Plans were made and the next day, people went to Mrs Shine's burial. But Natalie was not herself. She still felt the sadness, the loss.Her family was gathered together at the cemetery, all dressed in black and quietly weeping. The mood was heavy and suffocating, with a sense of finality and loss hanging over everyone.Natalie stood at the back of the crowd, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She could not believe that her mother was really gone. It felt like a terrible nightmare that she could not wake up from. She tried to hold back her tears, but they flowed freely down her cheeks, staining her black dress.As the casket was slowly lowered deep into the ground, Natalie's grief boiled over. She let out a guttural scream, loud enough to make everyone turn and look at her. Her family tried to calm her down, but she fought against them, thrashing and crying out in agony. She did not want to let go of her mother. It was too painful to imagine life without her.The funeral director tri
Logan arrived at Mr Shine's house two days after the burial of Mrs Shine. Of course, he was present at the cemetery, but neither he nor Riwel Shine had a chance of talking to each other.He was nervous and unsure of how the meeting would go, given the events of the past few days. He knocked on the door, and Mr Shine answered.He was Logan after all and he was not scared of anything. And he had studied Mr Shine over the years, he knew very well that he would not be chased out.Mr Shine slightly opened the door and was surprised to see Logan. It had been a few days since they talked. And more, so many things happened in those two days."Logan, it is good to see you. Come in," Mr Shine said, opening the door wider.Logan stepped inside with a little sly smile on his lips and looked at the familiar surroundings. It had been a while since he had been in this house, but it felt like no time had passed. Mr Shine motioned for Logan to sit down, and he took a seat on the couch. He did not spe
Logan nodded, "That is why I am here. I want to help you find out who did this and make sure you and your family are safe. Just watch that man closely. You know him, right?"Mr Shine looked at Logan, studying him carefully. "I hope you are being sincere, Logan. I can't bear to lose anyone else."But the truth was that he was scared. Who was Ivan? What did he want with his family?That ruthless billionaire who had everything under him! He was that mafia king who did not feel afraid of taking a life!He was that one man who never failed to get whatever he wanted! What was he up to? Why was he following his daughter?"I am, Riwel. I promise," Logan said, hoping that Mr Shine could not see through his facade. "I am just warning you like a long-time brother! You have heard about that man... Natalie is so innocent to be manipulated by him!"Riwel was still confused. Could someone explain to him whatever that was going on? How the hell did Natalie meet Ivan Dione? And why did she hide it from
Ivan woke up as usual, and his morning routine was well-established. He took a shower, got dressed, and headed to the dining room to have breakfast. However, his routine was abruptly interrupted by a loud shriek from Carter. Ivan rushed to his son's room, only to find him throwing a tantrum.Carter was crying uncontrollably, thrashing around on his bed, and throwing toys everywhere. Auntie Bella was standing at the side, not sure about what to do.Ivan tried to calm him down, but his son refused to be comforted. He had never seen the child like that."What is wrong, Carter?" Ivan asked with a sigh, trying to remain calm despite the chaos."Natie! I want Natie!" Carter wailed, kicking his legs and flailing his arms.Ivan frowned. Why was he crying for her all of a sudden? He thought they had agreed that they would go looking for her once everything had settled!"Not now, Carter!" Ivan said while shaking his head. "She is still..."But Carter's tantrum only escalated. He cried even loud
Riwel and Scott waited impatiently by the window. They were so worried about Natalie being out at such a time when the enemy was everywhere.However, after a while, a luxurious car caught their attention. It was a black mayabach that only people like Ivan could afford.And when they saw Natalie get out of it, their fears were confirmed. "It is actually him," Scott said in fear. "How the hell did she allow herself to be fooled?" Riwel asked in fear too. They were really scared of the man.They watched as Ivan got out of the car too and gave Natalie a goodbye hug. And looking at his face, they were now sure it was him. They had done some digging and managed to find a few of his pictures."It is all a pretence," Scott said. "I will not allow him to fool my sister! He wants to use her!“…When Natalie reached her floor and opened the door, she was surprised to find her family waiting for her. And the looks on their faces spoke so a lot that she became guilty. "Where have you been?" Riwel
Riwel looked at them with pursed lips. "That is the best for both of us, I thought," he said.But Natalie shook her head. " Not really dad," she said. " I am really fine now! We can't force him to do anything…""Dad," Scott called. "I think Natie deserves a better man. If that dude did that once, who knows if he won't do it again?"But Riwel still shook his head. "Scott? You cannot even find yourself a girlfriend! Why do you have to speak now?" And they all burst out laughing.Riwel then stood up and patted Natalie's back. "Forgive Luca and give both of you another chance. Dad will deal with him if anything happens." And he left the living room without looking behind.Natalie looked at her brother and sighed. She was not very sure about what to do. “You do not want to get back with him?" Scott asked her as he pulled her closer to him.And Natalie shook her head. "I do not even know," she said. The truth was that she did not feel any kind of love left in between them."Why?" Scott asked
Ivan and Carter had just returned home after spending the day in the park. And the child looked happier and more obedient than he was in the morning.As they entered the house, they found Ivan's grandmother and June, a girl Ivan's grandmother was trying to force him to marry, waiting for them.Ivan's heart sank as he saw them. He knew trouble was waiting. “Hi!" He greeted them briefly while Carter ran to say hi to the old lady."Great grandmother is here!" The child said and hugged her. He then turned to June at the old lady's side and smiled. "Hello Auntie June?""I am good Carter," the girl answered nervously. But no one could know that that was just a facade.Ivan put his hands in his pockets and began walking upstairs. He did not even bother looking at the girl beside his grandmother. He knew very well why they were there. However, his grandmother stopped him. " How disrespectful!" She shouted so loudlt that she almost scared Carter. Ivan pursed his lips. "Are you okay, grandma?"
