<h4>Chapter 333: Come To Me</h4>
Natalie returned to her room after reaching the hotel, her mind still filled with everything that had happened during the event.
To rx, she took a nice bath and theny on the bed.
Feeling the need to talk to someone—especially about James Harper—she reached for her phone and dialed Justin’s number.
The moment he picked up, she heard his voice. "Had fun, <i>Mrs. Handrix</i>?"
Hearing him address her that way, a light smile formed on her lips.
<i>I keep forgetting that he is Aiden Handrix... and I am Mrs. Aiden Handrix.</i>
"Hmm, it was fun," she replied.
"So... my wife had another hidden identity," he mused. "First Carlie, and now Dew."
"I <i>should</i> bepatible with my husband, who has <i>his</i> fair share of hidden identity... Or should I say <i>identities</i>?" she countered. "Other than Justin Harper and Aiden Handrix, <i>who else</i> are you?"
"What’s the rush?" he chuckled. "You’ll find out sooner orter—just like I found out about <i>yours. </i>He paused before adding, "Though I <i>do</i> wonder... are there any <i>other</i> identities of yours I have yet to uncover?"
"Who knows?" she replied coolly.
"Let’s wait and see, then."
"Sure," she chuckled softly before shifting the topic. "The card you gave me... I didn’t even get the chance to use it. Your father paid for <i>everything</i> I got at the charity event. I couldn’t deny him."
"It’s alright. That was just <i>chump change</i> for my father," Justin assured her.
"But still... I mean, it’s not like he and I are <i>close</i> or anything. We’ve barely exchanged <i>a word</i> with each other, yet all of a sudden, he’s acting <i>like this?</i> It felt a little <i>strange.</i>" She hesitated before adding, "I thought he <i>didn’t</i> like us being together at all. But at the event... he treated me in a way that made <i>everyone</i> think he was spoiling me."
"Don’t think too much. My father is probably just <i>d</i> to have someone to spend on—there’s no one else in his life he can spoil like this," she heard Justin say.
"So... being rich has its <i>downsides</i> too, huh?" she mused. "Everyone around him is already rich, so..." She paused before asking, "When you were young, he must have spoiled <i>you</i> like this too. You must have spent <i>a lot</i> of his money."
In response, there was a silence on the other side.
"Justin..." Natalie called his name. "Umm...I must be wrong. As his only son, he must have been strict with you to not spoil you, right?"
She heard a deep sigh on the other end before he finally spoke.
"He allowed me to get anything I want, but I wasn’t a spoiled kid," he said. "I was... <i>restrained.</i> I never asked for more than the basic things I needed to survive. But even then, he still provided me with the <i>best</i> he could which I would always be thankful for. Once I grew up and started earning on my own, I made sure to <i>return</i> every penny I ever got from him."
Natalie fell silent for a moment.
Finally, she spoke. "I used to think I was <i>wrong</i> for feeling like you and your father were like <i>strangers.</i> But after hearing this... I <i>believe</i> it now."
"Strangers—but in a good way," he corrected. "We care about and value each other, but we have our own lives to live."
"If you returned <i>everything</i> to him, but you’re still leading the business he built... isn’t that <i>his</i> money then?"
"I only take what I <i>deserve</i> for my work in Harper Group. Not a single penny more."
"Then what about the <ivish</i> life you live which makes me feel like you own entire Harper group, All the resources you have? Do you really get <i>that</i> much from Harper Group for your work as an young CEO?"
"No. That’s <i>my</i> own money which I spent for what you think is toovish. It has <i>nothing</i> to do with Harper Group."
"Then where <i>does</i> that moneye from?" Her tone cautious.
Justin chuckled. "Acting like a sneaky wife trying to investigate her husband’s finances?" He added teasingly, "Don’t worry. Everything I have is <i>yours.</i>"
She let out a deep sigh. "You don’t <i>want</i> to tell me. Got it."
"Not over the phone, at least."
"Thene to me," she said in a challenging tone.
"I’m taking care of some important matters—otherwise, I <i>would</i> havee to you."
"You don’t miss your wife now that you’ve <i>already</i> gotten what you wanted from her?"
"Huh?" he reacted in surprise, his voice turning raspy. "Do you think spending one or two nights with you is all I wanted? I’m not even <i>close</i> to having what and how much I truly want from you. Just you wait."
She chuckled softly but tried to suppress it. "I <i>am</i> waiting. It’s <i>you</i> who’s taking so long. If you truly love me, thene to me. Now, good night. I’m sleeping."
And with that, she hung up—without giving Justin a chance to say anything.
----
<strong>Meanwhile, somewhere inside the hotel suite...</strong>
Justin stared at the phone screen, his expression unreadable.
<i>Natalie had just hung up on him.</i>
"I thought I’d give you time to get familiar with your father, so I stayed away," he murmured to himself. "But it seems like... you’re missing me."
Just then, Noah entered the study.
"What’s the matter?" Justin asked.
"Someone has been trying to dig up all avable information on Crayn Shaw and Miss Natalie," Noah informed him. "And it seems to be people from <i>Belvorn.</i>"
"Must be the Queen," Justin said without hesitation. "Everyone else already knows about Natalie and Crayn Shaw."
"Then...?"
"Let them find whatever they need."
Noah nodded, then heard Justin’s next words.
"Once things here are settled, prepare to leave for Belvorn."
"Yes, Mr. Harper."
But Noah hesitated, as if he had something more to say.
Justin leaned back in his chair. "<i>Shoot.</i>"
Noah finally spoke. "After how <i>displeased</i> Mr. James Harper was to see Miss Natalie at your home... what he did today was <i>unexpected.</i>"
Justin’s lips curled into a light smirk.
"You shouldn’t <i>doubt</i> his intelligence."
Noah studied Justin, trying to grasp what he meant.
But Justin remained silent, his smirk only widening.