《A Divorce After My Rebirth》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Provoking Mrs. Johnson ¡°Let¡¯s get a divorce¡­¡± The two people in the room had just gone through a passionate encounter, and Natalie Walker¡¯s voice still held an irresistible charm in her voice as shey weakly on the messy and luxurious bed. With sweat-soaked strands of hair clinging to her exquisite face, a hint of destion lingered in her expression. She listened to the man¡¯s fumbling as he dressed silently. Recalling how Cedric Johnson had initiated this act while being highly intoxicated, Natalie felt her stomach churn in disgust. She had loved this man for ten years. Now, there was nothing left to cherish. Cedric paused abruptly in his actions, and he turned his cold eyes toward her. ¡°Divorce?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Natalie said determinedly. Having said that, she got out of bed and tried to stumble to the bathroom based on her memory of the ce. Cedric coldly stared at her for a moment. Eventually, he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and approached her. ¡°I¡¯ll help you,¡± he said as he reached out to assist her. Natalie forcefully pped his hand away. However, that took her remaining energy, and she fell to the ground. ¡°Go away. I don¡¯t want your help. You¡¯re filthy.¡± Just sharing the same roof with this man made her feel nauseated. Cedric¡¯s expression darkened instantly. His outstretched hand was frozen in midair, and the air around them became even colder. She said he was filthy?! Bracing herself with both hands on the ground, Natalie slowly got up. She looked to be in a wretched state as she continued her search for the bathroom. Once she reached it, she turned on the scalding hot water and repeatedly washed herself. Her fair skin quickly turnedpletely red from the heat and scrubbing. She wished she could peel off every inch of skin that he had touched! After she was done, she exited the bathroom and fumbled toward the wardrobe. She hadn¡¯t been blind for long, but she still hadn¡¯t adjusted to the pitch-ck world. She could only move forward slowly based on faint impressions. Relying on her senses, Natalie found a piece of clothing and put it on. She fumbled around and retrieved their marriage certificate. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re heading to the clerk¡¯s office right now.¡± Cedric clenched his fist angrily, his joints cracking loudly at the action. Unable to contain himself any longer, he suddenly got up, strode over to the woman, and forcefully grabbed her cor. ¡°Natalie! How long will you keep kicking up a fuss like this? Look at yourself! If we divorce, how will you survive?¡± She had nothing. A blind woman without any rtives in this vast city couldn¡¯t possibly make it! Where did she get the courage to make this decision?! Natalie remained surprisingly calm in the face of his anger. She gently removed Cedric¡¯s hand from her cor. Her vacant eyes resembled still waters as she shook her head with determination. ¡°No, anything is better as long as I¡¯m not with you.¡± She suddenly chuckled and murmured, ¡°Ten years¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known you for ten years¡ªseven years of dating and three years of marriage. What did I get out of it? In the end, you took my eyes to save another woman. Was that a fair enough price for you?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. That was the reality of her marriage¡ªit was twisted and despicable. She had had enough of this man¡¯s heartlessness. Even death didn¡¯t induce despair as bad as staying with her husband. She just wanted to leave this cage of suffering as soon as possible. The man¡¯s demeanor turned instantly cold. ¡°You call that a price? If you didn¡¯t want to do it, why did you sign the consent form for the surgery in the first ce?¡± ¡°Was I even given a choice?¡± Sheughed bitterly, not even bothering to ask if he had ever regarded her as his wife. ¡°We¡¯re not talking about this anymore. The matter is closed. I¡¯ll pretend you didn¡¯t say those things just now.¡± Natalie¡¯sughter grew even louder. His condescending tone wasughable to the extreme! ¡°No! I will get a divorce today!¡± ¡°Natalie!¡± Cedric hissed through gritted teeth. In the end, a gust of wind brushed past her as the man walked away. ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to bring up divorce.¡± The man mmed the door behind him. Outside the door, his hurried footsteps sounded like he was escaping. Natalie¡¯s legs gave way. She copsed on the ground,pletely drained of strength. All the pretenses were stripped away when she was alone. Only her true self was left. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 She Remained Proud The familiar clicking sound of high heels echoed along the hall with the pungent scent of perfume. It was Isabe Morgan! She was Cedric¡¯s lover and the woman who had taken her eyes. Natalie furrowed her brow in disgust. Before she could call for help, Isabe spoke first. ¡°Don¡¯t bother calling for anyone; I¡¯ve sent them all away.¡± Her tone was triumphant. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Natalie was anything but polite. She had lost everything, so what else could Isabe possibly want from her? Isabe paid no heed to her attitude. She merely smiled and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve got some news for you. Well, I have good and bad news.¡± Natalie remained silent and waited. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant.¡± Pregnant?! Natalie¡¯s face turned ashen in an instant. Seeing this, Isabe grinned with satisfaction. ¡°Of course, Ced has no intention of keeping this child! Because I¡¯m also pregnant!¡± Isabe was also pregnant?! Natalie¡¯s eyes widened, and herposure shattered. ¡®Cedric, how could he?¡¯ Her already ashen face grew even paler, and she trembled violently in her wheelchair. Natalie clenched her fists tightly and tried to hold back the emotions that crashed through her. She knew this woman hade to gloat. She was already in a wretched state, and she didn¡¯t want to lose herst shred of dignity. Despite violently trembling, Natalie took a deep breath and struggled to remain calm. ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ve asked him for a divorce, but he hasn¡¯t agreed.¡± The woman standing not far away froze at Natalie¡¯s words. Natalie could clearly sense her surprise. With that, a smile curled on her l*ps. ¡°So what if you took my eyes? Even if you¡¯re pregnant, so what? It seems that Cedric isn¡¯t inclined to give you the position of his wife.¡± She said this not because she cherished Cedric but because she didn¡¯t want this woman to continue trampling on her. Although she had decided to end things with Cedric, she remained unyielding in the face of this woman¡¯s provocation. ¡°Hah! You¡¯re saying all this to imply that he loves you, right? But, Natalie, ask yourself this. If he really loved you, why would he insist you give me your eyes without a second thought?¡± Isabe¡¯s eyes brimmed with satisfied malice, and she carried the satisfaction of someone who had won. Isabe¡¯sughter stabbed Natalie¡¯s heart even more,pletely tearing apart her fa?ade! Undoubtedly, these words hit Natalie hard. She was right¡­ If Cedric truly loved her, she wouldn¡¯t be in this situation now. Their ten years of love had ended so brutally¡­ Original from N?velDrama.Org. Natalie didn¡¯t know when Isabe had left and sat there for a long, long time¡­ When she finally snapped out of her daze, a thick smoke had enveloped her. She choked to the point of tears in her eyes. Realizing something was wrong, panic and fear overcame her. She wheeled her chair toward the door. But everywhere she went, there was the sound of things crashing and falling. After a few consecutive falls, she lost her sense of direction entirely. ¡°Cough! Cough¡­!¡± Natalie sat on the ground, staring helplessly at her surroundings with hollow eyes. She clutched her throat, which was sore from inhaling the smoke around her. Her pale face was filled with fear. But at this moment, the voices outside the door were especially jarring. ¡°How could the master do this? Does he actually intend to burn the madam alive?! Quick! Call the fire department!¡± ¡°Shut up. We¡¯ll pretend we didn¡¯t see anything.¡± The words they exchanged caused Natalie¡¯s blood to run cold. Was it Cedric who wanted her dead? Despairpletely overwhelmed her. She lost even the courage to escape. Death¡­ was good. After all, it would be a kind of release for her. The smoke grew even thicker around her. It became increasingly difficult to breathe. When Natalie discovered Cedric had an affair with his secretary, she hadn¡¯t cried. When she opened her eyes in the hospital bed and was greeted with darkness, she was frightened, but she hadn¡¯t cried. But now, after learning that Isabe was pregnant and Cedrice wanted to burn Natalie alive with their unborn child despite their ten years of love¡­ She cried. A wave of scorching heat washed over her, burning her skin gradually. ¡°Ahhhhh¡­!!!¡± Her despairing scream echoed through the entire vi. At that moment when the mes devoured her, Natalie only wished time could turn back and free her world from the man named Cedric. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Early Morning Divorce Drama ¡°Ah¡­¡± Natalie¡¯s eyes shot open, and she abruptly sat up from the bed, drenched in cold sweat. It felt as if her b*dy was still in pain from being burned by intense mes. A strong arm stretched across her slender waist, and a familiar scent filled the air as a man patiently coaxed, ¡°Shh. Go back to sleep.¡± Natalie¡¯s hand trembled, and she instinctively pulled away. Turning around, Cedric¡¯s handsome face entered her sight, and Natalie gasped. Her mind went nk. ¡®I¡­ I can see! B-but how?!¡¯ She closed her eyes briefly and then snapped them open again. She could see a brightly lit room before her. Sunlight peeked through her eyshes, warming her heart. The ceiling light, curtains, and bedsheet¡ªeverything felt so familiar. Was it possible? Pushing the man¡¯s arm away and sitting up, she reached for her phone in disbelief. The screen disyed the date from a few months before her death by fire. Had she been reborn? Her movements had disturbed Cedric, who woke up with sleepy eyes and a hint of morning grumpiness. ¡°It¡¯s so early in the morning. What are you doing?¡± Natalie gripped her phone tightly, her gaze fixed firmly on the date disyed on the screen. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. It was the day before that woman was kidnapped?! ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing Natalie¡¯s unusual behavior, Cedric furrowed his handsome brows. He could see from the morning sky that it was still early. Ignoring the man in bed, Natalie hurriedly went to the bathroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, still with a hint of baby fat on her face. She gently touched the contours of her eyes, which still felt sore. Then she felt her arms, which were still tingling from the burns. She had actually been reborn! She could still vividly remember the despair and excruciating pain of being engulfed in mes in her last moments. Natalie sank down to the ground, hugged herself, andforted, ¡°Natalie, God is fair and just. You shouldn¡¯t have died.¡± After that, she walked back to the bedside. She took a deep breath and looked at the man. ¡°Cedric, let¡¯s get a divorce,¡± Natalie stated calmly. Cedric¡¯s hazy eyes suddenly snapped wide open. He fixed his gaze on her, his expression darkening. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have Bianca prepare a divorce agreement for us. If you¡¯re worried about your rights, I can have yourpany¡¯swyer draft it.¡± ¡°What on earth are you talking about?¡± He had woken up to a series of strange events early in the morning, and now this sudden deration from Natalie confused and angered him even more. Natalie seemedpletely unfazed by Cedric¡¯s anger. She continued calmly, ¡°When did you two start your affair?¡± He was incredibly good-looking, especially his eyes, which remained alluring even when he was angry. Ten years had passed between them, yet time seemed to have left no traces on his face. How fortunate could one be? ¡°Natalie!¡± Cedric¡¯s tone turned warning, and he struggled to contain his suppressed emotions. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve grown tired of being Mrs. Johnson. Give that woman the position if you want. But let me make it clear: we¡¯ve known each other for ten years and spent seven of them in a rtionship. All my youth was wasted.¡± Cedric was speechless. ¡°But don¡¯t even think about hiding my rights as your wife for the past three years from me. We have joint property rights, and we¡¯re splitting it equally. If you try anything funny¡­ I¡¯ll make sure you and that woman are publicly disgraced together.