Chapter 2
When Liam Shaw heard Natalie’s trembling voice, he had a feeling about what had hap- pened. He frowned but chose not to press her for details.
“Dad may seem strict, but he’s soft–hearted. He’ll be glad to have you back. They’ve missed you a lot.
“Since Blake is still single, Dad might bring up the marriage again. But if you’re against it, they likely won’t insist.
“When are you planning to return? I can come pick you up.”
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The Shaw and Ximenez families had been close for generations, and the elders had long hoped Natalie would marry Blake Ximenez. However, she had always been uneasy around him and kept her distance.
Five years ago, the Shaw family faced a major business crisis. They made a bold decision to relocate to New York. With the Ximenez family’s support, they managed to pull through.
Natalie was aware of that. She believed that cutting ties with Felix and following her family’s arrangements might lead to a better outcome.
Holding back her tears, she replied, “I’m willing to go through with the marriage and try to get along with Blake.
“I’ll return in two weeks. You don’t have to come. I’ll send you my flight details before de-
parture.”
Though she wished to leave immediately, she had to finish jewelry design projects for her clients.
She sat in silence for a long time, feeling hollow inside.
“Natalie, you’re finally awake. What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
Felix suddenly entered the ward.
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Chapter 2
Moments later, she felt his lips brush the corner of her eye, and she turned her head away.
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Felix assumed she was upset about his absence, so he sat beside her and gently wiped her
tears.
She looked at his handsome face, with attractive eyes full of apparent affection.
If she hadn’t overheard that conversation, she might have believed his feelings were genuine.
“What illness do I have?” she asked.
Before he could respond, a young boy, around seven, burst in and called out, “Daddy!”
Felix quickly stood up, distanced himself from Natalie, and looked toward Mabel, who had just entered.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
“Eddie said you promised to take him out today. He kept asking me to find you,” Mabel replied with a decent smile. “Natalie, my son is still young. I apologize.”
Natalie noticed the challenge in Mabel’s eyes but remained silent.
The atmosphere grew awkward. Just then, Steven arrived to check on Natalie and pulled Fe-
lix out.
Mabel leaned in and whispered to Natalie, “In love, the more you give, the deeper you fall. Those who receive it easily often don’t value it.
“You’ve been losing from the start. What do you have to compete with me?”
Eddie then bumped his head against Natalie’s waist.
“Bad woman! I won’t let you take my daddy!”
Weakened, Natalie fell to the ground.
Eddie, however, clutched his forehead, sat on the ground, and began to cry.
“What happened?” Felix hurried over.
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Eddie sobbed and complained, “That bad woman pushed me!”
Felix gave Natalie a cold glare. “Apologize to Eddie!”
Mabel pretended to help Natalie up.
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“No need to apologize. It’s normal for boys to fall. He’ll be fine after crying a bit. Natalie just woke up today. We came at a bad time. I can understand that she’s upset.”
Natalie avoided Mabel’s hand and stood up on her own, but Mabel pretended to stumble and fell into Felix’s arms.
In the commotion, Natalie was knocked down again, along with several IV bottles.
Broken glass pierced her hands.
Felix, however, focused only on scolding her.
“Are you out of your mind? You push Eddie first, then Mabel! What did they do to you? Was it so wrong to ask you to apologize?”
Natalie forced a bitter smile.
After Felix hurt her by accident while harming himself during his eye injury, he once promised he’d never let her get injured again. But now, he ignored her bleeding hands.
The emotional pain spread through her, and she looked up with a pale face. “I haven’t done anything to them. Why should I apologize?”
Felix pursed his lips and snorted coldly. Turning to Mabel and Eddie, he said, “Don’t mind her. I’ll take you to the amusement park.”
As he left the ward, he paused and said, “You can be discharged now. Have the driver take you home.”
Natalie lifted her chin and blinked away her tears. After getting her wound stitched, she slowly walked back to their house.
Seeing all the matching items, she felt pain.
She had decorated everything according to Felix’s preferences, and they had called this place
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their home.
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Every corner held memories of their time together–the living room, the balcony, the bath- room, and so on.
Suddenly, Natalie felt no desire to take anything with her.
A message popped up on her phone. Mabel had sent numerous photos. They seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“Felix loves kids. You’ve been with him for years, but you never secured your place with a child. How foolish.”
The last was a group photo.
Eddie sat on Felix’s shoulders, while Mabel leaned against him. The setting sun casts a gold- en glow over them.
Natalie’s hand moved from her waist to her lower abdomen. She and Felix had two children as well.
During her first pregnancy, Felix was in a bad mood. Without explanation, he asked her to terminate it.
The second time, he claimed he didn’t like children and wasn’t ready to be a father.
Now, it was clear–he simply didn’t love her.
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