Chapter 1

By the time Natalie Bennett got home, it was already dark.

She opened the door to the bedroom. Men's clothes and a belt were scattered across the bed. The sound of water running came from the bathroom.

Jeffrey Foster was in the shower.

Natalie glanced down at the pregnancy test in her hand. She was pregnant with twins.

When the doctor confirmed it, part of her thought maybe, just maybe, she could use this pregnancy to hold on to Jeffrey and save their crumbling marriage.

But then the doctor told her that one of the embryos didn't have a heartbeat, and she would need to terminate it. She immediately agreed to get rid of the one without a heartbeat and keep the healthy one.

However, the surgery required both spouses' signatures, and she couldn't make that decision alone.

The bathroom door creaked open, and Jeffrey walked out.

He wore nothing but a white towel around his waist. His hair was damp, with water droplets still clinging to his skin. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and perfectly defined muscles showed off pure strength.

Without even acknowledging Natalie, he walked right past her and headed for the closet to grab his pajamas.

In his eyes, she didn't even exist. She was used to it.

She followed him. "We need to talk."

"I've got something to say, too," Jeffrey replied, his voice distant.

Natalie tightened her grip on the pregnancy test and bit her lip. "You go first."

Jeffrey didn't hesitate. "Ab's coming back."

Hearing that, Natalie froze.

The woman he loved most, Abigail Wright, was coming back. Where did that leave Natalie? She had to make way for Abigail.

Jeffrey turned, locking eyes with her. "So, Natalie, you know what to do."

Five years of marriage, and she still hadn't won him over.

She heard herself ask him, "Between her and me, will you always choose her?"

Jeffrey smirked, a touch of mockery in his voice as he asked, "Do you think you can compare to Ab?"

Natalie's face drained of color, and her eyelashes trembled. "What have I done to deserve this? Jeffrey, I'm your legal wife."

"You know exactly how you ended up marrying me. And you also know how you made your way into my bed!"

Jeffrey had always been reserved with her. He was skilled in using cold indifference and even more adept at subtle emotional manipulation.

But whenever they talked about their marriage, his eyes were filled with disgust, and his tone was laced with anger as he blamed her.

After all, she had taken the place meant for his precious Abigail.

Natalie took a deep breath. "The engagement was arranged when we were kids. As for that night, I really don't know how it happened."

Since their marriage, Jeffrey had never touched her, so she had no chance to get pregnant at all.

Jeffrey's grandmother, Caroline Norton, eager for a great-grandchild, had somehow used a sneaky tactic to force them into consummating their marriage.

Natalie only remembered waking up in Jeffrey's arms, completely naked.

When Jeffrey woke up, he immediately grabbed her by the throat. No matter what she said, he didn't believe her.

The pregnancy was conceived that night. Once was enough—she really was fertile.

Jeffrey scoffed and slipped into his silk pajamas. His voice was low. "Didn't you have something to tell me?"

As he passed her, he briefly glanced at the paper that was crumpled in her hand, but didn't care enough to acknowledge it. He moved to the window and lit a cigarette.

Natalie looked at his back. "If we have children, then…"

He cut her off, irritation thick in his voice. "Natalie, do you really think a baby will keep me around? Was sleeping together not enough? I never realized you're such a manipulative woman."

Jeffrey flicked the ash off his cigarette. "You've been playing the perfect wife for five years, but now, your true nature is showing."

Natalie steadied her voice and asked one last question. "Since you hate me, you'll hate the child I'm carrying for you as well, won't you?"

"Yes," Jeffrey answered without hesitation.

Natalie felt her heart break. She had invested five years of her youth in him, only for it all to crumble in the blink of an eye.

They were husband and wife, yet it was just a one-woman show she had to keep up alone. He hated her, and by extension, hated everything about her, including the child.

Jeffrey loved Abigail, and that love had brought her family so many benefits. They had been thriving in Caspia City.

Now, Natalie fully understood.

Lifting the pregnancy test results in her hand, she took a deep breath. "Jeffrey, these are divorce papers."

His figure shook slightly as he turned to look at her in surprise. She brought up divorce on her own accord? He hadn't expected that.

