Chapter 1

Natalie Cooper had spent the entire day at the sanatorium caring for her mother, Sabrina Robinson. By the time she returned home, night had already fallen.

She got out of the cab and ran through the rain toward the villa.

Winter in Haxson City was bitterly cold, with rain laced with sleet that made her shiver uncontrollably.

"Roger, Sarah, I'm back," Natalie called as she stepped into the living room, shrugging off her coat.

It was almost 8:30 pm, but the house was empty. Not even Pamela Carlson, the housekeeper, was in sight.

That had never happened before.

Normally, even if her son, Roger Payne, had been taken out by his father, Rowan Payne, her daughter, Sarah Payne, would still be home.

A sudden twitch in her eyelids made Natalie uneasy. She hurried upstairs to look for the children. After searching every room, she still found no one.

She tried calling Pamela, but it went straight to voicemail.

The villa felt vast and hollow, its silence heavy and unsettling. Natalie sank onto the couch, exhausted, her eyes fixed on the storm battering the floor-to-ceiling windows, worry gnawing at her.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a tiny figure pressed against the glass door of the living room balcony.

Natalie's heart seized. She shot to her feet and ran over, quickly unlatching the door that had somehow been locked from the inside.

"Sarah… what are you doing out here?" Natalie asked, her voice trembling as she scooped up her six-year-old daughter.

Sarah wasn't wearing a coat, and her white sweater was soaked through. Her hands and cheeks were bright red from the cold, and sweat dotted her forehead.

"Mommy… cold…" Sarah murmured, barely keeping her eyes open.

"How did you end up locked out on the balcony? Where are Daddy and Roger?" Natalie asked, holding her tight as she rushed to the bathroom for a hot shower.

Once she was dried off and dressed in fresh clothes, Sarah, pale and weak, explained that she had been playing hide-and-seek with Roger and had hidden on the balcony. Somehow, the door had locked behind her.

She shouted for what seemed like hours, but no one came to open the door. The glass door was soundproof, so even if someone were in the living room, they wouldn't have heard her.

Natalie knew that the Paynes had never truly regarded Sarah as part of the family. All their attention and favor went to Roger, the family's prized heir.

But no matter what, there was no excuse for leaving a six-year-old child out in the cold like this.

Natalie couldn't believe how cruel Rowan had been, taking Roger out while leaving Sarah locked on the balcony. She realized that, in his heart, Sarah had never truly existed as his daughter.

"Mommy… I'm so cold. Am I… going to die?" Sarah nestled against Natalie, her teeth chattering violently.

Her body was burning with fever, her small frame trembling uncontrollably.

"No, of course not," Natalie said immediately. "I'll take you to the hospital."

Her heart racing with worry, Natalie grabbed the car keys Rowan had given her from the drawer. Then, she ran to the garage with Sarah in her arms.

The garage wasn't far, and she hadn't brought an umbrella. However, when she arrived, the white BMW that was always parked there was gone. She pressed the key fob repeatedly, but the car didn't respond.

With no other option, Natalie ran out of the villa, still holding Sarah. The neighborhood was filled with wealthy families where everyone drove their own cars, so finding a cab at the gate was nearly impossible.

Natalie waited anxiously on the street when, all of a sudden, Sarah began to have a seizure in her arms.

"Sarah… what's wrong? Don't scare me…" Natalie's voice trembled as she sank to the ground.

Seeing that Sarah was having a seizure caused by the high fever, Natalie didn't hesitate to put her hand into Sarah's mouth to keep her from biting her tongue.

Natalie whimpered in pain as Sarah bit down hard. Blood poured from her palm, and she felt as if the edge of her hand could be torn off at any moment. Even so, Sarah's seizure didn't ease."

"Sarah, Sarah, don't scare me… wake up…" Natalie sobbed.

Rain mixed with her blood pooled around them, but Natalie didn't notice. Heart pounding, she grabbed her phone with her free hand and called Rowan.

It rang for a long time before someone finally answered.

"Rowan, Sarah has a high fever and is having seizures. She's in critical condition. Where are you? Can you come back and take us to the hospital?" Natalie blurted, her voice hoarse and trembling.

"Mommy, Daddy doesn't have time right now."

It was Roger, his young voice cold and distant.

