Chapter 697


    She made herself force out big, fat teardrops.


    She assumed that if she cried miserably enough, Shane wouldfort her. However, the man’s lips


    pursed as he held his ground. He didn’t seem keen on pacifying her at all. Instead, his low voice growled


    out, “Indeed. You’re at fault.”


    “W-what?” Jacqueline stopped sobbing and stared wide-eyed at the man in disbelief. “I’m at fault? You


    think it’s my fault as well?”


    “Jacqueline, it’s no secret that the Thompsons and I don’t get along. You’ve always known this, even


    before you got into that car ident ten years ago. I don’t see an issue with me having Sean arrested for


    kidnapping Natalie. I also don’t see a problem for Natalie to refuse Aunt Catherine’s request. So tell me,


    why did you recklessly go against Natalie’s wishes and agree to help Aunt Catherine?”


    “I… I just figured that you wouldn’t want to have such a rift with the Thompsons. They’re still your


    family, after all. As for why I agreed on behalf of Ms. Smith, I did it for Ms. Smith’s sake. I was worried


    that Mrs. Thompson would give her a hard time if she refused toply,” Jacqueline muttered


    nervously.


    Shane’s handsome face turned dark with anger. “Sean and I cut ties five years ago. Our rtionship is


    beyond mending, so why does it matter if there’s a rift between our families? Moreover, I am the head of


    the Thompson family; Natalie is my wife, meaning she’s the matriarch of the Thompson family. Who


    would dare to give her a hard time?”


    “But…”


    “That’s enough!” the man interrupted with only a thin thread of patience left in him. “Nothing will stop me


    from having Sean arrested. That is his price to pay for kidnapping Natalie. So you can drop the matter


    now. Don’t bother exining things to Aunt Catherine because I will personally reject her myself.”


    With that, he shoved past Jacqueline and left.


    The woman stood still with her fists tautly coiled. Her chest tightened with aggrievance for how badly her


    n had failed.


    She wanted to get on Mrs. Thompson’s good side by convincing Natalie to help Sean out. This way, Mrs.


    Thompson would owe her a favor. She would then use this favor to ruin Natalie’s life.


    Jacqueline reflected on her well-thought-out n. Natalie may not have a vile mother-inw, but an


    unreasonable aunt-inw like Mrs. Thompson will certainly test Natalie’s patience. She might not get


    along with other rtives within the Thompson family. Then she and Shane will gradually disagree with


    one another and fight often. After all, men hate being in the crossfire between their family and their wife.


    But the one thing I failed to consider is that Shane and Mrs. Thompson’s family has already cut ties!


    Granted, Shane and Sean had some tension between them before my ident. Even so, I don’t recall


    their rtionship being so torn as it is today. How did that suddenly happen?


    What exactly went down between Shane and Sean’s family five years ago?


    She pressed her lips into a thin line, lost in thought. It looks like I’ll need to do a little digging.


    She took out her phone and hastily dialed a number. “Hello? Grandpa, I need you to help me run a check


    on something.”


    Upstairs, Shane opened his bedroom door. He entered and saw Natalie leaning against the balcony,


    enjoying the night breeze.


    He walked over and snaked his arms around her waist from behind. Burying his head into her shoulder,


    he ced gentle kisses while inhaling her sweet scent.


    The woman was taken aback by his intimate gesture. She shrank back a little and asked, “You’ve


    finished talking with Ms. Graham?”


    “Mmm-hmm.” Shane nibbled lightly on Natalie’s neck, leaving behind a purple mark before finally letting


    her go. “Jacqueline was at fault. She assumed that the Thompson family and I are still on decent terms,


    so…”


    “That’s enough of that topic,” Natalie interjected. She then turned around and wrapped her arms around


    his neck. “Let’s talk about something else.”


    She scowled mentally. Tsk. I don’t want to hear another word about Jacqueline.


    “Talk about what?” Shane stared at her gorgeous face that was illuminated by the moonlight.


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    Under his loving gaze, she smiled softly. “Anything is fine. What would you like to talk about?”


    Something between mischief and lust flickered in the man’s eyes as he answered, “I’d rather be doing


    things to you instead of talking to you.”


    That statement made Natalie freeze. Her cheeks burned a brilliant shade of red when his message sank


    in. At once, her arms loosened from his neck, and she prepared to dart far away from him.


    It was like Shane had predicted her actions. He immediately pulled her back into his arms, sandwiching


    her between his body and the balcony. Then he lowered his head to kiss her.


    In the garden, Jacqueline nced up as she had overheard muffled soundsing from the balcony.


    Once she saw the two’s faces smushed together in a kiss, her face twisted into a jealous scowl.


    To make things worse, her grandfather had just told her about why Shane and Sean had cut ties.


    The woman gnawed her lips in fury as she recalled this new piece of information. Sean drugged Shane.


    Conveniently, this caused him to spend a passionate night with that b*tch, Natalie!