She looked at Ivan angrily. " Are you happy now? What you have done? You have disappointed me!"She knew how Ivan was. He had repeatedly told her that he did not want to marry June or any other woman she would introduce to him. But she was determined to make him marry. He was not young anymore.Ivan sighed and held his son's hand. Let us go to our room and play," he said, and began leading him to their room.He had already heard a lot, and the good mood that he had had after meeting Natalie was completely destroyed now."You bastard! Where are you going?" The old lady roared. "How dare you walk away from me?"Ivan stopped in his tracks and looked at his grandmother. "Is there something else, grandma?" He asked. "I need to get some rest."The old lady took a deep breath. " I am commanding you to marry June! No other woman is allowed into this family. It does not matter how great they are!"Ivan tried to hide his annoyance at his grandmother's insistent remarks about him getting married.
Black and Ivan looked at each other before turning to Natalie. Ivan cleared his throat. “Honey, I recently found out that Black wasn't the person that killed my family. It was June and her accomplices!“Five years ago, Black really did have intentions of killing Ivan and the whole of his family. But his first aim was Ivan, and that was the reason why he sent Natalie to kill him. His family, back in the country, were out for a night. Black was prepared to attack, because Ivan was away and he would not be there to protect them. But an hour earlier, he received information that they were already killed.After gathering information, Ivan had recently realized that June was behind everything. Despite being around and pretending to be a naive and innocent girl, she had caused more havoc.She had killed, thinking that the company belonged to Ivan's dad. To her shock, it was Ivan who owned it. So she lost. She was not able to put her hands on the company.Luckily, she was now behind doors. I
The old lady chuckled. “I was so stupid! How could I not differentiate between someone with a good heart like you from those full of bad intentions? Instead of protecting him, I exposed all of us to danger. Please forgive me…”Natalie, who had never had any experience of an elderly person apologizing, did not know what she was supposed to say. She pursed her lips in fear.The old lady sighed. “I am not saying all this because you saved my life. I just think I was too blind in the past not to see the good in you. Please, take good care of my grandson, and my great grandchildren!“Natalie was just so shocked. She had not expected that things would be this easy after so much struggle. That meant that the old lady was blessing her marriage with Ivan, right?She lifted her eyes to look at Ivan, and seeing the broad smile on his face, Natalie relaxed. Everything was fine. They were finally going to be together without any difficulties.Ivan winked at her, and Natalie could not help but roll
The doctor sighed with disappointment. “You don't know it? That thing that healed you!“ He was not sure if the girl was just pretending or she really knew nothing about it.Natalie shook her head. “Wait… I think I was wounded! What happened? What is that Gello you are talking about?“ She asked.The doctor sighed. “When you were brought here, we all thought you were going to die! You had wounds, you had lost a lot of blood and you were almost losing your child. But… that thing they gave you… it healed you in less than ten minutes…”Even though Natalie was pretending not to know anything about Gello, she was shocked to hear that she was healed like that. “Doctor, are you sure about what you are talking about?“ “Yes… it happened… He just wrapped it around your hand…” The doctor had begun speaking when the door was pulled open and two men walked in. Trevor went directly to the doctor and held his hand. “Doctor, would you mind us having a small talk?“ He asked while pulling him out, not
Natalie froze up. She waited for the excruciating pain, then maybe, death. She had been so sure that June had shot her straight in the chest. She would be dead in just a few seconds.However, after a few seconds, nothing happened. She did not get any pain either. Confused, she opened her eyes.“Natalie…” Someone called her. All she could hear and see were the movements of people here and there.But her eyes caught one person who was running towards her direction. “Natalie… are you okay?“ Ivan asked as he pulled her into his arms.Due to the pressure he applied, Natalie winced in pain. Her body was covered in several wounds due to the torture that these people had inflicted on her. She saw June lying on the ground, her gun some distance away from her.“You are hurt! Quickly, call an ambulance!“ Ivan ordered as he tried to untie her. Trevor and a few other men were checking up on the old lady.“Ivan… you came…” Natalie said in shock. She had not expected him to be back that quickly. But
