Chapter 17: Ambiguous Shadows

Julian’s call followed immediately.

"Nala..."

He hesitated again, just as he had this morning.

Natalie gave him enough patience, waiting for him to continue.

After two full minutes, Julian spoke again: "Did Xavier go to see you?"

Natalie: "..."

Is

this

what he cares about?

In such a serious matter, this is his only concern?

In the video she sent, only Xavier’s wrist was visible, but he happened to be wearing a Jacob & Co. Astronomia Dragon watch worth tens of millions; the golden dragon body was unmistakable.

Natalie let out a sharp, angry laugh, then raised her voice, sounding deliberately "tea-like" and aggrieved: "It’s all my fault. If I had driven more carefully, you wouldn't have to worry about me, and I wouldn't have interrupted the beautiful night you and Miss Zhou were sharing in our marital home."

As she spoke, she sniffled theatrically twice, as if she were on the verge of tears. "Even if I'm poisoned to death by her, I can only blame my own bad luck."

"Enough," Julian interrupted her in a heavy voice. "I will personally go to Xavier for the video and hand it to the police to verify its authenticity. If it’s real, she will pay the price."

His tone was low and slow, but Natalie knew that when he spoke this way, he wasn't joking.

A click sounded, like a lighter being flicked. Julian continued, "Nala, we live in a society ruled by law. Taking a life is no small matter. No one, no matter how powerful, can escape the sanctions of the law."

Natalie curled her fingers. "Fine. I’ll wait for your news."

He seemed to want to say more, but Natalie had already hung up.

No one can escape the sanctions of the law.

The culprits behind everything—they won't either!

She waited until nightfall, but Hunter still hadn't returned.

The lawyer said the case was tricky; the police were conducting a full investigation, and he wouldn't be back today.

However, after twenty-four hours, he would likely be released.

Since returning to the country, Natalie had never been out of contact with Hunter for more than eight hours. She felt like she had lost her soul, wandering aimlessly.

Under high mental anxiety and having starved for the whole day, her vision began to blur.

After much thought, she decided to go out and find something to eat. She put on a hat and mask, fully armed, and left the hospital.

There happened to be a Japanese restaurant nearby.

After eating and drinking her fill, she finally felt somewhat alive.

But because she ate too much too fast, her stomach began to ache. Natalie hurried into a pharmacy, bought two pills, and swallowed them.

Just as she stepped out of the pharmacy, she spotted a man and a woman not far away.

The streetlights cast an ambiguous glow over them.

Looking at the shadows on the ground, the man had his arm around the woman's shoulder, his head tilted as if he were lost in a passionate kiss with her.

"Good thing you came to help me out, otherwise, I would have had to drink them under the table."

Xavier’s tone was slightly mocking. "Anyone who dares to force-feed the eldest Miss Zhou alcohol probably doesn't want to make a living in this city anymore."

His gaze inadvertently flickered to the left, and out of the corner of his eye, his vision locked onto the small figure hurrying across the street.

And the third Miss Zhou was waiting for her on the other side of the road.

Xavier’s brow tightened imperceptibly. Even when the eldest Miss Zhou took his arm proactively, he didn't look back.

This was the second time he had let her get this close; the last time was at the Zhao residence. Surprised and influenced by alcohol, the eldest Miss Zhou couldn't help but act spoiled: "Xavi, I drank a bit too much tonight and don't want to go home. How about..."

Xavier turned his head and looked at his assistant waiting by the car.

The assistant received the silent command and hurried after the small figure.

"I’ll have the driver take you back to Riverview Bay."

Xavier pulled his hand away from her, took a cigarette pack from his pocket, bit one out, and lit it.

As he tilted his head to exhale the smoke, he took a moment to check the situation across the street.

The eldest Miss Zhou rolled her eyes at him. "I don't want to go back to Riverview Bay."

Xavier looked down, exhaling a smoke ring, lazily stepping on his own shadow. "I have a morning tea date with your second sister tomorrow. It’s getting late."

At the mention of the second sister, the eldest Miss Zhou grew even more irritated. "My second sister only cares about work; she never dresses up and has no feminine charm at all. Her personality is even more rigid. If you marry her, there won't be any 'bliss' for the rest of your life."

Xavier looked over, narrowing his eyes slightly. The streetlights illuminated the coldness in his eyes. "If one hasn't tried, how can they know the flavor?"

For some reason, the eldest Miss Zhou grew frantic and grabbed the man’s collar. "Xavier, you listen to me.

I

am the heir to the Zhou family."

Xavier unhurriedly brought the cigarette to his lips and exhaled a cloud of blue smoke.

His gaze was flirtatious, but it lacked the necessary interest.

He flicked the cigarette ash, then pulled away the hand clutching his collar, still nonchalant. "I’ve always remembered what the eldest Miss Zhou said."