"Did you forget? Today is Ms. Chapman's birthday, and Daddy's company just signed a major deal, so everyone at Payne Holdings is celebrating."

So Imogen Chapman was with Rowan and Roger tonight. No wonder Sarah had been left alone at home and nearly frozen to death.

Ever since Imogen returned to the country, she had joined Payne Holdings and stayed by Rowan's side every day. After all, she was his first love.

Natalie's marriage to Rowan had always been a contractual arrangement. Now that he finally had the chance to be with Imogen openly, he welcomed it without hesitation.

"Roger, give the phone to your dad. I need to speak to him," Natalie said, not caring about anything else. She just wanted to get Sarah to the hospital as quickly as possible.

As she spoke, she used her body to shield Sarah from the rain as much as she could.

"Mommy, if you do that, Daddy and Ms. Chapman will be unhappy," Roger replied impatiently. "I'm not giving him the phone. Grandma was right. You just sit at home all day and do nothing but cause trouble for Daddy."

His sharp accusations came through the line.

Roger and Sarah were twins, and Natalie had raised them both on her own. A year ago, Rowan had claimed he needed to expand the company overseas and couldn't simply travel back and forth between countries.

As the Payne family's only heir, Roger was meant to inherit Payne Group, so Rowan took him abroad to study.

At first, Roger cried for Natalie every day, calling her constantly. Gradually, the calls slowed until they stopped altogether.

When Natalie called him, he sounded impatient and constantly talked about Imogen, saying Natalie couldn't even compare her.

Now that Rowan and Roger were back, the boy on the other end of the line was no longer the sweet, gentle, and thoughtful child Natalie had raised.

Instead, he sounded like a son Imogen herself had carried for ten months and given birth to, always siding with her in everything.

"Roger, I'm begging you. Please give the phone to your dad. Your sister is really sick. I have no other choice," Natalie pleaded, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.

"Mommy, can you stop crying all the time? I don't even understand why I have a mom like you," Roger snapped, his voice sharp and full of irritation.

"Roger, I can't get a car," Natalie said desperately. "Your sister has a fever—"

Before she could finish, loud teasing cheers and laughter erupted through the phone.

"Kiss her! Kiss her!"

Chapter 2

Natalie's tears fell in despair. She should have known it would end like this.

Even so, she still clung to a shred of hope and called Rowan again, only for the call to be rejected immediately this time.

She had been married to Rowan for seven years. The first two years had been genuinely happy, but everything changed completely after Imogen returned.

Sarah was already unconscious in her arms.

"Sarah… Sarah, don't scare me. I'm taking you to the hospital right now!" Natalie cried hoarsely.

In panic, she immediately called her best friend, Carmen Burton.

"Hello—" Natalie had just gotten through when the call abruptly disconnected.

Her phone service had been suspended due to unpaid charges, and Natalie's last thread of hope snapped completely.

"Sarah, please don't scare me… someone, please help my daughter…" Natalie cried, her voice breaking as she ran through the pouring night rain, holding the unconscious Sarah in her arms.

A car sped toward them from a distance, its headlights blinding Natalie until she couldn't open her eyes. Exhausted beyond her limit, she collapsed weakly onto the wet ground.

The car pulled up beside them, and a tall figure stepped out, holding a black umbrella that shielded them from the cold rain.

"What's wrong with her?" A man's deep, magnetic voice echoed in the night.

"Please… save my daughter. I'm begging you…"

Worried for Sarah's safety, Natalie had long abandoned all pride. She knelt before the figure, pleading for help.

When she looked up, she realized who it was.

"It's you!"

…

At the club, Rowan sat on a spacious couch, accepting the attention and toasts from everyone around him.

Nearby, a group of young people was teasing a couple. Urged on by the crowd, the pair shyly embraced and shared a quick kiss.

Imogen noticed Roger answering a call and walked over to him.

"Roger, who were you talking to?" she asked gently.

"Mommy." Roger pouted. "She called Daddy on purpose and said Sarah was sick. I think she just wants us to go home early so we can't have fun."

"That's fine. I've got your back," Imogen said softly, rubbing his head. "We're not going home tonight."

Close to 11:00 pm, Rowan finally noticed Roger sitting on the couch playing games.

