Chapter 5

NATALIE’s POV

I blinked, thinking carefully before shaking my head. “No, sir. I wouldn’t forget if we had. Maybe I just look like someone you know.”

A casual remark, but something in my words seemed to strike him. His eyes widened—just for a second.

Then, just as quickly, he composed himself. “Never mind.” His tone cooled. “But since you’re the real person in charge here, you should be the one to sign the agreement. Your company needs to ensure there’s no more confusion about who’s responsible.”

His words carried an edge of disdain. “I don’t want any more unprofessional situations.”

Vanessa’s forced smile barely held. “Of course…”

I watched as she bent her proud neck.

Pathetic.

She held the title of chief manager, but she had no real knowledge. She thought she’s still in the modeling world she was used to, where all she needed to do was catwalk?

Newsflash, Vanessa: this industry doesn’t work that way.

However, that’s when my father stepped in, his tone smooth but firm. “Sir, don’t blame her. Our Vanessa is young and promising. She manages countless projects. It’s only natural that she might not recall every detail. But just think—if even a junior employee under her is well-versed in this technology, doesn’t that prove her capability? Let’s sit down for a meal and discuss this in detail.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Valen’s face, but he masked it just as quickly. “No need for that. Thank you for seeing me off.”

The last thing my mother whispered in my ear before leaving was, “Remember, don’t come to work tomorrow.”

Once Valen left with my parents, Vanessa didn’t waste a second. She turned to me, smirking like she had just won some great battle. “Sorry, Natalie. Looks like Dad and Mom decided to fire you. But what can I do? I felt like I owed you something, but honestly, I owe Lucas more.”

She leaned in, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “I mean, if not for the opportunity Lucas gave me, I probably wouldn’t have been able to save the day.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to look indifferent. “Only someone like you would find trash and call it treasure.”

Her expression turned dark. And before I could take a step back, her hand swung toward me, aimed to slap me again.

But this time, I caught her wrist mid-air, my grip tight enough to make her wince.

“That’s enough.”My eyes burned with cold fury. “Don’t think you can keep riding me, Vanessa. You act like the perfect daughter, but what do you actually do? What skills do you even have?”

She yanked her arm back, rubbing her wrist. “Damn,” she muttered, her gaze burning with resentment. “What the hell have you been eating? You’ve got more strength than any woman I’ve ever met. No wonder Lucas…”

I didn’t need Vanessa to finish the sentence to know where she was going with it.

She stepped back, shaking her head as if I disgusted her. “A fake will always be a fake. Do you really think a few fancy words in front of a big shot will change anything? Will Valen Gravestone even remember your name when he leaves? No. The world will only see me, Vanessa Cardwell, the real heiress as the face of this merger. And you?” She tilted her head mockingly. “You’re nothing.”

My voice was ice. “Get out.”

She smirked. “Oh, and about your little jab that I ‘act like the perfect daughter’ in front of Mom and Dad? You wish you could act. But even if you could… who would care? Poor Natty…”

As if to prove her point—

“Vanessa, sweetie?” My mother’s voice called from the hallway. She was waiting for Vanessa to come home with her.

My body trembled, but I refused to let her see it. I couldn’t let her have that satisfaction. I couldn’t.

She turned on her heel without another word, walking away with a finality that felt like a slap across my face. She was heading back to that house—their house—the one I had once called home, the place where I had believed I belonged. But now… I had no place left there.

No place for me in this whole world.

Tears blurred my vision, but I wiped them away angrily, forcing myself to take steady breaths. I needed to get out of here.

“Natalie?”

Lucas’s voice. He was waiting for me outside. I didn’t even know if he had spoken to Vanessa—probably.

I ignored him and walked away.

“Natalie, wait.” His grip on my wrist was sudden, forceful. I ripped my hand free without a second thought.

“What?”

“I know we’re at a rough patch, but this weekend is my grandmother’s birthday.”

My lips parted in disbelief.

“And before you say anything, I don’t need to remind you how much you mean to her?” He smirked. “You wouldn’t hurt an old woman, would you?”

How had I not realized how toxic he was?

“And besides, I already told her you’d be coming.”

The audacity—

I took a step closer to him, my eyes burning with contempt. “For the hundredth time, we’re done. I won’t be coming to anything you’re hosting. Do you honestly think your grandmother would be proud of the manipulative person you’ve turned into?”

