<h4>Chapter 230: Not The Reaction She Desired</h4>


    Mia’s parents, taken aback, were ready to stand up, but Morris stopped them. "Let her handle it."


    His father clearly looked displeased. "But..."


    "She had told me to take care of you, if something like this happened," Morris exined.


    "What do you mean, is she aware this was going to happen?" Mr Wilson turned angry, "Did they really steal? Even if she is my daughter, I would never..."


    "No father," Morris ced his hand on his father’s. "Don’t you know your daughter? Do you really think Mia can ever do such a thing, the one who rejected all the privileges from her wealthy family and resorted to the way of struggle?"


    "Not Mia, but what if Natalie?" Mia’s mother hesitated to say it.


    "We have known Natalie for so many years. So many things happened with her, but have we ever changed our options about her?" Morris asked.


    Mia’s mother shook her head. "That’s because we know....Forget it." Her mother sighed as she looked towards the stage, "Let’s trust these two like we always did."


    Mr Wilson somewhat calmed down as well and spoke, "If they are wrong, let them face the consequences of their own actions. It would be a great lesson for them."


    Morris didn’tment as he simply decided to trust Mia and Natalie.


    The hall had fallen into silence, the tension thick as everyone waited to see how Mia and Natalie would respond.


    While the guests looked puzzled or shocked, Natalie and Mia looked calm and simply looked at the woman standing below the stage, looking back at them with a challenging gaze.


    Dan stepped forward, addressing the woman politely. "Ms., I think there’s some misunderstanding. The perfume form was personally designed by Ms. Natalie and is already registered under Ms. Mia’spany."


    "I’m not mistaken," the woman snapped, her voice firm. "I have proof that this form belongs to me." She turned her attention to Natalie, her tone using. "I am Faye. I used to work under Ms Natalie as her associate at the Brown industries’ cosmetic department. This isn’t the first time she’s done this to me. Even before she used <i>my</i> perfume forms and imed the credit for herself. As her associate only, I could do nothing but ept my fate."


    Natalie raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into an amused smirk. Her calm demeanor only seemed to agitate the woman further.


    At that moment, Ryan and John brought a well-cushioned chair onto the stage, cing it beside Natalie. She gracefully took a seat, and John adjusted a soft cushion behind her lower back for addedfort.


    Natalie was not allowed to stand for long and given what’s going on, it was going to take time and she needed to befortable.


    "Oh, do continue," Natalie said nonchntly, settling into the chair. "Your name is Faye, right? Please, go on."


    Mia chimed in, "Too unfair for being just an associate. Do let us know entire story. Go on."


    The woman, Faye, faltered at Natalie’sposed reaction. Her confidence wavered as she suddenly found herself forgetting the next part of her usations.


    "Forgot your script, Ms. Faye?" Mia asked coolly, walking over to Natalie. She sat stylishly on the wide armrest of Natalie’s chair, her posture rxed.


    The audience, their eyes glued to therge screens broadcasting the scene throughout the hall, watched in astonishment. The poise and unbothered attitude of the two women were striking.


    Despite being publicly ndered in front of some of the city’s most powerful people, and during such a crucial event, neither Natalie nor Mia seemed the least bit shaken. The media, already live-streaming the scene, was sure to make this moment the talk of the town and no one from Mia’spany was stopping them.


    Breaking the silence, thewyer who had apanied Faye walked up to the stage. "I am Ms. Faye’s legal representative, Advocate Shawn," he announced, his tone confident.


    Natalie nodded toward thewyer, gesturing for him to proceed. He pulled a file from his bag and presented it. "Ms. Natalie, is this the form for your new perfume?"


    E, who was on stage, stepped forward to take the file from him and handed it to Natalie.


    Natalie opened it, her eyes scanning the contents briefly before speaking. "This is indeed the form for our new perfumeunched today."


    On the side of the stage, Nora stood stiffly, her face a mix of guilt and nerves. Even though she had confessed to Natalie about being ckmailed and forced to hand over the form, Natalie had insisted on going through with it. Nora still didn’t understand why Natalie had chosen to walk straight into what was clearly a trap.


    <i>I hope everything works out,</i> Nora thought anxiously. <i>If it doesn’t, I’ll never forgive myself.</i>


    ------


    Meanwhile, elsewhere, Justin sat across from the silver-haired Vincent, their discussion interrupted as Noah approached Justin with a tablet.