"I'm letting go. I don't want to love you anymore," she said. "The terms are already written. I was about to give them to you, but…"

Natalie stopped herself, then suddenly began tearing the papers apart. The ripping sound echoed in the room.

Jeffrey frowned. What was she doing?

Natalie ripped the pregnancy test results into pieces and threw them in the air. The pieces fluttered down like confetti.

Jeffrey narrowed his eyes. "Did you change your mind? Do you not want to divorce me anymore?"

"No," Natalie answered calmly. "I want to change the terms and write a new one."

"What do you want?"

"Money."

She wanted lots of money to secure her and the children's future.

Natalie didn't want to leave with nothing. She owed him nothing, so this was what she deserved. Whether it was love or marriage, Natalie had done everything right, and she had done nothing wrong by him.

If she were alone, she wouldn't have minded walking away with nothing.

What Jeffrey would never know was that, at that very moment, Natalie was tearing apart his identity as her children's father.

All she needed now was for him to sign both the divorce agreement and the surgery consent form.

She wasn't going to tell him she was carrying his children.

The news of her child not having a heartbeat was devastating to her as a mother, but she had to face it alone with all her strength.

Jeffrey sneered. "Natalie, you'd better get the hell out of my life after taking the money. Also, you should tell my family yourself that you're the one asking for the divorce."

Natalie nodded. "Okay."

Jeffrey was surprised that she was being so cooperative. She only wanted money and nothing else. He thought she would be difficult and demand answers from him, but she was being very calm and indifferent.

Something didn't sit right with him.

Jeffrey felt a surge of unease as he took a few puffs of his cigarette, trying to push the feeling down. "Don't try anything funny."

The truth was, after five years, he'd almost gotten used to Natalie. She was the perfect Mrs. Foster, always flawless both in public and at home.

Natalie was smart, graceful, and handled everything with ease. She was great with people, and at home, she was gentle and obedient while keeping everything in order.

But she had tricked him into consummating their marriage five years later.

It disgusted him because he couldn't explain this to Abigail.

"Tell me, what else do you want?" Jeffrey crushed his cigarette. "Spit it out."

Natalie raised one finger. "This is the last, and only, additional request."

He snorted. "I knew it."

She wasn't so easy to deal with. There had to be more.

Natalie blinked, looking at the man she'd loved for so many years. She had been by his side through it all, since their school days.

In his life, he held all the power, but in his heart, she had never mattered.

Unrequited love never ended well.

Natalie said, "Jeffrey, let's have some cake and celebrate our fifth anniversary."

Jeffrey froze. Was today their wedding anniversary?

Chapter 2

The moment Natalie saw Jeffrey's expression, she knew—he really didn't remember.

Jeffrey pressed his lips together. He had spent five years living with her, but to him, those years didn't feel long or difficult.

In fact, they passed in the blink of an eye. It all felt so fast that it almost didn't seem real to him. Had it really been five years?

Natalie smiled a little. "Well, here's to us. On our fifth anniversary, we've finally decided to end this exhausting marriage."

As she smiled and set the cake down, her eyes started to glisten with tears.

Natalie had made the cake herself. From the cake base to the frosting to the fruit, everything was her own work.

The cake was covered with a thick layer of mango slices.

Natalie was allergic to mangoes. Her mouth would break out in blisters, and her hands would get itchy bumps.

But Jeffrey loved mangoes. He had seen her allergic reaction when she ate them, but didn't seem to care. In fact, he didn't even seem to remember. The next day, mangoes showed up on the table again.

So today, Natalie put on gloves in the kitchen, carefully peeling and chopping the mangoes while putting all her love into making the cake.

She imagined, and even hoped, that when she presented the cake, the ice in Jeffrey's gaze would melt a little as he looked at her.

But sadly, it was just her being delusional.

She cut a small piece of the cake and handed it to him.

Just then, Jeffrey's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID, and his expression softened in an instant.

"Hey, Ab."

"I've arrived, Jeffrey." Abigail's cheerful voice came through the phone. "Do you want to come pick me up?"

