Chatper 171


    Chapter 171


    The hotel manager hesitated, a conflict ying across his features as he handed Natalie a small blue


    velvet box tied with a white satin ribbon.


    “A gentleman asked me to give this to you around nine… But,” he trailed off, ncing at the clock,


    which showed it was nearing midnight.


    Natalie’s eyes fell upon the box with curiosity and dread.


    “The gentleman nned a proposal, you see. We even set up a little area there in the corner for the


    asion. But it looks like he’s already left,” the manager continued, gesturing toward a nook adorned


    with white and pale blue balloons, a table elegantlyid with arge bouquet


    of white roses.


    Without a word, Natalie took the box from the manager’s outstretched hand, opened it, and found a


    pristine, sugar cube–sized blue diamond, the simplicity and elegance of its setting unmistakably


    Ken’s taste.


    Nobody needed to say his name, but she knew it was him.


    Ken had nned to propose tonight. And then, as her fiancé, he would have apanied her to the


    evening’s g. He had meticulously arranged everything for this very night. But she


    had let him down.


    “Thanks,” Natalie said softl


    nodding to the manager.


    Even if Brian hadn’t shown up, Ken’s proposal wouldn’t have seeded. She couldn’t allow herself


    to be the reason for holding Ken back.


    Ken wasn’t getting any younger. Over the years, he had never seemed to have another woman by


    his side, always returning home to spend each day with her and Nina unless he had pressing matters


    to attend to.


    She once asked Uriah if Ken hadn’t found the right person yet. Uriah had been evasive, merely


    Only then did Natalie understand that Ken had someone in his heart, which kept him from getting


    close to others.


    With a sigh, Natalie ced the ring back in the box, re–tied the ribbon, and tucked it into her purse to


    return to him the next time they met.


    s


    Walking up to her room with her head down, she was startled to find someone waiting at her door.


    Their eyes met, and Gracia smiled, breaking the silence first. “Natalie, isn’t it fate that we’ve stumbled


    upon each other in a foreignnd? Aren’t you going to invite me in?”


    “In your dreams,” Natalie replied emotionlessly.


    She retrieved her key card from her bag, swiped it through the door lock, and stepped inside.


    7/2


    15:38


    Chapter 171


    Just as she was about to close the door, Gracia shamelessly wedged her foot in the doorway to stop it


    from closing.


    “Get lost before I lose my patience,” Natalie warned her coldly, her gaze icy.


    Just seeing Gracia’s face brought back memories of that video, which disgusted her.


    At her words, Natalie frowned involuntarily.


    She and Ken had looked into the car ident and her subsequent miscarriage several times. It had


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    appeared to be a tragic coincidence.


    The driver had been drunk, unaware, and negligent of the red light when he hit several pedestrians,


    including her.