy on the spot. But they would still need hard evidence. Just then, another officer came in. ¡°Brian, we re¨Cwatched the boutique¡¯s footage. It was the Summers family¡¯s servant who deliberately smeared the powder on Ms. Stone.¡± They reyed the zoomed¨Cin, slowed¨Cdown footage for him. That left no doubt¨CNatalie had been framed. ¡°Apologies, Ms. Stone; you were wronged today.¡± Brian quickly offered his regret. Natalie shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Cooperating with the police is every citizen¡¯s duty. If there¡¯s nothing else, we¡¯ll be leaving.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Baron draped his coat over her shoulders. The familiar warmth of his scent washed over her, and Natalie felt an unexpected calm. Even if Baron hadn¡¯te, she could have resolved this herself; it only would have taken more time. But with him stepping in, everything ended neatly. She smiled at him softly, and the two walked out of the station hand in hand. Alen departed quietly. Chris, quick on the uptake, headed to his own car. Once Natalie was settled in Baron¡¯s, she finally asked, ¡°Why was that powder tied to the ck market? Who bought it? Did you know about this already?¡± Baron pressed a cup of warm water into her hands before answering. ¡°Yes. A month ago, Sharon went to the ck market to buy poison¨Cshe meant to use it on Quincy. I didn¡¯t stop her. What I didn¡¯t expect was for her dog to sink its teeth into you instead.¡± A sh of killing intent passed through his eyes as he spoke. That Lucy had better hope she enjoyed her stay in detention. Natalie didn¡¯t feel fear at his words; instead, her heart warmed. This man, the moment he knew she had been taken in by the police, rushed over with evidence in hand to clear her name. That wasn¡¯t something just anyone could do. ¡°Alright. The police are involved now. Let them handle the rest¨Cno need to drag yourself into it and risk exposure.¡± Natalie still didn¡¯t want Baron wasting his strength on something so small. Baron squeezed her hand and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to my wife.¡± The way he called her that left a strange flutter in her chest. She quickly turned her head, gazing out the window. ¡°Sharon actually bought poison to kill her own mother?¡± HereSelf 181 Chapter 181 Cloud Caf¨¦ Scandal Natalie had never expected things to unfold like this. Baron, however, said quietly, ¡°Someone like Sharon never had a conscience. Growing up abused in the countryside, it¡¯s no wonder her heart turned dark. But for her to poison her own mother¨Cthat¡¯s not something an ordinary person could do. I wonder if Quincy will regret giving up a filial daughter like you for her.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what she thinks, nor do I want to. What I want to know is¨CSharon¡¯s now involved in a murder case, and she¡¯s rolling around with a beggar. Isn¡¯t that explosive enough for the news?¡± Baron already knew what Natalie had done in the clouds. Hearing her say this made himugh. ¡°Then why don¡¯t I go with you to watch the show?¡± Natalie turned and caught the wicked amusement in his eyes. She suddenlyughed. ¡°Alright, thanks.¡± She had only nned to buy a couple of outfits and head home to her child. But with one bombshell after another, she found herself more and more eager to see the spectacle. Baron immediately told the driver to head for Cloud Caf¨¦. By now, the ce was swarming with people. Hansel had rushed over the moment he heard Jensen was in trouble, but the Luke Corp shareholders had gotten there even faster. He was immediately blocked by them. It was as if some invisible force controlled Cloud Caf¨¦¨Creporters were allowed in, but no one else. As a result, Hansel and the shareholders were stuck outside, while jo nalists were ushered in freely. Even Jensen couldn¡¯te out. No one knew what was happening inside, and all could do was wait anxiously. Hansel was frantic, pacing like an ant on a hot pan. Earlier, Natalie and Jensen¡¯s recorded conversation had been broadcast live by reporters, blowing up the entire Ocean City. Now, with Natalie gone and the inside sealed tight, Hansel was terrified for Jensen¡¯s state. When Natalie and Baron arrived and saw the scene, she raised a brow. Chapter 181 Cloud Caf¨¦ Scandal ¡°Your doing?¡± This text is hosted at find[f]ovel Her tone was questioning, but her eyes already knew the answer. No one but Baron could lock down Cloud Caf¨¦ like this. +10 Free Coins Baron grinned. ¡°Of course. If Jensen dared covet my wife, I have to make sure he loses all face before walking out. Besides, if reporters don¡¯t crush him now, how else would I have the chance to scoop up Luke Corp stock?¡± ¡°What?¡± Natalie blinked, then understood at once. ¡°Right. Once our partnership¡¯s ugliness is exposed, Luke Corp shares will plummet. You want to swoop in and take a stake?¡± Baron shrugged. ¡°Exactly. If he dares covet my wife again, I¡¯ll make sure hispany changes hands. I¡¯d like to see if he¡¯s truly willing to abandon Luke Corp.¡± His tone was mild, but his eyes were cold. Natalie had no objection. ¡°So how do we get inside?¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± Baron took her hand, led her out of the car, and slipped into Cloud Caf¨¦ through the back entrance. Inside, the crowd stood to attention the moment they saw them. ¡°Hello!¡± The greetings ovepped in disarray, but there was no conflict. Natalie only curved her lips in amusement and followed Baron upstairs. The reporters had just been allowed in and were eager to push further. The lounge wasn¡¯t soundproof. Sharon¡¯s voice spilled out, sharp and wanton, tangled with the beggar¡¯s. ¡°Faster, ah¨Cfaster!¡± Chapter 181 Cloud Caf¨¦ Scandal Her shrill moans carried both frustration and debauchery. The reporters perked up instantly, eyes gleaming. ¡°Should we just kick the door down?¡± one whispered impatiently. A live bust was far more dramatic than anything else. Others nodded eagerly. ¡°Do it!¡± With several agreeing, the rest sprang into action. Baron even sent his bodyguards to give the push more force. With a bang, the door flew open and the reporters surged inside. Baron immediately pulled Natalie into his arms, covering her eyes. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She felt his dry palm pressing against her face and couldn¡¯t help butugh. Baron muttered, ¡°It¡¯s filthy in there. I don¡¯t want your eyes stained. Watching from here is enough¨Cthere¡¯s no need to get close to the dirt.¡± Natalie¡¯s lips curved. ¡°Isn¡¯t watching a scandal best done up close?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to see in a filthy beggar? If you really want to look, I¡¯ll strip for you at home.¡± He whispered in her ear, only to get an elbow from Natalie for his trouble. HereSelf 182 Chapter 182 Scandal Exposed Chapter 182 Scandal Exposed ¡°Ah¨Care you trying to murder your husband?¡± Baron fell dramatically against Natalie¡¯s shoulder, blocking her view on purpose. Natalie was speechless, but she gave in and let him. Her ears, however, still caught every sound. +10 Free Coins When the reporters burst through the door and saw Sharon entangled with a beggar, they gasped before frantically snapping photos. Then someone shouted, ¡°Wait¨Cisn¡¯t that Mr. Jensen¡¯s wife, Sharon? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°What? Mr. Jensen¡¯s secret wife?¡± ¡°But Mr. Jensen is still downstairs! Isn¡¯t this too much?¡± The scene hit them like a bombshell. Downstairs, Jensen froze when he heard his name. The reporters around him went silent. In that silence, the voices upstairs carried clearly¨Creporters whispering, Sharon moaning, the beggar grunting. Jensen¡¯s expression darkened. That voice¡­ was Sharon¡¯s? What was she doing here? And who was she with? His chest burned, his head filled with a suffocating green haze. The pitying looks around him nearly made him faint with rage. ¡°Out of my way!¡± His eyes bloodshot, Jensen shoved reporters aside and stormed toward the stairs. Chapter Scandal Exposed The crowd parted instinctively. The silence made Sharon¡¯s cries upstairs even more unbearable. ¡°My little beauty, you¡¯re so sweet. Another kiss.¡± The beggar¡¯s lustful tone rang in Jensen¡¯s ears, driving his blood to boil. At that moment, he truly wanted to kill. Natalie could only imagine what had been slipped into Sharon¡¯s drink¨Cstrong enough that even themotion hadn¡¯t broken through. They were still going at it like no one else existed. That drug was potent. If it had been her, this would have been her ruin. Her eyes shed with cold killing intent. Jensen stormed into the room. He froze at the sight: Sharon straddling the beggar, the rose tattoo on her waist swaying with every motion¨Conce alluring, now like a dagger stabbing his eyes. ¡°Sharon!¡± His roar split the air. In one stride he was on her, grabbing her shoulder and pping her hard across the face. Discover more novels at f?ndnovel ¡°Ah!¡± The p sent Sharon sprawling, and the shock jolted her back to awareness. She screamed at the scene before her. ¡°Shut up! Haven¡¯t you shamed me enough?¡± Jensen yanked off his jacket and threw it over her. ¡°Put it on!¡± His eyes burned red with fury. Then he turned and unleashed his fists on the beggar. ¡°Murder! Help!¡± The beggar finally sobered, screaming in pain, but Jensen was like a lion gone mad, venting every ounce of rage with his blows. Sharon scrambled into Jensen¡¯s coat, her body trembling. How had this happened? Why was she here? Why was she with a beggar? Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be Natalie¡¯s humiliation? Her memory stopped at the moment she was knocked unconscious. Who had set her up? Her eyes darted around¡ªandnded on Natalie. At that moment, Baron lifted his hand from Natalie¡¯s eyes, letting her see. After all, the worse Sharon looked, the happier his wife would be. Some things had to be witnessed in person. Sharon¡¯s eyes went wide. She caught the cold indifference in Natalie¡¯s gaze¨Cthe mockery, the disdain. ¡°Natalie! It was you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± She lunged toward her in a frenzy, but Baron¡¯s kick sent her sprawling back. ¡°What madness are you spouting?¡± Jensen froze the moment Sharon shouted Natalie¡¯s name. His fists halted mid¨Cswing as he turned slowly. And there she was¨CNatalie, standing in the crowd, sheltered in Baron¡¯s arms. Her eyes were detached, as if she didn¡¯t know them at all. But the naked mockery in her gaze was like a sword, cutting straight into Jensen¡¯s heart. For the first time, he felt utterly humiliated. HereSelf 183 Chapter 183 Breaking Point Chapter 183 Breaking Point That one¨Con¨Cone confrontation with Natalie had already made Jensen realize she¡¯d set him up. Thepany¡¯s stock must have been plummeting by now, panic spreading like wildfire. And Hansel still hadn¡¯t arrived. His phone had been dead silent, likely jammed. Jensen knew exactly what that meant. Natalie had powerful forces backing her. This retaliation hade like a storm, leaving him no room to breathe. But Jensen had never imagined Natalie would drag Sharon into it¨Cusing such a degrading way to strip them both of dignity. Was this really the same Natalie who once wouldn¡¯t even dare step on an ant? His chest ached. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was disappointment, heartache, or both. His eyes blurred as he looked across the crowd at Natalie, emotions too tangled to name. Natalie felt his gaze but didn¡¯t spare him a nce. So this was what it meant to be truly done¨Cwith love, with patience, with everything. When there¡¯s nothing left, even speaking another word feels like too much. Sharon, sprawled indecently on the ground again, screamed and cursed, spitting the vilest insults at Natalie. Natalie stood calm and quiet, watching without responding, as if Sharon¡¯s words had been meant for someone else entirely. The humiliation burned Jensen until hisst thread of reason snapped. Official source is Find~Novel ¡°Shut up!¡± His re was sharp enough to cut, a de that stabbed straight through Sharon. She had never seen him like this. A shiver ran through her before her eyes welled with tears. ¡°Jensen, I was framed! It was her! She set me up!¡± Chapter 183 Breaking Point Natalie only smiled faintly. To Jensen, that smile was blindingly cruel. He bit down hard and said through clenched teeth, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? She was downstairs talking business with me earlier. She¡¯s been gone for a long time. Sharon, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself.¡± Today, Jensen¡¯s pride¨Cinside and out¨Cwas ripped away by Natalie,id bare before everyone. He had thought to fight back, but in that instant, he let go. If this was her revenge, he would ept it. He had wronged her too deeply¨Cforcing her into the mes, nearly costing her life. Compared to that, this humiliation was nothing. Yes, Sharon had once saved him. He couldn¡¯t strike her down with his own hands. But if Natalie wanted to, maybe he didn¡¯t have to stop her. Strangely, the thought brought him a sliver of release. He turned back to Natalie. He said nothing, but his eyes were soft, as if he would dly give her his life without regret. It was enough to make Baron bristle with rage. ¡°So this is Mr. Jensen¡¯s wife? Quite the taste you have¨Cunique,¡± Baron said coolly,cing his words with both mockery and warning. Jensen¡¯s gaze snapped to him, narrowing sharply. This man¨Che remembered him from the productunch, standing at Natalie¡¯s side. Was it him all along, helping her from the shadows? Who was he? Jensen¡¯s hawk¨Clike stare locked onto Baron, searching. But Natalie had lost interest in the spectacle. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She slipped her arm through Baron¡¯s, leaning on him sweetly. The sight made Jensen¡¯s chest clench painfully. ¡°Natalie!¡± ¡°Jensen!¡± He tried to go after her, but Sharon wrapped herself around his leg, sobbing miserably. ¡°Jensen, I swear I was framed! Please believe me!¡± ¡°Let go!¡± For the first time, Jensen felt nothing but disgust toward Sharon. Baron¡¯s lips curved upward, pleased by the way Natalie clung to him in front of everyone. Then Natalie stopped. She turned her head slightly, her gaze cool as it swept over the mess behind her. ¡°Mrs. Luke may really have been set up. When I was downstairs with Mr. Jensen, the coffee the barista brought seemed off. Luckily, I didn¡¯t drink it.¡± Her words were calm, almost casual. Then she looped her arm tighter around Baron¡¯s and walked away without a backward nce. The crowd froze. ¡°My God! Does this mean there¡¯s a bigger conspiracy?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the barista? Find the barista first¨Cthere could be more to this!¡± The reporters¡® instincts red, and they rushed into action. Meanwhile, Jensen and Sharon stood stunned. Why¡­ why would Natalie speak up for Sharon now? HereSelf 184 Chapter 184 The Trap This wasn¡¯t in line with her path of revenge, was it? +10 Free Coins But Natalie didn¡¯t care what Jensen and Sharon thought. She simply took Baron by the arm and walked out of the room, giving Chris a meaningful nce on her way. Chris vanished instantly. Arm in arm with Baron, Natalie left Cloud Cafe and got into the car. Baron, however, wasn¡¯t in the best mood. ¡°You regret it?¡± His expression darkened, his whole body tensing up. Could Natalie really be regretting this? §à Even if she had once died in the mes, that was Sharon¡¯s doing. Based on the bond Natalie had with Jensen five years ago, was she nning to forgive him now? Baron¡¯s heart churned uneasily, though he forced himself to appear calm. Still, the slight flicker of unease in his narrow phoenix eyes betrayed him. Natalie nced at him, a pang tightening in her chest. This man really was insecure with her. She had given so much of herself to Jensen back then. Maybe that was why, even after egistering their marriage, Baron still felt uncertain. Natalie shook her head slightly. ¡°No. Without this, how would we lure out Dr. Johnson? And how would we expose the deal between Dr. Johnson and Sharon?¡± Baron froze for a moment, then suddenly caught on. ¡°You realized that barista was one of Dr. Johnson¡¯s people?¡± The gloom lifted from his face, and a spark of interest flickered in his eyes. Seeing him like this, Natalie¡¯s sour ache disappeared. Chapter 184 The Trap The source of th?s content is +10 Free Coins Yes. This was how Baron should be. He was the godfather, the president of Grant International Holdings, the man standing at the top. He was meant to be someone who looked down on the world, not someone fragile and uncertain. Natalie curved her lips into a smile, kissed his cheek, and said, ¡°I just found out. Chris told me you¡¯ve been doing a lot behind the scenes.¡± Baron understood immediately. He had ordered his men to share their information and resources with Chris. He only wanted to make sure Chris didn¡¯t overlook anything that could put Natalie in danger. But he hadn¡¯t expected Chris to tell her about it. Even so, warmth stirred in his chest. He liked how Natalie always spoke her mind. ¡°My wife really is clever.¡± Natalie rolled her eyes at him. ¡°You didn¡¯t exactly look like you were praising me just now.¡± ¡°What look?¡± Baron suddenly cupped the back of her head and kissed her hard. When he wasn¡¯t in the right, distracting his wife worked better. Natalie had caught that flicker of guilt in his eyes earlier, of course. But she didn¡¯t mind, It was only proof of how much he cared about her. His sudden kiss made her want tough, but she couldn¡¯t help being swept into the waves of passion he stirred up. Chapter 184 The Trap They kissed hungrily, the temperature inside the car rising fast. The driver had long since stepped out, tactfully leaving them the space. While sparks flew in the car, the lounge upstairs at Cloud Cafe was far from calm. +10 Free Coins After Natalie left, Jensen, though confused, still quickly ordered the beggar restrained. As his men began searching for the barista, he pulled out his phone¨Conly to find the signal block had been lifted. Jensen¡¯s stomach dropped. Being able to block signals at will wasn¡¯t something just anyone could do. What exactly was Natalie¡¯s connection with that man at her side? Jensen was gnawed by frustration, but now wasn¡¯t the time. He immediately dialed Hansel. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen, I¡¯m outside Cloud Cafe. I couldn¡¯t get in. And thepany shareholders are all here.¡± Hansel was close to tears finally getting through. He had no idea what was going on inside, but facing the furious shareholders gave him a sense of impending disaster. Jensen had expected as much and wasn¡¯t surprised. He said in a low voice, ¡°Tell the shareholders I¡¯ll exin thister. For now, they should leave. If they insist on forcing their way in, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡± Jensen had never been some gentle soul. He had only ever maintained that polished demeanor in front of Natalie. As his assistant, Hansel knew very well what Jensen was capable of. Five years ago, Jensen had carried Luke Corp on his back alone. How could such a man be useless? Hansel quickly delivered the message. The shareholders still grumbled, but when some recalled the events five years ago, their faces darkened. One by one, they fell silent and left. HereSelf 185 Chapter 185 The Coffee Trap Chapter 185 The Coffee Trap Hansel was finally allowed inside. +10 Free Coins Sharon used the chance to hastily pull her clothes back on, but when her eyesnded on the beggar, her stomach turned with disgust. She had actually touched someone like him? Revolting. ¡°Jensen, I¡¯m going to kill him!¡± Sharon snatched up a vase and hurled it at the beggar, but Jensen stopped her. ¡°Enough! We¡¯ll deal with thister.¡± Suddenly, he felt filthy just looking at her. The thought of touching her at all was unbearable. Sharon reached for his arm, but Jensen drew back. The rejection hit her like a p. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel She broke down in tears. ¡°Jensen, I was set up! How can you treat me like this?¡± Jensen didn¡¯t bother to exin. He said tly, ¡°Hansel, the reporters are already after the barista. Go follow them.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Hansel left at once. At the mention of the barista, Sharon froze, panic flickering in her eyes. The barista worked for Dr. Johnson. He would handle it, wouldn¡¯t he? But even if he didn¡¯t, it didn¡¯t matter. She had plenty of ways to make Jensen believe she was innocent. The thought steadied her a little. Chapter 185 The Coffee Trap +10 Free Coins Soon the reporters returned. Some had never left, unwilling to miss the aftermath of such a scandal¨CJensen¡¯s hidden wife caught with a beggar. Hansel came back with the barista in tow. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I¡¯ve brought her.¡± Jensen looked at the in¨Cfaced woman and thought of what could have happened if he and Natalie had been the ones to drink that coffee. Sharon¡¯s humiliation could have been Natalie¡¯s -and his. Rage red in him, and heshed out with a vicious kick. ¡°Talk! Who told you to drug the coffee?¡± The barista, though ordinary in appearance, was still a woman. She never expected Jensen¡¯s attack. Caught off guard, she went flying, pain exploding in her chest. That kick was meant to kill. Her body trembled midair. What should she do? Not long ago, she had tried to reach Johnson, only to find his phone unreachable. Now she understood: Johnson had abandoned her. When she hit the ground, the pain was so sharp it made her spit blood. Hansel hauled her up again and flung her back at Jensen¡¯s feet. The reporters were still there, but Jensen didn¡¯t care. From the moment Natalie appeared and cut him offpletely, anger had been boiling inside him. Sharon¡¯s scandal only added fuel to the fire. Now, the barista stood at the center of it all. Even if Jensen killed her, no one would dare object. Besides, he didn¡¯t know why Natalie had singled her out before leaving. Could it be she still cared for him? If Natalie hadn¡¯t been alert, she would have been the one disgraced. Chapter 185 The Coffee Trap How could he allow her to suffer such humiliation? He had to interrogate the barista in front of everyone. Sharon grew uneasy. ¡°Jensen, let¡¯s take her back and question her there.¡± One icy look from him silenced her instantly. The barista shook violently. Before Jensen even spoke again, she broke down in tears. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I was forced! It wasn¡¯t my fault!¡± ¡°Then say it. Who made you do it?¡± +10 Free Coins There was no mercy in his eyes. He had never been a softhearted man. Realizing she had no way out, the barista spilled everything¨Chow Johnson had called her and ordered her to set up Jensen and Natalie. The name made Jensen pause. ¡°Johnson? Who is that?¡± Hansel nced at Sharon and said evenly, ¡°Ms. Summers¡¯s attending physician.¡± Jensen¡¯s gaze snapped to Sharon. ¡°So it was you who tried to trap Natalie and me?¡± Jensen wasn¡¯t a fool. A fool couldn¡¯t have brought Luke Corp to new height years. . the past five News of Natalie¡¯s return had surfaced online. Sharon certainly had ess to Ms. Sunny¡¯s Twitter. And with the bad blood between Sharon and Natalie from before, the pieces fit too neatly. Until now, Jensen hadn¡¯t wanted to believe Sharon could be that vile. He had ignored the loopholes, overlooked the inconsistencies, and chosen not to press. HereSelf 186 Chapter 186 The Trap Exposed Chapter 186 The Trap Exposed But now that it hadnded on him and Natalie, Jensen was furious. +10 Free Coins Newest update provided by f?ndnovel He had never understood how Sharon could have been outmaneuvered by Natalie. Now he finally realized¨CSharon had tried to scheme against Natalie, only to be outyed in return. When Natalie told him the barista was suspicious before leaving, it wasn¡¯t a kind warning. It was mockery¨Cmockery of his judgment and of the kind of person he had been defending. Jensen felt like his face had been dragged across the ground. And the one who humiliated him like this was Sharon. Her heart froze under the look in his eyes. She quickly shook her head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I don¡¯t know anything about it!¡± Her eyes filled with tears, her expression full of suppressed grievance. To anyone else, she looked innocent. For a moment, even Jensen wavered. Was Sharon really innocent? He let out a cold, self¨Cmockingugh. ¡°I have no grudge against Johnson. Natalie has no dealings with him either. Why would he target her? On the other hand, you¨Che¡¯s your doctor, isn¡¯t he? You¡¯re close enough. When he learned Natalie¡¯s return might threaten your position as Mrs. Luke, wouldn¡¯t it make perfect sense for him to act?¡± ¡°No, Jensen, it¡¯s not me! Do you really see me as such a vicious woman?¡± Sharon burst into sobs. But Jensen no longer wanted to judge. The reporters smelled a scandal and stared at Jensen, waiting for him toss further. But all Jensen felt was exhaustion. Exhaustion from the very bottom of his heart. ¡°Send her to the police. Let them handle the rest.¡± He rose to leave. The reporters tried to block him, but the murderous aura rolling off Jensen made them step Chapter 186 The Trap Exposed aside without a word. Seeing him walk away without bringing her, Sharon hurried after him. ¡°Jensen!¡± He frowned but didn¡¯t stop her. That was when the beggar suddenly spoke. ¡°Wait, Mr. Jensen¨Cyou hit me, and that¡¯s just it?¡± Jensen¡¯s brows knitted tighter. +10 Free Coins He hated to even remind himself of it¨Cthat his wife in name had slept with a filthy beggar. But he never imagined the beggar would have the audacity to call out to him. Jensen stopped and turned. His eyes were like frost,ced with killing intent. ¡°If you¡¯d kept quiet, I might have forgotten you. You¡¯re just a beggar. Do you have a death wish?¡± The beggar clutched his wounds. ¡°I was set up. I was sleeping under the bridge when someone brought me here. They drugged me. Then Mr. Jensen beat me like this. Don¡¯t I deserve an exnation?¡± ¡°An exnation? Mr. Jensen sparing your life is exnation enough,¡± Hansel scoffed. But the beggar suddenly pointed at Sharon. ¡°She¡¯s the one who told me toe! She said there¡¯d be a rich youngdy here for me to sleep with, someone I¡¯d never touch otherwise. She promised me ten thousand if I went through with it. She even gave me a thousand up front so I¡¯d listen. Do you think I¡¯d dare do something like this without that?¡± The words hit like a bomb. Sharon exploded. ¡°You¡¯re lying! I don¡¯t even know you!¡± She had never dreamed it woulde to this¨Cnot only had she been ruined by that filthy beggar, now he was ndering her on top of it. But Jensen turned at once, his gaze on her murderous. She had really tried to destroy Natalie? Chapter 186 The Trap Exposed +10 Free Coins If his guess was right, Sharon had drugged him so reporters would find them in bed together. That would cement her identity as Mrs. Luke while ruining Natalic, painting her as the other woman in their marriage. Otherwise, why would Sharon leave the hospital where she was recovering to Coins Jensen hurled the phone at Sharon¡¯s face. The blow sent her stumbling to the floor, blood spilling from her nose. ¡°Hansel, let¡¯s go!¡± At that moment, Jensen no longer cared whether Sharon lived or died. The reporters, meanwhile, had hit the jackpot. With such tant evidence revealed, who could still pretend not to know what kind of woman Sharon was? Abandoned by Jensen and mocked by the reporters¡® stares, Sharonpletely lost her mind. ¡°I didn¡¯t! I don¡¯t even know that beggar! He¡¯s framing me!¡± But no one listened. Sharon lunged wildly at the beggar. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Terrified, the beggar bolted into the crowd of reporters and ran for his life. The farce had finally drawn to a close. Almost instantly, the inte exploded with stories of Sharon¡¯s viciousness and the scandal at Cloud Caf¨¦. Inside the car, Natalie and Baron had just shared a heated moment when his phone rang. Irritated, Baron answered, while Natalie quickly smoothed her messy hair and clothes. This man was impossible. If she gave him an inch outside, he¡¯d take a mi olivious to time and ce¨Che had nearly ruined her just now. Baron, still satisfied, was annoyed at the interruption but didn¡¯t think much of it. Over speakerphone, his subordinate reported everything that had just unfolded. Natalie listened clearly and blinked in surprise. ¡°What¡¯s with the beggar? Was that your doing?¡± Chapter 187 The Puppet Master Baron shook his head. +10 Free Coins ¡°Not me. I did send someone to fetch a beggar, but I never told him to bite back at Sharon. And Sharon? She¡¯s not worth a thousand to me. She¡¯s worthless.¡± Even he was puzzled. Natalie was even more confused. That beggar couldn¡¯t have been Sharon¡¯s doing. She would never leave such an obvious trail like a transfer record. But if not Sharon, then who was targeting her? Could there be a third force at y? Baron frowned. ¡°Could it be the Stone family?¡± ¡°No. If it were, Chris would have told me,¡± Natalie said with certainty. Meanwhile, at a seaside vi, Susie¡¯s fingers danced across her keyboard while Sean dangled his legs, sucking on a lollipop, watching without surprise as she worked. A message from the beggar shed across the screen. ¡°It¡¯s done. Jensen saw the transfer record between me and Sharon. You promised¨Cyou¡¯ll give me a new identity so I can leave Ocean City.¡± Susie calmly replied, ¡°Yes. The papers are ready. They¡¯re at your old bridge spot. Take them, along with some cash. Leave now, and don¡¯t evere back.¡± ¡°Thank you, benefactor.¡± He hung up. Sean watched as Susie erased all traces online. ¡°Why did you send the beggar after Sharon? Dad and Mom would¡¯ve handled her.¡± Susie rolled her eyes, her sweet, childish voice ringing out. ¡°What Dad and Mom do is their business. But if someone dares bully my mom, I¡¯ll make her wish she were dead. Sharon cares most about Jensen, right? Then I¡¯ll make the man she cares about hate her. That¡¯s the best revenge.¡± Chapter 187 The Puppet Master Sean¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Susic, where did you learn tricks like this?¡± Follow current nov?ls on find[f]ovel +10 Free Coins ¡°From TV. You should watch more dramas about family feuds and rich power struggles. You can learn a lot, brother.¡± She hopped down from her chair, eyes lighting up at the food spread before her, and started gobbling it up. She looked every bit the sweet little bun¨Cbut who would guess she was aputer genius? Sean opened his mouth to say more, but seeing her devour the snacks, he quickly leapt down and rushed over. ¡°Susie, leave some for me!¡± ¡°No! You already ate a ton while I was busy. Auntie made these for me!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get fat if you eat too much. Let me take some of the burden for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your help!¡± The two children bickered fiercely over the snacks. Yvonne walked in just then, her mouth twitching at the sight. These kids were perfect in every way¨Cexcept when it came to food, where they always fought tooth and nail. ¡°Alright, enough, you two. Stop fighting. What¡¯ll you do if everyonees back and sees you like this?¡± At her words, both children instantly quieted down. HereSelf 188 Chapter 188 Poison and Betrayal ¡°Daddy and Mommy areing back?¡± ¡°Yes, they should be back soon.¡± +10 Free Coins Yvonne wasn¡¯t actually sure¨Cshe had only said it to calm the two children who had been bickering endlessly. At the same time, Natalie and Baron had no interest in figuring out who had set the beggar against Sharon. Neither of them cared enough to dig deeper. Natalie leaned back tiredly. ¡°Let¡¯s go home and rest. This afternoon I want to take the kids to the mall. I haven¡¯t given them gifts yet.¡± Just thinking about it made her heart ache a little. If not for running into Quincy at the mall, she would have already been home ying with her children. At the mention of Quincy, Baron chuckled. ¡°Do you know how Quincy is doing now?¡± Natalie hadn¡¯t cared much about Quincy, but seeing the look on Baron¡¯s face, she was suddenly curious. ¡°How is she? She must have been poisoned for sure. The question is whether she¡¯s awake now. If she has woken and knows Sharon tried to kill her¡­ I wonder what she¡¯ll think. And won¡¯t the police be after Sharon too?¡± The thought made Natalieugh a little. Sharon seemed to be quite busy these days. And as if to prove her right, the sound of police sirens wailed outside just she finished speaking. Baron and Natalie exchanged a nce and both burst intoughter. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go home. Those two little rascals must be giving Yvonne a headache by now.¡± Baron knew his kids well. Natalie agreed. Other people¡¯s problems weren¡¯t worth as much as her own children. Right now, she was impatient to see them again. Chapter 188 Poison and Betrayal ¡°Yes, home.¡± Baron called the driver back. +10 Free Coins The man drove steadily, saying nothing, but Natalic still felt her cheeks burn. She could barely show her face. And it was all this man¡¯s fault. Her face looked calm, but her fingers pinched hard into the soft flesh at Baron¡¯s waist. ¡°Ow! Wife, that hurts!¡± His pitiful begging made herugh. She let go of his waist, only to have her hand caught and held tight in his warm palm the next moment. His hands were dry, firm, and warm, filling her with a strange sense of safety. ¡°Get some sleep. I¡¯ll wake you when we¡¯re home.¡± Baron knew he had lost control earlier, but with Natalie, he truly couldn¡¯t help himself. Natalie was indeed tired. She didn¡¯t resist, simply rested her head against his shoulder. His familiar masculine scent surrounded her, and before long, she drifted off to sleep. ¡°Drive slower. Keep it steady,¡± Baron ordered quietly. The driver eased the speed to a smooth forty, keeping the ride as gentle as possible. Meanwhile, Quincy awoke under the doctor¡¯s care. But when her eyes opened, Lucy was nowhere to be seen¨Cno one at all, save for a young nurse jotting down notes at her bedside. Her mind was nk for a moment before thest memory returned¨Cj ¡°Nurse¡­¡± Her voice was hoarse and painful. Defore she fainted. The nurse nced up in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re awake! Hold on, I¡¯ll get the doctor to check you right away.¡± She hurried out, leaving Quincy confused and struggling to sit up. 2/3 This content belongs to Find~Novel Chapter 188 Poison and Betrayal The door opened again, and two female officers walked in. Quincy froze. ¡°You are¡­?¡± ¡°Hello, Quincy. We¡¯re with the police. Do you remember fainting at the mall?¡± One officer sat beside her. +10 Free Coins Quincy nodded, though uneasily. She had copsed¨Cwhat did that have to do with the police? ¡°Is there a problem?¡± The officer studied her condition before replying. ¡°When you fainted, your servant said it was Ms. Stone who poisoned you. Ms. Stone filed a report against her, so we had to investigate.¡± Quincy was stunned. Why would Lucy say that? She had only approached Natalie because the woman resembled her adopted daughter from years past. Natalie being alive never even crossed her mind. So when she heard ¡°Ms. Stone,¡± she didn¡¯t react much at all. The officer lowered her voice. ¡°But your servant falsely used Ms. Stone. We investigated, and it turns out your servant Lucy really did poison you, then tried to pin it on Ms. Stone. We now have evidence.¡± Sheid the files and reports before Quincy. Quincy had never believed Lucy capable of such a thing. Poison? A false usation? But as the evidence stared her in the face, her own face turned chalk white HereSelf 189 Chapter 189 Poisoned by Her Own Blood ¡°How could this be? Why would she do this?¡± Lucy had served the Summers family for years, and her rtionship with Quincy had always been good. Just recently, when Lucy¡¯s grandson was ill, Quincy had even given her arge private red envelope. And now¨CLucy had poisoned her? Quincy couldn¡¯t understand it at all. Get full chapters from find¡¤novel One of the officers lowered her voice. ¡°ording to Lucy, it was on the orders of your daughter Sharon.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Quincy¡¯s voice rose sharply as she struggled to sit up. ¡°Sharon would never do that! She wouldn¡¯t!¡± But unease gnawed at her heart. Wouldn¡¯t she? Not long ago, when Quincy had neglected Sharon because she missed Natalie, Sharon¡¯s cold, venomous eyes had bored into her¨Clike a snake about to strike. The officer, sympathetic to her shock, exined, ¡°We already have evidence. It was Sharon who bought the poison on the ck market and ordered Lucy to slip it into your food. You¡¯ve been suffering from slow poisoning for twenty days now. This particr poison is usually used on pests; it doesn¡¯t act quickly, but over time it causes the organs to fail. Lucy has confessed. As for Sharon, our people are already bringing her in.¡± Quincy¡¯s vision went ck, and she nearly fainted. ¡°How could she? I¡¯m her mother!¡± Her sobs tore from her chest. Since Sharon¡¯s return, she had cast Natalie aside, giving everything to Sharon¨Cevery ounce of her love and attention. And this was how her daughter repaid her? With poison? She couldn¡¯t understand. And yet, deep inside, she knew it was true. The police had nevere to her before, even though she had been weak and ill for weeks. Chapter 189 Poisoned by Her Own Blood She had med her age, thinking her body simply recovered more slowly. But it hadn¡¯t been age at all¨Cit was Sharon, her own flesh and blood, feeding her poison. ¡°Ha¡­ ha ha ha ha!¡± Quincy burst into wild, brokenughter, tears streaming uncontrobly down her cheeks. Her emotions spiraled out of control. The doctors rushed in and ushered the police out. Momentster, Quincy copsed back into unconsciousness. Meanwhile, Sharon hurried alongside Jensen back to the gates of Lanju, desperate to exin herself. But before she could, the police arrived and restrained her. ¡°Ms. Summers, we need you toe to the station to assist in a poisoning investigation.¡± At once, Jensen¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Poisoning case?¡± He instinctively looked at Sharon. Her heart gave a violent lurch. What was going on? A poisoning case? Why her? Could Lucy have slipped up somehow? No, impossible! The poison was colorless, tasteless¨Cundetectable. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken! I don¡¯t know anything about a poisoning case. Besides, I¡¯m Mrs. Luke- Jensen¡¯s wife! How dare you speak to me like this?¡± Sharon tried to wield her title as a shield, but Jensen cut her off coldly. ¡°No matter your title, first you are a citizen. And citizens have a duty to cooperate with police investigations. Sharon, if you¡¯re truly innocent, no one can wrong you.¡± Panic wed at her chest. Innocent? She was anything but. If she were innocent, would she cling to Jensen this desperately? ¡°Jensen, you can¡¯t abandon me! I¡¯m Mrs. Lukt¡ªyour jugui Corp will be dragged down too. Do you really want to see that happen?¡± It was all she had left to hold on to. But Jensen, remembering the sight of her with that beggar, recoiled at her touch. Now, as she tried to cling to him again, his face turned to stone. ¡°If you truly remembered you were Mrs. Luke, you¡¯d know your every word and action reflects on Luke Corp. And now you talk of saving its reputation? Haven¡¯t you already dragged Luke Corp and my own name through the mud?¡± Sharon bit her lip. She knew he was furious about what had happened earlier. Tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°I was framed! Why won¡¯t you believe me, Jensen? Five years ago, I nearly gave my life to save you. And now you think of me like this?¡± The words struck him like ss in his throat. Yes. Five years ago, she had saved his life. Without Sharon, he wouldn¡¯t even be alive today. He shut his eyes. Emotions churned and collided in his chest, pressing down heavy as a stone that would not move. HereSelf 190 Chapter 190 Poison and Bloodlines He even had a ridiculous thought. If he had known that epting Sharon¡¯s help all those years ago would lead to this moment, would he still have agreed to it? Jensen wasn¡¯t the type to waste time on such pointless hypotheticals. But for the first time, he couldn¡¯t help it. Realizing where his thoughts were drifting, he let out a weary sigh and said to Hansel, ¡°Find awyer to follow her to the station. No matter what happens, make sure Sharon doesn¡¯t end up in prison.¡± Whether it was the debt from five years ago or the fact that she now carried the title of Mrs. Luke, he couldn¡¯t allow Sharon to go to jail. Hansel nodded, though in his eyes there was only distaste and resentment toward Sharon. Miss Natalie had been with Mr. Jensen for five years, and there had never been this kind of chaos. But Sharon? She had been Mrs. Luke for only a few days, and already thepany¡¯s stock was tumbling, forcing Hansel into endless overtime. Still, he knew his ce as an assistant. Comints weren¡¯t his to voice. Sharon, hearing that Jensen hadn¡¯t abandoned herpletely, finally exhaled in relief. The police, seeing Jensen make no objection, also breathed easier as they escorted her away. Jensen watched the police car disappear down the road, and a wave of longing for Natalie washed over him. When he had been with her, none of this insanity had ever happened. But then Baron¡¯s face rose in his mind. Who exactly was that man? Jensen sent a message to Hansel, ordering him to investigate Baron¡¯s background. After receiving confirmation, he returned to Lanju, changed his clothes, and headed straight for Luke Corp. Thepany¡¯s stock was falling fast, shareholders were restless, and as president, he had no choice but to face the storm. And yet, knowing all this chaos had somehow spun from Natalie¡¯s shadow left him with a knot of feelings he couldn¡¯t untangle. Natalie and Baron, meanwhile, didn¡¯t spare Sharon another thought. Once home, Baron carried the sleeping Natalie inside. Chris moved to speak but fell silent under Baron¡¯s warning nce. Seeing Natalie asleep so peacefully, he quietly signaled the servants to move softly as well. The children rushed out the moment they heard their mother had returned, but one stern look from Baron stopped them cold. Susie¡¯s brows pinched together. ¡°Bad Daddy. Always hogging Mommy.¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find[f]ovel Sean frowned too, but he knew it was pointless to fight Baron now. He tugged Susie¡¯s hand and pulled her back toward their room. Only when the two little buns were gone did Baron carry Natalie upstairs. He gentlyid her on the bed, slipped off his shoes, and climbed in beside her. The outside world could rage as much as it liked¨Che was staying here, holding his wife. Otherwise, she might feel afraid. That was how Baron justified it to himself as he wrapped her tightly in his arms and drifted off to sleep. At the police station, Sharon finally learned Lucy had betrayed her. She wished she could tear the woman apart, but there was nothing she could do now. How could this happen? Was Lucy insane? Why would she want to frame Natalie of all people? Natalie. It was the first time Sharon had heard the name spoken by the police, but when she saw the surveince footage, her blood froze. The woman was Natalie. At Cloud Caf¨¦ she hadn¡¯t looked closely, but those eyes, that expression¨Chow could they be fake? And in the video, her mannerisms and face resembled Natalie by seventy percent. Coincidence? Sharon didn¡¯t believe in such things. Her mother, Quincy, must have seen the same familiar face¨Cthat was why she had rushed over for a photo. That wretched old woman. Natalie was dead, yet she still clung to that face. And what about her? Sharon was her true, flesh¨Cand¨Cblood daughter. Hatred burned in Sharon¡¯s chest, but she knew now wasn¡¯t the time to lose control. ¡°I won¡¯t say a word until mywyer arrives.¡± She clung to the knowledge that Jensen had sent legal help. As long as he remembered the life debt between them, he would never abandon herpletely. Hansel, however, could barely believe the depths of her cruelty. Was this woman even human? He stepped outside at once, phone in hand, and called Jensen to report. At Luke Corp, shareholders were screaming about the stock crash, giving Jensen a splitting headache. Hansel¡¯s call was almost a relief. He left the room, answered, and said curtly, ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen, it¡¯s bad. Ms. Summers¡® case is more serious than we thought. It involves the Summers family itself.¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes flew open. ¡°What did you say? Sharon poisoned her own mother?¡± HereSelf 191 3/3 Chapter 191 Covering Sharon¡¯s Crimes ¡°Yes, Mr. Jensen. The evidence is solid. Right now Ms. Summers is stalling, iming she won¡¯t speak until herwyer arrives. What should we do?¡± Hansel¡¯s words made Jensen feel like he was about to lose his mind. ¡°What the hell is Sharon trying to do? She¡¯s sick, and even like this she can stir up such chaos. If she weren¡¯t sick, would she try to bring down the sky itself?¡± Agitated, Jensen yanked at his cor, but the suffocating weight on his chest didn¡¯t ease. Luke Corp¡¯s stock was plummeting. In only a short span, five percent of shares had already slipped away. He hadn¡¯t even traced where those shares had gone, and now Sharon¡¯s scandal had exploded on top of it all. Worse still, she had actually poisoned her own mother. A chill crept into his heart. Could someone who poisoned her own blood really have sacrificed a rib to save him years ago? But then he remembered the medical reports. They had been crystal clear. Even the Witch Doctor had overseen it¨Csomeone Sharon could never have bribed. The suspicion flickered, then died. He didn¡¯t dare linger on it. Hansel, of course, had no idea what Sharon was thinking. ¡°Mr. Jensen, what do we do now?¡± Pressing his fingers to his temples, Jensen spoke heavily. ¡°Find a woman with Sharon¡¯s build and have her take the fall. No matter the cost. As for Lucy, dig up some story about her past grudges with Sharon, then make sure she disappears quietly. Dead women can¡¯t testify. Without her, there¡¯s nothing to tie this back to Sharon. And tell the Summers family¨Ccontact Jordan. Have them keep things still for now. As long as we insist it wasn¡¯t Sharon, that¡¯s enough. Neither the Luke family nor the Summers family can afford to mistress or a daughter.¡± His voice was cold, pragmatic. Hansel understood at once. : a murderer for a ¡°Mr. Jensen, if this is discoveredter, it could be dangerous.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t use our people. Let the Summers family handle it.¡± ( ¡°Yes.¡± Hansel hung up. Jordan received the call almost immediately. When he heard what Sharon had done, his heart skipped with fear. ¡°Hansel, did Sharon really poison my wife?¡± Hansel didn¡¯t hide it. ¡°Yes, the evidence is there. But the surveince didn¡¯t catch her face, which leaves room to maneuver. Mr. Jensen says Luke Corp is drowning right now, and he doesn¡¯t have the time to pull Sharon out. He asks that you, Jordan, take care of it. He stressed this: neither the Luke nor the Summers family can survive the scandal of a murderer¡¯s daughter or wife. You understand.¡± Jordan did understand. As a patriarch of a powerful family, he knew exactly what Hansel meant. He agreed, but sweat beaded thick on his forehead. Sharon was his daughter. His own flesh and blood. But she was venomous. If she could poison her mother, what would stop her from turning on him one day if he crossed her? The thought left him cold. Still, he knew they couldn¡¯t abandon her now. Jordan hurried off to make arrangements. Jensen buried himself once more in the corporate war, trying to w back Luke Corp¡¯s slipping shares. Ocean City¡¯s skies were roiling with storms stirred by Natalie and Baron. But the two themselves were fast asleep in their bedroom. Natalie woke first, roused by hunger. eyes, close For a moment she didn¡¯t recognize her surroundings. Then the strong arm around her waist reminded her. She turned her head to find Baron¡¯s handsome face right before her enough to see every fine strand of hair. They were home. She reached out to poke his face yfully, but he caught her finger in his mouth. Find the newest release on find?novel ¡°Ow! Baron! Are you a dog?¡± Natalie yelped and kicked him. Baron opened his eyes, all smiles, none of the grogginess of waking. ¡°You¡¯ve been awake?¡± ¡°Mm. But with a beauty in my arms, I thought I¡¯d stay a little longer.¡± He didn¡¯t even bother denying it. Natalie pulled her finger free, her skin tingling where his lips had touched. Her cheeks flushed. This infuriating man never missed a chance to tease her. How was she supposed to resist? ¡°I¡¯m hungry!¡± She ignored his antics. Baron¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I¡¯m hungry too.¡± His look made her want tough and cry at once. ¡°Baron, I swear, if you don¡¯t learn some restraint, I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t touch my bed for a month!¡± The man was bing more and more outrageous. HereSelf 192 Chapter 192 A Dangerous Game Baron¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re really cruel.¡± ¡°There are worse things. Want to find out?¡± Natalie shot him a re, tossed the nket aside, and got out of bed. She could always tell when Baron was just putting on an act and when he was truly upset. And she liked the way things were between them. With him, she didn¡¯t feel the constant anxiety she once felt with Jensen, and she didn¡¯t have to throw herself inpletely. Baron was a good man, one who understood boundaries. His feelings for her were in to see, but he never pressured her to return them right away. That made herfortable. And often, his deliberate yfulness would make her forget the depth of his feelings, without ever letting her ignore his heart. That bnce, that ease, was something Natalie truly liked. When Baron realized she really had no intention of sleeping with him, he gave up. He leaned back against the headboard, pulled out a cigarette, and thought about lighting it¡ª then remembered she didn¡¯t like it. He just rolled it between his fingers instead. A message came in from his men. Baron looked at the additional five percent of Luke Corp shares that hadnded in his ount and let out a coldugh. His long, pale fingers flew across the screen. ¡°Five percent isn¡¯t enough. Keep buying. If any other shareholders want to sell, have Revolver reach out.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Baron.¡± When he finished, the sound of water came from the bathroom. Through the frosted ss, Natalie¡¯s curvy figure appeared in a hazy outline. It was blurred, but enough to make his mouth go dry. Baron all but fled the master bedroom, slipping into the guest room next door to take a cold shower. When Natalie came out of the bathroom and saw that Baron was gone, she didn¡¯t think much of it. She casually pulled on some loungewear. Just then, Chris called. ¡°Miss, Sharon¡¯s been released. The Summers family uncovered the real buyer of the poison, and there¡¯s evidence online of her conflict with Lucy. What should we do now?¡± Natalie paused. Sharon released? Baron¡¯s evidence had been airtight. If she was free, then Jensen and the Summers family must have worked together. Of course. No matter what kind of person Sharon was, she was still Mrs. Luke¡¯s daughter and a Summers family member. A wealthy family wouldn¡¯t allow a scandal about a daughter killing her mother to spread. Still, the incident wasn¡¯t without use. At the very least, both Jensen and Jordan would feel uneasy. Having a venomous snake so close would unsettle any man in power. Even if Sharon escaped legal punishment, her fate wouldn¡¯t be good. Once Natalie thought it through, her voice was calm. ¡°Leave it alone. Don¡¯t interfere. Just watch the show.¡± Chris hesitated. ¡°Miss, just letting Sharon go like that? Isn¡¯t that too easy on her?¡± ¡°Her ending won¡¯t be good. Trust me. There¡¯s no need for us to step in.¡± Chris didn¡¯t fully understand, but he obeyed. Meanwhile, Baron received the same news. ¡°Mr. Baron, should we do anything about Sharon?¡± Baron shook his still¨Cdamp hair and answered evenly, ¡°No. Just watch the show.¡± ¡°But won¡¯t Madam think we failed her, and be unhappy with you, Mr. Baron?¡± They were worrying on his behalf again. Baron¡¯s mouth twitched, annoyed. ¡°My wife¡¯s smart. She¡¯s not as dumb as you. Don¡¯t bother with it anymore.¡± For original chapters go to f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel ¡°Yes, Mr. Baron.¡± Though they didn¡¯t know why they were being scolded, they wisely dropped it. Natalie put down her phone and stepped out of the master bedroom. Hearing noise from the guest room, she pushed the door open. A wave of steam rolled out. Baron stood in the mist, a ck towel hanging loosely around his hips. Water dripped from his broad chest, winding down the grooves of his eight¨Cpack like a river cutting through stone. His wet hair clung to his sharp brow, a few drops clinging to the corners of his eyes, ready to fall. He tilted his head back, gulping down ice water, his Adam¡¯s apple rising and falling with each swallow. Droplets glistened along his corbone, scattering light like tiny diamonds. The cold shower left his body radiating chill, yet his waist and obliques were drawn tight like a bowstring, veins faintly visible under bronze skin. The scent of damp wood filled the air,ced with something darker, so cuning like gunpowder. ¡°Like what you see?¡± His low, husky voice scraped across her ears. Startled, Natalie stepped back¨Conly to bump into his hand gripping the towel. His wrist was ice¨Ccold, the knuckles pale from holding the fabric too tight. Chapter HereSelf 193 193 A Family Outing Through the rising steam, Natalie caught the smoldering fire still burning in Baron¡¯s eyes, so hot it made her fingertips tremble. A low chuckle rumbled from his throat, damp breath brushing the back of her car. ¡°Keep staring, and that cold shower will have been for nothing.¡± ¡°Baron!¡± Natalie shoved him away and bolted out of the room. But that flushed face and yful scowl of hers were more than enough to amuse him. He swallowed hard, resigned, dried himself off, and changed clothes before stepping out of the guest room. Natalie was already in the living room, ying with the two children. Susie and Sean adored her. With their mommy finally free from Baron¡¯s constant presence, the two of them hurried to share their opinions on which kindergarten they wanted. Natalie listened to their chatter patiently, never once showing annoyance. This was the warmth of family she¡¯d been missing all along. Seeing her gentle expression, Susie quickly pulled out her chocte. ¡°Mommy, have some. Daddy had this specially made so it won¡¯t hurt my teeth. Try it.¡°. ¡°Mommy, what do you like? I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡± Sean refused to be outdone. Natalie¡¯s heart warmed at the sight of them. ¡°No need. After dinner, Mommy and Daddy will take you to the mall, okay? Mommy hasn¡¯t given you any gifts yet. Today you can pick whatever you want, and Mommy will pay.¡± Susie and Sean froze in surprise. They¡¯d never gone to a mall before. On the ind, there was no chance. And once they came here, everything they needed was always arranged for them. Nothing wascking, so shopping had never crossed their minds. Hearing Natalie¡¯s words now, the two of them lit up. ¡°Really, Mommy? We can actually pick for ourselves?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Then after shopping, can we go to the amusement park? I saw one on TV, it looked so fun!¡± Susie chimed in as well. Even though Baron had built a private amusement park for her on the ind, it had always just been her and her brother. It wasn¡¯t much fun alone. Sean perked up at her suggestion. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t clear it out just for us, okay? We want to y with other kids too.¡± The eagerness in their eyes struck Natalie. She realized that no matter how wealthy their lives had been, without their parents¡®pany, they hadn¡¯t truly been happy. And in this, both she and Baron had fallen short. Not that she meant to criticize him. After all, it wasn¡¯t easy for one man to raise two children this well. She simply saw what theycked and wanted to make up for it. ¡°Alright! Whatever you two want today, Mommy will say yes.¡± ¡°Yay! Mommy¡¯s the best!¡± ¡°Mommy, I love you so much!¡± One on each side, the children kissed her cheeks. Official source is find?novel From the doorway, Baron watched the three of them, his eyes filled with rmth andughter. These were the people he would protect with his life. As long as they were happy, everything was worth it. ¡°Shall we eat first?¡± He stepped into the room at just the right moment. Natalie nced at him, neatly dressed now, but her mind betrayed her with the memory of the sight she¡¯d just witnessed¨Csteamy, vivid, and impossible to shake. Her cheeks heated, and she quickly turned away, afraid he might notice. Baron pretended not to. The children skipped happily toward the dining room. As Natalie rose, she twisted her ankle slightly. She cried out, instinctively reaching for support¨Conly to realize what she¡¯d grabbed didn¡¯t feel quite right. Looking up, she saw Baron staring at her with barely restrained frustration, like a wronged golden retriever. Then she nced down at where her hand was, and her face med red. Baron let out a low groan, his whole body tensing. Really? He had just taken a cold shower! If she wasn¡¯t going to give him relief, why keep provoking him? ¡°Natalie, are you doing this on purpose?¡± His voice was hoarse, his eyes stormy with desire. Natalie didn¡¯t doubt for a second that he¡¯d throw her over his shoulder and carry her straight into the bedroom. Sheughed sheepishly, quickly snatching her hand back. That scorching heat made her cheeks burn even more. The children blinked at them in confusion. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, what are you doing?¡± HereSelf 194 Chapter 194 Regret Natalie¡¯s face flushed even redder. She scrambled to her feet, flustered. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± She fumbled to exin, tucking back a stray lock of hair, guilty written all over her expression. Baron couldn¡¯t help finding it amusing. All he could do was take one deep breath after another. ¡°You all go on ahead. I just remembered I left something in the bedroom.¡± He managed to keep his tone calm. Natalie slipped past him with a quick grin. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the kids to the car and wait for you.¡± She didn¡¯t give him time to respond. Hand in hand with the children, she hurried off. Yvonne chuckled, but she knew well enough to give the family their time together. She quickly disappeared into her own room. With Baron there, Natalie and the kids¡® safety was assured. Baron looked around at the suddenly empty living room. Just moments ago it had been lively, and now he stood there alone, a little frustrated. Resigned, he waited until his body calmed down before heading out. When he got into the car, Natalie¡¯s face was still burning, and she didn¡¯t dare meet his eyes. Susie and Sean noticed the odd tension but didn¡¯t dare ask. The strange atmosphere lingered all the way until they reached the amusement park. The children, thrilled like wild colts just released, ran straight toward the gates. Watching their excitement, Natalie couldn¡¯t help but smile. Baron had already sent someone to buy the tickets. ¡°I thought you¡¯d take them to the mall first,¡± Natalie said. Readplete version only at F¦ÉndNovel Baron shook his head. ¡°The mall¡¯s always there. But the amusement park¡¯s something they¡¯ve been longing for, and going together with Mommy and Daddy makes it even better. So thises first.¡± Natalie saw the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at the children. Thinking of how he had raised them alone all these years, she murmured, ¡°It must¡¯ve been hard on you.¡± ¡°If you think so, then you¡¯d better treat me wellter,¡± Baron teased. He really was shameless, and Natalie could only fall silent. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, hurry up! Let¡¯s ride the carousel together!¡± Susie waved eagerly. Natalie broke into a bright smile and walked toward the children. Baron turned to his men. ¡°Make sure Madam and the young master and miss are kept safe.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The guards melted into the crowd. While Natalie and Baron were busy ying with the children, Jordan arrived at Quincy¡¯s hospital room. Quincy was awake, though her eyes looked hollow. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Jordan¡¯s voice pulled her from her daze. Seeing her husband, she asked, ¡°Did Sharon really poison me?¡± The medical report was already in her hands, but she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to believe it. She was Sharon¡¯s mother. For her daughter, she hadmitted countless mistakes over the years. Sharon was their only child; when they were gone, everything would belong to her anyway. Why couldn¡¯t she wait? Jordan saw the pain and despair in Quincy¡¯s eyes, and his face darkened. He sat at her side, speaking low. ¡°I n to send her abroad.¡± That answer was confirmation enough. Tears streamed down Quincy¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Why did she turn out this way? Have we ever let her go hungry? Or without clothes? We even mistreated Natalie for her sake. What more wasn¡¯t enough for her?¡± Her heart twisted as she thought of Natalie, full of regret. ¡°Jordan, we really made a mistake. At least Natalie was raised by our side. Her character, her values, her filial heart¨Cthere was nothing to fault. And we cast aside such a good daughter. For Sharon, this ungrateful child, we drove away the one who truly loved us.¡± Lately, Quincy couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Natalie. That child hadn¡¯t been talkative, but everything she did was full of gratitude toward her parents. And Sharon? Ever since she was brought back at eighteen, she had done nothing butin and resent them, as if the Summers family owed her everything. But wasn¡¯t Natalie also a victim of circumstance? Yet all these years, Natalie had never truly harmed them. Comparison was frightening. Especially when one¡¯s very life was at stake. Quincy¡¯s words made Jordan¡¯s expression grow even darker. ¡°What¡¯s the use of saying this now?¡± The remark cut into Quincy¡¯s heart. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s toote. Natalie¡¯s already gone. But Jordan¡­ today I saw a woman who looked so much like her. For a moment, I thought Natalie hade back to life.¡± HereSelf 195 Chapter 195 Unmasking Quincy¡¯s mind reyed the moment she saw Natalie at the mall. Jordan spoke quietly. ¡°Maybe that woman really was her.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Quincy froze. Jordan set his phone aside and said in a low voice, ¡°Luke Corp¡¯s stock plummeted today. Do you know why? Because Ms. Sunny met Jensen at Cloud Caf¨¦. In front of all the reporters, Jensen admitted he¡¯d been freeloading off Ms. Sunny¡¯s work for years. He even admitted he and Natalie had been lovers.