Before Jeffrey could answer, she added, "If it's not convenient for you, it's fine. I'll just take a cab."

Jeffrey raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't your flight tomorrow?"

"I changed the flight and came back early. Jeffrey, I really couldn't wait to see you. I missed you so much."

Jeffrey smiled, his voice deep and warm. "I'll be right there."

He hung up, turned, and walked away.

Natalie stood there, still holding the cake.

"Take a bite." She tried to keep her voice steady, holding back her tears.

But Jeffrey didn't even pause.

Seeing that, Natalie took a deep breath. "I made it myself."

Jeffrey didn't even glance at her. "I don't have the time."

He was in a rush to pick up Abigail, and he had no time to waste.

Natalie bit her lip. "Jeffrey, would it kill you to spend one extra second away from Abigail?"

Apparently, that did the trick. Jeffrey immediately turned back to her with eyes sharp as blades.

After a few seconds, he grabbed the plate from her and slammed it face-down onto the cake. It was destroyed instantly, the words "Happy Fifth Anniversary" on top of it vanishing.

But Jeffrey wasn't done, kicking it over before leaving, slamming the door shut with a bang.

Natalie looked down at the mess on the floor. It was just like her life and marriage.

She'd always wanted to ask Jeffrey if he'd ever really loved her, but she was afraid that his answer would haunt her for the rest of her life.

She still remembered that one moment, years ago, when he had said to her so earnestly, "You'll always have me."

Those words became her guiding belief.

At ten years old, Natalie lost both of her parents. They had died in a car accident while traveling for work.

Natalie's second uncle, Tyler Bennett, offered to help look after the family business on Natalie's behalf, but it was less of that and more of a clear takeover.

At the funeral, Natalie was dressed in black as she stared at the photographs of her parents in the hall. She had cried so much that she was already numb to it all.

Her older brother, Stephen Bennett, stood beside her. He was only a few years older than her.

That was when Jeffrey showed up.

He was the same age as Stephen and in the same class. Jeffrey was tall, slim, and had a quiet presence. He had followed his family to attend the funeral.

Caroline had comforted Beverly Crimson, Natalie's grandmother. The two had been close friends for years, sharing a deep bond that they had formed in their youth.

Beverly had just lost her son and daughter-in-law. She was so devastated that she had aged ten years in an instant.

"They're gone, leaving two children behind. Nat is only ten." Beverly sighed. "What's going to happen to the children?"

Caroline's gaze landed on Natalie, sizing her up. "Maybe we could have Jeffrey marry Natalie. They're childhood friends, and we know each other well. It would be a good match."

That was how the marriage was arranged, and at that time, Jeffrey didn't object to it, either.

Before leaving, he handed Natalie a mango-flavored gummy. "You lost your parents, but you'll always have me."

He was slim, with bright eyes and a hint of youthful charm that had effortlessly captured her heart.

She had truly believed him, but that was before Abigail appeared.

At first, Abigail was nothing special. She was quiet, wore thick glasses, and was clearly a bookworm. She was so low-key that Natalie hadn't even paid any attention to her.

But a fire changed everything.

The sports equipment room caught fire for some unknown reason. Jeffrey, who was inside the room at the time, was trapped. It was Abigail who rushed in without any hesitation to save him.

She saved his life, but in the process, she inhaled smoke and damaged her lungs. Often, she would cough, and her once clear voice became hoarse.

After that, Jeffrey and Abigail grew close.

Soon, they graduated from college, and both families began planning for the arranged marriage.

Jeffrey came to Natalie, wanting to break off their engagement and marry Abigail.

However, Natalie couldn't accept it. She hadn't been at school when the fire happened, but if she had, she would've rushed in to save him, too.

In the end, Jeffrey reluctantly married her and sent Abigail abroad.

Now, five years later, Natalie hadn't won his heart at all. Instead, all she had earned was his hatred.

She crouched down, grabbed the cake with her hands, and shoved bite after bite into her mouth. The cake's sweetness contrasted with her tears' saltiness.

That night, Jeffrey didn't come home.