Carter opened his eyes when he heard Natalie's voice. “Mommy…” he called between cries as he struggled. His mommy was finally there to save him.Natalie hurriedly untied him and pulled him into his hands. “You are fine now…”“Mommy…. Save great grandma. She is in the backyard. Auntie June has a gun…” Carter said the moment he remembered what had happened.Natalie shook. “It's okay,” she said and carried Carter to the room where she had locked Melan. “She will protect you,” Natalie whispered to Carter.She handed Carter to Melan. “Melan, don't open the door until I come back. Don't make any noise,” she said while trembling.“Sister… will you be safe?“ Melan asked in fear. Natalie hurriedly nodded and locked the door behind her, leaving.She ran upstairs to Ivan's room and took out her phone. Luckily, Ivan hurriedly picked him up when she called him.“Natalie…” Ivan called. “Did something happen? I am done here. I am taking the plane soon…”“Ivan… hurry up! Grandma is in danger!“ Natal
When Black came back to the room, Natalie wanted to keep her distance from him. If this man could send his wife away without blinking, what was he not capable of?Black sighed seeing her action. “Daughter, I sent her away to make up for what we caused you to go through in the past,” he spoke up. “Please, forgive me…”Still, Natalie could not fully understand if the man had changed or he was just pretending. “Why did you bring me back?“ She asked at last. She wanted to end things as fast as possible. She wanted to go back to Ivan and Carter.Black took a seat beside her. “I heard about your break up with Ivan… that man has wronged you. I am your father. I had to come for you. I will help you carry out revenge if you want to…”Natalie pretended to be really heartbroken. “But… why are you two fighting?“ She asked. She was still mad that the man had pretended that the break up had nothing to do with him.Black was silent for a while. “ We were fighting in the past, not anymore. I won't li
…Natalie's eyes widened when she woke up on an unfamiliar bed, her mind finally connecting the dots. The room she found herself in was lavish and spacious, a real contrast to the small, cramped space she had been forced to inhabit in the past in this house. The memories of the mistreatment she endured flooded her mind, making her feel annoyed and anger about those two people that called themselves parents.She moved, and her body ached. She could not help but wince in pain. She had expected to be taken away by Black, but the fact that they had sedated her before bringing her here spoke volumes about their intentions. It was as if they didn't even want to give her the chance to fight back or escape.Her thoughts were interrupted as the door was pushed open, and a woman around forty years old stepped inside the room. The woman's eyes widened in disbelief as they landed on Natalie, and she let out a horrified scream."Aaaah!" the woman shrieked, her hands flying to her mouth as if to st
Natalie tried to sit up, her concern immediately shifting to the boy who had accidentally knocked her off her feet. "The boy who just knocked me off... Is he okay?" she asked, showing her compassionate nature even in her own moment of distress.Ivan scanned the crowd and locked eyes with the worried boy. He noticed the blood on the boy's hand and pursed his lips. "Someone check up on the boy," he instructed, and the people around quickly rushed to help him.Still feeling disoriented, Natalie held onto Ivan's hand. "Can you help me up?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly."Of course," Ivan replied hurriedly, carefully assisting her to her feet. He guided her away from the gathering crowd and led her towards the car, where they could have some privacy.As they distanced themselves from the scene, Ivan noticed Natalie's expression changing. Her eyes turned red, and sadness enveloped her face. He gently helped her into the car, his heart aching for her."Are you feeling hurt anywhere?
Ivan woke up with Natalie in his hands, a broad smile appearing on his face as he looked at her sleeping face. He brought his hands to her face and gently caressed her, feeling the sense of peace that he had missed for days.Natalie's eyes fluttered when something kept moving on her face. Slowly, she opened her eyes and met a man's warm gaze. She snuggled closer to him, a smile on her face. "Good morning, beast," she greeted him jokingly.Ivan smiled and pinched her nose. "You look so happy today. Did that mean that I satisfied you well last night?" He joked back.Natalie buried her face into his chest to hide away her embarrassment. "Can't you just talk like a normal person?" She asked and pinched his waist playfully.Ivan hurriedly held her hand. "Stop messing around unless you want to awaken the beast again," he said, and kissed her lips lovingly.Natalie smiled, her cheeks flushed. She seemed to have thought of something and sat up. "Um... Black will be taking me today, right?" She