    "Ms. Natalie seems to be facing some trouble at the event," Noah informed him, his tone neutral.


    Vincent’s eyes flicked toward his own associate, who stepped forward and handed him a tablet as well.


    Justin and Vincent both looked at what was going on during the event and news channels were spicing up the things with various usations.


    Both of them sighed as if they had just wasted their precious time and handed the tablet back to their respective associate.


    "She can handle it herself," Both the men said at the same time.


    Both associates exchanged uneasy nces between their bosses, who had spoken in perfect unison, and then silently stepped back.


    "In short time it seems you’ve gotten to know her well," Vincentmented, his tone casual. "Or are you just toozy to go help her?"


    "What’s your deal?" Justin asked coolly.


    "I’ve trained her personally. I know her well enough to trust her," Vincent said with a smirk.


    "I share a bed with her. I know her more than just ’<i>well enough</i>’,"Justin countered smoothly, his gaze steady. "These kinds of games? Child’s y for her."


    Vincent sighed, rubbing his temples. "As much as I dislike you, I have to admit you’re right about that. Damn it."


    "I know my wife is amazing," Justin replied smugly. "Now let’s cut to the chase. Who are these people trying to harm Natalie? And why are you protecting her?"


    Vincent’s expression hardened. "Not so fast. First, you need to answer me this: <i>Who are you?</i> If the real Aiden Handrix—or Aiden Shaw, as I must call him—is busy protecting someone in the hospital, then who the hell are you?"


    Justin met his gaze without a flicker of surprise, calm and unaffected. Hisposure only seemed to irritate Vincent further.


    Vincent continued, his voice low and threatening. "If you’ve deceived her in any way, I swear you won’t live to see another day."


    Noah, standing off to the side, stiffened. His eyes narrowed at Vincent, his re icy. <i>Does this man even know who he’s threatening?</i> Noah thought. <i>He has no idea who he’s dealing with.</i>


    Justin, still calm, offered a faint smile. "I’d like to see you try."


    The tension in the room thickened, but both men remained seated, their gazes locked like two predators sizing each other up.


    Back at the event hall, tension filled the room.


    "See! She admitted it’s the same form she used for her perfume," Faye eximed, her voice sharp with usation. "She stole it from me!"


    Natalie calmly closed the file and fixed Faye with an icy gaze. "How do you even know it’s the same form I used for my perfume?" she asked coolly. "As far as I’m aware, it’s the first time we are presenting it to everyone and none of my guests here have even opened the bottles yet."


    Faye scoffed. "Does that even matter now? Just admit it! Like always, you’ve stolen my work and used it under your name. Back then, I couldn’t say anything because you were my superior, but now you’re no longer at Browns, and I have nothing to fear. I thought you only stole my work while I was under you, but I didn’t expect you to take it with you. How many of my creations have you stolen to use as your own?"


    Natalie’s expression didn’t falter. Her tone remained calm,posed, and cutting. "Not sure about the other ’works’ of yours that I didn’t approve because they were trash. But let’s talk about <i>this</i> work of mine that you im to be yours."


    "It’s not your work—it’s mine!" Faye spat, her voice rising.


    "Alright," Natalie said smoothly, "let’s assume it’s yours. Tell me, do you even know what kind of perfume this form creates? Or the scent it carries?"


    "Of course, I know!" Faye snapped, her anger bubbling over. "I created this form after investing so much time and effort! You’re just a thief who can’t stop pretending."


    "Sure, prove it," Natalie said calmly.


    Faye froze for a moment, thrown off by Natalie’sposed challenge. Regaining herposure, she retorted, "Of course, I’ll prove it! I can’t let you get away this time."


    Just then, John returned with a ss of juice with a straw in it and handed it over to Natalie.


    John and Ryan acted all ignorant to the surroundings, solely focussed on the one they needed to protect. Nothing else mattered but her.


    Natalie took a sip of the juice and looked at John. "It’s really refreshing."


    He offered a nod and stepped back while Mia looked at Natalie with a little pout on her lips.


    Natalie offered her the juice as well. Mia sipped it through the same straw as Natalie and said, "It’s indeed so refreshing."


    Natalie offered her a smile and had another sip, entire unbothered by Faye.


    It left Faye baffled. Feeling annoyed and angry at not getting the reaction she had expected from Natalie and Mia.