Chapter 15: Now You Know I'm a Jerk?

The look Xavier gave her suddenly became more intriguing.

"I’m helping you, so naturally, I expect something in return."

Natalie knew he wasn't being kind for no reason. "Fine, tell me. What do you want?"

Xavier smiled and countered with a question: "What can you give me?"

Natalie was momentarily speechless. "..."

"How do you have this video?"

As if just realizing it, she wasn't even sure if the video was real. Bringing it to her like this might be part of some conspiracy.

"Suspecting the video is a fake?" Xavier saw through her thoughts instantly, his lips curling lazily. "You can wait for your experts to return and verify it for you. But for now, let’s talk terms."

His tone wasn't a request; it was a command.

Natalie felt uncomfortable—why should she follow his pace? "I don't need your video. With just a beck and call, Julian will definitely help me."

"Is that so? A beck and call?"

Xavier let out a very cold laugh. "Are you sure that you, alone, can compare to the bond of childhood sweethearts?"

He stood up, slowly taking off his stiff black suit jacket, leaving him in only a black shirt and sharp, matching trousers. He sat down on her hospital bed.

The distance between them vanished instantly.

Natalie quickly pulled her feet back to avoid his touch, staring at him warily. "They’ve been together for so many years and never married. There must be a major issue. Perhaps things aren't as perfect as everyone says."

She had a point.

"Besides, she has been acting reckless lately. I think that even without your video, Julian will eventually see her true colors, won't he?"

"Furthermore, I have no intention of remarrying Julian. Therefore, the evidence you hold doesn't have much value to me."

Unless he had the power to put her behind bars.

Clearly, he didn't.

Xavier narrowed his eyes. "Really? And here I thought you were playing the game of 'retreating to advance' to lure a man back."

Natalie’s lashes flickered rapidly.

In fact, she had considered it.

Retreating to advance was a necessity of desperation, but also a way to turn his own game against him.

"Regardless, for us, what's passed is passed."

The way she addressed him felt somewhat lingering.

Xavier’s lips curved into a wicked smirk, and he suddenly reached forward to grab her ankles.

Natalie’s face froze.

By the time she reacted, her face was pressed into the pillow, and her ankles were pinned to either side of the bed.

Amidst her shock, her hands were forced behind her back in the next instant.

From the corner of her eye, she saw him pull a restraint strap from his pocket and tighten it around her wrists.

Before she could scream for help, a large hand covered her mouth.

"Mmph...!"

Natalie bit down hard on his finger.

Xavier acted as if he felt no pain, leaning close to her ear to whisper intimately, "It’s been a while. Did you miss me?"

"How could I ever miss you... Mmph!"

Before she could finish the insult, his other hand clamped around her delicate neck, instantly seizing her life force.

He applied slight pressure, and her entire face flushed red.

Even with a constricted throat, Natalie forced out the words: "I was just playing around. Surely you didn't take it seriously?"

"I told you not to address me so formally."

Natalie: "...Oh, Xavier."

"Just playing around?" Xavier’s voice was very low, yet dangerous. "Is that so, Miss Joy?"

Hearing that name, Natalie clenched her teeth.

After a long silence, she forced a stiff smile. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Xavier gave a slight tug at the corner of his mouth. "That’s fine. I’ll make sure you know."

In an instant, Natalie’s mind was a mess.

Had he recognized her?

Had he known from the very beginning?

Whose side was he actually on?

His scorching hand pressed against her cold abdomen, and Natalie tensed up immediately.

A spasm shot through her leg, and the pain brought her close to tears. She almost thought her life would end here today. The deep voice sounded in her ear again: "Can't even last a minute, yet you try to lie."

Natalie turned her head away. "I don't know what you're talking about... You must have the wrong person. There are so many people with the same name, and plenty of internet celebrities who look alike. Don't go killing the innocent."

The smile on Xavier’s cold face was full of mockery. "Don't call me 'brother'; I don't have a sister."

Chapter 16: You’re Quite Confident He’ll Marry You Again

Natalie bit her lip and remained silent, trying to use the quiet to brush things over.

She hoped he would find it boring and stop.

Just as she thought that, the hand that had been pressing on her back moved to her face.

