If he hadn''t agreed to Joanna''s n, Wendy''spany wouldn''t have been ruined, and he would still be living a happy life.


    "Wendy..."


    Wendy turned to leave but saw Natalie standing a short distance behind her.


    "Natalie," she called out in surprise.


    Natalie immediately turned to walk away. She hadn''t wanted to get involved in this mess, but she had stumbled right into it.


    Nathan quickly shouted, "Natalie, stop right there."


    Natalie turned back to him. "Do you need something?"


    Nathan strode over, his eyes stern. "Natalie, it was my fault for abandoning you. But your mother still owes five hundred million dors. Doesn''t your project stand to make that much? If you help your mother pay off this debt, I''ll get back together with her immediately. You know she''s only ever loved one man in her entire life. Can you really bear to see her suffer?"


    Nathan was trying to guilt-trip her.


    Natalie felt sick. How did he have the nerve?


    "Mr. Scott, I''ve already severed ties with you. I''ve repaid any debt for my upbringing. As for your shameless request, I''m afraid I''ll have to decline."


    “Natalie, do you want to see your mother—”


    "Who is my mother?" Natalie shot him a cold nce. "Mr. Scott, this is the path you chose. Hasn''t it even been a month, and you already regret it?"


    Nathan''s face turned ashen. He was deeply humiliated, wishing the ground would swallow him whole.


    But without money, he had no dignity to stand on.


    "Natalie, everyone makes mistakes. I know I was wrong. If you help your mother clear that five hundred million, I''ll remarry her-"


    "Nathan, don''t push your luck!" Wendy interrupted. "I''m the one who doesn''t want to remarry. Don''t you dare pressure Natalie! What right do you have to make such a demand of her? Did you raise her for a single day? Did you ever once take care of her?"


    "Nathan, you''d better remember this: Natalie owes you nothing. You will get what you deserve."


    Wendy''s heart had already turned to ash, but at that moment, it still ached.


    She said, "Natalie, don''t worry about my debt. Just live your life well."


    Natalie nodded. "Okay."


    Natalie went into the department store. Wendy watched her go, tears streaming down her face.


    Nathan lookedpletely defeated. Watching Wendy walk away, he was sick with regret, but it was toote.


    "Well, well Nathan, I never thought you could stoop so low. It''s only been a few days and you''re already back here, begging Wendy to fake you back Sophia said, looking at Nathan with a mocking expression.


    Nathan spun around to face her. "Sophia, where were youst night? Were you with Mr. Wilson again?"


    Sophia''s gaze flickered away. "I was at home sleepingst night. I didn''t go anywhere. I was sleeping in my room, Nathan. If you actually cared kn


    aboutme you would faive Knowint


    was home."


    Nathan frowned. "But you didn''te to our room to sleepst night."


    Nathan knew she was good at putting on a facade. He hadn''t seen it before, but now that they were living together, her true nature was on full disy.


    Before, he had been mesmerized by the beautiful future Joanna had described.


    He had wanted to shed his reputation for living off a woman, but he was wrong. That reputation had been sealed the day he married Wendy.


    Sophia was furious. “After all that drama, you expected me to sleep in the same bed with you?"


    Nathan was in a foul mood and had no energy to argue with her.


    He turned and walked away.


    As Natalie came out of the department store, she noticed that Sophia was still wearing the same clothes from the night before. Her eves narrowed Could she have been the one who attacked Mrs. Wilsonst night?