Chapter 69

Nick felt a sense of unease when he heard this. He thought, “Easton has never treated Jennifer this way. In the past, no matter how busy he was, he rushed to her the moment she called. Has he grasped the truth from the last two incidents? Does he trust Natalie now?”

Nick was also furious. “How did Natalie suddenly become so formidable?”

Jennifer’s eyes were filled with malice as her shoulders shook in anger. “How would I know? She never used to be this tough. Before, whatever we said, she would hardly ever talk back. She’d just silently endure any grievances. Now, she’s becoming more and more fierce.”

She had no idea how Natalie had suddenly become so strong, as if she had transformed into a completely different person. What worried Jennifer even more was that Murray, knowing he had been tricked this time, would undoubtedly retaliate against her in secret.

The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. Sitting on the couch, she violently threw a pillow onto the floor, thinking, “No, I have to win back Easton’s heart. Easton has been willing to do anything for me. How can Natalie’s bond with him compare to mine?”

Seeing his daughter so upset made Nick’s heart ache. “Think carefully. Do we have any dirt on Natalie that might make Easton change his mind?”

Jennifer thought for a moment, and suddenly her eyes lit up. “Maurice! Didn’t Natalie go on a blind date with Maurice? She hasn’t divorced yet, and that would mean she cheated on Easton.”

Nick shook his head. “No, that’s too risky. If we use that to target Natalie, Easton might end up being painted as the one having an affair and you’d be labeled the other woman. After all, everyone knows what Easton has done for you. You’d get dragged into the scandal, and with your piano competition coming up, you can’t afford to ruin your reputation. There will be plenty of opportunities to get rid of Natalie. When the time is right, we’ll strike hard and make sure Easton divorces her for good.”

Jennifer bit her lip in frustration, feeling more upset than ever. Easton ignoring her made her incredibly nervous and afraid. She still had so many plans left to accomplish, and she had all of Shagrity’s wealthy elite at her beck and call.

Nick, having a rare few days of leisure, didn’t want to be troubled with these matters. “Jennifer, I’ll discuss this with your mother. I won’t be coming home for the next couple of days, so you are on your own. Jason will be back soon, and he dislikes Natalie too. You can use him to deal with her.”

Jennifer smiled upon hearing this. “Dad, once we’re done using him, let’s get rid of him. Everything here should belong to me and my own brother.”

Nick’s gaze sharpened. Jason was still his son after all. But his four sons were all disappointments, constantly giving him trouble.

Nick said, “Jason isn’t much of a threat to your brother…”

“Dad, how long are you going to keep being soft-hearted? It’s because of your softness that my mom has suffered so much, that I ended up an adopted daughter, an illegitimate child. Do you want me to live in the shadows my whole life?” asked Jennifer.

She had to claim her rightful place as the legitimate daughter of the Simpson family. She already had a plan in place. The triennial car race was about to begin. He loved racing too, so he would definitely return. A flicker of longing passed through Jennifer’s eyes. Only that man was her true love. But she wasn’t about to let go of Easton, her safety net.

Nick, having no more ideas, quietly slipped away. Clutching the medicine in his hand, he was all set for a wild night.

Nick drove off, and outside the villa, Wendy followed closely behind in her own car.

Easton, Wesley, and Xavier had just walked into the restaurant when they spotted Natalie and Luna having dinner. What annoyed Easton was that Maurice was there too.

It was purely by chance that Natalie ran into Maurice. Maurice had come to the restaurant for dinner on a friend’s recommendation and bumped into Natalie at the entrance. The three of them decided to eat together. They were chatting happily, completely unaware that Easton and his companions had seated themselves behind a nearby pillar, within earshot of their conversation.

Maurice fixed his gaze on Natalie as she ate with delight, her posture graceful and her words captivating. He said, “Natalie, I heard you’ve become the design director at Fashion Fusion. I’m really impressed by how talented you are.” He could see a confident glow about her. And he believed that as long as there was a stage, she would shine brilliantly.

Natalie put down her fork and gave a charming smile. She modestly explained, “I was just thrown into the role unexpectedly. The former design director was poached by the Garcia Group."

“If anyone’s truly outstanding, you stand out as the best in my eyes. You keep shining, and I’ll do my best to keep up and hang onto your coattails. The moon and stars will come to you, and so will I.” Maurice was taken aback by her praise.

In a soft, probing tone, he asked, “Natalie, is that really how you think of me? You think I’m the best?” Natalie nodded quickly.

Maurice would become the wealthiest person in the future, surpassing even Easton. His integrity only added to his distinction, making him truly the best. Few wealthy men in this world upheld their integrity in relationships, but the one sitting before her was an exception. Natalie showered Maurice with compliments. “Maurice, you’re absolutely the best. In my heart, I’ve built a castle, and you’re the only one who lives there. Looking at your stunning face, I suddenly realize that all the world’s paintings and landscapes were merely created to set the stage for your beauty.”

Maurice was thoroughly delighted by her flattery and burst into laughter. He said, “Natalie, every time I talk to you, I’m always so happy. Why are you so sweet?”

Natalie laughed and said, “I am sweet because I am happy, and that happiness comes from having you, my dear friend, in my life.” She thought, “Having such a wealthy friend means I will also soar to great heights in the future. Of course, I am happy. My heart is overflowing with boundless joy.”

Maurice’s smile faded a little. Her last remark made the tone of the conversation shift slightly.

Luna was dumbfounded. She thought, “Ms. Shawn really has no sense of romance. A moment ago, I felt like the third wheel; now, it feels like just a normal gathering.”

Maurice’s smile dimmed a bit more. “Natalie, the steamed beef and fish here are really good. You should eat more.” His eyes gleamed with a smile as he quietly admired her breathtaking beauty. “Thank you! I’ve already eaten quite a lot. You should eat too,” Natalie replied. Then she tilted her head and looked at Luna. “Luna, you should eat more too.”

Luna responded, “Natalie, I’m already full. You’ve been talking so much that you barely ate anything. Hurry and eat up.”

In truth, Natalie was also full. She realized that she and Maurice had plenty to talk about, far more than she ever had with Easton. Her relationship with Easton had always been chaotic and had ended in a mess. There was no real fate between them–just a toxic entanglement.

After finishing the last bite of the fish, Natalie said, “I’m full. Let’s head back.”

Maurice found her straightforwardness endearing. He asked tentatively, “Natalie, it’s getting late. How about I give you two a ride home?”