¡± ¡°What did you just say? Isn¡¯t Ms. Sunny actually Natalie?¡± Quincy was stunned. ¡°Jordan, are you saying Natalie is still alive?¡± ¡°She should be. Not only alive, but back¨Cand her first move was aimed straight at Luke Corp. If she could turn on Jensen, the man she loved for five years, do you think she¡¯ll spare Sharon or us after the way we treated her?¡± Quincy burst into tears. Suddenly, she threw off her nket and tried to get out of bed. ¡°If Sunny really is our Natalie, then even if I have to crawl to her on my knees, I¡¯ll beg for her forgiveness!¡± Jordan stopped her, sighing. ¡°What¡¯s the point of going to her now? The priority is sending Sharon abroad. As long as she¡¯s around, I can¡¯t feel at ease.¡± That cut straight into Quincy¡¯s heart. she would have If someone had told her before that Sharon would poison her own motughed it off. But now, with the truth in front of her, she couldn¡¯t stop shaking. She didn¡¯t even dare recall Sharon¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yes, send her away quickly. But will Jensen agree?¡± Jordan¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°He will.¡± ¡°Then what are you waiting for? Go find him. Sharon¡¯s part of the Luke family now. If Jensen refuses, there¡¯s nothing we can do. But even if she isn¡¯t sent abroad, she can¡¯t stay at home anymore.¡± Quincy was truly terrified. Jordan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll also have people investigate Sharon¡¯s past in the countryside. Back then, we relied only on the DNA test and assumed her childhood was tragic, so we bent over backward for her. But before she was recognized, no one knew she was switched at birth. Even if that peasant woman preferred sons, it might not have been as cruel as Sharon imed. We may have believed her too easily.¡± Follow current nov?ls on find?novel Quincy agreed. Meanwhile, Sharon had been taken to one of the Luke family¡¯s vis. Seeing it wasn¡¯t Lanjv, she was immediately displeased. ¡°Why bring me here? I want to see Jensen!¡± Her tone was still arrogant. Though her time with the police had left her panicked, Sharon knew Jensen wouldn¡¯t abandon her. She only rxed when thewyer arrived. The Summers family might have provided the evidence and thewyer, but Sharon understood that without Jensen¡¯s influence, Jordan wouldn¡¯t have hired such a powerful attorney. Now, brought here by Hansel, she was even more convinced Jensen had saved her. That had to mean he still cared about her. Hansel, however, looked at Sharon with open disgust, thinking of the rumors Jensen now endured because of her. And do you really not ¡°Ms. Summers, Mr. Jensen is extremely busy. He has no time to see yo know what you¡¯ve done? We can produce evidence to clear you, but that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re innocent. You¡¯re not just a Summers, you¡¯re also tied to Luke Corp¡¯s reputation. Think about that.¡± ¡°You dare lecture me? Who do you think you are? You¡¯re just an assistant! What gives you right to scold me?¡± the Already in a foul mood, Sharon snapped. She raised her hand and tried to p him. But Hansel caught her wrist and flung her aside. ¡°Ms. Summers, I may be just an assistant, but I am Mr. Jensen¡¯s assistant. You have no right toy a hand on me. Luke Corp is in chaos because of you. The stock is still falling. Mr. Jensen is working himself ragged, and your scandal with that vagrant still hasn¡¯t been buried. If you care at all about your dignity, stay put and don¡¯t cause more trouble. In a few days, Mr. Jensen may send you abroad. You¡¯d better behave.¡± With that, Hansel turned and left. Compared to Natalie, Sharon wasn¡¯t even worth a single finger. If not for the debt Jensen owed the Summers family, what right did she ever have to be Mrs. Luke? HereSelf 196 Chapter 196 Copse For the first time, Hansel made his disgust crystal clear. Sharon never imagined he¡¯d darey a hand on her. She crashed against the coffee table, pain shooting through her lower back. Hearing his words on top of that made her so furious she nearly exploded. ¡°Hansel! How dare you talk to me like that! Just wait¨CI¡¯ll make Jensen fire you!¡± The only reply was the m of the door as he left. Sharon scrambled up like a madwoman, wanting to chase after him, but the door outside was locked, and bodyguards stood guard in every direction. It was obvious. She was under house arrest. ¡°Let me out! Do you know who I am? Open this door!¡± Not one of the guards even flinched. Sharon copsed onto the floor. Everything had happened too fast. She hadn¡¯t even had time to react. How had ite to this? She¡¯d schemed against Natalie, yet somehow she was the one suffering instead. And now Jensen was thinking of sending her abroad? If she left the country, would she ever be able toe back? No. She wouldn¡¯t. She wasn¡¯t even sure if she¡¯d survive at all. The Summers family¡¯s poisoning scandal was already e xposed. Even though they¡¯d faked evidence to get her out, Sharon knew Jordan and Quincy would never trust her again. Even if Jensen didn¡¯t send her away, she couldn¡¯t go back to the Summers home. Those two would get rid of her themselves. She couldn¡¯t ept it. She hadn¡¯t endured all this just to end up with nothing but an empty title of Mrs. Luke. In a panic, Sharon pulled out her phone and dialed a number. This content belongs to F¦ÉndNovel ¡°Sir, you have to save me. Otherwise I¡¯m finished. If you help me, I¡¯ll do anything you want.¡± The voice on the other end gave her a firm promise. Only then did Sharon breathe easier, slumping weakly to the floor. Meanwhile, Natalie and Baron had no idea about the storm brewing outside. The two of them yed with Susie and Sean like children, running wild together. From the carousel to the roller coaster to the pirate ship, they rode every attraction with the kids. Natalie had thought they might be too young to handle the thrill rides, but they turned out to be more excited than the adults. Seeing theirughter, Natalie felt deeply content. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I¡¯m thirsty. I want what that kid has.¡± It was Susie¡¯s first time out with both her parents. She used to envy the kids on TV who had moms and dads taking them to y. Now her wish hade true. And if she could drink something as simple as the yogurt other kids had, the day would be even more perfect. Sean chuckled at her greedy little face. ¡°I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± ¡°Be careful. Let¡¯s go together,¡± Natalie said. But just as the words left her mouth,motion rippled through the crowd. She instinctively scooped Susie into her arms¨Conly to see Baron sprint toward Sean like a man possessed. Natalie¡¯s heart lurched. She lifted her head, and the sight before her made her blood run cold. One of the rides in the distance had suddenly copsed, crashing straight toward Baron and Sean¡¯s direction. ¡°Baron! Sean! Look out!¡± Her scream tore through the air as she tried to run with Susie in her arms, but a bodyguard blocked her path. ¡°Madam, it¡¯s too dangerous. Protect Miss first. Mr. Baron ordered that no matter what happens, you and Miss must not be put at risk.¡± The guard¡¯s words forced her to think clearly for a moment. He was right. She was helpless in a crisis. If she rushed in, she might only get in the way. But how could she just stand there and watch? ¡°Go! Help them! Forget about us¡ªgo!¡± Tears blurred her eyes. Even Susie was trembling, clutching her clothes tightly. ¡°Mommy, Daddy and Brother will be okay, right?¡± ¡°Yes. They¡¯ll be fine.¡± Her voice was steady, but her gaze never left Baron and Sean. Thank God, Baron¡¯s reflexes were fast. The moment the ride gave way, he had already reached Sean. He scooped him up and turned, running full speed toward safety. But everything happened too quickly. The ride fell too fast. Before he could make it out of range, the massive structure came crashing down. Screams filled the air. ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°Help!¡± HereSelf 197 hapter 197 Blood and Truth The crowd erupted in screams, panic rippling everywhere. The falling ride clipped Baron¡¯s back with its edge. He staggered, nearly dropping Sean from his arms. Natalie¡¯s heart shattered at the sight. ¡°Baron!¡± She couldn¡¯t wait any longer. She bolted forward, the bodyguards rushing after her. Susie burst into sobs the moment she saw Baron spit blood. ¡°Daddy!¡± This content belongs to find{n}ovel Sean, pressed tight in his arms, felt the hot spray of blood across his face. The metallic tang filled his nose, shocking him into silence before fear overtook him. ¡°Daddy, no!¡± ¡°Sean, don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m fine.¡± Even in pain, even barely able to stay on his feet, Baron forced himself to smile, his gaze steady and warm as it locked on his son¡¯s tearful eyes. ¡°You¡¯re a man. This was just an ident. Daddy¡¯s not going anywhere, and neither are you. Do you hear me?¡± ¡°But Daddy, you¡¯re bleeding¡­¡± Sean¡¯s tears fell in heavy drops, unstoppable now. He fumbled with his little hands, trying to wipe away the blood at Baron¡¯s mouth, but no matter how much he wiped, the red wouldn¡¯t disappear. When Natalie reached them, the sight nearly undid her. Her throat burned with tears. ¡°Baron¡­ Sean¡­¡® She grabbed Baron¡¯s arm to steady him. It was the first time Baron had ever heard her call his name so directly. Not ¡°Baron Scott,¡± not the formal, cold address she always used¨Cjust his name. He smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Natalie said nothing. She pulled Sean into her arms, speaking softly to both children. ¡°Sean, Susie, it¡¯s alright. It was just an ident. I¡¯ll have the bodyguards take you home first, okay? Mommy has to take Daddy to the hospital.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going too!¡± Sean insisted. Susie said nothing, but her red¨Crimmed eyes followed her brother¡¯s lead. Natalie had no choice but to agree. The guards escorted them toward the car. Sirens soon wailed in the distance¨Cpolice, firefighters, ambnces rushing to the scene. Natalie supported Baron carefully. ¡°Can you really hold on? Maybe we should call an ambnce.¡± ¡°No need. The edge just caught me. Some bruising, nothing broken. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± His back was searing with pain, but Baron knew his own body well. It wasn¡¯t as serious as it looked. The blood had been from the shock, not a mortal wound. Still, seeing Natalie¡¯s tears for him filled him with a strange happiness. ¡°Natalie¡­ do I have a ce in your heart?¡± ¡°Are you insane? You¡¯re coughing blood and you¡¯re still asking that?¡± Her voice trembled. ¡°Baron, I don¡¯t even know if I should yell at you or thank you. When danger hit, I hated myself for being useless. You reached Sean first, and as his mother I¡¯m grateful¨Cbut watching you bleed, I thought my chest would split open. From the start, you¡¯ve been in my heart. Maybe I don¡¯t love you deeply yet, but you¡¯re my husband, the father of my children, the man I want to spend my life with. Seeing you hurt tears me apart.¡± Baron suddenly felt lighter, as if the injury hardly mattered anymore. He had always thought Natalie stayed with him only out of duty¨Cbecause of the children, because she had no choice. But now, hearing her words, the shadow over his heart lifted. So what if she didn¡¯t love him deeply yet? As long as he had a ce in her heart, even a small one, there was hope. A spark that could grow into a fire. He leaned against her with a quiet murmur. ¡°Wife, I really do hurt.¡± ¡°Then lean on me. I¡¯ll get you into the car, and we¡¯ll go straight to the hospital.¡± Natalie held him up and hurried them into the vehicle. The driver sped off immediately. Baron¡¯s voice was hoarse, but firm. ¡°Call Yvonne. Have her investigate why that ride failed. And spread word of what happened. I refuse to believe this was just an ident.¡± Natalie stiffened. ¡°You think someone did this on purpose?¡± Her chest clenched at the thought. If it was true, then whoever had nned it was monstrous. The ride had been packed with families, with children. Baron met her eyes, his own dark with certainty. ¡°There¡¯s no proof yet. But I won¡¯t let it slide. Let the world see. Then we¡¯ll find out.¡± HereSelf 198 3/3 Chapter 198 Shadows Behind the ident The driver quickly called Yvonne. Within moments, news of the amusement park disaster swept across the inte. Under Baron¡¯s orders, however, every video showing him, Natalic, and the children had already been scrubbed clean. Baron went straight to the nearest hospital. At the same time, Jensen came across the news online. He had only nced at it casually¨Cuntil a familiar silhouette on the screen froze him in ce. ¡°Natalie? She was at the amusement park?¡± His heart lurched. He tossed aside the work in his hands, snatched up his phone, and zoomed in on the blurry footage. It wasn¡¯t a clear shot, but that back¨Che knew it too well. Why was Natalie there? Was she hurt? How was she now? Panic wed at his chest. ¡°Hansel! Any updates on that amusement park ident?¡± Hansel hurried in, caught off guard by the sudden question. ¡­e, crowded, and ¡°The amusement park? Oh¨Cyes, a ride copsed earlier. It¡¯s a popr reports say many were injured. Nearby hospitals are handling emergencies. Media outlets are covering it nonstop.¡± ¡°Get the car. I want to see the site myself. And check if Natalie was there. Find out if she¡¯s hurt.¡± Hansel blinked in surprise. ¡°Miss Natalie? At an amusement park? Mr. Jensen, maybe you saw wrong.¡± ¡°No mistake. That was her back¨CI¡¯d recognize it anywhere!¡± He shoved his phone at Hansel, showing him the screenshot. Hansel studied it and had to admit, it did look like her. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll verify it right away.¡± He turned to leave, his mind racing. If Natalic truly had been there¨Cand if she was hurt¨Cthen Jensen showing his concern might open a door between them again. Jensen was thinking the same thing. He grabbed his coat and rushed out the door, heading straight for the site. Meanwhile, Natalie had taken Baron to a smaller, less conspicuous hospital. The doctors ran a full examination. Once they confirmed his internal organs weren¡¯t injured, Natalie and the children finally breathed easier. Sean slumped into a chair, guilt etched all over his face. ¡°Mommy¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have gone to buy something.¡± Her heart broke at his words. Checktest chapters at find?novel ¡°Sean, don¡¯t me yourself. The world is full of idents. We can¡¯t predict them, can¡¯t stop them ahead of time. What matters is facing them bravely and finding a way through. Your daddy rushed to save you because you¡¯re his son. We both love you. There¡¯s no way we¡¯d stand by while you were in danger. And tell me¡ªif it had been Daddy or me hurt today, would you have just stood there?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Sean shook his head fiercely. Natalie stroked his hair gently. ¡°Exactly. You wouldn¡¯t have stood by, so how could we? This isn¡¯t your fault. Even if you hadn¡¯t gone to buy something, the ride still would¡¯ve fallen. None of us could have stopped it. Don¡¯t carry this me, alright? If you do ar daddy will only worry more.¡± Sean looked into her warm eyes, and suddenly threw his arms around her, sobbing. He had been so scared. In that moment, when his father¡¯s blood sttered across his face, his world had copsed. No matter how well he was raised, no matter how carefully he was protected, he loved Baron deeply. And he had been terrified of losing him. Now, with Natalie¡¯sfort, all the fear poured out. Natalie held him close, patting his back softly, letting him cry until he had nothing left inside. By then, Susie had calmed down. She pulled out her lollipop and pressed it into Sean¡¯s hand. ¡°Here. You can have it.¡± She was scared too. If she hadn¡¯t wanted a treat, her brother wouldn¡¯t have gone off to get it, and the ride wouldn¡¯t have nearly crushed him. The guilt sat heavy in her small chest. Sean wiped his tears and went with Susie to the side, murmuring to her. Watching them, Natalie¡¯s heart warmed. They were so thoughtful, so tender. Baron had raised them well. For a man to manage that alone¨Cshe couldn¡¯t help but admire it. Soon, Yvonne arrived, rushing in with worry. ¡°How¡¯s my brother?¡± ¡°The doctor says it¡¯s nothing serious, just superficial injuries. Take the kids home first. I¡¯ll have the doctor run another exam on Baron before I can rest easy.¡± HereSelf 199 Chapter 199 A Cruel Reunion Yvonne nodded, her eyes lingering on the emergency room doors. ¡°Sis, it looks like that ride copsing wasn¡¯t an ident.¡± Natalie¡¯s gaze sharpened instantly. ¡°What did you say? Who was behind it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. No leads. Whoever did it covered their tracks well. But I checked¨Cthe rides were inspected just two days ago. That very ride was given special attention, it was impossible for it to fail on its own. And the inspector who signed off on it¡­ he¡¯s gone missing.¡± Natalie¡¯s chest tightened at the weight of the words. ¡°If it was deliberate¡­ what could they possibly want? All those people, all those children¨Chow many families will be left grieving because of this? How can someone be so vicious?¡± Yvonne said nothing. Natalie had grown up sheltered in the Summers family. Even after leaving them, her world had revolved around Jensen and her designs. Apart from the betrayals of Sharon, she had never been exposed to the darker truths of wealth and power. But Yvonne had lived in that darkness all her life, raised alongside Baron and Phantom, seeing firsthand just how cruel people could be. She knew this kind of evil was very real. Still, faced with Natalie¡¯s furious but innocent eyes, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it aloud. ¡°Sis, tell my brother about thister. I¡¯ll take the kids home first¨Cthey¡¯ve been scared enough today.¡± ¡°Alright. Take them back. Once Baron finishes his checks, we¡¯ll head ho Yvonne.¡± Natalie squeezed her hand. too. Thank you, vonne shook her head and left with the children, bodyguards shadowing their steps. Some of Baron¡¯s examinations couldn¡¯t be done with family present. Seeing how his shirt was torn to pieces, Natalie decided to run to the mall nearby to buy him a fresh one. She had just stepped out of the hospital doors when she nearly collided with Jensen, rushing toward her in a panic. The moment he saw the blood on her hands, his face went pale. ¡°Natalie, you¡¯re hurt?¡± He reached for her instinctively, but she pulled her hand back at once. ¡°Mr. Jensen? What are you doing here?¡± Her brows knitted, her eyes full of disgust. The rejection cut Jensen to the bone. Did she hate even his touch now? §° ¡°I saw the news. A ride copsed at the park¨Cmany people were hurt. And then I saw your silhouette in the footage. I had Hansel check, and I came right away. Natalie, where are you hurt? Why were you there?¡± His worry was raw, unfeigned. It was as if she were still the only person in his heart. But remembering everything he had done, Natalie¡¯s lips curled into a bitter smile. ¡°Mr. Jensen, if I recall correctly, we already broke up. A proper ex knows to disappear from each other¡¯s life. Or is that something you don¡¯t understand?¡± Her voice was calm, but it stabbed through him like a de. ¡°No! We didn¡¯t break up. I never agreed to it! Natalie, after five years together, how can you just throw it all away?¡± He stepped closer. She instinctively stepped back, frown deepening. This content belongs to FindN()vel ¡°Mr. Jensen, for a man of your stature, you should at least learn to kee, your dignity.¡± She tried to brush past him, but he blocked her way again. ¡°Natalie, I know you resent me for not saving you first in that fire. And for marrying Sharon behind your back. I was wrong to hide it. But five years ago, Sharon saved my life. She gave me one of her ribs so I could survive. Even if you had found the Witch Doctor, without that bone transnt I would¡¯ve died. I owe her my life! Now she has cancer, her days are numbered. I only married her out of gratitude. My heart has always belonged to you.¡± Natalie¡¯sugh was cold. ¡°She gave you a rib? And who told you that? Sharon?¡± ¡°No. It was in the medical and donor reports. My men uncovered it¨CSharon never meant to tell me. So you see, Natalie, it¡¯s just repayment. I gave her the title of Mrs. Luke because she¡¯s dying. If it bothers you, I¡¯ll send her abroad. You¡¯ll never have to see her again. Just give me time. When she¡¯s gone, I¡¯ll marry you properly. I¡¯ll give you the grandest wedding, make you wife for all the world to see.¡± my O HereSelf 200 Chapter 200 Breaking Ties Jensen¡¯s words were dripping with emotion, but Natalie¡¯s face stayed unreadable. Her mind was elsewhere¨Cback to those years ago when she had signed the donor agreement and seen the medical reports herself. So why did Jensen¡¯s records now show Sharon¡¯s name? Sharon had only just returned to the Summers family back then. Natalie¡¯s trip to find the Witch Doctor was something only the Luke family knew. How could Sharon have imed credit for that? And the Witch Doctor¨Csomeone that powerful, that mysterious¨Chow could his medical records and donor agreements have been tampered with? What was hidden beneath all this? Natalie hadn¡¯t wanted to argue with Jensen anymore. But she couldn¡¯t let Sharon pollute her past. She had been the one who gave up a rib to save him. She had begged the Witch Doctor for treatment. Yet somehow, Sharon had stolen it all. And it didn¡¯t feel like Sharon¡¯s scheme alone. There had to be something deeper behind it. But why target her? She had been nothing but a misced child, raised as someone else¡¯s daughter. What value did she have that made her worth scheming against? Unless¡­ unless the Stone family had known all along who she was. Unless her being switched at birth wasn¡¯t an ident, but deliberate. The thought made cold sweat run down her back. If that were true¨Cwho had been pulling the strings all these years? Her gaze turned sharp, heavy with suspicion. Jensen mistook her silence for softening. He stepped closer, reaching for her hand. Natalie¡¯s palm cracked across his cheek before he could touch her. ¡°I told you, Jensen. Have some respect for yourself.¡± 1/3 The p echoed, sharp and hard. The rightful source is Find_Novel(. His cheek burned, his whole body stiff. He stared at her in disbelief. In the past, even the smallest frown from him had broken her heart. Now she struck him without hesitation, her eyes cold and detached. It shook him to his core. ¡°Natalie,¡± his voice cracked, ¡°you know my reasons. You still won¡¯t forgive me?¡± ¡°Your reasons? You don¡¯t even know the truth yourself. What do your reasons have to do with me? Jensen, no matter why you married Sharon, the fact remains¨Cyou betrayed me. You registered your marriage with her while still with me. Do you admit it or not?¡± He flushed, cornered, and muttered, ¡°I admit it.¡± ¡°Good. Then since you admit it, answer this. If you wanted to repay her, you should¡¯ve told me. You should¡¯ve ended things cleanly. But you didn¡¯t. You even thought I couldn¡¯t understand French, whispering with Felix right in front of me about keeping it from me. What were you nning, Jensen? To keep one woman at home and another outside? To make me the mistress in my own rtionship? Is that it?¡± Jensen¡¯s breath caught, panic shing in his eyes. ¡°No, Natalie, you were never the other woman. You and I were the real couple. I only kept it from you because I didn¡¯t want you to worry. She¡¯s dying. I¡ª¡± ¡°Is it so hard to admit you were despicable?¡± Her voice trembled with rage. ¡°Yes, I loved you. Deeply. But now? Now you disgust me. You make thest five years of my life feel like a joke. Don¡¯t appear in front of me again.¡± She turned and strode away. er, his heart thundering. called him despicable? He had only wanted to repay a debt¨Che never eaving her. ny? Why did she see it that way? And what had she meant about him not knowing the truth? Was there something he didn¡¯t know? ¡°Natalie!¡± He tried to call her back, but she was gone. Frowning hard, Jensen yanked out his phone. ¡°Hansel, those medical records and donor reports¨Cthose really came from the Witch Doctor¡¯s office, didn¡¯t they?¡± Hansel paused, startled. ¡°Of course, Mr. Jensen. I handled it personally back then. Everything was legitimate. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Jensen ended the call. Hansel had served him loyally for years¨Che had no reason to lie, and no way to tamper with the Witch Doctor¡¯s documents. For a fleeting moment, Jensen had wondered if there was another truth buried in the past. But no. It had to be Natalie¡¯s resentment talking. Nothing more. HereSelf 201 Chapter 201 pped Him And Walked Off Chapter 201 pped Him And Walked Off Jensen let out a sigh as he watched Natalie¡¯s retreating figure; something twisted ufortably in his chest. ¡°Natalie, I won¡¯t give up on you.¡± Natalie couldn¡¯t stand his behavior anymore. 356 s She headed to the nearest mall, bought a shirt, then took it to a dry cleaner to have it washed and dried before bringing it back to the hospital. By then, Baron had finished his checkup. When he noticed Natalie wasn¡¯t around, his expression darkened. The bodyguards around him hardly dared to breathe. They had no idea where Natalie had gone, and they didn¡¯t dare ask. Right now, the pressure radiating off Mr. Baron was colder than any air conditioner¨Cwhat were they supposed to do? ¡°What are you all standing around for?¡± Natalie returned just in time to see the tense atmosphere and couldn¡¯t help but break the silence. Baron¡¯s expression instantly shifted from stormy to bright. ¡°Where did you go?¡± ¡°Your clothes were filthy, and I didn¡¯t have time to grab anything from home. So I went to a store nearby, bought something, then had it washed and dried beforeing back. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Natalie walked straight over to him. Baron nced at the shirt in her hands and couldn¡¯t stop the smile tugging at his lips. ¡°You bought this for me?¡± ¡°Who else would it be for?¡± Seeing the joy on his face, Natalie couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. 15:51 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 201 pped Him And Walked Off ¡°What did the doctor say? Everything¡¯s fine, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. They ran a full exam this time, everything looks good.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t we head to the ward so you can change?¡± Natalie knew Baron was a clean freak; he hated being shirtless in front of others. Naturally, Baron had no objections. The two of them quickly made their way to a nearby room. 56 +5 Free Coins Natalie didn¡¯t act coy. When Baron admitted his arm hurt and he couldn¡¯t lift it, she stepped forward and helped him change into the fresh shirt herself. Her cheeks heated and her heart pounded, but she forced herself to stayposed; still, the deep blush on her face gave her away. Baron teased with a grin. ¡°You¡¯ve already seen it, touched it, yet you¡¯re still shy? Didn¡¯t you once grab my tie and demand to know if I¡¯d sleep with you?¡± The memory of that moment at the productunch instantly flooded Natalie¡¯s mind, and her face burned hotter. ¡°Shut up!¡± Latest content published on Find~Novel The more flustered she got, the more Baron found her adorable. This side of her¡ªthe one that blushed and red¨Cwas real. It was a thousand times better than the lifeless version of her who¡¯d once thrown everything away for Jensen. ¡°My dear, you¡¯re so fierce.¡± His exaggerated expression made Natalieugh despite herself. She sat across from him, hesitated for a moment, then said quietly, ¡°When I went out to buy your clothes, I ran into Jensen.¡± ¡°What?¡± Baron shot to his feet. ¡°Why the heck was he here? Did he bother you? You went out without bodyguards? What are they, useless? They actually let you go out alone?¡± The thought of Jensen still pestering Natalie made him bristle with irritation; the guards caught the spillover of his anger. 15:51 Sat, Sep 27 *** Chapter 201 pped Him And Walked Off 20 s Seeing how agitated he was, Natalic quickly reached out, afraid he might strain his injury. ¡°He can¡¯t bother me anymore; I pped him across the face.¡± ¡°My wife is incredible!¡± Baron¡¯s mood improved immediately. Only then did Natalie continue, ¡°But from the way he talked, there are still some things that don¡¯t add up. You¡¯re close with Witch Doctor, aren¡¯t you?¡± Her question made Baron¡¯s heart sink. ¡°Why do you want to see Witch Doctor?¡± Natalie didn¡¯t notice his fleeting expression. She lowered her voice. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just have a few things I want to ask him.¡± ¡°Why? Does it have to do with Jensen?¡± ¡°Sort of.¡± Natalie pressed her lips together before speaking again. ¡°Jensen said he saw the diagnostic report and the donation record from five years ago¡ªthat it was Sharon who donated a rib to him. I only just found out. But I was the one who donated back then. Those were Witch Doctor¡¯s records; it¡¯s not likely they were wrong. Because of that, Sharon has always paraded herself as Jensen¡¯s savior. I don¡¯t care about that anymore, but I can¡¯t let Sharon disgust me like this. I need to know what really happened with that donation record.¡± She could live without Jensen, but she refused to let someone like Sharon steal her sacrifice. Baron¡¯s brows knit tightly as he listened. Back then, because the donor was Natalie, he had personally set those records aside; there was no way they could have leaked. He, more than anyone, didn¡¯t want Jensen to know just how much Natalie had given up for him. But then what did Natalie¡¯s words mean now? Baron didn¡¯t believe Jensen would lie about this. So what really happened all those years ago? At this point, Baron wanted the truth even more than Natalie did. ¡°Leave this to me. I promise I¡¯ll get to the bottom of it. If Witch Doctor really made a mistake, I¡¯ll make sure you get the exnation you deserve.¡± 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapt HereSelf 202 er 202 Don¡¯t Scare The Guards Chapter 202 Don¡¯t Scare The Guards Baron¡¯s tone was grave. 0 * Free Cons Natalic, seeing him like that, couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re not Witch Doctor; why so serious? If you don¡¯t want me meeting him, fine¨Cthen you go find out the truth for me.¡± Baron opened his mouth without thinking. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m-¡± ¡°Mr. Baron!¡± Before he could finish, a knock sounded at the door. It was one of his bodyguards. Baron¡¯s eyes turned cold. Natalie lightly patted his arm and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t always be so intimidating. Those guards are just doing their jobs. I¡¯ll go wash my hands; you talk.¡± With that, she stood and walked out. Baron didn¡¯t manage to stop her. When it came to his business, Natalie always seemed to know her boundaries; she never pushed to learn too much. That restraint made him oddly frustrated. The bodyguard saw Natalie leave and then caught Baron¡¯s frosty stare, a chill crawling down the back of his neck. ¡°Mr. Baron¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯d better have something urgent to say, or I¡¯ll make sure you regret it.¡± Baron¡¯s voice was sharp with anger, draining the color from the guard¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Baron, our men in the countryside spotted members of the Summers family. Mr. Jordan went there personally¨Cit might have something to do with Madam¡¯s background.¡± At that, Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°The Summers family is there too?¡± 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 202 Don¡¯t Scare The Guards He hadn¡¯t expected them to go to the countryside as well. 56 s What had Waylon uncovered? The baby¨Cswitch incident back then had looked like an ident, but with more and more clues surfacing, it didn¡¯t seem like one anymore. Thinking about the recent Summers family mess, Baron quickly pieced it together. ¡°They probably went because of Sharon. The DNA test showed she was indeed a Summers child; but she¡¯s so vicious, she even dared poison her own mother. Jordan and Quincy must be having doubts. Notify the Stone family; let¡¯s see what the Summers family does out there.¡± The guard immediately understood. ¡°Yes, sir¡ªI¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡± At the same time, Hansel received word as well. ¡°Mr. Jensen, it looks like Jordan went to the countryside.¡± Jensen sat staring at the stock market sinking lower and lower, his brow furrowed tight. When he heard Hansel¡¯s words, he paused in surprise. ¡°The countryside? Why are you telling me that? Unless he dragged Sharon there too?¡± ¡°No.¡± Hansel had been with Jensen for five years. Aside from the early days when the shareholders blocked his rise and Witch Doctor made things difficult, Hansel had never seen Jensen so overworked and on edge. Once Natalie had started helping him, Jensen had gradually secured his ce in thepany; for five years, Hansel hadn¡¯t seen him this depleted. Especially after what happened at the hospital entrance¨Cnot hard to guess whose hand had left that ring p mark on his cheek. Not that Hansel pitied him. After everything Jensen had done to Natalie, even as an assistant, he could hardly stomach it- though it wasn¡¯t his ce to say. Now, seeing Jensen rub his temples wearily, his sharp instincts dulled to Jordan¡¯s sudden trip, Hansel finally spoke up. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Ms. Sharon poisoned her own mother. Do you really think she¡¯s the Summers¡® 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 ¡± Chapter 202 Don¡¯t Scare The Guards biological daughter?¡± Jensen froze. 45 Free Coins ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be in doubt. Jordan and Quincy handled the DNA test themselves. If Sharon weren¡¯t really their daughter, would they have made things so hard on Natalie for her sake?¡± Again, memories of all that Natalie had endured with the Summers family came rushing back. If only Sharon weren¡¯t my savior¡­ The thought struck Jensen suddenly. Hansel had no idea what he was thinking; he simplyid out his own reasoning. ¡°We can¡¯t get those records ourselves, but I did check. The doctor who handled Sharon¡¯s DNA test with Jordan immigrated abroad the very next day after she returned to the Summers family. Isn¡¯t that a little too convenient?¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± The fog in Jensen¡¯s mind cleared slightly. He was a businessman; his instincts for suspicion were still sharp. ¡°And wasn¡¯t there news just a few days ago¨Cthat Dr. Johnson, the one treating Sharon, died in a car ident?¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find¡ïNovel Jensen¡¯s frown deepened. Hansel nodded. ¡°Yes. Dr. Johnson had been overseeing Ms. Sharon¡® cancer treatment.¡± ¡°Find out when Sharon¡¯s cancer diagnosis started, how Johnson treated her, and whether there were any financial dealings between them. And before Johnson¡¯s ident, did he have any contact with Sharon? I want to know everything.¡± HereSelf 203 Chapter 203 Your Savior Is A Liar Jensen¡¯s words made Hansel freeze again. ¡°Mr. Jensen, are you suspecting-¡± ¡°No matter what I suspect, I need solid evidence.¡± A sh of ice cut through Jensen¡¯s gaze, and the pen in his hand snapped clean in two. 5 Free Coins If¡­ if it turned out the way he thought¡­ then what am I supposed to do? For the first time, Jensen felt a flicker of panic. ¡°Hurry!¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Hansel left at once. On Baron¡¯s side, word of Hansel¡¯s investigation reached him almost immediately. ¡°Mr. Baron, it looks like Jensen suspects Sharon¡¯s cancer was fake.¡± Baron let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°Well, well¡­ the man¡¯s finally using his brain. But it¡¯s about time he learned the truth anyway. Leak the news, carefully, that Johnson is still alive; send Jensen Johnson¡¯s current address while you¡¯re at it. I want to see how Jensen reacts when he finds out his so¨Ccalled savior is nothing but a liar.¡± He hung up right after saying that. Just then, Natalie pushed open the door. ¡°Who¡¯s a liar?¡± She asked casually. The moment Baron saw her, he got up and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t ever leave me alone with the bodyguards again.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they your men? It¡¯s not dangerous, and I only went to wash my hands.¡± 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 203 Your Savior Is A Liar Natalie thought Baron was getting more dramatic by the day. #5Free Coins Baron, however, pouted like a child. ¡°My men? They¡¯re just hired hands, not mine. You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°Fine, fine. Whatever you say.¡± Natalie caught the meaning beneath his words; he wanted her woven into his life, his work, his world. But she wasn¡¯t ready¨Cnot yet. Baron knew she was dodging and didn¡¯t press. Instead, he took her hand and pulled her down to sit beside him. ¡°News just came in. Looks like Jensen figured out Sharon faked her cancer. I¡¯ve already sent Johnson¡¯s location to him. I wonder what he¡¯ll do when the truth finally hits.¡± Natalie froze for a split second. She hadn¡¯t even had time to act yet; she hadn¡¯t expected Jensen to catch on so soon. If she hadn¡¯t exposed Sharon¡¯s fake cancer, she never would¡¯ve been lured into that fire. Now she wanted to see for herself how Jensen¡¯s precious Sharon would end up. ¡°Sharon¡¯s lies to Jensen go far beyond this. She had my hand smashed to pieces, and Jensen- just to stop me from pressing charges¨Clocked me up and leaned on me with his power. In his eyes, as long as Sharon was his savior, he¡¯d let the sky cave in before he¡¯d ever touch her.¡± Jensen always imed it was about gratitude. But Natalie had seen through that the moment her hand was destroyed. If there were truly no feelings between them, how could he be so blind to right and wrong? That so¨Ccalled gratitude was nothing more than an excuse he gave himself. Which was why, even if Jensen learned Sharon¡¯s cancer was fake, at most he¡¯d blow up in anger; in the end, it wouldn¡¯t truly harm her. Seeing Natalie like this made Baron¡¯s chest ache. Right then, a call came in. ¡°Mr. Baron, there¡¯s more to the incident where Madam¡¯s hand was smashed by Sharon¡¯s people.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 203 Your Savior Is A Liar Baron¡¯s expression hardened instantly, and even Natalic frowned. 46 Fres Coins ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?ndnovel Back then, when Sharon had sent someone to cripple her hand, Natalie had always thought it was because she¡¯d refused to give Sharon the title of Ms. Sunny. With Sharon¡¯s petty, vindictive nature, if she couldn¡¯t have something, she wouldn¡¯t let anyone else have it either. Natalie had always assumed it was nothing more than a straightforward act of revenge. But now Baron¡¯s man was saying there was more behind it? ¡°Speak.¡± The word had barely left Baron¡¯s lips when the voice on the other end exined, ¡°At the time Sharon hired people to break Madam¡¯s hand, wasn¡¯t Phantom dyed and couldn¡¯t make it? I suddenly remembered¨Cback then, some woman called Phantom. I don¡¯t know what she said. but Phantom was in a terrible mood afterward. Then his car broke down, and he missed the best chance to save Madam.¡± Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed to slits. Natalie recognized the voice, too. It was Finn! Hadn¡¯t Finn fallen out with Baron and been thrown out? Why was he still in contact with him now? Natalie couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Baron spoke in a low voice. ¡°Can Phantom¡¯s phone still be restored? Get me that call record.¡± ¡°The recording can¡¯t be recovered, but I did trace the call log. I found the number¨Cits owner was someone named Johnson.¡± HereSelf 204 Chapter 204 Don¡¯t Lean On Me 56 +5 Free Coins Natalie froze for a moment. Johnson? Wasn¡¯t that Sharon¡¯s attending physician? So when Sharon had sent people to smash my hand, Johnson actually knew Phantom? Not only that, he had even called Phantom¨Ctold him not to save me? But why? She had never even met Johnson, never had any conflict with him. Why would he target me? Natalie couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Baron¡¯s brows were furrowed tight as well. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll keep digging into this. From now on, don¡¯t call me unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary; I don¡¯t want anyone on the other side growing suspicious.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Baron.¡± Finn hung up. Catching Natalie¡¯s questioning look, Baron exined Phantom¡¯s connection to Finn. Natalie listened quietly; she remembered bits of it. ¡°Why would Phantom know Johnson?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I want to find out. Come on¨CI¡¯ll take you to Johnson. Maybe we¡¯ll get some answers straight from him.¡± Baron grabbed his coat, intent on leaving the hospital with her. Natalie worried about his health. ¡°You should rest first. This isn¡¯t urgent.¡± ¡°Jensen¡¯s men will get to Johnson soon. Before that happens, I need to know what ties he had with Phantom.¡± Baron¡¯s expression was dark. Phantom had been one of his men. He¡¯d always believed he could protect Natalie; yet because of a betrayal within his own ranks, she had nearly burned to death. It was a wound to his pride, one he couldn¡¯t get past. 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 204 Don¡¯t Lean On Me Seeing him like that, Natalie didn¡¯t argue further. ¡°Fine¨CI¡¯ll go with you.¡± She steadied him with her arm. Fire Cons Baron leaned into her shoulder with exaggerated groans, acting like he was too weak to walk on his own. Natalie¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Mr. Baron, you¡¯reying it on a little thick.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m in pain; hurts so bad I can¡¯t even walk.¡± Watching him y the part of a shameless scoundrel, Natalie could onlyugh helplessly. She let him lean on her as they walked out of the hospital. The driver, quick on the uptake, raised the partition, which left Natalie speechless. ¡°See? Even the driver misunderstood.¡± Baron¡¯s grin turned sly. He decided right then the driver would be getting a raise. This was the kind of man who really knew how to please him. Read full story at Find?Novel ¡°Let him misunderstand. We¡¯re husband and wife¨Cwe¡¯ve got nothing to hide.¡± Baron said it with the stubborn ease of a man who didn¡¯t care what anyone thought. Natalie rolled her eyes but chose not to respond. Soon, they arrived at Johnson¡¯s ce¨Conly to be stunned by the scene at the door. Nearly all the men there were Baron¡¯s bodyguards; now theyy groaning on the ground, badly beaten. A chill of dread swept over Natalie. ¡°Did someone take Johnson?¡± ¡°Yes, madam.¡± 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 204 Don¡¯t Lean On Me The squad leader, not too seriously injured, stepped forward. 56 15 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Baron, madam¨Cjust a little while ago, a group of men showed up and attacked us without a word. Judging by their skills, they were all trained fighters. We resisted as best we could, but we couldn¡¯t hold them off.¡± His voice carried heavy guilt. Baron¡¯s face was thunderous. His men had already failed once when it came to protecting Natalie; now, they had let a key witness slip away? ¡°Did you get a look at who they were?¡± His voice was sharp as an ice¨Ctipped arrow. The squad leader shook his head. ¡°They moved fast, worked like a unit, and fought well. All of them wore masks¨Cwe couldn¡¯t see their faces. But I did notice an emblem stitched on one man¡¯s cor.¡± ¡°Draw it.¡± Baron¡¯s voice was t, cold. The man hurried to find paper and start sketching. Sensing how tense the air had grown, Natalie patted Baron¡¯s arm and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry.¡± He looked at her and let out a long sigh. ¡°I¡¯m not angry; I just feel useless.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference? Don¡¯t wear yourself out over others. Whether it¡¯s Johnson or someone else, they¡¯ll slip up eventually. What matters most is keeping ourselves safe. I believe no matter how long it takes, the truth wille out.¡± Her voice was calm, tinged with a quiet warmth, and it soothed some of the fury burning in him. ¡°I¡¯m angry at myself. Everyone calls me a godfather, but I couldn¡¯t even protect the woman I love most. And now¨CI¡¯ve even lost a witness.¡± His words made her heart ache. ¡°One person¡¯s strength is limited. Baron, you¡¯ve already done more than enough. Many people 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 204 Don¡¯t Lean On Me go their whole lives without achieving what you have. Don¡¯t be so hard on yourself¨CI¡¯ll never me you. Johnson¡¯s disappearance just means the people behind him are panicking; they¡¯re starting to lose their grip. For us, that¡¯s actually a good thing, isn¡¯t it?¡± HereSelf 205 Chapter 205 Gunn Family Wants Me Dead Chapter 205 Gunn Family Wants Me Dead 200 Looking at Natalie¡¯sposure, Baron felt a sharp sting in his throat. If she hadn¡¯t endured such highs and lows, how could she remain so calm, so steady? His Natalie should have been living happily in this world¨Clike a little princess, free to do the things she loved. Anyone who dared harbor other intentions toward her¨CBaron would never let a single one of them go. But not wanting her to worry, he simply nodded. Just then, the squad leader finished his sketch. The moment Baron¡¯s eyesnded on the emblem, his face changed. ¡°What is it? Is there something wrong with that symbol?¡± Natalie noticed the shift in his expression and quickly asked. Baron¡¯s teeth ground audibly. ¡°It¡¯s the Gunn family.¡± ¡°The Gunn family?¡± For a second, Natalie didn¡¯t understand. But the squad leader immediately did. ¡°Madam, Mr. Baron and the Gunns are mortal enemies. The fact that Mr. Baron has survived all these years is nothing short of a miracle. The Gunn family has tried everything under the sun to kill him.¡± A wave of sorrow flickered across Natalie¡¯s eyes. She knew nothing of Baron¡¯s past¨Cnever understood why he fought his battles alone. She had always thought he was an orphan. But now, clearly, he wasn¡¯t. The Gunn family¡­ Baron. His own blood wanted him dead? Her chest tightened painfully. She reached for his hand; it was usually dry and warm, but now damp with sweat. 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 ¡­ Chapter 205 Gunn Family Wants Me Dead This is the kind of mistress we need. He had just straightened when Baron¡¯s voice drifted from the car. +10 Free Couns Discover more novels at FindN0vel ¡°Get some money from Yvonne; make sure the brothers get proper treatment at the hospital. Lost wages, everything else¨CI¡¯ll cover it.¡± The car pulled away right after. The squad leader¡¯s eyes misted over. Baron was still the same man he¡¯d always been. Natalie didn¡¯tment on Baron¡¯s decision. But then, as if suddenly remembering, he turned to her. ¡°Natalie, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t ask you first before giving them money. But these men have been with me a long time¨CI can¡¯t just ignore them when they¡¯re hurt.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you did anything wrong. Baron, you don¡¯t need to exin things like this to me.¡± But even before she finished, Baron shook his head and pulled out his bank cards and ount books, shoving them all into her hands at once. ¡°Natalie, ever since you up, woke I¡¯d nned to do this. I just held back, afraid it might make you feel pressured. But now that you truly want a life with me, I¡¯m turning everything over to you¨Cmy assets, everything.¡± ¡°Baron, you don¡¯t have to.¡± Natalie was caught off guard. She had spent five years with Jensen. He had bought her gifts now and then, but how much money he had, how much he earned every month¨Cshe had never known, because he never told her. He hadn¡¯t even given her a secondary card. That man who imed to love her had never once allowed her a say in financial matters. 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 205 Gunn Family Wants Me Dead For once, she didn¡¯t even know how tofort him. His sh of anger passed in an instant. +10 Free Feeling her steady warmth, Baron turned to her, trying to smile, though the expression faltered. ¡°Natalie, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll make sure you get an answer about Johnson.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be right away. Let¡¯s go home first. The kids were shaken by what happened at the amusement park¨Cwe don¡¯t even know how they¡¯re doing. Why don¡¯t we check on them?¡± She shifted the subject without hesitation. The truth was, she didn¡¯t care much about Johnson¨Cwhether he lived or died. Even about Sharon¡¯s order to cripple her hand¨Cwhether others had been pulling strings behind the scenes or not¨Cit hardly mattered to her. All she knew was that Sharon had given that order, and Sharon would pay. As for anyone else, she believed that once one weed was pulled, the whole nest woulde out eventually. What mattered more now was Baron¡¯s state of mind. She didn¡¯t know how to soothe him directly, but she knew the children were his softest spot. Sure enough, he nodded when she mentioned them. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go home first. Susie¡¯s timid¨Cshe¡¯ll probably have nightmares tonight.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll sleep with her. Sean was scared too; I¡¯ll stay with them both.¡± With a few words, she eased the chill that gripped his heart. They turned and left. The squad leader, watching Baron¡¯s reaction, suddenly bowed deeply to Natalie. Because of the Gunns, every time Mr. Baron lost control, it would take ages for him to recover. He had already braced himself for one of those outbursts. Yet Natalie had calmed him down with just a few words. Not only calmed him¨Cshe had softened his mood. 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 206 Hand Over The Paycheck HereSelf 206 Chapter 206 Hand Over The Paycheck Chapter 206 Hand Over The Paycheck 419 free Cotta Now that Baron wanted to hand over everything he owned to her, Natalie felt both flustered and helpless. Baron lowered his voice. ¡°When my mom was alive, she told me that once I got married¨Cor even just made things official with a girl¨C1 had to hand over my bank card. She said a man¡¯s job is to earn money; a woman¡¯s job is to manage it. If a man has money on him, he¡¯ll go bad, so it has to be kept by his wife. That¡¯s the rule in our family.¡± ¡°What?¡± It was the first time Natalie had ever heard something like that. Back when she was living with the Summers family, it was always Jordan who controlled the money. If Quincy needed anything, he had to go ask Jordan for it. And now Baron was saying he wanted to hand over all of his cards to me? Natalie hurried to say, ¡°That¡¯s really not necessary, Baron. Once my designs hit the market, I won¡¯t be short of money.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you my wife? It¡¯s simple¨Cmy job is to bring home the money, and yours is to run the household. That¡¯s how I was raised. Or is it, Natalie, that you never actually nned to live a real life with me?¡± He looked like he was on the verge of breaking downpletely. This man had just suffered mistreatment at the hands of his family not long ago; if she now gave him another reason to feel insecure, would he really be heartbroken to death? With that thought, Natalie quickly said, ¡°No, I really do want to live a life with you. Fine, fine, I¡¯ll take it, all right? But do you have any cash on you? Do I need to transfer you some?¡± He was Mr. Baron, a CEO. He couldn¡¯t possibly walk around without money. At her words, Baron instantly lit up with joy. ¡°Whatever you think is fine. I don¡¯t need much when I¡¯m out.¡± Natalie had never done something like this before; she had no idea what would be considered appropriate. She thought back to when she lived with the Summers family; Jordan used to give her a hundred thousand each month as pocket money. 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 206 Hand Over The Paycheck 66 10 Free Coins. So she asked, ¡°Would a hundred thousand a month work as your allowance? If it¡¯s not enough, you can tell me.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Baron immediately pulled out his WhatsApp. Natalie felt like she was dreaming as she transferred him the hundred thousand; then she saw him staring at the money, grinning like a fool. She honestly wondered if what had just happened had pushed him into some sort of breakdown. With all the money Baron possessed, was he seriously grinning like a fool over a meager allowance? She resolved then and there that he needed a doctor¡¯s appointment¨Cno excuses. Just then, the car suddenly screeched to a hard stop. Natalie was thrown off bnce and fell straight into Baron¡¯s arms. His expression had darkened, grim and frightening. ¡°What happened?¡± The driver didn¡¯t answer. Natalie opened her mouth to speak, but Baron pressed her head firmly down. ¡°Natalie, no matter what happens in a minute, don¡¯t make a sound and don¡¯t get up.¡± His tone was heavy, serious. Natalie wanted to ask more, but before she could, the car jolted violently from impact. She wanted to scream¨Cthis was the first time in her life she¡¯d ever experienced something like this¨Cbut she forced herself to hold it in. Instead, her hands clutched Baron¡¯s sleeve with a death grip, her palms slick with cold sweat. Baron kicked open the divider and saw that the driver was injured, though still struggling to keep control of the wheel. ¡°Can you manage?¡± His voice carried a note of reassurance. 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 206 Hand Over The Paycheck The driver gave a nod. Only then did Baron notice blood at the man¡¯s throat. 56 10 Free Coins Read full story at find{n}ovel Natalie took the chance to nce outside; several cars were ramming into them like maniacs, as if determined to kill them. She couldn¡¯t help but think of Johnson¡¯s disappearance, and of what Baron had recently said about the Gunn family. Were these people after Baron? Natalie hurried to pull out her phone, nearly dropping it as the car lurched again. She immediately dialed Chris. ¡°Chris, hurrye save us. We¡¯re on Ollie Road.¡± Her desperate call for help made Baron freeze for a moment. He had always been used to handling things alone; it surprised him that, in such a critical moment, Natalie had called on the Stone family to save him. Baron instinctively pulled her tighter into his arms and murmured, ¡°Natalie, don¡¯t worry. won¡¯t ever let anything happen to you.¡± I ¡°These people are insane; it¡¯s broad daylight, in the middle of the street¨Chow dare they?¡± Natalie¡¯s heart was clenched in fear; she had almost never experienced anything like this. Baron couldn¡¯t exin it to her. To him, this sort of thing had beenmonce since childhood; but he still felt a pang guilt. He never should have dragged her into it. of Sensing what he was thinking, Natalie tugged gently at his sleeve and said, ¡°Baron, from the day I agreed to be your wife, I was ready to face everything with you. So no matter what happens, don¡¯t you dare leave me behind.¡± 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 ¡­ Chapter 207 Don¡¯t You Dare Leave Me HereSelf 207 Chapter 207 Don¡¯t You Dare Leave Me Chapter 207 Don¡¯t You Dare Leave Me 6563 +10 Free Coins More than her own safety, Natalie wanted to make sure she and Baron got home together. Warmth spread through Baron¡¯s chest. The driver was still battling the cars that chased them down the road. Just then, Chris arrived with reinforcements. With help from the Stone family, the cars that had been attacking them quickly scattered and fled. Natalie was drenched in cold sweat, her body limp as if she had lost all strength. ¡°Sir, Miss¨Care you all right?¡± When Chris caught sight of the blood on the driver¡¯s neck, he nearly panicked. Natalie was so shaken she could hardly speak. Baron quickly scooped her into his arms and murmured, ¡°Get the driver to the hospital. I¡¯ll cover all expenses. Natalie¡¯s just scared¨Cwe¡¯ll switch cars.¡± If it had only been him, Baron wouldn¡¯t have cared; but with Natalie, he had no choice but to think of safety. Chris hurried to pull his own car around. Baron carried Natalie inside, and Chris drove them back to the vi himself. Yvonne had already gotten word and rushed out to greet them. ¡°Baron, Natalie, are you two okay?¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine. Go pour your sister¨Cinw some hot water,¡± Baron instructed coolly. Yvonne quickly pressed a warm cup into Natalie¡¯s hands. ¡°Natalie, are you all right?¡± The heat against her palms steadied her thoughts. Natalie nodded, took a small sip, then lifted her head. Not seeing the children, she asked, 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 ¦Ò Chapter 207 Don¡¯t You Dare Leave Me Nestled in his arms, she had a thousand questions to ask, yet she didn¡¯t want to break the quiet peace of the moment. ¡°Baron.¡± ¡°Mm?¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel ¡°Anyone unworthy of being family should be cut off. From now on, I¡¯ll help you deal with them.¡± Her defiant words instantly made him smile. ¡°Good.¡± While the two lingered close in the living room, Jensen received the news. ¡°Mr. Jensen, we went to the location from the anonymous tip, but there was no sign of Dr. Johnson. What we did find was someone attacking the car Natalie was in. They say she was with Baron.¡± ¡°What did you say? How¡¯s Natalie? Who¡¯s targeting her? Get the car ready¨CI¡¯m going to save her.¡± Jensen rose to leave, but Hansel blocked him. ¡°Mr. Jensen, there¡¯s no need. The Stone family¡¯s people already rushed over.¡± ¡°The Stone family?¡± Jensen suddenly remembered¨CNatalie had returned as the Stone family¡¯s daughter, their heiress. What exactly was going on? ¡°Send someone to keep tabs on Jordan. I need to know the truth about the baby¨Cswitching incident from twenty¨Csome years ago.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Hansel turned to leave, but the moment he opened the office door, he jumped back in shock. ¡°Damn! Ms. Sharon¨Cwhat are you doing here?¡± His brows knitted tight. 15:52 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 207 Don¡¯t You Dare Leave Me ¡°Where are Susie and Scan?¡± ¡°They were a little frightened, so I had a doctor prescribe them some calming herbal medicine. They¡¯ve already fallen asleep,¡± Yvonne said. Natalie let out a breath of relief. ¡°Good, as long as they¡¯re sleeping.¡± Watching her, Baron felt both guilty and tender. ¡°Were you scared? Maybe you shouldn¡¯te out with me anymore.¡± His words made Natalie pause, then she shook her head firmly. 10 Fire Cont ¡°Baron, don¡¯t say that. Yes, I was afraid¨Cthis was my first time going through something like that¨Cbut it doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t go out with you. We¡¯re husband and wife; we¡¯re one. No matter what we have to face in the future, I¡¯ll stand by your side. Maybe I can¡¯t help you much, but I can face it with you.¡± Her words filled Baron with warmth. Natalie never used flowerynguage; she never dered love outright, yet everything she said made him feel less alone. The only person who had ever given him that feeling before was his mother. Now, with Natalie, Baron suddenly felt as if he had armor. ¡°All right.¡± He held her tightly. Natalie breathed in his familiar scent, and little by little, her fear began to calm. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I want something to eat.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll have Chris cook.¡± As soon as Baron spoke, Chris headed for the kitchen without being told. Yvonne, sharp¨Ceyed as always, slipped back to her own room. The living room was left with only Baron and Natalie. 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 207 Don¡¯t You Dare Leave Me Jensen¡¯s expression immediately sank as well. 425 +10 Five Cent ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at the vi? Why are you here? Hansel, where are the people assigned to watch Sharon?¡± Sharon looked like a ghost¨Cher face unwashed, her hair a tangled mess. Her hollow eyes gleamed with something cold and menacing, giving her a frightening air. At Jensen¡¯s question about her guards, Sharon suddenlyughed; but theughter never reached her eyes. It was sharp, grating, and sent a shiver down the spine. HereSelf 208 t are youughing at?¡± Jensen¡¯s brows knit tightly; irritation churned in his chest. Sharon shoved Hansel aside and strode in. 410 Free Cons ¡°What? You can¡¯t stand the sight of me anymore? Are you already thinking about sending me overseas to die, so you and Natalie can finally live happily ever after?¡± Her eyes locked coldly on Jensen. His annoyance deepened. ¡°Don¡¯t start, Sharon. You know better than anyone why I married you.¡± ¡°But can you really swear on your conscience that when you put that ring on me, there wasn¡¯t a single other thought in your heart?¡± Her voice rose, sharp and grating. ¡°Jensen, wasn¡¯t my leaving back then a regret for you? Love you couldn¡¯t have? Maybe it wasn¡¯t even love¨Cmaybe it was just that you never got me. So when I came back this time, sick and dying, and said I wanted to marry you, you agreed. Tell me honestly¨Cwas it really all for me?¡± Her fists clenched tight. She truly had wanted to build a life with this man. He had money, looks; and she had once saved his life. With him, things should have been smooth and effortless. So why had it turned out like this? ¡°Jensen, when you were with Natalie, you thought not having me was your greatest regret. Now that you¡¯re married to me, you¡¯re devastated you didn¡¯t end up with her. Are men always restless over what they can¡¯t have? Can¡¯t you just be content? You¡¯re my husband now! Yet you won¡¯t touch me, won¡¯t even speak to me, and you had me locked away. Is that how you treat a wife? Do you really think Natalie would admire you for treating your wife like this?¡± ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± It was as if Sharon had ripped the mask from his face and thrown it to the floor for him to trample on. Jensen¡¯s expression turned dark, murderous, as though he could kill her right there. 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 208 Not Your Dream Wife 426 +10 Free Coing hug¨Cshe wanted to save everything else for our wedding night. If not for you, she would already be my wife. And you¨Calways surrounded by men, tainted goods¨Cand you darcpare yourself to Natalie?¡± His words cut like knives. Even though Sharon had braced herself, she had never imagined he would speak with such cruelty. ¡°Jensen, you bastard!