¡± Veins bulged on the man¡¯s forehead. His gaze was cold and furious, as if he wanted to tear Natalie apart. What on earth had triggered this woman? Last night, she clung to him with passion, and now she was talking about divorce in the morning? Natalie paid no heed to the man¡¯s furious gaze. She quickly put on her clothes and strode towards the door. tter! Bang! There was a sound of something falling behind her, followed by the man hissing through gritted teeth, ¡°You do know we¡¯ve been together for seven years, right?¡± Natalie didn¡¯t answer him. She just paused for a moment and then went upstairs without looking back. ¨C Natalie dialed a familiar number. After a few rings, a woman on the other end quickly answered, ¡°Nat.¡± ¡°Help me draft a divorce agreement, right now.¡± As soon as Natalie said that, the air grew still. Half a secondter, the voice on the other end exploded, ¡°You¡¯ve finallye to your senses? I¡¯ll get up right away to draft it for you. Give me half an hour.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Natalie closed her eyes. Over the past year, news of Cedric¡¯s affair had frequently reached her ears. Even her friends knew about it, and everyone had been advising her to get a divorce. But she¡­ had always believed in him! Tomorrow was the day the other woman got kidnapped, and it marked the beginning of the copse of her rtionship with Cedric. This time, she wouldn¡¯t passively allow that homewrecker toe into her life and unt herself. She wouldn¡¯t allow that other woman to show off being pregnant with Cedric¡¯s child, or allow her to steal her eyes again! Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Shredded Tenderness Natalie received the divorce agreement quickly. She printed the agreement and signed her name on it without hesitation. Then, she took the agreement downstairs to find Cedric. She couldn¡¯t find him. The maid said he had left from the backdoor. Natalie¡¯s heart sank. Original from N?velDrama.Org. She had to divorce Cedric today; she couldn¡¯t wait a moment longer. She faxed the agreement to herpany. When the secretary saw the header on the document, she stammered, ¡°M-madam, Mr. Johnson hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± ¡°When he arrives at thepany, have him sign it immediately. Ask him to bring the agreement to the clerk¡¯s office once he¡¯s done. I¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°Y-yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Even through the phone line, Natalie could sense the secretary breaking into a cold sweat. She hung up the phone and went upstairs to change her clothes. Natalie looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn¡¯t deny that she was beautiful, but¡­ It didn¡¯t mean men would stay faithful just because a woman was beautiful! As the saying goes, the grass was always greener on the other side! ¨C After an appropriate amount of time had passed, Natalie drove to the clerk¡¯s office. She waited for a full two hours. It was almost closing time, but he still hadn¡¯t shown up. She took out her phone and video called Cedric. It wasn¡¯t until the very end that he finally picked up. Seeing the projection behind the man, she knew he was in a conference room. Natalie got straight to the point, not bothering to preserve his dignity, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you at the clerk¡¯s office for two hours. Are you not satisfied with the terms of the divorce settlement?¡± On the other end of the phone call, the atmosphere in the conference room instantly turned ice-cold. All eyes around the long conference table were fixed on Cedric, who had a grave look on his face. Natalie wanted a divorce?! And she wanted to divide their assets? Just a nce at the man¡¯s ice-cold eyes had everyone else immediately lowering their heads as if they hadn¡¯t heard a thing. But this news was truly explosive! It left a thunderous mark on everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°Take a thirty-minute break.¡± The man said and stood up, adjusting his tie with an air of irritation. He looked like he was about to beat up the woman on the other side of the line. As soon as he left the conference room, the room exploded into discussion. ¡°Mrs. Johnson actually asked for a divorce?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a gentle woman to blow up like this.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that ying right into Ms. Morgan¡¯s hands?¡± ¨C The discussions in the conference room continued in hushed tones. Meanwhile, Natalie was growing impatient on the line with Cedric. ¡°When are youing?¡± ¡°Natalie!¡± Cedric gritted his teeth. Natalie was fearless and continued, ¡°Or should I bring a clerk to your office?¡± She would do it if he wasn¡¯t afraid to have his reputation shredded. In reality, she had already trampled on his pride with what everyone had heard earlier. Cedric sneered, ¡°Ten minutes.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ve brought our marriage certificate with me,¡± Natalie replied. Cedric hesitated but said nothing more. Natalie hung up the video call, satisfied. Staring at his phone¡¯s nk screen, he angrily smashed it against the wall the next moment. The man¡¯s extraordinarily handsome face could not hide his rage. He never thought Natalie would ask for a divorce. This woman had caused a scene in the morning. And now this. He felt like he was dealing with a bold, unpredictable animal. ¨C On the other end of the phone, Natalie held the marriage certificate firmly in her hand. She was determined to go through with the divorce. When Cedric arrived, he saw the shining marriage certificate in her hand, and his anger red even higher. His calm features seemed slightly distorted from the irritation. From early in the morning until now, he had been almost constantly angry. ¨C Natalie saw him getting out of the car. It was as if she were looking at a stranger. However, the next moment, the man she thought would enter the building to divorce her suddenly lifted her onto his shoulder. ¡°Hey, you¡­¡± She was stuffed into the car as if she were a bag of potatoes. ¡°Cedric Johnson! You shameless man!¡± Natalie tried to pull the car door open, but it was locked. The man radiated coldness as he grabbed her ankle and forcefully pressed her onto the backseat. The driver, seeing the situation, quickly fled the car. Natalie struggled, ¡°Let go of me, you¡­ Ugh! It hurts!¡± The pressure on her jaw made it hard for her to breathe. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 She Dared to Threaten Him Natalie winced in pain. She raised her hand and pped Cedric in the face. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The already tense atmosphere became even more stifling. Cedric¡¯s hand shifted from her jaw to her delicate neck, and his breathing was harsh. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting strange all day. Exin yourself.¡± At this moment, Cedric finally realized that Natalie wasn¡¯t just ying around. She had always beenposed and knew her boundaries. If it were just a tantrum, she wouldn¡¯t have pestered him like this, especially after he had ignored her in the morning. Natalie red at him. She held his wrist and said, ¡°The clerk¡¯s office closes in twenty minutes. We should handle the paperwork before it does.¡± ¡°Natalie Walker!¡± The man¡¯s breath was unsteady with frustration. Natalie forcefully pulled his hand down, pushing him away. However, he remained steady as a rock and unmovable. Natalie could do nothing else but re angrily at him. Cedric eventually lost his patience and decided to take her home. There was no way he could go to work after today¡¯smotion. On the way back, the driver struggled to maintain control of the car, a testament to the intensity of Cedric¡¯s anger. Upon reaching home, Natalie sat on the couch, and Cedric sat opposite her. ¡°Can we talk now?¡± ¡°We have nothing to talk about,¡± she replied. Talk? What was there to talk about? He had been involved with his personal assistant for the past six months, and the whole world knew about it. Had he given her any exnation? The man¡¯s sharp gaze bore into her. Natalie turned her head away, refusing to look at the man whose temples pulsated angrily. Her indifferent attitude only seemed to make his gaze sharper. ¡°Natalie, no man from the Johnson family has ever divorced; there have only been widowers.¡± Natalie trembled slightly. She looked into the man¡¯s eyes, which were filled withplex emotions and anger. So, was this the reason he had burned her to death in her past life? With a trace of coldness in her eyes, she said, ¡°Fine. Either you can be the first divorcee in your family, or you can go to hell!¡± Cedric was speechless. He stood up, and the air around them felt colder. He looked down at Natalie, emanating a strong sense of dominance. Natalie fearlessly met his gaze, her infuriating expression pushing Cedric to his breaking point. He finally turned away. Continuing this conversation might lead him to lose control and strangle her. Natalie watched him walk away. Even if it was just his back, it had once given her an immense sense of security. But now¡­ ¡°Wait,¡± Natalie called out to him. Cedric paused but didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°You should calm yourself. Don¡¯t contact me until you figure out how to talk to me.¡± Thinking about the people¡¯s reactions in the conference room, he genuinely wanted to dissect her mind and see what she was thinking. He had never imagined she would bring up divorce. For the past six months, she hadn¡¯t questioned the rumors circting outside. Now, she was suddenly talking about divorce! He attempted to leave again, but Natalie spoke up from behind. ¡°If you dare to step out that door today, I¡¯ll take Bianca to see that woman in the afternoon. Her name is Isabe Morgan, right?¡± This time, Cedric was thoroughly provoked. He turned around instantly. At that moment, he almost wished he could tear her to pieces. Natalie also stood up. She crossed her arms and looked at Cedric. She knew that divorcing this man today was impossible. But as for Isabe, she would be abducted tomorrow. Since she couldn¡¯t get a divorce, Cedric had to stay with her today. If the me were going to fall on anyone for this mess, it would be him. After all, he was the one who had caused it! ¡°You¡¯re quite something,¡± he remarked. She dared to threaten him. What a truly unruly woman! Natalie responded, ¡°Two can y this game!¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Exnation At lunchtime, Cedric answered severalpany calls and barely ate anything. Meanwhile, Natalie sat quietly. It was hard to believe that a woman who had been insisting on divorce could still eat so heartily. Cedric was irritated as he looked at Natalie in dissatisfaction. After hanging up the phone, Cedric said, ¡°I need to go on a business trip to South City. I¡¯ll be leaving this afternoon and will probably be away for about three days.¡± A few days away might be for the best. He hoped that she would calm down during this time and not bring up the frustrating matter from today when he returned. Finally, Natalie lifted her head to look at him. Her beautiful eyes sparkled, and she casually brushed her long hair aside. It was a gesture that exuded elegance. Cedric narrowed his eyes, and he felt tense all over. After being married for many years, he still couldn¡¯t resist her. Natalie didn¡¯t know what was on the man¡¯s mind. She blinked her longshes and remembered that in her previous life, this man had also gone on a business trip in the afternoon when he received news of Isabe¡¯s kidnapping. Later, he had rushed back in a hurry. She replied after some careful consideration, ¡°Sure. Bianca has some free time this afternoon, so I think it would be a good time for me to speak to Ms. Morgan and get the legalities out of the way.¡± Cedric couldn¡¯t leave today. He had to stay with her. Cedric was genuinely furious after he heard what she said. Natalie was causing such a ruckus until it affected his work?! ¡°This ispletely unlike you, Natalie! You weren¡¯t like this before!¡± ¡°Did you even remember what I was like before? Or do you remember what you used to be like?¡± He mentioned the past, and it struck a chord with Natalie. The past?! Cedric had the audacity to bring up the past!? Cedric also realized that Natalie was making a fuss about the events of the past six months, something she had ignored until now. He had assumed she trusted him, so he hadn¡¯t exined. But who would have thought that she would bring up divorce directly because of this matter? ¡°You finally asked,¡± he said, realizing that the trust between them had always been his own presumption. Natalie knew what he was thinking but chose not to say anything. At this point, talking too much wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Cedric continued, ¡°The rumors that are going around about us¡­ That¡¯s not what it is between me and her.¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°I don¡¯t care about what happened between you two. Right now, you either go ahead with the divorce, or you stay at home and seriously consider it,¡± Natalie stated firmly. Cedric clenched his fists at her words, and his gaze fixed on Natalie. He had no desire to say another word. She had always been a stubborn woman. If she didn¡¯t throw a tantrum whenever something happened, that was the end of it. But if she did, it would take days of cajoling to calm her down. Right now, what she needed most was to calm down. Natalie was firm on her decision. Regardless of what happened today, Cedric couldn¡¯t leave their home. Not a single step. However, what infuriated her was¡­ He left while she was using the restroom! Standing in the spacious vi, she closed her eyes. Thinking about her situation after tomorrow, a chill ran up her spine. After a while, her phone rang. The screen disyed Bia¡¯s name, and Natalie answered. ¡°Hello, Bia.¡± ¡°How¡¯s it going, Nat? Did that scumbag sign the divorce papers?¡± Bianca got straight to the point. Before Natalie married Cedric, Bianca had advised her that the Johnson family was one of the top families in Verde City and that Natalie wouldn¡¯t be able to handle such a man. Once a marriage crisis urred, Natalie would be the one to suffer. What had she replied to Bianca at the time? She had said, ¡°We¡¯ve been in a seven-year rtionship; if there was a chance our feelings would change, there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll get married.¡± Thinking about it now, that statement was truly ironic. Taking a deep breath, she replied, ¡°No.¡± ¡°What? He cheated and is still trying to justify it? He won¡¯t agree to a divorce?¡± ¡°Enough, Bia. Do you know of any handwriting analysis agencies?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I need one,¡± she said urgently. One pitfall couldn¡¯t keep her down in the same ce for two lifetimes, right? Since she couldn¡¯t change what happened today, she needed to be fully prepared for what would happen tomorrow. ¡°Yes, I do. I¡¯ll send you the information right away.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°How about tea in the afternoon tomorrow?¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Natalie¡¯s l*ps curved into a smile. When she thought about it, these three years as Mrs. Johnson had been quite frustrating. Since getting married, she had rarely gone out with her friends. She was supposed to be the high-and- mighty daughter-inw of the Johnson family. Her mother-inw, Reba Carter, insisted the people she met had to match the Johnson family¡¯s status. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Reliance It was a sleepless night for Natalie. She spent the entire night thinking about various moments from her previous life¡ªhow Cedric and Isabe had been together and the heartlessness with which Cedric had made her sign the surgery consent form. The only thing she didn¡¯t want to recall was the seven years of their love and the three years of their marriage. Yesterday afternoon, Natalie sent the divorce agreement to the handwriting analysis center. Upon waking up, she immediately called to inquire about the results. Once she had that sorted out, she went to where she had arranged to meet Bianca. Bianca had arrived ahead of her and was waiting at the entrance. She wore a professional outfit with a windbreaker, which was Natalie¡¯s favorite look. However, she hadn¡¯t dressed that way since her marriage to Cedric. So, every time she saw Bianca, she envied her for her mature appearance. Natalie asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go in first?¡± ¡°You¡¯re Mrs. Johnson, remember? Your chosen venues are all exclusive members-only ces. They don¡¯t entertain non-members.¡± Natalie stiffened upon hearing that. She looked at Bianca with a guilty expression and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡­¡± ¡°Oh,e on, I¡¯m just teasing you.¡± Seeing that Natalie didn¡¯t know what to say, Bianca interrupted her and pulled her inside. It had to be said that since being with Cedric, Natalie had be increasingly immersed in his world. Even having a casual afternoon tea could cost more than some people¡¯s monthly sry. It was no wonder that when she married Cedric, many people spected that she was marrying him for his money. N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°So, what changed your mind?¡± Bianca asked while stirring her coffee. Natalie looked down, and her longshes concealed the emotions in her eyes. Her tone was calm as she replied, ¡°I simply had a moment of realization.¡± Six months ago, when Bianca had advised her to divorce Cedric, she had been angry for over three months and hadn¡¯t spoken to her best friend during that time. She now looked apologetically at the woman opposite her and said, ¡°Bia, I¡¯m sorry for before. I wasn¡¯t really mad at you. I was just scared.¡± She had been afraid that all the rumors circting outside were true. It took a lot of courage to let go of a ten-year rtionship, something not everyone could do. Bianca appeared nonchnt, her words direct and sharp as ever. ¡°I understand. After all, you¡¯ve been together for so many years. A man like him is quite charming when you¡¯re in love.¡± Natalie remained silent. ¡°Marriage really isn¡¯t suited for you,¡± Bianca stated matter-of-factly. Natalie nodded. Over these three years, only she knew what kind of life she had been living. Just as Natalie and Bianca were about to continue their conversation, an unpleasant voice interrupted them, ¡°Well, well. Who do we have here?¡± Natalie turned around at the voice and saw Christina Johnson looking at her with disdain. Christina was Cedric¡¯s sister, or rather, the adopted daughter of the Johnson family. Natalie only spared her a nce before her gazended on Isabe Morgan, who was standing beside Christina. Isabe might not be considered drop-dead gorgeous, but she had an appearance that was easy on the eyes. Natalie¡¯s eyes dimmed, and she clenched her fists. She trembled with anger at the sight of the woman. ¡°Bia, let¡¯s go.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t want to stay here for another second. She was afraid that she might lose control and confront that woman. It was a special day today, and she couldn¡¯t afford any conflict with Isabe. Bianca couldn¡¯t stand people who thought they were superior just because of their family background. So, she easily replied, ¡°Sure. I should get back to work too.¡± But Christina couldn¡¯t resist taunting Natalie. ¡°It seems you still haven¡¯t learned your lessons from Mom¡¯s teachings, huh? You¡¯re still associating with these unsavory sort.¡± ¡°Christina Johnson!¡± Natalie couldn¡¯t hold back her fury any longer. She turned around, intending to retaliate, but a hand reached out to grip her wrist tightly. ¡°Nat,¡± Bianca said firmly. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s this? Are you angry? Over someone like her?¡± Christina mocked. ¡°Christina, where are your manners? You¡¯re still considered to be part of the Johnsons, aren¡¯t you?¡± Natalie retorted without holding back. She knew that being adopted was a sensitive topic for Christina. Even Reba never openly acknowledged Christina¡¯s status as an adopted daughter to outsiders. Seeing how Christina¡¯s face had paled from the reminder, Natalie huffed and pulled Bianca¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Christina suddenly shrieked from behind them, ¡°How could my brother be interested in a woman like her?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Why do you even bother with her?¡± Isabe¡¯s tone was gentle as she subtly asserted her authority. Based on how she spoke, there was no doubt that she thought she was the true young mistress of the Johnson family. Natalie¡¯s l*ps curved into an icy smile. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Turning Hostile ¡°Nat, there¡¯s no need to bother about them because of me,¡± Bianca said, looking at Natalie with concern. Clearly, she was worried about Natalie¡¯s miserable days in the Johnson family. After all, they were still not divorced, and being a wealthy family¡¯s daughter-inw was no easy task. Natalie waved her hand dismissively and said, ¡°They haven¡¯t treated me well either. Now that we¡¯re getting divorced, there¡¯s no need to hold back and continue pretending.¡± Because of Cedric, Natalie had always tried to please the Johnson family, no matter how difficult they made life for her. She had hoped they would ept her if she did so. But in the end, there was no eptance. There was only a status quo that remained the same forever. Just then, her phone vibrated. She checked it and saw that it was Cedric calling. She nced at Bianca and answered, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°What did you say to Tina?¡± Cedric¡¯s voice was tense. ¡°Don¡¯t you already know? By the way, she¡¯s with Ms. Morgan now. I didn¡¯t know that woman had be so close to your family.¡± Natalie made sure to emphasize thest two words. Even through the phone, she could feel Cedric¡¯s breath hitch for a moment. Natalie quickly hung up the phone and closed her eyes, concealing the sharpness in her gaze. Bianca nced at her andmented, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your rtionship with him to be so strained.¡± That attitude Natalie had on the phone? That was unexpected. Especially since it was a call from Cedric. Original from N?velDrama.Org. If Bianca didn¡¯t hear it wrong, he had called to question Natalie about Christina. Just a minute after Natalie hung up Cedric¡¯s call, her mother-inw, Reba, also called. Natalie nced at Bianca again, feeling a headacheing on. ¡°Bia, I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t be able to see you off. I need to leave first.¡± She didn¡¯t want her best friend to see her in such a wretched state. Bianca nodded and didn¡¯t stop her. Natalie only answered the call after she got into the car. Without waiting for her to speak, Reba¡¯s displeased voice came from the other end, ¡°Come to the mansion immediately.¡± ¡°No can do. I don¡¯t have the time,¡± Natalie replied instantly. She didn¡¯t give Reba a chance to speak further. She hung up the call decisively and put her phone on silent mode. No matter how many times it rang afterward, she didn¡¯t answer. ¨C Upon returning to the vi, Natalie called for the housekeeper, Zoe, who had always been kind to her. It so happened that today, they needed to rece the potted nts and arrange flowers in the vi. For the entire morning, Natalie and Zoe worked together to tidy up the ce. Thendline rang, and Natalie said, ¡°Zoe, please answer the call.¡± ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am.¡± Zoe walked over and picked up the phone. Natalie couldn¡¯t hear what was being said on the other end, but she noticed Zoe ncing at her. Then, she responded to the caller, ¡°Madam returned around nine.¡± Natalie was confused at the conversation she could hear. ¡°Yes. She has not left the vi since her return.¡± Snip! The sound of scissors cutting through rose stems echoed loudly suddenly. Natalie¡¯s gaze sharpened as she lowered her head. Isabe had been kidnapped. There was no doubt about it. Unperturbed, she continued arranging flowers. Zoe then hung up the phone and came over. Natalie casually asked, ¡°Who was calling?¡± Zoe replied, ¡°It was Mr. Johnson who called.¡± Natalie couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Hah. That was her husband, huh? The first thing that came to his mind when that woman was kidnapped was to suspect his own wife. It had been ten years, and what had she gained? Even though this was her second life, Natalie couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of destion in her heart. ¡°What did he want?¡± ¡°He asked when you returned and whether you went out after that.¡± Natalie nodded and hummed in response. She¡­ was about to face a major battle. Setting down the scissors in her hand, she said cheerfully, ¡°Please inform the kitchen that I¡¯d like to have beef wellington for lunch.¡± She wanted to celebrate! Even though she was about to face a flood of troubles, how could she face them without a hearty meal to strengthen herself? Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Interrogation In the afternoon, Cedric returned home. After making several phone calls in his study, he left the room. Natalie was dressed in casual attire, and she looked very demure. She held a cute piglet in her arms. It was dressed in a beautiful little dress, and it was even so well¨Cgroomed! Cedric approached her and snatched the piglet from her arms. He threw it onto the sofa without hesitation. Natalie red at him, unable to contain her anger. So, Isabe had been kidnapped, and he was here to take his anger out on her?! ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I have questions for you.¡± ¡°If you have questions, just ask. Why throw Ginger around?¡± Cedric¡¯s anger resurfaced again. He was worried, yet this woman was actually quarreling with him over a pig?! 1 She really could make his emotions spiral out of control at any moment! He sat down and threw the piglet further away. Natalie narrowed her beautiful eyes and silently picked up the piglet to soothe it in her arms. ¡°Shh, darling. Let¡¯s not argue with crazy people.¡± Her actions only made the already angry man even angrier. ¡°You saw Isabe today. What did you talk about?¡± He couldn¡¯t hide the anger in his tone. Natalie looked at him, a sharpness glinting in her eyes. That was the tone she was waiting for. In her previous life, he rushed back just as urgently when Isabe was kidnapped. Just like now, he used the same tone to interrogate her. At that time, she was heartbroken that he would question her for another woman. Now, her heart was as cold as ice. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should ask me what we talked about. Instead, you should ask your sister what she said to Isabe!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Natalie raised her voice, ¡°What do I mean? Cedric, what are we? Why are you here questioning mel because of another woman?¡± Her petite stature and the way she red up, made Cedric¡¯s heart tighten. It also cleared the haze of anger in his eyes for a moment. It had been ten years between them¡­ and now he was questioning his own wife for another woman? Taking a deep breath, he pushed away the anger and said in a softer tone, ¡°Nat, Isabe has been kidnapped.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°You met her today.¡± ¡°And?¡± Natalie was waiting for him to continue. Would he do the same as before? Would he use her of kidnapping Isabe? In her previous life, what had he said? When he questioned her, her first words were, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± To which Cedric had replied, ¡°I understand you¡¯re upset, but this is all a misunderstanding. Tell me where she is.¡± At that time, he had firmly believed that Natalie was responsible for isabe¡¯s kidnapping Even now, Natalie vividly remembered his resolute conviction back then, and the chill in her heart grew stronger. Indeed, being in control made a difference. The once furious man stood up and spoke urgently. I¡¯m leaving. You don¡¯t need to wait for me for dinner Natalie watched Cedric¡¯s unsteady figure as he left and closed her eyes. That was her husband, huh? And if she wasn¡¯t mistaken, he was losing control¡­ over Isabe¡¯s kidnapping. Once, she had been the only one in his eyes. Even if she identally cut her finger while peeling an apple, he would nervously observe her for two or three days to see if there were any aftereffects. But now, this devotion no longer belonged to her. Two hours after Cedric left, Reba called. The moment Natalie answered it, Reba started chiding her, ¡°Do you even have the dignity of being the Johnson family¡¯s young mistress? Do you realize that this could cause a drop in the stock prices? Do you know how much thepany will lose?¡± Natalie remained silent. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, it¡¯s normal for someone like Ced to have extramarital affairs.¡± Natalie didn¡¯t watch the news, but she knew the media frenzy outside was in full swing. Her enemy¡¯scalcted moves left her with no chance to react. In her previous life, she had been driven insane like this. At that time, she had been submerged in the grief of losing Cedric, without the experience of dealing with the overwhelming public opinion. Now, everything was repeating itself, but she¡­ she no longer felt the panic and fear she once did!C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Throwing Mud Back ¡°I told Cedric I wanted a divorce yesterday! So, from now on, I have no connection to the Johnson family¡¯spany, even if it goes bankrupt,¡± Natalie responded as she stroked the piglet, calmly facing the scolding on the other end of the phone. Reba, who had been berating her on the phone, was taken aback by Natalie¡¯s words. Then, the older woman screeched, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I want a divorce from him.¡± The air grew quiet. Reba had always asserted her dominance as Natalie¡¯s mother¨Cinw, and she couldn¡¯t grasp the sudden change in Natalie. Earlier, she had told Natalie to drop by the Johnson Manor, but the younger woman had brushed her off! And now, she dared to speak this way?! Natalie hadpletely dropped all pretenses with the Johnson family now. In the morning, it was Christina, and now it was Reba. She felt extremely satisfied inside. For three years, she had been nothing in this family. Even when she was pregnant, they had manipted her without mercy. There was a saying that the mother was just as precious as the child in her womb. That concept didn¡¯t exist in the Johnson family. They were so cold that it was repulsive. ¡°What gives you the right to ask for a divorce? Natalie, don¡¯t you see¡­¡± Rebapletely lost herposure and started to curse, but Natalie had lost interest and simply hung up the call. Compared to her previous meekness, this change was like night and day. She used to be polite to the people of the Johnson family, But now, she was anything but polite. As expected, the public opinion was stirred up. The police also came knocking, and with them was Cedric. Seeing Cedric, Natalie¡¯s heart turned cold. He spoke to the police about something, and the police nodded before approaching her. ¡°We need your assistance in investigating Ms. Morgan¡¯s kidnapping,¡± the man spoke calmly. Natalie looked at Cedric. Her eyes were calm, yet more piercing than any sharp questioning. The man turned his head slightly, his profile tense. He said, ¡°Nat, I hope this has nothing to do with you.¡± Natalie sneered. He hoped she had nothing to do with it, but he didn¡¯t believe it had nothing to do with her. ¡°Ten years.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Cedric, in our ten years together, we don¡¯t even have basic trust.¡± What kind of existence had they had in those ten years? They both knew each other inside out, but now Natalie couldn¡¯t see through Cedric, and Cedric no longer trusted her. Without looking at the man, she walked directly toward the police car. ¡°Nat,¡± came the man¡¯s somewhat unsteady voice from behind. Natalie paused, not turning around. The man approached with heavy steps. Her back pressed up against his chest as he leaned down, his warm breath by her ear. Perhaps he was worried that this incident had nothing to do with her and might hurt her feelings, so he tried to console her in advance. ¡°It¡¯s just a routine questioning; just tell them the truth.¡± Natalie pushed his hand away and got into the police car without looking back. Routine questioning? That was an understatement! If they hadn¡¯t suspected her of something, why would the policee to her door just because she had seen Isabe today? At the police station, the records piled up. They called it routine questioning, but it felt like a relentless interrogation to Natalie. Questions were repeated over and over as if they were trying to find a loophole. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°For the past six months, there have been constant rumors about Mr. Johnson and his assistant, Ms. Morgan. What¡¯s your opinion on this matter?¡± 1 Natalie replied, ¡°Yesterday, I filed for divorce from Mr. Johnson. We¡¯re parting ways amicably.¡± She didn¡¯t care much, and they were going their separate ways without conflict. She was very clever. No matter how often they asked or what approach they used, her responses were logical and consistent. The police continued, ¡°Has Ms. Morgan shown any disrespect towards you? For example, maybe in private?¡± Natalie replied, ¡°The only time I met her was this morning. But we didn¡¯t converse at all the entire time.¡± Just as they were about to ask the next question, Natalie pondered for a moment and said, ¡°But there¡¯s something I find strange.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°My husband¡¯s sister, Christina Johnson. She¡¯s the adopted daughter of the Johnson family. She used to obstruct us in every way before I married my husband. At first, I didn¡¯t know what was going on, but later, I discovered she had been secretly in love with my husband.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with this?¡± the female officer asked while recording. Natalie paused for a moment and then said, ¡°When I saw Ms. Morgan this morning, she was with Christina!¡± The police officer taking notes couldn¡¯t believe her ears. She looked up abruptly at Natalie after the latter¡¯s statement. Natalie met her gaze calmly and didn¡¯t flinch from the sharp look in the police officer¡¯s eyes. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Property Dispute When Natalie came out, she saw Cedric and Bianca¡¯s cars parked side¨Cby¨Cside. Both of them stood outside with cold expressions. Cedric saw Natalie and took a step forward, with a hint of guilt in his eyes. Natalie didn¡¯t look at him. She walked past him and headed toward Bianca¡¯s car. However, she felt someone grab her wrist tightly. She looked up to see Cedric. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home,¡± he said. ¡°Home?¡± Natalieughed bitterly. ¡°That ce hasn¡¯t been my home for a long time.¡± She shook off his hand calmly. A heart would die after experiencing such a great cmity. It was impossible for the others with her right now to understand that statement. In her previous life, Natalie had panicked at this moment because Cedric had always been in control. She had been brought to the police station and had only been released after three days. And that was only because Bianca had bailed her out. ¡°Natalie!¡± The man¡¯s voice trembled. Natalie turned her head to look at him. She gazed into his alluring eyes, his sharp nose, and his perfectly chiseled features. Every aspect she could see was captivating. He was such a perfect man. It was no wonder that even after marriage, other women would disregard boundaries and still desire him. When they had started out, she had been unable to resist him too. Now, looking at him, she wished she could destroy that face. ¡°Let go,¡± Natalie said. Those two words were said in a tone that was icy and devoid of any warmth. Cedric thought she was angry. Seeing her like this, his heart skipped a beat. The next moment, Natalie forcefully pulled her hand away and walked straight toward Bianca¡¯s car without a moment¡¯s hesitation. She left Cedric with the view of her back. Natalie was petite and usually looked like a gentle soul who needed to be protected. But now, she looked towering, with the ability to push people thousands of miles away from her. In the car, Natalie had a gaunt look on her face. In just one night, she appeared to have lost weight. Already petite, her chin seemed even more pointed than ever. A bottle of mineral water, held out by a fair hand adorned with a red Cartier bracelet, was passed to her. Bianca said, ¡°Have some water.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Natalie replied and epted the bottle. Struggling to twist open the bottle cap, Bianca saw Natalie¡¯s predicament and reached out her hand. ¡± Give it to me.¡± Natalie was stunned. ¡°I can do it!¡± Couldn¡¯t she even open a bottle cap? Did she give off such an impression? Her hands were very small, and the fingers trying to unscrew the cap seemed fragile. It was as if a little more force would break her fingers. She probably gave Cedric that impression in the past, which was why he had been helping her with everything since they met. She had been nurtured into bing a helpless person. Seeing Natalie¡¯s stubbornness, Bianca decided to let her be. Finally, Natalie managed to open the bottle and took a few gulps. After drinking half the bottle, her inner turmoil still hadn¡¯t settled. ¡°Bia.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°How could he treat me like this?¡± Her tone was calm and seemed cultivated over the years in the Johnson family. Bianca took a deep breath and replied, ¡°If you want to break down, you can scream or cry all you want. No one will think less of you for it.¡± Her husband had cheated! What else would a woman do, if not make a scene at a time like this?! Natalie looked out the window. She didn¡¯t want to show her despair to her best friend. ¡°Bia, please take me home.¡± ¡°You still want to go back?