Natalie sat at the table, trying to draft the divorce agreement, but the words wouldn't come. She stayed there all night, but not a single word was written.

What she wanted wasn't money. But the one thing she truly wanted, she might never get.

…

Natalie was woken by the sound of her phone ringing. She realized she had fallen asleep at the table, and the sun had already risen.

"Hello?"

"Meet me at the courthouse in half an hour," Jeffrey said. "Bring the divorce papers."

Natalie blinked, staring at the blank piece of paper, then softly replied, "Okay."

Jeffrey's voice came again. "Don't tell anyone."

He was worried Natalie might go to Caroline. If his grandmother got involved, there was no way the divorce would happen.

"You don't have to worry. I will never bother you anymore," Natalie said.

Jeffrey was silent for a few seconds. "Good."

He couldn't relax until the divorce was official, fearing that Natalie might reconsider and mess up his plans.

He had made Abigail wait for five years. He couldn't afford to make her wait any longer.

Natalie downloaded a divorce agreement template from the internet, made a few small changes, printed it out, and signed her name.

As she stood by the door, putting on her shoes, the butler asked, "Ma'am, where are you going so early?"

Since marrying Jeffrey, Natalie had become a full-time housewife. She had given up her career and spent all her time revolving around Jeffrey.

Her social life was simple. She was either at home, at Foster Group, or spending time with the Foster family's and the Bennett family's elders.

Natalie had almost forgotten that she was once a top student at Andby University who had even given a speech at her graduation as the student representative.

For the past five years, she had given up everything for Jeffrey, only to earn his disdain.

Natalie smiled softly. "I'm going to say goodbye to the old me."

She really didn't want to love Jeffrey anymore.

It was time she lived for herself.

Chapter 3

At the courthouse, Natalie immediately spotted Jeffrey standing by the entrance. He was dressed in a sharp suit, looking as immaculate as ever.

Even after all these years, his face still took her breath away. With his chiseled features, high nose, and cold, commanding eyes, he exuded both strength and authority.

He had gone from a young, fresh-faced guy to a confident, successful player in the finance world, and now, he had a new sense of maturity and calm.

Holding the documents in his hands, Jeffrey lifted his gaze toward Natalie, who was walking over to him.

When he saw her, the furrow in his brow softened just a little. Without a word, he turned and headed straight for the divorce department.

Natalie followed behind him.

The room was unnervingly quiet as the air conditioning chilled both of them to the core.

Soon, the clerk took their documents, asking, "What's the reason for the divorce?"

The question hung in the air, leaving both of them silent for a moment. It seemed that neither of them could bring themselves to say the real reason.

Finally, Natalie spoke. "We've grown apart."

As she spoke, her fingers involuntarily curled into a tight fist.

Jeffrey glanced down at her hands and suddenly noticed the red rashes on them. Then, his gaze flicked to her lips, where similar red spots had formed.

He hadn't really looked at her all this time, so he only noticed then.

Feeling his eyes on her, Natalie lowered her head.

He spoke with a hint of scorn in his voice. "Are you trying to play the martyr now?"

Natalie's heart skipped.

Jeffrey remembered the cake last night. "You're allergic to mangoes, right? Did you think this self-inflicted pain would make me feel sorry for you?"

For a moment, she had been touched by his first sentence. He remembered, after all.

But then, his second sentence shattered that fleeting hope.

She didn't respond to him. Instead, she turned to the clerk, speaking clearly. "We're here to get a divorce."

"Right. Come back in a month to finish the procedure."

The clerk returned the documents to them.

"Understood. Thank you," Natalie replied.

She remained so calm and composed that the staff couldn't help but add, "You have such a handsome husband. Are you really going to let him go? Won't you regret it?"

Natalie laughed. "I think he'll regret it."

He would never meet anyone who loved him the way she did.

Jeffrey scoffed under his breath. This was ridiculous. She had lost her mind and was now spouting nonsense!

"That's not going to happen," he muttered with a sneer.

Regret? It wasn't even a possibility.

As they stepped out of the courthouse, the heat outside hit them instantly, melting away the cold from the air-conditioned room.