¡± She stepped forward and pped him hard across the face. The stinging burn on his cheek shot straight to his nerves. The more he thought about it, the more he realized what a fool he had been. If not for that old debt she held over me, how could I have ever betrayed Natalie? 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 ¡­ Chapter 208 Not Your Dream Wife +10 Free Come ¡°Sharon, who are you to lecture me? You were flirting and entertaining men back then¡ªmore of them than I could count. Yes, you saved me, and out of gratitude I agreed to marry you, to give you closure in life. If you had any sense, you¡¯d settle down and behave. But what did you do? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you were the one whispering behind my back, driving a wedge between me and Natalie.¡± Over the past days, he had pieced it together. He and Sharon had gotten married in secret, discreet to the point of pulling strings at City Hall. Natalie barely left the house, how could she possibly have known? Even if she had overheard his French conversation with Felix, if Sharon hadn¡¯t stirred the pot, Natalie wouldn¡¯t have walked away so quickly. ¡°You¡¯re too greedy, Sharon. You became Mrs. Luke and still weren¡¯t satisfied; you wanted Ms. Sunny¡¯s title too. But tell me¨Cdo you deserve it? Can you design anything of worth?¡± His words infuriated her. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve it? And you do? All I asked for was a little recognition. If you cared so much about Natalie, why did you agree in the first ce? Don¡¯t tell me it was just gratitude. You knew how much that title meant to her, yet you promised it to me anyway. Don¡¯t deny it¨Cheaven knows, you know, and I know exactly what was in your heart then.¡± Readplete version only at find¡¤novel Jensen¡¯s temper snapped. He swept everything from the table in front of him, the crash ringing through the room. ¡°What exactly are you trying to say? What did youe here for today?¡± Seeing his fury, Sharon¡¯s chest tightened with bitter resentment. ¡°Why am I here? Jensen, I¡¯m your wife, not your prisoner! You have no right to keep me locked away. As Mrs. Luke, I was set up and ended up in bed with a beggar¨Cdon¡¯t you think you owe me, justice?¡± Jensen let out a harsh, mockingugh. ¡°Justice? You¡¯ve dragged the Luke family¡¯s name through the mud; you¡¯ve thrown our business into chaos; and you still have the nerve to demand justice from me?¡± ¡°If it had been Natalie today, would you be treating her this way?¡± ¡°How could you evenpare yourself to her? Natalie has always kept herself pure; I was her only boyfriend. We were together five years, and the most we ever did was hold hands, maybe HereSelf 209 : Chapter 209 My Stomach Hurts Jensen Sharon had actually dared to hit me? Without thinking, Jensen struck her back. ¡°Ah!¡± Caught off guard, Sharon crashed against the corner of the desk. ¡°Jensen, you actually hit me?¡± Her mind reeled; she stared at him in disbelief. How had she ever thought this man was a refined gentleman? 156 10 Free Coins The moment his handnded, Jensen felt a flicker of regret. But when he saw the look in Sharon¡¯s eyes and heard her shrill, piercing usation, that regret was quickly smothered. ¡°Just behave yourself as Mrs. Luke and stay out of my business. I¡¯ll make sure you livefortably; but if you insist on stirring up trouble, I won¡¯t hesitate to drag it out with you. My reputation¡¯s already been shredded thanks to you. After all, in this entire circle, you¡¯re the only wife who¡¯s ever slept with a beggar!¡± That broke Sharonpletely. ¡°Why did I end up with a beggar? Because of Natalie¡¯s scheming! If you were really a man, you¡¯d stand up to Natalie for me! I was the victim¨Cyet you stand here ming me?¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t tried to set me and Natalie up, would you have brought this on yourself? Sharon, I¡¯m not stupid! The barista at Cloud Caf¨¦ was your doctor Johnson¡¯s lover. Don¡¯t tell me all of that was just a coincidence!¡± With that, Jensen pushed back his chair, intent on leaving. He didn¡¯t want to spend another second looking at her. Seeing him about to go, Sharon rushed forward and clung to him from behind. ¡°Jensen, don¡¯t go! I only did all of that because I love you so much¨CJensen!¡± ¡°Let go!¡± He shoved her off violently. Stumbling, Sharon fell hard to the floor again and suddenly cried out in agony. 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 Chapter 209 My Stomach Hurts Jensen +16 Frex Coins The employees whispered in shock, while Jensen couldn¡¯t focus on anything but the image of Sharon bleeding. How could this be happening? She¡¯s not miscarrying, is she? But he remembered; that time before, he had made sure Sharon took the morning¨Cafter pill. Jensen¡¯s face was pale, his hands trembling. Even when Hansel carried Sharon into the car, he still hadn¡¯te back to his senses. ¡°Mr. Jensen, let me drive.¡± Hansel couldn¡¯t very well sit in the backseat with her. But Jensen shook his head. ¡°No, get in. She doesn¡¯t look good.¡± He fired up the engine. Sharon was heartbroken, but the pain in her abdomen left her powerless to resist. The car shot off like an arrow, racing to the hospital. Doctors took one look at Sharon¨Cbrought in by Jensen himself¨Cand rushed her into the emergency room. Hansel¡¯s clothes were soaked with blood. He knew he was only the special assistant, and in a situation like this, his presence felt out of ce. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I¡¯ll go buy a clean set of clothes.¡± ¡°Go.¡± Jensen¡¯s head was spinning. How can a person lose so much blood? If Sharon dies because of this¡­ He couldn¡¯t make sense of his feelings. One voice inside him whispered that if she died, so be it; the Mrs. Luke position would be free, and he could pursue Natalie without distraction. But another voice said if Sharon died because of him, what kind of man would he be? She was his lifesaver, after all. 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 209 My Stomach Hurts Jensen Jensen felt himself splitting apart. The doctor emerged quickly. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Ms. Sharon is nearly three months pregnant, and she¡¯s showing signs of miscarriage.¡± ¡°What did you say? She¡¯s¡­ what?¡± 6563 +10 Free Coins ?? Sat, Sep 27 Chapter 209 My Stomach Hurts Jensen ¡°My stomach! Jensen, my stomach hurts so much!¡± Jensen had no patience for her, but Hansel grabbed his arm. ¡°Mr. Jensen¨Cshe¡¯s bleeding!¡± That froze him in his tracks. ¡°What?¡± He turned slightly; blood was spreading between Sharon¡¯s legs. A terrible thought shed through his mind. ¡°How are you bleeding?¡± Sharon looked just as stunned. She shook her head, her face white as a sheet. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel Hansel didn¡¯t dare waste a moment. ¡°Mr. Jensen, we need to get her to the hospital.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll get the car.¡± Jensen bolted for the door. +10 Free Coins Sharon saw him run for the car rather than pick her up himself, and tears spilled from her eyes. ¡°Jensen, you bastard!¡± But no matter how she screamed, he was already gone. Hansel had no choice but to lift Sharon into his arms and follow quickly after. The scene left the whole office stunned. ¡°Wait¨Cisn¡¯t Ms. Sharon dating Hansel?¡± ¡°No way. I heard she¡¯s the president¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°Rubbish! If she were really the president¡¯s wife, how could Hansel carry her out like that?¡± HereSelf 210 Chapter 210 Only Natalie Gets My Baby Chapter 210 Only Natalie Gets My Baby Jensen¡¯s mind exploded with a deafening roar. Almost three months. That meant it had to be from that one time with Sharon. So the child was his? But he didn¡¯t want it. The only child he had ever wanted had toe from Natalie. ¡°If she miscarries now, what effect will it have on her body?¡± The doctor blinked in surprise at his question. ¡°Ms. Sharon¡® health is not very strong, and the baby is already developed enough that an abortion could be life¨Cthreatening for her.¡± Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed tighter. Just then, his mother, Loretta, arrived with her people. ¡°Jensen, if you dare get rid of my grandson, you¡¯ll answer to me!¡± That familiar voice made Jensen¡¯s gaze darken. ¡°Mom? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Never mind how I got here. Listen to me¡ªSharon is the one you chose to marry. Whether you like it or not, she¡¯s your legal wife! And the baby she¡¯s carrying¨Cit¡¯s yours, isn¡¯t it?¡± Loretta¡¯s sharp words left him no room to deny it. No matter what Sharon had been like before, since returning¨Cand especially since registering the marriage¨Cshe had only been with him. Johnson might have been close to her, but their interactions had never crossed the line. Jensen had kept her under surveince; her rtionships were transparent. So he couldn¡¯t in good conscience im the baby wasn¡¯t his. But to acknowledge it¡­ While he hesitated, Loretta suddenly reached out and twisted his ear. 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 210 Only Natalie Gets My Baby 10 Fise Cone ¡°Mom! Let go! I¡¯m still the president of thepany; how can you keep yanking my car like this?¡± His face twisted in pain. Loretta didn¡¯t care in the least. She snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t think I haven¡¯t seen the news. I know you¡¯re still dreaming about being with Natalie, but that¡¯s impossible now. You were with her for five years, and you never once thought about marrying her; clearly you had doubts of your own. You married Sharon; she¡¯s still the Summers family¡¯s eldest daughter¨Cthat¡¯s a proper match. The world outside is in turmoil, Luke Corp¡¯s shareholders are restless, and at a time like this, you want to get rid of the baby? Do you want our Luke family line to end with you?¡± ¡°Mom! Can¡¯t you just let me handle this?¡± Thest thing Jensen wanted was to hear people insist he and Natalie had no future. How could there be no future? He hadn¡¯t betrayed her out of malice; he had simply repaid a debt with marriage. If he showed enough sincerity, Natalie would forgive him¡ªshe had to. We had five years together, didn¡¯t we? And he had once been her salvation; he had been her first love. Jensen clung to that thought and was about to argue when Loretta pped him across the face. ¡°Handle it yourself? What could you possibly handle? Jensen, if that child is yours, then it¡¯s Luke blood. You are not allowed to get rid of it. If you want to do it, you¡¯ll have to step over my body first.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Jensen nearly choked on his own fury. What a mess this had be. But Loretta gave him no chance to exin. She turned to her attendants. ¡°Book the best VIP suite for Mrs. Luke; and hire a top¨Ctier maternity nurse. A child of the Luke family¨Cborn or unborn¨Cmust have the best of everything.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Sat, Sep 21 Chapter 210 Only Natalie Gets My Baby The staff rushed off, leaving Jensen standing uselessly at the side. At that moment, the emergency room doors swung open.. Fresh chapters posted on FindN0vel As Sharon was wheeled out, her eyes locked on Jensen. ¡°Jensen, I¡¯m carrying your child. You¡¯re going to be a father. Aren¡¯t you happy?¡± His face shifted through colors, torn between answers he couldn¡¯t give. 10 Free Coins Loretta shoved him aside and beamed at Sharon. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sharon. The child you¡¯re carrying is Luke¡¯s blood. Whether or not Jensen wants it, I do. I¡¯ve already arranged everything for your pregnancy and delivery. From this moment on, you¡¯re a heroine of the Luke family. No one cany a finger on you.¡± At those words, tears spilled down Sharon¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Mom¡­¡± She had never even met Loretta since the marriage. Natalie, after five years with Jensen, had never met her either; clearly, Loretta had never approved of that orphan girl. But Sharon¨Cshe was the Summers family¡¯s daughter, a match in status; and now she had the baby as leverage. From utter despair to sudden hope, maybe this really was her turning point. 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 55 Chapte HereSelf 211 r 211 Divorce Is Not My Idea Chapter 211 Divorce Is Not My Idea +10 Free Coins Sharon clutched Loretta¡¯s hand and spoke in a pitiful tone. ¡°Mom, I really do want to have this baby for the Luke family, but not long ago I was set up and ended up spending the night with a beggar. I didn¡¯t actually lose my innocence, but my reputation has still taken a hit. If I have this child, people willugh at him. Mom, maybe I shouldn¡¯t keep this baby after all. And besides, Jensen thinks it¡¯s humiliating and wants to divorce me. Don¡¯t worry¨Conce I end the pregnancy, I¡¯ll finalize the divorce; I won¡¯t drag the Luke family into it.¡± Loretta¡¯s face darkened immediately. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Abort the baby? Divorce? You¡¯re almost three months along; you can¡¯t just toss this around lightly.¡± After soothing Sharon, Loretta turned sharply toward Jensen, her eyes shing. ?????? ???? find?novel ¡°Deal with Sharon¡¯s scandal at once. No matter what, you¡¯re still the president of Luke Corp. As president, you can¡¯t let thepany suffer; as a man, you need to protect your wife. She¡¯s pregnant, and yet you let her feel so wronged¨CJensen, what are you thinking?¡± Jensen wasn¡¯t moved by Loretta¡¯s stern rebuke. He only stared coldly at Sharon, his gaze so sharp she didn¡¯t dare meet his eyes. Didn¡¯t lose her innocence? How could she even say that out loud? So many reporters had seen it; even if I managed to cover it up, could I control what people thought? The fact remained¨CI had been cuckolded by a beggar. And divorce? When had I ever brought up divorce to Sharon? I hadn¡¯t realized before just how brazen Sharon could be; now I was finally seeing it for myself. So when she¡¯d once tearfully imed Natalie had wronged her, had that too been her scheming and maniption? Jensen almostughed. He had actually lost Natalie for someone like this. Sharon knew her words would only fuel Jensen¡¯s disgust, but she had no choice. Jordan wanted to send her abroad, Quincy kept his distance after the poisoning incident, and she couldn¡¯t go back to her family home. Now even Jensen was nning to send her overseas just to pursue Natalie. What else could she do? At least fate had smiled on her this time¨Cshe was pregnant with Jensen¡¯s child. This baby was her only lifeline. If she could hold onto Loretta, she could secure her ce in the Luke family. 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 211 Divorce Is Not My Idea +10 free cont Once she gave birth, no matter if it was a boy or a girl, she¡¯d be seen as a benefactor to the family; even if Jensen wanted to cast her aside, he¡¯d have to think twice for the sake of the child. Sharon lowered her head, lost in thought. To Loretta, it looked like she was too aggrieved to even meet Jensen¡¯s eyes. Angered, Loretta shoved Jensen lightly. ¡°Look what you¡¯ve done to your wife! I¡¯m warning you¨Cget your act together. Sharon¡¯s pregnant now; you need to take better care of her. If nothing else, let her stay in the hospital for a few days, then I¡¯ll bring her back to the Luke residence. And you¨Cyou¡¯lle stay there too.¡± Sharon¡¯s heart leapt with joy. Jensen, however, frowned deeply. ¡°Mom, things at thepany are a mess right now; I really don¡¯t have time to move back to the Luke residence.¡± Loretta knew how bad things were at thepany. She sighed. ¡°Even so, Sharon¡¯s situation still needs to be dealt with. It¡¯s not just about your reputation; the Luke family can¡¯t afford to lose face. Those reporters may be difficult, but there¡¯s nothing money can¡¯t fix. If we have to bleed a little, so be it.¡± Jensen didn¡¯t want to speak; irritation pressed heavy on him. Sharon seized the chance. ¡°Mom, my situation isn¡¯t really the main problem. Luke Corp¡¯s biggest headache right now is Ms. Sunny cutting ties. She¡¯s demanding Jensenpensate her five years.¡± past five for all the design ie from the ¡°Sharon, shut your mouth!¡± The moment Jensen heard her slyly bring up Natalie, his voice thundered in a low growl. But Loretta had alreadytched onto it, her brows knitting tightly. ¡°Ms. Sunny¨Cthat¡¯s Natalie, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t know the whole story. Natalie, she¡ª¡± Jensen wanted to defend Natalie, but Loretta cut him off. ¡°Whatever happened between the two of you, you were together for five years. For those five 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 211 Divorce Is Not My Idea +10 Free Coins years, you sheltered her, gave her a stable environment to create. I¡¯m not asking her to repay the Luke family with gratitude, but this behavior of hers is downright petty. Since you two are no longer together, let the legal department handle it. Even if there¡¯s no official authorization agreement, you were still a couple. Don¡¯t tell me your chats don¡¯t contain at least one promise where she said she¡¯d help you with designs. As long as there¡¯s something like that, we¡¯ll have leverage.¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Mom¨Cyou want me to take Natalie to court?¡± HereSelf 212 Chapter 212 She Spat The Pill Out Chapter 212 She Spat The Pill Out ($5) +10 Free Coins ¡°There¡¯s no need to take her to court; but she can¡¯t have those five years of ie, either. Consider it something she gave to us willingly¨Cher way of repaying you for saving her back then. Jensen, I know you¡¯re sentimental, but you understand better than anyone what state the corporation is in right now. If you keep tangling with Natalic, do you know how much the stock will fall? Once the shareholders revolt, how long do you think you¡¯ll keep that president¡¯s chair?¡± Loretta¡¯s words were cold and cutting, leaving Jensen without a rebuttal. Sharon¡¯s heart soared. No matter how much Jensen hated to sever ties with Natalic, with Loretta stepping in, there was no way he could reconcile with her now. Just then, a crazed woman suddenly lunged toward Sharon. ¡°Sharon, give me back my husband¡¯s life!¡± The woman charged at her, wielding a syringe. The needle gleamed with a chilling light, streaked with what looked like blood. Sharon and Jensen instinctively turned toward the sound. In the next instant, Jensen ordered the bodyguards to intercept the woman at the critical moment. ¡°Let me go! Let me go! I¡¯ll kill her¨CI¡¯ll kill Sharon!¡± When Sharon saw the woman¡¯s face, she froze for a split second; a flicker of panic shot through her eyes before vanishing. From the moment the woman appeared, Jensen had been watching Sharon closely. Seeing her reaction now, he knew she recognized this attacker. But with Loretta present¨Cand Sharon already shaken¨Che said nothing. ¡°Who the heck is this? Attacking someone in broad daylight¨Coutrageous! Send her to the police. To darey a hand on the Luke family¡¯s daughter¨Cinw¨Cshe must have a death wish!¡± Loretta¡¯s face was grim. Chapter 212 She Spat The Pill Out She instinctively shielded Sharon¡¯s belly with her hand, +10 Free Coins The madwoman tried to shout more, but her mouth was quickly covered as she was dragged away. Jensen¡¯s brows knit together, his gaze like a de boring into Sharon. Chapters first released on FindN()vel Her heart thundered; guilt churned inside her. She immediately threw herself into Loretta¡¯s arms, sobbing. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m so scared. Could it be Natalie found out I¡¯m pregnant and deliberately sent someone after me?¡± ¡°Outrageous! If she dares harm a child of the Luke family, I¡¯ll be the first to deal with her!¡± Loretta was now fully in Sharon¡¯s corner. Jensen gave a cold, derisive snort, the sound making Sharon shudder. She didn¡¯t dare look at his face Now I finally see what kind of person I was protecting. His voice was like ice. ¡°Mom, if you want to keep the child, fine. If you want to help her protect the pregnancy, I won¡¯t object. But I¡¯m busy; I won¡¯t be staying at the Luke residence. As for Natalie, don¡¯t interfere¨CI¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± Loretta frowned, clearly displeased with his stance. But Jensen¡¯s tone was unyielding. ¡°The Luke family is still under mymand. And Natalie¡¯s reputation isn¡¯t small; tearing things apart with herpletely wouldn¡¯t be wise. If she ended up siding with a rivalpany, we¡¯d lose far more than we¡¯d gain.¡± Only then did Loretta relent with a nod. ¡°Fine, you handle it. But you still need to give Sharon face. The setup she suffered must be rified.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Jensen had no desire to touch that subject. They caught her in bed with another man¨Chow the heck could I clear her name? And besides, this scandal will blow over soon enough; why would I drag it back into the spotlight? Do I look like I don¡¯t wear this green hat long enough already? Leaving the hospital quickly, Jensen ran into Hansel at the entrance. Hansel had changed into a fresh suit; when he saw Jensen, he hurried over. 2/ 15:53 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 212 She Spat The Pill Out ¡°Mr. Jensen.¡± ¡°Back to the office.¡± Jensen¡¯s mood was noticeably lighter than when he had first arrived at the hospital. Hansel couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Ms. Sharon, she¡­¡± Œ£…^ ¡°She¡¯s pregnant¨Cwith my child. My mother insists on protecting the baby; I can¡¯t stop her.¡± Jensen raked a frustrated hand through his hair. Hansel blinked in surprise. Sharon was pregnant? That¡¯s some coincidence. And since Jensen had admitted the child was his, it must have been from that night she was set
  1. up.
But hadn¡¯t Jensen personally given Sharon a morning¨Cafter pill? He¡¯d even watched her swallow it with his own eyes. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I swear I saw Ms. Sharon take the pill that night.¡± ¡°I believe you¨Cbut I don¡¯t believe her. Check the security footage from then. I want to know exactly what happened.¡± Jensen¡¯s face was dark, stormy. He had never wanted any ties to Sharon. If she had died, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered looking at their marriage certificate. And now, she carried his child. HereSelf 213 Chapter 213 She¡¯ll Crawl Back To Mc Chapter 213 She¡¯ll Crawl Back To Me To Jensen, the whole thing was downright nauseating. But Natalie loved him so deeply; she would surely treat his child with kindness. +10 Free Coins So even if the baby came into the world without Sharon as a mother, Natalie would step in and be that mother figure. Jensen thought this, though unease still churned in his chest. Hansel, knowing exactly what was going on between him and Sharon, quickly began to investigate. He had anticipated Sharon might pull a stunt, so he had already arranged surveince footage as a precaution. Now, hearing Jensen¡¯s order, he immediately pulled the recordings from that night. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I found it. Ms. Sharon held the pill under her tongue. After I left, she spat it out.¡± The video showed it clearly, each movement undeniable. Jensen¡¯s temple throbbed with veins. So from the very start, she nned to trap me by carrying my child, didn¡¯t she? Her stomach turned, the disgust hitting her like she¡¯d just swallowed something foul. And again, his thoughts went to Natalie. He had dated her for five years, had plenty of time and opportunity, yet she had never once schemed against him. The more hepared them, the heavier his heart grew. Then he remembered Natalie demanding her design fees. Jensen muttered under his breath, ¡°Print out all my chat logs with Natalie. Look for anything where she said she designed those products to help me establish myself at Luke Corp. If you find something, highlight it.¡± Hansel froze in shock. ¡°Mr. Jensen, you¡¯re nning to move against Natalie?¡± ¡°How could I bear to? I just don¡¯t want to sever all ties with her.¡± Sat, Sep 27 Chapter 213 She¡¯ll Crawl Back To Me 20 10 Free Corne Jensen¡¯s voice was strained with pain. ¡°Natalie is furious right now; she won¡¯t answer my calls, won¡¯t see me, she even wants a clean break¨Cnever to owe each other again. I have to find some way to keep us connected. I know she still has feelings for me. If I truly repent, she¡¯lle back eventually.¡± Hansel listened, but he wasn¡¯t optimistic. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I don¡¯t think this is the right approach with Ms. Natalie.¡± He hesitated, then added, ¡°The two of you were in a rtionship. What you said and did back then came from genuine feelings. Now that you¡¯ve broken up, digging up old chat records¨Cit feels dishonorable. And I don¡¯t believe Natalie is the kind of woman who goes back to what she¡¯s left behind.¡± But Jensen wasn¡¯t listening. ¡°Just do as I said.¡± Seeing Jensen¡¯s temper re, Hansel had no choice but to nod. Meanwhile, with Loretta shielding her, Sharon began plotting her next move. She absolutely would not allow Natalie to live better than she did; she would never allow Natalie and Jensen even a sliver of connection. ¡°Mom, I know saying this will make people think I¡¯m jealous, but I truly mean well for Jensen. I really love him; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have donated a rib five years ago to save his life.¡± Loretta blinked in surprise. ¡°What did you say? You saved Jensen five years ago? Not Natalie? I heard it was Natalie who found the Witch Doctor and saved him.¡± Sharon quickly nodded, eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true¨Cfive years ago she was the one who found the Witch Doctor. But the Witch Doctor said Jensen¡¯s rib was shattered; the only way was to rece it. Maybe Natalie hesitated, but Jensen couldn¡¯t wait. Without my family¡¯s consent, I donated a rib to save him. Now that I¡¯m pregnant, I do worry whether my body can handle it.¡± Loretta¡¯s expression darkened instantly. ¡°Well, well. And Natalie never breathed a word about this all these years. I thought she was the one who saved Jensen, but it turns out it was you. No wonder Jensen spent five years with her but never married her, and married you instead¨Cthat exins everything.¡± 15:54 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 213 She¡¯ll Crawl Back To Me Fresh chapters posted on f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel Her face twisted with anger, growing harsher by the second. ¡°She didn¡¯t save Jensen¡¯s life, yet she enjoyed five years of our family¡¯s protection and resources, and now she still wants to take back her design fees? How shameless can she be? Sharon, don¡¯t worry¨Cas long as I¡¯m here, no one will bully you.¡± With that, Loretta arranged for Sharon to be pushed into the intensive care ward. Thinking of the deranged woman who had tried to stab her with a syringe not long ago, Sharon added, ¡°Mom, that crazy woman who tried to kill me seemed connected to one of Natalie¡¯s friends. You know how Jensen still has feelings for Natalic, so I don¡¯t want to say too much. But I¡¯m carrying his child¨Cwhat if it happens again? What if I can¡¯t protect this baby?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle that lunatic myself.¡± 15:54 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 214 Johnson¡¯s Wife Lost It Chapter 214 Johnson¡¯s Wife Lost It After speaking, Loretta turned and left, clearly fuming. Only once she was gone did Sharon drop the look of sorrow and grievance from her face; a mocking smile tugged at her lips. That madwoman was Dr. Johnson¡¯s wife! She never would have guessed she¡¯d barge into the hospital to try and kill her. As for Johnson, Sharon had no idea. She only knew his phone no longer went through when she called. Looks like Johnson must have run into trouble. Good. That meant no one would ever know about the fake cancer scheme they had cooked up together. And if Johnson¡¯s wife also ended up being dealt with by Loretta, then everything would be perfect. But Sharon¡¯s thoughts inevitably drifted back to Natalie. How had she survived that night? Her body had been immobilized, the fire was massive, and yet she¡¯de out alive. And now her face carried far more strength, far more edge, than before. Worse still¨CNatalie knew about the fake cancer. If she ever told Jensen, then what? She¡¯d only been gone a little over three months, so how had she back under a whole new identity? Natalie? The Stone family? Had she really found her biological parents? Sharon¡¯s mind worked furiously. Meanwhile, after leaving the hospital, Loretta immediately asked the aide at her side, ¡°Where did Jensen go after he left?¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen returned to thepany.¡± ¡°And that madwoman?¡± ¡°It seems Mr. Jensen took her with him.¡± Her aide¡¯s words made Loretta¡¯s expression darken. At a time like this, he¡¯s still trying to shield that woman Natalie? 15:54 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 214 Johnson¡¯s Wife Lost It HereSelf 214 At that moment, Natalie was ying with the children. B +10 Free Coins Though the ident at the amusement park had left them shaken, with Natalie and Baron by their side, the two kids had finally rxed. Baron even set work aside to stay home, ying games with Natalie and the children. The vi rang withughter. Chris filmed the scene and sent it to Waylon. Waylon and Ruby were both beside themselves with worry, itching to sprout wings and fly straight to Ocean City. Ruby couldn¡¯t resist cing a video call; she chatted with Natalie and the children for a while. Baron noticed Natalie¡¯s tone with Ruby was still cool, but her feelings slipped through despite herself. He didn¡¯t stop the kids from connecting with their rtives. The family was in the middle of this lively, heartwarming moment when Natalie¡¯s phone suddenly rang. She nced down¨Cand froze for an instant. ¡°What is it?¡± Baron saw her hesitation and walked over. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel ¡°It¡¯s Loretta calling.¡± That number was all too familiar to Natalie. During her five years with Jensen, Loretta had rarely interfered, rarely intruded on their time together. In Natalie¡¯s memory, Loretta had been a decent elder. On holidays, she had even sent Natalie some gifts. And though Natalie and Jensen had since broken up, Loretta remained, in her eyes, the only elder who had shown her consistent kindness after she was cast out of the Summers family. 15:54 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 214 Johnson¡¯s Wife Lost It For a moment, Natalie didn¡¯t know whether she should pick up. When Baron heard it was someone from the Luke family, his eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°What? This person treated you well?¡± ¡°Yes; over the past five years, she¡¯s shown me a lot of care.¡± Natalie was someone who remembered kindness. 69 10 Free Cond Whatevery between her and Jensen, that was between them; she didn¡¯t want it to affect her view of Loretta. Baron could see that clearly. With a low sigh, he said, ¡°Then answer it. Might as well see what she wants.¡± Natalieughed at his tone. ¡°Don¡¯t look like some abandoned little wife; it¡¯s just a call from an elder.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Baron¡¯s reply was t. Natalie shook her head, then swiped to answer. ¡°Madam.¡± The moment Loretta heard her voice, she spoke. ¡°Natalie, have I treated you unfairly these past years?¡± ¡°No.¡± Natalie was straightforward; Loretta had indeed treated her well. Hearing this, some of the fire in Loretta¡¯s chest cooled. ¡°Since I haven¡¯t treated you poorly, then now that you¡¯re back, why haven¡¯t youe to see me?¡± ¡°Auntie, Jensen and I have broken up. And I just returned to the country, I haven¡¯t had the chance yet.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s meet. Half an hour from now, Swanson Caf¨¦. I¡¯ll wait for you there.¡± pg dn 15:54 Sat, Sep 27 d. Chapter 214 Johnson¡¯s Wife Lost It With that, Loretta hung up. Natalie stared at the phone, momentarily dazed. Loretta¡¯s tone hadn¡¯t changed much, but Natalie could hear it¨Cshe was angry. Why? Because of the design fees I had demanded from Jensen? Natalie¡¯s eyes darkened. +10 Free Coins HereSelf 215 Chapter 215 Stop Acting Like A Wife 410 Free Coins It seemed there were some matters¨Cand some people¨CNatalie would have to face directly. Baron bristled at Loretta¡¯s words. ¡°Who does she think she is? You treat her with respect, and she really thinks she¡¯s some grand figure? Don¡¯t tell me she had no idea what her son was doing all those years. You were with Jensen for five years; maybe she treated you decently on the surface, but when he married Sharon without telling you, where was she? That alone shows she wasn¡¯t good to you.¡± And listen to what that old woman had said. Upset because Natalie hadn¡¯t gone to visit her, iming she had treated her well. If she had truly cared, where had she been when Sharon bullied Natalie, when Jensen trampled on her, when her hand was broken? When Natalie had nearly died in the fire, Loretta hadn¡¯t shed a single tear, hadn¡¯t spoken a single word of regret. And now she dared put on the act of some mighty elder? Baron could barely restrain the urge to find someone to beat Loretta to a pulp. Hearing him, Natalie suddenly realized he was right. Yes. The kindness Loretta had shown her was only because she had been Jensen¡¯s girlfriend, and because she had saved Jensen¡¯s life five years ago. That so¨Ccalled kindness had been nothing more than not meddling in her rtionship and sending her a red envelope during holidays. And if shepared it, one of her designs was worth more than those giftsbined. As Jensen¡¯s mother, Loretta waspetent¨Cshe didn¡¯t interfere in her son¡¯s affairs. But as for being genuinely good to Natalie, there had been nothing especially noteworthy. A wry smile tugged at Natalie¡¯s lips. How starved for love must I have been, to mistake simple politeness for genuine care? Baron saw the sadness flicker in her eyes and instantly regretted speaking so bluntly. ¡°Sweetheart, don¡¯t be sad. I was just running my mouth. If you really think that old woman is good to you, then fine. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± 15:54 Sat, Sep 27 d Chapter 215 Stop Acting Like A Wife Natalie warmed at the concern in his gaze. 20 10 Free Coins ¡°No need. Deep down I know, what people offered me was courtesy, not true affection. I was simply too deprived of love. In the Summers family, yes, they fed and clothed me, but they were strict, distant. Since I was little, I envied other children who could be doted on in their parents¡® arms; I never could. After I left the Summers family, I couldn¡¯t find my birth parents, drifting like a rootless weed; of course I felt hollow inside. So when someone showed me event a little kindness, I clung to it as if it were sunlight, as if it were salvation. In the end, it was my problem.¡± Her words made Baron¡¯s heart ache. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. From now on, you¡¯ll have me, the children, and the Stone family. I can see it -Ruby and Waylon truly care for you. But even if you don¡¯t trust them, it doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯ll always have me and the kids by your side. You¡¯ll neverck love again.¡± ¡°I know. Honestly, what I¡¯m most grateful to you for is giving me the greatest gift in this world, my two children, bound to me by blood.¡± At the mention of the children, Natalie¡¯s eyes softened with tenderness. Baron, however, felt a flicker of jealousy. ¡°And me? Don¡¯t you feel grateful for me?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Natalie was used to his constant need for reassurance, his half¨Cjealous, half¨Cpossessive nature. They talked for a while longer, until Natalie finally decided she would go meet Loretta on her Checktest chapters at find?novel own. ¡°Sweetheart, do you feel ashamed to be seen with me?¡± Baron looked at her with exaggerated hurt. Natalie nearlyughed out loud. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. If you were something to be ashamed of, then no one in this world would be worth being seen with. It¡¯s just that the kids are still unsettled after what happened at the amusement park. As parents, we can¡¯t both leave. They feel more secure with you; they lean on you more. Stay with them¨CI¡¯ll be back for dinner tonight.¡± Her words made Baron pause. HereSelf 216 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¨Cher 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 Caf¨¦, 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. If even highborn were treated this way, how could I, a girl the Summers family cast out five years ago, ever expect eptance? Even with Jensen¡¯s kindness in saving me, why would Loretta ever truly wee me? 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. 8:22 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 216 Oh Look Who¡¯s Bitter 82 +10 Free Coins The realization drew a self¨Cmocking smile from Natalie. Then she lifted her chin and walked into the caf¨¦. ¡°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¨Con. 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¨Cinw 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 8:22 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 216 Oh Look Who¡¯s Bitter 82 +10 Free Coins 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¨Chow 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 Fresh chapters posted on Find1Novel HereSelf 217 Chapter 217 Guess Who¡¯s Pregnant Now 82 +10 Free Coins Baron didn¡¯t want her being bullied either; no matter how Natalie looked at it, there was no reason she should ept Loretta¡¯s treatment and humiliation. Loretta was shaken by Natalie¡¯s words. ¡°What did you say you are?¡± Chris flung Loretta¡¯s wrist aside with such force that she nearly toppled over; if someone behind her hadn¡¯t steadied her, she would have been thoroughly humiliated. ¡°Are your ears failing with age? Natalie was perfectly clear¨Cshe is Natalie Stone, heiress of the Stone Group. Whatever her past may have been, she is no longer someone the Luke family can dismiss or trample underfoot. The Lukes may wield power in Ocean City, but the Stone family¡¯s influence reaches across the world.¡± Chris¡¯s voice rang with authority, each word hitting Loretta like a blow. She stared at Natalie in disbelief, her mind racing. How could a girl cast out by the Summers family end up as the Stone family¡¯s heiress? She knew of Stone Group; it was indeed a power the Luke family couldn¡¯t challenge outright. But Natalie as their daughter? How was that possible? ¡°Natalie, for the sake of the years you were with Jensen, I¡¯ll give you a word of advice. Sometimes in life, people just need to ept their lot. Don¡¯t go around imagining yourself as some kind of society heiress. Otherwise, when reality smacks you in the face, no one wille to your rescue.¡± Loretta¡¯s tone made it clear she didn¡¯t believe a word Chris or Natalie had said. Natalie had no patience to argue. Chapters first released on find(?)ovel ¡°My life is none of your concern, Loretta. I¡¯d just like to know why you asked me here today.¡± Loretta frowned again; Natalie was no longer the obedient girl she¡¯d once been. So that meekness really had been an act. Her face darkened. ¡°Natalie, is it? Fine. Since you won¡¯t acknowledge old ties, I see no reason to be polite. Whatever you and Jensen once had, it¡¯s over. He¡¯s married to Sharon now; he has a family. 8:22 Mon, Sep 29 Chapter 217 Guess Who¡¯s Pregnant Now Stop contacting him.¡± 82 +10 Free Coins Natalie almostughed. ¡°Loretta, maybe you should go ask your son who¡¯s been reaching out to whom.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that! When you were with Jensen, every design you made was by choice¨Cyou handed them over willingly. And now you¡¯ve got the nerve to demand payment? How can you even say that with a straight face? Don¡¯t forget, five years ago when the Summers family tossed you out half¨Cdead, it was Jensen who saved you. He gave you a good life and supported you for five years. And you¡¯re begrudging him a few designs? Now you¡¯re trying to spin it like the Luke family took advantage of you. I can¡¯t believe I never realized how calcting you really are.¡± Loretta¡¯s words made Natalie¡¯s expression turn cold. ¡°Loretta, I¡¯ll admit it¨Ceverything I did for Jensen, I did willingly. But we¡¯ve broken up now, and I have every right to take back what¡¯s mine. And as for your im that the Luke family supported me, why don¡¯t you do the math? My designs brought Luke Corp billions. Do you really think five years of living expenses add up to billions?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t twist the truth! Your designs only sold because my son had the talent to make them seed. If it had just been you¨Caplete nobody¨Cthey wouldn¡¯t have been worth a dime. My son married Sharon and still thought to keep caring for you. And instead of showing gratitude, you schemed against Sharon. Worse, you even sent someone to kill her. Natalie, how vicious can you be? Let me make one thing clear¨CSharon is carrying Jensen¡¯s child. If you dare try to hurt her again, don¡¯t me me for what I¡¯ll do to you.¡± Natalie froze. Sharon was pregnant? Carrying Jensen¡¯s child? So Jensen had already slept with Sharon. And yet he still had the gall to think about getting back with me? Natalie couldn¡¯t help the coldugh that slipped out. Thatugh was thest straw¨CLoretta snapped; enraged, she snatched up the coffee cup at her side and hurled it at Natalie¡¯s head. ¡°What are youughing at? How dare youugh?¡± ? At that moment, Loretta dropped her maskpletely. No longer the gracious matron, she looked like a madwoman, desperate to smash Natalie into a bloody mess. Every time she thought of Sharon nearly being stabbed, of her unborn grandchild almost being harmed, Loretta¡¯s fury red hotter. Whatever Natalie and Jensen¡¯s rtionship had once been, every design Natalie created belonged to Luke Corp in Loretta¡¯s eyes; now Natalie wanted to take them back? Unbelievable. Natalie hadn¡¯t expected the once¨Cdignified Loretta to descend into such vulgarity. The instant the coffee cup came flying at her, Natalie¡¯s own anger finally ignited. HereSelf 218 Chapter 218 Wrong Day Wrong Woman Natalie lifted her leg and kicked Loretta squarely in the knee. ¡°Ah!¡± Caught off guard, Loretta crashed to the floor, smacking against the edge of the table as she went down. Pain shot through her and she wailed in agony. Meanwhile, Natalie tilted her head just in time to dodge the flying coffee cup. It smashed onto the floor with a sharp crack, shards scattering, drawing every eye in the caf¨¦ to them. The owner hurried over at once. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Chris immediately blocked his path. ¡°Any damages in the shop today, we¡¯ll cover them. But stay back; if you get hurt, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± Chris¡® face was grim, and the ck¨Csuited bodyguards nked him, forming a wall that kept the owner out. The sight made the man swallow hard; instinctively, he stepped back. ¡°Fine, but don¡¯t hurt the customers.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n findnovel Once the owner had been sent off, Natalie¡¯s expression turned icy. ¡°Loretta, I¡¯ve respected you as an elder. These past five years, there¡¯s been no real feud between us; that¡¯s the only reason I agreed to meet you today. But you can¡¯t honestly believe I owe the Luke family anything, can you? Your son got a marriage license with another woman behind my back while he was still dating me¨Cdon¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t know. Why didn¡¯t you step in then? You took advantage of my designs for five years, and now you even try to pin false charges on me. Do you really think I, Natalie, am that easy to bully?¡± Loretta had never imagined Natalie would darey a hand on her. She¡¯d only ever thrown her weight around because she was Jensen¡¯s mother. But looking at Chris, at the bodyguards, then at her own people, Loretta realized she was at a disadvantage. And there was no warmth in Natalie¡¯s eyes¨Conly cold fury. Provoke her further, and maybe she wouldn¡¯t walk out of the caf¨¦ intact. A wise woman knew when to cut her losses. Loretta recalcted quickly. ¡°Natalie, you¡¯ve really got nerve! You actually dared hit me? I¡¯ll make sure Jensen hears about this.¡± ¡°You think I care?¡± Natalie¡¯s cold snort cut through the air. Loretta¡¯s chest heaved with rage as she ground out, ¡°Fine. Fine! I came here today to give you a warning, out of regard for Jensen. But since you¡¯re so ungrateful, I¡¯ll take that lunatic straight to the police. And as for what you did to Sharon, I won¡¯t cover for you anymore. Get ready for prison.¡± With that, she stormed off, limping, though trying her best to keep her dignity intact. Natalie calmly sat back down. Chris quickly had another cup of coffee brought over. As Natalie reyed Loretta¡¯s words in her mind, her slender fingers tapped lightly against the table. ¡°Chris, look into this lunatic Loretta mentioned.¡± Natalie already knew Sharon wouldn¡¯t behave herself; but the sudden mention of some so- called lunatic, dragged in to cause trouble for her, caught Natalie off guard. Chris¡®work was reliable, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to return with answers. ¡°I figured it out. That lunatic is Johnson¡¯s wife. Ever since he vanished in that car crash, she¡¯s been searching for him in vain. Now their child¡¯s been struck with a rare blood disease that costs a fortune to treat. With no husband and no money, she dug into the past and uncovered that Sharon had manipted Johnson into doing her dirty work. Convinced Sharon is behind his disappearance, she snapped¨Cand went after her at the hospital.¡± Natalie frowned slightly. If it was Johnson¡¯s wife, then why had Loretta after me? And on top of that, Loretta still had the nerve toin about the design fees owed from the past five years. Too much courtesy only breeds entitlement. Natalie let out a coldugh. ¡°Have ourwyer send Jensen a letter of demand. He has one week to pay me for those designs, or I¡¯ll take him to court. As for Johnson¡¯s wife¨Cexpose her identity. And dig into how Sharon and Johnson faked that cancer scam; expose that too. Johnson¡¯s ident, his disappearance, how Sharon used him to target both Jensen and me¨Chand everything to the media. I want to see how Sharon spins her lies when faced with that much evidence.¡± From the moment she returned, Natalie had never intended to let Sharon off the hook; after all, their hatred ran far too deep. And since Sharon was so eager to make moves, Natalie didn¡¯t mind ripping her mask off-yer byyer. HereSelf 219 Chapter 219 Apron Off Game On Chapter 219 Apron Off Game On When Chris saw Natalie finally start to fight back, he grew excited. +10 Free Coins ¡°Understood, Miss. I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± lie had intended to drink her coffee, but the sticky stain in her hair made her Smfortable. She had no choice but to get up and leave. Before leaving, she instructed Chris topensate the caf¨¦ owner for the damages. At that moment, Baron was in the kitchen cooking when one of his men came rushing in with. a report. ¡°Mr. Baron, Madam was bullied by Loretta.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± The knife in Baron¡¯s hand went flying across the room, making the man nch in terror. ¡°Mr. Baron, here¡¯s what happened¡ª¡± For more chapters visit find?novel The subordinate quickly ryed everything that had gone down in the caf¨¦. Baron¡¯s face darkened, his anger boiling until he let out a low, bitterugh. ¡°That old hag really doesn¡¯t know her ce, does she? She actually dared to throw coffee at my wife. Go round up a few men; grab her and make sure she gets her fill of coffee. And remember¨Cwhatever she did to my wife, do the same to her.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The man hurried off to carry out the order. Just then, a loud noise erupted from the children¡¯s room. ¡°Sean! Susie!¡± Baron bolted toward the nursery. When he threw open the door, the room was empty¨Cno sign of the children. Yvonney unconscious on the floor. The sliding ss door had been forced open; clear footprints led outside, though the intruders had worn covers, leaving no other trace. Baron¡¯s face turned ashen, his eyes murderous. ¡°Whoever daredy a hand on my children¡­ they¡¯re courting death.¡± He snatched up his phone and barked into it. ¡°Sean and Susie were taken from their room. You were on watch outside-how did you miss this?¡± His voice was low and cold, carrying a pressure that made scalps prickle. ¡°Mr. Baron,¡± the guard stammered, ¡°the inner security detail was assigned by the Stone family. You told us not to interfere with them, since this vi belongs to the Stones. We only kept watch around the perimeter.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Baron let out a furious, humorlessugh. ¡°You were on the perimeter and still didn¡¯t notice an intruder? And you stand here making excuses? Find the children¨Cif anything happens to them, you¡¯ll follow them into the grave.¡± He hung up, tore off his apron, and rushed out to search himself. Just then, Natalie returned. ¡°What happened? Where are the kids?¡± Seeing Baron so frantic unsettled her; she rarely saw him like this. When he turned and noticed her hair still matted with coffee, his fury spiked even higher. ¡°I have to step out. You stay and rest.¡± His tone only deepened Natalie¡¯s unease. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong, isn¡¯t it?¡± Baron had meant to keep it from her; but if she didn¡¯t know, she would imagine worse. So he told her straight¨Cthe children had been taken. The moment she heard it, Natalie¡¯s heart lurched. ¡°Chris, send people to search immediately.¡± Without even changing her clothes, she was about to run out with Baron. But he stopped her. ¡°Clean yourself up and change first. I¡¯ll head out and use my connections. This was aimed at me, not you¨Cno one outside knows about your connection to the kids.¡± He signaled Chris to escort Natalie back to her room to change. Seeing howposed Baron was, Natalie forced herself to calm down as well. No matter what, only a clear head will bring the children back. She told Baron to be careful, then went into the bedroom. But beneath the surface, she was far from calm; her palms were slick with sweat. They had barely returned to the country, and already¨Cfirst the copse at the amusement park, and now the children stolen right out of their home. Is someone truly so determined to go after Baron? She showered, changed, and stepped out feeling a little clearer. ¡°Chris, about that maintenance worker who went missing after the amusement park copse- has he been found?¡± Chris shook his head. ¡°No, but our people discovered he has ties to Sharon.¡± ¡°Sharon?¡± Natalie¡¯s brow furrowed. How could Sharon possibly know I had children? But then she remembered¨Cfive years ago, Sharon had managed to get hold of both her diagnosis report and the donation agreement. If she could ess that, it wasn¡¯t impossible the children¡¯s existence had leaked as well. And if Sharon was involved, Natalie saw no need for mercy. ¡°Chris, take men to the hospital. Find Sharon.¡± Sharon was still there; Loretta hadn¡¯t yet brought her back to the Luke residence. HereSelf 220 Chapter 220 Phones Don¡¯t Save You Chris froze when he heard the order. ¡°Miss, do you suspect Sharon is behind this?¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s her or not, we¡¯ll find out when we see her.¡± Natalie rose and walked out as soon as she spoke. She didn¡¯t care what leads Baron was following; if she traced the amusement park incident, she was sure she¡¯d uncover the answers she needed. Seeing that she truly intended to go, Chris quickly gathered men and followed Natalie in a formidable procession straight to the hospital. The hospital director, hearing that the Stone family heiress had arrived, rushed out to greet her. But Chris stepped in front of him. ¡°Natalie is here to settle a personal matter. Rest assured, no other patients will be affected. Just don¡¯t interfere¨Cthat¡¯s all we ask.¡± The director knew exactly who Chris was¨CStone family¡¯s trusted man. At his words, the director immediately nodded and retreated. Natalie, with Chris and the others at her back, located Sharon¡¯s ward and ordered the entire floor cleared. Sharon had wanted to do the same herself¨CMrs. Luke deserved nothing less, or so she thought. But two patients had special circumstances, and she hadn¡¯t dared to evict them by force. Now Natalie arrived, wielding the Stone family¡¯s authority, and those two households were swiftly moved upstairs. Natalie¡¯s steps were steady, deliberate, as she entered the ward. Sharon had been daydreaming about how Loretta might avenge her when the door suddenly flew open¨Cand Natalie strode in. This was the first time Sharon had truly faced Natalie since her rebirth from the mes. Jealousy surged through her. Natalie had always been more beautiful than her, but back then, her frailty and humility had softened her looks, blunting the edge of her beauty; people didn¡¯t pay it too much mind. But now¨Cnow Natalie¡¯s features carried a striking sharpness, beauty that demanded attention. Even Sharon, a woman herself, was stunned; how much more so the men. Thinking of Jensen¡¯s lingering feelings for Natalie, Sharon¡¯s eyes twisted with malice and hate. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Natalie caught the venom in her gaze. She raised a hand, and Chris immediately shut the door from the inside and turned the lock. The sound made Sharon¡¯s blood run cold. ¡°Natalie, what are you doing? I¡¯ll have you know, I am Mrs. Luke¨Cpersonally acknowledged by Loretta! If you darey a hand on me, neither she nor the Luke family will let you go!¡± Terrified, Sharon clutched at her nket, even reaching for her phone. But Natalie was quicker; she snatched it and hurled it against the wall. With a sharp crack, it shattered to pieces. ¡°Natalie, how dare you? You¨Cah!¡± Her protest cut off as Natalie¡¯s hand mped around her throat. Natalie¡¯s eyes were cold, unyielding, her grip tightening ever so slightly. Her voice was frigid. ¡°Sharon, even if I kill you right now, no one would speak a word for you. Do you want to test me?¡± In that moment, Natalie was like a reaper risen from hell, radiating suffocating menace. Sharon shivered involuntarily. Natalie still did not release her. Her voice dropped, icier still. ¡°You arranged for that injection that paralyzed me, left me helpless in the fire, intending to burn me alive. If I tell Jensen the truth, what do you think he¡¯ll do?¡± Sharon¡¯s eyes flew wide in shock. ¡°You have no proof! Johnson¡¯s already gone; Jensen won¡¯t believe you!¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so? Whether Jensen believes me or not, I don¡¯t care. You nearly burned me to death; you put me through the agony of skin graft after skin graft. Would it really be too much if I tossed you into a fire, made you feel the despair I did? And I hear¨Cyou¡¯re pregnant?¡± As she spoke, Natalie¡¯s other hand slid to Sharon¡¯s stomach. Every hair on Sharon¡¯s body stood on end. ¡°Natalie, don¡¯t you dare! Don¡¯t touch my baby!¡± That baby was her only leverage in the Luke family. She knew better than anyone¨CJensen would never give her another child. And that was exactly what Natalie wanted, her fear. Original content can be found at find?novel Only through fear would Sharon confess what she needed to know. Natalie¡¯s gaze was ice; her fingers tightened on Sharon¡¯s throat. ¡°Don¡¯t try to threaten me. Do you still think I¡¯m that orphan the Summers family threw out? Sharon, you should¡¯ve done your homework. I¡¯m the Stone family¡¯s daughter now¡ªI have parents and a brother who adore me, and the entire Stone Group standing behind me. Crushing a nobody like you? Why would I even blink? And let¡¯s not forget¨Cyou poisoned your own mother not long ago. Do you honestly think the Summers family cares whether you live or die? If anything, I bet they¡¯re praying you vanish off the face of the earth.¡± HereSelf 221 Chapter 221 ps Make the Point Clear ¡°Shut up!¡± Sharon snapped, her emotions spiraling out of control. ¡°Natalie, who the heck do you think you are? You think you canpare to me? Let me tell you something¨Cso what if you¡¯re the heiress of Stone Group now? I¡¯m Mrs. Luke! The position you couldn¡¯t get after five years with Jensen¨CI took it! You¡¯re jealous of me, aren¡¯t you? It¡¯s killing you inside, isn¡¯t it? Because I¡¯m carrying Jensen¡¯s child, and you and Jensen will never happen again!¡± Sharon red at Natalie, convinced that Jensen was still Natalie¡¯s weak spot; she kept pressing, hoping to strike a nerve. Natalie pped her across the face. ¡°Ah! You dare hit me?¡± Sharon¡¯s cheek burned, her head snapping to the side from the blow. She felt like she was losing her mind. ¡°Where is everyone? Where are the bodyguards? Are they all dead?¡± Sharon clung to the hope that someone outside would rush in. Natalie let out a coldugh. Sometimes she thought Sharon was unbearably stupid¨Cyet this very woman had nearly gotten her killed and stolen the man she once thought was her everything. Natalie pped her again. ¡°Shut up already! Sharon, if I could get in here, then you should realize the Luke family¡¯s men outside have already been dealt with. Don¡¯t you see the situation? If I wanted to kill you and im it was an ident, it would be effortless.¡± ¡°No! Impossible!¡± Sharon fought back wildly, but Natalie raised her hand again and struck her several more times, until her own palm went numb. Sharon¡¯s face was swollen now. Her eyes burned with hatred, but beneath it flickered fear¨Craw and unmistakable. That fear was exactly what Natalie wanted. you ¡°You¡¯ll answer what I ask. If I¡¯m satisfied, I might let you live today; if not, I¡¯ll make sure you lose that child. Tell me, without this baby, would Loretta still like you? Would you still hold onto the title of Mrs. Luke? Sharon, I have no intention of getting back with Jensen, but if push me, I won¡¯t hesitate to take him from you again. After all, his heart is still tied to me.¡± Natalie¡¯s words struck Sharon like a dagger. No! She could never allow Jensen and Natalie to have anything to do with each other again. ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± Sharon didn¡¯t even dare sit anymore. Checktest chapters at find?novel She knew better than anyone how dire her situation was. The only reason Jensen had allowed her to keep this child was Loretta¡¯s pressure. And Loretta¡¯s protection had nothing to do with actually liking her as a daughter¨Cinw; everything was for the sake of the baby she carried. That meant the baby absolutely could not be harmed. Seeing Sharon weigh her options, Natalie finally loosened her grip and asked coolly, ¡°The amusement park copse¨Cyou know about it, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t know.¡± Sharon¡¯s eyes flickered, just for a split second, but Natalie caught it. ¡°Sharon, don¡¯t test my patience.¡± No sooner had Natalie spoken than Chris stepped forward, handing her a syringe. Inside was a clear liquid. Natalie pushed out the air bubbles, her gaze t as itnded on Sharon. ¡°Want to guess what this is? Think it might cause a miscarriage?¡± Terrified, Sharon clutched her stomach. ¡°Natalie, what are you trying to do? I swear I don¡¯t know anything about the amusement park copse.¡± ¡°Then let me put it another way. Where¡¯s Terry¨Cthe man who was in touch with you before? Don¡¯t even try to im you don¡¯t know him. If I came here today to question you, it means I already know everything about your connections. Sharon, Terry was the inspector for the amusement park equipment. But after the copse, he disappeared. And thest phone call he made before vanishing¨Cwas to you. So where is he now?¡± Natalie¡¯s words left Sharon stunned. What Terry? What disappearance? What did any of this have to do with me? Sharon was utterly confused. ¡°Natalie, I see it now¨Cyou just came here today to pin false charges on me so you can get rid of my baby, didn¡¯t you? I don¡¯t know any Terry! I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about! What does an amusement park copse have to do with me? I didn¡¯t even have kids¨Cwhy would I go to an amusement park?¡± Sharon¡¯s scream tore out of her, raw and desperate; her eyes held no trace of deceit. Natalie frowned slightly. What was going on? If Sharon really didn¡¯t know Terry, then why did all the evidence point straight to her? HereSelf 222 Chapter 222 Not So Innocent After All Natalie¡¯s face was grave. Could someone have set Sharon up as a scapegoat? But why? What was their purpose? And where were the children? Beforeing here, she had been convinced Sharon was behind everything; she had stormed in, determined to pry something out of her. But now it didn¡¯t look that way at all. Sharon seemed just as clueless. Either Sharon was masking it perfectly, or she truly knew nothing. Natalie¡¯s brow furrowed tighter, her heart growing more anxious by the second. How were the children now? Were they terrified? Seeing Natalie fall silent, Sharon panicked; instinctively, she tried to run, only for Chris to grab hold of her. ¡°Natalie, let me go! What are you trying to do?¡± Her biggest fear at this point was her belly. Natalie looked her over and said coolly, ¡°Rx. I¡¯m not nning to kill you yet;pared to living a fate worse than death, dying would be far too easy. Sharon, you¡¯d better pray for yourself.¡± With that, Natalie rose to her feet and walked out. Sharon struggled and cursed, but Natalie no longer listened. Right now, all she cared about was the children¡¯s whereabouts. The first thing she did after leaving the ward was call Baron. ¡°Any leads on the kids?¡± ¡°Not yet. But don¡¯t worry; even if I have to turn the city upside down, I¡¯ll find them.¡± His tone betrayed his own anxiety, though he was trying to steady her. Natalie knew his concern all too well. She said quickly, ¡°Forget about me¨Cjust focus on finding them. Sharon doesn¡¯t know anything; she didn¡¯t even know the inspector, Terry. Something about this doesn¡¯t add up. If we can rule Sharon out, then the problem may very well be on your side. Baron, no matter what, you have to make sure the kids are safe.¡± Over time, she had grown deeply attached to them; they were her own flesh and blood. Now they were gone, their fate uncertain, perhaps enduring unspeakable suffering¡ªand she couldn¡¯t help but worry. Baron nodded firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll do everything it takes to bring them back.¡± By then, Susie and Sean had already woken up. Their hands and feet were bound, their small bodies tossed into the back of an old, battered Discover more novels at FindN0vel van. The driver wore a mask. In the passenger seat sat another man¨Che wasn¡¯t masked, but he hid behind a pair of dark sunsses. The man with the sunsses spoke to the driver. ¡°Stay off the main roads; there are cameras. Baron¡¯s power is terrifying¨Cany ce with surveince might give him a trail.