His gaze swept over them like a sharp blade.Just like that, the guests instantly turned their heads away.Joshua's glare was downright scary.Lydia couldn't help but mutter to herself, "They're just glancing at Natalie. He's way too doting on her."She'd never seen Joshua protect a woman like that before. Was Natalie really his first love?"Can't I be rich?" Natasha smirked. "So just because I have money to buy these things, it means I've been seducing men?"Natasha continued, a sly grin forming, "So, you think that if a woman has money, she's just spending men's money?"No wonder you're always mooching off the Grayson family and not working. It's because deep down, you think spending men's money is normal."You spend all day thinking about how to make desserts to please men, believing the happier you make them, the more money you'll get. Do you think there's any meaning to the way you're living?""You—" Natalie was boiling with anger. "I'm not like that. That's your mindset!
Natasha furrowed her brow as she glanced at the man.At first glance, he appeared rather ordinary, with an appearance that barely could be considered handsome.However, upon a second look, one could see the mesmerizing, wicked glint hidden in his narrow eyes.He gave off a sinister vibe, and the contrast between his handsome appearance and his wicked gaze was striking.Many wealthy families in Oceanville whom Natasha had met during her three years at the Grayson family flashed through her mind, but she did not recognize the man before her.Was he here to join the fun?Natasha couldn't be bothered with him. She withdrew her gaze and bent down a little to look at Lorelei."Lorelei, I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill your wish today. Please take care of your health in the future," she said gently.Lorelei was visibly conflicted, and after much hesitation, she finally said, "Tasha, why don't you sit down and finish your meal before leaving?"Natasha smiled faintly. "There's no need for
Although Natasha heard everything they had said, she was unaffected, feeling nothing but annoyance at the man before her.Yakov was about to speak, but Natasha interrupted him, saying, "I don't think I know you. Although I don't know why you're blocking my way, please move aside if you don't need anything."Yakov was unfazed. "Where are you going, Mrs. Grayson?"Natalie noticed the commotion on Natasha's side. She wondered why she hadn't left yet despite saying that she would.Was Natasha coming back? They had already kicked her out yet she still refused to leave.It annoyed Natalie greatly."What's it to you where I'm going? Please move aside." Natasha looked coldly at Yakov, her patience wearing thin."It seems like you were just in an argument. I wonder if you're leaving because of that?" Yakov looked at her."How is that any of your business? Are we even close?" Natasha corrected her initial impression of him.He was not a handsome man. He was nothing but a scoundrel."I'
As Philip had ordered them, the bodyguards immediately stepped forward and grabbed Natasha's arm upon Natalie's command.The guests nearby were startled. "What's going on? Did the bodyguard grab the wrong person?"Some even stood up, craning their necks to figure out exactly what was going on.Gossip spread like wildfire in all directions, and the elegant music in the banquet hall couldn't conceal the whispers anymore.A tall bodyguard rushed forward, causing even Yakov, who was standing nearby, to involuntarily take two steps back.Seeing them grab Natasha's arm, Yakov raised his eyebrows in surprise. However, after retreating, he merely stood there, doing nothing to stop the bodyguards.There was even a faint smile on his face, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking from his devilish eyes.The burly bodyguard grabbed Natasha. As he was rather strong, she couldn't break free even though she tried to."Natalie, what are you doing? I haven't even left the banquet hall yet,
The guests couldn't help but wonder where Natalie came from. Was there going to be a new Mrs. Grayson soon?Upon receiving the order, the bodyguards immediately grabbed Natasha, dragging her to the door.Their grip was incredibly strong, squeezing her arms tightly.Natasha's arms felt like they were on fire. It was as if they had turned swollen.Everyone around her stared, whispering and pointing.Natasha frowned.After enduring the strange, curious looks from the guests along the way, she was finally pushed and dragged to the exit."Can you let go now? We're already at the door," Natasha said with a faint smile. However, her gaze was cold.She wondered what Natalie had said that made Philip completely disregard the Grayson family's etiquette and have the bodyguard drag her away.It was quite an effective ploy.Natalie had stolen the limelight that day. Everyone in the circle of wealthy families in Oceanville would know her by now.Just like she had wished, she became well-k
"Did Grandpa really say that?" Natalie's voice trembled slightly due to anger.Automatically standing aside after blocking her blow, the bodyguard replied flatly, "I do whatever Mr. Grayson Senior instructs."Natasha couldn't help but sneer. It seemed Philip wasn't as terrible as she thought he was.Nonetheless, it was Philip who ordered the security team to kick her out of the Grayson Villa. Even if it wasn't terrible, it was still rather foolish.Natasha sighed lightly.But to Natalie, her actions were a display of triumph after a victory."Don't get too cocky!" Hatred was bubbling in Natalie's gaze. She made a mental note of this slap and vowed to make Natasha pay twice the price in the future.Hearing that, Natasha raised her eyes.Natalie's face seemed to contort with anger, her earlier arrogant and triumphant expression nowhere to be found. All that remained in her eyes was resentment and hatred.Natasha couldn't be bothered by whatever Natalie said.Instead, she turned
After she charged her phone for a while, it began to ring incessantly. She was receiving message after message.Frowning, she picked up her phone, wondering who would send her so many messages.Her gaze paused on the screen. It was Ryan.Why did he send her so many messages and call her so many times? Did something happen?Natasha hurriedly dialed Ryan's number, and the call connected.Before Natasha could speak, Ryan anxiously said, "Professor, you finally answered my call!"Ryan's voice sounded a little breathless because he was emotional. "You haven't been to the lab all day today. I've called you countless times, but you didn't pick up. I was so worried!"I thought something happened to you! I didn't know who else to contact to find out where you were."I called Mr. Lynch many times, but he didn't answer, either. Neither of you picked up, and it made me even more anxious."It warmed Natasha's heart. She couldn't help but smile. "What could possibly happen to me?""What co
"Then I'm hanging up," Ryan said cautiously."Yeah, do rest early," Natasha replied as she picked up her glass of water, taking sips from it.Suddenly, she heard noisy sounds from Ryan's end, along with faint, piercing car horns.Natasha furrowed her brows."Professor, you should go to bed early, too," Ryan said. He sounded like he was rushing as if something was going on at his end."Wait! Don't hang up yet." Natasha suddenly stopped him.Ryan's finger that was about to tap on the hang-up button paused mid-air. He held his phone tightly, asking, "What's wrong?"Natasha wanted to ask where Ryan was exactly. However, after some consideration, she decided to keep her questions to herself.Where Ryan was, why he hadn't gone home at this hour, and whether he was deliberately hiding something were all his private matters.She shouldn't pry too much.Natasha paused. "Well… since it's so late, and you're not home yet, don't reach the lab earlier than me tomorrow. Don't bother coming
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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