Grace choked on her words, and before she could finish, tears began streaming down her face. She reached out, wanting to hold Natalie''s hand, but Natalie quietly moved her hand behind her back.


    Grace''s face filled with hurt, her tears falling silently. In the past, whenever she reached out, Natalie would immediately grasp her hands.


    But now, though Natalie didn''t show any outward rejection, her subtle avoidance was far more painful than an outright refusal.


    Natalie pulled out a tissue and handed it to Grace. "Mrs. Langley Senior, you''ve never truly cared for me, so why keep up the pretense? Aren''t you tired of acting?"


    "Nat, I don''t know where you got that video, but the person in it wasn''t me," Grace said, her voice trembling.


    "Mrs. Langley Senior, you can keep lying to yourself if you''d like."


    When Grace didn''t take the tissue, Natalie tossed it into the trash.


    "Mrs. Langley Senior, I gave you a chance. If there''s one thing I hate most, it''s deceit. I owe nothing to the Langley family. And tell Selena to stop trying to use her shameless tricks to manipte me. I''m not buying it.


    "The shares? I''ll return them. I won''t being back to Langley Group. As for my belongings left at the Langley residence, Mason will retrieve them for me.


    "When the timees, I expect you to cooperate and hand over my things.


    "Also, the losses Langley Group suffered due to Mr. Langley—whatever gaps I''ve filled, I expectpensation in cash from you."


    "Nattie, do you really have to go this far? Are you truly so heartless? Do you really not trust me at all?" Grace cried, her voice filled with despair.


    "Nattie, I don''t have many years left to live. When I saved you, I got hit by a car. It took me so long to recover, but now... Nattie, how did you be so cold?


    "Mrs. Langley Senior, I''m grateful for what you did to save me, but over the years, Victor and Diana neglected you. I was the one who cared for you.


    "My parents are already investigating the hospital switch from back then. They''ve warned me—you''d better pray the incident had nothing to do with the Langley family or yourself. Otherwise, be prepared to face the consequences."


    Natalie''s expression turned icy, her voice even colder. "You''re the one who raised me, Mrs. Langley Senior. You know better than anyone what I despise most and what I can never forgive."


    Grace''s tears flowed harder. After a long pause, she choked out, "But I''m just an old woman with not many years left.


    "Nattie, all I''ve ever wanted is for you to be happy, for you to live well. I gave you Langley Group''s shares at the beginning without ever intending to take them back.


    "As for the switch at the hospital, I truly didn''t know. If I had, how could I not have searched for my real granddaughter?


    "Nattie, I know you don''t believe anything I say now. But please, just pity me. Don''t cut ties with me, okay? Hearing you call me Mrs. Langley Senior breaks my heart.


    "Nattie, you''ve always been kind. I know you''re angry now, but you wouldn''t really abandon me, would you?" "Sorry," Natalie said. Her tone was calm, devoid of warmth. "Mrs. Langley Senior, let me remind you. I''m no longer soft-hearted, nor do I feel any kindness toward you or the Langley family."


    She continued, "You once taught me this—to those who harm you, repay them tenfold."


    Natalie stood up. When she cared for someone, she gave her all. But once her heart turned cold, she had no hesitation in cutting ties. She would reim everything that belonged to her, leaving nothing behind for the Langley family.


    "Mrs. Langley Senior, you''re old now. I won''t seek revenge on you. After all, we were once family, and you''ve been kind to me at times.


    "I''ll only take back what''s mine. Nothing more, nothing less. This is thest bit of dignity I''m offering us both. I hope you won''t disappoint me."


    Natalie''s tone was steady, each word precise and unyielding. She nced at Grace''s tear-streaked face, her heart utterly unmoved.


    With her message now delivered, Natalie turned and left without hesitation.


    As Natalie reached the door, she saw Victor standing there, his gazeplex as it rested on her.


    Her thoughts turned to the video she had received the one capturing the conversation between Victor and Grace. She also recalled how, over the years, Victor, while far from a loving father, had treated her rtively well in private. At least, far better than Diana ever did.


    "Natalie," Victor hesitated before speaking, his tone low. "I''m sorry."


    Natalie had expected anger or usations, but instead, he had apologized.


    "These years... the Langley family ves you an pology," Victor admitted, closing his eyes. His pression was a mix of pain and struggle. "I know Diana was wrong, but I''m not a capable man.


    "In my heart, I''ve always been partial to my biological daughter, Selena. So even though I knew Selena was ndering you, Diana was targeting you, and Grace was deceiving you, I still chose to side with my family." Victor''s eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse. "So your family''s retaliation against us, I think we deserve it. But Natalie, could I ask you for one thing? For the sake of the times when I treated you decently, please spare Selena."


    As he finished, he suddenly dropped to his knees before Natalie with a dull thud. "My mother doesn''t have many years left. Her health has been poor for a long time.


    "Selena suffered so much when she was out in the world. She''s not like a normal person mentally. She wasn''t a child raised with love; her mind is twisted.


    "As for Diana, her health was bad in the past. There were times we thought we would lose her. I''m her husband. How could I abandon her?"


    Victor''s voice broke, and his tone choked with emotion. "I know I was wrong to bring Selena to Langley Group, but I lost my daughter for so many years. She endured so much hardship and pain out there.


    "She wanted to enter thepany, so I let her. If it could bring even a little happiness, I would make it happen, even if thepany didn''t belong to us. Let alone the fact that the Langley Group is part of the Langley family.


    "Natalie, if you want to hate someone, hate us adults. Don''t hate Selena. She''s just a pitiful child."


    Before Natalie could respond, Mason stormed over and delivered a solid kick to Victor''s chest, sending him staggering.


    "Pitiful? You piece of trash," Mason spat furiously.


    Grabbing Natalie''s hand, he said, "Don''t listen to him, Nat."


    His voice was as sharp as he directed his words at Victor. "The Langley family must have a long history of ying with swords. Too bad you''ve mastered cutting people down instead of anything honorable.


    "In all my years, I''ve never seen anything as ridiculous as you people. What happened? Were the Langleys hiding in a cave when humans were evolving? Unbelievable. It''s like the world just keeps getting stranger, and you''re the living proof."