Chapter 392

Natalie felt hurt, and tears kept streaming down her face.

On the other side, Wendy was sobbing uncontrollably. Her face was pale as she lay on the bed, her chest rising and falling, with deep hatred and despair in her eyes.

She despised herself for being so blind, to the point of not wanting her daughter. The despair came from knowing that her daughter would never forgive her, no matter what she did; her daughter no longer needed her.

Wendy moaned in agony, her whole body trembling. She had always been rational; she couldn’t understand how things got to this point.

The wind blew in the old, shabby little room, and the rickety glass balcony wobbled.

Declan walked into Wendy’s room. He looked at Wendy with sorrow and asked, “What’s wrong, Mom?”

When Wendy saw Declan, her tears poured out. She held Declan’s hand, her voice choked with emotion as she said, “Declan, I was so foolish. I had love-blind eyes.

“If I had realized earlier how despicable Nick and Jennifer were, we wouldn’t have ended up like this, and Natalie wouldn’t have disowned me.

“That time I went to talk to Natalie, I was too harsh. Our endless favoritism towards Jennifer hurt her deeply. She will never forgive us in this lifetime.”

She thought, ‘Natalie, indeed, would never forgive me again. The Natalie from before, when wronged, would just bite her lip in silence. Nobody wanted to listen to her side.

‘Even that jerk Easton didn’t want to believe Natalie. Whenever Jennifer cried or made a fuss, everyone would just gather around her.’

Wendy groaned, hitting the bed in pain. She really wanted to make it up to Natalie, but Natalie didn’t want it. She always thought Natalie was a wild girl from an impoverished town.

She never imagined that Nick had heartlessly cast Natalie aside back then, making Natalie the ultimate victim.

After Natalie returned to the family, Wendy was worried that Natalie would bring shame to them. She had thought of sending Natalie abroad to gain experience.

But Vernon liked Natalie and wanted her to marry Easton. That was why she hadn’t sent Natalie away. At that time...

Looking back now, Wendy felt she wasn’t worthy to be Natalie’s mother. No mother would think her daughter was an embarrassment.

Wendy still remembered what Natalie had said after she knew that Wendy was going to send her abroad. Natalie said, “I don’t want to go. Mom, I’ve already missed being with you for many years. I want to stay by your side.”

Back then, Wendy wondered what Natalie was thinking. She felt Natalie was just lazy and waiting for life to fall apart.

She was so stingy that she wouldn’t even give Natalie pocket money. She’d buy Natalie clothes worth a few hundred dollars but splurge on custom dresses worth a million for Jennifer.

The more she thought about it, the more Wendy felt unworthy of being Natalie’s mother; she wasn’t a good mom.

Seeing Wendy in such distress, Declan felt a knot in his stomach. He whispered, “Mom, don’t overthink it. Let’s treat Natalie well from now on. She’ll forgive us when she sees we’re sincere."

Declan realized his own mistakes, too. He couldn’t even face Natalie. When she was in trouble, he couldn’t help at all because the only thing he knew how to do was drive. No one was willing to do him any favors to help Natalie.

At that moment, he truly felt how insignificant he was. If he hadn’t wasted the past years playing around with cars but instead learned more about dealing with people, he wouldn’t have been so helpless when the police took Natalie away.

One only realized how tough life was when one stumbled, but the upside was that one could start over at any time. He was still young, so it was not too late.

Wendy shook her head with sorrow. She said, “No, I know Natalie too well. For those two years, she suffered so much at home. We favored Jennifer, giving Jennifer all the good things, while Natalie got all the bad.

“She saw everything, so she won’t ever forgive us.” She felt an unbearable ache in her heart as though a hand had gripped it tightly and cruelly.

At that time, Wendy didn’t believe what Natalie said, nor could she imagine that Nick, who had loved her all his life, would betray her. Those were the harshest words she had ever spoken, and they were directed at Natalie, her own daughter.

Declan said, “Mom, even water can wear away stone, and Natalie has always been so kind. She’ll surely see how sincere we are if we keep trying.”

Wendy wiped away her tears. Now that she had some free time, she needed to properly plan for the future. She said, “Declan, Maris’s sudden incident is definitely connected to Colin and Camellia.

“But now, Maris’s whereabouts are unknown. I’ve sent people to look for her, but they can’t find her. Have you heard any news from Jennifer?”

Declan replied, “Mom, I haven’t heard anything about Maris, but it’s true that Jennifer is pregnant. I also heard she deliberately called Natalie to tell her that the baby is Easton’s.”

Wendy shouted, “What?” She was full of pain, her eyes swollen from crying. She looked at Declan and said, “What about Natalie? Where is she now? She’s always deeply loved Easton; this news must be devastating for her.”

Declan shook his head and said, “Mom, I don’t know where Easton lives or if he went to the office today, but Natalie doesn’t want Easton anymore.”

Declan regretted doing so many excessive things to Natalie just because of Jennifer. Jennifer used them one by one, and they fell for it like a bunch of fools.

Wendy squinted her eyes, holding back the pain in her heart. She whispered, “Natalie’s not holding on to anyone anymore; she’s let go and feels more at ease. But why has Easton suddenly decided not to go through with the divorce?”

She suddenly stood up and said, “Give Xavier a call and see if Easton is in the office.”

Declan replied, “Mom, he’s not in the office. I saw Easton taking Natalie from the police station; they should be together now.”

Wendy said, “Damn Easton. If he doesn’t love Natalie, why doesn’t he let her go? I think Maurice is a better match for Natalie.” She thought, ‘No way, I can’t let Easton waste Natalie’s best years.’

She took out her phone and was about to call Easton, but Declan stopped her.

Declan said, “Mom, I know what you’re trying to do, but even if we get involved, Easton won’t get a divorce. I heard an agreement that’s bad for Easton, making it hard for him to divorce Natalie.

“Mom, let’s wait and see. I feel like this is going to escalate more. Someone exposed Jennifer’s pregnancy with Octavian’s child. That person’s background must be unusual; we should wait and see.

“I’m working as Jennifer’s driver now, so I overhear many of her secrets. Once, I heard her talking to Oliver, and Oliver called the person behind Jennifer ‘master.’ The person isn’t ordinary either.

“Mom, we need to be careful. Jennifer is ruthless. Nora’s family got tangled with her and went bankrupt. Nora’s parents have left Shagrity with Nora. She won’t be in danger with Murray by Natalie’s side for now.”

Wendy asked excitedly, “Really? Won’t Natalie be in danger for now?”