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Chapter 167
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2024-03-04 23:11:11Related chapters
Who's the Substitute Now? Chapter 168
Natalie's eyes were filled with determination."Do as Natasha had done? What can you do?" Lorelei asked with a straight face. "With your smooth talk that can charm guys to no end?"Natalie was angry, but she held herself back. She wanted to get the authorization right in front of the Graysons and wipe that smug look off Lorelei's face. Natalie buried her frustration and put on a calm expression."Lorelei, why would you say such a thing?" Natalie feigned a look of sadness and hurt. "I want to make amends for what I have done. I know you hold a grudge against me for leaving the Graysons at the most difficult time."You think I'm with Josh for money and only returned when the Graysons prospered. You think I'm only after money."Natasha was surprised by Natalie's self-awareness. She put her utensils down and fiddled with her wine glass. She grew a little impatient as she waited for Natalie to get to the point."I had to go abroad because my mom got sick and I had no choice but to lea
Last Updated : 2024-03-04Who's the Substitute Now? Chapter 169
Philip was only momentarily surprised. He'd seen big talkers like Natalie in his years in the business. Joshua intervened in time. He pushed Natalie back into her seat and said, "Natalie just wants to show off what she has. She's a bit reckless. Please don't mind her."Natalie was made to sit. She was dumbfounded, but she soon realized that even Joshua didn't believe what she was saying.That was a kick in the teeth for her. With nobody believing her, she decided to show the Graysons what she could do. Resentment bubbled within her. She tried to get up again but felt herself getting held back. She looked up to see Joshua's hand pressing on her shoulder."And why do you bring such a reckless woman into our family? Are you trying to bring the Graysons down?" Philip grunted."I'll teach her slowly. She won't bring the Graysons down," Joshua replied calmly.Natalie struggled to move her shoulder. She tried to shake Joshua's hand, but he held her down firmly. The difference in streng
Last Updated : 2024-03-04Who's the Substitute Now? Chapter 170
Natasha's stomach was in knots. This banquet would undoubtedly end on a sour note if Joshua did lose his temper. That would defeat Lorelei's purpose in inviting her. Natasha didn't want to see such a scene.Natalie was still trying to get her voice to be heard. Natasha remembered the first time Natalie had made a video call to Zack. It was clear that she was counting on Zack to recognize her. Zack mentioned having seen Natalie before, but she misunderstood what he meant.Also, Zack was completely focused on talking to Natasha at the time and showed no intention of responding to Natalie. However, Natalie thought that Zack was talking to her. She believed they knew each other.Having thought this through, Natasha asked, "Do you think Zack would give you the authorization?"Natalie looked at her with confidence and replied, "Of course, Zack and I are very close. He'll definitely give me the authorization." Her tone was suddenly full of pride. "Do you recall the incident? Even if
Last Updated : 2024-03-04Who's the Substitute Now? Chapter 171
Natalie felt Joshua's hand slip away from her shoulder. She blinked and looked up at Joshua. The emotion in his eyes was something she couldn't read. Anyway, she was too busy trying to impress everyone to notice what was going on inside his head.Getting to her feet, Natalie reached for her phone lying next to Joshua and looked for Zack on WhatsApp. But as she opened the app, Natasha's words echoed in her head, "Do you think Zack would give you the authorization?"Her hand froze, and doubt crept in. She hesitated as she scanned the faces of the people at the table. Philip's suspicion and Lorelei's skepticism were apparent. Surprisingly, Natasha seemed unfazed. She maintained a calm demeanor with a hint of sarcasm.Natalie found it puzzling. Natasha was about to be kicked out of the Graysons. She should be ashamed or worried. Perhaps she was trying to hide her inner fear. Natalie couldn't resist a sneer. She pressed the call button and everyone's eyes were on her.Joshua's eyes
Last Updated : 2024-03-04Who's the Substitute Now? Chapter 172
The memories brought a smile to Natasha's face, but Joshua's disapproving look immediately froze her. It suddenly dawned on her that this was not the right time for joy. She quickly wiped the smile off her face.Natalie was unsettled by Zack's slightly annoyed tone. The happiness she had derived from Joshua's jealousy faded. She began to doubt if she had misunderstood Zack's feelings for her.But then she remembered how sweetly Zack had called her by name before, and how he'd helped Natasha get a job at Radiance Biomed when she'd asked him to. Natalie encouraged herself to push away the fear that crept up on her."I-I need your help with something," Natalie stammered nervously. Her voice was shaking. The silence on the other end of the line made her think about switching off the speakerphone. It didn't go as she expected.In a panic, she scanned the faces around the dining table. Philip was staring at her intently. Unconsciously, Natalie tightened her grip on the phone. "Zack? Ar
Last Updated : 2024-03-04Who's the Substitute Now? Chapter 173
A hush fell over everyone as Zack's voice echoed from the phone. Natalie was immediately struck dumb. The confident words she had uttered just now echoed in her head, and nothing was left to follow.Natasha swirled her wine nonchalantly. The amber liquid caught the light of the lamp. Her face remained blank as if she had seen everything coming from miles away.Natalie tried to gather her thoughts and asked, "So, what you're saying is... you're not going to grant Grayson Corp the authorization?" She was desperately in search of a glimmer of hope."Yes," Zack answered patiently. He would have hung up if he hadn't just woken up completely."Not for nothing, though. Grayson Corp... can pay for it," Natalie added as if the idea had just popped into her head. She mentally reassured herself that even if Zack had feelings for her, he wouldn't turn down a hefty authorization fee. Zack's answer seemed reasonable.With that said, she turned her eyes to Philip. Although his expression was g
