Chapter 53

While Wendy was lost in thought, Easton pushed open the door, his tall, imposing figure adding to the tension in the room. He was surprised to see Wendy there as well.

“Mrs. Simpson,” he greeted coolly, then took a seat beside Natalie.

Natalie pulled up a recording on her phone, fast-forwarding to the part Wendy had mentioned.

“Natalie, you say I’m unfit to be a mother—do you think you’re any better as a daughter? Why do you constantly cause trouble? Last night, you stole Jennifer’s credit,” Wendy’s recorded voice accused.

Easton frowned. “What credit?”

Natalie turned to Easton, her gaze icy. “Mr. Garcia, would you care to clarify? Did I really take credit for Jennifer’s work last night?”

Easton looked over at Wendy. “Mrs. Simpson, what’s this about? Why are you saying Natalie took credit from Jennifer?”

Wendy answered directly. “Last night, Jennifer came home and told me Natalie showed up at the event and took credit for her translation work. If you hadn’t succeeded in that collaboration, it could have caused you a lot of trouble.”

Easton realized what had happened. Jennifer had lied to her parents.

Natalie watched his silence and sneered, “Easton, tell the truth.”

Easton met her cold, distant gaze, and the image of her smiling warmly at Maurice during the date crossed his mind, making her current hostility sting even more.

With a mischievous smirk, he said, “Natalie, last night, you did take credit for Jennifer’s work. Jennifer didn’t lie.”

Natalie’s whole body went rigid, a painful ache spreading through her as if she’d been struck. She’d known Easton wouldn’t back her up, yet she’d still called him here, only to be humiliated.

Seeing the hurt in her eyes, Easton’s expression shifted briefly.

Wendy’s anger flared, and she picked up the cup of coffee in front of her and poured it at Natalie. “You liar! Is there a single word of truth in your mouth? You lie and then have the nerve to drag Easton here to testify for you?”

Easton shot Wendy a cold look. “Mrs. Simpson, what are you doing?”

“Don’t interfere, Easton,” Wendy snapped. “She’s a compulsive liar, a disgrace! I just wanted to put her in her place. The nerve of her, trying to make you cover for her!”

“She’s beyond hope. I’m just glad I never claimed her as my daughter,” she raged.

Natalie’s tears finally spilled over, her hands trembling as she opened the final recording on her phone.

“She and Easton grew up together, but you don’t even share feelings with him. You two are divorced, so why are you still lingering around Easton, clinging to him?” Wendy’s voice from the recording continued.

“Are you that obsessed with competing with Jennifer? If you had a shred of decency, you wouldn’t act this way. Why are you always after what belongs to Jennifer?” The voice kept going on.

Natalie, now crying, looked at Easton, her heart aching unbearably. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.

After a few silent attempts, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and finally managed, her voice shaking, “Mr. Garcia, I wasn’t clinging to you last night. I never want to hear that accusation again. Please go ahead with the divorce proceedings.”

She rose slowly, her body trembling from the pain.

Easton noticed the tears pooling in her eyes, a profound sadness enveloping her as she tried to hold herself together.

Easton saw the tears welling in her eyes, a profound sadness enveloping her. He clenched his fists. “Natalie, I…”

But Natalie strode away, not giving him a chance to finish. Easton quickly stood up and hurried after her.

“Natalie, wait!” he called, catching up. “About just now…”

But when he met Natalie’s icy gaze, the words died on his lips.

*Easton, you really are Jennifer’s loyal dog. I don’t get it—I’ve already made way for Jennifer. Why can’t you all just leave me alone?” Natalie was enraged.

“I warned you; I won’t let any of you trample on me again. Easton, every insult you’ve thrown at me, I’ll make sure you pay for them all,” she said.

They had already destroyed her once, and now they wanted to do it again. But this time, she wouldn’t let them.

“If you want to drag this out, go ahead,” she continued coldly. “Last night, you all conspired to slander me again. Easton, I’ll make you regret it.”

With a chilling stare, Natalie added, “You’d better protect Jennifer well, so she doesn’t end up in my hands.” Her voice was icy, like a demon’s whisper, but beneath the venom was a pain she could barely suppress.

With that, she turned and walked toward the elevator. Easton started after her, only to be blocked by Jennifer, who quickly stepped in front of him.

“Easton.” Jennifer tugged on his arm, “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Didn’t you say you’d take me to lunch?”

Easton turned a cold gaze on her. “Jennifer, did you go home last night and tell your parents Natalie took credit for your work?”

Jennifer hesitated, caught off guard that he knew.

Remembering the events of the previous night, Jennifer was still fuming. “Easton, I was just so upset last night. You didn’t even take me home, so I complained a little. Who knew Natalie would come to bother you about it?”

“Jennifer Simpson,” Easton was infuriated. “This isn’t about bothering me. You couldn’t understand what Mr. Schneider was saying, so Natalie translated for four hours straight to help me sign that contract. Do you feel no gratitude for her at all?”

“And another thing–since the divorce, she hasn’t bothered me once. So why did you tell your parents that Natalie is still chasing after me?” he demanded. “We grew up together, but I won’t keep tolerating your lies over and over.”

Jennifer’s heart skipped a beat at Easton’s cold, unforgiving gaze. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at him, feigning innocence.

She was startled–Easton had never addressed her by her full name before, and a sense of panic spread through her.

“Easton, it–it wasn’t that serious,” she stammered. “I was just upset and venting a bit. Don’t I have the right to express myself when I’m feeling bad?”

“But because of your lie, your mother came over to give Natalie a hard time,” Easton replied, pulling his hand from her grasp.

The memory of Natalie’s devastated expression flashed in his mind, and a wave of anger coursed through him, making him want to punch someone.

Without another glance at Jennifer, Easton set his jaw and strode away.

Wendy, who had followed them outside, overheard their exchange. She froze in place as the realization dawned on her–Natalie hadn’t lied; it was Jennifer who had deceived her.

Horrified, Wendy recalled the hurtful words she had just thrown at Natalie and scrambled to find her.

Meanwhile, Natalie’s emotions had overwhelmed her. She chose not to take the elevator and instead headed to the dimly lit fire escape. Sitting on the stairs, she finally let go, breaking down in sobs.

She thought she didn’t care anymore, but her heart betrayed her. She couldn’t help but cry out loud, knowing that only by crying out her pain could she release the burden she carried.

Only after a good, hard cry could she begin to heal.

Easton eventually found Natalie on the stairwell, watching as her shoulders shook, her small frame trembling. The sight was like a knife twisting in his chest, sending pain to every corner of his being.

Easton took a step toward Natalie, but stopped when her phone started ringing.