Diana''s expression twisted as she spoke, her hand tightening around the coffee cup. The server ced their drinks on the table, and Diana''s eyes darkened with hatred as she red at Natalie.


    She suddenly hissed, "Natalie, don''t me me for this. me the hospital for switching you at birth. You took Selena''s ce and lived a life offort with the Langley family for years. I hate you, I resent you, and I want to ruin you.


    "You won''t make it up to Selena until you''re suffering, until the world turns on you. Only then will her pain finally be avenged."


    Natalie stared at Diana with a calm yet unwavering gaze. Diana''s dislike for her had never been a secret.


    As far back as she could remember, Diana had taken every opportunity to punish her. Whether it was yelling, pping, or pinching her, Diana always found a reason tosh out.


    When Natalie was younger, she had no choice but to seek Grace''s protection. Grace would step in when Diana crossed the line, but eventually, Diana found ways to abuse Natalie in private.


    Over time, Natalie noticed Grace growing weary of constantly intervening. As a result, she stopped asking for help and learned how to avoid Diana instead.


    If she could not escape, she endured it. After all, once Diana''s anger subsided, she would have a few peaceful days.


    Hearing Diana''s words now did not shock her. Instead, Natalie calmly lifted the cappino in front of her and sshed it directly onto Diana''s face.


    The coffee was still hot, and Diana screamed in pain. "Natalie, you little bit—" Before she could finish the insult, Natalie''s hand struck her face with a sharp p. The sound echoed through the café, cutting off Diana''s words.


    Natalie pulled a packet of wet wipes from her bag and slowly cleaned her hands. Then, she took out her phone, having ced a call on speakerphone without Diana realizing it.


    "Hello? Mom, did you hear that? Diana, this bitch, has been abusing me for years. She mistreated me to avenge her own daughter." Natalie''s voice was cold and emotionless as she stared at Diana.


    On the other end of the call, Charlotte was seething with fury. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Natalie, I''ll take care of it.


    "I swear to you, if I don''t make Diana pay for what she''s done, I''m not worthy to be your mother."


    "Thank you, Mom," Natalie replied, her voice icy and detached. She ended the call and shed a small smile at Diana.


    "Sorry, Mrs. Langley. I''m no longer the girl who had no one to stand up for her. I have a mother who loves me now," Natalie said with calm authority.


    "You''re willing to sacrifice everything for Selena. Well, my mother is just as willing to do the same for me. This is a battlefield between mothers now."


    Natalie''s smile widened ever so slightly, her tone light but carrying a weight that left no room for doubt.


    "Natalie!" Diana gasped, caught between fear and outrage. She knew all too well what Charlotte was capable of. That woman was anything but ordinary.


    Natalie politely bid Diana goodbye, "Goodbye, Mrs. Langley." Then, she stood and left the café without looking back.


    Once outside, Natalie sent Walter a quick message. He replied that he had to return to Langley Group to handle urgent matters and would not be able to meet her for the time being.


    Natalie then called Mason. He informed her that he had already arrived in Amberton and was waiting at the Langleys'' old estate. She instructed Mason to wait for her before hailing a cab.


    ...


    After Natalie left, Diana sat frozen in the café, her face and hair sticky with coffee. However, what truly terrified her was the thought of Charlotte''s retaliation.


    She had always bullied Natalie without fear, openly expressing her hatred for the girl. But Charlotte was a different story.


    Diana shuddered, remembering Charlotte''s son, the doctor, who had once drawn her blood. The needle had been enormous, and the blood bag seemed bottomless. By the time the procedure was over, Diana had felt as though she had barely escaped death.


    Forcing herself to stay calm, she took a deep breath and called Selena. "Hey, Selena. I need you toe home right now. We need to talk."


    "Fine!" Selena was at a high-end mall, indulging in a shopping spree with Grace''s credit card. After buying onest designer coat and swiping the card again, she called for her driver and returned home.


    The moment they were back, Diana


    wasted no time exining the situation. "Selena, that little bitch,


    Natalie, is sending Charlotte to


    retaliate against us. I''ve been


    thinking about it, and our best option


    is to leave the country together."


    While getting cleaned up earlier, Diana had made up her mind. She never used to think much about blood transfusions. However, after experiencing how painful it was, she could not risk anything like that again.


    "If we go somewhere remote where no one knows us, Charlotte won''t be able to find us," Diana suggested.


    Selena, however, did not seem concerned at all. She lounged on the couch,pletely rxed. "Mom, if Charlotte wants toe after you, why not just fight back? What''s there to be afraid of?"


    "Selena, we can''t afford to cross Natalie''s family," Diana replied, frowning. Though she was not deeply involved in thepany, she had attended numerous social events with Victor over the years.


    At those events, Diana had seen the poise and presence of wealthy women far above her status. She knew Selena could notpare to those well-groomed daughters of elite families.


    Selena had spent too many years on her own and missed out on the proper upbringing and training those girls received. Marrying Tyler had been the best match Diana could arrange for Selena.


    Nheless, after the scandalous videos of Selena surfaced—and with Tyler witnessing one firsthand the Millers would not be so easily convinced it was fake.


    A seed of doubt had already been nted in Tyler''s mind. Even if he married Selena out of obligation, Diana knew her daughter''s future happiness would be at risk.


    Despite everything, Diana only wanted Selena to be happy. She exined, "Selena, I''m not afraid of Charlotte. I just think it''s wiser toy low for a while."


    "I''m not going anywhere," Selena said without hesitation. "Mom, the Langley family is the richest in Amberton. Why should you be scared of Charlotte?"


    She continued, "Look, we just won''t go to Dithoria anymore. This is our territory. You don''t have to be afraid of her if she dares toe here.


    "If Natalie wants to pit her mom


    against you, then fine-let them try. I


    believe in you, Mom. You''lle out on top. Dithoria, we were at a disadvantage because it was their home turf. But Amberton is ours-things are different here."


    Selena smirked, her confidence growing. "Oh, and guess what? Dad just bought


    out Kevin''s and Jack''s shares. He''s now thergest shareholder in Langley


    Group. Even Grandma will have to listen to him from now on."


    Diana remained quiet, lost in thought. Despite her fear of Charlotte, Selena''s arrogance and blind faith in the Langley family''s power left her both frustrated and oddlyforted.