Last Updated : 2024-03-04Who's the Substitute Now? Chapter 174
Natalie's lips felt dry. She hesitated whether to stand or sit. Joshua's deep voice broke the silence. "Sit."Natalie couldn't read his mood. She turned to look at him, who seemed calm. She quickly nodded and hummed in reply. Once seated, Natalie picked up her glass of wine to ease the awkwardness.Her gaze casually swept over Natasha. Their eyes met and a sudden thought popped into Natalie's head. "Natasha, back me up! You were there. You know what happened that day."Natasha raised an eyebrow at hearing that."That day, I was on a video call with Zack right in front of you. I just said it and he let you in Radiance immediately, didn't he?" Natalie asked with the urgency of a drowning person reaching for a lifeline.Natasha kept her silence."Zack has always treated me like a sister. You heard it when we talked on the phone, didn't you? The way he called me by my nickname as soon as he was on the line. You heard it loud and clear, right?"Joshua stared at Natasha coldly, and e
Last Updated : 2024-03-04Who's the Substitute Now? Chapter 175
"Say something! Was 'Natty' actually meant for you?" Natalie's voice grew horrible. The more she thought about it, the more she began to believe that what she suspected was true. Lorelei looked displeased. She gave Natalie a scornful look. She couldn't understand why someone like Natalie, who had no manners at all, would even think of marrying into the Grayson family. How could Joshua have such bad taste?Natalie softened her voice. "Quit playing dumb. Just say it." All she got was silence.The name "Natty" brought back memories of Joshua. Suddenly, his mind flashed to the scene of their first meeting at the river. Natalie's face was warm and sunlit. She met his gaze with bright eyes and a dazzling smile. Then came the sound of "Natty."Joshua couldn't believe that Natasha's nickname was also "Natty". He stared at Natasha intently. It was as if he hoped to find something in her."Your silence is a sign of guilt, isn't it?" Natalie pressed further."Why do you feel guilty? Do you h
Last Updated : 2024-03-04
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He didn't know where this sense of loss came from, but it hung over Joshua like a low-pressure system and seemed impossible to dispel. His expression visibly darkened. Yet, he seemed to want to maintain his dignity and didn't want Natasha to discern his sense of loss. So Joshua pursed his lips, forcefully suppressing the feeling and putting on a blank expression. He seemed indifferent to Natasha's proposed condition."How about it? Does Mr. Grayson need more time to consider?" Natasha sat calmly in her chair, tilting her head slightly. She was confident this time that Joshua would definitely agree. Although she felt a bit uneasy about using Philip's life as leverage against Joshua, she believed it was the best option at the moment. Given Joshua's personality, using trivial things as leverage wouldn't pose any threat to him. Besides family members' lives, everything else was insignificant to him. She had no other choice.As Natasha spoke, her eyebrows furrowed lightly, and her
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As soon as Joshua heard Natasha mention there were conditions, he instantly had a bad feeling. Although Natasha didn't explicitly state the conditions, Joshua understood that they definitely wouldn't be easy."What conditions are you talking about?" He propped his chin up with his hand, looking at Natasha seriously.Natasha smiled and raised her lips. "What are the conditions? You should know."Joshua was slightly stunned. He knew what the conditions were?He furrowed his brows earnestly, trying hard to figure out what conditions Natasha was talking about.Could it be…"Are you trying to make it a condition to drive Natalie away from the Grayson Villa?" Joshua raised an eyebrow. Considering recent events, Joshua couldn't think of any other conditions.As soon as this was said, Natasha was momentarily dumbfounded.What was he talking about?Natasha tried to find a word to describe Joshua's thoughts, but after a long time, she couldn't bring herself to say it. Joshua's train of
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Natasha blinked her eyes. It seemed that Joshua was anticipating her rejection in advance."Since you can enter the Sullivan residence, your relationship with them must be extraordinary."It's not like people with Joshua's and Natalie's status could enter. But Natasha could, which undoubtedly indicated that she still had something to hide from him."Since you have this relationship with the Sullivans, helping Grandfather should be a simple matter."As soon as these words came out, Natasha sneered, "Simple matter?""Although I do have some connection with the Sullivans, it's not to the extent where I can freely arrange the Sullivans miracle worker's schedule."The position of the Sullivan's miracle worker is well-known. Since you are aware of it, you shouldn't say such things. You're overestimating me."Natasha was blatantly lying and trying to deceive Joshua."Someone with the status of the Sullivan's miracle worker would only save someone if he wanted to. If he doesn't have th
