Chapter 356

Easton abruptly ended the call.

Natalie was surprised, her eyes wide. It was clear how much Easton cared for Jennifer, and she was a witness to that love. Every little injury Jennifer had seemed to pull at Easton’s heart.

“Check the room to see if anything is missing. I’ll sort everything out,” Easton said.

Natalie was about to say she needed nothing, since she didn’t live there, when Easton’s phone rang again.

Frustrated, Easton pulled out his phone and turned it off.

Natalie was left shocked. “How can you hang up on her? She’s in pain today. If you’re not at the hospital, she’ll be crying for you.”

With that, she turned to leave.

But Easton stood behind her, casually threatening, “Natalie, if you leave, James’s project abroad will disappear because I’m involved in that too.”

Finding out who James was surprised Easton; James had graduated from a top architectural school and excelled in other fields. James was handsome, kind, and charming. When he fed Natalie, it made her laugh, her beautiful eyes shining in a way Easton had never seen. Jealousy stirred within him.

As Easton looked at Natalie, his gaze intensified, giving off a powerful vibe.

Natalie couldn’t read his feelings but felt his anger. She glared at Easton. “Are you really threatening me?”

With a dark look in his eyes, Easton got closer, his tall figure casting a long shadow over her, creating an uncomfortable feeling. He lowered his gaze to meet hers and said in a rough voice, “I only ask that you stay here for a while. After that, you can do as you please. I don’t want to use James against you, but your disobedience forces my hand.”

Natalie couldn’t understand Easton’s power over James. She remembered how Easton had once eavesdropped on her talk with Maurice. She wondered, ‘What is he capable of now? How can he possibly influence James?’

Her face flushed with anger, her voice shaking. “How dare you say I’m disobedient when you told me to leave? You wanted a divorce. I agreed to it, yet now you put on this act before me. Easton, what do you think I am?”

The pain in Easton’s eyes showed the hurt he caused her. He hadn’t recognized his true feelings for her until now. “Natalie, I just need you to stay here until next year. After two years, I will divorce you.”

Natalie laughed bitterly. “How does where I live change anything? After two years of being apart, I can file for divorce myself.”

Easton spoke calmly, but with an edge. “But if I don’t agree, you can’t get a divorce.”

Tears filled Natalie’s eyes. If Easton opposed it, she would be stuck in this marriage. In their past life, Easton had agreed to a divorce, but then she became pregnant. That changed everything. Back then, he had been kind, but he controlled her, keeping her locked in the villa and cutting off all contact with the outside world. It was when Jennifer arranged for her kidnapping that Natalie finally left the villa, only to be killed. Easton had visited her but was always distracted, leaving her alone after breakfast, refusing to talk about anything outside. At that time, his company was struggling, taken over by Jennifer, which is why he was always busy.

Natalie sank to the floor, her voice low. “Easton, don’t hurt James, and I’ll stay here.”

In her past life, James was killed by a hitman hired by Jennifer while he was trying to avenge her. James was at a crucial point in his life; if he succeeded, he could protect her. Together, they could face Easton and Jennifer, plus the person hiding behind Jennifer.

Hearing her words, Easton felt no joy; he knew she wasn’t staying willingly, just out of concern for James. Once, Natalie fought to stay by his side, cherishing every effort she made to win his love. Now, her lack of interest in him hurt Easton deeply.

With a sudden chill in his eyes, he lifted her from the ground, saying, “Our lives will go back to how they were. You’ll cook for me, and I’ll try to be home for dinner every day.”

Easton still wanted the kindness she once gave him. Without her, life felt unbearable; he struggled to eat and sleep. He had never known love from anyone but her, yet he pushed her away. Only when losing something does one realize how much it mattered. He longed for the real love Natalie once showed him. She’d nearly lost her life trying to find him medicine. She saved him from danger because of her feelings for him, always giving selflessly.

Natalie replied softly, “Fine.”

She looked away from Easton, placing her bag on the bed and sitting beside it, lost in thought.

Easton watched her silently, wanting to say something, but no words came out. He couldn’t stand seeing this sad side of Natalie; he turned and left the room.

As he wandered around the unfamiliar villa, Easton felt a deep emptiness. The odd surroundings unsettled him, but the thought of Natalie inside made him smile slightly. Her mere presence was enough.

Meanwhile, Jennifer couldn’t reach Easton on the phone and smashed her device in frustration. With a dark look, she stared out the window; even though there was no snow, the howling wind made her anxious. Easton no longer focused on her life. Now, he wouldn’t even answer her calls.

Jennifer thought, ‘What should I do? Will my plan still work? I can’t rely on Octavian; Colin is out of the question too. No one must know I’m pregnant. Natalie will carry this child. But how can I frame her? How do I get Natalie’s identification? This child has come at the worst time; if necessary, I’ll have to end the pregnancy quietly. Do I need to make sure Natalie believes the child is Easton’s?’

Frantic thoughts swirled in Jennifer’s mind. Frustrated, she got up and began pacing, her heart racing. Since finding out about her pregnancy, anxiety consumed her. After a moment, she picked up her broken phone and called Octavian.

“Hello! Jennifer, are you missing me?” Octavian laughed.

In a quiet tone, Jennifer replied, “Octavian, I’m pregnant.”

Octavian gasped in shock. “What? Jennifer, how can you possibly be pregnant?”

Chapter 357