Chapter 18: You’re Too Weak

As soon as Natalie reached the other side, she saw the third Miss Zhou standing less than ten meters away.

Clearly, she was there for her.

They were on a street with few people; she doubted the woman would dare to cause a scene.

Unexpectedly, the third Miss Zhou took off her glove, stepped forward, and swung her hand for a slap.

However, it didn't land on Natalie’s face; she was bumped aside by a reckless passerby.

"Ah..."

The third Miss Zhou almost fell over, but thankfully her bodyguard behind her caught her.

Natalie instinctively took a step back, not forgetting to nod in thanks to the "heroic" passerby.

There are still many kind-hearted people these days.

Natalie said sheepishly, "Was Miss Zhou trying to hit me just now?"

Once she regained her footing, the third Miss Zhou walked over in her high heels, looking persistent. Her back was to the streetlights, so her expression was unclear, but the sound of her footsteps made it obvious she was furious.

Natalie kept backing up, planning to turn and run.

The third Miss Zhou suddenly stopped and spoke: "Miss Jiang, you misunderstand. I just wanted to ask when you’ll have time to pack up the things you left at Julian’s house?"

Natalie curled her lips. "I don't want those things anymore. If you like them, take them, or just have someone throw them away."

The things she left behind were nothing but items Julian had bought for her.

It wasn't that she didn't want to take them, but she didn't like the styles of those bags and clothes.

Julian had probably raised her like a little princess; most of the things he bought were pink.

But Natalie hadn't possessed such a romantic, girlish heart since she was a child.

"You really don't want them?" the third Miss Zhou’s tone was unusually gentle. "Don't you want to return to Julian’s side?"

Natalie was direct: "I don't like him, and I dislike the things he gave me even more..."

Before she could finish, a hand landed on her right shoulder, giving her a fright. Her elbow shot back with force as a reflex.

The person didn't dodge, only letting out a muffled grunt from the impact.

Natalie looked up and met those dark eyes filled with a hint of pain.

"...Ju... Julian?"

She scrambled to shake off the large hand on her shoulder.

"Why are you out?" Julian acted as if he didn't see the third Miss Zhou; his gentle gaze was fixed solely on Natalie.

Natalie felt her heart pounding, her mouth twitching. "I came out for a midnight snack."

"I’ll take you back to the hospital."

Natalie refused without a second thought. "I can go back by myself. Don't trouble yourself, Mr. Lu. Miss Zhou is still waiting for you."

With that, she didn't linger and bolted.

Once she was far away, the third Miss Zhou approached the man. "You heard all that, right?"

Julian tugged at his tie and said coldly, "I’ve always known she didn't like me."

The third Miss Zhou let out an angry laugh. "If you knew, then why did you marry her?"

He tilted his head and gave a small smile. "I thought she would eventually fall in love with me."

The third Miss Zhou: "..."

...

Natalie ran all the way back to the hospital, out of breath.

Her limbs ached, and she could barely stand. Once in the ward, she collapsed onto the bed.

She thought that after tonight, she had to leave the hospital as soon as her check-up was done tomorrow.

In a daze, she seemed to hear someone opening the door.

Just as she turned over, a glimpse out of the corner of her eye caught a fierce movement reflected on the white wall.

Natalie’s eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, she grabbed the blanket and rolled off the bed.

By the time she saw the intruder clearly, the knife swinging toward her had slammed into the mattress.

The blade flashed with a sharp light; she could only imagine how much it would hurt if it landed on her.

"I’m going to kill you to avenge my grandson!"

"I didn't poison him! Calm down..."

But the old woman gave her no chance to explain. The knife in her hand swung wildly, driven by the determination to kill her first at any cost.

Natalie was terrified; there was nowhere to run behind her.

The only option was to jump out the window.

But this was the top-floor VIP suite!

"Die!"

Natalie kept dodging, screaming at the top of her lungs: "Help!"

Suddenly, her back collar was gripped firmly by a hand, and she was pressed into a corner.

She truly couldn't understand how a white-haired old woman could have such strength. She closed her eyes in despair. "It wasn't me, it wasn't me..."

"Go to hell!"

"Ah!"

Natalie’s whole body shuddered.

But the expected pain didn't arrive. Instead, she heard a thud followed by the old woman’s scream.

She snapped her eyes open and saw the old woman had fallen to the floor, wailing.

"Julian!" She saw the perfectly ironed trouser legs and assumed it was Julian who had saved her.

Her gaze swept upward. "Xavi... Mr. Zhao, it’s you?"

She was kneeling on the floor, her face filled with lingering terror.

If her savior had arrived a second later, she would have been stabbed to death.

Xavier placed his hand casually on Natalie’s head, his downward gaze incredibly disdainful: "You’re too weak. You can't even beat an old woman."