Chapter 14
In the apartment, the carefully prepared dishes on the dining table had long gone cold. The rich, creamy cake had melted completely, trickling down the table until it reached Natalie’s feet.
But she didn’t seem to feel anything. She just stared blankly at the 99 missed calls on her phone screen.
Ever since Samuel left the apartment last time, he hadn’t returned. At first, he’d still reply to her texts, saying he was busy and telling her to behave.
But later on, he didn’t even bother replying anymore.
Obviously, something was wrong with their marriage.
This was exactly what happened with her parents before they divorced- her father stopped coming home, ignored her mother’s calls, and never replied to
messages.
Natalie didn’t want to end up like them. She refused to believe that their marriage was falling apart before it had even really begun, and she couldn’t bring herself to accept that Samuel might not love her anymore.
He’d once consumed her completely with his overwhelming love. If he ever stopped loving her and didn’t want her anymore, she’d definitely lose her mind.
So she kept telling herself, again and again, that Samuel was just too busy.
It was his birthday today, so she’d gotten up early to prepare everything. Only after everything was ready did she call him, hoping he would come home.
But Samuel didn’t answer any of her calls.
Biting her lip, Natalie flipped through her contacts, but sadly realized she didn’t know any of his friends. She had no idea where to find him.
It wasn’t until one of her friends texted her, saying that she saw Samuel in a bar.
Thrilled, Natalie thanked her friend and immediately headed there without even changing her clothes.
To pay her sick grandma, Agatha Sloan’s medical fees, she’d done almost every job available. So, navigating the bar was a cakewalk for her.
Not long after, she found the private room Samuel was in and spotted him right away.
As he lounged on the couch with his legs crossed, the server next to him handed him a cigarette and a lighter. Lighting it with a slow, practiced ease, he narrowed his eyes and took a drag.
White smoke wafted through the air, shrouding his features.
The sight before Natalie made her go weak in her knees.
Just as she was about to enter the room, the man beside Samuel suddenly asked, “Samuel, didn’t you say you were going to give me your sugar baby? So…”
The man rubbed his palms together, visibly excited.
Looking unfazed, Samuel stubbed out his cigarette and said, “If you want her, go look for her on your own. Why are you asking me instead?”
“Can you actually bear to let her go?” the man asked again, unable to believe that he’d been granted with such a once–in–a–lifetime opportunity.
A cold snort escaped Samuel’s lips.
“Why can’t I? As I said, I have only seen her as a sugar baby since the beginning,” he said. “Besides, the cooling–off period for my divorce with Catherine is about
to end soon.
“I’m going to cancel the divorce and take her back. So, there’s no need to keep Natalie around. If you want her, go ahead. Get her out of my sight.”
After getting Samuel’s word, the man was elated. He quickly thanked him, toasting him with a wide grin.
Samuel raised his glass to meet his.
The soft clink of the glasses echoed loudly in Natalie’s ears, slicing straight through her nerves.
Unable to bear it any longer, she collapsed to her knees. Her nails sank deep into her palms, and blood trickled down the sides of her arms.
Tears streamed down her face, mingling with the trail of blood on the floor.
It felt as if her heart had been shattered into pieces. She couldn’t believe he only saw her as his sugar baby.
But back then, when she told him she didn’t want to be his sugar baby or his mistress, he had agreed. He even showed her the divorce papers between him and
Catherine.
Yet now, he was openly saying she’d been the other woman from the very beginning. He hadn’t even divorced Catherine.
Even if Natalie had been foolish, she now knew he’d lied to her.
The love he claimed to have for her had been a lie. His promise that he wouldn’t make her his mistress had been a lie, too.
Even their so–called marriage… was a lie.
