Chapter 11: I Only Have One Name

Natalie closed her eyes and repeated, "We are finished. Please let me go."

Xavier’s expression returned to a cold solemnity. "Are you going back on your word?"

Natalie: "Yes, I regret it."

Did he look... indignant?

Xavier stared at her coldly with a gaze that could kill. She didn't flinch, but after a long stalemate, she felt exhausted.

Unable to hold herself up, she collapsed.

He caught her in his arms, letting her rest in the crook of his shoulder while he smoothed her messy hair.

Natalie heard the powerful rhythm of his heart and didn't dare move, not even to breathe too heavily.

Neither spoke. The silence was terrifying. After a while, she saw the car stop by the river.

The night was thick. When she looked up, she met his descending, dark gaze.

Calm, but scrutinizing.

Natalie looked pale. "What is it?"

The driver got out to keep watch. Suddenly, they were alone in the car. Xavier spoke directly: "Did you lie at the mahjong table?"

Natalie was baffled. "Lie about what?"

His tone was like an interrogation, making her very uncomfortable. "You tell me."

Natalie was sitting on his lap. Through the thin layers of fabric, his scorching heat was searing her skin, making her restless.

They were so close their lips were almost touching. His warm breath, tinged with a hint of wine, clouded her face. The atmosphere was delicate.

Natalie shifted uncomfortably, her eyes showing anger. "You betrayed me first."

Xavier’s tone was gentle yet mocking. "You’re just a child with unformed values."

Natalie: "..."

She wouldn't stand for that. "You say my values are wrong? What about you? For your goals, you were willing to be a homewrecker..."

Meeting his icy gaze, she couldn't bring herself to say the last word.

She understood the principle of leaving a way out for others.

"I never said I was a good person," Xavier said candidly. "You don't need to be afraid; I won't sell you out."

She felt it was strange. "I don't hold a grudge against you for that. You got what you wanted from Julian. If we are in public again, please don't act like you know me."

Xavier found it amusing. "I wasn't talking about that."

"No?" Natalie thought, surely he couldn't be annoyed that she was on good terms with Mrs. Zhao? "Then what?"

Xavier’s large hand gripped her waist and pulled her back. "Do you think Julian didn't do a background check on you before you got married?"

Natalie remained unfazed. "Why mention him? We have nothing to do with each other anymore."

"Even if he didn't, his aunt and the Lu family—would they let a woman of unknown origin marry in?"

"What?" Natalie sneered. "Is Mr. Zhao very interested in my origins?"

The cabin was dark, and his eyes, merging with the night, seemed to see right through her.

Xavier let out a sharp laugh. "How is it that I’ve never heard of the prominent Jiang family having such a young daughter?"

"Who I am is none of your business. It’s not like you’re going to marry me."

"And how do you know I won't!"

How do you know I won't...

Natalie’s fingertips curled instinctively.

A hint of playfulness appeared on Xavier’s lips, but his words shifted in the next second. "We’re alone here, Nala. Can you tell me your other name?"

Natalie said decisively, "I only have one name."

"Really?" Xavier looked at her tenderly. "When Nala lies, these beautiful eyes of hers tend to open very wide."

Natalie remembered that day—it happened to be Halloween. She had dressed up, and later her face was covered in dust.

He shouldn't have seen what she really looked like.

If he had recognized her from the start, he surely would have teased her about it.

He likely knew very well that the Jiang family didn't have a daughter.

Stunned for a moment, Natalie raised her voice. "I have this reaction whenever I’m angry or afraid. It seems you don't know me well enough."

"Nala isn't being a good girl at all."

As he spoke, Xavier tapped the car window, and the driver returned.

Xavier ordered, "Go."

While starting the engine, the driver reported, "Someone is following us."

A light instantly ignited in Natalie’s eyes.

When she was grabbed and put in the car earlier, she had no chance to call Hunter for help.

However, that light was quickly extinguished.

Under Xavier’s signal, the driver accelerated sharply.

Chapter 12: You’re Not Allowed to Mention Breaking Up Again

The car roared onto the road, continuously overtaking others.

Natalie’s heart was in her throat. She sat on Xavier’s lap, held tightly so she wouldn't be thrown aside.