"Where's the divorce agreement?" Jeffrey asked. "Hand it over. I'll sign it now."

He was eager to get it over with, not wanting to waste any more time.

Natalie's hand reached into her bag, and just as she felt the papers, she froze.

She had forgotten something very important. In her rush this morning, she hadn't placed the surgery consent form with the divorce papers!

She couldn't possibly bring the consent form separately to him. If she did, he would know about her pregnancy.

Jeffrey noticed her pause. "Hm?"

"I…" Natalie trailed off before quickly continuing, "I haven't finished writing it up yet. Just give me a little more time."

Jeffrey narrowed his eyes, smirking. "Is this your way of delaying the divorce?"

"You're overthinking it, Jeffrey. As soon as it's done, I'll bring it to you to sign. It won't be a problem."

She turned and walked away, her posture straight as she tried to hold onto her dignity.

For years, she had been subservient to him. Now, she was leaving with pride.

Jeffrey let out a snort and turned in the opposite direction, walking away. His Maybach and assistant, Ryan Baker, were waiting by the curb.

Ryan opened the back door. "Mr. Foster."

Jeffrey got in, and the car started moving.

Just as they approached the next intersection, they suddenly heard a strange noise, followed by the car coming to an abrupt stop.

The sudden jolt caused Jeffrey to lurch forward.

"There seems to be an issue with the tire," the driver said nervously. "Mr. Foster, please wait. I'll check it out."

Jeffrey, frustrated, pressed his fingers to his forehead and looked out the window.

Coincidentally, he spotted Natalie waiting at the bus stop.

Suddenly, a black Bentley rolled up beside her, and a man got out, walking straight toward her.

Jeffrey recognized him right away. It was Johnson Payton, Natalie's senior from Andby University, and the former student union president. Natalie was the vice-president back then.

It hit him hard then. She had been so calm about the divorce because she already had someone else lined up!

Anger bubbled up within Jeffrey.

Even though he didn't love her and never really wanted to be married to her, it stung. She had been his wife for years, yet here she was, out with another man right after getting a divorce from him.

What was he to her? Was this the love Natalie had been talking about all these years?

He tugged at his tie, trying to push the feeling down.

Meanwhile, standing at the bus stop, Natalie froze when she saw Johnson approaching. "Johnson."

Johnson looked at her, his voice low and reassuring. "I heard you got divorced."

Natalie blinked. How did he know? She and Jeffrey were the only ones who knew.

Sensing her confusion, Johnson said, "I guessed. Abigail is back, and there's no way Jeffrey would stay married to you now."

Natalie stayed silent.

"Natalie, the promise I made to you the night before your wedding five years ago still stands."

Back then, Johnson had told her that one day, when she had made up her mind and gotten a divorce, he would be waiting to marry her.

Natalie smiled softly. "Johnson, won't this count as a rebound?"

"If Jeffrey can cheat on you while married, why can't you get a rebound?"

Natalie shook her head. "It wouldn't be fair to you."

She was a divorced woman, and she was pregnant.

This wasn't a "buy one free one" deal. Why should Johnson have to take responsibility for her life choices? No man would want to become a father for children that were not his.

"I don't want to start another relationship. Love is too painful."

She had been treated so unfairly in her relationship with Jeffrey.

"But Natalie, once Jeffrey finds out you're carrying his child, even if you're divorced, he'll fight you for custody."

Natalie paused, staring at him. He seemed to know everything.

Johnson explained, "I've noticed how often you've been going to the hospital lately. Anyone who cares about you would notice."

Only Jeffrey didn't care. He didn't keep track of her life.

After a momentary pause, Natalie finally said, "He won't want the child."

He had made it clear that he hated her and everything related to her, including her children.

"Even if he doesn't want the child, the Foster family will," Johnson said.

If that happened, raising the child by herself would be nothing more than a pipe dream.

Johnson stepped closer. "Natalie, I can be the child's legal father."

"Thank you for your kindness, Johnson, but I really don't want to drag you into this."

"I'm more than willing to."

Just as Natalie was about to respond, a loud honking cut through the air.