"Roger, the lighting is too dim," he said. "Playing games like this isn't good for your eyes. Give me the phone."

"Okay," Roger replied, handing it over.

Rowan checked the phone. There were no messages on and no missed calls.

"Rowan, Roger, let's go cut the cake," Imogen called as she walked over.

"Okay," Rowan responded.

Roger tugged on Imogen's hand and leaned in close. "I deleted Mommy's call from Daddy's call log. I'm smart, right? Now we don't have to go home."

Imogen cupped his face and kissed his forehead.

"My Roger is the smartest."

…

Early the next morning, Natalie stepped out of Sarah's hospital room and happened to see Rowan in the hallway.

He wore a long black coat, his handsome features slightly tired, and he carried breakfast in his left hand.

Just as she thought he had come to see Sarah, a hospital room door ahead opened, blocking her view of Rowan.

"Daddy, you finally bought breakfast," Roger said, tugging playfully on Rowan's arm. "Ms. Chapman and I are starving."

"Let's go," Rowan replied, following Roger into the room.

Natalie found her feet moving on her own. She walked instinctively toward that hospital room. Through the clear glass on the door, she could see all three of them inside the VIP room.

Imogen sat on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, wearing a blue-and-white striped hospital gown. Rowan thoughtfully placed the breakfast he had brought on the small overbed table.

Beside them, Roger handed Imogen a wrung-out towel. After taking it, Imogen used it to wipe her hands.

They looked as if they were a real family, sharing a warm and perfect moment.

"Ms. Chapman, eat a little more. Daddy bought all of this for you himself," Roger said, handing her a small spoon. "You drank too much last night and threw everything up, so you must be really hungry now."

Imogen had suffered badly from drinking too much the night before. Rowan had been worried something might happen, so he had personally brought her to the hospital.

"Thank you, Roger," Imogen said gently. "And thank you too, Rowan. You should eat as well."

Natalie turned to the side and leaned against the wall, her chest aching as if it were being crushed. She had known from the start that Rowan had married her only because of pressure from his grandmother, Matilda Fraley.

He had never loved her; their marriage was nothing more than a contract.

She had secretly loved him since college. He was three years older and her senior.

Rowan had always been untouchable, almost godlike. She felt so small and insignificant that he would never truly notice her.

She had thought she would never cross paths with Rowan in this lifetime, yet she had accidentally saved Matilda, who liked her so much that she forced Rowan to marry her.

The contract had clearly stated that if, after seven years, they still had no feelings for each other, Rowan could divorce her.

For seven long years, Natalie had tried with all her heart to warm Rowan's cold, indifferent heart—and still failed. She had even lost the affection of her own son.

Since Rowan and Roger cared so much about Imogen, she would step aside and give them the happiness they wanted.

Natalie returned to Sarah's room, having made up her mind to divorce.

"You went to get water, didn't you? Where is it?" Lucian Payne asked, sitting by the bed and feeding Sarah her food, noticing Natalie's dazed expression.

Lucian was Rowan's uncle and also his fiercest rival within Payne Group. They were close in age, and Lucian was Matilda's most cherished youngest son.

"Oh… the water wasn't ready yet," Natalie replied casually, making an excuse.

She added, "Lucian, thank you for last night. You stayed here with us all night, and Sarah is much better now. You should go back and get some rest."

"Did Rowan call you?" Lucian asked, continuing to feed Sarah without standing.

"He's the CEO of Payne Holdings, and he's always busy with work," Natalie answered lightly.

"No matter how busy he is, he should still care about his wife and daughter," Lucian said.

Natalie didn't want to talk about Rowan anymore. She asked, "Lucian, could you help me recharge my prepaid plan?"

Her phone service had been cut off last night, and she hadn't been able to recharge it herself.

"Alright," Lucian replied without asking anything else. He recharged her phone with a thousand dollars.

Soon, multiple notifications popped up on Natalie's phone.

Chapter 3

All the messages were sent by Rowan's mother, Scarlet Jennings.

"Natalie, there are less than two months left on the seven-year agreement. When exactly are you divorcing my son?

"I've already said so much to you, and you didn't listen to a single word. Are you planning to cling to the Payne family and stay as Rowan's wife forever?

