Chapter 175

Natalie watched Easton walk away, feeling a wave of despair crash over her. She sank into her office chair, burying her face in her hands as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Why do I always cry? I don’t want to," she complained inwardly.

Just as she was wallowing in her sadness, Luna walked in. "Ms. Shawn, Mr. James Shawn brought you a cake."

As soon as she said that, James strode in. The sunlight poured in, casting a warm glow around him. He stood tall, his jawline sharp and his demeanor cool yet charming. "Natalie, I’m here," he said, his voice filled with tenderness.

Natalie wiped her tears quickly, her face brightened. "James, you made it."

"Yep!" James noticed her red eyes, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "Did Easton upset you?"

"No, not anymore. I was crying because I’m finally free from him. I’m actually super happy," she answered with a cheerful grin, the tears in her eyes shimmering like scattered stars.

James looked at her deeply, sympathy etched across his face for all she had endured. "When you’re feeling down, a little sweetness can lift your spirits. I brought you chocolate cake–your favorite. The cream is the best here, fresh out of the oven. Sit down; I’ll feed you."

Excited, Natalie settled beside him, ready for a treat.

Luna poured two cups of coffee before stepping out with a smile.

Natalie couldn’t help but admire James’s elegant hands as he prepared the cake. It felt like watching an artist at work.

Sunlight streamed into the office, warming the atmosphere. James opened the cake box, picked up a spoon, and fed Natalie a bite.

"Delicious!" she exclaimed, her happiness shining through her smile.

"That’s good. By the way, Gordon mentioned that he’ll be back for your birthday," said James.

Natalie’s heart soared. Her birthday was on October 1st, the same day her grandfather found her, not the same day as Jennifer.

She had been discovered in the woods, abandoned by Nick. It was Nick who found her, and he had never wanted her from the beginning. Yet, she couldn’t understand why he eventually brought her back.

It was a mystery from her past life that still haunted her. Why was I unwanted, especially when I was his daughter? Is it really just because of a lack of love? she thought, a subtle ache formed in her heart.

"Natalie, what are you thinking about? Eat up." James’s voice was as gentle as ever.

"Nothing much, just feeling so lucky to have a big brother like you to spoil me," Natalie replied, opening her mouth for another piece.

Halfway through the cake, she realized she couldn’t eat anymore.

James carefully closed the cake box and placed it in the fridge. "Natalie, I’ll be away for two weeks on a business trip. While I’m gone, be good and call my assistant if you need anything. Don’t hold back."

With a tender gesture, he tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Okay! Safe travels, James, and don’t forget to eat well," Natalie smiled brightly.

James ruffled her hair affectionately. "Got it, you silly girl. Grandpa and Mr. Patrick Chambers are also going on a trip, so if you feel lonely at home, I’ll video call you every night."

"Wait. Grandpa is going too?" She was surprised they were that close.

"Yeah. He told me he wants to find you the perfect birthday gift," replied James.

Tears of gratitude welled up again, and she blinked them back.

James urged her not to cry before he left, and Natalie got back to her work.

Just as she sat down, a message from the servant she sent to the Simpson residence pinged her phone: [Ms. Shawn, last night Vance brought his girlfriend home, and Mrs. Simpson kicked them out. Mr. Simpson collapsed at home and was taken to the hospital.]

Natalie was taken aback. Isn’t Wendy supposed to have her health crisis right now? Why was Nick the one sent to the hospital? Did Wendy finally listen to my warnings? she wondered.

A sudden thought struck her. During Colin’s birthday party, Wendy had hit that woman, who turned out to be Jennifer’s biological mother.

A knowing smile spread across Natalie’s face. It seemed Wendy had finally found out. Feeling lighter, she messaged Luna and resumed her meeting.

Easton walked back into his office, his mind still swirling with emotions.

Natalie had been the one to save him from the fire, but he had always believed it was Jennifer. It was Jennifer who had been by his side when he woke up in the hospital. For so long, he thought she was his savior.

He summoned Xavier into the room.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Garcia?" Xavier asked with a friendly smile.

"Can you find out which hospital Natalie was treated at for her burns after the fire?" Easton requested.

"I know that one. It was a hospital under Lance Group," Xavier replied confidently.

"How do you know?" Easton raised an eyebrow.

Xavier explained, "Well, Ms. Shawn once had me pick up some medicine for her at that hospital for her scar tissue. I casually asked the doctor what it was for, and he mentioned that Ms. Shawn had been admitted a year ago with severe burns. She had itching and scarring, which is why she needed the meds. At that time, you were on crutches, so Ms. Shawn couldn’t get the prescription herself and asked me to help."

More than a year after the fire, Easton had been in a serious car accident. By then, Natalie had just been recognized by the Simpson family. After Jennifer left, she married Easton, but two years later they were forced to divorce. Life really has a strange way of twisting things.

Easton’s sharp features hardened as the pieces fell into place. He remembered the moment the fire wall collapsed, and he had felt someone throw themselves over him. After that, everything went dark, and the next thing he knew, it was Jennifer watching over him.

"Find out who Jennifer was with that day they went to the countryside. I need to know what they were doing there," Easton said, genuinely curious.

He also wondered, But if Natalie was nearby, why was she there at that time? She hadn’t even been back with the Simpson family then.

"Got it. I’ll head out to check the area," Xavier nodded.

It had been years since the fire, and it wouldn’t be easy to dig up details. They’d have to reach out to the cops who worked the case since the fire had never been officially solved.

Easton spent the rest of the day distracted, unable to focus on work. Lambert had dropped a bombshell and left him to deal with the aftermath.

Later that afternoon, Natalie had a meeting set up with Maurice, who had come to pick her up in person.

The partnership with Maurice kicked off once they signed the contract, and she still needed ten female models for her clothing line. They already had male models lined up, but the female ones were still a mystery.

As Natalie walked downstairs with Luna, she spotted Maurice standing at the entrance to the company. In the glow of the setting sun, he looked especially striking, his icy demeanor and tailored suit giving off a strong vibe that was hard to ignore. "Mr. Chambers, thank you for coming to pick me up," she said with a bright smile, clearly captivated by his presence. He smiled back, his eyes softening as he gazed at her breathtaking beauty, "Natalie, we’re on familiar terms now, no need to be so formal."