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Bianca was shocked. She had assumed that when Natalie got in her car, she intended to stay with her for a while. However, Natalie knew better. She knew what awaited her next. It wasn¡¯t like she was happy to stay in the same ce as Cedric, but she couldn¡¯t go anywhere else at this moment. The online harassment against her was extremely intense. Inside Cedric¡¯s vi, no one dared to approach her aggressively. However, the situation would be unpredictable if she stayed outside. Besides, she didn¡¯t want to drag Bianca into this mess. ¡°Why not? The house is also half mine,¡± Natalie said. Bianca was taken aback. Natalie didn¡¯t seem like someone who cared about such things. The old Natalie, though an orphan, was seen as a veryid¨Cback person. When she married Cedric, people who didn¡¯t know her thought she was after his money. However, those If she didn¡¯t love Cedric, he couldn¡¯t possess her even if he gave her everything in the world. Yet now, Natalie said, ¡°You¡¯ll handle my divorce case, right? I won¡¯t settle for anything less than my fairshare, okay?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Bianca nodded earnestly. At least the girl wasn¡¯t entirely foolish. She knew when to assert herself. Before this, Bianca had been worried that she might give up the rights that belonged to her in the divorceagreement. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Confrontation As soon as Natalie returned to Scarlet Vi, she sensed that something was amiss when she walked through the door. Zoe greeted her at the entrance. Her expression seemed somewhat uneasy as she said, ¡°Madam Johnson is here.¡± Natalie raised an eyebrow. Thinking about her attitude towards Reba yesterday morning, she feared that the older woman would She ran her hand through her disheveled hair and walked inside, where she saw Reba sitting on the grand sofa with an air of superiority, much like a queen dowager. In her previous life, every time Natalie saw Reba like this, she would quickly serve tea and water like a maid. Back then, she was eager to please Cedric¡¯s family. She didn¡¯t realize that the more humble she appeared, the more they looked down on her. She kicked off her shoes and casually threw her bag onto the sofa. ¡°Zoe.¡± ¡°Yes, Madam,¡± Zoe hurriedly entered and respectfully stood by Reba¡¯s side. At this moment, Natalie could see the disdain in her mother¨Cinw¡¯s eyes. The contempt was impossible to hide. Reba said, ¡°Disinfect the ce immediately. Coming out of a ce like that brings bad luck. I wonder what kind of curse the Johnson family is under to have someone enter such a ce for the first time in our long history!¡± Natalie listened to these words and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, her gaze was sharp. Zoe looked at Natalie with a troubled expression. Natalie then removed her coat and threw it on the ground harshly. Her actions made the woman sitting on the sofa narrow her eyes. When she heard Natalie¡¯s attitude over the phone, she couldn¡¯t believe it. But now, she felt that this woman was truly insane. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Some people are truly bad luck,¡± Natalie replied in a tone that imitated Reba¡¯s, her words dripping with sarcasm. Reba had said Natalie brought bad luck. And here she was, with no other family by her side, referred to as the source of the Johnson family¡¯s bad luck as though it was the most natural thing on earth. Natalie wouldn¡¯t have spoken like this before. She had always followed her mother¨Cinw¡¯s teachings. But now, Natalie was rebellious and repulsive. Reba was infuriated, and her face turned red with anger. ¡°You¡¯ve really grown a backbone, haven¡¯t you? ¦§ Natalie remained silent. ¡°Let me tell you, being a daughter¨Cinw of the Johnson family is not as easy as you think. Do you think I can¡¯t make Ced divorce you?¡± When Cedric entered, he heard Reba¡¯s cutting remarks. His eyes grew cold, and the air around him turned heavy. Upon seeing him, Zoe quickly spoke up, ¡°Sir, wee back.¡± It was also so the two women in the room would realize Cedric had arrived! Reba¡¯s expression changed slightly upon seeing her son return. Her previous harshness softened a bit, but the underlying disdain for Natalie remained evident. After Cedric and Natalie got married, they originally lived in the Johnson Manor. It was because Reba couldn¡¯t ept Natalie, and Cedric, feeling sorry for his wife, chose to live separately with her in Scarlet Vi. For a long time, Reba made a fuss about this. However, Cedric remained resolute. Not wanting to strain her rtionship with her son, Reba had topromise in the end. However, every time they returned for holidays or special asions, it was inevitable that Natalie would face some difficulties. Fortunately, these visits were short, and Natalie could endure them. But now, Natalie lookedpletely unwilling to endure any such treatment. She said, ¡°Madam Johnson, I think you¡¯re mistaken. Soon, I¡¯ll no longer be your daughter¨Cinw¡± ¡°Natalie,¡± Cedric spoke up, his gaze coldly fixed on her. Again, Natalie was implying that they were going to divorce soon. Why did she keep doing that? Was that all she cared about now? Reba couldn¡¯t believe it. Yesterday on the phone, she thought she had misheard. And now¡­ ¡°You¡­ suggested a divorce?¡± What right did she have to bring up a divorce?! Reba had been on the verge of scolding Natalie on the phone yesterday, but the younger woman had dared to hang up. Now, Natalie was saying it to her face. Reba trembled in anger. She wished she could tear Natalie apart! Before she could erupt, Cedric stepped forward and grabbed Natalie¡¯s wrist. ¡°Come upstairs with me.¡± ¡°Are you still protecting her?!¡± Reba shouted. In her eyes, Cedric¡¯s actions now were just like every other time, deliberately protecting Natalie. But what had this woman be? Did she deserve his protection? N?velDrama.Org content rights. ¡°Zoe, arrange for the driver to take Madam home,¡± Cedric told Zoe as he led Natalie up the stairs. Reba, already furious, was now even angrier. ¡°Stop right there!¡± However, Cedric didn¡¯t respond and disappeared around the corner of the staircase with Natalie, leaving a fuming Reba stamping her feet. ¡°What on earth has possessed you to be enchanted by such an insignificant woman who can¡¯t even give you children?!¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Ashes On the second floor, Natalie instantly stopped in her tracks upon hearing those words! She couldn¡¯t stop the tremble that wrecked through her, and her eyes turned exceedingly cold. This was the first time she had ever been like this. It was hard to imagine that such a small person could exude such a menacing presence. ¡°We¡­¡± Bang! Cedric¡¯s words were cut off abruptly as Natalie suddenly moved. She forcefully freed herself from his grip and mmed him against the wall. The sound of the impact demonstrated the swiftness of her action. N?velDrama.Org content rights. Before Cedric could react, Natalie turned around, her eyes shing with coldness. ¡°Natalie!¡± It was as if she hadn¡¯t heard the man¡¯s voice at all. She quickly walked back the way she came from, her small frame descending the stairs with determination. Natalie had always felt a sense of oppression when they stood together, as Reba was taller than her. But now, despite her small face and petite b*dy, her eyes emanated an intimidating glint. The hatred in her eyes burned like a raging fire, as if it could incinerate anyone. Reba, who had been initially aggressive, was so startled by Natalie¡¯s sudden disy of dominance that she stammered, ¡°Wh¨Cwhat are you doing?¡± Was Natalie going to physically confront her? How dare she?! Reba was about to erupt again when Natalie yanked the pendant from her neck and forcefully mmed it into Reba¡¯s b*dy. ¡°You¡­!¡± Reba was so angered that she could hardly speak coherently. Cedric was about to step forward to restrain Natalie, but he heard her icy tone, ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± ¡°What¡­ what is it?¡± For the past two years, Natalie had always worn this pendant around her neck. It looked very ordinary, and Reba had scolded her several times for wearing such amonce item outside, thinking it didn¡¯t befit the status of a Johnson family¡¯s young mistress. But now¡­ Natalie spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Inside this pendant are the ashes of your grandson.¡± Reba was silent. Even Cedric had nothing to say. Everyone present was left breathless! ¡°I can¡¯t give him children? When you added those things to my food, wanting to cause me to miscarry, did you ever think that you were the ones cutting off your own descendants?¡± Cedric felt like thunder had struck him. Natalie¡¯s words echoed loudly in his ears, and he turned his gaze abruptly at his mother. Reba¡¯s eyes briefly shed with guilt as she stammered, ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know? Let me refresh your memory, hmm? Do you remember Dr. Charles Robinson from Newfield Hospital? Should I call up his wife and have her tell everyone when you went to the hospital and got that medication from Dr. Robinson?¡± ¡°Y¨Cyou¡­¡± Reba stared at Natalie in astonishment. Her words were cutting and forceful, leaving no room for a response. Observing Reba¡¯s reaction, Natalie, felt her hatred intensify. Cedric also couldn¡¯t believe what he was witnessing from his own mother. The air was tense as all parties were trapped in an intense standoff. After what seemed like a long time, Cedric turned to Natalie and said, ¡°Nat.¡± His voice trembled slightly as he spoke. Over the years, he had weathered countless storms while managing the Johnson family! But at this moment, the once¨Cdependable figure that Natalie w However, Natalie ignored him. She turned and headed upstairs. When only Cedric and Reba remained in the hall, the atmosphere became even colder, making it hard to breathe. Reba looked at her son and finally came to her senses. ¡°Ced, I¡­ !¡­¡± ¡°Was what she said true?¡± Reba immediately denied it. ¡°Don¡¯t believe her, I didn¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°Do you want me to bring Dr. Robinson¡¯s wife and confront her about i?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Reba was left speechless. She had always believed her ns were wless. She never expected that Natalie, who seemed to be under her control, would know everything. She panicked. Cedric looked at his mother with disappointment and heartache in his eyes. After he and Natalie got married, they had always hoped for their child. When Natalie became pregnant that one time, he had been overjoyed. After all those years of love, they would finally have a child together. No one expected that the child wouldn¡¯t survive, and that Natalie would be diagnosed with difficulty conceiving again. From that day on, Natalie had taken traditional medicine daily. He had witnessed her furrow her brows in response to those dark, mysterious herbs each time and could only imagine how unpleasant they tasted. And what had the Johnson family been doing during that time? They had used it as an excuse to push him and Natalie toward divorce! ¡°You may choose not to ept her, but how could you have done that to her?!¡± Cedric yelled, and Reba sobbed uncontrobly. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Online Harassment and Threats Upstairs, Natalie listened to Cedric¡¯s yelling at Reba. She couldn¡¯t help but feel sad about how ironic the situation was! When they had looked down on her, even refusing to allow her to have Cedric¡¯s child, she hadn¡¯t uttered a word ofint in Cedric¡¯s presence. Looking back now, she realized how foolishly she had thought that she simply needed to do better, and eventually, the Johnson family would ept her. Since the deaths of her parents and grandmother, she had never experienced the warmth of a family. That¡¯s why she had been single¨Cmindedly working to maintain Cedric¡¯s family. Her entire focus had been on gaining their eptance. But in the end, she had been wrong. She closed her eyes, but the sorrow on her face was impossible to conceal. When Cedric came upstairs, he saw Natalie lying on the chaise longue in the room. He approached her and crouched down in front of her, taking her hand. ¡°Nat.¡± Natalie subconsciously tried to withdraw her hand. But the man tightened his grip. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Natalie let out a bitterugh. What was the point of telling him? This was the man who had called her to question her just because she had said some things to his adopted sister! Was he going to sever ties with his family because they did that to her? No, Cedric wouldn¡¯t do that! Her life in the Johnson family would only get more difficult if she had done anything of the sort. Reba was a petty person. If this caused a rift between her and Cedric, she would only torment Natalie in his absence. Just as Cedric was about to say something else, his phone suddenly rang. Holding Natalie¡¯s hand with. one hand, he retrieved his phone with the other. He checked the caller ID and answered. ¡°What is it?