Chapter 333

Natalie abruptly raised her head and saw Easton. She froze slightly. It had been half a month since she last saw Easton.

In that time, he had grown thinner, his already sharp features now more pronounced. He looked like he hadn’t been well at all. At this moment, his expression was dark.

“Mr. Garcia, what do you think you’re doing?” Natalie asked.

A faint flicker of anger also crossed Maurice’s face as he thought, ‘Why is it him again?’

Easton glanced at the USB drive in his hand before looking at Maurice and saying arrogantly, “Mr. Chambers, I’ll review my wife’s proposal myself. No need for you to waste your time on it.”

Maurice raised an eyebrow, his gaze darkening. “Mr. Garcia, I’m in the middle of a business discussion with Natalie. Please return the USB drive.”

Easton’s grip on the drive tightened slightly. Natalie really kept surprising him. Discovering she was a top-tier designer had been enough of a shock.

Now she had developed this advanced intelligent treatment system. He couldn’t help but wonder how many more secrets she was hiding from him.

He had recently been looking for experts to work on a project like this. With his wife already possessing the skills, it would save him a great deal of trouble.

“My apologies, Mr. Chambers. Dinner is on me tonight, but for now, I’ll be taking my wife with me. We have some things to discuss,” Easton said.

He deliberately emphasized the words “my wife.” Then he grabbed Natalie’s hand, attempting to lead her away.

Natalie forcefully shook off his hand, glaring at his handsome, domineering face, and shouted angrily, “Easton, let go of me! I’m not going with you.”

Hearing this, Maurice shot to his feet, staring at Easton. “Easton, let Natalie go. She doesn’t want to leave with you.”

A chill gleamed in Easton’s eyes. “Sorry, Mr. Chambers, but this is a matter between my wife and me.”

In other words, it was none of Maurice’s business.

Maurice clenched his fists. It was precisely because of this marital tie that he had no grounds to stop Easton from taking Natalie away.

He wanted to help Natalie but couldn’t risk causing her any trouble or stirring up rumors that might harm her reputation.

Easton turned to Natalie, his gaze sharp with a warning. “Natalie, I’ve told you about Mr. Chambers. He’s just returned to the country and hasn’t established a firm foothold yet. If rumors about you two started circulating, it could deal him a serious blow.”

Natalie froze, realizing she had been so focused on the collaboration that she’d forgotten about this.

She couldn’t get Maurice into trouble, especially at this critical stage of his career. She had to make sure he remained free of distractions, as her future depended on him.

Maurice retorted angrily, “Easton, there’s no need to use that as a threat. Natalie and I are just friends, unlike you and Jennifer with all your shady entanglements.”

Maurice, usually refined, sadly made personal jabs. But Easton had gone too far this time.

Easton smirked coldly, exuding an ease that could make anyone’s skin crawl.

Natalie knew this was the sign of his anger—or rather, he was already furious. And she was fully aware of just how ruthless he could be.

She was so focused on the fact that Maurice would be incredibly powerful someday that she forgot he was still struggling to establish himself in Sugry.

Natalie took a deep breath, despising Easton’s threats, but she couldn’t ignore the truth in his words. She said, “Maurice, you don’t have to worry. Go home after dinner. I’ll text you once I’ve made it back safely.”

“Natalie–” Maurice began.

Natalie offered him a comforting smile. “Maurice, don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

Easton’s cold eyes grew even darker as he thought, ‘Take care of herself? What does she take me for–a beast, a predator?’

Natalie gave Maurice a playful smile. Easton couldn’t stand it any longer and pulled her away.

After a few steps, he noticed her bag still on the chair. He quickly turned back, grabbed it, and then left with her.

Maurice seethed and slammed his fist on the table in frustration. He thought, ‘Easton, you have gone too far—taking Natalie away from me in such a manner!’

Watching Natalie’s retreating figure, Maurice could only hope that their divorce would happen soon, so he could rightfully protect her.

Easton helped Natalie into the car and quickly got in. He brought the chill of the wind and snow with him, making Natalie shiver.

Just as Easton was about to close the car door, a delicate hand suddenly reached in. He stopped instantly, but not fast enough.

Jennifer’s hand got caught in the door.

“Ah… Jennifer cried out in pain, “Easton, my hand! It hurts so much!” Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Easton pitifully.

Easton frowned. “What were you thinking? You knew I was closing the door. Why would you stick your hand in?”

Seeing Jennifer’s reddened, swollen hand, Natalie couldn’t help but laugh.

“Mr. Garcia, you’d better let your sweetheart in. It’s freezing out there, and her hand is hurting. Don’t let your heart break for her later,” she said with a teasing smile.

Easton turned to her, an inexplicable frustration rising in his chest. “What sweetheart? What nonsense are you talking about?”

Natalie tutted and said, “Mr. Garcia, Jennifer is a woman, but she is bold enough to own up to her actions. You’re a grown man; what are you pretending for? Don’t you know what you’ve done? You’re becoming more and more irresponsible.”

She leaned past Easton to push the door open and looked at Jennifer. “Ms. Simpson, hurry and get in. The wind is strong out there. Don’t catch a cold. Otherwise, Mr. Garcia will be worried sick about you.”

Easton looked down at Natalie, resting against his lap. Her soft fragrance enveloped him, sending a comforting warmth through his body.

This was the second time they’d been so close. She smelled so good that he couldn’t help but close his eyes slightly, entranced.

Taking advantage of the moment, Jennifer climbed into the car, tears streaming down her face. “Easton, my hand hurts so much. Look, it’s already swollen!”

Natalie glanced at her hand and noticed it was indeed a bit swollen, but just slightly red. However, Jennifer had to make a fuss over it, insisting on going to the hospital for a minor scrape.

Natalie said, “Mr. Garcia, I’ll leave you two alone. You’d better get to the hospital quickly. If you wait any longer, the redness and swelling might go away entirely.”

With that, she opened the other car door and slipped out, leaving with a cheerful stride.

Easton watched her run off with a smile on her face, anger boiling within him. He thought, ‘She’s learned how to play games now. And why is she smiling? Why does it seem like she is happy?’

“Natalie, get back here!” Easton shouted, his furious voice swallowed by the swirling snow and wind.

Jennifer, sitting beside him, noticed how his focus was entirely on Natalie and not on her injury. She said softly, a mix of hurt and anger flashing across her face, “Easton, my hand really hurts. Let’s go to the hospital first, okay?”

Frowning, Easton looked at her and found that her hand was indeed a bit swollen, but remembering her usual scheming ways—how she wouldn’t hesitate to hurt herself to frame Natalie—he couldn’t help but sneer, “Jennifer, does it hurt that much?”

“Yes, it really does,” Jennifer whimpered.

Easton’s smile turned cold and cryptic. “Good. It should hurt. That’s what you get for sticking your hand in on purpose.”