"You actually dared to ignore my calls and messages. Natalie, where the hell did you disappear to?

"You live off my son, stay in his house, and now you can't even afford phone credit? Your phone's been cut off for hours. Are you two divorcing or not?"

Just as Natalie was about to reply, her phone rang. It was Scarlet calling.

She glanced at Lucian, who was sitting by the hospital bed, then walked outside to answer.

"Natalie, I thought you were dead. Your phone has been unreachable this whole time," Scarlet snapped. "When are you divorcing my son?"

Natalie hadn't even spoken yet, yet Scarlet's vicious voice had already poured through the phone.

"Was my phone turned off, or was it deliberately suspended? You know very well," Natalie replied coldly.

She had added 200 dollars worth of credit just a week ago, so there was no way her service should have been cut off so quickly. Scarlet was the only one who liked pulling strings behind the scenes.

"So?" Scarlet sneered. "When are you divorcing? I'll have my lawyer prepare the divorce agreement for you."

"There's no need to rush me," Natalie replied calmly. "I can divorce anytime."

"Fine, then go to the courthouse on Monday," Scarlet said. "You will leave with nothing. Oh, and take that useless girl, Sarah, with you."

Natalie clenched her phone tightly. She could endure insults aimed at her, but dragging her daughter into it crossed her line.

After ending the call, she was about to return to the hospital room when she turned and saw three people walking out of the VIP room.

"Natalie, what are you doing here?" Rowan asked, frowning, his tone clearly showing displeasure.

In the hallway, Rowan held Roger's left hand, while Imogen, now changed into casual clothes, held Roger's right hand. They truly looked like a perfect family of three.

"Natalie, are you sick?" Imogen asked with a gentle smile.

"Were you the one who took Roger out of the villa yesterday?" Natalie demanded, staring straight at Imogen.

"Yes," Imogen replied casually. "Rowan and I signed a major contract yesterday, so I picked Roger up to celebrate with us."

"You took Roger and left Sarah locked outside on the balcony? Did you know she wasn't even wearing a coat and almost froze to death?"

The thought of Sarah crying alone on the balcony for so long made Natalie's heart ache unbearably.

Imogen pouted. "Natalie, how can you blame me? I didn't even see Sarah at all yesterday. I thought you took her out to play and left Roger home alone."

She then turned to Rowan and said sweetly, "Rowan, you knew I was going to pick Roger up, didn't you?"

"Mommy, don't blame Ms. Chapman. I was playing hide-and-seek with Sarah. Who knew she'd hid on the balcony?" Roger shouted, raising his voice to defend Imogen.

Natalie stared at Roger and pressed her lips into a thin line. He was her own flesh and blood, the child she had carried for ten months and nearly died giving birth to, yet she couldn't understand why he sided with Imogen.

"What happened to Sarah?" Rowan finally asked.

"She had a high fever last night and went into seizures," Natalie replied. "She nearly had an accident. I called you, but you didn't answer."

"When did you call me?" Rowan frowned, remembering that he had checked his call history late last night.

Natalie clenched the fabric of her dress at her side, her lips trembling uncontrollably.

The fact that Roger hadn't told Rowan about her calls crushed her completely.

"Natalie, Sarah getting sick is because you failed to take good care of her, yet you are blaming Rowan?" Imogen sneered, dropping all pretense. "Do you know how busy Rowan is every day? You stay at home doing nothing but taking care of the kids, and you still let your daughter get seriously ill."

"I—" Natalie tried to explain.

"No, that's not right," Imogen cut her off sharply.

She continued, "You even have Pamela at home to take care of things for you. If I were you, I'd just focus on keeping the kids happy. You get to enjoy being Mrs. Payne, the wife everyone envies, and yet here you are, still complaining about your husband, who's working himself to exhaustion at the company."

Natalie clenched the fabric of her dress even tighter. To outsiders, she was indeed the high and mighty Mrs. Payne, but no one knew how she had truly lived during those seven years in the Payne family.

Rowan was a germophobe, obsessed with cleanliness. Everything in the house had to be disinfected daily.

Not even a single strand of hair was allowed on the floor, or he would get angry the moment he saw it.

She also had to prepare Rowan's breakfast and dinner strictly according to his preferences. The process was complicated and exhausting.

