Chapter 190

Easton’s mind drifted back to the events of the past few years, guilt clouding his eyes. “If you ever need help in the future, you can come to me. No need to go to Maurice.”

Easton’s voice was cold, and the feeling was strange—like something he cherished had been taken away by someone else. His chest felt tight with discomfort.

Natalie shook her head. “No need. Aside from wanting a divorce from you, I don’t want anything else. Maurice is a great person to get along with.

“Now I understand that when someone truly cares for you, he fears you getting hurt even more than you do. He’s been so kind to me, never once letting me feel wronged.

“All you’ve done is make me feel wronged, Easton. You love Jennifer so much, so why did you suddenly change your mind about the divorce?” Natalie’s gaze was clear and direct.

Easton stared back at Natalie quietly. He had always known that she was more beautiful than Jennifer.

It turned out that Maurice was really that important to her. Thinking of this, Easton’s chest tightened with an ache. When Jennifer left years ago, he was angry, but this time, it hurt in a way he couldn’t explain.

“Easton, you failed me countless times and now I’m ready to walk away. You’ve always been the one pushing me away, so please, do it again. I’m not playing games, and I’m not trying to provoke you. I simply want a divorce,” she said.

She wasn’t causing a scene over Jennifer. It wasn’t the right time for that. If she made a fuss about having an affair with him, she would only hurt herself. And if she did that, she would become a person just like Jennifer.

She decided to handle things her way, and Jennifer would get what was coming to her.

Easton stared at her in stunned silence before changing the subject. “Grandma says she misses you and wants you to have dinner with her tonight.”

Natalie knew that Anne had always been kind to her. After she married Easton, both Anne and Liam had treated her well. Anne would often send her gifts and cook her delicious meals on weekends.

Natalie loved bagels, and the chef at the Garcia residence made the best ones. Every time she visited, she could always enjoy them.

She said, “I’ll go have dinner with Anne, but you’re not coming because I don't want to go with you. Our divorce is something Liam and Anne will eventually find out about.

“Besides, I’ve been gone for over six months now. She is a smart woman who has already figured out the issues between us. Tonight, I’ll go and clear everything up with her.”

“Natalie, do you really like Maurice that much? Are you going to divorce me for him?” Easton’s calm expression darkened.

Natalie shook her head, her face filled with disappointment. “You’re just like Jennifer, Easton. As long as you can control me and as long as I meekly accept your insults, you like me. However, every time I show any resistance, you think I’m wrong.

“I’m done with this relationship. You say I’m cheating on you. Don’t you find it hilarious? Easton, I deeply regret falling in love with you.”

Easton pursed his lips, saying nothing.

Natalie continued, “I don’t want you anymore. Why should I still stay? Easton, you’ve never shown me any gratitude or remorse. You’re just like the people in the Simpson family.

“Because I come from a small village and have nothing to offer, you think I should always be grateful and give everything to Jennifer.”

“But what you’ve offered me isn’t necessarily what I want. Why should I be thankful for your ‘kindness’? You’ve always looked down on me. I’ve never needed your pity, and I have no interest in competing with someone like Jennifer.”

Easton felt as though his heart was being sliced with a knife, the pain so intense it was almost killing him.

Easton left, and Natalie had Luna take her to the García residence. The house was located in the upscale area of Shagrity, and she used to visit on weekends to keep Anne company.

She brought some of Anne’s favorite food and entered alone. The mansion was peaceful, with fresh air and a luxurious, distinctive layered villa design that stood out.

“Hi, Natalie,” Anne greeted her, dressed in a white dress, exuding elegance. Despite being seventy, she still carried herself with grace, a true testament to her noble upbringing.

Natalie walked over, placed the stuff down, and embraced Anne. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Anne chuckled, gently petting her on the back. “If you missed me so much, why didn’t you come to see me sooner?” Natalie looked at Anne’s kind face. She had been beautiful in her youth, and even as she aged, she still possessed a unique aura that most people lacked.

“You know what’s going on between Easton and me,” Natalie said with a bittersweet smile.

Anne took her hand and gently patted it as they sat together. “Easton doesn’t know how to love, and I know you’ve suffered.

Give him some time and he’ll learn to see things for what they really are. That hypocritical girl, Jennifer, won’t stand a chance. He’ll realize it soon.”

Natalie shook her head. “You’ve been there too. When you love someone, you don’t really care about those things because once you’re in love, it’s like you’re wearing rose-colored glasses, and you overlook their flaws.

“Easton and Jennifer have been together since they were kids. They share too many beautiful memories, and I understand that. I know you care about me, Anne, and I know you won’t force me into anything.”

She knew Anne’s temperament well and understood her deeply, so she could speak her heart freely in front of her. Anne patted her on the hand again, looking sorry. “I shouldn’t force you, but that Easton… He just doesn’t deserve you.” Natalie smiled bitterly and said, “Meeting Easton was the most beautiful thing that could happen to me. He brought color to my dull life and I feel grateful to him.” She was serious. She was very grateful that he gave her a push.

Anne understood her pain. “The Simpson family, full of ambition and deceit, don’t know who the bad person is.

“You’ve been through a lot these years, my dear. I know you’ve made up your mind, and I called you here just to thank you for saving Easton back then. If it weren’t for you, he would have died.”

Natalie smiled and said, “Everyone has their own fate. I just did the right thing.”

Anne said, “But I’m still so grateful to you because you were there for him through his hardest times. Now that he’s an adult who can take care of himself.

“He is an ungrateful person and I can’t control him. I only hope your future life will be peaceful and full of happiness.”

Anne knew how easy it was to fall and how difficult it was to stay disciplined. Back then, Easton had started to give up on himself. Once one started thinking that way, he would be going down.

Just a month can change someone completely or push them into a downward spiral.

Natalie nodded with a soft smile. “I loved Easton for four years, and he never loved me back. There’s no future for us. Loving someone once made me so humble, but now, I want to be better. I don’t want to waste any time.

“In the future, I will be happy even without Easton in my life.”

Anne smiled, looking genuinely happy. “You’re no ordinary person, Natalie. No matter how much you love someone, never lower yourself to the point of being crushed. I’ve told you this before, and now, you finally understand it.”