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As soon as Joshua said the name "Jacob", Natasha felt like her throat was being choked, and was unable to breathe properly.Her breathing became somewhat erratic."What's wrong? Do you know him or not?" Joshua spoke, narrowing his eyes. His pupils contracted, and he looked sharp and almost menacing.It seemed like any slight movement from Natasha couldn't escape his gaze."I…" Natasha began.She seemed a bit hesitant but also seemed not at all. Finally, she calmly spoke, "I don't know him.""Don't know him?" Joshua raised an eyebrow.He seemed somewhat incredulous, repeatedly confirming, "You really don't know him?"Natasha nodded, her expression very firm. "I don't know him."She looked somewhat puzzled, her tone confused as she asked, "Who is Jacob? Is he also from the Graysons?"Joshua stared at Natasha motionlessly, as if trying to find a flaw on her face.But Natasha remained calm. Her expression was very normal and without any flaws.Joshua stared for a long time. Eve
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"Please help us remove all these dishes and replace them with some new ones." Natasha pointed to the dishes on the table.The waitress was startled, instinctively asking, "Is there any problem with these dishes? Please point them out, and we will correct them immediately."Natasha smiled gracefully. "No, there's nothing wrong."It was just that these dishes accidentally touched Joshua's nerve."Is it because the dishes don't suit your taste?" the waitress continued to inquire."Not really." Natasha shook her head.Although, she hadn't even taken a bite. She didn't even know if these dishes were good or not.If Joshua's gaze hadn't been so intimidating, she would have tried them so as not to waste them.Next time, she had to bring Austin to try the dishes at this restaurant."So what's wrong with these dishes? We can convey your feedback to the kitchen, or we can replace them with new dishes for you free of charge. Would that be acceptable to you?" the waitress asked.The wait
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Joshua had been the president for a long time, and his whole demeanor was daunting, seemingly suffocating others with his pressure.Natasha sat in her seat. Even if she deliberately avoided looking up at Joshua, she could still feel the scalp-tingling sensation.His gaze was just too sharp. She couldn't ignore it even if she wanted to."Uh… Didn't you just say you don't like these dishes? Do you want them all removed?" Natasha awkwardly changed the subject."I'll listen and remove it now. I'll call the waiter in to take them away." After saying that, Natasha lowered her gaze and pressed the button on the table to call the waiter outside on standby.Joshua remained silent. His gaze fixed on Natasha without wavering.It made Natasha feel even more trapped.Her mind was already in a mess at the moment. She regretted that she had spoken too hastily earlier without thinking.She had never let slip of anything during her time in the Grayson Villa.What was happening now? Just a few
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She was trying hard to change the subject.But Joshua looked at the dish, his mind filled with the image of Jacob's face and the various rejections he had faced during his youth.This made him very uncomfortable."I won't eat it. Take it away," Joshua said coldly with disdain."This dish… actually tastes very good. You can try it. Don't have a prejudice against it." Natasha tried to calm Joshua's mood.But he clearly had little patience. He roared angrily, "Take it away!""I don't want to see this dish!"The sound made Natasha's hand tremble as she held the plate."Alright, alright, I'll take it away. Why are you so fierce?" Natasha bit her lip, took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her rising anger, and then withdrew the dish of delicious cheese curds."Then have some other dishes." She gestured to the several dishes on the table.But unexpectedly, Joshua's face turned even worse. His gaze swept over the dishes on the table, his brows deeply furrowed, looking very dissati
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Joshua's tone sounded casual and his expression indifferent, as if discussing something unrelated to him. Yet, it gave the impression that he was talking about his own affairs."Is it worth it?" Natasha murmured, repeating the question.Perhaps because Joshua exuded a melancholic air, Natasha stopped in her tracks and earnestly answered the question. "If this mother is willing to do it, then it must be worth it."Upon hearing this, Joshua looked at her, his melancholy seeming to deepen."Is that so? Do you also think that everything this mother does is worth it?"The sorrowful expression in his eyes seemed so thick that it was unbreakable.Natasha was surprised to see Joshua like this. She didn't understand why Joshua had suddenly changed."A parent's love for their child involves careful planning. Every mother who selflessly sacrifices for her child is great…"Natasha considered her tone carefully. "A mother who wholeheartedly loves her child would do this, wouldn't she?"Bef
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They were different people.In a flash, Natasha instinctively pushed him away.She stood up straight, her tone serious as she said, "Joshua, please behave yourself." Her gentle fingers brushed against Joshua's shirt, seemingly carrying her fresh fragrance with it.The sudden push caught Joshua off guard.Looking up, he found Natasha wanting to keep her distance from him as if he were a ferocious beast.This look even made Joshua doubt himself. Was he that bad to warrant such a reaction from her?Before he could come to a conclusion, Natasha had already picked up her bag, seemingly ready to leave."If Mr. Grayson has nothing else to do today, I'll be taking my leave first."Joshua's behavior just now caught her off guard.Anyway, from the looks of it, he probably wouldn't agree to a divorce.Since Joshua had made up his mind, it was pointless for her to linger here. It was better to go home and avoid hearing any more of Joshua's "seductive" words."Wait," Joshua called out