Just handling these trivial chores consumed most of her day, and her silent sacrifices went completely unnoticed.

"Is that how you see it, too?" Natalie asked, her eyes fixed on Rowan.

"Men take care of business outside, women take care of the home," he replied firmly. "I already made that clear when you were pregnant, and if you can't even take care of a child properly, what else do you expect me to say?"

Rowan had been exhausted lately from preparing for the company's winter fashion launch. To him, only Imogen could understand the pressure he faced at work. Natalie, a housewife, would never understand.

Chapter 4

"Yesterday my mother…" Natalie began, trying to defend herself.

She had lived with Sabrina since she was a child. However, ten years ago, she suddenly developed a serious mental illness and had been living in a sanatorium ever since.

Yesterday, the sanatorium called unexpectedly, saying that Sabrina had run out and gotten hurt. Natalie had only left the villa after leaving the children in Pamela's care.

"No matter what excuse you come up with, it won't make up for your negligence," Imogen cut her off again.

"Mr. Rowan, I came to help Ms. Chapman carry some daily supplies…" Pamela emerged from the elevator at that moment, hurrying over.

She froze when she saw Natalie and asked in shock, "Mrs. Payne, why are you here too?"

"Pamela, where were you yesterday? Didn't I ask you to watch the kids?" Natalie asked.

"I asked you for a half-day off a week ago, saying that yesterday was my grandson's birthday, and you approved it," Pamela explained.

She had left after lunch yesterday, while Natalie had gone out before Pamela did.

"When did you tell me that?" Natalie asked. She had no memory of it at all.

"That morning, when you were playing with Mr. Roger and Ms. Sarah," Pamela replied, casting a glance at Roger.

"Roger, is that true?" Rowan asked Roger.

Roger looked at Imogen first before nodding. "Yes, that's right."

Natalie felt like crying, but the tears wouldn't come. "Roger, kids shouldn't lie."

"I'm not lying," Roger insisted. "That day, Pamela really did ask you for a half-day off."

"What else do you have to argue about?" Rowan snapped. "Even Roger remembers, but you've completely forgotten. What have you been doing all day? If you really don't want to take care of Sarah, I'll send her back to the Payne residence and have my mother raise her herself."

"No." Natalie took a deep breath and said, "I will take care of Sarah."

With both Rowan and Roger blaming her, Natalie's heart went cold. Since she was going to divorce anyway, fighting for Sarah's custody was her real priority.

…

When Rowan went to the hospital garage to get the car, Imogen slipped the gold bracelet off her wrist and handed it to Pamela.

"Thank you, Ms. Chapman," Pamela said, delighted.

"You're welcome. You deserve it," Imogen replied, patting her hand.

"Ms. Chapman, does lying make my nose grow?" Roger asked, a little scared.

Imogen crouched down and gently comforted him. "Natalie was the one at fault today. She made your sister sick, so she should be punished."

"If only you could be our mom," Roger said, pouting. Then added, "Whenever Natalie goes out with us, she dresses so old-fashioned. I'm embarrassed to tell people she's my mom. I don't even know why Daddy married her."

Imogen pinched Roger's nose and smiled. "As long as you behave, after your parents divorce, your dad will marry me, and then I'll be your mom."

"Will they really divorce?" Roger asked, his eyes full of hope.

"Of course," Imogen said with a smile. "Your dad and Natalie were only ever in a contract marriage. Even if she refuses, there's nothing she can do. Once they divorce, you can tell your dad you want him to marry me and make me your mom, okay?"

"Okay!" Roger clapped his hands in excitement. "Daddy likes you so much, he'll definitely marry you!"

"But this has to stay a secret between us for now. Don't tell anyone, understand?"

"Got it."

…

Later that day, Natalie got another call from the sanatorium. Sabrina had fractured her leg and needed surgery, and she had to find the money immediately.

She hadn't even paid this month's treatment fees yet, and now such a huge expense was completely beyond her means.

"Mommy, did you cry?" Sarah asked in her small, soft voice, noticing Natalie's reddened eyes.

"No." Natalie blinked several times, forcing the tears back. "The wind was so strong outside… Some dust must have blown in through the window and gotten into my eyes."

