Chapter 194

Natalie stood still, deep in thought. "When did that boy appear?"

After work, Natalie went downstairs and ran into Vance, who was waiting at the door. As they got closer, Natalie gave him a glance, and at that moment, all the hatred and disgust she felt for him exploded.

Vance saw the look of disgust in her eyes, and his heart sank. "Natalie, I…"

"Go away!" Natalie said impatiently.

Vance frowned. "You’re so rude, Natalie. No wonder you can’t keep Easton."

"He’s just a shameless person. Why would I want to keep him? I’m not crazy." Right now, all she wanted was to stay far away from Easton. She didn’t want to see him anymore.

Vance was momentarily taken aback. It was only then that he realized that Natalie had truly changed. She was no longer the docile person she used to be.

As Natalie turned to leave, Vance quickly blocked her path. "Natalie, I’ll give you some money and you leave this city, okay? Everyone says that you’re just a bumpkin and that you know nothing about design. I don’t want you to embarrass the Simpson family."

Natalie frowned and looked at him angrily. "What did you just say? What have I done? How is it that I’m the one embarrassing the Simpson family? Isn’t that you, Vance? You’re the one who’s vicious and selfish!"

Vance choked on her words, his face darkening. He pulled out his phone and opened up a news article. "Take a look. Everyone’s saying that you don’t deserve to be the design director."

"They say you slept your way into that position. You dropped out of high school, didn’t you?"

Natalie froze for a moment, staring at him. She hadn’t expected much from him, but hearing these words from him still made her heart ache.

Natalie looked at the article, seeing the online hate directed at her. She couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. "Are you out of your mind, Vance? Who gave you the right to come here and comment on my life?"

"And don’t look at me like you’re the boss here. I’m someone you’ll never reach."

It seemed that he didn’t take Carl’s words seriously at all.

"And after you smear me like this, do you think your life will be any better? Vance, your time is running out, and I won’t waste my energy on you," Natalie said, turning and walking away.

Vance was fuming. He thought, 'Why did she always say things like that? It haunted me with nightmares every night.’ He said, "Why are you cursing me, Natalie?"

Natalie looked at him coldly. "You won’t die, but you’ll be paralyzed. What’s the difference between that and death?"

He had fallen into the water before. Everyone thought he was dead, but they found him later and realized that he was paralyzed from the waist down.

It didn’t stop him from going his own way, though–he was just born a bad person. Back then, she even wanted to help him recover, but he didn’t trust her.

The things she said earlier were meant to make him scared. However, Vance had always been too arrogant to believe anything she said.

"Natalie, you just can’t stand to see me do well, right?" Vance glared at her.

Natalie sneered and said, "Haven’t you already hit rock bottom? Congratulations, though. The woman you love, Jennifer, set you up, and your father stole the project from you. Doesn’t that feel terrible?"

Vance blinked, but he remained silent.

Natalie continued, "You should feel grateful that it wasn’t you who was taken away, it was me. Is it an unforgivable thing that I have brought shame upon the Simpson family?"

"You only dare bully me. Have you ever noticed how you grovel before others? I won’t let you abuse me anymore, Vance. You think I’m not worthy, huh? Then what about you? What can you do?"

"If I’m not good enough, then why did Maurice agree to sign with our company? Why did my design get taken by Jason and given to Easton, and eventually, he ended up working with me? Do you still think I’m not good enough?"

Vance’s smirk deepened as he scrutinized her. "You probably just copied someone else’s work, Natalie. You had been a housewife for two years and never even went to college. I know exactly what you’re capable of."

Before Natalie could respond, Maurice’s icy voice cut through the tension. "What’s wrong with being a housewife, Mr. Simpson? Are you saying her contribution is worth less than yours? Without her sacrifices, you wouldn’t have gotten where you are."

Vance had been back for days and he had heard a lot about Maurice, the rising star, in Shagrity. Seeing Maurice, he panicked. "I’m just telling the truth, Mr. Chambers. Natalie can’t do anything well."

Vance froze for a moment as he took in Maurice’s commanding presence. His refined, elite aura made Vance feel small in comparison.

Maurice knew just how exceptional Natalie was. The problem was that the Simpson family didn’t see it.

Natalie turned to Maurice with a bright smile. "What brings you here?"

Maurice moved closer, his presence enveloping her. "Didn’t we agree that I would pick you up for work? Let’s go. We’ll have dinner at my family’s restaurant tonight. The chefs cooked the seafood you sent last time for us."

Natalie smiled. "Sounds perfect! Grandpa is not home, so I’ll be eating alone. You just came in time."

Maurice gave a soft chuckle. Claude had called earlier, asking him to take her out for dinner. Actually, even if he hadn’t, Maurice would have suggested it anyway.

He led Natalie to his luxury car without a second thought. Natalie didn’t glance back at Vance, which only added to his growing frustration. He watched as she walked away, his irritation mounting.

He thought, ‘She hasn’t even gotten divorced yet, and she is already getting this close to Maurice. Sure enough, a pretty woman like her tends to flirt with different men.’

Vance stormed off angrily.

Maurice’s restaurant was just a short drive from the office, nestled in a back alley. It was quite popular, and business was thriving. The second–floor tables there were usually for special guests.

Maurice led Natalie to a window–side spot, where they settled in comfortably. They just needed to wait for the food.

Maurice poured her a cup of tea with a soft smile.

"Thank you!" Natalie smiled and looked out the window, admiring the breathtaking sunset.

Maurice chuckled gently. "I said you could just see me as your brother, Natalie. Why are you still so polite?"

"Fine, I’ll be less formal from now on," Natalie replied. She didn’t want to stay distant; she genuinely hoped to become friends with Maurice.

Maurice pulled out a small gift and handed it to Natalie. "This is a bracelet my grandfather got at an auction overseas. He asked me to give it to you."

Natalie was taken aback, surprised by the gift. She had never even met Claude, but his thoughtfulness was evident, and she didn’t think she should refuse it. "Please tell him I appreciate it," she said as she took the gift from his hands.

When she opened the box, she was shocked. "It’s Crystal Eden!"

Maurice hadn’t expected her to recognize it. "Do you know it?"

Natalie’s expression faltered for a moment, and she tightened her grip on the delicate box with a playful smile. "Come on, do you think after being a housewife for a few years, I know nothing about such things?"