Natalie was ecstatic. She stood up and carefully checked Mrs. Wilson''s condition again.


    Confirming that there were no major issues, she stood by the bed and said


    cheerfully, "Ma''am, I''ll be back tomorrow to talk to you some more. You have to wake up soon. They tried to frame me for your death. When you''re awake, I''ll help you take them down."


    Mrs. Wilson''s fingers twitched again.


    Natalie saw it and left with a happy smile.


    She went back to Herbert''s office.


    Seeing her return with a smile, Herbert put down his work, his own smile gentle. "Natty, from the look on your face, I take it there''s good news about Mrs. Wilson?"


    Natalie nodded excitedly. "Herbert, I was talking to her, and she started crying! Her will to live is strong. She''ll wake up soon, and then I''m going to make those people eat their words."


    But then she thought of Mrs. Wilson''s daughter, and her mood soured.


    Sophia hadpletely wormed her way into the girl''s life.


    Evelyn Carrington only had eyes for Sophia.


    Sophia was clearly ruining Evelyn, but the girl saw it as affection.


    Natalie worried that Mrs. Wilson would be heartbroken to learn her daughter only cared about Sophia.


    Her own mother only had eyes for her adopted daughter. The pain of that would be unbearable.


    Seeing her spirits drop, Herbert walked over and handed her a ss of warm milk.


    His young friend didn''t care for much else, but she always enjoyed a ss of warm milk.


    Natalie took it and sipped it happily. "Herbert, this is soforting. I should get going now. I don''t want to bother you."


    Herbert frowned at her. This girl wasn''t even going to stay for dinner with him. "You don''t want to stay and have dinner with me?"


    Natalie patted her full stomach. She was still stuffed and couldn''t eat another bite.


    Besides, it was still hours until dinner.


    She looked at Herbert''s gentle, hopeful expression.


    She smiled. "Herbert, it''s just after lunch, and dinner is a long way off. I need to go home and work on my designs."


    "As for the development of the intelligent treatment system, I was thinking we could build ab in the basement. You could start nning it out."


    "Once things at mypany are stable, I''ll join you in the research and development."


    Herbert was relieved to see her so focused on her career. He teased her with a smile, "Natty, when you''re not letting love rule your life, you positively shine content


    When she wasn''t lovesick, her eyes sparkled. This was the friend he knew.


    Natalie feigned annoyance and yfully punched him in the chest.


    "Herbert, you''ve never been in love, so you don''t know how wonderful it can be. That''s just how love is, isn''t it? Either you''re together forever, or you get your heart tom to shreds, Even though I was thetter don regret it."


    She truly didn''t regret the things she had once done willingly.


    What she regretted was not seeing the situation clearly, not recognizing their true natures.


    But it wasn''t toote. She was happy every day now.


    The joy of her newfound life and freedom was like a beacon guiding her forward.


    Herbert didn''t believe she had no


    regrets, but as long as she was safe, that was all that mattered. "You''re


    studies


    lucky you didn''t neglect your s while you were in fove you finished your master''s degree at our old


    professor''s insistence. You were his youngest and proudest graduate student."