But she still instinctively gripped his shirt. "Are you crazy? Stop! We’ll get into an accident."

Hunter was highly competitive. Abroad, he had been a death-defying racer; he wouldn't let this go!

Her panic stood in stark contrast to Xavier’s indifference. "Don't you like excitement?"

"When did I ever say I liked it!"

Natalie’s brow was knit tight. Through the window, she saw Hunter’s car appearing periodically. Seeing they were about to collide, she shut her eyes in terror.

It drew a light laugh from Xavier.

Natalie let out a scream.

Xavier touched her head and complained, "So noisy."

In shock, Natalie opened her eyes.

Thankfully, there was no collision; it seemed they had lost Hunter’s car.

The car reached the elevated highway. The neon lights from outside made the man’s profile look increasingly heartless.

He wasn't panicked at all; he clearly trusted his driver immensely.

Natalie bit her lip. The arm circling her back was so tight it felt like it would crush her bones.

She pleaded pitifully, "Please, I’m begging you."

Xavier coaxed her in a low voice, "Nala, be honest with me, alright?"

Natalie bit her pale lips. "I’m injured. I was in a car crash last night. I was unconscious on the spot and slept for the whole night."

The emotion in Xavier’s eyes was shallow, showing almost no ripples. "Injured and still playing mahjong? You really have quite an addiction."

His casual reprimand sounded so cold.

Natalie was filled with disappointment.

Leaving the highway, the car began another round of overtaking and chasing. Natalie was tossed to one side. Waves of dizziness washed over her. She bit her lip, trying to stay conscious.

Xavier rolled down the window. Cold wind poured in, but his words were even more chilling: "Nala, can you quietly tell me your other name?"

The wind was strong, making it hard for Natalie to keep her eyes open. she opened her lips, wanting to say:

Are you planning to make me tell the whole world?

In the end, she wasn't sure if the words came out. Her eyelids grew heavier, and even the deep voice in her ear began to blur: "You’re not allowed to mention breaking up again!"

...

When she woke up again, Natalie’s nose was filled with the familiar scent of disinfectant.

The person sitting by the bed saw her wake up and called her name in a very soft voice: "Nala."

Natalie frowned, struggling to open her eyes. "...Did CEO Lu take a wrong turn?"

She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was exactly three in the morning.

At this hour, he should be in the third Miss Zhou’s bed, or at home, or at the office—anywhere but here.

Julian’s brow was knitted in worry. "After such a big accident, why were you still running around?"

Natalie hurriedly pulled her hand back from his grip. "Even if I run to the ends of the earth, it shouldn't bother you, CEO Lu."

Just as Julian’s fingertips were about to touch her cheek, Natalie quickly turned her head away. "CEO Lu, we are divorced!"

Julian’s hand paused, and he had no choice but to withdraw it.

"Nala, even if we are divorced, we are still family. No matter what happens in the future, you must tell me. Don't make me worry."

Natalie wondered if she had misheard. She turned back and, through the thin lenses, met those pitch-black eyes.

This elegant, upright man was different from the Zhaos. He was undoubtedly the perfect spouse in the eyes of many wealthy socialites.

Natalie had heard that before their marriage, Julian had only dated the third Miss Zhou. People in the circle said he was a practical, long-term, and devoted man.

She just couldn't quite read him.

Natalie’s mouth twitched with a meaningless smirk as she mocked him. "Isn't CEO Lu ruining his reputation by acting like this?"

"Hardly." The corner of Julian’s mouth hooked up as if he didn't care. He tucked her in and, caught her off guard, leaned down to plant a light kiss on her forehead.

Natalie: "..."

Before she could react, Julian had straightened up. His long, beautiful fingers tapped the thermos sitting to the side. "The servant at home made some soup for you. Drink it when you wake up."

Natalie didn't know what to say for a moment.

When they first got married, Julian said she was as thin as a rail and would sneeze at a gust of wind. He had specifically hired a senior nutritionist and a traditional doctor to improve her health.

In less than two months, Natalie had not only put on some weight but also fixed those minor health issues. Even her painful periods had become much smoother.

Hunter was leaning by the window, biting a straw, watching the whole scene without a word.

Once Julian left, he spoke gloomily: "So, Mr. Lu likes to play the 'pure love' card."