¡± The driver scoffed. ¡°Come on, Jake, they¡¯re just two brats. Why are you so nervous? Our tes are clean. Even if the cameras catch us, it won¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Being cautious never hurts. These two brats are Baron¡¯s children. You know how long the boss has searched for Baron¡¯s weakness, and now, suddenly, he has two kids? That¡¯s like handing the boss a gift on a silver tter. If we pull this off, we¡¯ll earn serious credit.¡± Jake¡¯s voice carried a note of excitement. The driver chuckled. ¡°And we¡¯ve got Terry to thank. That kid worked at the amusement park- a pawn we figured would never be useful. Who would¡¯ve thought he¡¯d spot Baron taking his kids there? The moment you saw them, you knew¨Cthey were Baron¡¯s blood; no mistaking it. But the woman with him? We still don¡¯t have her pegged.¡± ¡°Leave her alone for now. She¡¯s under the Stone family¡¯s protection. Better to avoid unnecessary trouble. With these two kids in hand, Baron will have no choice but to yield. But Terry made too big a mess with that copse. Get him out of Ocean City tonight.¡± Jake¡¯s words drew a sigh from the driver. ¡°What else could Terry do? He finally stumbled on Baron¡¯s weakness; when he saw those kids about to be taken away, he just wanted to dy them. He never meant for the equipment to copse, just to cause a scare, buy a little time. But the rides were in such bad shape¨Che loosened a couple screws, and the whole thing came crashing down. Now he can¡¯t even go home.¡± Jake¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Get him out. If Baron gets his hands on him, we¡¯re all finished.¡± In the back, Susie nudged Sean with her foot. HereSelf 223 Chapter 223 Who¡¯s Afraid Of Two Kids Sean frowned slightly but didn¡¯t answer; instead, he groped around, trying to loosen Susie¡¯s ropes. Susie didn¡¯t object. The two children worked back¨Cto¨Cback, quietly undoing each other¡¯s bindings; they dared not make a sound, terrified of drawing the men¡¯s attention from the front. Scarface nced out as the van left the city limits and spoke quickly. ¡°Head for the suburbs! There¡¯s an abandoned factory out there; we can hole up for now. Then message Terry¨Ctell him to pack up. He needs to sneak out of Ocean City tonight.¡± ¡°Got it, Jake.¡± The driver turned onto a narrow side road leading toward the outskirts. By then, Sean had freed Susie¡¯s hands and feet. She instinctively shifted her head, brushing against the hairpin still clipped there. At the same time, Baron received an alert. ¡°Mr. Baron, we¡¯ve picked up Susie¡® tracker again.¡± Baron strode over and snatched theptop, eyes fixed on the blinking signal pulsing across the screen. His phone chimed. He looked down¨Can unfamiliar number, clearly a virtual line. Something in him stirred; he answered instinctively. Immediately, Scarface and the driver¡¯s conversation spilled through the speaker. Baron¡¯s eyes hardened, his expression darkening. His men looked grim as well. ¡°Mr. Baron, that amusement park copse really was aimed at you and the children.¡± Murder shed in Baron¡¯s gaze. ¡°Send our people to the docks. No matter what, we find Terry tonight. I want to see who¡¯s bold enough to strike at me on my own turf!¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± His men rushed to carry out the order. Back in the van, Susie finished her subtle maneuver and then noticed Sean pulling something from his pocket¨Cwhat looked like a lollipop. Her lips curved in a cold little smile. Things on my brother are never what they seem. If she guessed right, that lollipop was poison. Sean ignored her look; he twisted the candy stick, and a fine silver needle slid out, its tip glinting with a faint ck sheen. Susie¡¯s eyes lit up at once. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel Sean pressed a finger to his lips, warning her not to act rashly. She nodded quickly, obedient. He had nned to wait until they reached the warehouse before making a move; but after ncing at his own thin arms and legs, then at Susie¡¯s fragile frame, he abandoned that thought. Forget it. I¡¯m just a kid; kids should do what kids can do. Catching the bad guys¨CDad will take care of that. But to have the audacity to drag them out of the vi, to engineer the copse at the amusement park was beyond forgiveness. Those men, and that Terry, had crossed a line that could never be taken back. Sean wanted nothing more than to seize Terry himself, to see just how ck his heart really was. But with Susie beside him and so many unknowns, he restrained the impulse. He shot Susie a look. She nodded slightly, reaching for a hammer lying nearby and gripping it tightly. Sean raised three fingers. He paused, then folded one down. When thest finger curled into his palm, he sprang up; the silver needle drove straight into Jake¡¯s neck. At the same instant, Susie swung the hammer and smashed it into the driver. Chapter 223 Who¡¯s Afraid Of Two Kids They looked small and delicate, but the burst of strength was shocking; their timing was wless. The men had no chance to react¨Cone copsed from poison, the other from the blow. The van lurched violently, swerving off course. Sean narrowed his eyes. ¡°Susie, push the gearshift all the way up, then pull out the key¡± She didn¡¯t understand, but she moved fast anyway; her mouth kept going though. ¡°Sean, you know how to drive?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve watched drivers before. Lucky this van¡¯s automatic; if it were manual, I¡¯d be lost.¡± As they spoke, the van rolled to a forced stop. Sean opened the window and stared out at the barren stretch around them, exasperated. ¡°Where even are we?¡± ¡°I already sent Dad the tracker¡¯s location. He should be here soon. But¡­Brother, that poison¡ª you didn¡¯t kill him, did you?¡± She eyed Jake nervously; foam was already bubbling at his lips. Sean said tly, ¡°No; just nerve spasms. He¡¯ll be fine for at least an hour. Dad will get here before then. But you were pretty ruthless too¡ªwhat about the driver?¡± Blood trickled slowly from the driver¡¯s head, staining the floor. Sean shivered. HereSelf 224 Chapter 224 Parents Panic Kids Nap Hard Everyone saw Susie as soft and delicate, a little princess too weak to even lift a finger; only Sean knew his sister had surprising strength. She was just good at pretending to be fragile. That hammer was heavy enough that even an adult would have to brace to wield it¨Cyet Susie had swung it around like it was nothing more than a toy. The two children decided the van wasn¡¯t safe; after a quick discussion, they climbed out and found a hiding spot nearby, quietly waiting for their parents toe. As for calling the police? The thought had crossed their minds, but this whole matter was too big; they weren¡¯t sure if it might implicate their dad. Better to wait for Baron. On Baron¡¯s end, the blinking red dot on the map suddenly stopped moving. ¡°Head here¨Cnow!¡± he barked. His men turned the car around instantly. He worried Natalie would panic. Though he didn¡¯t want her to see a single trace of blood, the thought of her losing sleep, tormented with worry for the children, made him send her the location anyway. ¡°The kids are probably here. I¡¯ll go first; bring Chris and the others.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Natalie, finally with a clear destination, urged Chris to drive faster. Both parents were sick with worry. Baron knew his son had always been fascinated with concocting poisons, but Sean was still a child¨Cfacing grown men, maybe several of them. The thought terrified him. And Susie¡­she was just a little girl. Had she been scared to tears? The image of her swollen eyes, her trembling little body¨Cit nearly shattered him. ¡°Faster!¡± At hismand, the car shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Natalie, too, was in a rush. The two of them arrived almost at the same time. Baron jumped out, yanking open the van¡¯s door¨Conly to find two unconscious men inside. No sign of the children. ¡°Susie! Sean!¡± His heart clenched so tightly it hurt. He hadn¡¯t felt this kind of anguish since his mother died. Thest time had been when Natalie had disappeared into the mes; now it was his children. He balled his fists, his eyes burning red. He had thought himself strong enough to protect those he loved; yet his children had still been frightened and endangered. The aura pouring off him was ice¨Ccold, almost tangible; even the air around him seemed to drop below freezing. Natalie arrived to see this exact scene. For a moment she thought he might lose control entirely, fall into madness. She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind. The chill radiating from him made her flinch. ¡°Baron, we¡¯ll find them,¡± she whispered. Her voice was quiet, yet it cut through his fury like gentle rain, softening the murderous edge that had risen inside him. Baron nced at the unconscious men and ordered coldly, ¡°Bring them back alive. Treat them, then interrogate them thoroughly.¡± The rightful source is f?ndnovel His men hurried to obey. Baron took Natalie¡¯s hand, guilt pressing down on him. ¡°Sorry¡­I made you worry. I failed to protect them.¡± His children had been taken right out from under his nose, inside his own vi. The shame and pain stung worse than a public p across the face. Natalie didn¡¯t me him. She knew better than anyone how much he loved those kids. There are a thousand days for a thief to steal, but no one can guard against a thief for a thousand days. If someone was determined to target them, loopholes would always exist. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault. Let¡¯s just focus on finding them. They¡¯re not here¨Cso where did they go?¡± Though she hadn¡¯t witnessed what happened, one look inside the van left her with doubts. If no one helped them¡­could the kids have done this themselves? Just then, a message came through. ¡°Mr. Baron, madam¡ªwe¡¯ve found Sean and Susie. But¡­¡± The hesitation made both their hearts seize. ¡°What about them?¡± Natalie could no longer hold herposure. She broke into a run toward the spot where the children were hiding. Baron cast a sharp, warning re at his man, then followed quickly after her. When Natalie arrived, she saw Susie sprawled across Sean¡¯s chest, fast asleep, a soft little snore slipping from her lips. Sean wasn¡¯t snoring, but he too slept deeply, his tiny mouth smacking as though he were dreaming of something delicious. Natalie¡¯s heart finally settled. The sight was so precious it nearly melted her on the spot. ¡°What is it? Are they hurt?¡± HereSelf 225 Chapter 225 Susie Caught Turning It Off Baron hurried over, and when he saw the scene before him, the corner of his mouth twitched. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find~Novel His hands even itched a little. He and Natalie had been worried sick, and these two little ancestors had been sleeping here? Carefree as could be¨Cusing the sky as a nket, the ground as a bed¨Cnot even afraid of bugs. He nced at Natalie. Seeing her face full of tenderness and affection, he instantly deted. Fine. If my wife doesn¡¯t mind, then neither do I. ¡°I¡¯ll carry them to the car.¡± He bent down at once and scooped Susie into his arms. The girl knew how to enjoy herself¨Ccurling up on Sean like a pillow. Natalie, seeing Baron lift their daughter, bent down to gather Sean. The children seemed to recognize their parents¡® scent; they nestled in, found afortable spot, and drifted right back to sleep. Natalie looked at her son¡¯s peaceful face, her heart swelling with warmth. After returning to the vi, Baron still wasn¡¯t at ease; he personally checked them over and confirmed they were only asleep from exhaustion. Finally, he rxed. By then, Yvonne had woken. When she learned she¡¯d been drugged and the children taken, guilt consumed her. ¡°Baron, Natalie¡­you should scold me. Thank God the kids are safe; if anything had happened, how could I have faced you?¡± Natalie couldn¡¯t bear to see her like that. ¡°When people with bad intentions make their move, you can¡¯t stay awake twenty¨Cfour hours a day to guard against it, can you? Don¡¯t me yourself. The children are safe¨Cthat¡¯s all that matters.¡± Since Natalie hadn¡¯tid me, Baron chose not to press further either. ¡°I¡¯ll make something good for them, help ease the shock.¡± But Natalie stopped him. ¡°Let the staff handle it. You need to rest too. Instead, let¡¯s share information.¡± Her words made him realize¨Cshe wanted the truth about the kidnapping. Baron sat down, poured her a ss of water, and yed back the recording of Jake and the driver¡¯s conversation. He had already saved it. Natalie¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. ¡°So the amusement park incident was something Terry came up with on the spot?¡± ¡°Exactly. Otherwise there¡¯s no way he¡¯d have overlooked such a massive w in equipment he inspected just two days before. I¡¯ve already sent men to capture him. Once I get answers, I¡¯ll hand him and the others over to the police. Too many innocent people were hurt in that copse; the public deserves justice.¡± Natalie agreed wholeheartedly with his decision. Feeling responsible for losing track of the children, Yvonne volunteered to join the hunt for Terry. Baron didn¡¯t stop her. The children woke half an hourter. The moment they saw the familiar vi, they came running from their rooms. ¡°Daddy! Mommy!¡± Susie and Sean barreled toward them. Baron and Natalie each scooped one into their arms. ¡°Were you scared?¡± Natalie asked quickly, studying their faces, Susie puffed up proudly. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry! I had Daddy¡¯s tracker hairpin¨Cnothing was going to happen.¡± At that, Baron¡¯s face darkened. He flicked her forehead with his finger. ¡°And you dare say that? Didn¡¯t I tell you never to switch it off? Why did it take you so long to send me your location?¡± Susie rubbed her head, sulking. ¡°I¡¯m just a kid! I can¡¯t live under your surveince all the time, can I? Isn¡¯t it normal to turn it off now and then? The moment something happened, I turned it on right away.¡± ¡°And what if next time you don¡¯t get the chance?¡± The more Baron thought about it, the more fear churned inside him. Seeing his grim expression, Susie didn¡¯t dare argue further. Sean tugged at Natalie¡¯s sleeve, unable to stand watching his sister get scolded. Natalie caught his pleading look; she couldn¡¯t bear it either. She quickly stepped in. ¡°Alright, they¡¯ve learned their lesson this time. They won¡¯t switch off the trackers again.¡± Since Natalie had spoken, Baron let it drop. After checking on the children, the family finally went to rest. They all slept deeply through the night. The next morning, when Natalie opened her eyes, Baron was gone. She touched the empty spot beside her¡ªit was ice¨Ccold. He must have been up for a while. Maybe he hadn¡¯t even slept. With something this big happening to the children, he wouldn¡¯t rest easy until he got answers. Natalie understood him, and her heart ached for him. She washed up, then had Chris prepare something good for Baron to eat. After that, she went to check on the kids¨Cthe kindergarten they¡¯d chosen for them was opening today. HereSelf 226 Chapter 226 Kids Choose Fun Over Drama Natalie had worried the kids might not want to go to preschool after what happened yesterday; to her surprise, the moment they heard they were going, they lit up with excitement. After making absolutely sure they were fine, Natalie and Chris drove them over. The preschool director personally weed Natalie. It was the kids¡® first time being around so many other children; they were thrilled, waving at Natalie and calling out their goodbyes. Seeing them so happy put Natalie at ease. ¡°Mrs. Gunn, don¡¯t worry; the children will be just fine here with us,¡± the director assured her quickly. Natalie nodded, stayed for a while to watch, and, once she was sure the two little ones were fully immersed in y, let Chris drive them back. On the way, Renee sent Natalie a message: ¡°Natalie, Jensen just sent some files to our studio¡¯s email. Do you want to take a look?¡± Natalie frowned as she read. ¡°Jensen?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Renee sighed, but still forwarded the documents to Natalie¡¯s phone. The moment Natalie opened them, her face darkened; her hands clenched into fists. Jensen had actually dug up their private conversations from when they were dating. Not only that he had printed them out and sent them to her. Reading those words made her anger rise, hot and sharp in her chest. How shameless could Jensen possibly be? ¡°Did he say anything else?¡± Renee asked, clearly exasperated. ¡°He said you should reach out to him directly¨Cyou have his number. Natalie, what is this? Is he trying to threaten you? How did I never notice before what a shameless man he is?¡± ¡°I only just realized it myself.¡± After hanging up, Natalie told Chris to pull over. He didn¡¯t know what had happened, but he always did exactly as she asked. Natalie scrolled through the conversation logs. Reading those words felt like looking back at her old self¨Csomeone who had caged herself in for love. Her feelings for Jensen back then had been real. Every line she¡¯d written back then had been real¨Cevery joke, every tender word, every bit of support. And now he was using them to threaten her. What did that say? It meant Jensen no longer cared to preserve any of the good that had once existed between them. She read through the entire record coldly, her expression hard. It wasn¡¯t hard to understand his motive. Was he trying to im that the past five years of my designs counted as some kind of gift to him? The thought made Natalieugh bitterly. She truly wanted nothing more to do with Jensen. Pulling out her phone, she called Baron. ¡°Baron, I need you to find awyer to deal with Jensen for me.¡± ¡°What happened? That bastard bothering you again?¡± Baron¡¯s expression hardened instantly; the room around him went quiet. Even the scar¨Cfaced man who had been under interrogation was forcibly silenced. Baron stripped off his bloodstained gloves and tossed them into a trash bin. The violence in eyes dimmed; his deep, maic voice lost some of its menace, softening instead. his In the blood¨Cscented basement, his voice was the only sound that remained. Natalie had no idea what he was in the middle of. She simply exined what had happened with the conversation logs. ¡°I don¡¯t want to deal with him anymore. Please have awyer handle it.¡± Baron couldn¡¯t have been happier to hear it. Jensen was digging his own grave, and Natalie had finally reached the point where she didn¡¯t even want to speak to him. ¡°All right. Leave this to me; I¡¯ll take care of it. Where are you now? Want to grab lunch together?¡± It was already past nine o¡¯clock. Natalieughed. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the studio. I need to wrap up some design work. The kids are at preschool, so I¡¯ll pick them up this afternoon.¡± ¡°Good. What do you want for dinner? I¡¯ll cook.¡± Right then, Baron sounded like the most ordinary, dependable man in the world. Natalie thought for a moment, then smiled. Chapters first released on FindN()vel ¡°Why don¡¯t you make steak? I¡¯ve been craving it.¡± ¡°Done. I¡¯ll have someone pick up fresh ribs.¡± They chatted for a bit longer before hanging up. Baron¡¯s men stood frozen, stunned. Seriously? That was Mr. Baron? Did that really just happen? He¡¯s actually going to cook? For real? When Baron turned, he caught them all staring at him, torn between disbelief and words they dared not speak. ¡°What are you standing around for? Did you get the confession or not?¡± Every one of them jumped. HereSelf 227 Chapter 227 Mr Baron Never ys Nice This cold, ruthless Baron¨Cthat was the man they knew. So the scene just now had to have been an illusion. Baron watched his men resume the interrogation with sharp efficiency; his gaze turned icy as itnded on the scar¨Cfaced man. ¡°Feels good to know my secret, doesn¡¯t it? Too bad¨Cyou won¡¯t get the chance to report back to your boss.¡± Jake struggled, muffled by the hand mped over his mouth and nose, unable to get a single word out. While the questioning pressed on, Natalie had Chris drive her toward the studio. After setting up a studio for Natalie in Murica, Baron had brought them all back home; the very day she returned, Waylon had arranged for Chris to prepare an identical studio for her here. The idea was simple, whatever Natalie needed, it would always be ready. Of course, she could have done her designing at home; she had spent thest five years working from home, after all, but it always felt like something was missing. With the studio, and the ability to sync online with her senior, Renee, Natalie finally found a spark of enjoyment in her work. While Natalie was fully absorbed in her designs, Jensen received news that Loretta had been taken. ¡°What did you just say? How could my mother suddenly disappear?¡± The butler stammered, ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Madam said she was going to the restroom and never came back. I went to look but couldn¡¯t find her. We only stepped out for coffee, and then she vanished. Mr. Jensen, should we¡­ should we call the police?¡± When people of that ss ran into trouble, their first instinct wasn¡¯t the police; it was the question of saving face. Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed tightly. ¡°Has my mother offended anyely?¡± ¡°No.¡± The butler shook his head quickly, then hesitated. ¡°But¡­ Madam did meet with Natalie.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Jensen¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Who told my mother to go find Natalie?¡± The butler¡¯s hands shook as he spoke. ¡°Madam said the woman who attacked her at the hospital imed to have been sent by Natalie. Worried for the child she carries, the olddy invited Natalie out for coffee. But Natalie¡­ she wasn¡¯t the same as before. She even kicked Madam¨CMr. Jensen, you should¡¯ve seen it. Her knee was left ck and blue. Natalie always seemed so refined, but who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d turn out to be so coarse and vicious?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Jensen roared the words. ¡°Who the heck are you to say Natalie has no manners? And when my mother went to see her, why didn¡¯t you call me?¡± His face was etched with fury. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find(?)ovel The butler flinched. ¡°Madam told me not to. But Natalie really did kick her.¡± ¡°Natalie wouldn¡¯t strike someone for no reason; her manners are impable. Did my mother say something? Do something? Tell me word for word¡ªevery detail¡ªor you¡¯ll regret it.¡± The butler no longer dared say anything bad about Natalie; he recounted everything exactly as it happened. Jensen¡¯s face darkened to a storm. ¡°My mother believed whatever Sharon said? She even threw coffee at Natalie? Has she lost her mind? She used to like Natalie, used to treat her well!¡± The butler kept his head down, too frightened to reply. But Jensen realized it himself soon enough. His mother¡¯s so¨Ccalled kindness toward Natalie had only ever been based on the fact that Natalie had once found a Witch Doctor for him. And even then, that kindness had never been much. A few gifts during holidays, nothing more; most of the time she hadn¡¯t even bothered to check
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He had been blind. All these years, his mother had been waiting for grandchildren; yet for the past five years he hadn¡¯t been able to cross that barrier in his heart, and so he had never touched Natalie. If he had been with her sooner, wouldn¡¯t they already have children of their own by now? Then Sharon wouldn¡¯t have the chance to unt her pregnancy like some sort of power. Sharon is despicable. Jensen exhaled sharply. ¡°This might be connected to Natalie. Send someone to look for her, but do it quietly¨Cdon¡¯t alert anyone else.¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen, aren¡¯t you worried something might happen to Madam?¡± The butler¡¯s face was pale with worry. Jensen waved him off. ¡°No. If it wasn¡¯t Natalie, then whoever it is must have their own agenda, and they¡¯ll call me. If it was Natalie, she was probably just angry; she wouldn¡¯t actually hurt my mother. Don¡¯t worry.¡± The butler was stunned by the way Jensen defended her. Wasn¡¯t Mr. Jensen supposed to dislike Natalie? He had even married Sharon¨Cso why did it suddenly seem otherwise? Jensen didn¡¯t care what the butler thought. He pulled out his phone and dialed Natalie¡¯s number. He let it ring for a long time, but the call never went through. HereSelf 228 Chapter 228 Natalie Hangs Up Fast Jensen froze for a moment. Natalie had blocked me? How could that be? Refusing to believe it, he searched for her WhatsApp ount, but no matter how he tried, he couldn¡¯t find it. Panic tightened in his chest. ¡°Give me your phone,¡± he ordered the butler. The butler didn¡¯t understand why, but still handed it over. Jensen dialed the number from memory, but the call didn¡¯t go through; then he remembered -Natalie had changed her number. Last time, he had only gotten it because Hansel had tracked it down for him. Staring at the unfamiliar digits on the screen, Jensen felt a twist of bitterness. Natalie had always been sentimental. She had stayed with him for five years without ever changing her number¨Cbecause that number was tied to the date they had first met. And now she had even given that up? His throat worked as he swallowed, an ache rising out of nowhere. He dialed her new number. Natalie was just finishing thest strokes of her design when her phone rang. Without looking, she swiped to answer. ¡°Who is this?¡± Hearing her voice made Jensen¡¯s eyes sting. ¡°Natalie, it¡¯s me.¡± Her brows pinched together. Didn¡¯t I block him already? ncing at the caller ID, she saw it was an unfamiliar number and immediately understood. ¡°What do you want?¡± The chat logs had thoroughly disgusted her; she didn¡¯t even want to speak to him. Jensen heard the chill in her tone and rushed to say, ¡°My mother¡¯s missing. Do you know where she is?¡± ¡°Your mother¡¯s missing¨Cwhat the heck does that have to do with me? If something happened, call the police, I can¡¯t help you with anything.¡± Natalie ended the call. The droning busy signal rang in Jensen¡¯s ears, making him feel sick and empty. ¡°Mr. Jensen,¡± the butler said quickly, ¡°why does Natalie sound so arrogant with you now? Was all that gentle sweetness before just an act?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Jensen shot her a re and shoved the phone back at her. ¡°If I hear you say one more bad word about Natalie, you¡¯re finished.¡± With that, he strode away. Just then, a car pulled up in front of him. ¡°Mr. Jensen? I¡¯m Natalie¡¯s attorney. I¡¯d like to discuss the matter of those chat logs you sent her.¡± A man stepped out, gold¨Crimmed sses perched on his nose; one look, and it was clear he wasn¡¯t someone to be taken lightly. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find~Novel Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed. Of course he knew about the chat logs. His intention had been simple, to push Natalie into contacting him so they could reminisce about their past, maybe soften her feelings toward him again. But now she had sent a to give birth to this child, but that doesn¡¯t mean you get to stir up trouble. If I ever hear again that you spoke badly about Natalie to my mother, don¡¯t me me for discarding this child. You should know¨Cif I truly didn¡¯t want it, not even my mother could stop me.¡± Her happiness copsed, gone in a heartbeat. ¡°So you didn¡¯te to see me today? You came to warn me not to touch Natalie?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jensen¡¯s bluntness made her eyes burn with fury. ¡°But I¡¯m your wife!¡± ¡°And you know exactly how you got that title. So behave yourself.¡± Without another nce, he turned and walked out, unmoved by her angry cries. Even seeing Sharon now left him irritated. Outside the ward, Jensen suddenly remembered the madwoman. That lunatic had been sent by Natalie? Could that really be true? He called Hansel. ¡°That woman who attacked Sharon at the hospital¨Cwhere is she?¡± ¡°She¡¯s being held at the psychiatric hospital,¡± Hansel replied. He had thought the woman was clearly unstable, and since Jensen hadn¡¯t ordered an interrogation, he¡¯d simply sent her there. Jensen frowned, his voice dropping. ¡°Look into her identity¨Cand why she attacked Sharon in the hospital. Do it quietly. Don¡¯t alert anyone, especially not my mother.¡± HereSelf 229 Chapter 229 Baron¡¯s Shadow Everywhere ¡°Yes.¡± Hansel didn¡¯t know why Jensen had given such instructions, but he nodded and agreed anyway. Right after Jensen hung up, the butler¡¯s call came through. ¡°Mr. Jensen, where are you? Come back to the estate at once! Madam¡¯s in trouble!¡± The words made Jensen¡¯s heart jolt. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± He ended the call and, without another word, raced back to the old house. The moment he arrived, he heard Loretta¡¯s wailing cries; rmed, he rushed inside. ¡°Mom, what happened?¡± Loretta spotted him and immediately threw herself at him. ¡°Son, you have to stand up for me!¡± Her entire body was soaked, especially her face and hair. Her makeup had run in streaks, leaving her face ghostly and grotesque. If Jensen hadn¡¯t known it was his mother, he would have been frightened. Her hair stuck to her head in wet strands, reeking of sickly sweetness that made the scene almost unbearable. Jensen nearly shoved her away. ¡°Mom, how did you end up like this? Did you fall somewhere?¡± The look of disgust in his eyes only made Loretta cry harder. ¡°You ungrateful boy¨Cyou dare to look down on me? You have no idea how much I suffered!¡± Thinking back on what she¡¯d just gone through, Loretta trembled with rage. ¡°Jensen, I¡¯m telling you, this was that wretched Natalie¡¯s doing! Do you see the coffee all over my hair and clothes? They dragged me off, shoved my head down, and forced me to drink bucket after bucket of coffee¨Ccalling it ¡®treating me to coffee. Treating me? This was revenge! That little tramp Natalic was getting back at me!¡± Her eyes burned red with fury. She had never imagined Natalie would stoop to something so childish. Jensen faltered at her words. He had just called Natalie not long ago; judging from her tone, there had been no reason for her to lie. Which meant this couldn¡¯t have been Natalie¡¯s doing. ¡°Mom, besides forcing you to drink coffee, what else did they do?¡± Loretta blinked, then said, ¡°Nothing else. After tormenting me, they dumped me at our doorstep. But this can¡¯t just be brushed aside! I¡¯m a societydy¨Chumiliated like this? If word gets out, how will I ever show my face again?¡± The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew. ¡°Good thing you didn¡¯t marry her back then. Someone that petty would only shame the Luke family. A little coffee¨Cwhat real harm could it do her? And I¡¯m her elder; she dared treat me like this! Jensen, I¡¯m telling you, today she must apologize to me¨Cor I¡¯ll never forgive her!¡± Jensen rubbed his temples. ¡°Mom, this definitely wasn¡¯t Natalie.¡± ¡°At a time like this, you¡¯re still protecting her? What spell has she cast on you?¡± Furious, Lorettanded two punches on his chest. He didn¡¯t dodge; after taking them, he said, ¡°Natalie¡¯s the type to confront someone face¨Cto- face, not sneak around. Maybe someone else is settling scores on her behalf.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Loretta asked, but her eyes made it clear she didn¡¯t believe a word. Jensen¡¯s mind went to Baron. For original chapters go to find[?]ovel He had overlooked that man¡¯s presence for too long. From the moment Baron had spoken up for Natalie at Luke Corp¡¯s productunch, to so many incidents afterward¨Cnow that Jensen thought about it, the man¡¯s shadow had been everywhere. ¡°I¡¯ll have Hansel look into it,¡± he said. Jensen immediately called him. ¡°Dig into the man who stood up for Natalie at that productunch.¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen, we already tried. Nothing came up.¡± Hansel¡¯s answer made Jensen¡¯s blood boil. ¡°Damn it! Then investigate who orchestrated my mother¡¯s abduction and humiliation. There has to be some trace.¡± He hung up sharply. Loretta sneered. ¡°You¡¯re wasting your time. Why not just ask Natalie directly? I¡¯m telling you, unless she apologizes to me, this matter isn¡¯t over!¡± Her shouting gave Jensen a headache. He still wanted answers about Baron, so right in front of Loretta, he grabbed a servant¡¯s phone and dialed Natalie¡¯s number. Natalie, seeing another unfamiliar number, couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer. The phone kept ringing, grating on her nerves, until atst she swiped to connect. ¡°Natalie, my mom¡¯s back, but she was force¨Cfed coffee. Did you have anything to do with it?¡± Afraid she might hang up, Jensen blurted it all out the instant she answered. HereSelf 230 Chapter 230 Childish Works Every Time. Natalie paused for a beat and said, ¡°Coffee? You think it was me?¡± 1 Jensen replied, ¡°No; I just wanted to ask, see if there are any leads. I didn¡¯t know my mom went to see you before¨CSharon provoked her, she got worked up, and threw coffee on you, I only just found out. I know you¡¯re not the type to scheme behind someone¡¯s back. I just want to know¨Cdid you mention it to anyone? Could it be someone trying to stick up for you, so they kidnapped my mom and humiliated her?¡± The words were phrased beautifully,ced with trust in her character, as if he believed she¡¯d never do something like that. But to Natalie¡¯s cars, they were cutting and unpleasant. ¡°Jensen, I wasn¡¯t happy with what your mother did to me, but I got my revenge on the spot. As for who took her afterward or what they did¨Cthat has nothing to do with me. Don¡¯te to me about this again. If you really can¡¯t figure out who did it, my advice is simple, call the police.¡± No sooner had she finished than Loretta¡¯s furious voice barked through the receiver. ¡°Call the police? Natalie, don¡¯t think I won¡¯t! I¡¯m telling you, if you don¡¯t give me a public apology for what happened today, this isn¡¯t over between us!¡± ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± Natalie ended the call and blocked the number. As for Jensen¡¯s feelings¨Cshe couldn¡¯t care less. But what he¡¯d said a moment ago sparked a thought. She sent Baron a text. ¡°Was it you who treated Loretta to coffee?¡± ¡°Yeah! She bullied my wife; I was just returning the favor. She treated you to coffee¨C1 treated her to a whole bucket. I¡¯m a pretty good junior, don¡¯t you think?¡± Baron¡¯s reply made Natalieugh out loud. ¡°Childish.¡± ¡°I¡¯m childish¨Cso what?¡± Chapter 230 Childish Works Every Time After a little yful back¨Cand¨Cforth, Baron hung up. Just then, Revolver walked in. Find the newest release on Find1Novel Coins ¡°Mr. Baron, did you forget you¡¯re still the chairman of Grant International Holdings? There¡¯s a business g in three days; you have to attend¨Cit¡¯s tied to our next phase of development. Oh, and Luke Corp¡¯s Jensen will be there too.¡± He ced an invitation on Baron¡¯s desk. Baron had been about to refuse when another report came in. ¡°Mr. Baron, it seems Jensen is digging into you.¡± Baron¡¯s lips curved into a mocking smile. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go to the g in three days.¡± He wanted to see exactly what expression Jensen would wear when they met again. After hanging up, Natalie didn¡¯t give the matter another thought. If Baron was behind it, Jensen would never be able to trace it. Still, the image of Loretta¨Cusually so lofty¨Cbeing shoved into a coffee bucket was vivid in her mind. That old woman had probably never endured anything like it in her life. Only Baron would up with something like that. And though the method was childish, the fact that he had stood up for her warmed Natalie¡¯s heart. That thought pulled up another memory¨CSharon¡¯s hand. She had only recently learned that not long after Sharon had crushed her hand, someone had crushed Sharon¡¯s as well. Jensen had even gone to the ck market to beg the Witch Doctor to restore Sharon¡¯s hand to normal, but the Witch Doctor had refused. Renee had discovered and told her about it. Natalie was convinced that had been Baron¡¯s work too. He had a strong connection with the Witch Doctor; if not for the coffee incident, she might never have considered it, but now she saw the pattern. Both times, the methods were identical -swift, brutal, almost childish, yet deeply satisfying. When the kids had gone missing and she¡¯d gone to the hospital to beat Sharon herself, she¡¯d seen Sharon¡¯s hand; it clearly didn¡¯t have much strength left. Truly gratifying. Natalie picked up her phone, scrolling through shopping sites, thinking to buy Baron a gift. But what could I buy? It seemed he nothing. She frowned, torn. At that moment, Renee messaged her again. Natalie, our first design is ready. Take a look. If you think it works, we can start teasing it on Twitter and online. Natalie opened the draft Renee had sent and was impressed. Her own design was the gship piece; the rest of the series included other designs, some of which would need Renee¡¯s touch. After all, this wa per studio now; she wanted to give her senior some space to shine. Natali Ka few revisions, sparking new inspiration for Renee. are amazing! I¡¯ll make the changes right now. hanging up, Natalie suddenly remembered something¨Cshe still owed Baron a pair of Hinks. Yes, I¡¯d design them now. With that thought, she dove straight into her work. Meanwhile, Jensen had turned up nothing useful; Loretta kept on cursing without pause. HereSelf 231 Chapter 231 Don¡¯t You Dare me Natalie Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed tightly without him even realizing. ¡°Mom, that¡¯s enough! I know you¡¯ve been wronged, but I¡¯ve already had people look into it. I told it wasn¡¯t Natalie¨Cso why do you keep going on like this? Where¡¯s yourposure?¡± you Loretta never expected Jensen to speak to her this way; she immediately exploded. ¡°Jensen, I¡¯m your mother! Are you saying I have no manners? Watch me beat some sense into you!¡± Furious, Loretta started looking around for something to hit him with. Jensen felt utterly exasperated. ¡°Housekeeper, take her downstairs to freshen up. She doesn¡¯t exactly smell pleasant right now.¡± He had no choice but to remind Loretta of the state she was in. For more chapters visit Find_Novel(. It was only then thRoretta remembered how disheveled she looked; this was hardly the time to be arguing son. She shot him a resentful re before hurrying back to her room to wash up ho?¡± rvant entered. sen, Ms. Sharon is here.¡± Jensen sounded surprised, as if he hadn¡¯t quite caught the name. ¡°Ms. Sharon,¡± the servant quickly rified. ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to be doing very well.¡± That was when Jensen remembered Sharon¡¯s pregnancy. The olddy seemed to care quite a bit about that child, His brow knit even tighter. Fine. Let her keep my motherpany; better that than making trouble outside every day. Prepare a room for her.¡± But as soon as he said it, Jensen felt a sudden suffocation. He and Natalie had been together for five years, yet she had never once lived in the family estate¨Cyet Sharon was moving in. Yes, he had been the one to marry Sharon; but at this moment, he couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter. Sharon had been frightened into submission by Natalic. She hadn¡¯t thought much of Natalie before, always assuming she was fragile, a weak little thing easy to bully¡ªuntil suddenly Natalie became terrifying, backed by the Stone family no less. Sharon wasn¡¯t stupid. A poisoning Quincy, she had already alienated the Summers family. Jordan hadn¡¯t taken against her yet, but if she ever lost favor with the Luke family, the consequences would isastrous. The baby in her belly was her only bargaining chip. She had to protect it. She had onlye here to test the waters; she never expected it to actually work. A triumphant smile tugged at her lips. Led by the servant, Sharon stepped into the estate; she hadn¡¯t expected to run into Jensen here. ¡°Jensen?¡± She looked surprised¨Cthough her eyes shone more with delight. Did this mean Jensen was allowing me to stay? Did it mean there was still a chance for us? Instinctively, Sharon tried to slip her arm through his, but Jensen quickly sidestepped. His gaze was cold. ¡°Sharon, you know perfectly well why I¡¯m letting you live here. My mother cares about the child you¡¯re carrying, so focus on your pregnancy. No matter what, as the baby¡¯s mother, the Luke family won¡¯t treat you unfairly. But any other thoughts you might have¨Cyou¡¯d better put them away. You know as well as I do, I only married you out of pity. As for what I do outside of here, you¡¯d best stay out of it.¡± Jensen turned to leave, but Sharon caught his arm. Out of habit, she used her injured hand. ¡°Ah! My hand! It hurts!¡± The pain brought tears to her eyes¨Cthis time, they weren¡¯t fake. Jensen froze, stunned for a moment. His gaze shifted to her ruined hand, and something flickered through his mind. Seeing him stare, Sharon assumed guilt had finally struck him. She batted hershes and let two crocodile tears fall. ¡°Jensen, I know you don¡¯t care for me. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll behave. With one hand crippled, what could I possibly do?¡± She lowered her head, shoulders trembling as she wept, looking pitiful. But Jensen didn¡¯t pay her any mind. Instead, his thoughts suddenly shifted to Natalie. ruined too. Sharon had been the one to have it smashed. Back then, to protect Sharon, how had he treated Natalie? The image shed in his mind, him sitting coldly by Natalie¡¯s hospital bed, threatening her that Ocean City belonged to him, warning her that even if she tried to sue Sharon, he would stop her. At the time, he hadn¡¯t thought it wrong. But looking back now, Jensen suddenly realized just how vile he had been. Wait¡ªif Natalie¡¯s hand was crippled, how could she have drawn those designs? Then who was really behind the sketches for Sunny¡¯s ? Had she opened her studio because she could no longer create them herself? And was that the reason she demanded five years¡® worth of design fees from him? For the first time, Jensen felt like aplete bastard. HereSelf 232 Chapter 232 Quit Crying I Said Quit Sharon had ruined Natalie¡¯s hand; yet as Natalie¡¯s boyfriend, he hadn¡¯t stood up for her. Instead, he had crushed her further to protect Sharon. Was that when she finally gave up on me? A sudden panic wed at Jensen¡¯s chest. No¨Cit wasn¡¯t like that! He turned on his heel to leave. Sharon froze for a moment. ¡°Jensen, where are you going?¡± She grabbed his arm, unease creeping through her. ¡°Let go!¡± His eyes were as cold as ice. Sharon¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°You¡¯re just going to abandon me?¡± Her eyes were rimmed red, as pitiful as always, but Jensen only grew restless. Back then, when Natalie had been wronged, her eyes had reddened too¨Cespecially that day when her hand was smashed; the look in her eyes had been so full of grievance and fury. And what had I done? Jensen shoved Sharon off him and said tly, ¡°Sharon, letting you live here is already the biggest courtesy I can give you. If you know what¡¯s good for you, focus on your pregnancy; stay out of my business, and don¡¯t do anything I don¡¯t like. Otherwise, I¡¯ll make sure you pay for it.¡± With that, he strode off. ¡°Jensen!¡± Sharon could feel he wasn¡¯t the same as before. How could this be? He had married me, why is he treating me with such indifference now? It was all Natalie¡¯s fault! Why hadn¡¯t she died in that fire? Why did she have to back? If not for her, she and Jensen would have been fine. A sh of hatred and coldness darkened Sharon¡¯s eyes. Jensen, however, cared nothing for what Sharon thought. As he walked out, he pulled out his phone and called Hansel. ¡°Hansel, send me the design drafts from Natalie¡¯seback.¡± His request caught Hansel off guard, but he quickly agreed. Before long, Jensen received the screenshots Hansel forwarded from the inte. He stared at the designs, eyes narrowing. He had been with Natalie for five years; no one knew her design style and artistic touch better than he did. This wasn¡¯t her hand¨Cdrawn work. It wasputer generated. Of course. But he remembered her saying she could only find inspiration when sketching by hand. That meant she truly couldn¡¯t pick up a pen anymore. She must have opened her studio just to make a living off Sunny¡¯s reputation. And the reason she demanded five years of design fees was because she could no longer rely on her own talent to survive. There had to be other designers in that studio. Which meant Natalie would never design with her own hands again. Jensen¡¯s chest tightened with a suffocating ache. What have I done? Not only had he followed his mother¡¯s orders and sent Natalie five years of chat records, but he had even thought of using it as an excuse to see her more often. Was I insane? Discover more novels at fin?novel That wasn¡¯t care¨Cit was pouring salt into her wounds. C The thought made him want to p himself. ¡°Hansel, can we take back the screenshots we sent to Natalie?¡± Hansel sounded dumbfounded. ¡°Mr. Jensen, those screenshots were already delivered long ago. And in fact, Natalie has already retained awyer to deal with us over this matter¨Cdidn¡¯t you remember?¡± At that, Jensen¡¯s memory stirred. Without thinking, he smacked himself across the face. The loud smack carried over the line, leaving Hansel stunned. Who just hit Mr. Jensen? But Jensen didn¡¯t care what Hansel thought. He said in a low voice, ¡°Contact Natalie¡¯swyer. Tell him I¡¯ll pay Natalie every cent of her design fees from the past five years¨Cbut I need to meet with her in person.¡± Hansel didn¡¯t quite understand what Jensen meant by this. Give her a stick, then a sweet date? Probably. After all, that was exactly how Mr. Jensen had treated Natalie when defending Sharon before. But Hansel doubted Natalie would fall for it now. ¡°Mr. Jensen, if you truly intend topensate Natalie, it would be better to just transfer the funds directly to her ount. I don¡¯t think Natalie wants to see you right now.¡± After some thought, Hansel decided to voice his opinion. Of course Jensen knew Natalie didn¡¯t want to see him. But he wanted to see her. Desperately. Especially when he thought about how her crippled hands must ache with the weather¨Chis heart clenched unbearably. ¡°Do as I said.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Hansel shook his head, but agreed anyway. HereSelf 233 Chapter 233 Secrets Always Find Me Chapter 233 Secrets Always Find Me Just as Jensen was about to hang up, Hansel¡¯s voice came again. ¡°Mr. Jensen, we¡¯ve identified the woman who tried to stab Ms. Sharon at the hospital.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°It was Dr. Johnson¡¯s wife.¡± Hansel¡¯s words made Jensen¡¯s eyes narrow sharply. ¡°Whose wife did you say?¡± +5 Free Coins ¡°Dr. Johnson¡¯s. After Dr. Johnson disappeared in that car ident, his son fell ill. Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t left his wife much money. His wife, Diane, took their child to Dr. Johnson¡¯s hospital, but because she didn¡¯t have enough to pay, they were turned away. The boy went untreated, his condition worsened, and it doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯llst much longer. Diane saw Ms. Sharon¡® messages in Johnson¡¯s chat logs and assumed Ms. Sharon was his mistress. In a fit of rage, she went to the hospital to attack Ms. Sharon. This whole thing has nothing to do with Natalie.¡± As he listened, Jensen¡¯s gaze turned even colder. ¡°How ambiguous could Sharon and Johnson¡¯s messages have been to make Diane jump to that conclusion? Pull Sharon¡¯s chat history with Johnson and send it to me.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°And another thing¨CJohnson was a doctor. How could he possibly leave his wife and son with no money? Why wouldn¡¯t he have bought insurance for his child? Isn¡¯t insurance practically universal now? With coverage, there¡¯s no way a child¡¯s illness would go untreated.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by f?ndnovel Something about it didn¡¯t add up; Jensen felt there was more to the story than he knew. Hansel sighed. ¡°That¡¯s true¨Cinsurance ismon enough. But Diane¡¯s son isn¡¯t actually Johnson¡¯s biological child. He only found out after they married. For reasons no one really knows, he didn¡¯t divorce her, but he treated both mother and child badly. Diane didn¡¯t have a job and lived off Johnson¡¯s allowance, which barely covered the basics, so she never bought insurance for the boy. When the leukemia diagnosis came, she had no choice but to turn to Johnson for help. But by then, he had disappeared. As for his mistress, Diane knew he was seeing someone, but not who. It just so happened Ms. Sharon messaged him at that time; Diane saw the chats and misunderstood.¡± 173 9:46 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 233 Secrets Always Find Me ¡°Misunderstood?¡± 89 s Jensen¡¯s face darkened, his voice grating between clenched teeth. ¡°If Sharon and Johnson were truly innocent, there¡¯s no way Diane could¡¯ve misunderstood! Find out. I want every single detail of their messages.¡± Hansel froze, saying nothing; he didn¡¯t hang up, but he didn¡¯t reply either. Jensen¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°You¡¯ve already found something, haven¡¯t you?¡± Hansel let out another sigh and said quietly, ¡°Mr. Jensen, you¡¯ve known Ms. Sharon¡® character since five years ago. Sometimes it¡¯s better not to dig too deep.¡± Jensen¡¯s expression grew uglier. He remembered how, five years ago, Sharon had asked him to race cars with her. It was nothing but a stunt to provoke him, to unt that her new boyfriend was more daring than he was. Blinded by anger, Jensen had agreed; that was how the ident happened. Sharon had donated a rib to him afterward¨Cbut then she left for abroad, and rumors followed her there; her reputation was hardly clean. When Sharon came back five yearster iming she was terminally ill, he had lost his head. There had been old resentment; there had been the monotony of his rtionship with Natalie and his craving for something reckless; above all, there had been the thrill Sharon always brought. That was what he¡¯d told himself then. But now, looking back, he felt like a fool¨Cpathetic and ridiculous. Natalie may not have been a virgin, but she had given her first time to save him. For five years, she had only ever been with him. And Sharon? A woman that wild¨Chow could she possibly have had only one man? What Jensen hadn¡¯t expected was that even with cancer, even with death looming, even while wearing the title of Mrs. Luke¨Cshe still dared to cheat on him behind his back. ¡°Hansel, you already have screenshots of their chats, don¡¯t you? Send them to me.¡± 9:46 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 233 Secrets Always Find Me Jensen¡¯s voice carried a weary chill. : Hansel hesitated, reluctant, but finally nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll send them right away, After hanging up, Hansel forwarded the files on WhatsApp. Mr. Jensen.¡± 87 +5 Free Cons Jensen stared at the filthy chat logs, every explicit messageid bare¨Ceven Johnson¡¯s invitation for Sharon to meet at a hotel. ¡°You wench!¡± His gaze locked on the timestamp; the date was the very next day after he and Sharon had registered their marriage. ¡°Sharon!¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes burned scarlet with fury as he spun on his heel and stormed back to the family estate. At that moment, Sharon still hadn¡¯t gone upstairs. She was admiring theyout of the old house, struck for the first time by the weight of a century¨Cold family legacy; the Summers family could neverpare. So I was right to move in here. Even if Jensen was cold to her for now, as long as she carried this child, she would secure her ce in the Luke family. In time, everything the Lukes owned would be hers. HereSelf 234 Chapter 234 Hands Off My Neck Fresh chapters posted on F?nd-Novel Chapter 234 Hands Off My Neck Sharon couldn¡¯t help but let a faint smile slip. Just then, the living room door was kicked open. She jolted in fright. ¡°Jensen? You¡¯re back! Were you worried about me?¡± Her face lit up with surprise and delight as she quickly stood and rushed over. Jensen looked at that smile, and suddenly felt sick. ¡°How many men have you shown that look to, huh?¡± ?? ?? s The thought of registering their marriage behind Natalie¡¯s back, only for Sharon to cheat with Johnson the very next day, made the weight of that betrayal press down on him like a lead crown. He had even spent that day with her. For her to sneak around so soon only proved she had never been the kind to stay faithful. Whatever she had done before their marriage, he had turned a blind eye. But to bear the title of Mrs. Luke and still betray him¡ªthat was nothing short of outrageous. Jensen¡¯s hand shot out, mping around Sharon¡¯s throat; he mmed her onto the sofa. ¡°Sharon, why are you such a whore? Huh?¡± At that moment, he was like a lion driven mad; the strength in his grip could have killed her. Air cut off in her lungs, Sharon¡¯s eyes bulged wide. She wed at his arm in terror, desperate for breath, but her efforts barely made a difference. ¡°Let me go!¡± She thrashed, kicking wildly; her feet struck the coffee table, sending everything crashing to the floor with a loud tter. Jensen didn¡¯t even seem to hear it. The thought of Sharon sleeping with other men, then drugging him to defile him too, made 9:46 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 234 Hands Off My Neck his blood boil. ¡°Sharon, you deserve to die!¡± : For the first time, Jensen truly wanted to strangle her. Loretta, rmed by the noise, rushed out¨Conly to see the scene before her. She went pale with shock. ¡°What are you all standing there for? Pull Mr. Jensen away! He¡¯ll kill her!¡± At hermand, the servants hurried forward and dragged Jensen off. Even so, Sharon nearly cked out; her eyes rolled, and she came close to death. 89 s Coughing violently, she gasped and sobbed, snot and tears streaming as her body shook uncontrobly. ¡°Quick, get her some water! Don¡¯t hurt my grandson.¡± Loretta snapped orders at the staff to tend to Sharon. Dragged aside, Jensen regained a measure of control. Sharon was dying already; if hended in prison for her, it would hardly be worth it. But the murderous rage in him refused to dissipate. Loretta swallowed nervously at the sight of her son¡¯s expression. She had only ever seen Jensen like this once before¨Cfive years ago. She never knew the reason then; all she knew was that he had gone street racing afterward and ended up in an ident. Fear coiled in her chest. ¡°Jensen, what are you doing? Sharon is carrying your child¨Cwhat were you trying to do just now?¡± Her words made Jensen nce at Sharon. She shivered again in fear. 9:46 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 234 Hands Off My Neck ¡°Jensen, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you treating me like this all of a sudden? Did Natalie say something to you again?¡± This time Sharon cried for real; Jensen¡¯s fury had truly terrified her. But hearing her try to throw dirt on Natalie again, he only sneered. ¡°This has nothing to do with Natalie. Sharon, you¡¯d better pray the baby in your belly is mine -or I¡¯ll carve you into pieces.¡± The venom in thosest four words made Sharon tremble all over. ¡°The baby is yours, Jensen. Of course it¡¯s yours. What¡¯s wrong with you? Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Her tone was aggrieved, pitiful. Jensen felt nothing but contempt. A woman who could betray him the very day after their marriage had already shown that same fragile act to other men. For the first time, he saw himself clearly, a fool. With a cold snort, he turned and left. Loretta was rattled by his demeanor. ¡°Jensen! Don¡¯t you dare go racing! If you¡¯re upset, go rest in your room. I¡¯m getting older; I can¡¯t bear anything happening again.¡± Her plea made Jensen pause, but he didn¡¯t answer; he walked straight out. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to see Natalie. More than anything. ¡°Hansel, have you still not found where Natalie¡¯s staying?¡± Jensen called Hansel again. Hansel nced at the address in his hand, hesitation flickering. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I did find Natalie¡¯s residence¡­ but we may not be able to get in.¡± 9:46 TUL, Sep 30 Chapter 284 Hands Off My Neck ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s inside the Stone residence.¡± At once, Jensen knew exactly where Natalie was. 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 HereSelf 235 Chapter 235 Natalie Deserves Better 89 s Jensen immediately realized where Natalie was living. The hillside vis¨Cevery plot ofnd there belonged to the Stone family. Many people had tried to buy property in that area, but money alone wasn¡¯t enough; you also needed connections. Connections the Stone family recognized. At present, that entire vi district was private territory; without Natalie¡¯s permission, he couldn¡¯t even get past the gates at the base of the hill. Still, Jensen drove straight to the hillside estate. As expected, he was stopped at the entrance. The vis stood so close before him, yet he couldn¡¯t reach her. For the first time, Jensen felt the distance between himself and Natalie¨Cso near, yet impossibly far. He pulled his car to the side, took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and dragged in a deep inhale; the smoke burned his throat, sending him into a fit of coughing. It had been years since he¡¯d smoked. He had first picked it up with Sharon. Back then, he thought it was cool¨Cand Sharon liked it. After his ident, when the doctors forbade it, he had quit. Over time, Jensen nearly forgot the feeling. But now, as smoke wed at his lungs, the pain made even his chest ache. ¡°Natalie¡­¡± His eyes burned red as he stared at the vis ahead. How could I have been so blind, throwing away a woman who loved me wholeheartedly, all for trash like Sharon? Hansel¡¯s WhatsApp pinged again. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I found this in Ms. Sharon and Johnson¡¯s chat logs. Take a look.¡± Jensen had no desire to read another word about Sharon and Johnson; yet when he heard Hansel¡¯s voice note, he couldn¡¯t help but open his phone. 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 235 Natalie Deserves Better Let¡¯s see what else she can disgust me with. Hansel had circled the key parts in red. Jensen¡¯s eyes darkened as he read. (49)? s Sharon had written: ¡°Johnson, make this case look real. Best if you tell Jensen my cancer cells have spread and I need family around me more often.¡± Johnson¡¯s reply was blunt: ¡°Ms. Sharon, to fake metastasis you¡¯d need a real cancer patient¡¯s case file. Right now we don¡¯t have one at the hospital; I can¡¯t do that for you.¡± For original chapters go to find?novel Sharon had answered: ¡°Johnson, from the moment you forged myte¨Cstage cancer file, you and I were in this together. You think you can walk away now? Don¡¯t forget, I have photos and videos of us sleeping together. If you don¡¯t do what I say, I¡¯ll send them to Jensen and tell him you drugged me. You won¡¯t get out of that alive.¡± Johnson replied: ¡°Sharon, you¡¯re insane! There¡¯s nothing wrong with you, and you insist on pretending you¡¯re terminally ill? Do you realize you¡¯re walking a tightrope? If Jensen ever finds out you tricked him into marrying you with a fake cancer diagnosis, aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll kill you?¡± Sharon replied: ¡°He won¡¯t. He still has feelings for me. And even if he knows, I¡¯ll find a way to keep him from divorcing me.¡± The messages red back at Jensen, raw and damning¨Clike a resounding p across his face. ¡°Sharon¡¯s cancer¡­ was fake?¡± Hansel¡¯s voice came through hoarse, carrying a trace of sympathy. Such a powerful man, and yet Sharon had toyed with him so easily¨Ccosting him the woman he truly loved. It was pitiful, unspeakable. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I haven¡¯t confirmed it. She¡¯d need a real medical exam to be sure.¡± It was all Hansel could say. But the chat logs spoke clearly enough; even more followed, showing Sharon urging Johnson to falsify records. Jensen no longer doubted; deep down, he knew it was true. Yet he still clung to a thread. ¡°Find a reliable family doctor. Have them go to the estate, draw Sharon¡¯s blood, run a full exam¨Csay it¡¯s to establish a file for the baby.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 235 Natalie Deserves Better Hansel ended the call. But Jensen¡¯s mind refused to quiet. If Sharon¡¯s cancer was a lie, then she had conned him into marriage. And he had fallen for it¨Clike an idiot. A bitterugh broke from his chest,ughter that blurred into tears. Images of Natalie filled his mind. I actually gave her up¨Cfor this. The cigarette burned down to the butt, searing his finger; he didn¡¯t even feel it. 99 s Staring at the crumbling ash, he thought of his love with Natalie¨Calready burnt to nothing. Was it truly over? No¨CI saw my mistake now. If I humbled myself and begged for her forgiveness, Natalie would take me back. She had to. Jensen¡¯s eyes swelled, rimmed with raw grief. 9:47 89 Chapter 236 The Begging Dog HereSelf 236 Chapter 236 The Begging Dog Chapter 236 The Begging Dog He really had lost his mind back then. How could he have been so cruel as to wrong Natalic like that? At this moment, Jensen desperately wanted to hear Natalie¡¯s voice. He quickly dialed her number, but the call wouldn¡¯t go through. s Unwilling to give up, he opened WhatsApp, only to find she had blocked him there too. In that instant, Jensen felt like an abandoned puppy. He pulled out his phone, took a selfie, and sent it to Natalie¡¯s Twitter messages. ¡°Natalie, I know I was wrong. Sharon tricked me! She never had cancer at all. She and Johnson set me up together! Natalie, I miss you so much. Please, just talk to me. I¡¯m begging you, don¡¯t ignore me, okay?¡± Meanwhile, Natalie¡¯s design draft was already taking shape, but she felt something was missing. Setting down her pen, she fell into thought, yet no inspiration came. So she decided to let it go for now. ¡ª Design was like that when inspiration hit, it flowed best all at once. When it didn¡¯t, forcing it only made things worse. Better to stop, clear her mind, and wait for something unexpected to spark. She got up, made herself a cup of coffee, and reached for her phone to scroll through some videos. That¡¯s when she noticed a message notification on Twitter. Curious, she tapped it open and saw Jensen¡¯s words. Follow current nov?ls on find~novel She was a little annoyed at herself for forgetting to block him there too, but as she read his groveling message, Natalie suddenlyughed. Well, well. So he had finally learned the truth about Sharon and Johnson working together to deceive him? But the scandal hadn¡¯t even broken online yet. How did he know? 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 236 The Begging Dog And if he was already this shaken¡­ Wouldn¡¯t hepletely lose his mind once everything came out? Jensen, not getting a reply, thought she hadn¡¯t seen his message. He had so many things he wanted to say to Natalie. He began typing furiously. 