Chapter 222

After shouting, Tiana still felt upset. She picked up her phone and called Natalie.

Natalie was lost in a nightmare, so engrossed that she didn’t want to wake up. But the insistent ringtone of her phone made her snap her eyes open.

She sat up abruptly, drenched in cold sweat, feeling the stark reality of being alive.

She clasped her forehead in distress, the memory too excruciating to handle.

She couldn’t forget the intense pain in her hands, her feet, her face, the agony of the fall, all enveloping her in suffering.

She took a deep breath and picked up the phone next to her to answer it. “Hello, Tiana.”

Tiana burst into tears, “Natalie, Vance called me, asking me to attend his wedding. Is he crazy, calling me in the middle of the night?

“He is so immature. I’ve liked him for so many years. I really want to slap myself, but I’d hate to ruin this pretty face. I’ve come to my senses now."

When Natalie heard this, she chuckled softly. “Tiana, actually, we could go. It’ll be interesting to see the look on his face.”

“Yeah, that’s what I think too. I’ve got everything planned out. I’ll make some time to come back; it’s only a matter of days anyway. Things are going smoothly here; your ten male models are amazing.”

Tiana’s tone was much calmer, no longer filled with anger.

Natalie said, “Alright! I’ll go with you then.”

Tiana said, “Alright, Natalie, I’ll handle everything. I’ve got so much dirt on Vance, that jerk. He’ll be thanking me later, crying tears of gratitude.”

“That Khloe he’s always talking about as sweet and kind… Giving him a huge wedding gift won’t be too much, right?” Tiana’s voice was filled with barely contained excitement.

Natalie replied, “Not at all.”

“I can’t wait.” Tiana laughed and said, bubbling with excitement.

Natalie looked out the window, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. Winter had arrived, and some people were about to shed tears.

Natalie comforted Tiana a bit more and then went to sleep. That night, she didn’t dream. She woke up, and it was already bright outside.

The weather today wasn’t great; it was foggy. It was early winter, and it often rained, but she was in a good mood.

She didn’t need to go to the office for the next few days. She’d already come up with the initial ideas for the winter collection designs and could sketch them at home just as well.

Thinking about Jacob’s grandmother having her surgery today, she had dinner, asked the housekeeper to prepare a gift, and then drove to the hospital.

Outside the operating room, Jacob leaned against the wall. His hands hung at his sides, and he was exceptionally handsome. His lips were tightly pressed, and his gaze was as deep as the ocean, exuding a sense of stubborn determination.

He no longer had the innocent and sunny demeanor of an 18-year-old. Instead, life had toughened him, leaving a heavy air of anger around him.

Natalie walked over with a smile. “Jacob.”

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Jacob was slightly taken aback and couldn’t believe it. Slowly lifting his gaze, the moment he saw Natalie, all his previous anger disappeared, replaced by a gentle, soft smile. “Natalie, you’re here?”

“Yeah! Chris said your grandma’s having surgery today, so I came to see how things are going." Natalie walked over with a smile.

Jacob looked into her eyes. When she smiled, her eyes were as beautiful and clear as crystal.

“Thanks, Natalie!” He was genuinely happy she came.

Natalie smiled and said. “Come on, let’s go back to the room and wait. The surgery will take seven to eight hours. It’s more comfortable to wait there than stand here, plus it’s cold.

“Besides, Grandma will be taken directly to the sterile room for observation after the surgery and won’t come out this way. They’ll notify us in the room once it’s finished.”

Jacob listened to her and followed her back to the hospital room.

Natalie handed him a bowl of seafood oatmeal. “Have some. I got the seafood from the sea myself."

Jacob remembered her mentioning once that she loves free diving.

He sat down, looked at the stylish thermos, and couldn’t help but smile.

Natalie handed him a spoon. “Eat up. I brought some beef, fish, and chicken. I stored them in the fridge; can you make oatmeal with them later?” Natalie asked with a smile.

Seeing her bright smile, Jacob blushed and nodded, saying with a grin, “Yes, I can.”

“That’s great.” Natalie said as she neatly packed the ingredients into airtight bags and put them in the freezer.

Jacob watched her leave with a soft chuckle, feeling a ticklish warmth inside.

Natalie came back with some clothes for Jacob. “It’s almost winter, and it’s going to get colder. Our company’s down jackets and coats are excellent, so I brought you a few, including one for grandma." She pointed at the bags by the door.

“Great! Thanks, Natalie!” His voice was cheerful, enjoying the feeling of being genuinely cared for.

“Now eat up." Natalie said as she noticed her phone vibrating, and added, “I’m going to take this call."

“Okay!” His ears turned red, and he didn’t dare to look up.

Natalie didn’t notice as she got up to take the call outside. The call was from Easton.

“Hey! Are we going to get divorced?” Natalie asked right away.

On the other side, Easton was silent.

Easton stood at the office’s floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the view outside. His lips curled into a cold, subtle smile.

“Natalie, did you forget what I said? We will only divorce over my dead body.” His voice was calm but firm.

He thought, ‘Natalie, even if you’ve forgotten how to love me, I'll ensure you do again.’

Chapter 122

She left dearly, simply waving out the door.

She didn’t take anything from the villa. It was only last night that he realized she’d completely moved on from the past.

Natalie furrowed her brows, but her eyes unexpectedly reddened.

She took a deep breath, her voice choked with emotion. “Easton, I’ve already died once, you killed me with your own hands. When I died, I longed for you to use me, yet you ended my life.”

“Easton, what gives you the right not to divorce! If I could do it over, I would never give you the chance to kill me again, it should be you, Jennifer, and those Simpson family members who die."

With every word Natalie spoke, her voice was filled with intense hatred. She hung up the phone and leaned against the wall, haunted by last night’s nightmare.

She felt terrible, her body shaking as she slowly sank to the floor, hugging herself tightly. She was overwhelmed with hatred and pain, feeling like she was about to fall apart.

Easton’s phone slipped from his fingers, and each of Natalie’s words made him feel as though everything she said was truly deserved. If those things had happened to her, he would probably feel compelled to retaliate too.

He slowed his eyes, feeling the pain his children at jroning shut idiomatically heart hare.