Natalie copsed onto the bed, and the fever came back.
Her phone lit up with two messages from Felix. He was trying to exin.
"Natalie, do you like the shoes I designed for you?
"I rushed Mabel to the hospitalst night because I was afraid her old condition might return. Don''t overthink. I''ll finish work early ande home for dinner."
Even his lies feltzy and half-hearted.
After reading it, she just felt her love meant nothing.
Later that night, Felix suddenly went crazy and dragged her downstairs.
"You hired someone to rob Mabel and stayed here like nothing happened?" he shouted.
Natalie pointed calmly to the bandages on her head.
"I have five stitches here and got a mild concussion. Do you think I can hurt her in this state?"
Felix looked at her pale skin and the bloody gauze. His heart ached.
Mabel cried softly nearby.
"I was going to return the jewelry, but right after I stepped outside, I was attacked. They said your name while they were grabbing me. Why would they do that?"
Felix''s expression darkened. He shoved Natalie on the couch.
"Mabel has always been honest and kind! What excuse do you have now?
"Since I proposed to you, I promised we''d still marry. So why do you keep going after her?
"Haven''t I treated you well all these years?"
Natalie felt like her chest was splitting open.
Mabel''s lies were obvious, and there was no proof at all, yet Felix still believed her.
After the car crash, Felix had been in aa for two months. When he woke up, he changed. He became moody and unstable—sometimes crying, sometimesshing out.
It was all because of Mabel''s betrayal. But he had forgotten that.
To make Mabel jealous, Felix gave Natalie an illusion of happiness for half a year, and she foolishly stayed by his side for more than six years.
When his father nearly had him admitted to a mental hospital, she still stayed by his side, even with her head injured and covered in blood.
She studied psychology just for him, helped him through his episodes, acted as his support, and kept his moods steady.
But he had forgotten it all.
After all that pain, he seemed to think that a fake promise of marriage would make her feel content and grateful.
Natalie sneered. "Just say it-what do you want?"
Felix didn''t like how she was acting. His expression turned colder.
"You hurt Mabel. Either apologize or endure what happened to her. Pick one."
Mabel wiped away tears and spoke softly, "Felix, that moment scared me so much. If you hadn''te, I don'' know what would''ve happened. Please don''t let Natalie experience that.
"Just make her design my wedding rings, okay?"
Natalie clenched her fists tightly, and her ss-cut palms began to bleed again.
She didn''t even notice. Staring straight at Felix, she asked, "She wants me to design her rings. Are you fine with that?"
Felix couldn''t meet Natalie''s eyes, but he still gave in to Mabel''s whining.
That night, after sending Mabel home, he returned for the first time.
He even brought Steven to treat Natalie''s wound and change her bandages.
She ignored himpletely as if he weren''t there.
Felix wasn''t mad or upset. Instead, he patiently coaxed her.
"I know I haven''t treated you right thesest few days. Mabel just came back. If you gave her a
vel
nce, you''d see she''s pretty easy to get along with. fo
"I''ll make time next week to visit your
ments with you. Since we''re , I''m sure you''d want thing
sto
blessings."
His voice was gentle, just like it used to be before Mabel showed up.
But Natalie was tired of listening to fake kindness wrapped in sweet words.
She faced away from him and stayed wide awake the whole night.
As Felix left for work the next morning, Natalie had already packed.
She ced three things on the bedside table and asked the maid to tell him.
She left him a sunflower-shaped diamond hairpin, the engagement ring he once gave her, and all the texts she got from Mabel.
She brought nothing but her ID.
She would leave everything behind and forget everything that had happened.