Sarah knew this wasn't true. She was smart and could tell at a glance that Natalie had been crying.

"Mommy, no matter what happens, I'll always stay by your side," Sarah said through her own tears, trying to comfort her.

Natalie's heart ached as she pulled Sarah into her arms, and the tears she had been holding back finally fell. "Okay… I won't leave you either."

…

When Rowan returned to the villa and saw the mess in the house, he immediately called Natalie, insisting she come back and clean it.

The night before, Natalie had been too worried about Sarah's condition to think about anything else. She had carried her to the bathroom to wash her, helped her change clothes, and left water stains all over the bedroom. There had simply been no time to clean up.

Rowan was such a germophobe that he certainly wouldn't tolerate any mess.

Coincidentally, Natalie also needed to go back and talk to him about the divorce.

Sarah couldn't be left alone, and Natalie had to return home. She had no choice but to discuss it with the doctor and take Sarah home temporarily to recover. If anything urgent came up, she would bring her daughter back to the hospital immediately.

After Natalie carried Sarah back to the villa, she didn't see Rowan or Roger, and Pamela was cleaning the living room.

Pamela could only take care of the downstairs areas, since she was usually not allowed into the upstairs bedrooms or Rowan's study.

"Pamela, where is the white BMW in the garage?" Natalie asked.

"A few days ago, Mr. Payne had someone drive it away and give it to Ms. Chapman," Pamela replied. "He said she had just returned from abroad and needed a car, and that you didn't need it anyway."

Just because she didn't use it, Rowan could hand the car he had gifted her straight to Imogen. It seemed like anything of hers that Imogen wanted, Rowan would give without a second thought.

That evening, Natalie prepared dinner as usual, but this time she didn't wait for Rowan and Roger to come home to eat together.

Sarah sat on a chair in the dining room while Natalie carefully fed her chicken soup.

"Mrs. Payne, Mr. Rowan and Mr. Roger aren't home yet. Why are you eating first?" Pamela asked as she walked into the dining room.

In the past, Natalie and Sarah always waited for Rowan and Roger to return before eating together, unless Rowan had specifically called to say they wouldn't be dining at home.

Natalie gently blew on a spoonful of chicken soup before feeding it to Sarah. She replied calmly, "Sarah is hungry. Is she not allowed to eat?"

Chapter 5

"Mr. Rowan is busy working at the office and still has to look after Mr. Roger. They haven't even said they're hungry yet, so how could Ms. Sarah, who's just at home playing, already be hungry?" Pamela complained, clearly displeased.

Natalie picked up some salad, put it into her bowl, and then sharply tapped the table with her fork. "Who exactly is the lady of this house, you or me? When Sarah and I eat, do I need your permission? Maybe I should just let you take my place as Mrs. Payne."

Her tone was calm and measured, yet her words carried enough pressure to silence Pamela.

Natalie had always known Pamela was deliberately placed in the villa by Scarlet to spy on everything she did.

In the past, she could ignore Pamela no matter how excessive she was. But yesterday was different. Pamela had deliberately set her up and nearly caused Sarah's death, and Natalie would no longer tolerate it.

"I… I was only worried that Mr. Payne would be angry when he got home," Pamela muttered quietly.

"Are you worried about Rowan being angry, or do you actually want to run this house yourself?" Natalie asked.

Pamela fell silent. She had never seen Natalie speak with such authority before and was so frightened that she didn't dare say another word.

Rowan returned to the country with Roger, and shortly after, Imogen followed. So much had happened over the past few months that Natalie had always chosen to look the other way.

But yesterday, Sarah had been locked out on the balcony and nearly frozen to death. That was something Natalie could no longer endure.

She finally saw the truth clearly. No matter how much love and care she poured into Roger, she could never truly warm his heart. She had given birth to him and raised him for four years, yet she couldn't compare to the year and a half he spent abroad with Imogen.

At that very moment, Rowan and Roger were probably enjoying a lavish dinner somewhere with Imogen.

Natalie would never let Sarah go hungry.

It was almost 10:00 pm when Rowan finally brought Roger home. As they went upstairs, Natalie faintly heard Roger talking about how delicious the lobster Imogen had ordered for him was.

About half an hour later, Natalie returned to the master bedroom after tucking Sarah into bed.