89 a ¡°Natalie, I love you. Whether five years ago or five yearster, the only one I¡¯ve ever truly loved is you.¡± ¡°Natalie, if not for her saving my life, I never would have agreed to marry Sharon. But I never imagined that woman would lie to me like this.¡± ¡°Natalie, forgive me, please? Let¡¯s start over. I promise I¡¯ll never treat you that way again because of anyone else. I¡¯ll give you all my love. I¡¯ll even give you the entire Luke family. everything, if you¡¯ll juste back to me.¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes grew wet. How could he have thrown away Natalie for trash like Sharon? Natalie hadn¡¯t nned to reply, hadn¡¯t even nned to speak to him. But reading Jensen¡¯s disgusting messages one after another, she couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. ¡°Jensen, stop disgusting me. The Natalie you knew is already dead. The one standing before you now is Natalie. And don¡¯t talk to me about starting over. Some things, once ended, can never begin again.¡± Jensen hadn¡¯t expected her to respond. His heart leapt with excitement. ¡°Natalie, I knew you still care about me, don¡¯t you? Sharon fooled me, that¡¯s all! Can¡¯t you just give me another chance to make it right?¡± ¡°Fooled you? Are you sure that¡¯s why you married her? Wasn¡¯t it because life with me felt too calm, and you wanted excitement? Wasn¡¯t it because you still weren¡¯t over Sharon and wanted to win her back? With lies as clumsy as hers, and a businessman as sharp as you¡­ Are you really going to im that deep down you didn¡¯t want her?¡± Natalie wasn¡¯t giving him the slightest shred of dignity. 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 236 The Begging Dog This man wanted to move her with his regrets while expecting her to be moved too? Jensen was at a loss, unable to answer her sharp questions. 220 +5 Free Coms ¡°Natalic, it was my fault. I wronged you. Hit me, curse me if you want ¡ª just give me one chance. Natalie, I really love you. I can¡¯t live without you.¡± Nothing stings worse thanparison. The more Jensen realized Sharon¡¯s true nature, the more he longed for Natalie¡¯s goodness. Thinking of the stupid things he had done for Sharon, Jensen wished he could turn back time. He would never again hurt or wrong Natalie. But Natalie only sneered and sent him several videos. ¡°Jensen, watch these. Then tell me if you still think I could forgive you.¡± After hitting send, she tossed her phone onto the table. She no longer had any interest in watching videos. Jensen was clinging to her like some sticky, unwanted leech. It was exhausting. At that moment, Natalie found herself missing Baron terribly. What was he doing now? Suddenly, she wanted to surprise him. She picked up the phone and called Chris. ¡°Find out where he is.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Within minutes, Chris sent her a location. Looking at the address for Grant International Holdings, Natalie¡¯s lips curved into a smile. HereSelf 237 Chapter 237 The Truth in the mes ¡°I¡¯m going to have lunch with my husband.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Chris rushed to make the arrangements. t Meanwhile, when Jensen received the videos Natalie had sent, he suddenly felt afraid to open them. Those videos had to contain things he didn¡¯t yet know, things he hadn¡¯t even begun to investigate. What had alreadye to light was almost more than he could handle. As for what he hadn¡¯t uncovered yet¨Che felt a wave of dread at the thought. His chest tightened with panic. Instead of watching, Jensen sent Hansel a message. ¡°Take Johnson¡¯s son and that Diane woman somewhere secret. Keep the boy in treatment. Get as much information out of Diane about Johnson as you can.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Jensen. But the boy¡¯s leukemia is serious. He¡¯ll need a bone marrow transnt.¡± ¡°Then find a match. Save the child, and Diane will spill everything we want to know.¡°¨C Only after giving these orders did Jensen feel steady enough to brace himself. Atst, he opened the videos Natalie had sent. The first one showed Sharon ordering her men to break Natalie¡¯s hand. Back then, Natalie had gathered evidence against her. But Jensen, desperate to shield Sharon, had forbidden Natalie from seeking justice for herself. It was in that moment that Natalie had truly given up on him. Watching Sharon¡¯s twisted face on the screen, Jensen¡¯s gaze darkened. How had he ever believed Sharon was harmless? 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 237 The Truth in the mes How had he convinced himself Natalie¡¯s broken hand had nothing to do with her? 87 s The second video exposed Sharon and Johnson conspiring over a fake cancer diagnosis. Natalie had been cavesdropping at the door. It came from hospital surveince footage, pieced together by Baron, whose hacking skills. turned out to be frighteningly good. Their conversation was captured clearly, every expression on Sharon¡¯s face visible. Her flirtatious circling of a finger on Johnson¡¯s chest made Jensen¡¯s stomach churn. But that wasn¡¯t the worst of it. Soon after, Natalie was discovered. She tried to escape, but Sharon and Johnson¡¯s men knocked her unconscious and dragged her to a nearby warehouse. Johnson looked rattled. ¡°What now? She¡¯s too big a problem to just keep locked up. And Mr. Jensen might still have feelings for her. If hees looking, we¡¯re both finished.¡± Sharon¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Then make her disappear from this world.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane! Murder is a crime!¡± Johnson recoiled in shock. But Sharon¡¯s face contorted with a vicious sneer. ¡°Murder? What if it looks like an ident?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Johnson was stunned. Sharon exined tly, ¡°Inject her with a paralytic, but keep her conscious. I want her to die piece by piece.¡± ¡°What are you even nning? I can get the drug, but how does this look like an ident?¡± Sharon¡¯sugh rang out. ¡°Have them tie her to me after the injection. We¡¯ll stage it like we¡¯ve both been kidnapped. Then I¡¯ll call Jensen toe save me. The moment he shows up, you¡¯ll set the warehouse on fire. He won¡¯t know she¡¯s inside. Of course he¡¯ll save me first. Drench the area in gasoline so once I¡¯m carried out, he¡¯ll never make it back for her. Just imagine¨Cher body frozen, unable to move, forced to watch the man she loves carry me out of the mes. Do you think she¡¯ll die in despair? Hahahaha!¡± 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 237 The Truth in the mes Herughter echoed through the video like a knife driven into Jensen¡¯s heart. So that was the truth of the fire. How vile could Sharon be? 4), s And what had Natalie felt, trapped inside that burning building, watching him run out with Sharon in his arms? Discover more novels at find?novel Jensen couldn¡¯t bear to think of it. Especially knowing Natalie had been injected, helpless to move. It wasn¡¯t survival¨Cit was a living death. The thought of her burning, betrayed by the man she loved most, left Jensen gasping for air. Why hadn¡¯t he checked if anyone else was inside? Natalie had been hospitalized at the time. Why hadn¡¯t it urred to him even once that she might still be there? Her hand had already been destroyed. She had no family at her side, only a caretaker he¡¯d hired days earlier, someone whose background he hadn¡¯t bothered to check. And when Sharon plotted against her, where had that caretaker Phantom gone? HereSelf 238 Chapter 238 The Last Straw Could Phantom have been Sharon¡¯s person too? Only now did Jensen realize just how many holes there had been back then. He could have discovered the truth earlier, could have prevented it all¨Cbut he hadn¡¯t. At that time, his heart and eyes had been full of Sharon. So Natalie had almost burned to death, hadn¡¯t she? Her radiant face now must have been rebuilt through surgery. Her skin must have been destroyed in that fire. Just how much pain had she endured with such massive grafts? And he hadn¡¯t known a thing. 59 ) +5 Frem Coins When Natalie had needed him most, he had chosen Sharon. When Natalie was fighting for her life, he hadn¡¯t been there. No wonder she would never forgive him. If the roles had been reversed, he knew he wouldn¡¯t forgive himself either. His chest ached as though pierced by knives. ¡°Sharon!¡± Jensen wanted nothing more than to kill her with his own hands. At that moment, Hansel called, ¡°Mr. Jensen, bad news. Ms. Summers just got exposed online.¡± The words didn¡¯t surprise Jensen at all. Natalie had sent him those videos before the scandal broke¨Cclearly she hadn¡¯t intended to give him time to cover it up. She never believed he would deal with Sharon. 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 238 The Last Straw His Natalie no longer trusted him. That realization cut deeper than anything. ¡°I know,¡± he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. 45 Free Cams Hansel, caught off guard by his calm, asked, ¡°Do we need to take action? She¡¯s still legally Mrs. Luke. The group has already lost a significant portion of shares to outsiders after recent events. With this news out, thepany may¡­¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Have thewyers draft divorce papers.¡± Hansel froze for a beat but knew it was the only option. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it right away.¡± ¡°Deliver them to the old house in half an hour. I¡¯m heading there now. Have PR contain the narrative online until I arrive.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Hansel hung up. Jensen stared at the vi just a short distance away, his heart heavy. He owed Natalie far too much. But Sharon had once saved his life. Even if he divorced her, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to take hers. For the first time, Jensen wished the person who had saved him five years ago hadn¡¯t been Sharon. Still, he didn¡¯t want to leave. He wanted to stay and wait for Natalie. He knew he couldn¡¯t enter the vi, but Natalie would have toe out eventually. As long as she did, there might still be a chance for forgiveness. But Sharon¡¯s scandal was too big. 2/4 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 238 The Last Straw Thepany couldn¡¯t withstand it. 45 Free Coins He could protect Sharon¡¯s life out of gratitude, but he couldn¡¯t let her drag down the entire Luke family and corporation. So he started the engine and drove toward the old Luke estate. Sharon, rattled after Jensen hadshed out at her, was visibly shaken despite Loretta¡¯s attempts tofort her. Just then, the family doctor Hansel had sent arrived. Follow current nov?ls on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Hearing Jensen had called him, Loretta assumed her son was simply regretting things and quickly said, ¡°Sharon, you see? Jensen still cares about you and the baby. Whatever disagreements you¡¯ve had, let the doctor check you. If anything happens to this child, both Jensen and I would be heartbroken.¡± Sharon hadn¡¯t wanted the examination, but Loretta¡¯s words made her falter. Yes. The child in her womb was her only bargaining chip now. If she lost that, she would have nothing. Even if her terminal cancer was exposed as a lie, as long as the baby was healthy, she still had a chance to turn things around. So Sharon allowed the doctor to proceed. He was thorough. ¡°Ms. Summers is showing signs of a threatened miscarriage. She¡¯ll need bed rest for the time being.¡± Loretta let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll see to it she doesn¡¯t get out of bed again.¡± She instructed the staff to prepare a room and attendants. The doctor left soon after. But once outside, he immediately called Jensen. 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 238 The Last Straw 69 +5 Free Coins ¡°Mr. Jensen, aside from the risk of miscarriage, Ms. Summers is otherwise healthy. I ran a detailed check¨Cshe shows no signs of cancer whatsoever.¡± Jensen had already suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed, he gave a bitterugh. So it only took a different doctor to break Sharon¡¯s lie. And yet, he had never once thought to do that. ¡°I understand. That¡¯s enough. You can return now.¡± After ending the call, Jensen pressed harder on the gas, speeding toward the estate. HereSelf 239 Chapter 239 Severing Ties Chapter 239 Severing Ties A threatened miscarriage? Once, Jensen might have tolerated Sharon for the sake of his mother¡¯s wish to have a grandchild. He would have let her carry the baby to term. But now, that child no longer had any reason to be born. 5 Free Coins Even if it was his, Sharon had once plotted to see Natalie burned alive. That debt had to be repaid. ?????? ???? find{n}ovel And he would repay it with this child¡¯s life. Jensen¡¯s eyes turned cold and merciless. This was never a child he longed for, and certainly not a child born of him and Natalie. He didn¡¯t care in the least. He and Hansel arrived at the old estate at nearly the same time. Loretta had just settled Sharon in when she saw Jensen walk in with Hansel¨Cand awyer trailing behind them. Her heart gave a sudden lurch. ¡°Jensen, what are you doing? Sharon was already frightened half to death by you, and the baby almost didn¡¯t make it. If you came back here to torment her again, then get out! I won¡¯t allow anyone to harm my grandson!¡± Loretta rushed to speak first, but unease gnawed at her. She felt as if something terrible was about to happen. ¡°Mom, step aside.¡± Jensen¡¯s tone was steady, neither loud nor soft, but it filled her with dread. ¡°Jensen, no matter what circumstances brought you and Sharon together, the child she carries is the Luke family¡¯s only bloodline. Whatever grievances you have, let her deliver first, then deal with it after, all right?¡± Loretta didn¡¯t dare push too hard. Her son¡¯s expression scared her. She hadn¡¯t seen him look this way in a very long time. But Jensen didn¡¯t even nce at her. Instead, he handed over the evidence from online. 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 239 Severing Ties Loretta¡¯s eyes widened as she skimmed the files. 89 s ¡°How can this be? Sharon, so vicious? Impossible! This has to be Natalie¡¯s trick¨Cher way of scrubbing herself clean. She knows she¡¯ll never be Mrs. Luke, never climb into high society, so she¡¯s desperate. Otherwise why would she demand payment for five years of design work? Why target Sharon now?¡± Everything, in Loretta¡¯s eyes, was Natalie¡¯s fault. Jensen had expected his mother to see reason, but clearly he was wrong. No wonder she had never allowed Natalie into the old estate in the five years they were together. She had always looked down on her. Suddenly, Jensen found herughable. And he didugh¨Clow and bitter. ¡°Mom, Natalie doesn¡¯t need to marry into this family to be high society. She already is. She¡¯s the biological daughter of Waylon Stone from Stone Group. With Stone Group behind her, do you really think she cares about our Luke family? Do you honestly believe we stand higher than the Stones?¡± Loretta was struck speechless. ¡°Who even knows if she¡¯s really their child? She used to be a Summers too, didn¡¯t she? And that turned out to be fake.¡± Jensen, seeing her stubbornness, didn¡¯t bother arguing further. ¡°Mom, Sharon¡¯s scandal has already caused outside buyers to scoop up our shares. With this new exposure, do you realize what¡¯s happening to thepany¡¯s stock right now? Are you prepared to watch the Luke family copse for Sharon¡¯s sake? Our shareholders could sell out at any moment. If that happens, we may lose control of Luke Corp altogether. Is that what you want?¡± Loretta¡¯s face went pale. ¡°How could this be? Isn¡¯t this just our family¡¯s private matter? Why is thepany involved?¡± ¡°This is reality. Do you want to see the numbers yourself?¡± Panic finally broke through Loretta¡¯sposure. ¡°Then what do we do? Jensen, what are you nning? That baby must not be harmed!¡± 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 239 Severing Ties ?? +5 Free Coins. ¡°Mom, if you want a grandson, I¡¯ll give you one. But the mother of the Luke heir will never be a venomous woman like Sharon.¡± Without waiting for her reply, Jensen led thewyer toward Sharon¡¯s room. Loretta suddenly understood his decision. A wave of grief washed over her. ¡°What a sin¡­¡± She had longed for a grandson, but Jensen was right¨CSharon¡¯s scandal was too great. Neither thepany nor the family could survive it. If the child was lost, another could be born. But if the Luke family itself was lost, they would be finished. epting this truth, Loretta suddenly seemed to age years. Her steps faltered, and only the butler¡¯s quick hands kept her upright. ¡°Madam, what should we do?¡± ¡°Leave it. Jensen is head of the house now. Help me back to my room. I¡¯m tired.¡± And with that, Loretta walked away, shoulders heavy with defeat. HereSelf 240 Chapter 240 The Fall of Sharon Jensen entered Sharon¡¯s room with Hansel and thewyer at his side.
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Sharon¡¯s emotions had only just steadied when she saw them walk in. Panic instantly shed across her face. ¡°Jensen, what are you doing?¡± Her hands flew instinctively to her stomach. The sight of her made Jensen feel sick. Not only had he married such a repulsive woman, he had slept with her. The thought alone made his skin crawl. He even feared he might have caught something. No. He would have to see a doctor and get himself tested. The cold contempt in his eyes sent shivers down Sharon¡¯s spine. ¡°Jensen, I¡¯ll be good. I¡¯ll rest, I won¡¯t go anywhere. I¡¯ll give you a healthy, chubby son.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need a son from a woman like you.¡± With a wave of his hand, Jensen summoned the family doctor, who entered carrying medicine. Sharon¡¯s eyes widened when she saw the vial. ¡°Jensen, what are you doing? Your mother said we had to keep this baby! No! You can¡¯t take my child away! You can¡¯t!¡± ¡°Sharon, let¡¯s be honest. This child can¡¯t stay. After the miscarriage, I¡¯ll send you to a vi to recover. I¡¯ll cover all expenses until you¡¯re well. But we¡¯ll sign the divorce agreement now. One monthter, once your health is back, we¡¯ll finalize it.¡± His words struck her like a thunderp. ¡°What did you say? You want to divorce me? Jensen, I won¡¯t!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice.¡± 9:47 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 240 The Fall of Sharon He tossed his phone to her. (9¡¹, s Sharon, bewildered, unlocked it and was greeted with an avnche of scandals about her flooding the inte. The videos¨Ceach one clearly capturing her crimes. Her body trembled with fear. ¡°Jensen, this isn¡¯t true! Someone set me up! It wasn¡¯t me! You have to believe me!¡± ¡°You can treat me like a fool all you want. But do you think the entire world is made too?¡± up of fools Jensen¡¯sugh dripped with mockery. Sharon finally realized¨Cshe was finished. She had ordered those videos destroyed. How were they still released? Who? Who had done this to her? Natalie. It had to be Natalie. Sharon scrambled up despite her frail state and clutched Jensen¡¯s arm desperately, sobbing. ¡°Jensen, please, believe me. I was framed! This is AI¨Cgenerated¨Cit¡¯s not really me!¡± ¡°So the fake cancer wasn¡¯t you? Or the affair with Johnson? Or when you had Natalie injected with paralytic drugs, left her in a burning warehouse, and made sure I carried you out first while she watched? Was all that fake too?¡± Jensen¡¯s hand shot to her throat, his eyes zing red. Sharon froze in terror. Thest time he had nearly strangled her to death was still fresh in her memory. Her body trembled violently as she sobbed. ¡°Jensen, I was wrong! I was wrong! Please, don¡¯t kill me!¡± 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 240 The Fall of Sharon In the face of death, everything else was trivial. She no longer dared test his limits. Seeing her finally admit it, Jensen¡¯s gaze burned like poison. 5 Free Coind ¡°How can you be so vile? Sharon, the only reason you¡¯re alive right now is because you saved me five years ago. Otherwise, today would¡¯ve been your execution. I¡¯ll make sure the police don¡¯t drag you off¨Cthat¡¯s myst act of mercy, myst favor. Sign the divorce papers. Behave, and as long as you don¡¯t provoke Natalie, I¡¯ll see to it you live infort. But if you cross me again, don¡¯t me me for forgetting what you did for me.¡± He released her with a shove. The doctor immediately stepped forward, forced her mouth open, and poured in the abortive medicine. Sharon wept and struggled, but she couldn¡¯t break free. Hansel silently handed Jensen a tissue. Jensen wiped his fingers one by one, as though scrubbing away contamination. Sharon saw it from the corner of her eye, her body shaking with rage and helplessness. The medicine wouldn¡¯t work instantly, but the oue was inevitable. Jensen had thewyer hand her the divorce agreement. Her eyes widened when she read it¡ªshe would be stripped of everything, left with only ten million in alimony. Herposure shattered. ¡°Jensen, I¡¯m Mrs. Luke! If we divorce, I¡¯m entitled to half of your assets! And you think you can throw me away with just ten million? Dream on!¡± ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? HereSelf 241 Jensen wasn¡¯t surprised in the least by her greed. Why had Sharon wanted so badly to be Mrs. Luke? 27000
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Once, he had deluded himself into thinking it was love. That she truly cared for him. But now, the truth was too clear. She had never cared about him¨Conly about the title, and about the fortune she would walk away with in a divorce. His lips curled into a cold smile. ¡°I don¡¯t necessarily need you to sign this divorce agreement. There¡¯s another way to free thepany¡­ Mrs. Luke could suddenly drop dead. How does that sound to you?¡± Read full story at F?ndNovel There was no jest in his eyes, only a naked, chilling intent to kill. ¡°From the moment you plotted to burn Natalie alive, whatever debt I owed you was erased. The only reason you¡¯re still breathing is because I showed you mercy. Don¡¯t test my patience.¡± The icy weight of his words made Sharon shiver so violently her teeth nearly chattered. For the first time, she realized¨Che truly wanted her dead. No. She couldn¡¯t die. Her teeth sank into her lip. She hated it, but she couldn¡¯t fight him. Not now. ¡°Jensen, we¡­¡± ¡°Sign it or die. Your choice.¡± His voice cut like steel. There was nowhere left for her to retreat. Trembling, seething with unwillingness, she picked up the pen and signed her name. The instant her signature hit the page, Jensen snapped a photo and posted it online. Divorced. From this moment, the Luke family and the bear no responsibility for Sharon¡¯s personal actions. The announcement detonated across Twitter, setting the inte aze. Jensen studied thements, his mind straying to Natalie. Would she see this? Would she be moved? 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 241 Divorce He was finally single again. Free to pursue her openly. (9) +5 Free Coins This was only the first step. He would prove his remorse. He would prove his devotion. He would make her forgive him, make her return to his side. They had shared so many good memories¨CSharon had only been an ident. An obstacle. And obstacles could be removed. Downstairs, Natalie had just arrived at the towering ss headquarters of Grant International Holdings. She caught sight of the announcement shing across her phone. The words Divorce Agreement screamed at her in bold, impossible to ignore. She let out a soft, humorlessugh. So this was the woman he had sworn to protect, the woman he had married against all odds. Barely a handful of monthster, she was cast aside. Natalie didn¡¯t care why Sharon had agreed. It was no longer her concern. Their entanglement had nothing to do with her anymore. She hung up her call, lifted her chin, and stepped through thepany doors. Meanwhile, in the Luke family¡¯s mansion, Sharon doubled over in pain, clutching her stomach. ¡°Jensen, it hurts¨Cplease, take me to a hospital!¡± She wed at his sleeve, panic in her voice. But he shook her off with a single flick. ¡°You¡¯ll be taken to the vi to recover. Doctors and a medical team will look after you. You won¡¯t die. In a month, we¡¯ll finalize the divorce certificate.¡± At his signal, men came in and lifted her onto a stretcher. She cried out, reaching desperately for someone¨CLoretta, perhaps¡ªbut Loretta was nowhere to be found. The house was silent. Too silent. Even she had given up on her. Why? She had schemed for so long. How had it all unraveled like this? A¡£ (89), Chapter 241 Divorce Jensen had cared for her once, hadn¡¯t he? Why was he treating her like this now? Her sobs went unanswered. Jensen¡¯s heart had turned to stone. s When she was gone, his phone rang. It was the police. Sharon¡¯s crimes were too tant to ignore. Jensen nced at Hansel. ¡°Everything ready?¡± ¡°All ready. The diagnosis of mental instability has been secured. With this, she qualifies for medical parole.¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Have them slip hallucinogens into her meals. Make sure the cameras in the vi capture her unraveling. Every fit, every breakdown.¡± Hansel hesitated. ¡°Sir¡­ too much of that drug could damage her for real. If she actually goes insane-¡± ¡°Then send her to an asylum. Let her spend the rest of her life atoning to Natalie.¡± A cruel light glinted in Jensen¡¯s gaze. Hansel lowered his head, silent, and went to carry out the order. HereSelf 242 Chapter 242 The Warmth of Family +5 Free Cont Natalie had no idea what Jensen was plotting, nor did she care. She stepped into the lobby of Grant International Holdings, ready to announce herself, when the receptionist stood up with a bright smile. ¡°Madam, the chairman is on the top floor. There¡¯s a private elevator. Would you like me to escort you up, or would you prefer to go on your own?¡± Natalie paused in surprise. ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°The chairman sent us your photo. He instructed that if Madam arrives, no one is to stop you, and no appointment is ever required. You may go straight up.¡± Her heart softened at the words, a gentle warmth flowing through her. Just then, the elevator beside her opened. Natalie instinctively turned her head¨Conly to freeze at the sight of the man stepping out. ¡°You? What are you doing here?¡± She never expected to run into Flynn here. Flynn looked just as startled, then quickly walked toward her. ¡°You came to see Baron?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Natalie hesitated, then asked, ¡°Did Mom and Dade too?¡± ¡°Not yet. Mom¡¯s health has only just begun to recover. Dad wants her to rest longer, and things at home aren¡¯t fully settled. But they miss you very much. They sent me with some things for you¨Cand a few gifts from your nephews.¡± Afraid she might misunderstand, Flynn spoke quickly. Natalie wasn¡¯t bothered. She smiled lightly. ¡°Where are you headed, then?¡± ¡°There¡¯s been word from the countryside. I¡¯m going to check it out.¡± Her brow furrowed. ¡°About my background?¡± ¡°Yes. If those vigers really just took the wrong baby, it¡¯s one thing. But when we began 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 242 The Warmth of Family 89 s investigating, their house mysteriously caught fire at night. They nearly burned alive. If someone hadn¡¯t gotten up and spotted it, they¡¯d be dead. ¡°I looked into them. Completely clean, nothing suspicious in their history. But that¡¯s exactly what makes it suspicious. After being saved, they tried to move away in the middle of the night, only to be caught in a car ident. If our people hadn¡¯t intervened, they wouldn¡¯t have survived. They¡¯re under our protection now, but they¡¯re too shaken to talk. It¡¯ll take time to coax anything out of them.¡± Natalie felt the same unease Flynn did¨Cthere was more to this than coincidence. ¡°This is dangerous,¡± Flynn warned. ¡°I worry the people behind it might target you next. Bring more protection when you go out.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Flynn reached out and gently patted her head. Natalie froze. Growing up in the Summers family, no one had ever shown her such affection. Sometimes she had wondered¨Cdid they already know she wasn¡¯t theirs, and that¡¯s why they had always been so cold? Even when Quincy treated her kindly, there had always been distance, as though an invisible wall stood between them. But with Sharon, it had been different. Sharon could act spoiled, could snuggle into Quincy¡¯s arms, the picture of a loving daughter. Was this the power of blood ties? Now, even though she hadn¡¯t spent much time with Flynn, the instant his hand touched her head, neither of them felt awkward. Instead, warmth bloomed between them. Natalie¡¯s eyes stung with sudden tears. In her twenty¨Csome years of life, this was the first time she truly felt what family affection meant. Flynn¡¯s throat tightened as he looked at her, thinking of all she had endured. ¡°We failed you before. We didn¡¯t know you were alive, and you suffered so much. From now on, I¡¯ll protect you. No matter who dares hurt you, tell me. Right or wrong, I¡¯ll always stand by 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 242 The Warmth of Family your side. I mean it.¡± Natalie¡¯s nose burned. ?? 5 Free Coins ¡°I¡¯m doing well now. If those years of hardship were what it took to find my family, and to meet Baron, then I believe everything from here on will only get better.¡± Her words both soothed and pained Flynn. ¡°Yes. Things will be better from now on. I saw the news online¨CSharon is vile beyond words. Jensen may have gotten her medical bail, but¡ª¡± ¡°Medical bail? What illness?¡± Newest update provided by F¦ÉndNovel Natalie frowned. She was certain Sharon had nothing serious. ¡°Insanity,¡± Flynn spat. ¡°There¡¯s a psychiatric evaluation saying she¡¯s mentally ill. Whether true or not, the Stone family won¡¯t let this go. For now, stay put. Once we¡¯ve cleared out the rot in our family, we¡¯ll bring you home with full honors. Then forget Sharon¨Ceven Jensen himself¡ª you¡¯ll have the power to repay them however you like.¡± 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 243 mes for mes HereSelf 243 Chapter 243 mes for mes 89 ?.(¡ã) s Natalie smiled and nodded. Compared to crushing her enemies with family power, she preferred solving things in her own way. Baron, waiting upstairs, finally grew restless. He came down and saw Natalie and Flynn talking at the front desk. Flynn¡¯s eyes were filled with guilt and tenderness for his sister. Baron stood with his arms crossed, watching the gentle smile on Natalie¡¯s face. His lips curved faintly. This was how she should have always looked. Zuo Lun, who followed him down, noticed the scene. Seeing Baron just stand there, he teased, ¡°You¡¯re really just going to watch your wife chatting happily with another man? Doesn¡¯t it sting?¡± ¡°Think bigger,¡± Baron replied evenly. ¡°That¡¯s her brother. I¡¯d be d if the whole world adored my wife¨Cit only proves how exceptional she is.¡± Zuo Lun blinked. ¡°Well, that doesn¡¯t sound like the domineering Mr. Baron I know. Normally you¡¯d lock her up at home and keep everyone from seeing her shine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t understand me. She¡¯s a star meant to shine, not fade into domestic dust. And you¡¯re a single dog¡ªyou wouldn¡¯t get it.¡± Baron walked off. Zuo Lun¡¯s mouth dropped open, left speechless. In the end, he could only sputter, ¡°And whose fault is it that I¡¯m still single? You dumped this entire empire on me¨CI don¡¯t even have time to date!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t me work for your ipetence,¡± Baron shot back. ¡°Now get back to it. I¡¯m going to my wife.¡± He left Zuo Lun seething in silence and strode toward Natalie. ¡°Natalie.¡± ¡°Baron.¡± 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 243 mes for mes She looked at him as he walked toward her, framed in the light, and her eyes softened. 89 s Flynn, however, couldn¡¯t help but feel wary. Baron¡¯s role as a godfather meant Natalie would face danger at his side. But today, standing in Grant International Holdings, Flynn realized Baron was its chairman. With that status, he was indeed worthy of his sister. And it was clear¨CBaron cherished Natalie deeply. Without him, she wouldn¡¯t be who she was now. Flynn swallowed his misgivings and said quietly, ¡°You two talk. I¡¯ve already asked Chris to take the things I brought for the nephews back. I need to head to the countryside.¡± ¡°We¡¯lle with you,¡± Natalie said suddenly. Flynn blinked. Baron too looked surprised. ¡°Work¡¯s finished?¡± he asked. ¡°No inspiration right now,¡± she admitted. ¡°It¡¯s the perfect time for us to take a trip to the countryside.¡± She had thought of bringing the children, but with danger still lurking and those vigers repeatedly targeted, she couldn¡¯t risk it. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel Baron, however, didn¡¯t object. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll have Yvonne watch the kids.¡± ¡°Bring Yvonne with us,¡± Natalie countered. ¡°She deserves to hear about her past firsthand too.¡± Flynn raised his brows, interest sparking. If Yvonne was really Uncle Xenon¡¯s daughter, he wanted to see her for himself. ¡°Then why not bring the kids as well?¡± he suggested. ¡°With so many of us¨Cthe Stone family and Gunn family together¨Cif we can¡¯t protect two children, we¡¯d be aughingstock.¡± Baron shot him a re. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t see through you. You just want to cozy up to my kids.¡± Flynn didn¡¯t deny it. He did want to. His parents always said the twins were wonderful, but he hadn¡¯t met them yet. Better to win their hearts before his parents did¨Cotherwise, his ce in the family might be shaky. 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 243 mes for mes Natalie burst outughing. ¡°I think it¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s bring them.¡± +5 Free Cons ¡°Alright,¡± Baron agreed. ¡°You and your brother wait in the car. I¡¯ll make a call, then we¡¯ll pick up the kids together.¡± Natalie nodded and left with Flynn. Baron dialed a number. ¡°Let Jensen y at granting Sharon medical bail. Have our people shadow her. At the right time, stage a fire ident. Remember¨Cwhatever she did to my wife, do the same to her. And don¡¯t let her die.¡± His gaze darkened, storm clouds churning in his eyes. He could still see Natalie lying helpless in the mes. HereSelf 244 Chapter 244 mes and Children 15 Fren Coins The memory of fire still haunted him¨Cmes licking at her skin, crackling as they consumed her. Natalie hadin helpless, her body burning, unable to make a sound, unable to move, forced to watch herself inch closer to death. That searing agony¨CBaron would return it to Sharon. Jensen thought granting her medical bail would shield her from justice? No. It had given Baron the perfect chance. His men epted the order swiftly. ¡°And the records,¡± Baron added, his tone like ice. ¡°The medical file I used to treat Jensen, and the rib donation agreement from my wife¡ªhave you found who altered and leaked them?¡± The subordinate hesitated, then answered quickly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Baron. It was a little girl. After doing it, she disappeared. Our surveince is usually airtight, but somehow her face was never caught on camera. And she moved¡­ very well for a child.¡± ¡°A little girl?¡± Baron¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°Yes. She didn¡¯t look much older than Miss, maybe seven or eight at most.¡± Baron¡¯s frown deepened. A child that age, slipping past hisyers of security unnoticed? Impossible. And yet it had happened. ¡°Keep digging. I want her identity.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± He ended the call and turned to the receptionist. ¡°Go to finance for your bonus. You did well today.¡± The woman blinked, then lit up in delight. ¡°Thank you, Chairman Grant!¡± Baron strode off to catch up with Natalie. 1/8 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 244 mes and Children Flynn had hoped Natalie would ride with him, but Baron cut him off. +5 Free Coms ¡°You can dote on my wife all you want, but don¡¯t forget I exist. I¡¯m the certified brother¨Cinw here. Hogging her isn¡¯t very polite, is it?¡± Flynn¡¯s mouth twitched. Wasn¡¯t this man supposed to be cold and untouchable? When had he turned into this¡­ clown? Natalie stifled augh, tugging at Baron¡¯s hand. ¡°Ignore him, he gets like this sometimes.¡± ¡°Wife,¡± Baron said, sounding wounded. Natalie patted his hand to soothe him, then told Flynn, ¡°Brother, I¡¯ll ride with Baron. We¡¯ll pick the kids up from school first.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Flynn had no choice but to agree. At the kindergarten, the director looked uneasy at their sudden request for leave. But one look at Baron¡¯s sharp, intimidating expression, and all objections died. ¡°I¡¯ll fetch the children.¡± Sean and Susie trudged out, looking tired¨Cuntil they saw both parents waiting. They lit and bolted forward. ¡°Daddy! Mommy!¡± The source of th?s content is f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Natalie crouched with open arms, her heart melting. The twins dashed as if racing each other. Just as they were about to dive into her embrace, Baron swooped in and snatched Susie up. She blinked in confusion¨Cwhile Sean crashed into Natalie¡¯s arms. She lifted him easily. Susie scowled. ¡°Stinky Daddy! I want Mommy! She¡¯s soft and smells nice¨CI don¡¯t want you!¡± Sean flushed pink but hugged Natalie tighter, his cheek pressed smugly against hers. Natalie¡¯s heart swelled at the sight. ¡°How was your first day? Did you enjoy it?¡± she asked gently. up 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 244 mes and Children Susic beamed. ¡°It was great! Mommy, so many kids yed with us!¡± Sean gave her a look. ¡°yed with us? More like you forced them to y with you.¡± Baron frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± 20 45 Free Coins Susie¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°Shut up! You¡¯re acting like the victim when you got the prize. Sitting in Mommy¡¯s arms and still running your mouth? Want to trade ces?¡± Sean only tightened his hold around Natalie¡¯s neck, rubbing his cheek against hers. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°You-! Sean, I¡¯ll duel you!¡± Susie squirmed furiously, iling her little hands toward her brother. Just then, a girl dashed out of the building. ¡°Susie! Here¡¯s your afternoon snack. Teacher told me to give it to you and Sean.¡± Her voice was sweet and clear, her words articte. Natalie blinked, momentarily caught off guard. HereSelf 245 Chapter 245 A Brother¡¯s Gifts : ¡°Sean, Susie, making friends on your very first day? That¡¯s wonderful!¡± Susie only frowned at the little girl, unimpressed. For original chapters go to find?novel ¡°We don¡¯t want it. You can have it.¡± Sean noticed her tone but didn¡¯t argue, clearly agreeing with her decision. The little girl blinked, then her eyes lit up with delight. ¡°Really? I can really have it? But what if the teacher asks¡­¡± ?? 89 s ¡°We won¡¯t tell,¡± Susie cut in quickly, then turned to Baron. ¡°Daddy, let¡¯s go. It¡¯s too hot here.¡± ¡°Alright. Time to meet your uncle,¡± Baron said. Sean¡¯s curiosity piqued. ¡°Uncle? What does he look like? Is he handsome?¡± ¡°Not as handsome as me,¡± Baron boasted shamelessly. Natalie nearlyughed aloud. They carried the children into the car, where Flynn was already waiting. Seeing them, Flynn¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°Susie, Sean, I¡¯m your uncle Flynn. Here¨Cthese are my gifts for you.¡± From the other car, he produced two neatly wrapped packages. Susie unwrapped hers to find a brand¨Cnew, top¨Cof¨Cthe¨Clineptop. Her eyes widened, and she squealed in delight. ¡°Thank you!¡± She leaned in and nted a kiss on his cheek. The soft, sweet touch melted Flynn instantly. Too adorable. Too precious. ¡°Anything you want, tell Uncle. I¡¯ll buy it for you,¡± he promised, hugging her tightly. Then, without hesitation, he plucked her straight from Baron¡¯s arms. ¡°How can anyone resist such a darling little girl? She¡¯s perfect!¡± 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 245 A Brother¡¯s Gifts Baron turned away, unable to watch. : s Sean¡¯s gift was an advanced puzzle set, requiring not just assembly but also physics knowledge to solve. His eyes lit up with interest. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said simply. Most people treated them like ordinary children, but Flynn¡¯s gift showed thought. Sean liked him immediately. Baron shoved Sean into Flynn¡¯s arms as well. ¡°Go on, thank your uncle properly. Your mom and I are taking the back car.¡± He tugged Natalie away before she could protest. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little obvious?¡± she muttered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid the kids will resent you?¡± ¡°Not at all. They¡¯re just lightbulbs between us anyway,¡± Baron replied without shame. To him, the twins were thieves who stole Natalie¡¯s attention and left none for him. Now that Flynn was here to upy them, he finally had space to breathe. Natalie had to stifle augh as he pulled her toward the car. But as she climbed in, she cast onest nce back toward the kindergarten. The little girl from before was still there, clutching the snack happily. When she noticed Natalie watching, she offered a bright smile¨Ca smile tinged with a pleading sweetness. Natalie¡¯s gaze lingered on her clothes. Worn, stained, clearly not fresh. Her brows drew together slightly. ¡°What is it?¡± Baron asked, tugging her hand. She slid into the seat, still thoughtful. ¡°That little girl doesn¡¯t seem well cared for. At a kindergarten, shouldn¡¯t every child be treated the same?¡± Baron nced outside once, then said tly, ¡°The world isn¡¯t fair. That¡¯s why we sent our kids here instead of some elite academy¨Cso they¡¯d see how others live. That girl¡¯s family clearly struggles. Probably doesn¡¯t even get enough to eat, so a snack feels like treasure to her.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t argue. But that forced smile, that need to please¨Cit looked too much like her own childhood. 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 245 A Brother¡¯s Gifts : ¡°A child only smiles like that if they¡¯re invisible at home,¡± she murmured. +5 Free Cons Baron¡¯s expression shifted. He knew exactly what she was remembering. The cold years in the Summers household. ¡°Summers family went to the countryside too,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯re digging for those vigers just like we are. If you¡¯d rather avoid them, I can make it happen.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Natalie answered calmly. ¡°We¡¯re strangers now. Whatever they were, I repaid them long ago. When I designed my first jewelry line, I let Jensen bring Summers family in. They earned tens of millions a year from my work. That covers eighteen years of raising me. We owe each other nothing.¡± HereSelf 246 Chapter 246 Embarrassing Arrival Natalie¡¯s voice had been calm, almost detached¨Cit was clear she had truly let go of the Summers family. Baron sped her hand in his palm, his voice low. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The car rolled forward. Áã In Flynn¡¯s car ahead, the twins¡®ughter rang out. In Baron¡¯s car, however, he had the divider raised. Natalie¡¯s brows twitched. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Finally, no little lightbulbs around. Wife, give your husband a kiss.¡± He leaned in. Natalie shoved him away. ¡°No! We¡¯re in the car!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be gentle.¡± Gentle? Was that even the point? Before she could push him back again, Baron pinned her wrists, stealing a fierce kiss. His scent wrapped around her, overwhelming. Th?s chapter is updated by F¦ÉndNovel She tried to resist but quickly went soft in his arms. The temperature in the back seat soared, and before she knew it, Baron hadpletely undone her. By the time the hour¨Cand¨Ca¨Chalf drive ended, their clothes were disheveled, Natalie flushed and dazed, her beauty irresistible. ¡°This is your fault!¡± She kicked at him weakly. 9:48 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 246 Embarrassing Arrival 89 S Baron caught her ankle, kissed it, andughed softly. ¡°Yes, yes, my fault. Let me help you dress.¡± She thought she would die of shame. The driver had already killed the engine and bolted from the car without a word, leaving Natalie mortified. Her reputation was in ruins. And then came the knock at the door¨Calong with the twins¡® excited voices. ¡°Mommy, Daddy, we¡¯re here! Time to get out!¡± Natalie wanted to strangle Baron. If the kids saw them like this, she¡¯d never lift her head again. Baron let her kick him, murmuring coaxingly, ¡°Next time I¡¯ll be faster, I swear. Won¡¯t drag it out.¡± ¡°Baron!¡± She nearly exploded. That was not what she meant! The knocking continued. Flynn sensed something off. Scooping up Susie, he stopped Sean as well. ¡°Mommy¡¯s carsick, she¡¯s resting. Daddy will carry her in soon.¡± He shot a re at the car, his jaw tight. Baron, that shameless bastard. Couldn¡¯t he wait until night? Until the kids weren¡¯t around? Infuriated, Flynn carried the children away. Baron saw the re and scratched his nose sheepishly. ¡°Wife, I think your brother¡¯s mad at me.¡± ¡°Stop ying the victim.¡± Natalie rolled her eyes, too drained to argue. home and pg up pg dn 9:49 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 246 Embarrassing Arrival They hade here to trace her past, yet Baron hadpletely derailed her. At least Flynn had arranged everything in advance. +5 Free Cons Seeing her genuinely upset, Baron dared not push further. He dressed her properly, then lifted her in his arms. Natalie buried her face in his chest like an ostrich. If Flynn said she was carsick, then she¡¯d let that be her excuse. Baron chuckled at her shy, flustered demeanor, his chest shaking against her cheek. Her annoyance red¨Cshe bit down. Unfortunately, she bit too low. Baron jolted as though struck by lightning, nearly stumbling. Only at thest moment did he steady himself. His eyes burned dark, his voice hoarse. ¡°Wife¡­ are you sure you don¡¯t want to stay in today?¡± Natalie realized what she¡¯d done and turned crimson, yanking her teeth away. But the wet mark on his shirt betrayed her. She wanted to faint from embarrassment. Covering her face, she prayed to disappear. Baronughed again, though wisely held his tongue. He carried her inside. Flynn red daggers at him, exasperated. The twins rushed over, voices full of worry. ¡°Daddy, is Mommy sick? Should we call a doctor?¡± HereSelf 247 Chapter 247 Unexpected Visitors ¡°Yes, call a doctor,¡± Flynn added, clearly enjoying the moment. Natalie wanted nothing more than to sink into the floor. Baron quickly intervened. ¡°No need. Your mommy just needs some rest. If you¡¯re bored, why don¡¯t you take the kids out for a walk? It¡¯s their first time in the countryside.¡± ¡°Really? Uncle, are there chickens and ducks here?¡± ¡°Uncle, I heard there are pigs in the countryside. Is that true?¡± The twins lit up with curiosity, bombarding Flynn with questions. Flynn nced at Natalie¡¯s flushed, embarrassed face, and his heart softened. ¡°Alright, Uncle will take you out to explore.¡± The house grew quiet once they left. Baron carried Natalie into the bedroom. She immediately scrambled down, ring at him before retreating into the bathroom and locking the door. Baron rubbed his nose sheepishly. Best not to provoke her now. He turned to the kitchen instead. There were fresh vegetables stocked, so he set about preparing dinner for Natalie and the kids. She¡¯d need the nourishment after the energy she¡¯d spent. By the time Natalie finally emerged, the house was empty of voices. Her embarrassment eased a little. Catching sight of the marks scattered across her skin, she flushed. Yet beneath the shyness was an undeniable sweetness. So this was possible even in a car. Five years with Jensen had been like life in a convent¨Ccold, empty, without desire. With Baron, she¡¯d discovered a side of herself she never knew existed. Nataliey down on the bed and drifted into sleep. 173 9:49 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 247 Unexpected Visitors 89 s When Baron finished cooking, Flynn and the children returned, chattering excitedly about their adventures. ¡°Daddy, you wouldn¡¯t believe it! The pig farm wasn¡¯t dirty at all, and they even yed music!¡± ¡°Yeah! And all the chickens and ducks were kept together¨Cit didn¡¯t smell bad at all. Daddy, the countryside isn¡¯t as gross as people say.¡± The twins beamed, clutching two fish they had caught. Flynn, too, had his pants rolled up and carried a bucket of water. No one would guess he was heir to the Stone Group. Baron chuckled. ¡°If this image of you spreads online, you¡¯ll never get a girlfriend.¡± ¡°Nonsense! Farmers are the most honorable people. Without them, what would you eat? This is called staying grounded.¡± He set the bucket down, then eyed the table full of food. Baron¡¯s effort earned a flicker of respect. ¡°Has Nataliee out yet?¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably resting. I¡¯ll wake her. You all go wash up.¡± Baron went upstairs. Natalie had already stirred awake from the twins¡® noisy excitement. When she saw Baron enter, wearing a bright red apron, she burst intoughter. Seeing the color back in her face, Baron rxed. ¡°d I could amuse you. Now, ready for dinner?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± She slipped on her shoes and followed him out. The kids were still bathing, the living room empty. Baron pulled her gently to the dining table. Just then, noise erupted outside. Natalie and Baron both froze, turning toward the door. ¡°Why is she here?¡± Natalie muttered¨CBaron echoed her thought exactly. 9:49 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 247 Unexpected Visitors ¡°I¡¯ll take a look,¡± she said, rising Baron trailed after her, unwilling to let her face anything alone. At the doorway, they found Quincy and Jordan, blocked by the Stone family¡¯s guante ¡°Please, let us in,¡± Quincy pleaded. ¡°We raised Natalie. We¡¯re her foster parents. We heart she came here and just want to see her. We mean no harm.¡± Quincy held a bag of food, while Jordan carried a bottle of Natalie¡¯s favorite childhood drinks Natalie blinked in surprise. For more chapters visit Find?Novel She remembered vividly how, as a child, Quincy and Jordan never let her drink anything sweet. Once, when she bought a bottle herself, Quincy had scolded her harshly, and Jordan had forced her to write over a thousand words of reflection and memorize the health hazards of sugary drinks for days. And now¡­ they¡¯d brought it as a gift? HereSelf 248 Chapter 248 Severed Ties PERS Chapter 248 Severed Ties Natalie remembered well that they had once forbidden her from drinking soda, iming it was bad for her health. She hadn¡¯t resented it¨Cshe thought they meant well. She never dared buy or drink it again. Later, she realized that having a drink now and then wasn¡¯t harmful. Back then, before she was driven out of the Summers family, she believed their harshness came from care. But once Sharon returned, everything changed. Sharon could eat and drink whatever she wanted, and the old couple never said a word. Natalie couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter. So that was the weight of blood ties. Now, seeing Jordan bringing her favorite drink as if it were some gesture of affection, she found it difficult to stomach. ¡°Jordan, I remember you saying this was forbidden. So what are you trying to do, bringing it now?¡± Her voice carried no warmth. The two turned at the sound. When Quincy saw her, her eyes reddened instantly. Tears welled up until they spilled over. ¡°Natalie!¡± She stepped forward to embrace her, but Natalie instinctively stepped back, putting space between them. The distance froze Quincy mid¨Cstep. Her tears fell harder. ¡°You¡¯re still angry, aren¡¯t you? I know, I was blind. After Sharon came back, I ignored you. I even let her beat and torment you without stepping in. That was my fault. But we still have eighteen years of mother and daughter between us, Natalie!¡± Her words didn¡¯t move Natalie. She had once cared deeply for this foster mother. Every time she went away forpetitions or events, she brought back gifts for Quincy, hoping to ease the tension in her life with Jordan. She had wanted Quincy to smile more. But when the truth of her birth came out, Quincy¡¯s words had cut her deeper than any de. Later, when Sharon locked her in the basement, beating her andshing her, Quincy hadn¡¯t Chapter 248 Severed Ties A 89 s spoken a word to stop it. The way she looked at Natalie then¨Clike a stray dog¨Chad burned that bond to ashes. ¡°Quincy, I remember your words clearly. From the day it was proven I wasn¡¯t your daughter, you forbade me from mentioning the Summers family again. I¡¯ve kept that promise. So why are you here today?¡± Her voice was calm, almost indifferent. That coolness hurt worse than anger. Quincy sobbed harder. ¡°Natalie, we were wrong. Please forgive us. I never thought Sharon could be so vicious. I thought she was only jealous you lived in her ce for eighteen years. I never imagined she¡¯d even try to kill her own mother. We were blind, Natalie. Blind not to see how good you were all along.¡± Her regret poured out like a flood. She and Jordan hade to the countryside chasing scraps of clues. If they could find even the slightest proof that Sharon wasn¡¯t really theirs, they would cut her off in a heartbeat. But the couple they sought had vanished. And at the hospital where Sharon was born, every record, every test confirmed she was their child. Still, Quincy and Jordan couldn¡¯t ept it. Hearing Natalie was here, they hade anyway. Compared to Sharon, Natalie was kind and dutiful. Now that she was revealed as the Stone family¡¯s daughter, they hoped¨Cshamelessly- that they might cling to the title of foster parents. This update is avable on find{n}ovel But Natalie saw through it. They weren¡¯t here out of love. They were here because her identity had changed. So she had no more expectations. ¡°The past is over. Why are you here now?¡± Her voice was t. Quincy faltered, unable to answer. Jordan sighed, guilt clouding his eyes. ¡°Nothing. We only wanted to see you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need parents anymore,¡± Natalie said coldly. ¡°I already have a real family now. Go back, Jordan. Quincy. I¡¯ll ept your gesture, but that¡¯s all.¡± Te, Sep 30 HereSelf 249 Chapter 249 A Door Closed When Natalie finished speaking, she had the guards remove them without hesitation. Quincy tried to cling on, but Baron cut her off coldly. ¡°Quincy, you¡¯d better hurry back to Ocean City. Maybe you haven¡¯t heard¨Cyour precious daughter Sharon has been exposed Thanks to your ¡®good son¨Cinw¡® Jensen, she¡¯s been granted medical parole. Word is, the reason is mental illness. If you don¡¯t go back soon, you might not see her sane again.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Quincy froze in shock. Jordan pulled out his phone and quickly searched thetest headlines. They had spent all their time in the countryside chasing clues about the baby switch and hadn¡¯t kept up with the news. When he saw Sharon¡¯s scandals stered all over the inte, his vision¨Cwent ck. He copsed on the spot. ¡°Jordan!¡± Quincy shrieked in terror. Natalie frowned, exasperated, and ordered the guards to get him to a hospital. But before they could move, Quincy staggered¨Cand fell too, unconscious. The guards nced at each other, speechless. Natalie¡¯s brows knitted together. Baron bent close to her ear and murmured, ¡°Look at her sleeve. Do you see the powder there?¡± Natalie followed his gaze. Indeed, a faint dusting of white clung to Quincy¡¯s cuff. Her eyes narrowed. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Something that knocks you out fast,¡± Baron said grimly. His sharp senses caught a trace of sedative on the breeze. Natalie¡¯s face turned hard. ¡°So even now, she¡¯s scheming against me?¡± Her voice was low but pointed enough for Quincy to hear. ¡°Pass out here, get carried inside, y on my guilt, stay in this house long enough to worm her life¡­ Is that the n?¡± way back into my ?(?), Chapter 249 A Door Closed Quincyy still, but Baron caught the subtle flicker of her eyelids. s ¡°Don¡¯t bother with her,¡± he said coldly. ¡°Any bond you once had is gone. If it weren¡¯t for her indulgence, Sharon would never have dared set you on fire. The fact you didn¡¯t burn Summers family to the ground is already mercy.¡± He sped Natalie¡¯s hand, finding her palm cold. On the surface she looked detached, but inside, he knew she still wavered. His dislike for the Summers couple deepened. ¡°What are you waiting for? Throw them out,¡± Baron ordered icily. The guards obeyed. ¡°Come,¡± he said, tugging her back toward the dining room. ¡°Let¡¯s eat. Don¡¯t let people who don¡¯t matter spoil your mood.¡± The warmth of his hand wrapped around hers. The cold ache in her chest dissolved. With him here, she never felt abandoned. ¡°Alright. Dinner,¡± she answered softly, not sparing another nce for Quincy. The guards dragged Quincy out. She cried out as she hit the ground, but no one turned back. The door shut firmly in her face. Her tears fell harder. ¡°Natalie¡­ have you really cut us off?¡± Memories of the gentle, obedient girl she had once raised filled her mind. Regret wed her heart raw. Her phone rang. An unfamiliar number lit the screen. She hesitated, then answered. ¡°Mom! Save me! Please, save me! They¡¯re going to kill me!¡± Sharon¡¯s shrill, desperate voice screamed down the line. Quincy¡¯s lips parted¨Cbut the memory of her daughter poisoning her shed like a knife. Sharon, who had once plotted her own mother¡¯s death, was begging for rescue? Her hand trembled. She cut the call. Powered off the phone. Readplete version only at find?novel Then she rose slowly, like an empty shell, and walked toward the hospital where Jordan had been taken. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, tears streaming endlessly down her face. 9:49 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 250 Shackled HereSelf 250 Chapter 250 Shackled Chapter 250 Shackled From this moment on, Quincy told herself she no longer had a daughter named Sharon. To her, that child was already dead. But Sharon, clutching her phone, could hardly believe it. Her mother had hung up on her. She redialed frantically, only to hear the t, merciless voice: ¡°The number you are calling has been switched off.¡± Her knees went weak. Rage and terror tore at her chest. ¡°Why? Why won¡¯t you answer me? Why?¡± With a scream, she hurled the phone against the wall. Footsteps echoed behind her. ¡°Don¡¯t let her get away!¡± Sharon¡¯s scalp prickled. She bolted. She had seen it herself¨Cthe powder slipped into her food. Poison. Just like she had once ordered Lucy to poison Quincy. But this time, the target was her. No, it couldn¡¯t be. Jensen wouldn¡¯t dare. She was his savior. He owed her his life. He wouldn¡¯t¡­. Would he? She stumbled to the door¨Conly to find it sealed, caged in with metal fencing, wires strung with live current. Her heart sank. She wasn¡¯t a wife anymore. She was a prisoner. How had ite to this? ¡°There she is! Grab her!¡± The guards closed in. 9:49 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 250 Shackled :. s Her lungs burned; her body, still weak from the miscarriage, gave out. She wheezed, gasping, and when the men caught up, she had no strength left to resist. ¡°I¡¯m Mrs. Luke!¡± she screamed hoarsely. ¡°How dare you touch me? Do you want to die? Let me go!¡± A sharp crack split the air¨Ca servant¡¯s palm across her face. ¡°Mrs. Luke? Mr. Jensen divorced you. You¡¯re nothing now. Make trouble again, and we¡¯ll kill you. He won¡¯t lift a finger to stop us.¡± The blow nearly knocked her down. Her cheek burned red hot, tears of fury stinging her eyes. ¡°You dare hit me? I¡¯ll kill you¡ª¡± A brutal kicknded on her abdomen. Blood gushed warm and wet between her thighs. Her scream ripped through the hall. The servants froze, horrified. ¡°Are you insane? Why¡¯d you kick her stomach? Get her inside¨Ccall the doctor, quick!¡± The butler¡¯s face twisted with unease. They hauled Sharon back to her room. Her vision blurred; she was half¨Cfainting when the doctor arrived. A sedative needle pricked her skin, and her protests dissolved into drugged silence. As the others filed out, one maid lingered. Her hand clenched around something small and hidden. A flicker of madness burned in her eyes before she ducked her head, meek and timid. ¡°You¡¯rete,¡± the doctor muttered, clearly recognizing her. ¡°I¡­ my stomach hurt. I went to the restroom,¡± she stammered. ¡°Fine. Get warm water to clean her up. Whatever else, she saved Mr. Jensen once. He may ignore her now, but what if she regains his favor? If she does, and we¡¯ve mistreated her, we¡¯ll all pay the price. Always leave a way back.¡± His words hung heavy in the air. The servants lowered their gazes. Memories of the abuse they had just inflicted sat like stones in their stomachs. 9:49 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 50 Shackled The maid bowed her head deeper, quiet as a shadow. The doctor sighed, scribbled prescriptions, and packed his case. ¡°She¡¯s weak. She needs nourishment. She¡¯s not to be starved or neglected¨CMr. Jensen never said that.¡± ¡°We understand,¡± the butler said quickly. When the doctor left, the butler turned back to the pale figure sprawled on the bed. Get full chapters from F¦Énd£Îovel ¡°You,¡± he pointed at the maid, ¡°will serve her personally from now on. Report everything to me. She doesn¡¯t leave this house. The doctor said to care for her¨Cso care for her. Call it confinement, call it a month of recovery, whatever. But no one will say we abused her.¡± Sharony still, unconscious, as the new cage around her life closed tighter. 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 251 Fear Won HereSelf 251 Chapter 251 Fear Won Chapter 251 Fear Won ¡°Alright.¡± Norah lowered her head as she agreed. The butler led the others out. Norah nced at Sharon, still unconscious on the hospital bed; a sh of viciousness crossed her eyes. A scalpel slipped into her palm from who¨Cknew¨Cwhere, and in an instant, she pressed it against Sharon¡¯s throat. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel ¡°You ruined my daughter¡¯s life; now you¡¯ll pay with yours!¡± Her hand trembled, her body trembling along with it; but in the end, fear won. No! I can¡¯t let her off that easily. Norah quickly pulled the scalpel back, feigningposure; instead, she slipped a packet of white powder into the water kettle. The powder dissolved almost instantly, vanishing without a trace. She began tidying up the room. Sharon woke about an hour and a halfter. She blinked at the stark white ceiling, disoriented for a moment, unsure where she was. ¡°Ms. Sharon, you¡¯re awake?