In her past life, spoiled by her grandfather and Owen, she had been blissfully naive. That was why she had thrown herself so passionately into a new family and a new love. But human nature is a cold, fickle thing. She finally understood the old saying: nothing is colder than a human heart, and nothing is cheaper than affection.


    Ate apology is worthless. Something that has been broken can be glued back together, but the cracks will always remain. The Scott family and Sebastian-she would rather have never met them at all.


    That night, Natalie was once again tormented by nightmares of her past life. In the dream, the attacker was carving into her face with a knife, drop by drop, then dripping a powerful chemical into the wounds. The corrosive acid burned so intensely that she fainted again and again, her body convulsing in agony even in her sleep.


    "Hah..." Natalie''s eyes flew open. Sunlight was streaming through the window. She grabbed her phone and immediately called Queena.


    "Natalie, you should sleep in. I''m almost at the airport," Queena''s voice came through, warm and reassuring.


    "I''m so sorry, Queena," Natalie said, feeling guilty. "I overslept. I didn''t get to see you off." The nightmare had held her in its grip all night.


    "Natty, don''t worry about me. Wayne is dropping me off. I''ll be back before you know it."


    Hearing that Wayne was with her made Natalie happy. "Okay, Queena. Be safe over there, and call me if you need anything."


    "Of course," Queena said cheerfully. "You''re my only friend. And Natalie? The future will be better. Don''t be so sad."


    Natalie knew Queena must have heard her cryingst night. She managed a small smile. "Okay." After a few more words, she hung up.


    She didn''t try to go back to sleep. She got up, got ready, and drove off. It was time to see Zenobia.


    Zenobia on a small


    Natalie found Ze


    ind in the south. She arrived as


    the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over everything. The ind was beautiful and serene, and Natalie felt a sense of peace settle over her. She took the ferry with her car and then drove another twenty minutes to Zenobia''s oceanfront vi. Zenobia''s family was wealthy, but she herself was incredibly hardworking. While her parents and brother ran the family business, she had worked her way up at apany in her field to gain experience. This ind was the site of a new tourism project she was managing.


    Since bing pregnant, she hadn''t wanted to see the Scotts, so the Nelson


    family had simply packed up and moved away.


    When Natalie saw her, Zenobia was


    just finishing a meeting. She was nearly eight months along, her belly round and full. She had filled out a bit, but the gentle, genuine smile on her face was the same as always Zenobia had been about to go for a walk on the ind and grab some dinner. The moment she saw Natalie, her face lit up, and her eyes welled with tears.


    "Natalie, is that really you? I''m not dreaming, am I?" It had been nine months. A


    whole nine months since they''dst seen each other.


    Back when she first joined the Scott


    family, Natalie had been closest to


    Zenobia. No matter how much Joanna tried to stir up trouble, Zenobia had always been the one believe her. And because of that, Jerome had always viewed Zenobia with suspicion, thinking she was no good either. He had been the one who was blind, yet he thought he


    was so righteous.


    Natalie''s own eyes grew misty. It had only been nine months for Zenobia, but for Natalie, it felt like a century.


    "Zenobia," she said softly, "it''s me."