His long fingers were hard and strong, gripping her cheek without mercy.

The pain forced tears from her eyes.

Yet in Xavier’s indifferent eyes, there wasn't a hint of pity. "It seems you prefer the hard way?"

He spoke with a laugh in his voice, sounding as light as if they were discussing what to have for dinner.

Natalie’s speech was slurred by his grip, but her spirit remained firm: "You have the wrong person!"

"If you think you can torture a confession out of me, you can forget it!"

"Is that so?" Xavier arched an eyebrow. "How about you find a way to satisfy me? Perhaps then I’ll drop my suspicions about you."

Feeling the hand on her cheek slowly loosen, Natalie breathed a small sigh of relief.

She instinctively asked, "How do you want me to satisfy you?"

She saw the dark light shifting in his eyes and truly did not want to understand it.

The moment the question left her lips, she regretted it.

Only someone with something to hide would want to ease his suspicions!

Xavier lay down in front of her.

Natalie frowned deeply, an inexplicable tension rising within her. Combined with the physical stimulation he provided, she was nearly in tears. "This is a hospital. Nurses could come in for rounds at any moment. Let’s not..."

"If you're unwilling, then don't blame me for making your identity public."

Xavier wasn't falling for her act at all. His palm supported her waist. "It’s useless to deny it. People would rather believe it’s true."

His breathing grew slightly heavy.

With no prelude, it was nothing short of torture for Natalie.

However much pleasure there had been in the past, she felt only disgrace now.

Xavier forced her face toward him, making her look at him. "Divorcing Julian was just a temporary tactic, wasn't it? You’ll still have dealings with him as long as he comes crawling back to beg you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stubborn?" Xavier’s laughter was faint. "You’re quite confident that you can make him marry you again, aren't you?"

Natalie bit her lip hard.

Before the poisoning incident, she hadn't thought about it. Now, things were indeed different.

...

Xavier slowly put on his stiff black suit jacket, lazily glancing at the pitiful girl lying on the bed.

Pitiful as she was, she remained stubborn.

It was unexpected.

She always managed to surprise him.

From the very first time they met.

As he untied the restraints on her hands and feet, his hand brushed her trembling calf. He gave a silent laugh. "Are you that afraid of me?"

Natalie pulled her leg back.

Xavier turned and sat down, pulling her into his arms. His grip was heavy, but his voice was as gentle as water. "Do you want to know how Silas died?"

Natalie’s heart gave a violent shudder.

After being stunned for several seconds, she turned to look at him, her eyes vacant.

A look of mockery instantly crossed Xavier’s face. "Still stubborn?"

Natalie frowned. "You know?"

Xavier’s large hand pressed against the back of her head, his hot, dangerous breath right against her lips. "I was just teasing you."

Natalie’s lips trembled; she was so angry she couldn't even find a word to curse him.

He knew the truth about the suicide.

He must know!

Xavier pinched the flesh of her cheek, playing with it for a moment before getting off the bed. His tall, lean frame loomed over her. "If you don't want to die, stay away from Julian."

Natalie didn't understand. "Then why give me the video of the poisoning?"

Xavier scoffed. "Do you really think I’d let you take that video to Julian and beg for his pity?"

He told her, word by word, "You’re dreaming."

Natalie understood instantly; he was merely testing her attitude toward Julian.

What he didn't know was that when he opened the video for her just now, a hidden camera nearby had already recorded it perfectly.

Xavier tilted her chin up, capturing her evasive gaze accurately. But he didn't care, saying nonchalantly, "Remember what I said."

Natalie breathed a secret sigh of relief; thankfully, he hadn't noticed anything.

The hand on her chin slowly moved to the back of her head. Without any warning, he suddenly pulled her forward with force.

She nearly crashed into the metal buckle of his belt.

Clearly, if he hadn't shown mercy, her nose would have been broken!

Before Natalie could recover from the close call, even more outrageous words came from him: "If you want Hunter out sooner, then do as I say. Don't play the victim in front of Julian."

Natalie nodded obediently; no one could tell if she had actually taken his words to heart.

As soon as Xavier left, the first thing she did was send the recorded video to Julian.