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    Concerned, Natalie asked in a low voice, “I forgot to askst time. Why were you two at the clinic?”


    Elizabeth’s voice filled with sorrow as she exined, “Jorge used to be a drug addict. After quitting, he


    seemed like a different person. But he lost his job and became violent. Everything used to be so good


    between us. I don’t know why things havee to this.”


    Natalie frowned, forming a worse impression of Jorge upon hearing about his past as a drug addict.


    Carefully choosing her words, she asked, “What are you nning to do? Do you have any ns?”


    Elizabeth sighed heavily, nursing a ss of wine, her sadness evident. “I want to break up with him, but


    I don’t think it’s the right time. I can’t just give up on him when he needs me.”


    Trying to offerfort, Natalie said, “If you’re certain that he has truly quit drugs, maybe breaking up


    isn’t necessary.” Elizabeth managed a bitter smile and downed two more sses of wine.


    Just then, Elizabeth’s phone rang, disying “BF” on the screen.


    Elizabeth answered the phone in a rush, her heart pounding. “Where are you?” Jorge’s voice sounded


    anxious on the other end of the line. “Why aren’t you home yet? I’ve been waiting for you for half an


    hour!”


    “I’m having dinner with my friends at the Riverside Restaurant. I’ll be backter,” Elizabeth exined,


    her face filled with disappointment.


    “What the hell are you talking about? Friends? What friends? Come up with a better lie, Elizabeth! Tell


    me—are you with another man?” Jorge’s voice grew louder and more aggressive, causing everyone at


    the table to overhear the conversation.


    “You’re crazy!” Elizabeth didn’t want to waste her breath on him, so she angrily hung up the phone and


    reached for another ss of wine. By that point, she had already finished almost an entire bottle of red


    wine by herself.


    Worried that Elizabeth would get drunk, Natalie intervened. “Let’s eat something first before you have


    another drink, okay?”


    But Elizabeth ignored her, turning a deaf ear and continuing to drink. Eventually, Natalie turned to


    Draco for help, even though he usually avoided meddling in other people’s private affairs. However,


    Natalie’s pleading look was hard to resist, so Draco stepped in.


    “That’s enough. Getting drunk won’t solve anything,” Draco scolded, surprising everyone. He was


    known for being gentle and level-headed, both at work and in private. Elizabeth obediently stopped


    drinking, but it seemed toote. Her cheeks were flushed, and she struggled to keep her head up, tears


    welling in her eyes.


    After the phone call, Elizabeth lost her appetite. She sat quietly while Draco and Natalie finished their


    meal. Concerned, Natalie walked Elizabeth to the restaurant’s gate, wanting to drive her home.


    However, their homes were in opposite directions across the city.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Realizing Natalie’s worry, Draco offered to take Elizabeth home himself. “You should go home now.


    Drive safely,” he said, understanding Natalie’s unspoken concern.


    “Thank you, Mr. Wesley. You too,” Natalie replied gratefully. Draco approached Elizabeth to help her, as


    she was too drunk to stand on her own. Coincidentally, just as Draco reached her, she stumbled and


    fell into his arms. Natalie saw nothing wrong with this, considering Elizabeth’s state and Draco’s offer to


    help.


    However, someone lurking nearby had a different perspective. An angry man suddenly stepped in front


    of Draco, blocking their way. He pointed an using finger at them. “So, you’re her new boy toy? Bitch,


    how dare you cheat on me!” It was Jorge, Elizabeth’s boyfriend.


    Worried that the situation would escte, Natalie tried to intervene and exin, “Sir, calm down. We’re


    both Elizabeth’s colleagues. We just had dinner together.”


    “Go to hell, bitch!” Jorge refused to listen, shoving Natalie away without hesitation. Natalie nearly fell,


    but luckily, Brandon, wearing a ck overcoat, caught her just in time. He helped her up and looked


    into her eyes with concern. “Are you okay?”


    Brandon held onto Natalie until she regained her bnce. Then, he confidently approached Jorge,


    gripping his shoulders tightly before forcefully throwing him to the ground.


    Jorge, bewildered and enraged, cursed vehemently, “What the—?! Who the fuck are you?”


    “Mind your own fucking business!” Brandon retorted sharply.


    “Oh, fuck off!” Jorge spat back defiantly.


    Frowning with disdain, Brandon red down at the despicable man on the ground. He had no intention


    of wasting his breath on scum like Jorge. Unbuttoning his cuffs, he prepared himself to teach him a


    lesson.


    Terrified, Jorge curled into a ball and hastily covered his head. The imposing presence of the man


    before him was overwhelming. He didn’t know who Brandon was, but it was clear that Brandon’s


    towering stature and strength gave him no chance in a fight.


    “Don’te any closer! I’ll call the police!” Jorge threatened, his voice trembling.


    Observing Jorge cowering on the ground, Brandon decided it wasn’t worth dirtying his hands with a


    confrontation. He issued a warning instead, “You better not show your face in front of me again.”


    Jorge dared not utter another word. Meeting Brandon’s chilling gaze, he nodded, quickly got up, and


    hurriedly fled the scene.


    Natalie, still taken aback by Brandon’s unexpected appearance, recalled telling him she would go home


    alone. As Jorge disappeared around the corner, Brandon turned to Natalie and spoke gently, “I


    promised you I’de pick you up.” Thankfully, he had kept his promise.


    Brandon hadn’t anticipated Natalie encountering danger during their dinner outing. ncing at Draco,


    Natalie’s boss, he addressed him in an unfriendly tone, “If you’re going to have dinner together again,


    make sure it’s somewhere safe.” Though feeling ufortable, Draco maintained hisposure and


    replied, “I’ll handle it. Thanks for your concern, Mr. Larson.”


    Brandon pursed his lips, realizing he didn’t like Natalie’s boss. Call it a man’s instinct. He continued in a


    low voice, “This is about my wife’s safety. Of course, I’m concerned.”


    Draco’s expression darkened.


    Sensing Brandon’s strange behavior, Natalie urgently grabbed his arm and tugged at it. Why was he


    acting so strangely? Finally understanding her signal, Brandon ceased speaking.


    Natalie remained worried about Elizabeth, who had been intoxicated the previous night. She decided to


    let Elizabeth stay at their house for the night. As she helped Elizabeth onto the sofa, she heard her


    groan in pain. Confused, Natalie rolled up her sleeve and discovered numerous bruises on Elizabeth’s


    arm. It was evident that Jorge had physically abused her.


    “That jerk!” Natalie muttered angrily under her breath, applying ointment to Elizabeth’s injuries.