¡± As the person on the other end spoke, Natalie felt the warmth of Cedric¡¯s hand abruptly leave hers as he rose to his feet. His eyes, once gentle and expressive, were now devoid of any warmth as he nced at her. When their eyes met, Natalie felt nothing but a chilling emptiness. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Cedric said before ending the call. Natalie turned her head away. She knew that Isabe had been found. ¡°Isabe has been found. I¡¯m going to see her!¡± ¡°What is she to you?¡± Natalie turned to look at Cedric, her eyes filled with calm, but her words were piercing. It was as if she was subjecting Cedric to an interrogation that prated deep into his soul. Cedric bent down and caressed her face, then cupped her cheeks and k*ssed her on the forehead. The touch was gentle, soft, and meant tofort her. But to Natalie, thisfort felt insincere and constrained. ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild. It¡¯s not like what everyone is saying. I¡¯ll tell you everything when I return, alright?¡± Cedric spoke, trying to reassure her. Natalie remained silent at his response. ¡°Be good.¡± The man k*ssed her again before getting up and leaving without looking back. His steps were swift, as though he was in a hurry. Natalie closed her eyes, concealing the turmoil within her. Reba had left. Natalie had just thrown a bombshell into her and Cedric¡¯s rtionship. While their mother¨Cson rtionship might not bepletely destroyed, it would certainly be damaged. Previously, Natalie had been concerned about Cedric. She hadn¡¯t wanted him to be torn between her and his family, but now things were different. The entire Johnson family was in turmoil. Not only the Johnson family but the As Natalie had predicted, Cedric didn¡¯t return for several days, and both her and Isabe¡¯s names had N?velDrama.Org content rights. been on the headlines since the moment Isabe was found. Isabe, with both legs broken and her eyes blinded, appeared utterly battered and pitiful. Her fate was so heinous that it had not only caused a sensation in Verde City but had sparked discussions nationwide. Natalie, originally a victim of a broken marriage, was now being scolded and criticized due to Isabe¡¯s tragic condition. ¡°Ma¡¯am, here are your deliveries,¡± the butler said as he brought in several packages. He looked at Natalie somewhat curiously because she had never shopped online before, and there had rarely been any deliveries for her in the vi. But today, there were several packages. Combined with the news, everyone in the household was now looking at Natalie differently. Natalie was having breakfast, her eyes dimmed by the situation. ¡°Please help me open them.¡± She knew exactly what those packages contained. In her previous life, when she had seen them, she had been terrified and unable to sleep all night. The butler had a maid bring scissors. When they opened the first package, everyone in the room gasped in shock and fear. ¡°T¨Cthis¡­¡± Natalie just nced at it. .1 It was a dead mouse wrapped in a white sheet. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 No Safe Haven The butler looked nervously at Natalie. These past few days, the trending topics were all about criticizing Natalie, and the entire Johnson family was under intense scrutiny. Consequently, they were all being extremely cautious here. However, they hadn¡¯t expected these online trolls to be so audacious as to send something like this to their doorstep. Clearly, someone had leaked Natalie¡¯s private information online. ¡°Ma¡¯am, what should we do now?¡± Both the butler and the young maid were worried as Natalie remained silent. Natalie set down the small bowl she was holding and picked up a napkin, elegantly wiping away the stains at the corner of her mouth. Her movements were perfectly synchronized with her graceful figure, exuding an elegant, wless beauty. Unexpectedly, she could remain so calm even at a time like this. Her demeanor remained indifferent, but the air around her felt icy cold. ¡°Call the police.¡± ¡°The police?¡± ¡°What else?¡± Natalie¡¯s gaze was sharp, devoid of any warmth. ¡°But ma¡¯am, these are just people from the inte. Calling the police¡­¡± The butler didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but it was clear that he was implying that dealing with these online matters might not be straightforward. ¡°The inte is not awless ce,¡± Natalie said, her voice still t and indifferent. In fact, she knew that Isabe had bribed all these people. She was well aware of it. Isabe wasn¡¯t a public figure, and she didn¡¯t have a crazy fan following. A group ofplete strangers wouldn¡¯t go to such lengths for her without a motive. Cedric hadn¡¯te back in several days. Those people against her must have calcted the timing and thought that Natalie would be driven to the brink of insanity by now. However, they had underestimated this version of Natalie. Although she was currently a full¨Ctime wife dependent on her husband, she could also retaliate in her own way. ¡°Understood, ma¡¯am.¡± The butler didn¡¯t say anything more and proceeded to call the police. Throughout the day, Natalie received dozens of packages in quick session. The stench filled the entire vi as she looked at the animal carcasses, funeral sheets, and even desid out in the hall! When she saw these things in her previous life, she was terrified and couldn¡¯t sleep for days on end. Now, as she looked at them, she felt nothing. These people were clearly trying to drive her insane with these actions. The butler and Zoe stood together, gazing at Natalie sitting on the sofa, holding the piglet. Zoe asked in concern, ¡°Ma¡¯am, should we dispose of these things?¡± Why did Natalie want to disy all of this here? Natalie¡¯s fair face was breathtakingly beautiful, and her delicate hand caressed the piglet in her arms as she replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. There¡¯s no need to rush.¡± ¡°Maybe you should call the master.¡± N?velDrama.Org content rights. Cedric still hadn¡¯t returned. If he came back and saw this, he would surely be furious. Despite the rumors of him having an affair with his personal assistant circting for the past six months, the people here saw that Cedric was actually quite good to Natalie, his wife. Even if they were quarreling right now, they were still married. ording to Cedric¡¯s temperament, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to mistreat his woman like this. Natalie closed her eyes. Then, her phone rang. She checked and saw that it was Bianca. ¡°Hello, Bia.¡± ¡°Hey, Nat. I¡¯ve already filed thewsuit for you on my end. Do you want to review the uses rted to you in the agreement?¡± ¡°No need. You have my absolute trust,¡± Natalie replied easily. Bianca despised Cedric, so there was no way she would leave any loopholes that were against Natalie¡¯s interests. Bianca hesitated before finally asking, ¡°So, for the past few days, has Cedric¡­?¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯te back,¡± Natalie said, already knowing what her friend was about to ask. There was a pause on the other end, and then Bianca¡¯s voice turned emotional. ¡°With something this big happening, he hasn¡¯t returned even once?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± That was how Cedric was currently. In the past, no matter what happened, Cedric would always be there by her side, protecting her from everything. However, in these past few days, despite the public opinion turning against her and online harassment reaching their doorstep, he hadn¡¯t returned even once. 1 With every passing moment, Natalie had been waiting. She had hoped that this time, Cedric would be, different from her previous life. She was willing to give him another chance as long as he returned and stood by her side to face the online bullies together. If he had returned and defended her and retaliated strongly for her sake. But she had been disappointed in the end. He hadn¡¯te back! She was thrust into the eye of the public storm, surrounded by online abuse, and he hadn¡¯t returned to stand in front of her as he had done before. In this life, they couldn¡¯t escape the same fate as in the previous one, and their love was once again on the verge of shattering into pieces! Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 He Was No Longer Her Support Rain poured down steadily, causing the water level of the small creek next to the vi to rise. In the piano room, Natalie was ying the instrument, her music harmonizing with the creek¡¯s gentle flow. With her satin¨Clike long hair, the sight of her sitting behind the piano w with the creek¡¯s gentle Standing outside the door, Cedric couldn¡¯t help but exim at the sight. The piano abruptly fell silent. Natalie noticed him and gently asked, ¡°When did youe back?¡± ¡°Ten minutes ago,¡± the man replied as he stepped inside. captivating. He hadn¡¯t changed his shoes, and had been wearing the same clothes for a few days. It was evident that he had been with Isabe over the past few days. At this moment, his deep and piercing eyes appeared somewhat weary as he stood next to Natalie. ¡°Did you see what was sent to me in the lobby downstairs?¡± Natalie asked calmly, without a hint of emotion in her eyes. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let someone deal with it?¡± Cedric questioned. Natalie didn¡¯t directly answer Cedric¡¯s question but posed one of her own, ¡°Are you not curious about who sent it in the first ce?¡± absence, someone would A glint of coldness shed in the man¡¯s eyes. He had no idea that during his dare to do such a thing. Online threats were one thing, but sending such intimidating items directly to this ce was another. Natalie was a timid woman. When rumors began to spread online, Cedric had been waiting for her to call him, especially since she had been acting unusually during this period. He wanted her to know that, no matter what, he¡­ was her support. In times like this, she had no choice but to seek his help. However, he was disappointed, as Natalie¡¯s call never came. Looking at the petite woman before him, his gaze deepened. ¡°Do you know?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯ve already called the police.¡± Surprise flickered in his eyes. ¡°The police?¡± So, when something like this happened, her first reaction wasn¡¯t to seek his help, but to call the police? His heart constricted suddenly. A trace of panic shed across his brows. He grabbed Natalie¡¯s delicate arm tightly, causing her to wince in pain. Seeing her reaction, Cedric eased his grip slightly. ¡°What did the police say?¡± ¡°They haven¡¯t arrived yet!¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me?¡± In the past, no matter what happened, she would always call him first. Original from N?velDrama.Org. And at this moment¡­. Natalie raised her head to look at Cedric Her hand unconsciously traced the contours of the man¡¯s face, but it was no longer as smooth as before. His stubble felt like needles pricking at her fingertips. She smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy these days, haven¡¯t you? You didn¡¯t even have time to shave. What¡¯s been keeping you so upied she asked knowingly Cedric stiffened instantly. For the past few days, he had been busy with the medical team, attending to Isabe¡¯s damaged eyes and legs. Knowing that timing was crucial for a patient of her condition, they had been racing against time. The slightest dy could result in Isabe being blind for life or unable to walk. Natalie could practically see the wheels turning in Cedric¡¯s mind. protect now She withdrew her hand. ¡°See, you have more than just me to protec ¡°Nat.¡± Natalie sat down silently. Her entire demeanor seemed to push people away, causing Cedric to hold back the words he had on the tip of his tongue. Whenever they argued and Natalie disyed this attitude of hers, the only way to calm her down was to leave her alone for a while. This time was no different. ¡°It seems like you haven¡¯t calmed down over these few days,¡± he said in an even colder tone. Recent events had exhausted Cedric, leaving him with no spare energy to appease Natalie, who could sense his impatience. He was tired because of another woman, and so he had no patience when he returned home? ¡°nca has already filed for our divorce. It won¡¯t be long before the court hearing. You have some time to think about it,¡± she said. The man¡¯s emotions, already unstable, were further provoked by her words t ¡°Are you serious?