¡± Norah greeted her with a broad, guileless smile. Sharon¡¯s memory finally settled. She bolted upright, only to tug at her abdomen; pain ripped through her, forcing a cry from her lips. ¡°Ms. Sharon, the doctor already examined you. He said you just had a miscarriage, your body is weak, and you need to rest. From today on, I¡¯ll be taking care of everything for you. You can call me Norah.¡± Norah introduced herself gently, then poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Sharon ¡°Your body lost a lot of fluids. Drink some water first.¡± 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 251 Fear Won : Sharon eyed her warily, making no move to lift a hand. 89 $5 Free Coins Norah didn¡¯t seem offended. In front of Sharon, she drank down the cup of water herself. Then she poured another and offered it again. Only then did Sharon ept it. She was parched. Sharon understood her situation¨Cher body was far too weak. If she wanted to escape, she first had to recover. The people here weren¡¯t exactly friendly; they might even be nning to kill her. But she had no other choice. For now, Norah seemed trustworthy. Sharon hurriedly drank down the water. Seeing this, the corner of Norah¡¯s lips lifted in the faintest smile¨Cgone as quickly as it appeared. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Go get me something to eat.¡± Sharon spoke up, and Norah quickly left the room. Sharon pressed herself to the window, looking out; bodyguards were everywhere. A wave of despair swept through her. Her phone was gone. She had no means ofmunication. Is Jensen nning to cut me off from the outside world ? Why? Everything was supposed to go ording to n¨Cso why am I the one trapped now? Sharon thought of Natalie. ¡°Damn it! Even after I took back the life that should¡¯ve been mine, why is she still better off than me? How could she possibly be the Stone family¡¯s daughter? That¡¯s impossible. Wait- back then we were switched at birth. Could it be¡­ I¡¯m the real Stone family heiress?¡± She muttered to herself, and the more she spoke, the more convinced she became. If I can just get in touch with the Stone family, I could live Natalie¡¯s life instead. Then maybe Jensen would finally see me differently. The more she thought about it, the more it felt right. 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 251 Fear Won She had to recover first¨Cthen she¡¯d go to the Stones. Confidence surged through her, but suddenly her head throbbed. She clutched her temples, woozy, and before long drifted back into unconsciousness. Outside the room, Norah watched her, then sent Jensen a message. s ¡°Mr. Jensen, I gave her the medicine, but she¡¯s very cautious. I can only slip in small amounts each time. I think she expects me to taste it first. Do you have an antidote?¡± Jensen frowned slightly at the text. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll have the butler bring it to youter. As long as you keep this discreet, once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll send you and your daughter abroad.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jensen.¡± Norah¡¯s gratitude poured out, though Jensen¡¯s face showed little emotion. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Quincy found Jordan already stable. Seeing Quincy return in tears, Jordan understood immediately. ¡°Ah. Natalie has a kind heart, but she¡¯s also strong¨Cwilled. When we found out she wasn¡¯t really our daughter, we hadn¡¯t said a word yet, and she insisted on leaving the Summers family. She even promised she¡¯d repay the cost of raising her once she had a job. That¡¯s when I knew the girl had her own principles. Too bad¨Cwe shielded Sharon, that ungrateful brat, and broke Natalie¡¯s heart.¡± Quincy wept uncontrobly. ¡°Jordan, what do we do? Natalie grew up with us; she¡¯s always been a filial child. But now¡ªeven if I copse in front of her, she ignores me. Worse, once she learned what I was nning, she had me thrown out. Do you think we can ever mend things with her?¡± Jordan didn¡¯t know how to answer. ¡°Take it slow. First, we need to find out whether the mix¨Cup back then was an ident¨Cor deliberate. That couple seems to be under the Stone family¡¯s protection. For now, we should stick close to Natalie¡¯s side and watch how things unfold.¡± HereSelf 252 Chapter 252 Emergency Room Chapter 252 Emergency Room : ?? RA Jordan made the decision with a helpless sigh; at the same time, not long after Natalie returned to her room, a message came through from Flynn. He said the couple had been hospitalized. Natalie and Baron both went still for a moment; worry flickered across their faces. ¡°Flynn, check who was assigned to guard that couple.¡± s Natalie and Baron exchanged a look; they both knew Baron was thinking the same thing. The Stone family was like a sieve now; it seemed anyone could be nted inside. Waylon and Ruby had been cleaning house within the Stone familytely, but Natalie grew uneasy; that couple was so important¨Cwhether it was Flynn or Waylon, they would have sent trusted people to handle this. Yet the couple still ended up in the hospital. That showed the people around Waylon and Flynn weren¡¯t reliable. Flynn had clearly noticed that too. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ve already had everyone guarding them arrested. We¡¯ll interrogate them slowly. I brought the kids to the hospital; I saw you two were busy earlier, so I didn¡¯t want to bother you. Go eat first; there¡¯s nothing you can do now¨Ceveryone¡¯s in the emergency room.¡± Flynn¡¯s words made Natalie frown slightly. ¡°Emergency room? Poisoning?¡± ¡°Yes. The two started vomiting and having diarrhea suddenly; they foamed at the mouth. The butler called me; I had to have them rushed to the hospital. The kids ate a little on the way, don¡¯t worry.¡± Flynn rattled off the report. Baron¡¯s brow pinched tighter. ¡°Flynn, how long ago did they go in?¡± ¡°Less than three minutes; what¡¯s wrong?¡± Flynn wasn¡¯t used to being addressed that way by Baron, so he froze for a beat before answering. 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 252 Emergency Room s Baron lowered his voice, ¡°Have your men get in there and check right away; I suspect whoever did this will strike the couple again the moment we leave them.¡± Flynn didn¡¯t even hang up; he kicked open the emergency room door. ¡°What are you doing?¡± His voice red through the phone. Baron and Natalie understood instantly. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°Somewhat; let¡¯s head over and take a look first.¡± Natalie wanted to learn about her origins, so she insisted on going to the hospital. Baron quickly stuffed two apples into her hands. ¡°Eat on the way; I¡¯ll heat something up when we get back.¡± Updates are released by find?novel ¡°All right.¡± They drove to the hospital where Flynn was waiting. The two children were being watched and were fairly well¨Cbehaved. When they saw Natalie and Baron, they ran over happily. ¡°Daddy, mommy!¡± 66 ¡®Good kids.¡± Baron scooped one child into each arm. Natalie saw he wasn¡¯t struggling with the weight, then headed for the emergency room. Flynn¡¯s face was dark with anger. Natalie¡¯s heart dropped when she saw him. ¡°Hey, they-¡± Flynn looked at Natalie, pain written on his face. 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 252 Emergency Room ¡°They didn¡¯t make it; we were toote. The doctor injected them with something too power they couldn¡¯t be saved.¡± Flynn mmed his fist into the wall in fury; blood seeped from the back of his hand. How could I have been so stupid? Why didn¡¯t I notice something was off? If I¡¯d found out sooner, they wouldn¡¯t have died! Now what? All the leads are cut off! Before I left, Mom and Dad told me over and over to find out the truth about the baby switch; now I destroyed the only lead¨Cgo ahead and yell at me. Flynn, furious, pped himself twice. ¡°Flynn!¡± Natalie hurried to stop him. ¡°Some things, no matter how long they¡¯re hidden, will eventually surface. If the trail¡¯s cut now, there¡¯s nothing to be done. That couple had been monitored for a while; we managed to save them once, but we couldn¡¯t save them a second or third time. If they were smart, they would have sought the Stone family¡¯s help earlier. Even with their lives threatened, they didn¡¯t turn to the Stone family- which shows whoever threatened them was even more terrifying than the Stone family.¡± Natalie furrowed her brow and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think Uncle Xenon and his wife didn¡¯t die by ident. Yvonne really is his daughter.¡± Flynn nodded quickly when she said that. ¡°Mom and dad investigated that too. The orphanage that took Yvonne in moved away mysteriously after she left; no one knew where it went, and there were no registration records anywhere¨Cit was like it vanished into thin air. That¡¯s not normal.¡± Natalie nodded. ¡°Yes. Now you need to clear out the people around you. We arranged such tight security, yet that couple still had an incident under our noses; that proves the Stone family is full of holes- there are other people nted everywhere. That means not just me, but you and Mom and Dad aren¡¯t safe either: Flynn, if necessary, Baron¡¯s people could actually be useful.¡± 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 253 Baron Screen Our People HereSelf 253 Chapter 253 Baron Screen Our People s Natalie knew Flynn wasn¡¯t fond of Baron; if he didn¡¯t care about her feelings, Flynn would probably have kicked Baron out. But Flynn also understood how Baron felt about Natalie and what he had done; so even if he resented Baron for marrying the Stone family¡¯s little princess, he had to ept it. Now that Natalie wanted Baron¡¯s people to step into Stone family affairs, she truly feared Flynn¡¯s rejection. Flynn only blinked once, then instinctively nced at Baron. ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to him.¡± With that, Flynn strode toward Baron; Natalie froze for a moment. Did he ept that quickly? With no reluctance at all? She hurried after him. Flynn said straightaway, ¡°Baron, something¡¯s wrong inside the Stone family. Dad and I thought we¡¯d cleaned things up, but the death of that couple hit me hard today. My sister says your people could help; can you screen everyone currently inside the Stone family?¡± Baron looked from Flynn to Natalie behind him. ¡°You want my people toe into the Stone family and screen them?¡± ¡°If you can help, then help¨Cafter all, it¡¯s your father¨Cinw¡¯s family; we¡¯re family, aren¡¯t we?¡± Natalie said this, her face flushing a little. Baron¡¯s heart warmed immediately. ¡°Right¨Cfamily. No need to talk about favors; leave this to me. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll make sure no traitor or schemer tears this family apart.¡± Flynn¡¯s lips twitched. So exciting, huh? Sean and Susie, seeing the adults¡® expressions lighten, rubbed their bellies and piped up, ¡°Daddy, mommy, uncle, can we go home to eat? We¡¯re so hungry!¡± At the sound of the children¡¯s hunger, Natalie nodded at once. 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 253 Baron Screen Our People Get full chapters from Find1Novel Flynn scooped up the kids and headed for the door first. 88 s ¡°I¡¯ll take the kids back; you twoeter. Whatever happens, you¡¯ve all got to eat first.¡± Natalie and Baron exchanged a nce; Baron stepped forward andced his fingers with hers. As the group left the hospital, someone lurking in the shadows watched them furtively. Natalie spun around; the figure slipped away quickly, but the hem of that person¡¯s coat made her frown. ¡°Want me to handle it?¡± Baron¡¯s chest felt warm from Natalie¡¯s we¡¯re family remark, so when he noticed her frown, he offered. Natalie shook her head. ¡°No need; I want to see what they¡¯re up to. The Summers family may be trying to rise again, but their foundation¡¯s still unstable. They gave up the Luke Corp partnership; the current Summers aren¡¯t much to look at. Let¡¯s watch for now.¡± Natalie recognized Quincy¡¯s coat hem. She had suspected the Summers family might be involved in the couple¡¯s deaths, but seeing this put her more at ease. If the Summers had really been behind it, they¡¯d have vanished already; they wouldn¡¯t be skulking in the shadows watching; maybe they didn¡¯t even know the couple was dead yet. Natalie shook her head and climbed into the car with Baron. Baron narrowed his eyes but did nothing. The Summers¡® parents had clearly been heartbroken by Sharon¡¯s actions and only then remembered their foster daughter Natalie; after all, the Summers had only one child- bringing Natalie back would benefit them, and she¡¯d been raised by them for eighteen years. Baron shook his head. That couple only thought of Natalie now? Ridiculous. When Baron got in the car, Natalie said, ¡°Drive.¡± Baron leaned on Natalie¡¯s shoulder and grinned cheekily, ¡°Am I living off you now?¡± ¡°Mr. Baron, with Grant International Holdings under your name, you can stand shoulder to 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 253 Baron Screen Our People shoulder with a centuries¨Cold family like the Stone family; you¡¯re not living off Chris at the wheel brightened noticeably at Natalie¡¯s words. ¡°Mr. Baron is the CEO of Grant International Holdings?¡± ¡°No¨CChairman,¡± Natalie corrected Baron. Chris¡® tone immediately turned respectful. s anyone.¡± ¡°So it was Natalie who chose Baron; he really has talent. They say Grant International only rose up in the past two years, yet it has forced its way into high society and be a leader; everyone¡¯s been guessing who the force behind Grant International is¨Cturns out it¡¯s Baron!¡± HereSelf 254 Chapter 254 No Bed For A Month Chapter 254 No Bed For A Month Baron looked a little embarrassed by thepliments. s He cleared his throat and said, ¡°I just threw some money into it; Revolver¡¯s the one really managing things. I¡¯m prettyzy, and with these bad teeth of mine, I¡¯m better suited to living off someone else.¡± Then he leaned against Natalie¡¯s shoulder with a grin. ¡°My wife¡¯s new jewelry designs will make dinner taste even better for me. Isn¡¯t that right, sweetheart?¡± Natalie¡¯s lips curved despite herself. Who didn¡¯t like having their strengths noticed? Not only did Baron praise her talent, but he even put himself down to lift her up. She knew he was being slick, but it still felt good. Chrisughed as well. ¡°Exactly! The Stone family¡¯s been rich for generations; our youngdy also happens to have a gift for design. Baron, you just keep lying back and living the easy life. Don¡¯t worry¨CI¡¯ll make sure your meals are always delicious.¡± Baron couldn¡¯t hold back hisughter. ¡°Chris, you¡¯re a sharp one. One of these days, I¡¯ll spar with you.¡± ¡°That¡¯d be great! I¡¯ve heard your skills are impressive¨CI¡¯ve been wanting to learn from you.¡± Chris was almost giddy with excitement. Getting trained by America¡¯s godfather himself¨Che really owed it all to the youngdy. She was his lucky star; in fact, she was the entire Stone family¡¯s lucky star. ¡°Youngdy, even though this is the countryside, if you ever need anything, just say the word. I¡¯ll make it happen!¡± Seeing how quick¨Cwitted he was, Baron looked very satisfied. Natalie felt like Baron was starting to rub off on her. proper dinner ?????? ???? fin?novel She gave him a yful re and whispered, ¡°Quiet! We¡¯ll go home and haveter. Even though that couple died and the clues from back then were cut off, the kids don¡¯t get toe to the country often. Let¡¯s just treat this as a little trip for them. These next few 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 254 No Bed For A Month days, help my brother get the Stone family¡¯s security sorted out.¡± ¡°Yes, madam!¡± Baron¡¯s exaggerated response made Natalieugh again. The two of them soon returned to the vi. Flynn had reheated the meal Baron had prepared. Meanwhile, the kids had discovered new entertainment. ZH + Free Down Behind the vi was a pond, and for some reason, a flock of ducks was swimming there. The children thought it was hrious and immediately took off chasing after them. The air was filled with quacking. Natalie¡¯s eyes softened with warmth andughter at the sight. Baron, on the other hand, looked like he couldn¡¯t bear to watch. ¡°Seriously, what a couple of little troublemakers. Don¡¯t they find that awful quacking annoying?¡± ¡°They¡¯re kids. Of course, they¡¯re curious about things they haven¡¯t seen before. You¡¯ve let them run wild on the ind without ever thinking to get them a few ducks?¡± Herment sent a chill straight down Baron¡¯s spine. ¡°Don¡¯t even joke about that! With those two little terrors raising ducks? The poor servants would never survive it. I¡¯ve figured it out¨Cyou¡¯re totally biased when ites to the kids. Sweetheart, let me tell you, neither Susie nor Sean is as innocent as they look.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! My kids are just fine.¡± Natalie swatted him, then noticed Susie had tripped from running too fast. ¡°Susie!¡± Her heart lurched as she rushed forward to scoop the girl up. But Susie didn¡¯t even hear her call; she scrambled back to her feet, brushed off her knees, and tore after Sean again. ¡°Wait for me! We agreed the ducks are half mine. Tonight, let¡¯s have Uncle cook one for us, okay? Look at that one up front¨Cit looks nice and fat!¡± 9:5 Tue, Sep : ?? Chapter 254 No Bed For A Month Natalie froze in her tracks. +5 Free Coms She stared at the two kids running ahead, speechless, then heard Baron¡¯sughter behind her. ¡°Come on, let them y. Worst case, he¡¯s with them. You¡¯ve been through enough today¨Clet¡¯s go cat,¡± Noticing Baron¡¯s men shadowing the children, Natalie finally felt reassured enough to follow him back inside the vi. The two of them enjoyed their meal, while Flynn, too uneasy to leave the kids alone, went out to chase after them. Baron thought Natalie looked beautiful in every way. With a mischievous smirk, he said, ¡°Sweetheart, the scenery¡¯s not bad out here. How about we sneak off for a little roll in the grass?¡± Natalie nearly choked on her soup. Her cheeks turned crimson as she gave him a sharp kick beneath the table. ¡°Shut up! Keep that up, and you can forget about sharing a bed with me for a month.¡± Baron instantly deted. He was about to try coaxing a little more affection out of her when his phone suddenly rang. One nce at the screen, and his expression darkened. ¡°What is it? Something happened?¡± Natalie asked, noticing his grim face. Baron silenced the call and said quietly, ¡°You finish eating. I need to step out and take care of something.¡± HereSelf 255 Chapter 255 Food Tastes Like Care ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± 40 88 Natalie had never involved herself much in Baron¡¯s affairs before. She always felt they lived in different worlds, and she didn¡¯t want to control him too tightly. But after everything they had been through, her mindset had shifted. Baron¡¯s safety was now what she cared about most. She realized, vaguely but surely, that he had seeped into her life like air and water¨Cso natural, so constant, she hardly noticed until she did. If there ever came a day when she didn¡¯t see him, she would feel something missing. Baron noticed the concern in her eyes and couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°No real danger, just some business matters to handle. You eat; I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Seeing her exhale in relief, he finally stepped out with his phone. But once he left the dining room, his smile vanished. ¡°Talk.¡± His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it carried a suppressed edge of anger; the weight of it seemed to press through the phone, making the other side flinch. ¡°Mr. Baron, when that couple was hospitalized years ago, the woman went intoborplications. The man had no money for surgery, so he said he was going home to borrow some. But our people checked¡ªhe never returned to the vige. Yet, fifteen minutester, he came back to the hospital with cash and paid for the operation.¡± Shauna quickly ryed the findings. Baron¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°So you¡¯re saying the man most likely ran into someone on his way out, and was given money?¡± ¡°Yes, that seems to be the case. But we haven¡¯t found solid evidence yet. Also, the child the woman gave birth to¡­ was apparently stillborn. We tracked down the doctor who delivered the `baby. After the surgery, he resigned, moved his whole family abroad, but there was supposedly a ne crash during their migration. The story goes they missed the flight because their child had an upset stomach¨Cso they survived¡ªand then vanished.¡± 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 255 Food Tastes Like Care Shauna continued her report. Content originallyes from find~novel 420 +5 Free Coms ¡°Mr. Baron, that doctor has lived under an assumed name ever since, in a small town; he abandoned medicine altogether and has been supporting his family by delivering food. His wife and children are doing well, but all of them changed names to her side of the family. Our people already have him under control and under protection. Should we send them to your wife¡¯s side, or¡­¡± Just then, Baron saw Natalie stand up from the table, having finished her meal. He lowered his voice. ¡°Keep them safe for now. I¡¯ll ask Natalie what she wants to do. We¡¯ll be staying here a few days to rx.¡± It wasn¡¯t often Natalie and the kids got time away; he didn¡¯t want this truth to ruin their peace. The truth would never stay buried forever¨Cit was only a matter of time. Besides, with that couple¡¯s recent death, if the doctor were moved, anyone tailing them might trace the lead back to him. That would only bring him danger. Shauna nodded on the other end. ¡°Understood, Mr. Baron. One more thing¨Cabout Yvonne¡¯s parentage, I¡¯ve found a lead.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Uncle Xenon seems to have taken his wife and child traveling when the baby turned one. They passed through the couple¡¯s vige, and even stayed there for one night.¡± Baron¡¯s mind spun with possibilities. ¡°Got it. Keep digging.¡± Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Natalie step out of the dining room, so he said quickly, ¡°That¡¯s all. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± He ended the call and strode toward her. ¡°All done eating?¡± ¡°You go finish yours. I¡¯ll have some water; we can take a walk after to help digest.¡± She was still worrying about him being hungry. Warmth spread in Baron¡¯s chest. 9:51 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 255 Food Tastes Like Care ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll eat quickly. You y on your phone for a bit while you wait.¡± ?? +5 Free Coms When he walked back into the dining room, he noticed every dish had been touched lightly by Natalie, but only in front of her seat. Everywhere else was untouched; the table was neat, spotless. Most importantly, she had set aside a portion of food just for him. How could he describe this feeling? His throat tightened, his eyes stinging faintly. ¡°He was, after all, a direct son of the Gunn family. But after his mother had been persecuted, his childhood within the family was nothing but torment.¡± Forget eating at the table¨Chaving anything to eat at all was already something. And even then, it was often leftovers, scraps. When he grew older and found his own strength, he swore off other people¡¯s scraps; he refused to eat with anyone else, making it a habit to eat alone. On the table, he only touched what he liked, and that was enough to soothe the hunger of his past. But now, seeing the food Natalie had set aside just for him, he felt, for the first time, the warmth of being cared for¡ªof being cherished. HereSelf 256 Chapter 256 Sand In My Eye 88 +5 Free Coins Baron finally had someone who cared about him. When Natalie saw him standing with his back to her, doing nothing, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Baron, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing, just got some sand in my eye.¡± His voice was choked, though he quickly turned and headed toward the dining room. Natalie frowned slightly; almost instinctively, she nced toward the living room window. Sand? There¡¯s no sand in here. But when she saw Baron sit down and start eating, she decided not to dwell on it. She settled onto the couch and pulled out her phone, only to see a new friend request pop up. That number¨Cshe knew it by heart. It was Jensen. She immediately declined the request and opened her phone to scroll. Somehow, Jensen had figured out she was on her phone and began bombarding her with messages: ¡°Natalie, will you please ept my friend request? I already had the doctor terminate Sharon¡¯s pregnancy. I¡¯ve locked her away and I promise I won¡¯t ever let her show up in front of you again. October first ising up. You once said you wanted to travel with me. I checked¨Cwe could go skiing in Veloria, how about it?¡± Message after message flooded in. Natalie¡¯s brows drew tighter. He actually remembered I wanted to ski in Veloria? How rare. After their breakup, Jensen¡¯s memory seemed to have improved; unfortunately for him, she no longer cared. Just as she was about to type a reply, a long hand reached over and snatched her phone away. ¡°People like this¨Cyou just block them. Why waste your time?¡± At some point, Baron had finished eating. The moment he noticed Natalie frowning at her phone, he knew someone was bothering her. And really, who else could it be? Even without thinking too hard, he knew. 9:52 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 256 Sand In My Eye : Jealousy surged hot in his chest, sharp and undeniable. s He knew better than anyone how good Natalie was. Now Jensen wanted to crawling back and steal her away? Not a chance. Natalie couldn¡¯t helpughing when she saw Baron clutching her phone like a sulky child. She didn¡¯t mind his behavior at all; in fact, it made her realize just how much he cared. After blocking Jensen, Baron realized he might have overstepped. He chuckled sheepishly, handed the phone back, and said, ¡°Sorry. I got a little carried away.¡± ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find?Novel ¡°It¡¯s fine. Honestly, I thought you looked kind of handsome just now.¡± Natalie¡¯s cheeks turned red as she took her phone. Baron¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wait¨Cwhat did you just say, sweetheart? I didn¡¯t catch that. Say it again?¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t hear it, then forget it.¡± She stood up to leave, but Baron suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her down onto the couch. ¡°Ah!¡± Caught off guard, she yelped as he toppled her back. When she looked up, she found herself staring into his deep, earnest eyes. Her heart skipped faster. ¡°What are you doing? My brother will be back with the kids any minute¨Cyou¡¯ll give people the wrong idea.¡± ¡°Then hurry and say it again, what you just said.¡± ¡°I forgot.¡± She started to y dumb. She had dated Jensen for five years, convinced that what she felt for him was love; but ever since being with Baron, her heart seemed to race at the smallest things. 9:52 Tue, Sep 30 Chapter 256 Sand In My Eye What on earth is happening to me? She quickly turned her face away. Baron¡¯s lips curled in amusement. ¡°Really forgot? Want me to jog your memory?¡± As he spoke, he lowered his head. #8 s His warm breath grazed her cheek, making her flustered and sending her heartbeat racing. ¡°Baron!¡± Natalie, embarrassed and angry, raised a fist to punch him, but he easily caught her hand and pinned it above her head with one hand. ¡°I¡¯d rather hear you call me Baron¨Cor better yet, husband.¡± With that, he brushed a fleeting kiss against her lips, light as a dragonfly skimming water. Natalie froze; her heart thudded even harder. But Baron quickly released her, straightened, and walked off to pour her a ss of water. ¡°Here, drink some hot water. Let¡¯s go outside afterward and walk it off; I hear the supposed to be nice.¡¯ country air¡¯s He handed her the ss as if nothing had just happened. Natalie, watching him act so casually, suddenly felt both annoyed and flustered. This infuriating man riles me up, then pretends like it was nothing. He¡¯s doing it on purpose. She took the ss, sipped, and finally muttered, ¡°Tonight you¡¯re sleeping with my brother. I¡¯m staying with the kids.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Baron froze. ¡°Wait, sweetheart, did I do something wrong? Is this my punishment?¡± HereSelf 257 Chapter 257 Not Suitable For Kids Baron looked wronged like a child. Natalie¡¯s lips tilted up slightly, then she pressed the smile down. ¡°I¡¯m staying with the kids. I need to be a good mother.¡± After saying that, Natalie stood and walked out. 45 Free Coins Baron stared at her back in confusion, then hurriedly pulled out his phone and messaged Layne. ¡°Why did my wife suddenly forbid me from getting in bed? Urgent! Waiting online!¡± Layne was swamped with work; when he saw Baron¡¯s message he thought something serious had happened¨Conly to find this. His mouth twitched. ¡°Mr. Baron, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit forward to ask this of a single guy like me?¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot you¡¯re single.¡± After saying that, Baron went straight to ask Shauna for help. Layne, stabbed again, felt awful. So what was I even working so hard for now? Layne sincerely wanted to go on strike. Baron didn¡¯t care about how wounded Layne felt; he threw the same question at Shauna. Shauna read it and couldn¡¯t helpughing. She hadn¡¯t expected Baron to ever be punished by his wife; it seemed he¡¯d better cling to his wife¡¯s thigh from now on. ¡°Mr. Baron, did you piss off your wife? Why don¡¯t you tell me what happened just now and I¡¯ll analyze it for you?¡± Shauna¡¯s face was full of gossip. Baron vaguely felt something was off but couldn¡¯t put his finger on it; seeing that Natalie didn¡¯t even nce back at him, he hurriedly recounted what had just happened. Chapter 257 Not Suitable For Kids Shauna covered her phone andughed like she had a fit; tears came to her eyes fromughing. Baron frowned slightly. ¡°Do you actually know why?¡± ¡°Yeah, I have a vague idea.¡± Shauna quickly stifled herughter, though the corners of her mouth still lifted. ¡°Mr. Baron, maybe the wife thought your dragonfly kiss was a bit unsatisfying?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Baron didn¡¯t understand. 0) s Shauna cleared her throat and said, ¡°Look, you pinned your wife down on the couch¨Cthat¡¯s definitely a power move. Normally when someone does that, it¡¯s to force intimacy, right? But you¡¯d built up all that tension only to end it with a fleeting kiss. Wouldn¡¯t that leave people feeling let down?¡± Baron suddenly understood. ¡°You mean the wife liked it when I was like that?¡± ¡°Mr. Baron, didn¡¯t it ever ur to you that the wife might not like that?¡± Shauna¡¯s counterquestion stopped Baron cold. Not like it? He really hadn¡¯t thought about that; besides, he¡¯d felt Natalie was still enraptured. So it really was his fault for not doing it right? Baron grasped the problem and hurriedly said, ¡°Alright, this month your sry goes up fifty percent.¡± After saying that, Baron hung up. Shauna was ecstatic. Not only could she enjoy Baron¡¯s drama; she¡¯d also get a raise. She hoped for more days like this at work. Baron didn¡¯t know what Shauna was thinking; he quickly chased after Natalie out of the vi. 89 Chapter 257 Not Suitable For Kids s When Natalie reached the road, Baron grabbed her from behind, then pinned her against the wall with a sudden wall¨Cm. Natalie was startled and almost gasped; Baron¡¯s cool, thin lips, carrying his masculine scent, immediately enveloped her, forcibly stealing her breath. Everything happened in an instant. Natalie froze for a moment, thinking they were outside; she pushed Baron, but the man seemed possessed, not moving an inch. At that moment, a soft, syrupy child¡¯s voice called out. ¡°Hey! Not suitable for kids!¡± ¡°Daddy, stop being lewd in broad daylight, how shameless!¡± After Susie shouted the first line, Sean delivered the stabbing second. Natalie felt like she was about to explode. What kind of public humiliation was this? Damn Baron! He hadn¡¯t kissed her at home but came out here to do it¡ªand got caught by the kids. Did he have no shame? Furious, Natalie stomped on the top of Baron¡¯s foot. ¡°Ah-¡± Baron, who had been reveling, heard his daughter and son¡¯s shouts and was about to pull away, but his brain didn¡¯t react in time; Natalie¡¯s foot struck first. Latest content published on find?novel He howled and let go of Natalie. Natalie didn¡¯t pity him at all; her cheeks med as she red at Baron¡¯s retreating back. She saw Flynn standing there, expression nk, holding the two children; after holding it in for a long time he finally said, ¡°You two should be more careful; this is something you shouldn¡¯t do in front of the kids.¡± Having said that, he carried the two children into the house and shot Baron a severe re. As he walked, Flynn added, ¡°You two can¡¯t act like that from now on, okay? Especially you, Susie¨Cgirls shouldn¡¯t be bullied by boys. If this happens again, I¡¯ll teach you to strike hard; make sure he can¡¯t do bad things anymore.¡± Natalie felt her face burn even hotter. HereSelf 258 Chapter 258 me Shauna For Everything Chapter 258 me Shauna For Everything 45 Free Coins Baron couldn¡¯t shake the faint chill that ran through him. Was Flynn being a little too ruthless just now? As she watched Flynn disappear inside with the two kids, Natalie finally shoved Baron away and strode quickly toward the road. Baron hurried after her. ¡°My dear, let me exin¨Cit was Shauna who said you were upset with me, maybe¡­ unsatisfied; that¡¯s why I acted like that.¡± Without hesitation, Baron shamelessly threw Shauna under the bus. After all, he had already given her a fifty percent raise; taking the me for him was the least she could do. Find the newest release on find{n}ovel Natalie nearly stumbled. ¡°You told Shauna what just happened?¡± She felt like she could never face Shauna again. Baron nodded earnestly. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve never dated before; I had no idea why you were upset. She¡¯s a woman, and women understand women best. She¡¯s the only woman around me¨Cif I don¡¯t ask her, who else can I ask?¡± He said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. Natalie, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to mp a hand over his mouth. She was torn between being touched¨Cknowing she was his first love and he was utterly clueless about men and women¨Cand being exasperated by his brutal honesty. She stared at him speechlessly and said, ¡°So what¡¯s next¨Care you nning to tell her how long we spend in bed, what positions we use, and then ask if they¡¯re correct or if the timing is long enough?¡± ¡°Well, maybe not that far.¡± Baron didn¡¯t usually understand women¡¯s moods, but somehow, without being taught, he caught on this time. HereSelf 259 Chapter 259 Summers Family Try Me But Baron thought of the recent mix¨Cup and ultimately held back. s The next moment, Natalie stopped walking, wrapped her arms gently around Baron, and whispered, ¡°Baron, you¡¯ll have me from now on. We won¡¯t be alone.¡± Baron¡¯s heart meltedpletely; he tightened his hold around Natalie¡¯s slim waist and murmured, ¡°You said it; I¡¯ll never let go for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Natalie savored the sweetness of the moment. Just then, a stern voice rang out. ¡°What are you two doing?¡± The sharp tone made Natalie¡¯s heart flutter with rm. Baron¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. They both turned and saw Quincy watching Baron with a guarded expression; when she noticed their hands sped together, Quincy stepped forward, yanked them apart, and immediately pulled Natalie behind her. She red at Baron in fury and demanded, ¡°Who are you? What are you doing holding my daughter¡¯s hand? What do you do for a living?¡± Quincy¡¯s eyes scanned Baron like a radar. Baron was handsome enough, but the murderous intensity about him made Quincy think of a rough street thug. Yet she also noticed that his clothes were no ordinary garments; while unbranded, they looked handcrafted and of exceptional quality. Could there be someone like that in Ocean City? Quincy¡¯s mind raced. Natalie¡¯s brow furrowed tightly. She jabbed Quincy in the ribs with her finger from behind, then said coolly, ¡°Quincy, I don¡¯t think we have much of a mother¨Cdaughter rtionship anymore, right? Isn¡¯t your showing up like this a little inappropriate?¡± 12:57 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 259 Summers Family Try Me Quincy¡¯s eyes brimmed with emotion, threatening to spill over. AQ s. ¡°Natalic, I raised you for eighteen years; now seeing some unknown man by your side, I worry you might be deceived. You¡¯re so kind and naive¨Cthis man clearly isn¡¯t good. Listen to your mother;e home with me and I¡¯ll introduce you to many fine young men. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied. If you still can¡¯t forget Jensen, I¡¯ll handle that too.¡± Quincy¡¯s heartfelt words immediately enraged Baron. ¡°You old hag, are you looking to die?¡± Baron stepped forward, ready to pull Quincy out of the way. I had finally married my wife, and now this meddling old woman dared to push Natalie toward someone else? And Jensen of all people¨Ca vile excuse for a man¨Chow could she even think to put him before Natalie? Seeing Baron move, Natalie quickly shook her head to stop him. Baron felt suffocated; he forced his arm down. Quincy, trembling from the murderous look Baron had just given, still gripped Natalie¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Natalie, look at him¨Cno manners. What was he about to do? Hit me? How could you want a man who hits women? You¡¯re too young to judge people; trust your mother¨CI¡¯ll find you a good one.¡± ¡°Hey! Ask for a lesson and I¡¯ll give you one¨Conly you won¡¯t like what you learn.¡± Baron was genuinely angry. Natalie pulled her hand free. Baron hurriedly offered a handkerchief from his pocket. Natalie took it and used it to dab at the wrist Quincy still held, then said coolly, ¡°Quincy, I made it very clear, the mother¨Cdaughter bond between us is gone. You keeping to bother me, attacking my man¨Cdo you really think I¡¯ll just sit by?¡± Though spoken softly, the pressure in her voice left Quincy momentarily stunned. That once¨Ckind, obedient daughter now had edges and steel¨Cwho was this? ¡°Natalie, I¡¯m just worried about you! I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be deceived.¡± ¡°If you keep bothering me, I promise I¡¯ll make the Summers family disappear from Ocean City¡¯s business world. Try me if you don¡¯t believe it.¡± 12:58 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 259 Summers Family Try Me For more chapters visit fin?novel After saying that, Natalie pulled out her phone. 657 +5 Free Couns She really hated Quincy¡¯s current behavior. Sharon was still alive, so why was Quincy clinging to this¨Cwhat on earth was going on? The Quincy who once wished Sharon dead wasn¡¯t suddenly having a change of heart; Natalie had long since stopped being naive. Now, as the Stone family¡¯s eldest daughter, she held considerable influence that could help the Summers family. The Summers family was trying to use a debt of nurture to bind the Stone family, to climb higher in the business world. At bottom, whether it was Quincy or Jordan, they merely wanted to keep using her as a tool. Natalie¡¯s mind was unnaturally clear. She dialed Chris. ¡°Have my brother cause some trouble for the Summers family.¡± She made the call without hiding from Quincy; she ced it right in front of her. HereSelf 260 Chapter 260 Investigate Me Chris heard Natalie¡¯s words and immediately replied, ¡°Yes, miss.¡± Quincy froze. 57 s ¡°Natalie, I¡¯m only worried about you! How can you not tell good from bad? That man is clearly no good. I¡¯m thinking of you; after all, Jensen deceived you once before. I don¡¯t want you making another mistake.¡± ¡°If you dare say one more bad thing about my man, I swear I¡¯ll bankrupt the Summers family.¡± The way Natalie stood by him, her protective fierceness, instantly calmed Baron¡¯s temper. Maybe being a freeloading son¨Cin¨Cisn¡¯t so bad after all? The corners of Baron¡¯s lips curved slightly. Quincy finally realized Natalie was truly angry. She was still not like Sharon¨Cher anger wasn¡¯t explosive or crude. She still spoke softly, but there was a sharpness between her brows, a force behind her words. It was the first time in five years that Quincy had seen Natalie angry. Even when she had been thrown out of the Summers family, beaten bloody by Sharon, she hadn¡¯t directed her anger at Quincy. Quincy¡¯s chest ached with regret, but she didn¡¯t dare push further. The Summers family really couldn¡¯t withstand the Stone family¡¯s pressure now. ¡°Natalie, don¡¯t be upset. It wasn¡¯t easy for the Summers family to get where we are; you can¡¯t 99 ¡°I can. If you keep showing up in front of me, criticizing my man, I¡¯ll erase the Summers family from Ocean City entirely. Quincy, you know very well I have the power to do that now.¡± Natalie had never used power to suppress others; but this time she aimed her sharp edge directly at Quincy. Quincy trembled, too afraid to speak again. Natalie extended her hand toward Baron. Chapter 260 Investigate Me ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± A: Baron felt he could hardly keep the grin off his face. Who said a man protected by his wife had no masculinity? What nonsense. All he knew was that being shielded by his wife made him so happy he could float. A 85779 s He even let out a proud snort in Quincy¡¯s direction before sping Natalie¡¯s hand; the two of them walked off sweetly together down the road. Watching them, Quincy¡¯s chest tightened painfully; but she didn¡¯t linger. She immediately called Jordan. ¡°Jordan, I think I messed up. Natalie has no affection left for us at all. Just because I criticized the man beside her, she told the Stone family to move against us. Jordan, that man is the same one who helped Natalie at the Luke family¡¯s productunch. Back then I thought he was insignificant, but it looks like he¡¯s someone important. We should investigate who he really is.¡± At the same time, Baron received a message, his expression darkening slightly. Natalie noticed the change on his face as his phone buzzed. ¡°Something wrong?¡± ¡°Yeah. Someone¡¯s digging into me.¡± Baron nced at the text from Layne, a cold smile tugging at his lips. Natalie already guessed who it was. ¡°Jensen and the Summers family?¡± ¡°My wife is so clever.¡± Baron never held back when it came to praising her. Natalie gave a faint smile. ¡°So what do you n to do?¡± ¡°Hide my identity. I suddenly think being the Stone family¡¯s useless live¨Cin son¨Cinw doesn¡¯t sound so bad.¡± His words made Natalie blink. Most men would hate the idea of moving in with their inws¨Cespecially men with a 2/3 ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find{n}ovel 12:58 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 260 Investigate Me 20 g reputation to protect. But he, with his power and ce, brought it up so casually it left her speechless. She stared at him, half exasperated. ¡°If your people saw you like this, you¡¯d lose all your authority.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± he admitted. ¡°But listen¨Cwill you marry me and let me join your family? I won¡¯t be a burden; I can provide for us.¡± Natalie blinked. ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± ¡°I am. Or¡­ do you not want me?¡± Baron looked at her with wounded eyes, as if he might burst into tears if she rejected him. For once, Natalie was genuinely puzzled. ¡°Baron, do you even know what it means to marry into a family? With your status, there¡¯s no reason for you to do that.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± He threaded his fingers through hers and spoke softly. ¡°Yes, myst name is Gunn¨Cbut nothing from that family will ever be mine. My mother lost her life because of them; between me and the Gunns, there¡¯s only blood and hatred. In this world, aside from my mother, the only family I have is you and our children. So being their so¨Ccalled son¨Cinw means nothing to me.¡± Natalie¡¯s chest ached. She didn¡¯t know the full story of his past, but even the little she¡¯d pieced together made it clear. his life hadn¡¯t been easy. For a man to cut ties with his own family, to walk away from all the privilege and status that came with hisst name, and still be willing to take her family¡¯s name¨Cit spoke volumes about just how deeply Baron despised the Gunns. HereSelf 261 Chapter 261 Natalie¡¯s Parents Get a Shock Chapter 261 Natalie¡¯s Parents Get a Shock s: Natalie couldn¡¯t help but run her fingers lightly across the back of Baron¡¯s hand. In a low voice, she said, ¡°I really hope you¡¯ll think this over.¡± ¡°Alright. When I get back, I¡¯ll talk it over with my brother¨Cinw,¡± Baron replied. Natalie didn¡¯t even know how to respond to that. Since she stayed silent, Baron automatically took it as agreement. Without hesitation, he quickly dialed Layne. ¡°From this moment on, hide all my identities. Make sure the world forgets I¡¯m the chairman of Grant International Holdings or the godfather of Murica. From now on, I¡¯m nothing more than the Gunn family¡¯s abandoned son¨Cthe unwanted child who married into the Stone family.¡± Layne¡¯s mouth twitched the second he heard that. ¡°Mr. Baron, do you even hear yourself right now?¡± ¡°Do as I said.¡± Baron ended the call and, looking smug, arched a brow at Natalie. ¡°All done.¡± Natalie just stared at him, at a loss for words, then shook her head helplessly. ¡°You say you¡¯ll marry into the family, but you haven¡¯t even asked my parents if they¡¯d agree.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to them myself.¡± And with that, Baron actually pulled out his phone and called Waylon and Ruby right in front of Natalie. Waylon nced at the caller ID and froze for a moment. ¡°What¡¯s this? Did something happen with our daughter?¡± Ruby¡¯s health had improved a lot, and she had been eager to see Natalie again. Waylon shook his head, answered the call, and¨Cworried Ruby might get anxious- immediately turned on speaker. 12:58 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 261 Natalie¡¯s Parents Get a Shock ¡°Mr. Baron, what¡¯s the matter?¡± 45 Free Coina Hearing the formality, Baron quickly said, ¡°Dad, Natalie and I already registered our marriage; you can just call me Baron, or anything you like.¡± Waylon¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. Baron had saved Natalie¡¯s life, but the whole marriage registration still left him unsettled. Deep down, he felt like Natalic was settling for less. Ruby, however, held a very different impression. Chapters first released on find¡¤novel The fact that Baron had risked his life to save Natalie¨Cand even found the Witch Doctor to perform skin graft surgery for her¨Cwas enough for Ruby to ept him as her son¨Cinw. ¡°Baron, did you call because something happened? Is Natalie alright?¡± Ruby asked right away. The warmth in her voice made Baron¡¯s smile grow even brighter. Natalie shook her head at him, though her eyes softened with tenderness. ¡°Mom, Natalie¡¯s fine. I just had something I wanted to ask you and Dad,¡± Baron said. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°I want to marry into the Stone family. Would you be alright with that?¡± His words left Waylon and Rubypletely stunned. ¡°You¡­ what did you just say?¡± Waylon¡¯s voice rose in disbelief. Baron spoke seriously, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m nothing but a discarded son of the Gunn family. My other identities mean nothing to me. Now that people are digging into who I am, all I want is to be Natalie¡¯s husband and your son¨Cinw in the Stone family. If you both agree, I¡¯ll make the arrangements. Natalie and I may have registered our marriage, but we haven¡¯t had the wedding yet; when the timees, I¡¯ll follow Natalie¡¯s and your wishespletely.¡± After the initial shock, Ruby lit up with joy. Gripping Waylon¡¯s arm tightly, she eximed, ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! From now on, you¡¯re my son too. As long as you love Natalie, I¡¯ll love you every bit as much as I love Flynn.¡± Waylon¡¯s emotions stirred as well. He knew he himself could never be as bold as Baron. Chapter 261 Natalie¡¯s Parents Get a Shock 426 67 s He fully recognized Baron as a man of great aplishment, and yet, despite that, Baron was willing to lower himself and marry into the Stone family¨Cfor Natalie. Waylon could see clearly how deep his feelings for his daughter ran. ¡°Baron, from this moment on, you¡¯re one of us. This family is yours as much as it¡¯s ours.¡± At those words, Baron¡¯s eyes turned red with emotion. ¡°Thank you, dad. If you¡¯d like, I can even have the kids take your surname.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡± Natalie finally spoke up. For Baron, taking her family¡¯s name was already a massive sacrifice¨Cproof of just how far he¡¯d go for her. But when it came to their children, she had other ns. ¡°Baron, you can give up the Gunn family, but our son and daughter will inherit it. No one messes with my husband and walks away free. The Gunns may have stolen your birthright, but I¡¯ll see to it that everyst piece of ites back to our kids.¡± Her words instantly made Baron¡¯s eyes brighten. ¡°Alright; I¡¯ll listen to my wife.¡± He agreed without hesitation, quick to read the situation. Hearing Natalie¡¯s voice, Waylon and Ruby both felt a deep pang of longing. HereSelf 262 Chapter 262 Someone Tell Quincy to Leave s ¡°My dear, are you doing okay out in the countryside? I heard that couple died. I¡¯ve already told your brother and Chris to send extra people to protect you; if anything feels off, you must tell your mom and me. We¡¯ve cleared out some rot in the Stone family here, but the mastermind¡¯s still atrge; the trail went cold. Your mother and I talked it over¨Cif necessary we¡¯lle to Ocean City to find you. Your mom misses you so much, and the children too.¡± Waylon told Natalie what he and Ruby nned. Before Natalie could reply, Baron spoke up. ¡°Mom, dad, you shoulde as soon as you can; otherwise there¡¯ll always be people pretending to be Natalie¡¯s parents, popping up now and then to morally shame her.¡± Ruby grew tense as soon as Baron said that. ¡°Baron, what do you mean? Who is moral¨Cshaming Natalie?¡± Natalie found Baron¡¯s tone a little amusing. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s Quincy and Jordan. They came to the countryside too, but they¡¯re trying to rebuild a family rtionship with me; I refused. They don¡¯t seem to get it¨Cmaybe they¡¯ve got other ns; but don¡¯t worry, I can handle them.¡± Ruby wasn¡¯tforted at all by Natalie¡¯s words. She remembered how Quincy and Jordan had nearly abused Natalie to death years ago for the sake of their biological daughter Sharon. She hadn¡¯t even had the chance to make them pay for hurting her daughter¨Cand now they had the nerve to try to guilt¨Ctrip Natalie? ¡°Natalie, don¡¯t worry. Your mom and I will buy tickets right away.¡± Waylon immediately agreed with Ruby, ¡°Yes, yes; we¡¯ll be there first thing tomorrow.¡± Natalie wanted to tell them they didn¡¯t need to make the trip, but the call had already been disconnected. Baronughed and said, ¡°See? Not bad for a son¨Cinw, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a show¨Coff. You know I can handle the Summers family people, yet you insisted my parentse¨Cwhat are you trying to do?¡± Chapter 262 Someone Tell Quincy to Leave Natalie still knew Baron well. ?? s Baron took her hand; tenderness shone in his eyes as he said, ¡°Natalic, someone¡¯s started looking into my identity. Our rtionship will be exposed soon; the two children could be revealed, too. We¡¯re already registered; I want to give you a grand wedding. I know you want family around you, so I had your parentse.¡± Natalie paused, then smiled. ¡°That¡¯s fine. You¡¯re already my husband, Baron; there¡¯s no need to hide. Since you don¡¯t want to expose your identity, I¡¯ll give you the Stone family status.¡± ¡°Please continue to look after me, mydy wife.¡± Baron kissed the back of her hand. Natalie couldn¡¯t help butugh. At the same time, Hansel reported to Jensen. ¡°Mr. Jensen, we identified the man who was with Natalie.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Jensen set down what he was doing right away. They¡¯d been unable to dig up Baron¡¯s background before, which had frustrated Jensen; now, finally, there was news¨Che wanted to trace Baron¡¯s ancestry back eight generations. Hansel hurried on, ¡°We used many methods and channels to investigate him; we finally confirmed his identity. His name is Baron; he¡¯s the son of the Gunn Group chairman, though apparently he¡¯s a discarded son of the Gunn family. He grew up wandering outside for years; it seems his stepmother and other brothers wanted to get rid of him. Still, he was lucky¨Che had friends in many circles¨Cso he survived. As for his rtionship with Natalie, when Natalie was. trapped in a fire, he rescued her; he even brought a Witch Doctor to perform skin grafts, which led the Stone family to ept him as a son¨Cinw.¡± Jensen listened to Hansel¡¯s report, gripping his pen tightly. A dangerous darkness filled his eyes. ¡°He saved Natalie?¡± ¡°Yes. They say he brought outside underworld forces and risked his life to save Natalie. She¡¯s very grateful to him. Later, when the Stone family wanted to take him in as a son¨Cinw, Natalie didn¡¯t object; she even went with him to the civil affairs bureau to register¨Cthough they haven¡¯t had the wedding yet.¡± 657 Chapter 262 Someone Tell Quincy to Leave Hearing Hansel, Jensen felt his heart ache as if he couldn¡¯t breathe. Updates are released by find?novel The woman he loved had registered with someone else? At that moment he understood, painfully, how Natalic had felt when she learned he¡¯d registered with Sharon. $5 Free Coins Not married¡ªso his identity hasn¡¯t been made public; as long as no one else knows, I still have a chance! he thought fiercely. Natalie is mine. She can only be mine! Jensen flung the pen from his hand; his eyes were bloodshot. Hansel warned, worried, ¡°Baron is, after all, from the Gunn family, Mr. Jensen. With Luke Corp in turmoil right now, you should-¡± ¡°He¡¯s supposedly a discarded son of the Gunn family. So many in the Gunn family wanted him dead; he was weak enough to marry into the Stone family to save himself. Maybe his rescue in the fire was staged to climb into the Stone family! I disliked him at the productunch; that Baron cannot stay.¡± HereSelf 263 Chapter 263 Shauna Still Can¡¯t Find Her s Jensen had never wanted someone dead as badly as he did in that moment. Seeing him like this, Hansel held his tongue; after all, Baron had no real status. ¡°Mr. Jensen, word from the vi is that Ms. Sharon has been very quiettely.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Just the mention of Sharon now filled Jensen with disgust. ¡°Where¡¯s Natalie?¡± ¡°She is in the countryside, investigating the truth about that mix¨Cup years ago. But I heard the couple involved suddenly died; the trail went cold. She decided to stay a few days longer in the countryside to clear her head.¡± Hansel reported what he¡¯d found. Jensen wished he could sprout wings and fly straight to Natalie, but thepany was a mess and he couldn¡¯t leave yet. ¡°Have our people keep close watch. I¡¯ll head over as soon as I finish here.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jensen.¡± Hansel withdrew after speaking. Meanwhile, Baron sent orders to his men. ¡°Tell everyone to go to ground. Protect them in secret. No one reveals my identity without mymand.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Baron.¡± His subordinates quickly set things in motion. Readplete version only at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Watching Natalie in the glow of the sunset, Baron sent Shauna a message. ¡°Dig out the original diagnosis I wrote for Jensen five years ago, along with the rib donation agreement Natalie signed for him. Release them online immediately. As for the girl who tampered with the medical records¨Cstill nothing?¡± Shauna read the message, her expression tightening. Chapter 263 Shauna Still Can¡¯t Find Her s With a sigh, she replied, ¡°Mr. Baron, this case is bizarre. We¡¯ve used every resource we have to find that girl, but it¡¯s like she vanished into thin air. Not a trace¨Cthere isn¡¯t even a record of her in the national database. I¡¯m starting to suspect she never existed at all. Could the surveince footage have been spliced in?¡± Baron called her directly. ¡°That video wasn¡¯t faked; I checked it. No edits, no signs of tampering. This girl¡¯s identity is critical we must find her. Whoever could alter my files isn¡¯t ordinary. Don¡¯t focus only on the girl; the culprit could just as easily be a dwarf.¡± His words left Shauna stunned. ¡°A dwarf? I hadn¡¯t even considered that. I¡¯ll look into it right away.¡± She hung up. Baron frowned slightly. Not finding this person¡­ it feels wrong; unsettling. Natalie, unaware of his thoughts, gazed at the fiery clouds streaking the sky. Awestruck by nature¡¯s beauty, she quickly pulled out her phone to take photos. Baron saw the smile curving her lips and lifted his phone too, capturing the moment. They strolled together for a while before heading back. Susie and Sean spotted them returning, made a yful sound, then ran off to Flynn¡¯s room. Natalie¡¯s cheeks burned. She shot Baron a sidelong re, then followed him in to rest. Life in the countryside was always sweet. After a few days there, Natalie received a message from Renee, the new product samples were ready and had been sent to Ocean City. Natalie had no choice but to cut the trip short and return to Ocean City with the children and Flynn. At the same time, Waylon and Ruby arrived in Ocean City as well. Baron drove to pick them up. Natalie, tied up with work, went straight to the studio. 12:58 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 263 Shauna Still Can¡¯t Find Her Baron¡¯s factory team had worked with impressive efficiency, The moment Natalie saw the samples, her eyes lit up with delight. 2200 ¡°These samples are good to go for mass production; no real issues at all. But we¡¯ll need solid promotion, both online and offline.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Yvonne and I will handle that. By the way, someone ced an order yesterday asking you to design a brand¨Cnew product. Want to take it?¡± Renee forwarded the order to Natalie by email. Natalie skimmed it; it was a fairly simple request. She replied at once: ¡°I¡¯ll take this order¨Cthe price is fair. I¡¯ll sketch designs when inspiration hits. For the rest, I¡¯ll be counting on you and Yvonne to follow through.¡± ¡°No problem. With your design, half the battle¡¯s already won; the rest is up to us.¡± They chatted a little longer before hanging up. Natalie sat back, thinking how good her life felt right now. She had a loving husband, adorable children, parents and a brother who cherished her¨Cand now even her career seemed to be hitting its stride. Everything was moving in the right direction. She printed the order details and slipped them into her bag, ready to head home. Just then, Baron called. ¡°All finished at the studio?¡± HereSelf 264 Chapter 264 Natalie Says She¡¯s Not Lost Chapter 264 Natalie Says She¡¯s Not Lost ¡°The samples look amazing. I¡¯ll bring them hometer so you can see for yourself.¡± Natalie was always happy to share her sess and joy with Baron. + Free Coins Baron chuckled. ¡°Good. I¡¯m just about to pick up mom and dad. Probably won¡¯t be back for another hour or so; if you¡¯re finished, head home and wait for us. Are the kids at home?¡± ¡°My brother took them out when I left.¡± Natalie thought Flynn had practically turned into the children¡¯s babysitter ever since he arrived; apart from working, he was always with them. Baronughed softly at that. ¡°Alright then; go home, rest a bit. Once they arrive, we¡¯ll go out for dinner tonight.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Natalie ended the call. Fresh chapters posted on Find_Novel(. Chris was waiting outside the studio door. She blinked in surprise. ¡°Who told you toe?¡± ¡°The son¨Cinw said it¡¯d be too lonely for you to head home alone, so I¡¯m here to escort Ms. Stone.¡± Chris now held nothing but absolute trust in Baron. Natalie could only shake her head with a wry smile. ¡°He really treats me like a kid. I grew up in Ocean City; how could I possibly get lost here?¡± Still, despite her words, she quickly got into the car. Chris drove steadily and delivered her straight back to the vi. What Natalie didn¡¯t see was Jensen stepping out from a side alley the moment she left, staring after her car without blinking. Chapter 264 Natalie Says She¡¯s Not Lost Natalie was different now. s She seemed to shine even brighter than before; not only her career, but her whole being radiated energy and life. A shadow of sorrow crossed Jensen¡¯s eyes. He climbed into his own car, dejected, and drove to a bar. Felix had been summoned there. By the time Felix arrived, Jensen was already heavily drunk. Seeing him like that, Felix was at a loss for words. ¡°Jensen, stop drinking. I know Luke Corp¡¯s been shakytely. If you can¡¯t handle it, I¡¯ll help however I can¨Cbut you also know I don¡¯t hold much sway in the Xu family; I may not be able to do much.¡± Felix assumed Jensen was troubled over business. As his brother, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch him fall. But Jensen waved it off. ¡°It¡¯s not about thepany. Even if some shares get bought up by retail investors, I¡¯m still thergest shareholder; the biggest say is still mine. Besides, I¡¯ve already divorced Sharon. Thepany¡¯s negative press will drop to a minimum.¡± Felix froze at that. ¡°Jensen, weren¡¯t you crazy about Sharon? How did you divorce her so soon?¡± ¡°I liked her, yes¡­ but the one I love is Natalie.¡± Jensen tipped back his ss, downing the liquor in one gulp; it hit his throat hard, sending him into a fit of coughing. Felix quickly patted his back, exasperated. ¡°I told you from the start¨Cmarrying Sharon was a mistake. We all saw how Natalie treated you; she practically valued you more than her own life. you too.¡± And you broke her heart over Sharon. If I were Natalie, I¡¯d have left ¡°Shut up!¡± Jensen flinched as if struck, his voice breaking into a hoarse roar. His eyes were bloodshot, glistening as if tears might spill. Felix wanted to argue further, but Jensen¡¯s raw intensity silenced him. He closed his mouth. 12:58 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 264 Natalie Says She¡¯s Not Lost Then Jensen suddenlyughed¨Ca sound that made Felix¡¯s skin crawl. 5 Free Coina ¡°Felix, tell me, don¡¯t you think Natalie still has feelings for me? We were together five years. She searched the world for doctors for my sake; she even agreed to unfair terms to convince the Witch Doctor to treat me. For fear I¡¯d get jealous, she never stepped outside in those five years; every design she created, she handed to me to keep mypany afloat. She gave me everything. After all that, now that I¡¯ve betrayed her¨Cdon¡¯t you think she must hate me?