Chapter 191

Natalie’s eyes reddened slightly, and she softly said, “Thank you for your support, Anne. The past couldn’t be erased, but the future was a brand new beginning to her.”

Anne said seriously, her voice full of warmth. “Natalie, whether someone truly loves you isn’t demonstrated through what they say, but through what they do for you. If he’s willing to spend money, time, and energy on you, he loves you. Easton treats Jennifer like this, but he’s never given you that kind of love. You must find a man who loves you wholeheartedly in the future, Natalie.”

Anne had never made Natalie feel uncomfortable because she understood how difficult life could be for a woman. Women already carry so many burdens, and running a business was even more challenging. Every woman tended to grit her teeth and push through every tough situation. Monthly cycles, especially if accompanied by cramps, were hard to bear; daily chores, kids to take care of; and on top of that, managing a career. Life might seem chaotic, but it was all for the sake of a brighter future.

Natalie smiled and nodded. “Okay, I promise you I will find happiness!”

Although Anne felt reluctant, she still smiled. “Yeah, you must find happiness.”

Natalie smiled and nodded. Since Liam wasn’t there, she stayed and had dinner with Anne. The meal included her favorite bagels. Natalie ate happily, and Anne even had some packed up for her to take home, knowing how much Natalie loved them. She had the chef make many of them.

After Natalie left, Easton came downstairs. Anne saw him but didn’t say much.

“Are you leaving?” she asked lightly.

Easton was a bit surprised, smiling. “Grandma, every time I came here before, you always told me to treat Natalie better.”

Anne said, “Despite all my advice, you’ve never truly treated her well. I asked Natalie to come over to see how she was doing. Since she has let go and no longer has feelings for you, I’m relieved. Frankly, you don’t deserve her. Your father was wild and unruly when he was young, and we couldn’t restrain him. I couldn’t teach you properly either, and you never learned gratitude. Don’t worry, I’m getting old and won’t interfere with your matters much. You’re the master of your own life and have to make your own decisions. I’m not the kind of person who likes to meddle in other people’s lives.”

After Anne finished speaking, she went upstairs. Although she claimed not to be disappointed, deep down, she was. She truly disliked women like Jennifer, who were scheming and manipulative.

Easton stood there, his gaze cold and distant, filled with confusion.

Natalie’s words still rang in his ears. “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.”

For the first time, he knew that love could end at any time. He thought, ‘Is what I feel for Jennifer love? No!’ However, he didn’t know what it was.

Nick came back to the Simpson residence, only to find the house in chaos. As soon as Brenda arrived, she stirred up a storm. It was then that he fully realized how much trouble the company was in.

They had lost many projects and Wendy was exhausted from working tirelessly every day. Nick hadn’t expected the withdrawal of funding from Lance Group and the cancellation of several key partnerships to push the company into a crisis.

When Brenda saw that Wendy hadn’t returned home yet, she was furious. “How can you just sit there, Nick? Your wife hasn’t been home for days. I bet she’s cheating on you. I’ve been back for days and haven’t seen her once. Does she still see me as her mother–in–law? And what about the money you should give me this month? Where did it go? I have to go shopping with my friends, and without the money, what am I supposed to do?”

Nick sighed, feeling a headache coming on as he looked at Brenda. “Mom, the company is on the verge of bankruptcy. Wendy’s been working nonstop at the office, and she doesn’t have time to take care of you right now. Please stop making things worse.”

Brenda said, “I’m her mother–in–law! No matter how busy she is, she should still come home and take care of me. She’s a woman and should stay at home, supporting her husband and raising children, not out there going around. Managing the company is your job, and her helping you is just a gesture of goodwill. Look at the mess we’re in now.”

Nick knew that he wasn’t that capable. “Mom, how am I supposed to manage such a big company? It’s too complicated. Sure, I’m her husband, but no one’s going to give me any respect without real power. What can I do? Just stop making this harder for me. I’ll give you 15,000 dollars, and tomorrow, you and your friends can go shopping.”

Nick was feeling increasingly agitated. His sex drive was non–existent lately, and he hadn’t been having sex in quite some time. He was on the verge of losing his mind. Besides, his memory had been failing him too. Just a moment ago, he had wanted to grab something, but after Brenda spoke, he completely forgot what it was.

When Brenda heard that the company might go bankrupt, she was shocked. Over the years, it was because of Wendy that the Simpson family had been living so comfortably. Her success had even allowed her siblings to live prosperous lives. If the company went under, they all would be homeless. She and her husband received 30 thousand dollars a month from Wendy, something the people in the town envied. Every month, the money would arrive on the first. Over the years, she had kept 3,000 dollars for herself, sending the rest to her beloved grandson overseas to help with his startup. Now that the money was gone, she felt helpless.

The more Brenda thought about it, the more anxious she became. “The company can’t go under. If it does, what will happen to my grandson?”

Nick tried to calm her down. “Mom, Wendy has been managing the company for years. She has plenty of connections. Just give her some time to turn things around. Once she gets the company back on track, we won’t have to worry about money. She’s already exhausted from managing the company. And now you come here every day to nag her. How is she supposed to have the energy to deal with you? Just stay here quietly for a while, and we’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

Nick didn’t have time to deal with Brenda since his own company was a mess.

Suddenly, Brenda quieted down. She understood something important–if Wendy fell, they would be finished too. “Alright, I won’t cause trouble. But with such a big company, can’t you ever get 30 thousand dollars out?” The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became.

Nick lost his temper. “Mom, can you stop bothering me? My company is being suppressed, and it’s on the brink of collapse. Please, just stop nagging.”

Nick was overwhelmed and didn’t have time to deal with Brenda. He had always been obedient to her, never speaking to her like this before.

Brenda was startled by his words. She suddenly collapsed onto the floor, clutching her chest and crying. “Why did things end up like this? I can’t believe my son is yelling at me now!”