Rowan had just finished showering and stepped out of the bathroom. His tall, lean body was wrapped only in a white towel loosely tied around his waist, and he skillfully dried the water from his damp hair with another towel.

He had always been strict with himself when it came to his physique. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a body that looked sharp in clothes and impressive without them.

His flawless build, combined with his strikingly handsome features, was exactly what had made Natalie fall hopelessly in love with him years ago.

"Is Sarah asleep?" Rowan asked casually as he set the towel down.

"Yes," Natalie replied softly.

Rowan lifted the blanket and lay down on the bed, picking up his phone to check messages.

Natalie got straight to the point, not wanting to waste time on unnecessary pleasantries.

"When are you giving me this month's living expenses?" she asked.

"Isn't that something you've always handled with my mother?" Rowan replied without looking up, focused on an email on his phone.

"Just give it to me this month," Natalie said firmly.

Rowan was growing a little impatient—she was bothering him over such a trivial matter. He hadn't rested last night, and today he had been swamped at Payne Holdings, with work still unfinished.

He suddenly remembered what Imogen had said earlier, accusing Natalie of being just a housewife who could never understand how hard he worked at the company.

"How much do you want?" Rowan asked, meeting her gaze.

"500 thousand dollars," Natalie replied.

She couldn't understand why Rowan acted like she was asking for an extravagant sum. This wasn't money for her own indulgence; it was just the household expenses, nothing more.

But she knew she couldn't confront Rowan directly right now. He was constantly entangled with Imogen, and since she wanted a divorce and needed to secure Sarah's custody, it wasn't the time to go head-to-head.

Rowan frowned slightly when he heard the number. He thought that a month's living expenses shouldn't cost that much.

"Have Pamela make a detailed list for you tomorrow," Natalie added when she saw the look of disbelief on his face. "Compared to that VIP room you booked for Imogen, which costs ten thousand dollars a day, this living expense is nothing."

Rowan and Roger were extremely picky about food, and everything they ate was premium quality.

Utilities and household expenses were all handled by Natalie, and even with 500 thousand dollars a month, she still had to budget carefully.

Rowan glanced at her indifferently, thinking she was asking for the money not out of necessity, but because she was jealous of Imogen.

He didn't ask further and directly transferred 500 thousand dollars into Natalie's bank account.

That money not only covered the household expenses but also had to go toward Sabrina's medical bills at the sanatorium.

"It's been transferred," Rowan said, showing her the transaction record on his phone.

"Your mother called you, didn't she?" Natalie asked.

"She did," Rowan replied. His work kept him extremely busy, and Scarlet called him every day, but it was always just routine check-ins.

"Then when are you free?" Natalie asked.

Since divorce was inevitable, she wanted to settle it as soon as possible. Dragging it out would benefit no one. She was genuinely afraid that if she wasn't careful, Imogen might harm Sarah.

Rowan was focused on the work on his phone and barely registered her words.

Natalie wanted to finalize the divorce. "We should go to the court—"

But before she could finish, Rowan's phone rang.

"Hello, what's wrong?" He asked as he answered the phone. He got out of bed and hurriedly pulled clothes from the wardrobe to put on. "Alright, don't panic, I'm coming now."

After hanging up, while putting on his pants, he deliberately asked her, "What did you just say?"

"Where are you going?" Natalie asked.

"Imogen was in a car accident," Rowan replied. "I'm going to check on her."

Natalie grabbed his arm. "Call the police, and get an ambulance. You're not a cop; you can't handle a car accident. You're not a doctor either. Even if she's hurt, you can't save her life."

"What kind of nonsense is that?" Rowan pulled his arm free from Natalie's grasp. "She went back to the company to pick up some work files and was planning to work late tonight. She got into that accident because of Payne Holdings, and as the CEO of the company, shouldn't I go help her?"

"Even if you go now, you might not be able to help," Natalie shot back coldly.

"Natalie, don't be so petty," Rowan said impatiently. "Imogen was in a car accident and could be hurt. This is serious."

"So her problems are serious, but mine aren't?" Natalie shouted, her eyes red and her anger spiraling out of control. "We're not done talking."

Ever since Imogen returned to Haxson City, Rowan might not even remember how many nights he hadn't come home because of her.