¡± He had thought their initial quarrel was just a passing phase, but now, this woman seemed determined to get a divorce, 1 ¡°Yes,¡± Natalie replied firmly. The man red down angrily at her from his taller height, exuding an oppressing air around him. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Irreparable Rift Just as Cedric was about to explode, a knock at the door interrupted him. It was the butler, who announced, ¡°Sir, Mr. Lewis is here.¡± ¡°Have him wait in the study,¡± Cedric instructed. Natalie¡¯s face turned even colder upon hearing that Stefan had arrived. Stefan Lewis was Cedric¡¯s best friend. He owned a private detective agency, and there was nothing he couldn¡¯t uncover if one was willing to pay. Many wealthy women had sought him out to find evidence of their husbands¡® infidelity. And Natalie¡­ knew all too well what Stefan had brought for Cedric today. It was the evidence that would push her husband¡¯s feelings for her to the brink. ¡°If you ever dare to mention divorce again, I won¡¯t let you off,¡± said Cedric, each word dripping with venom, before he turned and left. Watching his retreating figure, Natalie eventually closed her eyes. But as Cedric was about to step out the door, she couldn¡¯t help but call out, ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°What else do you want to say?¡± ¡°How much trust do you have left in me?¡± To Natalie, this was a foolish question. But she couldn¡¯t help but ask anyway. Even though this was a different lifetime, she¡­ was still afraid! Even after enduring the painful ending of her past life¡­ In this moment, just like in her previous life, she was afraid and helpless. She feared that her rtionship with Cedric would be destroyed in an instant. Thinking about how his level of trust in her had dropped to almost zero, she felt helpless. Cedric turned to look at her. When their eyes met, Natalie observed him carefully, trying to etch thest traces of his determination into her memory. Cedric simply said, ¡°I have always believed in you.¡± With those words, he walked away, heading to his study to meet Stefan. And Natalie stood in the same spot for a long, long time, not moving a step. She wished that time could But s, what is meant to happen would always happen. The story took a turn. In the VIP ward of a hospital, Isabe was wrapped up like a mummy. With her eyes covered by white bandages, she looked incredibly pitiful. There was another person in the room ¨C Christina, whose eyes were currently filled with malevolence. ¡°I underestimated her. I never thought that she would drag me down even in death.¡± She had originally believed that she could have Natalie thrown in jail. Who could have known that Natalie¡¯s friend had such powerful connections? Natalie had been released the next day, while Christina had spent several days in prison. Even her mother, who had always doted on her, had been too caught up in the Johnson family¡¯s public image to pay her any attention. Meanwhile, Cedric¡¯s every thought was focused on Isabe¡¯s legs and eyes. Christina had gone to great lengths to exonerate herself, nearly dying the whole n. Laying on the hospital bed, Isabe¡¯s demeanor was no longer as dignified as it used to be. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°Have all the necessary arrangements been made?¡± asked Isabe in a somber tone. ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry. Everything has been taken care of, and my brother has probably seen what he needs to see, Christina assured her confidently. Isabe breathed a sigh of relief. Even while under investigation all these days, Christina still had to constantly pester Cedric to ensure he wouldn¡¯t discover anything he shouldn¡¯t. That man was too intelligent, and even a minor sl*p could arouse his suspicion. Fortunately, everything had gone smoothly so far. Christina nced at the woman in the hospital bed. ¡°You haven¡¯t revealed anything on your end, have you? ¡°No, I¡¯ve taken care of everything on the hospital¡¯s side.¡± Good. When my brother and that woman get divorced, your job will be done. When the timees, leave the country and nevere back.¡± A trace of triumph flickered in Christina¡¯s eyes, mixed with determination *Rest assured, I¡¯ll keep my promise. Even if you go abroad, you¡¯ll be taken care of for the rest of your life,¡± Christina continued. When Cedric returned to Scarlet Vi¡¯s piano room, Natalie was still standing in the same spot. Her hair was tousled by the wind, making her appear somewhat fragile. As he looked at her, his eyes were cold and hateful, devoid of any warmth. ¡°Natalie,¡± he said in an icy tone. Natalie turned to look at him. Just like him, her eyes showed no warmth. Seeing her still calm andposed, he took a step forward, grabbed a thick stack of A4 hurled them at her. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Call the Police The edge of the papers brushed against Natalie¡¯s cheek, cutting her skin and leaving a fine scratch on her fair face. She closed her eyes, enduring the pain. Seeing that, Cedric tensed up and instinctively moved forward. But in the next moment, his gaze turned icy. He stopped in his tracks, staring at her with a look of disappointment. ¡°You¡¯ve truly disappointed me,¡± he said. Opening her eyes and studying the disappointment in her husband¡¯s eyes, Natalie¡¯s l*ps curled into a smile. Her silent smile pierced Cedric¡¯s heart. ¡°Why?¡± he asked. Little did he know that Natalie was equally disappointed in him when he asked this question. She turned and looked out the window, listening to the sound of the rain hitting the leaves, as well as the sound of the running creek. She used to love everything here, and had always thought this would be her home till the end of her days. But she had been wrong. Not too long ago, he had just professed his belief in her. But within half an hour, he was now questioning her like this. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± she asked. ¡°Natalie!¡± Cedric¡¯s voice trembled with anger. Looking at her back, she looked delicate and pure, as she always did. She always made him want to hold her in his arms. The veins on Cedric¡¯s forehead throbbed, and he felt a pounding headache. ¡°Why did you be like this? Do you realize that you¡¯ve ruined someone¡¯s entire life? Do you hate her that much?¡± Didn¡¯t Natalie know how important a person¡¯s eyes and legs were to a person? People who coborated with Verde City and the Johnson family all said that Cedric was unfeeling and cold¨Chearted. But now, he felt that these descriptions couldn¡¯t even begin to describe Natalie. She was ven more malicious than those words. As he looked at her petite figure, Cedric felt nothing but deep deappointment She wasn¡¯t like this; she shouldn¡¯t be like this. N?velDrama.Org content rights. She was so beautiful. How could she do something like this?! Without turning around, Natalie took a deep breath and said, ¡°Have you already decided that it was me?¡± ¡°What else do you have to say?¡± asked Cedric. The evidence was right in front of them. Did she really have the audacity to ask him if he believed her? At this point, did she really need to ask if he trusted her? These were irond pieces of evidence, so how could he possibly believe her?! ¡°There¡¯s nothing else to say. Just call the police.¡± Cedric hesitated, and his eyes grew even colder at her words. Call the police? Did she expect him not to do anything to her? ¡°You¡¯re really something else! Cedric spat out before he angrily stormed off, leaving Natalie alone. Natalie watched the rain outside. She watched as Cedric went downstairs. Without even bothering to put on his coat, he drove away immediately. As his car disappeared at the gate, thest trace of warmth in her eyes vanishedpletely. Cedric was gone, and chaos had erupted within the Johnson family. Natalie crouched down and picked up the scattered documents from the floor. Among them were records of transfers made to her bank ount from the bank card he had arranged for her. However, that card had long been inactive. The transfers were divided into dozens of small amounts, as Cedric, with his status, would not easily notice such sums. Natalie also had a shopping habit, frequently spending hundreds of thousands, so these transfers of tens or twenty thousands went unnoticed by him. Those people had meticulously nned, ounting for time and Cedric¡¯s state of mind. Natalie smiled a smile that carried a sinister edge. At the dinner table, only Natalie was present. Without a doubt, Cedric would not return for several days. ¡°Madam, there are still packagesing. Shall we continue to ignore them?¡± the butler asked politely. Dispose of them, Natalle replied without any emotion in her voice Mais point, there was no longer any significance in keeping them All she had wanted was for Cedric to Compared to Isabe¡¯s legs and eyes, the online harassment against Natalie was now nothing to Cedric. He simply didn¡¯t take this matter seriously, and perhaps had already forgotten about it. In her previous life, Natalie had quickly arranged for those things to be dealt with because she had been too afraid. But in this life, it seemed that these things were only minor issues in Cedric¡¯s mind, and were nothing harmful enough to be concerned about. Later, Reba and Christina came over. Smack! A sharp pnded forcefully on Natalie¡¯s face. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Going Abroad Natalie¡¯s head snapped to the side from the blow to her face! There were bloodstains at the corners of her mouth, and she looked disheveled. However, her gaze was sharp, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who looked at her. Those who did so wouldn¡¯t be able to help taking a step back. Although briefly stunned, Reba quickly regained herposure and yelled, ¡°How dare you look at me like that?! Look at yourself now! What have you turned the Johnson family into?¡± Natalie remained silent. ¡°You dare to mention divorce again? What qualifications do you have to ask for a divorce? Our family is the one that doesn¡¯t want you.¡± Seething with anger, Reba¡¯s words were harsh and her eyes were filled with disdain. Christina stepped forward tofort Reba. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t get too upset. Getting angry isn¡¯t good for your health.¡± The furious Reba didn¡¯t care about maintaining herposure. She red at Natalie intensely. ¡°How much?¡± Money? Things were at this point, and now Reba wanted to settle things with money. Natalie looked at Reba. ¡°How much money do you think is fairpensation for my share of three years¡® worth of joint assets?¡± ¡°What did you say? Joint assets? What right do you have? You married into our family and enjoyed a comfortable life! Did you ever go out and work a single day, huh?!¡± ¡°I am his legally recognized wife. I have every right. ¡°You¡­ Reba¡¯s face turned ashen, and she immediately screamed, ¡°I always said that you looked Innocent on the outside, but your heart is filled with malice! Ced didn¡¯t believe it back then, but now your true colors are finally showing!¡± Natalie paid no attention to what Reba was saying. She remained persistent and stubborn. There was one thing that was different nowpared to when she and Cedric were in love. She hadn¡¯t asked for anything back then, but the situation had changed. If she couldn¡¯t hold onto the man she loved, +15 BONUS ¡°You don¡¯t need to call me malicious. I gave him my love for ten years, and I¡¯ve lost out in that aspect.¡± ¡°What does your love amount to?¡± ¡°Everything your son willingly bought, obviously!¡± Reba and Christina exchanged a nce, clearly not expecting Natalie to have such a sharp wit. They had initially nned to use money to send Natalie away, thinking she would be sensible at this point and take it, but they hadn¡¯t anticipated her level¨Cheadedness. ¡°I really underestimated you,¡± Reba said, her eyes shing with hate as she looked at Natalie. ¡°I will divorce him. You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Of course¡­ as long as my interests are secured,¡± Natalie replied. In the end, she made it clear to everyone that she wasn¡¯t a pushover, and that the ways of the elite ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. wouldn¡¯t work with her. In the end, Reba left in a huff. In the vi, Natalie sat on the sofa, holding her pig in her arms as she reminisced about the years she had spent with Cedric. Bianca arrived and handed her the result of the divorce application. ¡®There¡¯s a six¨Cmonth waiting period for divorce cases. You know that, right?¡± Natalie nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware.¡± She wouldn¡¯t want to wait for six months if she had a choice, but Cedric¡¯s attitude had left her with no other option. ¡°Do you want to move in with me now?