His jaw ticked. “You’re not thinking clearly. She supported us. You have no choice. It would break her heart if you weren’t there.”

“Oh, I’m thinking perfectly,” I spat back, my voice sharp. “You should’ve thought more clearly before you slept with my sister.”

“Look, I already said I was sorry!”

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.

“You can’t break up with me, Natalie,” he called after me. “How will you cope? If you break up with me, you’ll have to pay back every cent I gave you!”

My body went rigid. “I never spent your money.”

“You did,” Lucas smirked, “Every dollar I gave to St. Luis Memorial for Mrs. Davis’s treatment. I know how much she means to you. She’s your mentor, right? The old lady who trusted you when no one else would? Too bad she has no family. If the money’s gone, well…”

My blood ran cold.

Of all the things he could’ve used against me, he dared to threaten me with my mentor, the only one I treasure now in this world?

I swallowed hard. “I’ll pay you back! Every penny.”

Lucas’s grin widened. “A million and five hundred dollars is no joke. One late payment, and your dear Mrs. Davis is—poof.” He gestured cruelly.

“And I couldn’t help but overhear earlier—from now on, you don’t even have a real job anymore. You’re only here because you bear the name of Caldwell, and even that was borrowed.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. The anger, the shame, the bitterness. It all exploded in me.

“Let me go!” I shoved him hard, the force surprising even me.

His grip tightened on my chin, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re mine, Natalie—”

"Excuse me, could you please give way?"

A calm, mocking voice sliced through the air from a Mercedes-Benz that was passing by. Lucas froze, and instinctively, his grip on me loosened.

I seized the opportunity to break free, casting a brief, grateful glance toward the car, only to be caught off guard by the familiar face behind the car window.

It’s him. Malcolm.

What was he doing here?

Did he remember that night?

I avoided his eyes, praying he wouldn’t bring anything up.

Lucas recoiled, his expression faltering in surprise. He leaned forward, his frown deepening as he asked, “Uncle Malcolm, when did you return home from Europe?”

“Just got back today,” Malcolm answered nonchalantly, but I could tell it was a lie. His cold gaze was fixed on me now, and I felt the weight of it, dragging me back to the memories of last night… I shook my head, pushing those thoughts away.

“We’re fine, Uncle,” Lucas quickly tried to smooth things over, his nervous laugh escaping as he realized Malcolm was still staring. “She’s my fiancée, the one you’ve met before.”

“I don’t remember.” Malcolm’s voice was flat, unaffected. He shifted his eyes between us, then asked, “Do you need me to take you two for a drive?”

“No we don’t—”

“Yes,” I interrupted Lucas, not looking at him.

Malcolm raised an eyebrow, his smirk barely perceptible. “Alright then. I’ll take you home. Lucas, you can grab a cab or something.”

I had already opened the car door myself and sat in the back seat.

“What?” Lucas tried to open the car door but it was locked. He was taken aback, his disbelief clear. “She doesn’t need to—Uncle, leave her, you can go on without us. We are just having a lovers’ quarrel. Nata—”

“You will wait until you’re addressed, Lucas. I’m sure you were taught that much,” Malcolm smiled. His smile was small, but lethal, as he raised the car widow, driving me away.

I could feel my heart racing, still beating wildly from the exchange.

As we pulled away, I couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Lucas, still standing there, frozen in shock.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a strange relief.

I turned my attention back to Malcolm, unsure of what to say. His silence filled the car.

After a few moments, I cleared my throat. “Thank you, uncle Malcolm…You can drop me off at the intersection ahead. I’ll take a cab from there.”

He didn't respond.

I didn't try to speak anymore either. I settled back against the seat, the quiet between us stretching out.

As we neared the intersection, I saw the taxi stand ahead. The car slowed, and I unbuckled my seatbelt, ready to step out.

But just as I was about to get out, Malcolm’s voice stopped me.

“Stupid girl,” he muttered, the words barely audible, but they hit like a punch. “Don’t make me clean up after you again.”

I blinked, confused, but by the time I processed it, he had already driven off.

On my phone, Lucas sent a message.

<See you at grandma's house this weekend. Don’t think you can escape.>