A Maybach drove up to them, slowing down to a crawl as the rear window rolled down to reveal Jeffrey's sharp side profile.

Chapter 4

Jeffrey turned his head slightly, his eyes locking on Natalie and Johnson. Half of his face was bathed in light, the other hidden in shadow, giving him a menacing, almost terrifying look.

He said nothing, but his gaze was sharp and piercing.

As the car moved away, Jeffrey raised the window.

"Mr. Foster," Ryan said, breaking the silence. "Your wife is with another man. If the paparazzi catch this and blow it out of proportion, it could damage your image and Foster Group's reputation."

"Won't she be the one most negatively affected by this?"

"Um…"

Jeffrey continued indifferently, "It would be best if she spent the night with Johnson. Her reputation will be ruined, and then when we divorce, she won't get a penny from me."

Natalie wanted money, didn't she? The more she wanted, the less he'd give her. He'd rather donate it to charity than give it to her.

He wanted to see how she would fare in life without him. Considering the situation in the Bennett family and her hopeless brother, she'd never have an easy life.

Natalie thought she had the strength to leave him, but she had clearly forgotten just how much she had relied on his family to live comfortably all these years.

Jeffrey had wanted to crush her pride for a long time.

…

After the divorce, the only place Natalie could go was back to the Bennett residence.

When her parents passed away, everything, including the business, shares, and property, was taken over by her uncle, Tyler Bennett. The only thing that Tyler left her and Stephen was this villa.

When she married Jeffrey, she had moved out. Now, she was moving back.

As she walked into the living room, the stench of alcohol hit her nose. Empty bottles were scattered across the floor, along with cigarette butts, party streamers, and several sets of poker cards. It was like a garbage dump.

Stephen was sprawled out on the couch in an unconscious state with his arm around a woman in a tank top.

Natalie's anger flared up. She picked up an empty bottle and slammed it down onto the coffee table.

The loud sound of glass shattering woke the couple up from their drunken stupor.

Stephen shot up, rubbing his eyes. "What happened? Did I just hear an explosion?"

Natalie glared at him. "I'm about to explode."

"Hey, Nat," Stephen said, relaxing when he saw who it was. "You're back, huh? Come, sit down."

He tried to lie back down, but Natalie stormed over, grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him upright.

Then, she turned to the woman. "Aren't you leaving?"

The woman glared at her. "Who are you? Stephen, you told me I'm the only woman in your life."

"Get out. She's my sister."

Hearing that, the woman had no choice but to leave.

Stephen, still not fully awake, slouched back on the couch, yawning. "Did you come alone? Where's Jeffrey? Didn't he come with you?"

"We're divorced."

"Pfft. Don't joke around." Stephen waved it off. "You've loved him for years. You're practically obsessed with him. How could you possibly let him go?"

"It's true this time."

Stephen stared at her, his eyes wide in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?"

"You're the one who's out of your mind!" Natalie snapped. "You've been drinking, partying, and fooling around. Frankly, you've been useless. Is this how you're going to spend your life? Do you want to drag our family into the ground?"

When Tyler took over the family business, he claimed it was because they were too young and didn't understand how to manage it. So, he took control.

Now that they were adults, Stephen was nothing but a failure. Every business venture he had tried ended in disaster. He lacked any real business sense, only knowing how to squander money on alcohol and partying.

Meanwhile, Natalie had married young, and Tyler had told her that once she was married, she had no place in the Bennett family business.

Stephen muttered, "I want to succeed, too. But I'm just not cut out for this. What can I do? Besides, Jeffrey hasn't lifted a finger to help me. Why don't you think about that? He's been more interested in helping the Wrights!"

His words hit a nerve with Natalie.

If Jeffrey had just given a little support, Stephen could have succeeded. But instead, he left Stephen to flounder.

Because of that, Stephen had grown bitter, and now, he'd given up entirely.

"And then there's Abigail," Stephen added, bitterness in his voice. "So what if she saved him once? You're still his legally married wife. Why didn't you try using your influence on him to help me out? You two grew up together. Doesn't that count for something?"

"Abigail's back," Natalie said flatly.

