Chapter 4
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Mabel and Felix rushed out, followed by a crowd.
Felix handed Eddie to Mabel and turned back to pull Natalie out of the water.
He grabbed her roughly and let her head slam into the pool’s edge on purpose, causing blood to spread through the water.
Then, he shoved her aside.
“Natalie, how could you attack a child and push him into the pool?”
Mabel bent down, holding Eddie tightly while tears streamed down her face.
She ignored his winks and didn’t mention that he’d been swimming since he was two and loved splashing around.
The onlookers whispered among themselves.
“Why would she do that to a kid? What kind of grudge could she have?”
“That’s attempted murder! Who is this cruel woman?”
“I heard she lived in Mr. Harrison’s other courtyard. Now that Ms. Jefferson’s back, there’s no place for her. Rumor has it that Ms. Jefferson left with the baby years ago.”
“So she’s just the hidden mistress? And now she dares hurt Mr. Harrison’s son? She’s got some nerve.”
Mabel began to cry and complain, “Natalie, if you’re upset because I wore the jewelry you designed, you could’ve told me. I’ll give it back.”
Eddie also started crying loudly.
Natalie looked like she was about to pass out and couldn’t speak.
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After coughing up water, she curled up and shook all over.
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The fear she had felt as a child came flooding back, leaving her frozen and helpless in the face of death.
Felix walked over again and roughly turned her in another direction.
He gripped her pale cheeks tightly and forced her to look straight at Mabel and Eddie.
“Keep apologizing until they forgive you!”
Natalie’s eyes lit up briefly when she heard his voice, but they quickly dimmed.
In the past, when she had bad dreams, Felix would hold her close, kiss her awake, and keep her in his arms until exhaustion pushed the nightmares away.
Now, though, he only focused on Mabel and Eddie. He didn’t even notice how strange she looked.
“Natalie, I told you to apologize! Who are you trying to impress?”
Natalie looked at Felix. Blood trickled from her soaked hair, her eyes dark and unreadable.
“Why are you accusing me of hitting him and pushing him in? No one saw it happen. You can check the surveillance.”
Felix snorted, not even letting her finish.
“Kids don’t lie. Mabel and I heard Eddie yelling that you hit him. Only you two were at the pool. He wouldn’t jump in just to frame you.
“I used to think you were kind. But after you saw Mabel and Eddie at the hospital, every- thing changed. You’ve been against them ever since. And this isn’t the first time you’ve hurt Eddie. How can I believe you?”
Despite feeling faint, she glared back stubbornly.
Felix shoved her again. “Still not going to say sorry?”
He raised his voice to the people around them. “Everyone here–listen up. If you ask her to design jewelry, you’re standing against me.”
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The Harrison family was now the wealthiest in Washington. Since Natalie had crossed Felix, plenty of people eager to stay in his good graces would turn against her.
Her clients were all high–class, either rich or powerful. If gossip spread, her whole career would fall apart.
The jeweler was the first to tell her she didn’t need to finish the rest of the designs and asked for the deposit to be returned.
Suddenly, a tall man stepped out from the crowd.
He lifted Eddie and tossed him into the pool.
Felix rushed forward, ready to jump in.
But Eddie flipped in the water, came up, and yelled, “Here comes another bad guy! Daddy, beat him up!
“I’ve known how to swim since I was three! You can’t drown me!”
He climbed out of the pool without help.
The man then explained everything he had seen.
Eddie even stuck his tongue out at Natalie.
“You’re so dumb! You’re old and still almost drowned!”
Mabel’s expression shifted slightly. She raised her hand like she might hit him, but she just grabbed his arm.
“Say sorry to Natalie and promise you’ll behave.”
Then, she bowed deeply to Natalie. “I’m sorry. I didn’t teach him right.”
Natalie didn’t respond.
Eddie copied Mabel and bowed, repeating the apology.
They looked like they meant it. They kept bowing, waiting for Natalie to reply.
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But in truth, they were just pushing her to accept their apology.
Felix stepped forward to back them up.
“Natalie, Eddie is still young. Mabel also let him say sorry. What more do you want?
“We got it wrong this time. I can make it up to you.”
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Then he remembered what Natalie had told him before–that an apology didn’t mean she had to forgive.
He held back the rest of his words and felt a bit of regret.
Wrapped in a towel, Natalie got to her feet. “It’s fine.”
She truly didn’t care anymore.
Once she gave the deposit back, she planned to catch the first flight out.
But her body was weak. Everything went dark when she stood up.
Felix caught her. “Natalie, let me take you to the hospital.”
Mabel looked over and suddenly dropped to the ground, making Eddie scream in panic.
Felix immediately let go of Natalie’s hand. He turned back to help Mabel, leaving Natalie alone with her injuries.
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