¡± Bianca asked. ¡°No need. As you can see, moving in with you won¡¯t bring me peace either.¡± Natalie was referring to the online harassment. Even after leaving Johnson Manor, she was still under the Johnson family¡¯s control. ¡°Your face¡­ Bianca looked heartbroken. Natalie turned her head slightly, feeling embarrassed, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ve gotten used to it.¡± When she lived at Johnson Manor, Reba used to p her when she was displeased. She acted like Even though so much had happened, Natalie had never thought that things between Cedric and her would end like this. ¡°So, what are your ns now?¡± Bianca asked. After all, Natalie had never worked during all these years with Cedric. Leaving him meant she would be left with nothing, and would have to rely on herself for everything from now on. ¡°I¡¯ve already bought a ne ticket for tomorrow afternoon,¡± Natalie replied. ¡°Where are you going? ¡°I¡¯m going abroad for a while. Things won¡¯t be peaceful here for some time. I need to get away to think. about how to deal with whates next.¡± ¡°Are you really okay with this?¡± Bianca asked. She had previously advised Natalie to leave Cedric. But now that it was actually happening, she was worried about Natalie¡¯s future. A bitter smile crossed Natalie¡¯s stunning face. ¡°I never thought we¡¯d end up arguing with each other until we were so hysterical. But when it happened, it wasn¡¯t as frightening as I thought.¡± Bianca nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll help you find a job. You have great specialization and excellent art skills, so finding work will be easy. Natalie nodded in gratitude. She hadn¡¯t refused nca¡¯s kindness because she had be disconnected from society during her ten years with Cedric. This was one of the reasons she had been afraid to leave him. But now, after having experienced death once, what did she have to fear? Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Wanting a Child Natalie assumed that Cedric wouldn¡¯t be back for a few days. To her surprise, he returned reeking of alcohol after ten at night. While drying her hair with a towel, she came out of the bathroom and spotted Cedric, who was still wearing the same clothes he had gone out in earlier. Dressed in a bathrobe, a hint of coldness flickered in her eyes, and even her legs were tense. She turned and walked away without sparing him a nce. Evidently, she was heading to another room because even sharing the same space with him right now felt suffocating. ¡°Stop!¡± She had only taken a couple of steps when she heard him call out in a chilling tone from behind her. That presence felt like it could tear her apart. In her previous life, she had been heartbroken when she heard him speak to her in such a tone. But now, Natalie was calm, even in regards to his affair with Isabe However, she had her pride, especially regarding the matter of divorce. In the past, whenever she caused a scene, she would back down immediately if Cedric got angry. But this time, she didn¡¯t. ¡°Did you need something?¡± she asked indifferently, without turning around She started to move more quickly, throwing her towel into theundry basket by the door. The man stared at her back with a gaze so intense it felt like it could pierce through her. His voice grew colder as he asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to exin to me?¡± Natalie snorted at his words. ¡°No!¡± Hearing hurried footsteps behind her, Natalie quickened her pace, but it was toote. She fell into the man¡¯s embrace. Familiar scents mixed with the smell of alcohol. ¡°Get away from me!¡± Natalie raised her hand and pped him across the face Smack! ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The air became still. The man straightened up, looking down at her from a higher vantage point. His eyes were hidden beneath. longshes, but they failed to conceal his anger and disappointment. Natalie tried to push him away, but his b*dy was like a solid mountain, immovable. In the moment their eyes met, a hint of disgust shed in her eyes. Every time she thought about how in her ps past life, Isabe had told her that she was pregnant with Cedric¡¯s child, Natalie couldn¡¯t help but feel nauseous. ¡°Do I treat you badly?¡± Cedric asked in a restrained voice, breaking the silence between them. ¡°In what way?¡± Natalie replied coldly. ¡°Why did you do something like this?!¡± he asked, raising his voice. He was clearly referring to Isabe! Natalie knew that Cedric had already convinced himself she was behind Isabe¡¯s kidnapping. He even believed that she had broken Isabe¡¯s legs and blinded her, which is why he hadbeled her a malicious woman. It was utterly ridiculous how the man who had imed to believe in her a moment ago was now looking. at her with such disdain. She scoffed and said in a frigid tone, ¡®Do you really think I¡¯d do something like that for you? You¡¯re not even worthy.¡± The man¡¯s handsome face was as cold as stone. His rough fingers grazed her chin, and his tone was unapologetically domineering, demanding, ¡°Then, tell me, what did you do with all that money?¡± He was referring to the money she had apparently received in her ount. Natalie closed her eyes briefly. She didn¡¯t even know where that card was right now, so there was no way to exin. Besides, she had no interest in exining! ¡°Natalie, you shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡± Shouldn¡¯t she? Couldn¡¯t she be different? Couldn¡¯t he loudly tell everyone that she, Natalie, wasn¡¯t that kind of person? Instead, he had to tell her that she shouldn¡¯t be that kind of person? Well, Isabe had it worse, huh? So, did that mean Natalie shouldn¡¯t defend herself? ¡°Yeah? Then, what kind of person do you think I should be? Should I graciously ept it when I hear that The two locked eyes. Neither wanted to back down. Due to Natalie¡¯s sharp words, the disappointment in Cedric¡¯s eyes grew heavier. It was clear that he believed she was showing no remorse despite having done something wrong. As for Natalie, she felt her heart grow colder as moments passed. In her past life, she had been filled with fear and trepidation when faced with Cedric at this moment. She had feared that he wouldn¡¯t believe or want her. But now, all of this seemed incredibly absurd to Natalie. His b*dy and heart had already gone astray; what right did he have to be disappointed in her? ¡°Could you let go of me?¡± Natalie¡¯s voice was icy when Cedric pressed closer to her. Cedric halted his movements in response. In the end, he got up. ¡°Get out,¡± he ordered in a sharp tone. Natalie got up briskly and turned to leave, without a hint of hesitation. He had never spoken to her like this before, and she had never been so persistent. Cedric was left alone in the bedroom. Bang! He kicked over Natalie¡¯s dressing table. He had personally chosen that dressing table for her¡­ and now it That night, neither of them slept a wink. They sat in the darkness until dawn, neither one finding calm in the quiet darkness. As Natalie descended the stairs the next morning, she saw Zoe respectfully ce a hangover remedy in front of Cedric, who appeared refreshed. ¡®Here, sir.¡± Natalie sat across from him. This was probably the first time Cedric had ever ou an upset stomach from alcohol. Every time he returned from social gatherings in the past, Natalie would have a hangover remedy ready in advance. She would also use a warm towel to apply heat to his chest, ensuring he woke up the next morning without any signs of a hangover This time, she hadn¡¯t tended to him. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 No Way Out At first, the spoon in Natalie¡¯s trembling hand shook at the man¡¯s words. But soon, she looked at Cedric, finding it somewhat amusing. Before she could speak, Cedric continued, ¡°Withdraw the divorcewsuit. Once we have a child, they will inherit everything.¡± So, he was in a bad mood this early in the morning because he had received news that she hadn¡¯t withdrawn the divorcewsuit?! And he was proposing such a tempting condition, assuring her that she ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. wouldn¡¯t need to worry about other women anymore? Once upon a time, Natalie had found it amusing how high¨Csociety marriages were only woven together by a tapestry of money. And now, that was exactly what her marriage was like. She took a sip from the ss of milk before her and looked at the man across from her. Hisplexion had turned somewhat ashen. No matter how stunning his looks were, they couldn¡¯t withstand the ravages of alcohol. ¡°Your concessions amuse me,¡± she said. The two locked eyes in a tense standoff. Cedric looked at the disdain in Natalie¡¯s eyes. Instead of responding to Natalie¡¯s words, he inquired about the information from Stefan¡¯s Investigation in a chilly tone. ¡°Have you seen all the evidence?¡® The air turned cold at his words. Natalie¡¯s beautiful face was filled with determination and dominance. When she looked at Cedric, there was a chilling gleam in her eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked. Was he threatening her? Was he going to use those things against her? Cedric met her gaze, finally acknowledging the reality that she wanted to leave him. From high school to college, and then marriage ¨C how many obstacles had they ovee together? How many storms had they weathered? How could he allow her to leave now? You¡¯re a clever woman, Nat. What do you think I mean?¡± Cedric said in a calmer tone than Natalle¡¯s. He had been shocked the moment he received her divorcewsuit He hadn¡¯t expected her determination thinner. It was also at this moment that he realized he hadn¡¯t really looked at her for a long time. The realization hit especially hard when he noticed the delicate, fine scar on her face that did nothing to diminish her beauty. ¡°If I insist on a divorce, will you send me to prison?¡± asked Natalie. Was that how it was going to be? She watched him closely, not wanting to miss any changes in his expression. However, she failed. From the moment this man took over the Johnson family business, she had been unable to understand or predict him. ¡°Don¡¯t force my hand,¡± the man sitting across from her said in response. Natalie closed her eyes briefly. He refused to get divorced, and really, where did that leave them?! Even though he had taken her sight in her past life, he had never considered divorcing her. What was it about her that made him so determined? This marriage now seemed like a transaction between them, one that was born out of Isabe¡¯s kidnapping. Those pieces of evidence felt like shackles binding Natalie. Having lost her appetite, Natalie stood up and headed upstairs, speaking as she walked. ¡°I won¡¯t withdraw the divorcewsuit, and as for that evidence¡­¡± She paused and turned slightly to look at her husband. The moment their eyes met, Natalie¡¯s l*ps curled up in a mischievous smile. ¡°Do as you please!¡± Cedric was rendered speechless. A chilling silence enveloped the ce! Not knowing that he wouldn¡¯t see Natalie for a long time after this, Cedric left after breakfast. He now wanted to minimize his Interactions with his wife as much as possible. Every time he heard her mention divorce, he felt like strangling her. Arthourter, Natalie received a call from Bianca just as she finished packing her things. ¡°Nat, I just went to the hospital to visit a friend. I saw Cedric there. He¡¯s been in Isabe¡¯s room the entire time and hasn¡¯t left.¡± Natalie said nothing ¡°He¡¯s really something, huh? On one hand, he won¡¯t divorce you; on the other hand, he¡¯s clearly involved with other women. What right does he have to not divorce you?¡± Bianca¡¯s tone was filled with indignation for Natalie. She had previously worried about her friend actually leaving Cedric, wondering what she would do after. But now, it seemed that every moment spent with this man was torture.. Natalie listened quietly to Bianca¡¯s words but felt nothing in particr. ¡°Nat, are you listening?¡± ¡°I am.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, my intuition tells me that as long as Cedric doesn¡¯t agree, it will be very difficult for us to win this battle.¡± Natalie stiffened. Difficult to win? Did that mean she would have a hard time divorcing Cedric? She couldn¡¯t have a peaceful divorce, and even taking it to court wouldn¡¯t work? Was she really unable to break free from this man?! As awyer, Bianca¡¯s intuition was often urate. After all, the impact of a divorce on men from prominent families like Cedric¡¯s would be significant. Otherwise, the Johnson family wouldn¡¯t have tried. so hard to pr Cedric from marrying Natalie in the first ce, because divorce wouldn¡¯t be that simple once they were married. Natalie took a deep breath. ¡°My flight is this afternoon. It¡¯s about to depart. Let¡¯s talk about the divorce