Chapter 341

Valerie exclaimed, “I got a big deal and made lots of money! I’m coming back to treat you to something delicious. Wait for me, Natalie!”

Natalie’s tears turned into a smile. “Congrats, Valerie, on your earnings. Be careful and let me know when you return. I’ll pick you up from the airport.”

Valerie responded cheerfully, “Perfect! No more tears, Natalie. Go wash your face, take a nap, and enjoy a slice of cake. It will cheer you up!”

Natalie remembered Valerie’s words, feeling a wave of mixed emotions. “Okay! I’ll wait for you. You have no idea how lonely I am without you to talk to. Hurry back!”

“We’ll hug it out. No more crying,” Valerie said in a soothing voice.

After sharing some lighthearted words, Natalie ended the call, but her smile slowly faded.

Looking at the card on the table, she picked it up and angrily threw it into the fireplace. “Easton, how shameless! Who cares about your money? I can earn my own!”

Fuming, Natalie went upstairs to change clothes, dragging herself to the office with a tired look.

When she entered the office, her mood fell even more.

Luna was waiting downstairs, hesitant to say anything when she noticed Natalie’s distress.

“I went over the design drafts and contract that day. There was no problem! How did it become a three–year commitment? I just sold Easton a few drawings; I didn’t sell myself!” Natalie lamented, still confused about where things went wrong.

Still noticing Natalie’s sad face, Luna said softly, “Could it be that you turned into a lovesick fool the moment you met Easton? You were so lost in thoughts of him that you couldn’t focus on the contract.”

Natalie thought, ‘I’m not a lovesick fool!’

She had been thinking about it all the way here, but she still couldn’t figure out what went wrong.

“Natalie…” Luna began, hesitating again.

Natalie shot her a glare. “Why are you mumbling? Can’t you see I have no energy? Just speak! I can handle whatever comes my way. If it’s not important, I need to cry in my office. Easton has gone too far.”

“Am I really that bad?” Easton’s voice came from behind, filled with smugness.

Natalie turned to face Easton, narrowing her eyes in anger, but he didn’t seem affected by her glare.

“Mr. Garcia, what brings you here again?” Natalie’s voice dripped with frustration.

Easton preferred Natalie when she was lively, not when she looked so sad.

He handed her keys to a new villa. “This is the villa I just bought, right behind your current place. Since you don’t like your old home, we’ll move here. Grandma said we should move in four days; she’ll come to visit.”

Caught off guard, Natalie stared at the keys in confusion, trying to understand Easton’s odd behavior.

Luna felt worried, fearing Natalie might get lost in her feelings of love.

Luna whispered urgently, “Stay sharp! Don’t let your mind fade in Easton’s presence; your brain isn’t just for show; it’s for figuring out if he really deserves your feelings!

“If you let your crush blind you, you might help Mr. Garcia count his riches while being tricked! You’ve already sold yourself twice.”

Natalie felt helpless and teary. Easton was bullying her.

Feeling weak, she gave the keys back to Easton, her voice lacking strength. “I won’t go. Pulling Grandma out won’t work anymore, Easton. Stay away from me.”

Easton looked at the keys in his hand, then at her sad face, slightly frowning in confusion.

Before, she would cling to him for hours; now, she pushed him away all the time.

“By the way, I threw the card you gave me into the fireplace just now. I don’t want anything from you, and I won’t owe you. We share nothing beyond a marriage certificate,” she said.

At that moment, Xavier walked in. “Mr. Garcia, the meeting is about to start. We need to go now; it’s urgent.”

Easton glanced at Natalie’s slumped shoulders, wanting to hug her, but she was too angry to listen. He left.

Luna then said, “Natalie, your dad is waiting for you in the lounge.”

Natalie froze, surprised by Nick’s presence. She didn’t want to see him.

“Tell him to go away! I have no dad!” Natalie said, heading to the elevator.

Nick couldn’t wait any longer. He stepped out of the lounge just in time to hear Natalie’s words.

Furious, Nick shouted, “Natalie, what’s your problem? I am your Dad, and you want me to leave?”

Bracing herself, Natalie prepared to face Nick, not wanting to cause a scene in the lobby. “Let’s talk in the lounge.”

Nick frowned a bit but followed her into the lounge.

Seeing Declan there, Natalie briefly glanced at him as she sat on a nearby sofa.

Declan, catching her indifferent look, looked at her with concern and empathy.

Nick took a seat and got straight to the point. “Natalie, James has been abroad on a project and transferred a lot of shares to you, making profits close to 500 million dollars. Is that correct?”

It was less of a question and more of an accusation.

Natalie wondered how Nick knew about this.

Suddenly, she remembered dining with Maurice two weeks ago when they saw Jennifer and Easton.

This should have been shared by Jennifer with Nick.

Thinking of Nick’s current problems, she asked, “Why do you want to know?”

Nick chuckled dryly. “Our family is bankrupt. It’s time for you to support your family or hand over the company for me. You’ve seen my skills over the years; call James and ask when I can take over the business.”