"What?" Stephen's eyes widened in shock once again. "Oh, no. It's over now. With your divorce and Abigail taking over your position, we've now lost everything. We're done for."

Natalie gritted her teeth. "Stop it, Stephen! The way forward is ours to decide, and we haven't hit rock bottom yet."

Stephen asked, "Do you think you can turn things around on your own?"

"Yeah. I need you to pull together all your resources, contacts, and project information. Make a detailed report for me. I'll go after the deals you couldn't close."

She didn't believe she was any less capable than anyone else.

Stephen looked her up and down. "Do you even know what you're saying? You're facing not just Jeffrey's resistance but Tyler's opposition as well."

Natalie simply responded, "Just give me the report."

If only she were a man, she could've fought for the family business long ago. Instead, she had wasted five years on a one-sided love.

But it wasn't too late.

Natalie spent the next three days organizing the mess of multiple projects Stephen had neglected. She pursued the ones with potential vigorously while discarding the hopeless ones.

By day, she was out in the field, meeting with bank executives, engineers, and other professionals. Despite being turned down repeatedly, she never gave up and kept asking to meet them.

By night, she sat at her desk, sorting through files, until her eyes couldn't stay open anymore.

Was it exhausting? Yes. But it didn't compare to the exhaustion of loving Jeffrey.

That morning, just as Natalie was about to leave, her phone rang. It was the Foster family's butler calling.

"Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Foster Senior had a sudden medical emergency last night and was rushed to the hospital. She's awake now, but she's been asking for you. You should come as soon as possible."

"I'll be right there," Natalie replied, rushing out the door.

Caroline had always cared for Natalie deeply. After all, it had been Caroline who had arranged her marriage to Jeffrey. She genuinely hoped the two would stay in love forever.

Natalie hurriedly pushed open the door to Caroline's ward and immediately saw Jeffrey standing by the bed. He was there, too.

Jeffrey glanced at her coldly, his lips pressed tight. He still had that familiar air of detached arrogance about him.

Chapter 5

Caroline was lying in bed, hooked up to an IV and with an oxygen mask over her face. Hearing the sound of footsteps, her voice trembled as she asked, "Is Natalie here? Is she?"

"Caroline." Natalie quickly rushed to her bedside, taking Caroline's hand. "It's me. I came to see you."

The cloudiness in Caroline's eyes slowly cleared, and a gentle smile spread across her face. "Just seeing you makes me feel at peace."

"Caroline, I'm always here. Whenever you need me, I'll come," Natalie replied softly. "You need to take care of yourself and live a long, happy life."

Caroline sighed. "If I can live to see you have your baby and hold my great-grandchild, that will be enough for me."

Natalie's eyelids trembled at that.

"It's been five years. There should be some signs of pregnancy by now. What do you say, Jeffrey?" Caroline remarked, glancing at Jeffrey.

Jeffrey didn't answer.

"I'm asking you a question!" Caroline's voice grew louder before she broke into a series of heavy coughs, her face flushing red.

Natalie quickly patted her back to help her breathe easier.

Should she tell Caroline the truth? If Caroline knew that they were already divorced and were just waiting for the procedure to be completed, would it send her into another emergency?

While she was lost in thought, she suddenly felt a familiar warmth at her shoulder. The scent of mint filled the air as Jeffrey's hand slid over her shoulder, pulling her gently against him.

"We're in the process of trying for a baby. If all goes well, we'll have some good news soon."

Caroline's face lit up, as if she had taken a vitality pill. "Really?"

"Really." Jeffrey smiled and lowered his lips near Natalie's ear. "If you don't believe me, ask Nat."

Caroline grinned from ear to ear. "I've known you two are a perfect match for ten years. I arranged everything early on. See? I have good taste."

Smiling, Natalie agreed, "Yes, Caroline. Without you, there'd be no us."

Caroline laughed heartily and nodded. "Well, it looks like I was right about making you two consummate your marriage. This kind of love is better nurtured at night. Sure, my methods weren't entirely proper. But hey, it worked out!"