¡± He clutched Felix¡¯s wrist tightly, rambling in desperation. Felix felt torn. He wanted to tell the truth, but Jensen¡¯s unstable state made him hesitate. but you didn¡¯t Sighing, Felix said, ¡°Jensen, let the past go. Natalie once loved you deeply, yes, treasure it. Worse, you went and married Sharon. You knew Sharon was the one she despised most, yet you still went behind her back to the civil bureau, made it legal. Natalie¡¯s principles are solid. No matter how much she loved you, she¡¯d never let herself be the other woman in your marriage.¡± ¡°I¡¯m divorced now!¡± Jensen¡¯s voice rose, sharp with urgency. ¡°I¡¯ve already divorced Sharon. She¡¯lle back to me¨Cwon¡¯t she?¡± Felix only shook his head. 3/3 12:58 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 265 Don¡¯t me Baron for Caring HereSelf 265 Chapter 265 Don¡¯t me Baron for Caring ¡°Jensen, not everyone will stand still and wait for you.¡± 57 s. ¡°Why not? We¡¯ve only been apart for a few months. She loved me so much; we were together for five years. Five years! That¡¯s over sixteen hundred days¨Chow could she just stop loving me? She¡¯s only angry. She¡¯s angry I registered with Sharon; angry I broke my promise and didn¡¯t marry her on her birthday. She¡¯s angry I didn¡¯t rush in to save her when the fire nearly took her life¨Cbut I didn¡¯t even know she was in there.¡± As he spoke, a tear suddenly slid down Jensen¡¯s cheek. ¡°When we were in school, didn¡¯t our teachers say that admitting mistakes and changing is the greatest virtue? I really know I was wrong; I was wrong. Natalie will give me a chance to make it right, won¡¯t she? That Baron¨Che¡¯s just a son¨Cinw who married into the family; he¡¯s not worthy of Natalie! And how long has he even known her? How could he possibly matter to her? Natalie¡¯s sentimental; she wouldn¡¯t ignore me.¡± At that moment, Jensen looked like a wounded lion licking his wounds alone; the sight made Felix¡¯s eyes sting with heat. ¡°Jensen, I heard you¡¯ve been digging into Baron¡¯s background. No matter if he¡¯s only the Stone family¡¯s live¨Cin son¨Cinw, the fact that he risked his life to pull Natalie from the fire¨Cthat alone is enough to make her look at him differently. And they¡¯ve spent months together already. Maybe what they have isn¡¯t as deep as what you once had with her; but to say there¡¯s no bond at all? That¡¯s unlikely. Otherwise, Natalie wouldn¡¯t openlye and go with him.¡± Felix¡¯s reasoning was level, but Jensen couldn¡¯t ept it. ¡°Rubbish! Natalie is not someone who opens her heart easily. Who the heck is Baron? How could a few months be enough to win her over? I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Faced with Jensen¡¯s furious outburst, Felix could only sigh; he had no words left. take you you home.¡± ¡°Jensen, you¡¯re drunk. Let me take Jensen¡¯s gaze had grown unfocused, so Felix had no choice but to force him out of the bar and into the car. But Jensen kept shouting, ¡°I want to see Natalie. Felix, take me to her! I miss her!¡± Felix shifted ufortably. ¡°Jensen, where she¡¯s staying now is private property. Even if I drive to the base of the mountain, I can¡¯t get you past the gates. Don¡¯t put me in a bind. Let me take you home. Sleep it off; in the morning things will look different.¡± TICU, U Chapter 265 Don¡¯t me Baron for Caring Jensen wilted at Felix¡¯s words, his pain returning in full force. 57 s ¡°My Natalie has her parents now; she has people backing her. And me? I can¡¯t even see her anymore. We used to be together every single day¨Chow did it end up like this?¡± Felix gave him no answer, only delivered him back to Lanju. Jensen looked around at the familiar surroundings; his chest felt stuffed with cotton, suffocating him. ¡°Felix, it hurts here.¡± He pounded his fist against his chest; his eyes were bloodshot. Felix had no idea how tofort him. Heid Jensen down in his room; then, worried about leaving him alone all night, he called Loretta, asking her to send someone. When Loretta heard Jensen was drunk, she immediately sent the housekeeper, Lucy, to look after him. Once Felix saw the Luke family had arrangements in ce, he finally left. The vast vi was quiet, with Jensen lying alone in bed. Though drunk, his mind was painfully clear. He stared up at the ceiling, remembering how every time he came home after drinking too much at social events, Natalie would make him some hot drink. He stumbled to his feet, weaving into the kitchen. He wanted to make it himself¨Cbut he had no idea how. Everything in the kitchen was exactly as Natalie had left it. For a moment, he almost saw her there again, bustling about. She could never reach the high cabs; she¡¯d always have to stretch on tiptoe. The sight of her struggling had always made him step forward, help her, then slip his arms around her waist from behind, teasing her at her ear for half the night. Those sweet days and images now cut him like a dull de, slowly carving his heart to pieces. He leaned against the doorframe, tears streaming unchecked, whispering Natalie¡¯s name¨Cbut 12:59 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 265 Don¡¯t me Baron for Caring she was gone; her loving eyes, her familiar figure, nowhere in sight. Suddenly, the sound of the front door unlocking echoed through the silence. ¡°Natalie! Natalie¡¯s back!¡± 22 57 s Jensen went running madly toward the sound¨Cbut his drunkenness sent him sprawling to the floor. His palms scraped raw, blood seeping out; yet he didn¡¯t even notice, dragging himself toward the door. For original chapters go to find¡¤novel In that moment, there was nothing left of the cold,posed president of Luke Corp. HereSelf 266 Chapter 266 Not Natalie, Wrong Girl Lucy was startled by Jensen¡¯s sudden outburst. ¡°Mr. Jensen, what¡¯s wrong with you? I¡¯ll call a doctor!¡± She saw that his palm was cut and immediately grew anxious. 1576 s Jensen¡¯s eyes had been full of expectation, but the moment he saw Lucy, he froze; it was as if all the strength and spirit had been drained from him in an instant. He copsed onto the sofa, his face pale. ¡°How could it be you? Why isn¡¯t it my Natalie?¡± He muttered the words under his breath. Lucy didn¡¯t catch it and instinctively asked, ¡°Mr. Jensen, what did you say?¡± But Jensen didn¡¯t respond. His mind was filled with images of Natalie¡¯s smile, her voice, and the way sheughed and chatted with Baron. No! Natalie is mine! How could someone useless like Baron deserve her? Jensen suddenly lurched to his feet and stumbled toward his phone. At that moment, only one thought consumed him. I have to get Natalie back, I can¡¯t live without her! Like a madman, Jensen tried calling Natalie, but she had already blocked his number. In desperation, he grabbed Lucy¡¯s phone and dialed again. When Natalie saw the unfamiliar number, she frowned slightly. Her parents and Baron were due home soon, and the kids had gone out shopping with Flynn. Over the past few days, Flynn hadpletely won them over. For once, Natalie was alone at home. Oddly, she felt a rare sense of peace, mixed with a faint sense of anticipation. But the call from that unknown number made her think of Jensen. She couldn¡¯t understand what was wrong with himtely. Chapter 266 Not Natalie, Wrong Girl s When they had been together, he had never acted like this. More often than not, she was the one calling him after making dinner, asking if he¡¯de home to cat. At times, Natalie couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she had cheapened herself. Why else would Jensen have gone behind her back and married Sharon while he was still with her¨Ccounting on the fact that she loved him too much to walk away. Now, with both of them long separated and living entirely different lives, he was the one who couldn¡¯t seem to let go. He carried on as if he were devoted, as if she had always been the only one. Maybe he was fooling himself. Or maybe he still believed she was the kind of woman who could be fooled so easily. Natalie gave a coldugh and hung up the call. Hearing the dead tone in his ear, Jensen felt a crushing weight in his chest. Using Lucy¡¯s phone, he sent her a message: ¡°Natalie, I¡¯m drunk. My stomach hurts so badly. Please, have pity on me. Won¡¯t you see me? Even if you just say one word to me, that would be enough. I miss you so, so much. I¡¯ve already divorced Sharon, I swear! Her child is gone too- there¡¯s no one standing between us anymore. Can¡¯t we start over?¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes burned red. When Natalie heard the notification, she opened the text and saw it was from him. Without a word, she deleted it, blocked the number, and didn¡¯t reply. Clutching the phone, Jensen waited desperately for her response. He would have been content with even a single word. But as the minutes ticked by, the phone stayed silent, as if broken. His expression darkened. ¡°Lucy, is your phone out of credit? I¡¯ll top up it for you.¡± Before she could answer, Jensen recharged it with five hundred. Lucy had been about to say there was still credit left, but she closed her mouth instead. Once the bnce came through, Jensen stared unblinking at the screen. But the silence remained. Chapter 266 Not Natalic, Wrong Girl Watching him, Lucy finally suggested, ¡°Mr. Jensen, maybe try calling again?¡± ¡°I did. No one picked up.¡± Jensen looked like a child abandoned, pitiful and wounded. Lucy pursed her lips and said nothing more. +5 Free Covi Ms. Stone, for all her gentle appearance, was someone with a firm mind. Once she made up her decision, it was nearly impossible to change. But Lucy dared not voice that thought aloud now. Jensen, getting no response, redialed the number he knew by heart. This time, all he heard was the cold message informing him he had been blocked. His face crumpled. It was the same as being left on ¡°read¡± in WhatsApp. Natalie had seen his message, but she no longer pitied him, no longer replied. She truly treated him like a stranger. That single word¨Cstranger¨Ccut through Jensen¡¯s chest like a de. How had it to this. Once, they had been each other¡¯s lifeline, bound together more deeply than anyone else. And now it was over¨Cno longer lovers, no longer a bond¨Creduced to strangers. This content belongs to Find~Novel Jensen gripped the phone tightly, veins bulging in his hand. Lucy, nervous for her phone, quickly reminded him, ¡°Mr. Jensen, that¡¯s my phone.¡± HereSelf 267 Chapter 267 Go Home, Lucy Jensen nced at her, his eyes lifeless. +5 Free Cond The look silenced Lucy instantly; the words she¡¯d been about to say stuck in her throat. She didn¡¯t dare utter another syble. Mr. Jensen was terrifying right now; all she wanted was to return to the residence. Jensen took a long, deliberate breath. In the end, he said nothing, simply tossed the phone back to Lucy and muttered weakly, ¡°Go. I don¡¯t need you here.¡± ¡°But Madam Loretta said you¡¯d been drinking too much and told me to to see Ms. Stone again.¡± She had spoken with conviction. Jensen froze. Then excitement surged through him. ¡°Lucy, you¡¯re right. I can work with Stone Group; I¡¯d even give up some profit if I had to.¡± He immediately grabbed his phone and called Hansel. ¡°Hansel, find me the contact numbers for Stone Group¡¯s president and general manager. Don¡¯t we have a promising project in the pipeline? I want to ask Mr. Waylon if he¡¯s interested in coborating.¡± Hansel was momentarily taken aback. Chapter 267 Go Home, Lucy s The project was indeed strong, but Luke Corp might not have the resources to handle it alone. A partnership with Stone Group could relieve some of the financial strain. But Hansel had researched the Stones; both Waylon and Ruby were deeply protective of Natalie. The words caught in his throat. When Jensen didn¡¯t hear a reply, his brow furrowed; his voice dropped lower. ¡°Hansel, did you hear me?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jensen. Stone Group has more than enough capital to take on that project themselves. More importantly, Waylon is Ms. Stone¡¯s father. After the way you treated her- and considering she nearly lost her life in that fire¨CI doubt Mr. Waylon would choose to work with Luke Corp.¡± Hansel finally voiced his concern. Jensen¡¯s excitement was doused like a bucket of cold water. Of course, he knew that. But if he didn¡¯t even try, would he lose any chance of ever seeing Natalie again? ¡°Check Mr. Waylon¡¯s schedule. If I have to, I¡¯ll go abroad and personally beg his forgiveness.¡± Hansel was stunned. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I just got word that Mr. Waylon and his wife, Mrs. Ruby, have already arrived in Ocean City. Baron went to pick them up at the airport. They should be with Ms. Stone any moment now.¡± The news sent Jensen into a frenzy. ¡°What did you say? Then what are we waiting for? Get the car ande pick me up¨CI¡¯ll wait at Mr. Waylon¡¯s vi. No matter what, I have to see him today!¡± Hansel nearly sighed aloud. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I think it would be wiser to set up a proper meeting another day. Today is a family gathering; barging in could backfire.¡± He was doing his duty, advising caution. Jensen¡¯s brows knit tightly. ¡°You don¡¯t seem very eager for me to get close to Natalie, do you?¡± 12:59 Wed, Oct 1 36 Chapter 267 Go Home, Lucy His tone had turned icy. s Hansel could ept one or two instances of defending Natalic; after all, Jensen had wronged her. But Hansel¡¯s repeated attempts to stop him from seeking her out grated on Jensen. ¡°Hansel, remember this¨Cyou are my assistant. You belong to Luke Corp. Whoever feeds you, that¡¯s who you serve. I admit I owe Natalic a great deal, but that¡¯s between me and her. Your only duty is to me. Understand?¡± Hansel paused, then finally answered, ¡°Yes, Mr. Jensen. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Only then did Jensen¡¯s frown ease a little. ¡°Good. Nowe get me and take me to the Stone family¡¯s vi.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jensen.¡± After hanging up, Hansel let out a quiet sigh. Jensen was undeniably a business prodigy; he had grown the corporation impressively over the years, and he had given Hansel opportunities he would never forget. Loyalty was his duty. Suppressing his personal feelings, Hansel drove to the gates of Lanj¨¹. Jensen was already waiting outside, dressed and ready. The faint smell of alcohol still clung to him. ¡°Mr. Jensen, you¡¯ve been drinking?¡± Hansel asked cautiously. ¡°Yeah. But I¡¯m sober. Let¡¯s go.¡± Content originallyes from find{n}ovel HereSelf 268 Chapter 268 Just Respect The Haircut Chapter 268 Just Respect The Haircut. After speaking, Jensen got into the car. $56 s Hansel, seeing him like this, knew better than to say anything further; he simply started the engine and drove toward the Stone family¡¯s vi. Meanwhile, Baron had just picked up Waylon and Ruby. He carried himself with calm ease and warmth. ¡°Dad, Mom, you must be tired from the trip. Please, get in the car. Natalie¡¯s waiting for you at home.¡± He reached out and took their luggage. Ruby looked at him the way a mother¨Cinw looks at her son¨Cinw¨Cthe more she looked, the more pleased she felt. When she saw Baron handling the bags, she quickly waved him off. ¡°Have the staff take care of it¡ªyou don¡¯t need to trouble yourself with bags¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom. I left Chris at home to protect Natalie. My brother took the kids out. I¡¯m your son¨Cinw; they say a son¨Cinw is half a son, so carrying bags for parents is only natural.¡± As he spoke, he had already taken hold of the suitcase. Though his words were modest, his demeanor was neither servile nor obsequious; instead, he was confident andposed. That, in turn, left Waylon very satisfied. After all, he knew this man standing before him was none other than the legendary Godfather of Murica¨CBaron. For someone of such stature to willingly be the Stone family¡¯s live¨Cin son¨Cinw¨Cjust that alone filled Waylon with pride. ¡°Let him carry it. A single suitcase won¡¯t tire him out. We¡¯re all family here; no need to fuss over it.¡± Waylon spoke up. Ruby shot him a look, but Baron was delighted. ¡°Dad¡¯s right. I¡¯m young and strong; this won¡¯t wear me out. Let¡¯s get you in the car.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, let¡¯s go quickly. I want to see Natalie and my two grandsons. Honestly, you two kept Chapter 268 Just Respect The Haircut this secret far too well! You already had children and didn¡¯t even tell us.¡± The thought of holding her grandchildren made Ruby¡¯s face light up with joy. 56 s This update is avable on find?novel ¡°By the way, Baron, the kids are already four years old. Why didn¡¯t you ever think to tell Natalie sooner? You must know how much she loves children. If she¡¯d known you had kids together, you might not have had to wait all these years.¡± Before returning, Ruby had done her own investigation. She hadn¡¯t been able to uncover Baron¡¯s ties to the Witch Doctor, but she had discovered that five years ago Baron had secretly used Natalie¡¯s eggs for IVF. Waylon also turned to look at him. But Baron remained calm. ¡°I only ever wanted Natalie¡¯s happiness. Back then, the one she loved was Jensen. Having children without her knowledge or consent was already unfair to her -how could I possibly use them to tie her down? She¡¯s extraordinary, kind, beautiful; she deserves a man who gives her his whole heart, not one who binds her with children.¡± Ruby and Waylon were deeply satisfied with his answer. At a certain level in life, people began to view things differently. Take family background, for example. Only when two families matched in strength could they truly be considered equals. Though Baron was cast off by the Gunn family, the fact that he was the Godfather of Murica alone was enough to put him on par with anyone. And as chairman of Grant International Holdings, he was more than a match for the Stone family¡¯s century¨Cold legacy. To Waylon, such a man would never covet the Stones¡® wealth or exploit Natalie¡¯s feelings for his career. The only thing he sought was a life with the woman he loved. That kind of desire was far more appealing than a marriage of convenience. Though the world saw Baron as a son¨Cinw who had married into the Stone family, Waylon knew it was nothing more than a gesture¨Ca sign of humility. And it was a gesture that pleased both him and his wife. ¡°Natalie¡¯s always been thoughtful and deep¨Chearted. If it hadn¡¯t been for that fire, the one that nearly killed her, she might never have let go of Jensen. After all, five years ago, Jensen saved her life. But once she¡¯s cut ties, she won¡¯t go back. I trust Natalie in that. So, Baron, even if her feelings for you aren¡¯t yet deep, as long as you treat her with sincerity, one day you¡¯ll see her 12:59 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 268 Just Respect The Haircut love bloom.¡± Waylon understood his daughter well. The corners of Baron¡¯s lips lifted slightly. s ¡°Dad, I know. And I believe she¡¯ll fall for me. Even without the debt of a life savede on. I¡¯m handsome, fit; how could Natalie not like me?¡± His words made Ruby burst outughing. ¡°Yes, everything will turn out well! Let¡¯s hurry back.¡± Ruby could hardly wait to see her daughter and her grandsons. Baron ced their luggage in the trunk and drove them toward the vi himself. Along the way, he kept the conversation lively. Whether he spoke of everyday anecdotes or business insights, he kept Waylon and Ruby thoroughly engaged. His analysis of projects and markets left Waylon especially impressed. HereSelf 269 Chapter 269 Divorce Me, Pay Up 466 56 s Waylon and Ruby grew more and more satisfied with their son¨Cinw as the car slowly pulled up to the vi gates. The guard spotted the special license te and quickly opened the gate. Just then, another car suddenly shot out, swerving directly in front of Baron¡¯s. The golden emblem on its hood gleamed under the light, momentarily blinding Baron. ¡°Baron! Watch out!¡± Ruby instinctively grabbed his arm as the car turned in. This is my daughter¡¯s husband; if anything happened to him because of us, how could I ever face Natalie? Baron hadn¡¯t expected Ruby to grab him at that moment. He hesitated for an instant, and the collision happened. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find[?]ovel Waylon immediately pulled Ruby into his arms. The car jolted violently, but thankfully no one was hurt. Baron turned at once to check on Waylon and Ruby. ¡°Dad, mom, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What are you apologizing for? Some reckless fool came out of nowhere. Baron, are you hurt?¡± Ruby¡¯s first instinct had been to protect him; she feared he might have been injured. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine. You and dad stay in the car¨CI¡¯ll see what¡¯s going on.¡± Baron stepped out. The other car door opened. Jensen emerged. The moment his eyesnded on Baron, they darkened. ¡°Baron?¡± ¡°Jensen.¡± $55 Chapter 269 Divorce Me, Pay Up Baron¡¯s voice was sharp and frigid, cutting like ice. He shut the car door quickly and nted himself between Jensen and the car. ¡°What do you want?¡± His eyes zed with a warning, fury tightly leashed just beneath the surface. s If he hadn¡¯t wanted Natalie to sever her ties with Jensen herself, he would have thrown this man into the ocean long ago. Jensen let out a derisive snort. ¡°When I saw you at the press conference, I actually mistook you for someone important. But you¡¯re nothing more than the Gunn family¡¯s discard. With a status like yours, how could you possibly be worthy of Natalie? Divorce her now. Stay away from her for good. Cut all ties, never show up in her life again¨Cand I¡¯ll give you anything you want. I can even put you back in the Gunn family¡¯s good graces, right at its core. What do you say?¡± Pure disdain gleamed in his eyes, cold and mocking. The Gunn family was a century¨Cold n with deep roots; everyone in their circle knew, however, that its internal battles were ruthless and bloody. One wrong move could mean total ruin. Jensen wanted to lure Baron back into that pit, let the Gunn family devour him; if Natalie demanded answerster, it wouldn¡¯t trace back to him. Baron read him like an open book and wasn¡¯t buying a word of it. On another day, he might have humored Jensen for sport. But with Waylon and Ruby in the car, and Natalie and the children waiting at home, he had no time to waste. ¡°Jensen, you¡¯d better move¨Cbefore I stop holding back.¡± The lethal aura rolling off Baron made Jensen shiver involuntarily. How could a discarded heir carry such presence? Jensen narrowed his eyes. ¡°And what if I don¡¯t? What can you do to me? You¡¯re just the Stone family¡¯s live¨Cin son¨Cinw; don¡¯t tter yourself. And I¡¯ll tell you this¨CI didn¡¯te here for you. Talking to you was incidental. If you keep standing in my way, don¡¯t me me for being ruthlesster. Now step aside! I want to see Mr. Waylon.¡± He tried to push past, but Baron blocked him again. ¡°Jensen, don¡¯t you understand innguage?¡± 12:59 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 269 Divorce Me, Pay Up Murder simmered in Baron¡¯s eyes. The more he looked at this man, the more intolerable he became. Jensen still didn¡¯t take him seriously. 56 s He shoved Baron, expecting to knock him aside; instead, Baron didn¡¯t budge an inch. If anything, Jensen himself felt the urge to step back. His eyes narrowed further. ¡°So, you actually know how to fight. But even so, would you darey a hand on me? I¡¯m the president of Luke Corp. If you hurt me, do you think the Stone family would risk conflict with us over a mere son¨Cinw?¡± He sidestepped Baron, reaching for the car door. ¡°Sir, Madam, I¡¯m Jensen¨Cpresident of Luke Corp, and Natalie¡¯s boyfriend. Please, may I meet you?¡± The sheer audacity of it made Baron¡¯s blood boil, his vision blurring with rage. At the words ¡°Natalie¡¯s boyfriend¡°, the brutality in his eyes nearly broke free. ¡°Jensen, you¡¯re courting death.¡± With a sudden motion, Baron flipped him over his shoulder, hurling him aside. But Jensen wasn¡¯t all bluster. The moment Baron moved, he steadied himself midair, twisting his body andnding squarely on his feet. HereSelf 270 Chapter 270 I Want Him Dead 56 g Taking advantage of the brief opening, Baron jumped back into the car, started the engine, and mmed on the elerator. The vehicle shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow; it rammed Jensen¡¯s car aside. without hesitation, then sped straight toward where Jensen was standing. The wild, fearless move shook Jensen to his core, rattling even his arrogance. For all his arrogance, he valued his life. He immediately rolled out of the way, scrambling with humiliating clumsiness. All he saw as he lifted his head was Baron¡¯s taillights streaking off into the distance. Never in his life had Jensen been so insulted. ¡°Hansel! Baron rammed me! There are security cameras here¨Cpull the footage and post it online. I¡¯ll make him pay!¡± His voice dripped with malice. Hansel hesitated. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Baron is now the Stone family¡¯s son¨Cinw. If word of this gets out, any chance of a partnership with the Stones is gone. Perhaps we should visit the Stone family first and raise the matter with Mr. Waylon¨Csee where he stands before we act?¡± Hansel¡¯s words managed to temper Jensen¡¯s fury, if only slightly. ¡°Fine. Then get the footage ready! Damn it! That bastard Baron¨CI¡¯ll find his weakness if it¡¯s thest thing I do. I want him dead!¡± He hung up abruptly. By the time he looked back, Baron¡¯s car was already long gone. Inside the vehicle, Ruby was drenched in cold sweat from Baron¡¯s maneuver. She clutched Waylon¡¯s arm tightly. Waylon, however, didn¡¯t see anything wrong with what Baron had done. So this is Murica¡¯s Godfather, Mr. Baron. He doesn¡¯t hesitate¨Che strikes head¨Con. I like it. ¡°That man just now¨Cthat was Jensen, the one who broke Natalie¡¯s heart?¡± Waylon asked calmly. Chapter 270 I Want Him Dead Baron¡¯s murderous rage finally cased. +5 Free Coins ¡°Yes. He¡¯s never given up on her. After the fire, it seems he finally realized how he felt, and now he¡¯s determined to win her back.¡± He didn¡¯t bother to conceal it. Ruby¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Baron, don¡¯t worry. I haven¡¯t spent much time with Natalic, but I know this, the Stone family doesn¡¯t go back to what we¡¯ve already walked away from.¡± ¡°Mom, I know. That doesn¡¯t worry me. Even if¨Cworst¨Ccase¨CNatalie chose Jensen in the end, I wouldn¡¯t stop her. What matters most is that she¡¯s happy. That¡¯s the only reason I haven¡¯t killed him yet.¡± His words made both Ruby and Waylon pause in surprise. ¡°Does Natalie know you think this way?¡± Waylon asked, his expression serious. Baron shook his head, smiling faintly. ¡°Natalie will do what she chooses; everything she does has its own design. I won¡¯t interfere. I¡¯ve said it before¨CI respect any decision she makes.¡± ¡°You child¡­ truly¡­¡± Ruby¡¯s heart ached for him. As Natalie¡¯s husband, it was impossible for her or Waylon not to investigate Baron¡¯s past. Although much had been scrubbed clean, the essentials couldn¡¯t be hidden. Ruby was a woman, and women were tender toward children. Seeing how sincerely Baron treated Natalie only deepened her sympathy for him. If he fought and schemed, I might fault him for it. But he doesn¡¯t. He ces Natalie above all else; this kind of selfless devotion¨Cwhat woman wouldn¡¯t be moved? Baron caught the tenderness in Ruby¡¯s eyes. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F?ndNovel He smiled. ¡°Mom, if you think I¡¯m worthy, could you be a little kinder to me from now on? My mother passed away early. I¡¯ll treat you and Dad as my own parents and honor you both.¡± His words left Ruby¡¯s chest tight with emotion. ¡°Of course.¡± 273 12:59 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 270 I Want Him Dead Waylon said nothing, but his gaze flickered. Baron took another route and drove them back to the vi. This time, no one stood in their way. Flynn had already returned with the children. 56 *5 Free Coins Sean and Susie, seeing that Baron wasn¡¯t home, crowded around Natalie, chattering nonstop about their outing. ¡°Mommy, guess what? Uncle is so handsome! When we went out shopping, girls kepting up to talk to him¨Cbut he just kept that stern face, so scary!¡± Susie swung her legs, whispering her little secret to Natalie. Flynn looked helpless. ¡°Susie, you¡¯re too young to know all that!¡± ¡°I know more than that, too.¡± Susie puffed up, precocious as ever. Sean hadn¡¯t spoken, but he was rummaging through his bag. Natalie noticed and asked, ¡°Sean, what are you looking for?¡± ¡°I got you a present, mommy.¡± The words had barely left his mouth when Susie froze in surprise. HereSelf 271 Chapter 271 Jealousy Looks Cute On Susie Fresh chapters posted on Find_Novel(. Chapter 271 Jealousy Looks Cute On Susie s ¡°Sean, when did you buy Mommy a gift? Howe I didn¡¯t know about it? Weren¡¯t we just out shopping for grandpa and grandma?¡± ¡°Yeah, but I saw a lipstick that would look perfect on Mommy, so I bought it. I even asked the clerk to wrap it up for me.¡± As Sean spoke, he had already found the little package. ¡°Here it is, Mommy¨Cthis is for you!¡± He handed it to Natalie like it was a treasure. Natalie¡¯s chest warmed instantly. This child is so thoughtful. All these years, as their mother, she hadn¡¯t even known her children existed. She hadn¡¯t had the chance to buy them anything; yet her son had remembered to buy her a gift? ¡°Thank you, Sean. I love it.¡± Natalie kissed his forehead, and Sean¡¯s little face turned crimson. Susie, however, looked a little jealous. ¡°Ugh! You¡¯re so sneaky! You secretly bought Mommy a gift and didn¡¯t tell me! Hmph! You just want to hog all of Mommy¡¯s love for yourself, don¡¯t you?¡± Sean could only stare at her, speechless. He rolled his eyes, not even bothering to argue with Susie in this mood. Natalie justughed, pulled Susie onto herp, and kissed her as well. ¡°Susie, sweetheart, Mommy loves you too.¡± ¡°Really? Mommy won¡¯t ignore me just because I didn¡¯t buy you a gift?¡± Susie pouted, her voice full of grievance. Natalie stroked her hair and said gently, ¡°Of course not. Mommy loves you and your brother more than anything.¡± Chapter 271 Jealousy Looks Cute On Susie s Sean¡¯s lips curved up; he couldn¡¯t hide his grin. Mommy said she loves me. Susic¡¯s little heart swelled, too. ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll give Mommy a giftter as well¨Cbut for now, it¡¯s a secret!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t expect gifts from her children; just knowing they had her in their hearts was more than enough. The sound of an engine came from outside. Flynn smiled. ¡°That must be Mom and Dad.¡± ¡°Grandpa and Grandma? I¡¯m going out to see them!¡± Susie wriggled out of Natalie¡¯sp and dashed toward the door on her little legs. Sean, however, stayed right by Natalie¡¯s side. When she stood up, he reached out and wrapped his tiny fingers around hers. Natalie marveled again at how miraculous life was. She hadn¡¯t spent much time with the children, yet in this moment, the blood bond between them stirred something deep inside her¨Cwarmth, fierce and unshakable. She held Sean¡¯s hand tightly and walked with him to the door. ¡°Daddy!¡± Susie spotted Baron getting out of the car and charged toward him like a little train. Baron immediately squatted down to catch her, afraid she might trip and fall. But Susie tilted her head toward Ruby and Waylon. ¡°Wow, are you my grandma and grandpa? You¡¯re so good¨Clooking! No wonder you could have such a beautiful daughter like my mommy¨Cand me!¡± Her words made the elderly couple beam with delight. ¡°Oh my, you must be Susie! What a sweet tongue you have. Yes, we¡¯re your Grandma and 13:00 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 271 Jealousy Looks Cute On Susic Grandpa.¡± Ruby let go of Waylon¡¯s hand and eagerly took Susic from Baron¡¯s arms. In Susie¡¯s eyes and features, Ruby caught glimpses of Natalic. It was as if she were looking twenty years into the past. 856 s If I hadn¡¯t failed to protect my daughter back then, how could Natalie have been gone from home for so many years? Ruby¡¯s eyes misted over. Susie instantly noticed. She reached up to wipe her grandmother¡¯s tears and whispered, ¡°Grandma, why are you crying?¡± ¡°No reason, sweetheart. Grandma¡¯s just happy to see you.¡± Ruby knew her tears were ill¨Ctimed, but she couldn¡¯t hold them back. At that moment, Sean came out with Natalie. ¡°Mom, dad, you¡¯re here,¡± Natalie said with a soft smile. ¡°Hello, Grandma, Grandpa. My name is Sean¨Cyou can just call me Sean.¡± He spoke politely, like a little gentleman. Waylon and Ruby¡¯s joy doubled as they looked at him. ¡°Wonderful, wonderful. Come on, let¡¯s go inside! Grandma and Grandpa brought gifts for you.¡± Waylon couldn¡¯t resist scooping Sean up, and together with Ruby¨Ceach carrying a child¨Cthey went into the living room. Flynn stood there, speechless. He felt like the whole family had just forgotten about him. ¡°Hey, look at Mom and Dad-¡± He wanted to pout to Natalie, but then noticed her walking quickly toward Baron, her face tight with worry. 13:00 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 271 Jealousy Looks Cute On Susic She reached him first, grabbed his arm, and frowned. ¡°You¡¯re hurt? What happened? Who did this to you?¡± Just then, her phone rang in her pocket. Baron froze for a second, then instinctively said, ¡°Your phone¡¯s ringing¨Cit might be something urgent.¡± Chapter 272 Who Cares About That Call HereSelf 272 Chapter 272 Who Cares About That Call The moment Baron finished speaking. Natalie¡¯s face darkened. ¡°At a time like this, you¡¯re worried about a phone call? What¡¯s going on with this injury?¡± She took his wrist in her hand. On the inside of his wrist was a shallow scratch. It had happened when Jensen¡¯s car swerved into him; his sleeve had snagged and cut him. Even Ruby hadn¡¯t noticed it earlier, since the wound was hidden on the inner wrist. Baron never imagined Natalic would catch it. That feeling warmed his chest. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was dodging a car while driving; my sleeve caught and scraped me.¡± Natalie bent slightly, leaned close, and blew gently across the wound. Fresh chapters posted on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡°When we get back, we¡¯ll disinfect it and put on a bandage. Later, I¡¯ll design a set of cuffs for you myself, so something like this won¡¯t happen again.¡± She fussed over him with such care it was like he might shatter in her hands. Flynn stood to the side, feeling once again like the unnecessary one. A grown man, with a scratch that would scab over in no time, and his sister was fussing over him like this? Baron caught Flynn¡¯s expression, but his own mood was soaring. ¡°Alright, but make sure you rest too. Forget about my cufflinks for now¨Ctake care of your work first. That¡¯s what really matters.¡± He sounded so considerate, but Flynn nearly winced. Seriously? That sweet¨Ctalking? My sister doesn¡¯t notice? To his surprise, Natalie quickly replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. My senior¡¯s helping with the studio; I can set aside some orders. You¡¯re my husband¨Cdesigning a cuff for you won¡¯t take any time at all.¡± ¡°Then thank you, sweetheart.¡± Baron¡¯s satisfied smile nearly drove Flynn to violence. This was supposed to be Murica¡¯s Godfather, Mr. Baron? Why did he look more like some sly pretty boy? 13:00 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 272 Who Cares About That Call ¡°Flynn? You¡¯re still out here?¡± Natalie turned and spotted Flynn hovering nearby, and couldn¡¯t help asking. Flynn winced inside, like he¡¯d just been sucker¨Cpunched all over again. g. ¡°So now all you see is your husband? Your brother¡¯s been helping you with the kids all this time, and since you¡¯ve been back you haven¡¯t spared me a nce?¡± He sounded genuinely hurt. Natalie chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re not that young anymore. You can see Mom and Dad love kids; it¡¯s about time you found me a sister¨Cinw.¡± Flynn almost spat blood. Now even his sister was nagging him to get married? Baronughed even louder. ¡°She¡¯s right, Flynn! It¡¯s time you found a wife.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Flynn rolled his eyes and stormed off. He finally realized he was the extra piece in this family. Natalie¡¯s smile softened, her eyes full of warmth. This kind of family closeness made her feel at peace. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go put some medicine on that cut.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to answer your phone?¡± Baron could still hear it buzzing in her pocket, worried she might miss something important. ¡°It¡¯s probably nothing urgent,¡± Natalie said calmly. ¡°If my senior really needs me and can¡¯t reach me, she¡¯ll video call. With my family here, I can return other people¡¯s calls anytime. wound doesn¡¯t get infected.¡± What matters is making sure your wound doesn¡¯t Baron¡¯s grin was so wide, nothing on earth could wipe it off his face. ¡°My wife really does care about me.¡± 13:00 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 272 Who Cares About That Call He leaned his head on her shoulder like a big, obedient golden retriever. Natalie couldn¡¯t help butugh as she led him into the bedroom to tend to his injury. 56 s Baron actually wanted to pin her down then and there, but with her parents in the house, there was no way they could disappear. After a short while in the bedroom, the two of them came back out. Ruby and Waylon were already ying happily with the children, and Flynn had been reduced to full¨Ctime babysitter. Watching her familyugh together filled Natalie¡¯s eyes with warmth. This is the life I want to keep forever. When Waylon saw Natalie and Baron return, he called out, ¡°Flynn, Barone with me to with your the study. Natalie, stay mother.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t know what her father wanted to discuss with Baron, but she trusted he could handle it. Once the three men went off to the study, Natalie walked over to Ruby. ¡°Mom, the trip must have been tiring.¡± She poured her a ss of water. Ruby took her daughter¡¯s hand, overwhelmed with emotion. ¡°I¡¯m not tired. But you¨Cyou look so much better since you¡¯ve been back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright. Baron takes good care of me and the kids.¡± She meant every word. Ruby nodded. ¡°Baron¡¯s a good man. For you and the children, he¡¯s done well. So, Natalie, you should also give him a sense of security.¡± HereSelf 273 Chapter 273 He Saved Sharon Not Me Natalie froze for a moment at those words. ¡°Mom, is there something you¡¯re trying to say?¡± ¡°On the way back today, we ran into Jensen. Didn¡¯t Baron tell you?¡± One look at Natalie¡¯s nk expression told Ruby everything. a She let out a quiet sigh. ¡°I knew it. Baron worries about you constantly, always nning ahead for your sake. Be honest with me¨Cdo you still have feelings for Jensen?¡± ¡°Mom, what are you even saying?¡± Natalie blinked, caught off guard by the blunt question. ¡°I haven¡¯t cared about Jensen in a long time. After he secretly married Sharon behind my back, tried to steal my sess for her, and when Sharon had someone break my finger¨Che used his influence to protect her so I couldn¡¯t even fight back. From then on, whatever feelings I had for him faded away piece by piece. And when Sharon left me to die in that fire, the very first thing he did was rush in after her, without so much as a nce in my direction¡­ That was the moment I knew there was no future for him and me in this lifetime.¡± Her tone was steady, unshaken, which finally eased Ruby¡¯s worries. ¡°If that¡¯s really how you feel, then why, sinceing back to Ocean City, are you still so caught up with Jensen?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not! Every time hees at me, I shut him down¨Cor fight back.¡± Hearing that, Ruby¡¯s expression softened. She looked at her daughter with tenderness and said gently, ¡°Natalie, even if you push him away, you¡¯ve still never made a clean break. Even now, Luke Corp still hasn¡¯t paid you what they owe for your designs, has it? By leaving things like this, you¡¯re making Baron think there¡¯s still some possibility between you and Jensen¨Cwhich is exactly why Jensen dares to bully him so openly. Do you even know what he¡¯s been saying about Baron?¡± Ruby pulled out her phone, found the video of Jensen ramming their car and the conversation he had with Baron afterward, then handed it to Natalie. The moment she saw Jensen¡¯s behavior, Natalie¡¯s face hardened. Ruby saw her expression and knew for certain her daughter truly had no feelings left for him. ( Chapter 273 He Saved Sharon Not Me 420 +6 Free Com ¡°No matter who Baron is,¡± Ruby said meaningfully, ¡°your father and I can tell his feelings for you are real. The two of you already have children together. If you stand by each other through life, your future won¡¯t becking. Natalie, what we want most is for you to be happy ¡°Mom, I know what I need to do.¡± Natalie thought about how Baron hade back without ever mentioning Jensen, without a word ofint. Her chest tightened with guilt and sadness. She knew exactly how he felt about her. If I imed I felt nothing for Baron after all this time, I¡¯d be lying. And a man like him, how could I not fall for him? Now, her man had been bullied by Jensen, and if not for her mother, she wouldn¡¯t even have known. She really had been neglecting him. ¡°Mom,¡± Natalie said quietly, ¡°has the Stone family beenpletely cleaned up inside?¡± ¡°Not yet. But many have gone into hiding. Our familywork is tooplicated; it can¡¯t be handled overnight. We still need time. But your father and I agree¨Cyour return can¡¯t wait. We have to let everyone know you are our daughter. And Yvonne¨Cwe¡¯ve confirmed she¡¯s Uncle Xenon¡¯s child. Whatever else, she carries the Stone bloodline. When the timees, you two should return to the family together, alright?¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel Natalie lowered her voice. ¡°That¡¯s something Yvonne needs to decide for herself. She¡¯s Baron¡¯s sister now, which makes her my sister too. Honestly, I still think it¡¯s safer for her to remain a Gunn. At least for now, those hiding within the Stone family won¡¯t dare touch her. In the end, it should depend on what she wants.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask herter. She¡¯s not here now?¡± Natalie nodded. ¡°She went out on some business; she¡¯ll be back tonight.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°Mom, since you and Dad want me to return to the Stone family, let¡¯s host the banquet in Ocean City. Have Chris start nning these next few days; I¡¯ll make my appearance with the children and with Baron.¡± Ruby immediately understood her daughter¡¯s intention. She wanted to bring Baron and the kids into the spotlight. 13:00 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 273 He Saved Sharon Not Me 820 *5 Free Cor ¡°That¡¯s fine. Baron should be given his rightful ce anyway. The wedding also has to be held. You and Baron decide what kind of ceremony you want, and your father and I will prepare it. A faint smile curved Natalie¡¯s lips. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll ask Baron what he wants first.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Seeing how strong their rtionship was filled Ruby with joy. The two kids had been listening quietly the whole time. As soon as Mommy and Grandma finished talking, they chimed in together, ¡°If Daddy and Mommy get married, we want to be in the wedding party!¡± HereSelf 274 13:00 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 274 Family Means Taking The Paper Chapter 274 Family Means Taking The Paper ¡°Alright; when the timees, Susic and Sean will be the best¨Clooking kids there.¡± Ruby genuinely adored those two children. Meanwhile, in the study, Waylonid a set of share certificates on the table. Flynn stayed quiet, while Baron¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. 420 +6 Free Cons ¡°Dad, what are you doing? If you¡¯re giving shares to Natalie, then you should call her in.¡± Baron could provide for Natalie just fine, and she didn¡¯t exactly need him to; but if she was returning to the Stone family, then it was only right for them to give her shares. Even if Waylon hadn¡¯t brought it up, as her husband, Baron would have insisted. Waylon chuckled when he heard this. ¡°Natalie¡¯s shares, of course, I¡¯ll speak to her directly about. These are for you.¡± Baron froze, eyes widening in surprise. ¡°For me?¡± Instinctively, he nced at Flynn. If Natalie hadn¡¯te back, the whole Stone family would belong to Flynn. Now that she had returned, Flynn could ept giving Natalie a share; but handing them to him¨Can outsider¨Cdidn¡¯t seem right. Flynn read the doubt in Baron¡¯s eyes and smiled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the Stone family¡¯s son¨Cinw now? Since you¡¯re family, you get shares too. What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Baron¨Cour shares not good enough for you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Baron¡¯s voice came out low. The Gunns and the Stones were both century¨Cold families; in fact, the Stone family¡¯s financial power was greater. But from the day he was born, his biological father had schemed to swallow the shares that rightfully belonged to him and his mother. Now, Waylon and Flynn were offering him shares simply because he had married in¨Chow could his heart not be moved? Chapter 274 Family Means Taking The Paper ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t need these. Give them to Natalic instead.¡± This gesture alone was enough for him to ept Waylon and Flynn as true family. But Waylon was firm. ? 56 s ¡°They¡¯re yours, and that¡¯s final. If you really see us as family, then don¡¯t refuse. Natalie and the children have their shares too. Once Flynn finds a wife and has kids, his wife and children will have theirs as well. Our Stone family doesn¡¯t have that many shareholders¨Cmost are distant branches. And right now, plenty of people are eyeing the position of family head. The internal struggle is no less vicious than in your Gunn family. If you want to protect my daughter and my grandchildren, you must hold shares in the Stone Group. So you have to take them.¡± Flynn sighed, stepped forward, and pped Baron on the shoulder. This content belongs to ¡°Baron, the Stone family isn¡¯t peaceful. The truth behind my sister being switched at birth is still unresolved, and my parents want her to return now. Once her identity as the Stone heiress is made public, there¡¯ll be danger and trouble to follow. In business, our family has to stand as one. Whatever your ns, to the outside world you¡¯re already our son¨Cinw; you need to have Stone family shares. Don¡¯t worry¨CI don¡¯t mind you holding them. To be honest, aside from the family¡¯s businesses, I already have private ventures of Hearing their sincerity, Baron¡¯s eyes brimmed with emotion. my own.¡± He suddenly realized that the kinship and affection he had never once received, after so many twists and turns, fate had returned to him in this way. And he knew¨Cit was all because of Natalie. ¡°Dad, Brother¡­ from now on, I¡¯m a part of the Stone family. Whatever you n to do, I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡± He took the share certificate in hand. Just then, Flynn¡¯s phone buzzed. He nced down; his eyes narrowed. ¡°Dad, something¡¯s happened.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Waylon knew his son, Flynn wouldn¡¯t wear that expression unless it was serious. ¡°Our shipment at sea was hijacked. No leads so far. That batch has to be delivered to our 13:00 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 274 Family Means Taking The Paper partners in a week. If we can¡¯t make the deadline, we¡¯ll owe triple in penalties.¡± Waylon¡¯s face darkened at once. ¡°Which waters?¡± ¡°Near international waters.¡± Baron¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Dad, Brother Can you tell me what kind of shipment it is?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Waylon handed him the manifest. s Baron scanned it¨Ceverything was legal business. Only then did he say, ¡°Leave it to me. I¡¯ll send someone out near international waters; I¡¯ll have it back within two days. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± That was when Flynn suddenly remembered who Baron really was. HereSelf 275 Chapter 275 He¡¯s Worth My Whole Heart Chapter 275 He¡¯s Worth My Whole Heart +5. Free Coins Flynn suddenly remembered¨Cof course. Baron was the Godfather of Murica! He just hadn¡¯t realized Baron also had connections at sea. ¡°Baron, if you can recover that shipment, it would be a huge help. The Stone family¡¯s cash flow is a little tight right now; with my sister¡¯s return, a lot of shareholders are making moves behind the scenes. I don¡¯t know if this missing cargo was one of their tricks, but if it was, Dad and I will be in a tough spot.¡± Baron pulled out his phone and said to Waylon and Flynn, ¡°If tight funds are what¡¯s blocking my wife¡¯s return, then let¡¯s move that obstacle out of the way. It¡¯s just money. I¡¯ve got plenty. How much does the family need? I¡¯ll have Layne transfer it immediately.¡± Flynn froze for a moment, then burst outughing. ¡°Dad, with a rich and generous brother¨Cin-w like this, can we order a few more?¡± ¡°You little brat, I¡¯ll beat you!¡± Waylon threw the pen in his hand at him. Baron rolled his eyes. ¡°Big Brother, one good brother¨Cinw is enough. If it were someone like Jensen, even if you had ten of him, would you dare take one?¡± Flynn was instantly choked off. ¡°Alright, alright, I was wrong. I apologize, okay? Don¡¯tpare animals like him to us¨Cit cheapens us.¡± Flynn truly despised Jensen. Dating Natalie for five years without ever marrying her, all while exploiting her designs to build his own empire¨Ccalling him a scoundrel was practically apliment. Hearing Flynn¡¯s disdain for Jensen eased that lingering bitterness in Baron¡¯s chest. ¡°Dad, I remember Grant International Holdings recently secured a major government¨Clinked project, but it requires upfront capital. Here¡¯s my idea, I¡¯ll have Layne draft a partnership contract. Grant International Holdings and Stone Group can develop the project together; mypany will invest one billion first into Stone Group. That way, even in the worst¨Ccase scenario, you¡¯ll be covered. At the very least, it¡¯ll put those old Stone family geezers in their ce.¡± 13:00 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 275 He¡¯s Worth My Whole Heart He looked straight at Waylon as he finished. 56 s Waylon understood immediately¨CBaron genuinely wanted to help. His respect for this son- inw deepened. ¡°Alright, go ahead with it. Honestly, with Stone Group working with Grant International Holdings, we¡¯d be getting the better end of the deal. Let¡¯s split it thirty¨Cseventy; Stone Group takes thirty percent of the profits.¡± Baron blinked. ¡°Dad, let¡¯s make it fifty¨Cfifty. We¡¯re family.¡± ¡°Family or not, ounts should still be clear. Besides, I¡¯ve heard about this project. To be honest, Grant International Holdings could easily handle it alone. The fact that you¡¯re offering Stone Group the opportunity is more than enough to silence those old men.¡± Waylon rose, patted Baron¡¯s shoulder, and said softly, ¡°I know you¡¯re trying to give us money, but there¡¯s a difference between helping us personally and helping Stone Group. I¡¯ll make sure everyone knows this project came through you. From now on, you¡¯ll have a ce at the table in the Stone family. Natalie only cares about design, not business; in the future, the Stones will rely on you and Flynn working together.¡± Baron understood. This project was meant to be his introduction¨Chis stepping stone into the Stone family. Fresh chapters posted on Find?Novel He hadn¡¯t wanted to enter the business world; he preferred the life he had now. But thinking about the dangers Natalie might face, he knew he couldn¡¯t sit back in leisure. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± The three men got to work in the study. Meanwhile, Natalie was ying with Ruby and the children. When Waylon and the others still hadn¡¯te out, worry crept into her heart. ¡°Mom, Dad won¡¯t make things hard for Baron, will he? He might not be from our circle, but he¡¯s aw¨Cabiding citizen¨Cand he¡¯s the chairman of Grant International Holdings. He¡¯s just low¨Ckey and doesn¡¯t like sitting in an office, so¡­¡± She rushed to exin, not even realizing how protective she sounded of him. Ruby, hearing her tone, finally rxed. 13:00 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 275 He¡¯s Worth My Whole Heart g ¡°Baron¡¯s a good man; your father and I both see that. Don¡¯t worry. No matter what he does, just the fact that he risked his life running into that fire for you¨Cyour father and I have epted him as our son¨Cinw.¡± Natalie thought back to Baron¡¯s reckless, desperate figure in the mes. Her eyes softened with warmth. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s a good man¨Cworth my whole heart.¡± Just as she finished, her phone rang. She nced down¨Cit was herwyer. Natalie hesitated, then answered. ¡°Rigel, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Ms. Stone, regarding your request to collect the design fees owed by Luke Corp over the past five years¨Cthey¡¯ve finally given a response.¡± Natalie looked at the children, then stood and stepped out onto the balcony with the phone. ¡°What did they say?¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen said you¡¯ll need toe in personally to identify which designs are yours. After all, Luke Corp has had other designers these past five years. He ims he can¡¯t remember and needs you to verify them on¨Csite.¡± HereSelf 276 Chapter 276 Pay Up Or Shut Up Chapter 276 Pay Up Or Shut Up Natalie¡¯s brows knit tightly together. Jensen clearly had an agenda that had nothing to do with business. Thinking about what he had done to Baron not long ago, Natalie felt truly sickened. ¡°Fine, I understand. Tomorrow morning at nine¨Cthirty, I¡¯ll go to Luke Corp with you.¡± +10 Free Coins Natalie had no desire to deal with Jensen; but the way he kept hounding her was already disrupting her life with Baron. This time, she was determined to put an end to it once and for all. Only after hearing her confirm the time did Rigel hang up. He pocketed his phone, then looked across the table at Jensen, his expression tense. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I¡¯ve done exactly as you asked. Ms. Stone has agreed to meet. Now can you my wife and child?¡± Jensen curved his lips into a smile, a glint of madness flickering in his eyes. release ¡°Once I see Natalie tomorrow, and once you help me do what I want, your wife and child will be just fine.¡± Rigel burned with anger, but he didn¡¯t dare act rashly; all he could do was walk out first. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find{n}ovel Jensen, meanwhile, pulled Natalie¡¯s photo from Twitter, had someone restore it to high resolution, printed it, and carefully ced it into a photo album on his desk. Staring at her radiant smile in the picture, his gaze softened without him even realizing. ¡°Natalie, we¡¯ll start over from the beginning.¡± His fingers gently traced the edge of the photo as if it were really her; to him, that was reason enough to be tender. When Hansel knocked and came in, this was exactly what he saw. He froze for a moment, then quickly hid his reaction and spoke quietly. ¡°Mr. Jensen, I¡¯ve gone through Luke Corp¡¯s liquid assets as you instructed. Based on Ms. Stone¡¯s design pricing, there isn¡¯t enough to cover her design fees from the past five years. And the shareholders are against 56 Chapter 276 Pay Up Or Shut Up paying her.¡± ¡°What right do they have to oppose it?¡± Jensen¡¯s voice turned cold. +10 Free Coins He stood, looking out at the employees outside his office. ¡°Five years ago, when I took over Luke Corp, it was nothing but an empty shell. Without Natalie¡¯s designs and my management, would it ever have reached what it is today? Maybe they¡¯ve livedfortably for too long; they¡¯ve forgotten what those days were like.¡± He tossed the pen in his hand into the trash and let out a coldugh. ¡°Since their memories are so poor, let¡¯s remind them.¡± Hansel blinked in surprise, then suddenly understood. ¡°Mr. Jensen, you mean¡­¡± 99 ¡°Do it; keep it discreet. I want every shareholder¡¯s signature before midnight. And as for past five Natalie¡¯s design fees, they won¡¯t juste out of thepany¡¯s liquid assets. For the years, every shareholder has been pocketing dividends thanks to her work; whatever they ate, they can cough back up now.¡± Jensen had never been a saint. Hansel suddenly felt like he was staring at the same Jensen from five years ago¨Cthe reckless man who had gone all in for Luke Corp¡¯s rise. Only now, Jensen was doing it for Natalie. If only he had treated Ms. Stone like this earlier¡­ maybe things between them wouldn¡¯t have to this point. But now¡­ is it already too ? Complicated emotions churned in Hansel¡¯s chest as he left. Meanwhile, Baron and the Waylon father¨Cand¨Cson duo quickly finalized and signed the contract; only then did the three of them walk out of the study. Natalie was with the children, ying games, while Ruby hovered protectively at their side, afraid they might bump into something. The harmony of the scene filled Baron with a surge of emotion. How many times had he dreamed of something like this? Back then, his mother had still been alive; in his dreams, he brought his wife and children home, and his mother fussed over them like Ruby was doing now, chatting happily with his 13:01 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 276 Pay Up Or Shut Up wife. : Now, atst, that dream had be reality¨Conly his mother wasn¡¯t here anymore. Baron couldn¡¯t name the feeling in his chest. There was joy in his happiness, yet also a lonely ache from remembering his mother. Waylon, too, hadn¡¯t seen Ruby smile so brightly in years. 56 +10 Free Coins After their daughter¡¯s death, Ruby¡¯s mental state had been fragile, swinging between good days and bad. At home, no one dared raise their voice; they hadn¡¯t even dared let her hear a baby¡¯s cry, afraid it would set her off. Now, watching her dote on her grandchildren like any ordinary grandmother, Waylon¡¯s eyes grew damp. Flynn whispered, ¡°Dad, my sister really is this family¡¯s lucky star. Look at Mom¨Cshe¡¯s practically healed.¡± ¡°Yes, your sister is our family¡¯s blessing. From now on, no matter what, we¡¯ll protect her and her children.¡± With that, Waylon stepped forward toward Ruby. ¡°Grandpa!¡± Sean and Susie spotted him first and rushed to him at once. 13:01 Wed, Oct 1 HereSelf 277 Chapter 277 I Said Wait For Me. Chapter 277 I Said Wait For Me : $56 +10 Free Coins Natalic immediately looked over at Baron; seeing him smiling warmly at her, her heart felt as though it had finally found a safe harbor¨Ccalm and at peace. ¡°Dad, Waylon, Baron¨Care you done? Let¡¯s cat. We¡¯re starving over here.¡± As soon as Natalie spoke, Waylon quickly chimed in, ¡°Yes, yes, let¡¯s eat! We can¡¯t have our little treasures going hungry.¡± Ruby took the children by the hand, one on each side, and led them toward the dining room. Baron, however, went straight to Natalie, reaching for her hand. ¡°If you were hungry, why didn¡¯t you grab something first?¡± ¡°I was waiting for you.¡± Her words left Baron with a warm ache in his chest. ¡°In the future, when we¡¯re together, you don¡¯t need to wait. If you¡¯re hungry, eat; I¡¯ll try to get back earlier, but if I¡¯mte, don¡¯t wait for me.¡± Natalie blinked at him, momentarily taken aback. Try to get back earlier? What does that mean? Where exactly are you going? She had always assumed Baron¡¯s life worked around hers; he was usually home before she got back, so she had grown used to always finding him there. Hearing him say this now felt strange. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Dad asked me to join Stone Group as a shareholder; he even gave me some of their stock.¡± Baron¡¯s tone was full of pride and satisfaction. Anyone overhearing might have thought he had been a penniless nobody who finally got a lucky break. But Natalie knew better. Baron couldn¡¯t care less about Stone Group¡¯s shares. He had built Grant International Holdings from the ground up, apany now rivaling Stone Group itself. Chapter 277 I Said Wait For Me 10 Free Coins If he didn¡¯t even care for the title of chairman of his own conglomerate, why would he value a few shares from her family? Sensing her doubt, Baron leaned closer and whispered, ¡°This isn¡¯t about the stock. It means Dad and my brother finally recognize me as the Stone family¡¯s son¨Cinw. It means I¡¯m no longer on my own; I have a family and a rightful ce.¡± His words were meant to boast, yet Natalie¡¯s heart suddenly ached for him. ¡°You have me, my parents, my brother, and the kids¨Cwe¡¯re your family for life. Baron, I already told my mom, soon I¡¯ll be hosting a reunion banquet in Ocean City. You and the children will be by my side. I want the whole world to know you¡¯re my husband and the father of my kids.¡± Baron paused mid¨Cstep, then lifted his gaze, eyes alight with excitement. ¡°My dear, you¡¯re giving me a proper name?¡± Natalie couldn¡¯t help butugh at his reaction. ¡°Silly, haven¡¯t you had it all along? I just want everyone else to know you¡¯re my man. And since the banquet hasn¡¯t been held yet, I¡¯ll give you onest chance to back out. Baron, think carefully¨Cafter this, even if you wanted another woman, it wouldn¡¯t be an option.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else! I only want you!¡± With that, Baron cupped the back of her head and kissed her¨Chot, fierce, andmanding. Natalie hadn¡¯t expected him to kiss her here, now, of all ces. She instinctively tried to push him away. This is mortifying! My parents and brother are right here- and the kids too! How can he just kiss me like this, anywhere, anytime? But Baron didn¡¯t give her a chance; his movements only grew more forceful, his kiss more searing. Ruby noticed Natalie hadn¡¯t followed them and turned back, only to catch sight of the fiery scene unfolding behind. The corners of her lips curved upward, but she quickly covered the children¡¯s eyes. She said to Flynn, ¡°Close the dining room door; don¡¯t let the food get cold, or it won¡¯t taste goodter.¡± Flynn froze for a moment. In this weather, would the food really get cold? Do we even need to close the door? :0 56 Chapter 277 I Said Wait For Me +10 Free Coins Waylon had also seen what was happening; he cleared his throat and said, ¡°Do as your mother says.