Chapter 1129


    Natalie could give up on thepetition, but she could never give up on Shane.


    “How could you?” Sally quickly put down the thermal food jar before rushing forward to grab Natalie’s


    hands. “Nat, I know why you’re doing this, but it’s the finals soon. Don’t you think that it’s selfish?


    You’re not the only onepeting here. If you leave, then what will Lina do? The two of you are


    partners. If you leave, Lina won’t be able to continue with thepetition.”


    At that, Natalie’s eyes widened before casting an apologetic look at Lina.


    She’s right. I’m not the only onepeting here. Lina’s my partner.


    What will she do if I leave now?


    “Lina, I’m sorry. I-”


    “All right, that’s enough.” Lina smiled as she stepped forward. “I understand. If you want to go back,


    go.”


    “Lina?” Sally spun around to stare at her in disbelief. “Do you know what you’re saying?”


    “I do. I know how she feels. No one knows if Mr. Shane is dead or alive. Even if Nat stays for the


    competition, she won’t be able toe up with any proper blueprints because her heart is no longer


    here,” Lina quietly said.


    Sally’s mouth opened, but her words only came after a beat. “But what about you? What will you do?”


    “I’ll be fine. Even if we quit now, we’ll still be in third ce. We never were confident about emerging as


    the champion in the finals because thepetitors are about the same level as us. Getting a third


    ce is quite eye-catching too. Being the champion is just the icing on the cake. Although it sounds


    better, it isn’t that big of a difference, really. Besides, we always have the next round ofpetition,”


    Lina told her with a small smile.


    However, that smile of hers only made Natalie feel worse—it made her feel guilty for letting her down.


    Covering her face, Natalie began sobbing. “I’m sorry, Lina. I’m really sorry.”


    “There, there.” Lina took a step forward and hugged her as she patted her back. I’ve guessed that you


    would’ve done this, so I’ve already told my mentor about it. My mentor agrees with this too. Although


    thepetition is important, it’s nothing inparison to a life. While a designer should strive for the


    best, abandoning one’s morals and emotions in the pursuit of achievements will make that designer a


    horrible one. They won’t be able toe up with a design that clicks with the others.”


    At that, Lina wiped Natalie’s tears and added, “So, Nat, go back to look for Mr. Shane. Find him. That


    way, you won’t let me down after I quit thepetition. Of course, once you find him, you’ll have to


    compensate me and Sal, or else I’ll never let you off the hook.”


    Sally sighed before finally showing them both a smile. “What can I say after Lina’s decision? Still, Nat,


    I’m on Lina’s side this time. She’s right. We’ve given up on thepetition for you, so don’t you


    disappoint us. Otherwise, we’ll really stop being friends with you.”


    As Natalie listened to their words of support and encouragement, guilt and warm feelings swelled in her


    chest.


    She took in a deep breath and stered a smile on her face before nodding. “Don’t worry. I won’t let


    you down. I’ll find Shane, and I’ll make up to you. I won’t let your sacrifice be in vain!”


    “Good to hear that. I’ll apply for our departure from thepetition,” Lina told her.


    Natalie hummed in response before saying, “I’ll call the organizers in a while too because I can’t let


    them announce the true reason for our discontinuation. Otherwise, someone else will find out about


    Shane’s disappearance.”


    “You can say that you fell and gave birth to your baby prematurely. And since you’re now recovering in


    the hospital, you can’t continue with thepetition,” Sally suggested.


    Natalie nodded. “That was what I was thinking as well.”


    Then, she turned to Ss and said, “Mr. Campbell, I’d have to trouble you to take a trip to my mentor’s.


    She has to know about my discontinuation in thepetition.”


    Regardless of whether her mentor would be angry at her for quitting thepetition or not, she had to


    go back home.


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    Perhaps she would be filled with regret for a while after quitting thepetition, but that regret would


    be with her for the rest of her life if she did not look for Shane now.