Natalie could hear Jeffrey's barely audible scoff. He still thought the whole thing was Natalie's idea, even if Caroline was the one who ordered it. All this while, he thought that Natalie was simply pretending to be innocent.

She used to explain herself over and over to him, but he never believed her. Now, she didn't care to explain anymore. She didn't care about what he thought of her, either.

Caroline suddenly shifted her focus. "By the way, Jeffrey, is that girl, Abigail, back in Caspia City?"

"I think so."

It was Natalie's turn to scoff at his response. It was clear that Jeffrey had gone to the airport to pick Abigail up last night and hadn't come home at all. They must have spent the whole night together.

Natalie forced herself not to think too deeply about it and lowered her gaze.

Caroline spoke sternly. "You need to keep your distance from her. You're a married man now. She saved your life, yes, but it's time to move on. She's already gotten enough benefits from our family, anyway."

She continued, "You'd better not be messing around, Jeffrey. As long as I'm alive, she'll never get into our family. You and Natalie need to live your life together well. Don't get yourself caught up with other women."

Jeffrey replied, "Mm. I've got nothing to do with her."

Caroline nodded, pleased. She rambled on for a while, then took her medicine and fell asleep.

Outside the hospital ward, Jeffrey and Natalie stood facing each other. They were husband and wife, but now, they were like complete strangers.

Jeffrey began, "Grandma's heart can't handle the stress, so we can't let her know about the divorce yet."

"How long do you plan to keep this up?"

"It depends on the situation."

Natalie raised an eyebrow. "You can't hide the truth forever."

Jeffrey's patience wore thin as he frowned. "Are you teaching me how to handle things now?"

"Jeffrey, why should I always bend to your will? Do you expect me to just follow you unconditionally? You tell me to do something, and I'm supposed to just obey?"

Jeffrey grew even more impatient. "Isn't that how it's always been between us?"

From the moment they met, everything had been done his way. It had been like that for 17 years.

She was just ten years old when she met him, and now, she was a grown woman at 27, while Jeffrey was 30.

It had always been like this between them. So, why was she going up against him now?

Naturally, it unsettled Jeffrey.

Natalie let out a dry laugh. "Just because it's been like this all this time doesn't mean it's right. Jeffrey, I'm a human with feelings and not your puppet."

"Why didn't you say all this before?"

"Because I loved you. But I don't love you anymore," she answered quietly.

Natalie was ready to take control of her own life. She wasn't the Mrs. Foster who revolved around him anymore. Instead, she was Natalie Bennett.

An unfamiliar sensation washed over Jeffrey. She said she didn't love him anymore. So what? He didn't care about her love.

Jeffrey suppressed his unease and spoke coldly. "Whether you love me or not, you still have to listen to me, Natalie."

"What if I don't?"

He chuckled indifferently, reaching up to lift her chin. "You're not even close to being able to go up against me."

"What do you mean?"

Jeffrey raised an eyebrow. "I know everything you've been up to lately. With just one word from me, no one in Caspia City would dare do business with you. Do you believe me?"

She believed him. Of course, she did. Jeffrey was a powerful figure in Caspia City, and no one would dare cross him.

To be honest, Natalie wouldn't tell Caroline about the divorce because she cared about her health. But she hated Jeffrey's arrogance.

She had obeyed him for far too long. It was time to break free.

She gritted her teeth. "You can try to shut me down, but I'll take this to the Foster family. I'll make a scene at Foster Group. I've got nothing to lose. Let's see who ends up more humiliated and embarrassed."

Jeffrey warned her in a low voice, "Don't push it, Natalie."

She had always been so obedient, but now, she was like a rose with thorns.

He wasn't used to it. How was he supposed to deal with her fiery side? This loss of control unsettled him.

Natalie shoved his hand away and turned her head.

As she did, she noticed something odd—Jeffrey's shirt and tie didn't match. He wore a gray shirt, which should have been paired with a dark tie, but today, he wore a light blue tie. Moreover, his suit jacket was black.

Natalie furrowed her brow. Who picked his clothes for him? Without her, had he been dressing sloppily like this?

All these years, she had taken care of his every detail. Now, could he not even match his outfit after just a few days without her?