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Flynn still couldn¡¯t make sense of his mother¡¯s logic. He turned to close the door, only to see Baron practically devouring his sister. Flynn¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Hey! That bastard dares bully my sister like this right in front of us? He¡¯spletely out of control!¡± He started rolling up his sleeves, ready to charge out, but Ruby twisted his ear and dragged him back. ¡°And where do you think you¡¯re going? I told you to close the door, not start a fight. What, you think you¡¯re too grown for me to handle now?¡± Ruby¡¯s temper red as she yanked her son back. This content belongs to find?novel Caught off guard, Flynn yelped in pain. ¡°Mom! You shouldn¡¯t be twisting my ear¨Cyou should be looking at what Baron¡¯s doing!¡± No sooner had he said it than Susie perked up with interest. ¡°What¡¯s daddy doing? I want to see!¡± She hopped down from her chair, little legs carrying her toward the living room, but Sean immediately grabbed her by the cor. HereSelf 278 Chapter 278 Kids Have Eyes Too ¡°Susic, quiet.¡± +10 Free Coins Sean didn¡¯t even need to think to know what Baron was doing right now. God, Dad is hopeless. He kisses Mom anytime, anywhere, doesn¡¯t he ever think about how the rest of us feel? He¡¯s the worst! And we¡¯re still kids! Susie, tugged back by Sean, grew frustrated. ¡°Sean, you¡¯re so annoying! Let me go!¡± ¡°Shut up and eat!¡± Fresh chapters posted on Sean didn¡¯t give her a chance to wriggle free; he shoved her back into her seat, cleared his throat, and gave a deliberate cough toward the living room. Natalie had already been nervous; hearing her son¡¯s cough made her want to bury herself in the ground. She stomped on Baron¡¯s foot¨Chard. He grunted under his breath and finally released her, only to be met with her sharp re. ¡°You¡¯re not touching me for an entire week!¡± With that, she turned and marched off; her cheeks burned crimson, the kind of blush that made her look irresistible. Baron¡¯s throat tightened as he swallowed, the sight of her making his self¨Ccontrol slip. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and trailed after Natalie into the dining room. Sean shot him a death re sharp enough to cut ss, but Baron pretended not to notice. Susie opened her mouth to speak, but Sean stuffed a chicken drumstick between her lips and whispered, ¡°Eat. If you talk and end up eating too slow, don¡¯t expect me to save you any.¡± The little glutton¡¯s eyes lit with rm; at the mention of no chicken left for her, she forgot all about asking what Baron had been doing outside. She buried her face into the drumstick, munching away. As for the adults, Waylon and Ruby acted as though they had seen nothing at all, afraid their daughter would feel embarrassed. 13:01 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 278 Kids Have Eyes Too : Flynn¡¯s re burned with fury, like he was ready to rip Baron to pieces. Natalie could feel the tension in the air, but all she could do was pretend nothing had happened. She sat down with a bright smile. ¡°Dad, mom, Waylon¨Clet¡¯s cat.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, let¡¯s eat,¡± Waylon said quickly, following her lead. Baron sat beside Natalie. +10 Free Coins. She ate with feigned calm, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her; anyone could see she was embarrassed and forcingposure. Waylon raised his brows at Ruby. This much affection might be a problem. Should we move out? Ruby frowned slightly. No. I just got my daughter back; I¡¯m not going anywhere. Waylon understood the look in his wife¡¯s eyes and dropped his head, focusing on his food. Everyone ate in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. After dinner, Ruby urged Natalie back to her room, while she and Waylon took the children off themselves. Baron pulled Natalie into the bedroom, where the two of them shared a heated and passionate exchange. The next morning, as the sun rose, Natalie opened her eyes and felt sore all over. Baron was already gone. She got up, tidied herself, and dressed. By now she was used to his habits¨Cearly morning runs, and sometimes preparing breakfast for her and the kids. When she stepped out of the bedroom, she found Ruby sitting on the sofa reading a magazine; no one else was around. ¡°Morning, mom.¡± ¡°You¡¯re up? Breakfast is in the kitchen; I¡¯ll have the housekeeper bring it for you.¡± Ruby quickly set her magazine aside, looking at her daughter¡¯s rosy cheeks, her heart nearly 13:01 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 278 Kids Have Eyes Too brimming over with love. 556 +10 Free Coins ¡°Your father, your brother, and Baron all went to thepany. The kids are fed and dressed- I sent them off to preschool. Do you have ns for today?¡± Natalie blinked, caught off guard. ¡°Baron went to thepany too?¡± ¡°Yes. Your father said the Stone family has a coboration with him; Baron needed to be there. There¡¯s also a board meeting today, so your father wanted to introduce him to the other directors.¡± Ruby didn¡¯t understand much about business, but she repeated what Waylon had told her, afraid her daughter might worry about Baron. Natalie nodded. ¡°Mom, I need to step out for a while to take care of something. But why don¡¯t you wait for me toe back, and we¡¯ll go shopping together?¡± Most of Natalie¡¯s design work was now being handled by Renee, so she wasn¡¯t too busy. And she could see Ruby genuinely wanted to stay close to her. The feeling of losing her daughter once and then getting her back had left Ruby a little insecure; she doted on Natalie constantly. And Natalie, in turn, wanted to take good care of her mother. But since she had already arranged to meet Rigel at Luke Corp, she would have to finish that before she could keep Rubypany. Ruby was disappointed at first¨Cher daughter was busy, after all. But hearing Natalie promise to go shopping afterward immediately lifted her spirits. HereSelf 279 Chapter 279 Respect The Son In Law AO +10 Free Cong ¡°Alright, alright! I¡¯ll wait for you at home. Call me when you¡¯re done, and I¡¯lle find ¡°Okay, mom, I¡¯m heading out then.¡± Natalie said this and turned to leave. Ruby quickly called after her, ¡°Hey, Natalie, you haven¡¯t even had breakfast yet.¡± Natalie was about to say she wasn¡¯t hungry when the doorbell rang. ¡°Mom, are you expecting someone today?¡± Ruby froze. you.¡± ¡°No, I just got to Ocean City; I don¡¯t know anyone here yet. Why would someone be looking for me? Could it be for you?¡± Natalie shook her head slightly. ¡°No. Hardly anyone even knows I¡¯m here, and besides, not just anyone can get up here. The security guards at the gate would¡¯ve stopped them.¡± Just as neither of them could figure out who it might be, Chris walked in. ¡°Madam, Ms. Stone¨CJuliana is here.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Natalie looked puzzled, but Ruby smiled. ¡°So Juliana followed me here after all?¡± Seeing her daughter¡¯s confusion, Ruby quickly exined, ¡°Natalie, Juliana is the housekeeper we¡¯ve had for years back home. She¡¯s been with us since shortly after I married; she¡¯s always been my right hand, taking wonderful care of me. I imagine she was worried I wouldn¡¯t manage on my own in Ocean City, so she came after me.¡± Then Ruby turned to Chris. ¡°Bring Juliana in so she can meet Ms. Stone.¡± ¡°Yes, madam.¡± Chris hurried out to fetch her. 13:01 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 279 Respect The Son In Law 56 +10 Free Coins Natalie didn¡¯t feel much of anything toward this Juliana one way or another; but since she was someone Ruby trusted, Natalic naturally gave her a measure of respect. Juliana followed Chris inside soon after. ¡°Madam, how are you? You must be exhausted after such a long trip; are you feeling alright?¡± Read full story at findnovel The concern in her eyes didn¡¯t look feigned, which cased Natalie¡¯s mind. Ruby, seeing a familiar face, brightened. ¡°Juliana, I¡¯m fine. Come, meet my daughter Natalie.¡± She could hardly wait to make the introduction. ¡°Juliana, things here aren¡¯t like back home; Natalie and Baron are in charge now. From now on, I want you to look after my daughter, my son¨Cinw, and the children the same way you¡¯ve always cared for me. Do you understand?¡± Juliana faltered for the briefest second; a flicker of emotion crossed her eyes before vanishing. ¡°Yes, madam. It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Ms. Stone.¡± She bowed respectfully. Natalie nodded, then smiled at Ruby. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m running out of time; I¡¯ll head out now and call youter.¡± ¡°Alright, be careful. Have Chris drive you.¡± Ruby reminded her gently. Natalie didn¡¯t refuse. Once she and Chris left, Juliana leaned closer and asked, ¡°Madam, Ms. Stone looks so much like you¡­ but who exactly is this son¨Cinw? This is the Stone family¡¯s vi, so how is he the one in charge? On the way here I heard people saying he¡¯s just a live¨Cin son¨Cinw. Could it be true he has no money of his own? What if he¡¯s only after the Stone family¡¯s fortune? Ms. Stone seems so na?ve¨Cwhat if she ends up being taken advantage of?¡± Ruby¡¯s good mood soured instantly. ¡°Juliana, since when were you so gossipy? The son¨Cinw is the son¨Cinw. Whatever his past, from the day he married Natalie, he became part of the Stone family. I don¡¯t care what outsiders say, but in this house, he deserves the same respect as anyone else. Do you 13:01 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 279 Respect The Son In Law understand?¡± Her tone was sharp. 866 +10 Free Coins Seeing Ruby upset, Juliana quickly smiled and backtracked. ¡°Madam, don¡¯t be angry. I only worried Ms. Stone might be taken advantage of. But since you say so, then clearly his character is beyond question. I won¡¯t mention it again. And truly, you look wonderful¨Chappiness agrees with you. Ms. Stone must really be your good¨Cluck charm.¡± At that, Ruby finally smiled again. ¡°Yes. Natalie is a blessing.¡± Once Ruby started talking about Natalie, she couldn¡¯t stop. Meanwhile, after Natalie left the vi, Chris drove the car out. She nced back toward the house, then asked without thinking, ¡°Chris, has Juliana been with our family for a long time?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been many years. Once, when Madam had a breakdown and nearly fell down the stairs, Juliana caught her. But in the process, she was badly hurt¨Cher abdomen was pierced, leavingsting damage. That¡¯s why Madam feels such deep gratitude toward her.¡± Chris, afraid Natalie might get the wrong impression, quickly added, ¡°Ms. Stone, Juliana¡¯s been through a lot. She once had a child, but the baby died for reasons no one ever discovered. Her husband couldn¡¯t take it¨Che ended his own life. She was leftpletely alone. When she came to work for the Stone family, she gave everything she had. She¡¯s cared for the family with absolute devotion. That¡¯s why she¡¯s stayed with us all these years.¡± HereSelf 280 wea, Uct I Chapter 280 Guard Won¡¯t Stop Me Chapter 280 Guard Won¡¯t Stop Me Natalie listened quietly, not saying much. Juliana seemed decent enough on the surface; she had only asked out of instinct. The car soon pulled up in front of Luke Corp. ¡°Ms. Stone, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± A $6 +10 Free Coins Chris cut the engine and instinctively moved to follow her inside, but a security guard stopped him. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Jensen said only Ms. Sunny may go upstairs.¡± Natalie frowned. ¡°And mywyer?¡± ¡°Rigel is already waiting for you inside.¡± The guard was nothing but respectful toward her. Chris bristled. ¡°I¡¯m her bodyguard. I go wherever she goes; if not, then she won¡¯t be going in at all.¡± The guard looked troubled and turned his eyes to Natalie. ¡°Ms. Stone, I¡¯m just doing my job. Please don¡¯t make this hard for me. Besides, Rigel is on your side, and this is thepany headquarters; Mr. Jensen won¡¯t do anything to you.¡± The words rubbed Natalie the wrong way. ¡°Tell Mr. Jensen this, either Chrises up with me, or this meeting is canceled.¡± She turned and went back to the car. Chris felt a quiet swell of pride. Ms. Stone isn¡¯t the impulsive type. That¡¯s good. The guard panicked when it seemed she might really leave. Mr. Jensen had given strict orders not to let Ms. Stone walk away; if I lost his job over this, who would I to? ¡°Ms. Stone, please wait¨CI¡¯ll ask Mr. Jensen right away.¡± He quickly ryed her words. Chapter 280 Guard Won¡¯t Stop Me Jensen, upon hearing them, simply said, ¡°Let them up.¡± Chris was of no consequence. Rigel, however, was on edge. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Ms. Stone is here now; can you release my wife and child?¡± +10 Free Coins ¡°What¡¯s the rush? You¡¯re not done yet. When the timees, you¡¯ll stand fully on Natalie¡¯s side and calcte exactly what Luke Corp owes her from the past five years¨Cdown to thest cent. Not a single figure can be wrong. Understand?¡± Jensen¡¯s fingers tapped lightly against the desk, each strike steady; paired with his cool voice, it left Rigel unsettled, unsure of what the man was really thinking. ¡°Mr. Jensen, didn¡¯t you take my wife and child to force me to go against Ms. Stone?¡± Rigel had to ask outright. Jensen shook his head. ¡°No. You¡¯re herwyer; naturally, you should fight for her best interests. I only had your wife and child taken out to ensure you¡¯d bring Natalie here. I just wanted to see her.¡± His voice dropped, tinged with a quiet sorrow. Back when he could see Natalie whenever he pleased, he hadn¡¯t cherished it; now, even one meeting with her felt impossibly difficult. Newest update provided by f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Rigel¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. His gut told him this man was unhinged. Still, if it meant he could uphold his duty and save his family at the same time, it was enough to ease his heart. When Natalie entered with Chris, Rigel stood immediately. ¡°Ms. Stone.¡± ¡°Rigel.¡± She gave him a small nod. From the moment she stepped in, Jensen¡¯s eyes never left her. Natalie now carried herself with poise and elegance; the limited¨Cedition pieces she wore only 13:02 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 280 Guard Won¡¯t Stop Me heightened her presence. 56 +10 Free Coins A pang hit Jensen¡¯s chest. She had spent five years with him, nevercking food or clothing, but he had never once bought her many limited¨Cedition outfits. He had left such things to his secretary, never paying attention to what was chosen. Now Natalie radiated refinement; distant, cool, like a plum blossom blooming on a snowy peak -impossibly alluring. ¡°Natalie, you came.¡± Jensen rose quickly, wanting to move toward her, but Chris stepped in his way. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Ms. Stone is here as Ms. Sunny. Please use the correct form of address.¡± Jensen disliked this sudden interloper, but since Chris was Natalie¡¯s man, he let it pass. ¡°Natalie, I¡¯ve already prepared the full five years of design payments. Not a penny will be missing. Come look at these designs.¡± He eagerly opened an album. He hadpiled every one of her works from the past five years. Natalie didn¡¯t know what he was ying at, but she rose and walked over. Opening to the first page, Jensen said, ¡°Natalie, do you remember this? It was your very first design for me. I had just taken over Luke Corp; the shareholders were circling like vultures. This design won me my first order and turned the tide for me in thepany.¡± He flipped to another. ¡°And this one¨Cyou created it for my one¨Cyear anniversary as president. I still remember telling you then, with all my heart, that I¡¯d give you a happy home.¡± HereSelf 281 Chapter 281 Five Years Down The Drain +10 Free Coins ¡°And this one¨Cthis was from my birthday. You had a gift custom¨Cmade for me. But back then, thepany was strapped for cash; we needed capital for partnerships, and without even consulting you, I went ahead and pushed it into production.¡± Jensen flipped through page after page, able to recall a memory they once shared with each one. Natalie pressed her hand firmly down on the album. ¡°Mr. Jensen, that¡¯s not why I came here.¡± Her expression was cold; her tone even more distant. Something in Jensen¡¯s chest tightened, suffocating him. ¡°Natalie, can we not talk like this? You used to call me Jensen so often.¡± At the mention of that name, Natalie couldn¡¯t help but think of Sharon. Sharon always called him Jensen. Before, she hadn¡¯t known¨Cnow she did. And even if the two had never broken up, she could never bring herself to use that name again. ¡°Jensen, just tell me. Why did you really call me here today?¡± She truly had no patience for his stalling. Seeing her like this, Jensen hurried to exin. ¡°Natalie, I just wanted to see you. After all these years, could you at least unblock my number? I promise I won¡¯t bother you. We were together for five years¨Cfive years! I don¡¯t believe you could forget me so quickly.¡± When she saw the pleading in his eyes, the careful, almost timid way he looked at her, Natalie suddenly thought of her old self. Was that how I made Jensen feel back then too? At the time, she never wanted to be a burden; she never wanted him to see her as useless. So she always swallowed her grievances, always forced herself to be self¨Creliant. And what had it led to? Sharon had waved a forged cancer diagnosis, and he had gone straight to marry her. Her five years ended up looking like nothing but a cruel joke. Now it seemed their roles had reversed¨Cbut Natalie felt no satisfaction in it at all. Chapter 281 Five Years Down The Drain & $6 +10 Free Coins ¡°Jensen, some things¨Conce they¡¯re over, they¡¯re over. Just because I don¡¯te after you doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t hate you. When I wanted a clean break, you sided with Sharon and tried to destroy me. I came back this time without going after Luke Corp, without going after you; that¡¯s the only respect I¡¯m willing to show for what we had.¡± She stepped back, putting distance between them. Jensen couldn¡¯t ept it. He took a step forward, instinctively reaching for her hand¨Cbut Chris blocked him again. ¡°Mr. Jensen, show some respect.¡± ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Frustration red as Jensen was stopped over and over. He shoved Chris aside. Chris¡® first instinct was to strike back, but he nced at Natalie instead. She waved him off, and Chris retreated. Jensen mistook that gesture as lingering affection. He rushed to say, smiling, ¡°Natalie, I knew it, you still care about me. Whatever you want, I¡¯ll do it this time. You don¡¯t know how wrong I was. I used to think we were too in, that my feelings weren¡¯t that deep. But when I watched you burn in that fire, I realized how much I loved you.¡± ¡°Natalie, please¡­ give me another chance. I¡¯ll devote myself to youpletely. Believe me- just give me one more chance, will you?¡± His voice dropped lower, and then suddenly, Jensen sank down in front of her. Hansel, Rigel, even Chris¨Call of them froze. ¡°Mr. Jensen?¡± Hansel could hardly believe what he was seeing. Never once had he seen Jensen bow to anyone. Even back when thepany was desperate, a potential partner had mocked him, saying they¡¯d only sign with Luke Corp if Jensen would humble himself on the spot. Jensen had walked away without hesitation, choosing to find another path rather thanpromise his pride. And yet here he was now¨Con his knees before Natalie. For original chapters go to f?ndnovel Hansel¡¯s shock was beyond words. Chris said nothing, but instinctively looked at Natalie. 13:03 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 281 Five Years Down The Drain 56 +10 Free Coins Rigel was even more stunned. This was the same Mr. Jensen who once threatened wives and children without blinking¨Cyet in front of Ms. Stone, he was reduced to this? But the one most shaken was Natalic. I know Jensen¡¯s pride better than anyone. And now, what is he doing? If this had been a few months ago¨Cif Jensen had knelt before her then¨Cshe would have been deeply moved, even happy. After all, he was the man she had once loved with all her heart. But in this moment, all she felt was the suffocating weight of being cornered. ¡°Jensen, what are you doing?¡± She instinctively stepped back a few paces, moving out of his direct line of sight. ¡°Natalie, in my whole life, aside from my parents and ancestors, I¡¯ve never bowed to anyone. Today, take it as me begging you. Please, give me a chance to pursue you again.¡± He edged closer on his knees as he spoke. Impatience filled Natalie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Jensen, you¡¯re still the president of apany. What do you think this looks like if your employees see you like this? And more than that¨CI truly hate this kind of behavior from you.¡± HereSelf 282 Chapter 282 Don¡¯t Push Your Luck Chapter 282 Don¡¯t Push Your Luck Natalie made her feelings perfectly clear. +10 Free Coins Jensen felt more than a little embarrassed; he had read about reconciliation gestures like this in books, and he thought Natalie might appreciate it. Hansel couldn¡¯t bear to watch, but he still hurried forward to help Jensen back to his feet. Adjusting the frame of his sses, Jensen asked in a low voice, ¡°Natalie, what do I have to do for you to give me another chance?¡± Seeing him calm down, Natalie finally replied, ¡°There¡¯s no chance for us anymore. Jensen, I need you to stopying a hand on my husband.¡± ¡°Your husband?¡± Jensen¡¯s expression darkened instantly. ¡°He¡¯s nothing more than the Stone family¡¯s son¨Cinw, a useless coward with no worth¨Cand you actually call him your husband? What¡¯s so great about him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s great in every way!¡± Natalie¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Jensen, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you tried to run him over yesterday. He may choose not to hold it against you, but I won¡¯t. Everything between you and me is in the past; I haven¡¯t touched Luke Corp, I haven¡¯t retaliated against you¡ªthat¡¯s thest bit of respect and dignity I can show for what we had. But if you dare trouble my husband again, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡± With that, Natalie turned her gaze to Rigel. ¡°Rigel, I remember sending you all the drafts of my designs. I¡¯m leaving everything here in your hands; settle my design fees based on market value. I don¡¯t want any future ties or excuses for entanglement with Luke Corp.¡± Her expression was dark. She had onlye today to speak to Jensen about Baron. Now that it was said, she felt no reason to stay a moment longer. The sight of Natalie about to leave sent Jensen into panic. Chapter 282 Don¡¯t Push Your Luck +10 Free Coins ¡°Natalic, whatever Baron can do for you, I can do too! Not only that, I can do better¨Cas long as you¡¯ll give me one chance. I know I failed before, but it was only because I owed Sharon a debt of gratitude; you should understand that.¡± ¡°Gratitude?¡± Natalie let out a coldugh. Newest update provided by F?nd-Novel Before, she had thought it beneath her to say anything; now, hearing Jensen again and again pin her sacrifices on Sharon, she could only feel disgust. ¡°Jensen, if I¡¯d known that begging the Witch Doctor to save your life would lead to you hurting me like this¨Cwould lead to Sharon nearly killing me¨Cthen I would¡¯ve rather stood by and watched you die slowly in that hospital bed. After all, you didn¡¯t race for me back then; and your life wasn¡¯t slipping away because of me.¡± Her words struck like a de. Jensen felt a sharp pain in his chest; his face turned pale. ¡°Natalie, what are you saying?¡± This time, Natalie didn¡¯t want to waste another word. She fixed her eyes on him and said, each word deliberate, ¡°Jensen, if you stop here, if you leave me and my husband alone¨Cthen we¡¯ll live as strangers, never interfering in each other¡¯s lives. For the sake of five years, I¡¯d still hope you¡¯ll do well. But if you insist on dragging us into your mess, then you¡¯d better be ready to pay the price for it¨Cirreversibly.¡± With that, she turned to leave. But after a few steps, she stopped. Without looking back, she said coolly, ¡°Jensen, if Sharon could fake something as serious as cancer, then how much truth was there in her so¨Ccalled rib donation to save you?¡± She hadn¡¯t nned to say this. After all, she had willingly done what she did to save him. But Sharon had stolen her credit; Jensen had used it again and again as an excuse to wound her. Natalie couldn¡¯t stomach it any longer. Even if Baron hadn¡¯t yet gotten confirmation from the Witch Doctor about the tampered records, she refused to wait. Every deed left a trace. Even if Jensen couldn¡¯t uncover the truth right away, she wanted to nt a seed of doubt in his heart. 13:03 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 282 Don¡¯t Push Your Luck Ãñ…^ 10 Free Coina They had made her and Baron ufortable¨Cso why shouldn¡¯t she return the favor? Having said all she needed to, Natalie left without a shred of hesitation. ¡°Natalie!¡± Jensen tried to stop her, but Chris blocked his way. ¡°Mr. Jensen, don¡¯t force me to get physical. You know she¡¯s now the Stone family¡¯s eldest daughter. Oh¨Cand in half a month, there will be a recognition banquet for her return to the family. Every prominent figure in Ocean City will be invited. I hope you¡¯ll do us the honor of attending, Mr. Jensen.¡± Before stepping in, Chris had secretly contacted Baron. To him, Baron wasn¡¯t just the Stone family¡¯s son¨Cinw; he was also his master. Chris had always thought his own skills were sharp, but after sparring with Baron, he realized much of what he had relied on was nothing but show. Under Baron¡¯s guidance, his martial arts had improved significantly. HereSelf 283 Chapter 283 Jealousy Hits Different Today Chapter 283 Jealousy Hits Different Today +10 Free Coins Jensen¡¯s history with Natalie was already sensitive; Chris absolutely could not allow Baron to be undermined. But Baron had simply told him to follow Natalie¡¯s instructions; only before leaving should he mention the recognition banquet to Jensen. After rying that message, Chris finally felt he hadpleted his task. He turned and strutted out of Luke Corp¡¯s president¡¯s office with Natalie. Jensen, however, froze when he heard the news; his eyes grew dangerously dark. ¡°Natalie¡¯s recognition banquet, I¡¯m going, no matter what. But that bastard¨Cwhat was that look he gave me just now? What did he mean by that?¡± Hansel, facing Jensen¡¯s rage, was at a loss for words. Suddenly, everything before Jensen¡¯s eyes became unbearably irritating. He swept everything off his desk with a violent crash. ¡°What is Baron, really? A pretty boy, a useless one! And yet he¡¯s the one Natalie cares for so deeply¨Cso much that she personally came here to warn me for his sake. Damn it! I want him dead!¡± Like a madman, Jensen smashed everything he could see. Rigel and Hansel instinctively edged toward the door, afraid to get caught in his frenzy. After a while, Jensen finally quieted down. Bracing himself on the desk, he stood with hollow eyes, his voice drifting, eerie¨Cyet his words made Hansel shudder. ¡°Hansel¡­ what did Natalie mean just now? About Sharon¡¯s rib donation possibly being fake? Could the Witch Doctor¡¯s medical records have been falsified?¡± Jensen¡¯s question hung heavy in the air. Hansel quickly replied, ¡°Mr. Jensen, the Witch Doctor surrounds himself with extraordinary people; ordinary folk can¡¯t even get near him. I don¡¯t think she had the ability to tamper with the Witch Doctor¡¯s records.¡± ¡°But I believe Natalie.¡± 13:03 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 283 Jealousy Hits Different Today Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed. 56 +10 Free Coins Hansel had no response to that. Mr. Jensen now ced trust in Ms. Stone¡¯s words¨Cif only he had done so earlier, perhaps things would never have to this. Hansel sighed softly, then said, ¡°Understood, Mr. Jensen. I¡¯ll send someone to investigate right away.¡± ¡°Spend whatever it takes; find someone reliable. But whatever happens, don¡¯t alert the Witch Doctor.¡± At least Jensen still knew where the line was. The Witch Doctor¡¯s reputation was renowned worldwide; rumors imed his backing was tied to Murica¡¯s mafia. His ways were brazen, but no one dared cross him. ¡± Hansel hesitated, then asked, ¡°Mr. Jensen, should we try reaching out to the Witch Doctor? Back then, Ms. Stone begged him to save you; if he spoke on your behalf, maybe you and Ms. Stone could still have a chance.¡± But Jensen shook his head. ¡°No. The Witch Doctor¡¯s temperament is far too unpredictable. It isn¡¯t wise for us to deal with him right now.¡± Hearing that, Hansel didn¡¯t press further. After leaving Luke Corp, Natalie saw Chris walking out happily and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Those words just now¨CBaron told you to say them?¡± Chris didn¡¯t even flinch at being caught. Smiling, he said, ¡°Yes. He said this counts as a joyous asion. You and Mr. Jensen did share five years, after all; it seemed right to notify him. Besides, Mr. Jensen is considered one of Ocean City¡¯s elite¨Cit wouldn¡¯t look good to leave him out.¡± Of course, those weren¡¯t Baron¡¯s exact words. Chris was instinctively protecting him, worried Natalie might misunderstand. Natalie had known Baron long enough to tell whether Chris was telling the whole truth. Inviting Jensen was real¨Cbut surely not in such mild terms. Still, since Baron didn¡¯t mind, she saw no need to press. It would serve just as well to use the recognition banquet to make Jensen give up for good. 13:03 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 283 Jealousy Hits Different Today ¡°Let¡¯s go; take me to the studio.¡± Her words caught Chris off guard. 420 +19 Free Gon ¡°Miss, haven¡¯t you finished all your designs? Wasn¡¯t the follow¨Cup work given to Miss Gu?¡± He meant Yvonne. Natalie thought of something, then smiled. ¡°Baron¡¯s cufflinks are ruined. I¡¯m going to design him a new pair.¡± The ones she had made before had been snatched away by Jensen; she felt she had to design another pair for Baron. At the mention that it was for Baron, Chris immediately lit up. ¡°Of course, miss¨CI¡¯ll take you right away.¡± Natalie smiled faintly, saying nothing more, her mind already sketching ideas. From the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, Jensen watched Natalie¡¯s car slowly pull away from Luke Corp. A sudden reluctance stirred inside him. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F?ndNovel ¡°Hansel, handpany matters over to the vice president. I¡¯m going out.¡± Grabbing his car keys, he strode off before Hansel could say a word. By the time Hansel opened his mouth, Jensen was already gone from the president¡¯s office. HereSelf 284 Chapter 284 Cufflinks Are For Him 4 +10 Free Coins When Jensen came downstairs, he saw that Natalie¡¯s car had only just left. He quickly got into his own, started the engine, and followed after her. Natalie had no idea. When they arrived at the studio, Chris wanted to stay and guard her, but Natalie stopped him. ¡°Go back and take care of my parents, or find a caf¨¦ and sit for a while. I¡¯ve got some inspiration right now¨Conce I start designing, I¡¯ll lose track of time. You don¡¯t need to wait here. I¡¯ll call you if I need anything.¡± Natalie knew her own habits; she didn¡¯t want Chris to be bored, so she told him to arrange his time however he liked. Chris didn¡¯t mind; but after following Natalie for so long, he knew she was being considerate. He also knew she disliked interruptions when she was designing. An idea struck him. ¡°Miss, there¡¯s a gym nearby. I¡¯ll head there to train for a while. If you need me, just call¨CI¡¯ll be here immediately.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Newest update provided by Find?Novel Natalie nodded and walked toward the studio. With his window down, Jensen caught every word between Natalie and Chris. It left him unsettled. Didn¡¯t Natalie¡¯s hand get ruined? Then what¡¯s she doing at the studio? He had always believed that Natalie¡¯s studio was just a front¨Cusing her old fame to draw in clients. But seeing her go inside now, a different thought crept into his mind. When Chris finally left, Jensen stepped out of his car and slipped quickly through the studio doors, trailing behind Natalie. Yvonne was still practicing the final touches of her designs. When she saw Natalie, she froze in surprise, then rose happily. ¡°Natalie, what brings you here? Lan said the designs were almost finished; you didn¡¯t need to Natalie nced at the sketches on Yvonne¡¯s desk. Seeing how earnestly the girl was studying, she asked, ¡°Are you getting used to it? If you don¡¯t enjoy designing, you don¡¯t have to force 13:03 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 284 Cufflinks Are For Him yourself. I could always bring in a couple of design graduates for this kind of work.¡± +10 Free Coms ¡°No, no, Natalie, I really do love it. My sister used to tell me that if I followed Baron, I had to master a skill. I thought that meant training my body, but now that I¡¯ve stepped into this industry, I¡¯ve realized I truly love it.¡± The light in Yvonne¡¯s eyes was impossible to hide. Seeing her passion, Natalie thought of all she had been through over the years and couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of tenderness. ¡°If you really love it, I¡¯ll ask Baron to send you for formal training; then you cane back and help me.¡± ¡°Really? Is it still not toote for me to start?¡± Her eyes sparkled with sudden brightness. Natalie had to admit, blood ran deep. Xenon might have passed away, but Flynn had once told her that Xenon was actually quite gifted in design. Yvonne, Xenon¡¯s daughter, had unexpectedly inherited that gift¨Cit surprised Natalie. ¡°Of course. You¡¯re my sister; as long as you love it, then go. Learning never ends; it¡¯s never toote.¡± ¡°Natalie, you¡¯re amazing. I¡¯ll go! I¡¯ll dedicate myself to it! But what brings you here today?¡± At that, Natalie¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°I promised your brother I¡¯d design him a pair of cufflinks. Thest pair I made for him was snatched away by Jensen¨Che was disappointed for a long time. But now I¡¯ve found some inspiration; I want to craft them myself and give them to him as a gift.¡± Jensen had barely stepped inside when the words hit him, his gaze turning instantly dark. The cufflinks Natalie had designed weren¡¯t for him after all¨Cthey were for Baron. Rage surged through him, and he nearly stormed forward, ready to demand why she would create something so personal for Baron. Just as he moved, Yvonne¡¯s voice cut through the air again. ¡°Natalie, do you still have feelings for Jensen? After all, you two were together for five years.¡± Jensen froze mid¨Cstep, his fists tightening. She must still feel something for me. She has to. 13:03 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 284 Cufflinks Are For Him But when Natalie caught the worry in Yvonne¡¯s eyes, she shook her head. 56 +10 Free Coins ¡°My feelings for Jensen began to fade the moment he secretly went and got a marriage certificate with Sharon. Yvonne, feelings don¡¯t just vanish in a single day, and love doesn¡¯t disappear overnight. I gave him chance after chance, but back then, his heart simply had no ce for me.¡± She set her bag on the table and went on steadily. ¡°When I first found out he had gone behind my back and married Sharon, I was crushed. I wanted to confront him right then and there, to demand why¨Cbut I swallowed it down. I kept wondering if it was my fault, if I wasn¡¯t enough, if I had pushed him into someone else¡¯s arms. Butter, when I discovered that under our photos together he¡¯d hidden pictures of himself and Sharon, and on the back he¡¯d written, ¡®my one and only love,¡¯ I finally understood. All those years, I was nothing more than a stand¨Cin for the love he really wanted.¡± HereSelf 285 Chapter 285 Gratitude Isn¡¯t The Same Jensen¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Photos? What photos? I never took any photos with Sharon. +10 Free Coins He had been drawn in by Sharon¡¯s passion before; but at that time, Jensen wasn¡¯t yet head of the Luke family, and the family paid him little attention. Follow current nov?ls on find¡¤novel He had been the least favored of them all¨CSharon had never even cared enough to take a picture with him. But Natalie wasn¡¯t the type to speak without cause. Photos hidden beneath the ones of him and Natalie¨Ceven he hadn¡¯t known they existed. Suddenly, Jensen realized things weren¡¯t nearly as simple as he had thought. Yvonne, hearing Natalie¡¯s words, grew indignant. ¡°Natalie, you¡¯re so good; if Jensen doesn¡¯t want you, that¡¯s his loss. Don¡¯t ever think otherwise. You¡¯re more than enough. If he truly loved you, it wouldn¡¯t matter whether you did everything perfectly or not¨Che would¡¯ve stood by you without hesitation, without reservation, the way my brother does. Honestly, if you blew your nose, he¡¯d probably think it smelled sweet.¡± Natalie was left speechless. ¡°Yvonne, thatparison is a little disgusting.¡± ¡°Haha, as long as you understand what I mean. My brother really is amazing.¡± Yvonne felt she had to speak on Baron¡¯s behalf. Natalie reached out and tapped her nose with a smile. ¡°Of course I know your brother is amazing. Otherwise, why would I have gone and gotten a marriage certificate with him? After all, when Sharon deliberately left me trapped in that fire, intending to burn me alive, the man I had once seen as my only salvation, chose to save Sharon first and left me behind. I truly believed I would die in those mes. But your brother charged in, reckless of his own life; he gave me a second chance to live.¡± Even now, the memory of that fire made her shiver. ¡°I still remember how fierce the mes were. If not for the extinguisher Phantom left behind, your brother and I might really have been buried in that ze. And through it all, he never let go of my hand. In that moment, I felt he was my forever. On top of that, when my burns were so severe, he was the one who found the Witch Doctor to operate on me; he was the one who Chapter 285 Gratitude Isn¡¯t The Same +10 Free Coina tirelessly searched for a proper donor to graft skin, and in the process, he found my biological parents.¡± ¡°If not for Baron, I might already be nothing more than bones and ashes. Maybe I don¡¯t yet love him the way he loves me, but I believe I can spend a lifetime with him, because he loves me more than he loves himself. For that alone, I could never abandon him¨Cunless, one day, he stopped loving me.¡± Yvonne rushed to say, ¡°That won¡¯t happen. My brother will never stop loving you. Natalie, his feelings for you run so deep.¡± ¡°Silly girl, love is the most uncertain thing in the world. Jensen and I once leaned on each other too; I once believed he was my forever. But in the end, that story didn¡¯t have a happy ending. I¡¯m not young anymore; love isn¡¯t something I need to survive. What I have with your brother isfort, happiness, warmth. I¡¯m willing to spend my life with him. As for love¨Clet ite naturally.¡± Her words lit a spark of hope in Jensen. Doesn¡¯t that mean she hasn¡¯t fallen in love with Baron yet? That what she feels is only gratitude? For the first time in a long while, Jensen felt hope¨Cand confidence¨Cstirring again. Yvonne, though, thought Natalie sounded a bit too pessimistic about love. She opened her mouth to argue, but Natalie stopped her. ¡°I know you want to defend your brother. Maybe I haven¡¯t fallenpletely in love with him yet, but I do care for him. I want to give him the best. I can¡¯t stand to see him wronged; I ache when he¡¯s hurt. All of that is the beginning of love. As long as we keep moving forward like this, I believe I¡¯ll fall in love with him sooner orter. After all, Baron really is extraordinary.¡± Hearing this, a smile tugged at Yvonne¡¯s lips. ¡°Of course, my brother is the best man in the world!¡± But Jensen¡¯s gaze grew darker. He would never allow Natalie to fall in love with Baron. Hearing their voices continue, Jensen turned and left the studio. Across the street, he stepped into a flower shop. He remembered that Natalie¡¯s favorite flowers were lilies. But as he stood there at the shop¡¯s entrance, he realized¨Cin five years, he had never once given her a bouquet. 13:04 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 285 Gratitude Isn¡¯t The Same He really had been such a bastard. The florist spotted him and hurried out to greet him. ¡°Sir, are you buying flowers? For your wife, or for your girlfriend?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Jensen asked, frowning slightly. 156 +10 Free Coins The florist chuckled. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s for a wife, the packaging doesn¡¯t need to be too fancy¨Cafter all, you¡¯re already married, so practicality matters more. But if it¡¯s for a girlfriend, you should put some thought into it; the packaging ought to be as lovely as possible.¡± At those words, something in Jensen¡¯s chest twisted painfully. HereSelf 286 Chapter 286 A Shadow from the Past (6), +10 Free Coins ¡°Why should a wife have to be practical and economical? Just because she¡¯s already married, does that mean she doesn¡¯t deserve to be cherished?¡± Jensen¡¯s question was aimed at the florist, but it echoed in his own mind as well. Why had he neglected Natalie so badly? Wasn¡¯t it because he knew she loved him so deeply, that she would never leave him, and so he took that love for granted and hurt her without restraint? That was the true reason he and Natalie had drifted apart. With that thought, Jensen said, ¡°Give me the most luxurious package. A wife deserves the greatest respect and care. Starting today, send them daily to the studio across the street¨Cfor a month.¡± The florist hadn¡¯t expected Jensen to be so romantic. His eyes crinkled into a smile. ¡°Of course, sir. You¡¯re a wonderful man. To be your wife must be pure happiness.¡± The words stung Jensen, sounding more like irony than praise. He opened his mouth to reply when he caught a fleeting glimpse of a familiar figure outside. His brows knit tightly. Why was she here? He immediately followed. The woman ahead had no idea she was being tailed. After a few quick turns, she slipped into a hotel. Jensen¡¯s expression darkened. He pulled out his phone and dialed the butler at the family estate. ¡°Lucy, where¡¯s my mother?¡± His tone was calm, almost quiet, but it still made Lucy¡¯s heart skip. ¡°Mr. Jensen, the madam said she had an appointment with a traditional doctor this morning. She went out early.¡± Chapter 286 A Shadow from the Past ¡°My mother went to the doctor and you didn¡¯t go with her?¡± +10 Free Coina Lucy had always been at Loretta¡¯s side, one of the household¡¯s longest¨Cserving and most trusted. For her to suddenly appear alone in a hotel was troubling. ¡°I wanted to apany her,¡± Lucy said quickly, ¡°but she insisted she didn¡¯t need me this time and went out alone.¡± ¡°Did she say where she was going?¡± ¡°No, she only said she¡¯d be back when she was done.¡± Lucy¡¯s unease grew with every word. What was happening? Could something have gone wrong? ¡°Mr. Jensen, should I try calling her?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m sure she has her reasons.¡± He hung up. Without hesitation, Jensen walked into the hotel. The manager hurried to greet him. ¡°Good afternoon, sir. Are you checking in?¡± Jensen said tly, ¡°The woman who just came in is my mother. I¡¯m Jensen of Luke Corp. I need to know what room she went to.¡± ¡°Mr. Jensen, I¡¯m afraid that goes against hotel policy,¡± the manager said with an apologetic smile. Jensen¡¯s face chilled. ¡°Policy? Do you believe I won¡¯t buy this hotel outright in the next minute? Then you can tell me all about your policy.¡± The weight of his presence was undeniable. The manager knew who he was. Despite recent scandals, the Luke family had remained Ocean City¡¯s dominant power for five years. Jensen was not someone to be dismissed. ¡°Of course, Mr. Jensen. She went to Room 1203.¡± ¡°Give me a keycard.¡± 2/3 Official source is find~novel 13:04 Wed, Oct 11 Chapter 286 A Shadow from the Past The manager handed it over without another word. +10 Free Coins Jensen didn¡¯t know why, but curiosity and uncase drove him on. His mother almost never met people alone. Whenever she went out, she was surrounded by attendants to highlight her status. Why now, and why like this? He went straight to the twelfth floor. The VIP hallways were hushed, every door closed. He stopped at 1203, keycard in hand, but hesitated. Swiping it would make noise. Instead, he called the manager again. ¡°Send someone up with a spare key.¡± A staff member arrived quickly. Jensen waved her away, then carefully unlocked the door. He didn¡¯t step inside. He opened it just a crack. From the narrow gap he could see little, but enough¡ªa figure standing in the shadows, and his mother facing them. ¡°You promised never to return to Ocean City. Why are you back? And now you dare contact me? Rachel, are you not afraid of death? I¡¯ll warn you¨Cour Luke family isn¡¯t some no¨Cname household anymore. You¡¯d better think carefully.¡± Loretta¡¯s voice was sharp,ced with anger and menace. Jensen had never heard the name Rachel before. He held his breath and listened. The woman called Rachel showed no fear. ¡°Loretta, after all these years, do you still think I¡¯m just a nameless maid? Let me tell you, my status now is far beyond what you can handle. I didn¡¯te back to Ocean City for you, and you don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Chapter 287 The Stone Family Secret HereSelf 287 Chapter 287 The Stone Family Secret When Rachel said that, Loretta finally let out a breath. +10 Free Coina ¡°If it¡¯s not about me, then why did youe? The best arrangement between us is to die and never see each other again.¡± ¡°Loretta, I have my reasons for finding you. I heard your son dated Natalie for five years¨Ctrue or not?¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed. Coming for Natalie? Who was this Rachel? Loretta hadn¡¯t expected the question about Natalie and frowned slightly. ¡°That girl did date my son for five years, but she¡¯s petty and ill¨Ctempered¨Chardly suitable to enter the Luke family as a daughter¨Cinw. Do you have a grudge with her?¡± Loretta still burned to settle scores with Natalie after how Natalie had humiliated her. If Jensen hadn¡¯t held her back, she would never have let Natalie off so easily. Now that Rachel asked about Natalie, Loretta¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°If you have a grudge against that brat, maybe I can help,¡± Loretta offered. Rachel¡¯s voice went low. ¡°Help? What can you do? She was with your son five years; you never broke her. Besides, her current status isn¡¯t something you can mess with.¡± ¡°Status? What status? She¡¯s just a designer. There are designers everywhere these days. Maybe she¡¯s famous now, but if I wanted her gone, I have ways.¡± Loretta snorted, full of contempt. Rachel only gave a cold smile. ¡°If you really had the means, she wouldn¡¯t still be alive. Loretta, you know better than anyone what made you who you are. The Stone family and the Summers family are looking into the baby swap from years ago. The Summers family aren¡¯t easily frightened¨Cso do you think the Stone family might uncover something?¡± ¡°What did you say? The Stone family? Which Stone family?¡± Loretta suddenly panicked. Rachel replied calmly, ¡°How many Stone families are there in the world that would make your Luke family wary?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Why would the Stone family investigate the Summers family¡¯s baby¨Cswap case?¡± Loretta¡¯s face changed. Rachel watched her with growing impatience. ¡°Idiot. Why does Natalie go by the name Natalie do think?¡± now, you 13:04 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 287 The Stone Family Secret 5 +10 Free Coins ?????? ???? Find~Novel Loretta sank down on the edge of the bed. ¡°Natalie? Are you saying she¡¯s a Stone family child?¡± ¡°What else could it be?¡± ¡°How could that be? How could a Stone family child have been born at that small hospital over twenty years ago?¡± Loretta refused to believe it. Rachel ignored Loretta¡¯s shocked face and crumblingposure. ¡°Back then, Ruby waspeting in a major contest here in Ocean City and was frightened into earlybor. You should remember: that summer, it rained for three days straight, flooding many roads. Mrs. Stone had no choice but to deliver at the nearest hospital¨Cthe same hospital you delivered at.¡± At those words, Loretta¡¯s face wentpletely white. ¡°No way. That¡¯s too much of a coincidence. Even if Mrs. Stone had gone to that hospital, the Stone family¡¯s influence would never allow strangers near her.¡± ¡°Others couldn¡¯t, but I could. That¡¯s why I made a deal with you back then, isn¡¯t it? You benefited from it then¨Cnow it¡¯s time you do something for me.¡± Rachel¡¯s voice was hard. Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply. He¡¯d heard that the Summers family had gone to the countryside recently to investigate the baby swap involving Natalie and Sharon. They hadn¡¯t returned yet, and the rural couple from that time reportedly died under unusual circumstances. Jensen hadn¡¯t personally looked into it, but he¡¯d sent people to follow¨Cso he knew Natalie and the Stone family were investigating. He had never imagined the swap might be connected to his mother. And who exactly was this Rachel? From what she said, the swap implicated Rachel¨Cand his mother knew about it. His mind raced. Loretta, however, shook her head when Rachel finished. ¡°Rachel, the deal we made back then was shameful, sure, but the baby swap wasn¡¯t my doing. If you n to use that to threaten me,. you¡¯ve picked the wrong target. My husband is dead; my son runs the house now.¡± Rachel smiled coldly. ¡°Is that so? Your son may favor you, but what about the old guards of the Luke family? What about those at Luke Corp who¡¯ve been waiting to pull him down? Once they learn what happened back then, how long do you think your son will keep his position as CEO? Loretta, don¡¯t imagine your good days willst forever. Do you really think you can live like this forever?¡± HereSelf 288 Chapter 288 Hidden Agendas ¡°You-!¡± +10 Free Coins Loretta shot to her feet, finger trembling as she pointed at Rachel, but no more words came out. Rachel was right. If what happened back then was exposed, it wasn¡¯t just Jensen¡¯s position as CEO that would be in jeopardy¨Cshe herself would be cast out of the Luke family. Her face turned stormy. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Seeing Loretta soften, Rachel smirked. ¡°Nothing too difficult. In half a month, the Stone family will hold their recognition banquet. Within that time, I don¡¯t care what you do¨CNatalie must meet with an ident. Crippled, dead, it doesn¡¯t matter. As long as the Stone family is devastated, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me tomit a crime!¡± Loretta wasn¡¯t stupid. She realized instantly Rachel was using her as a weapon. Rachel onlyughed. ¡°A crime? Was what we did over twenty years ago not a crime? If I expose it, your good days are over. And when your son learns the truth, do you think he¡¯ll still be the devoted son you rely on?¡± Her words struck Loretta right where it hurt. Loretta bit her lip so hard it bled, but she couldn¡¯t strike back. ¡°I can deal with Natalie for you,¡± Loretta said through clenched teeth. ¡°But Rachel, the events of twenty years ago had better rot in your stomach. If I find out you betrayed me, or if word of that night leaks out, don¡¯t me me if we both go down together. You know I hold plenty of dirt on you, too. We¡¯re grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Don¡¯t forget it.¡± She flicked her sleeve angrily. ¡°And from now on, unless it¡¯s something major, don¡¯t contact me. Once we step out of this room, we don¡¯t know each other. Whatever happenster, don¡¯t drag me down with you. You remember our deal.¡± Rachel smiled faintly. ¡°Of course. I don¡¯t want ties to you either¨Cwe¡¯re from different worlds. I¡¯ll just wait for your good news.¡± 55 Chapter 288 Hidden Agendas ¡°Hmph!¡± Loretta stormed out. +10 Free Coins Jensen quickly pulled the door shut and slipped into the neighboring room, watching through the crack as Loretta left. He didn¡¯t follow right away. His mind was spinning. In his eyes, Loretta had always been a pampered socialite, living under the Luke name, never meddling in shady business. Yet here she was, tied up with Rachel¨Cand connected to the baby swap involving Natalie more than twenty years ago. Who was Rachel really? Jensen expected her to leave soon, but time dragged on. She never came out, and he couldn¡¯t risk barging in. At that moment, his phone buzzed. It was Hansel. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Ms. Stone¡¯s design fees have been fully transferred into her ount. Do you want us to issue a public rification?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Jensen could shoulder the bacsh and return Natalie what was rightfully hers, but Luke Corp couldn¡¯t continue carrying the me. The matter had to be resolved. He remembered Natalie mentioning she¡¯d design Baron¡¯s cufflinks. But her fingers had been smashed by Sharon¨Chow could she possibly design anything now? Likely she¡¯d asked that Yvonne woman to draft in her stead. As long as it wasn¡¯t Natalie¡¯s own hand, that was enough for him. While his thoughts churned, Hansel added, ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll inform PR. But Mr. Jensen, I just discovered something¨Cfive years ago, when you crashed during that street race, it seems Witch Doctor was also there.¡± Jensen¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What did you say?¡± If Witch Doctor had been at the scene of his ident, how could he not have known the extent of Jensen¡¯s injuries? A doctor standing by, letting him suffer, and then using it as a chance to push Natalie into saving him¡­ Could that really be coincidence? 13:04 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 288 Hidden Agendas : Latest content published on fin?novel The suspicion red in his mind, but Hansel wasn¡¯t done. +10 Free Coins ¡°There¡¯s more. Years ago, when Ms. Stone went abroad to perform as a teenager, she missed the show because she fell ill. Everyone thought it was sudden sickness, but I found it wasn¡¯t- she¡¯d been frightened, developed a high fever, and never recovered in time. And apparently, Witch Doctor was also spotted near her hotel back then.¡± HereSelf 289 Chapter 289 A Dangerous Suspicion Chapter 289 A Dangerous Suspicion Hansel¡¯s words made Jensen¡¯s expression change instantly. +10 Free Coins ¡°What do you mean? You¡¯re saying Natalic knew Witch Doctor when she was still a teenager?¡± If what Hansel said was true, then when Natalie sought Witch Doctor five years ago, it hadn¡¯t been as grueling and difficult as the rumors imed. But how could that be? Jensen shook his head quickly. ¡°No! Natalie isn¡¯t that kind of person. If she really knew Witch Doctor, she would never have stood by and watched five years ago. I remember how hard it was for her to see him then- there¡¯s no way she was faking it.¡± He muttered to himself. Hansel hurried to exin, ¡°Mr. Jensen, I¡¯m not saying Ms. Stone already knew Witch Doctor back then. I¡¯m saying Witch Doctor appeared near where Ms. Stone had her ident. Maybe Witch Doctor knew Ms. Stone? I recall his rules were strict, but when Ms. Stone came out five years ago, her expression didn¡¯t look like it was just a normal transaction. I suspect Witch Doctor knew the truth about her ident back then¨Cmaybe he even used it to threaten her.¡± That jolted Jensen awake. ¡°You¡¯re right. Natalie is a good woman. She¡¯s been careful and proper since she was a child- she¡¯d never go astray. It must have been Witch Doctor threatening her. He may even have forced her to do something. Go investigate¨Cno matter the cost, find out who Witch Doctor really is!¡± The thought that Natalie might have been forced into disgrace by Witch Doctor five years ago made Jensen¡¯s chest ze with fury. Hansel added, ¡°Mr. Jensen, Ms. Summers has Witch Doctor¡¯s medical report. Could it be she knows something about him?¡± That struck Jensen deeply. ¡°You¡¯re right. I need to see Sharon and ask about that year.¡± He hung up immediately. 13:04 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 289 A Dangerous Suspicion +10 Free Coins When he turned back toward the room where Rachel had been, intending to take another look at who she was, the room was already empty. Thinking of what he had just overheard, Jensen left the hotel, Meanwhile, Natalie and Yvonne were working on design sketches in the studio. When Jensen arrived, he saw Natalie with a pen in her hand, drawing on paper. His eyes widened suddenly. ¡°Natalie, your hand is healed?¡± His voice startled Yvonne. ¡°How did you get in? Didn¡¯t anyone ever teach you to knock before entering someone else¡¯s studio, Mr. Jensen? That¡¯s basic manners.¡± She immediately stepped in front of him. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find_Novel(. Natalie hadn¡¯t expected him either. Her brows furrowed. ¡°What are you doing here again?¡± ¡°Natalie, I need to talk to you. Alone.¡± He pushed Yvonne aside and stepped toward Natalie, only to notice her new sketch¨Cfar more beautiful than the cufflink design before. A pang of jealousy stabbed him. ¡°Who are you designing these cufflinks for?¡± He already knew the answer, but he asked anyway. Even if she lied, he was willing to hear it. Natalie flipped the sketch over and looked him straight in the eye. ¡°Mr. Jensen, you¡¯re out of line.¡± ¡°Natalie!¡± He tried to grab her arm, but she avoided him. ¡°Mr. Jensen, if you don¡¯t stop putting your hands on me, I¡¯ll consider calling the police.¡± 13:04 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 289 A Dangerous Suspicion Her words made his face darken. +10 Free Co. ¡°Natalic, do you hate me this much now? I know I was wrong before, but everyone makes mistakes. When they do, shouldn¡¯t they be given a chance to make it right? I don¡¯t think I¡¯vemitted unforgivable sins. I only made the mistakes any man could make. Just give me a chance¨CI promise from now on I¡¯ll only have eyes for you, alright?¡± His gaze held a trace of pleading. Once, Natalie might have melted at such a look. But now, she felt nothing but indifference- and even disgust. ¡°Mistakes every man makes?¡± Excuses, nothing more. ¡°Jensen, there¡¯s nothing left to say between us. I don¡¯t want any ties with you anymore. Leave.¡± She turned back to her designs. Jensen noticed her right hand moving freely, without any trace of injury. A thought shed in his mind. ¡°Your hand was ruined when Sharon had someone smash it, yet now you can draw again. Witch Doctor healed you, didn¡¯t he? You knew him all along, didn¡¯t you?¡± His words made Natalie pause slightly. She didn¡¯t understand why he thought she knew Witch Doctor. But the truth was her hand had indeed been treated by Witch Doctor¨Cat Baron¡¯s request. ¡°Jensen, what are you really trying to ask?¡± HereSelf 290 Chapter 290 A Cold Refusal Natalie turned, her eyes calm as they rested on Jensen. Under that gaze, the wicked thoughts swirling in his heart suddenly died on his lips. Natalie was so pure¨Cshe would never do something filthy. It had to be Witch Doctor¡¯s scheme. Jensen¡¯s chest rose and fell heavily, but he bit down on his lip. He needed to stay calm. 55 +10 Free Coins Their rtionship was already fragile, brittle as ss. He couldn¡¯t let reckless impulses shatter the rare chance they had to meet. Drawing a deep breath, he pressed everything down. ¡°Natalie, I really do have something important to tell you¨Cabout the baby swap when you were born. I¡¯ve found some clues.¡± He threw it out bluntly. He knew Natalie cared deeply about the truth of that year. She had even gone all the way to the countryside to investigate. Natalie frowned. ¡°How do you know about that?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about how. Just know that the clues I have will be useful to you. Natalie, it¡¯s nearly noon. Let¡¯s go get lunch together.¡± It had been so long since hest shared a meal with her. But Natalie only shook her head. ¡°Sorry. I promised my husband I¡¯d eat at home. My parents are waiting too.¡± The words stung. He should have been the one called her husband¨Cnot that useless Baron. Jealousy burned, but Jensen remembered how fiercely Natalie defended Baron. If he insulted him again, their conversation would end here. And he couldn¡¯t bear to lose even this little thread between them. Chapter 290 A Cold Refusal ¡°Then¡­ at least let me buy you a coffee?¡± he asked quietly, +10 Free Coins Anything, as long as he could sit with her for a while. It had been far too long since he¡¯d heard her voice just for him. Before Natalie could answer, Yvonne spoke up. ¡°Mr. Jensen, you¡¯re a married man. My sister¨Cinw is also married. You two were once in a rtionship. Isn¡¯t it a bit improper to meet alone?¡± The constant interruptions soured Jensen¡¯s mood. His face hardened. ¡°I was with Natalie for five years. Even if we¡¯re not lovers now, there¡¯s still that bond. And besides, I¡¯m president of Luke Corp, she¡¯s Ms. Sunny. You really think sharing a cup of coffee would cause a scandal?¡± ¡°Who can say?¡± Yvonne replied steadily. ¡°My sister¨Cinw may not have feelings for you, but no one can say what you think. To avoid any unnecessary rumors, it¡¯s better if you speak here. With me present, no one can misinterpret. Don¡¯t you agree, Mr. Jensen?¡± Her words were sincere, but they only darkened Jensen¡¯s expression. ¡°And what are you supposed to be? You dare bark at me?¡± The insult made Natalie¡¯s face harden. ¡°Mr. Jensen, she is my sister¨Csecond daughter of the Stone family. Please speak with respect.¡± Yvonne knew some of the truth about her origins. Natalie and Baron hadn¡¯t hidden it from her. Shocked as she¡¯d been to learn she was a Stone, she was grateful too¨Cto be cousins with Natalie. But that tie also left her guilty. The trail of evidence pointed back to her birth father, Uncle Xenon. Even if it hadn¡¯t been her doing, she couldn¡¯t face Waylon and his wife without shame. That was why, when she heard they wereing, she had fled to the studio, hiding in her work. And now, with Natalie acknowledging her openly, her eyes brimmed. ¡°Hey¡­¡± Her voice cracked. Natalie handed her a tissue. ¡°Go wash your face. Don¡¯t worry¨Che can¡¯t do anything to me.¡± With Natalie¡¯s reassurance, Yvonne gave Jensen onest look and slipped away. 13:04 Wed, Oct 1 Chapter 290 A Cold Refusal Only Jensen and Natalie remained. Jensen was still reeling from what he¡¯d just heard. ¡°She¡¯s your sister? Then why does she call you sister¨Cinw?¡± ¡°That has nothing to do with you, Mr. Jensen.¡± Natalie¡¯s indifference cut like ice, as though he truly was just a stranger. The source of th?s content is find~novel The weight in Jensen¡¯s chest grew unbearable. ¡°Natalie, don¡¯t treat me this way. You know I love you.¡± 10 Free Coins ¡°If that¡¯s all you have to say, then please leave. I¡¯m busy, Mr. Jensen. I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!