Chapter 39: Tattooing His Name

Natalie gritted her teeth. "I'm heading back right now!"

It took nearly an hour for her to drive back to the First Mansion.

She hurried up the elevator, opened the door, and rounded the foyer, only to see the man sitting at the dining table, leisurely slicing a steak.

The air seemed to carry the scent of several freshly prepared dishes.

Before he could speak, she took the initiative. "The food is cold. Why did you come back so late to eat?"

She sounded like a resentful wife complaining about her husband’s late return.

He didn't look at her, his emotions unreadable. "It's all been reheated. If you're hungry, come sit and eat with me."

Natalie was indeed hungry. She pulled out a chair, but before she could sit, he spoke again. "Come sit on my lap."

She licked her lips, refusing to comply. "What, are other women unwilling to sit on your lap, so now you want me to? Well, I don’t want to either."

"I'll say it one last time. Come here."

He raised his voice slightly, devoid of joy or anger; he was clearly losing patience.

Natalie frowned, her tone full of defiance. "On what grounds!"

Her mouth was stubborn, but she moved toward him anyway—mostly because she noticed the exquisite small box sitting by his left hand. It surely contained those earrings he had bid a fortune for tonight.

So he hadn't given them to someone else; he had kept them specifically for her!

He leaned back to receive her onto his lap. As his arm circled her waist, he gave her hip a firm slap.

"Are you his dog? The moment he calls, you scurry right back to him."

The strike wasn't heavy—it didn't really hurt—but Natalie still felt a surge of grievance. "You're the one acting like her dog, yet I haven't even settled that score with you."

He let out a soft laugh, seemingly amused by the absurdity. "With which eye did you see me acting like her dog?"

Natalie frowned. "I heard everything they said. You liked her when you were younger and even chased after her."

"Don't listen to every rumor you hear," he said, emphasizing each word. "I never chased her. As for liking her, it doesn't even qualify."

Natalie curled her lip. "Not qualifying just means you liked her but couldn't get her, and you still haven't given up hope."

He marveled at her ability to misinterpret things.

Since she wanted to find fault, he wasn't about to let her off easy. "And what’s the story with you and him? Appearing before everyone as husband and wife... did you two reconcile behind my back?"

"When did it happen? Was it when you hung up on me the night before last?"

His face grew colder.

Natalie’s corner of her mouth twitched. She hurriedly wrapped her arms around his neck, softening her voice in surrender. "I was forced into it. He threatened me with the South District project. I had no choice."

"Forced, threatened, no choice?"

He repeated her words with heavy sarcasm. "So, even if he wants to hold your hand, hug you, or even kiss you, you'll 'force' yourself to accept it—just like how you 'forced' yourself to endure my 'torture,' right?"

"Wrong," Natalie denied immediately. "With you, I was the one who took the initiative at the start. With him, nothing will happen."

His voice sank. "You weren't proactive with him at the beginning? Also, you’ve been married for over half a year without any physical intimacy. Is it because in your heart, he deserves to be treated with respect, while I’m someone you can just trample on?"

Natalie: "............"

What kind of twisted logic was this?

Was it possible his first time had been with her too? Was that why he felt so stifled?

Finally, she reached a conclusion. "Have you been poisoned by her influence for too long?"

"She is her, and I am me. Don't mix us up. I don't even mind that you've had other women. I even gave my precious first time to you. You know exactly who is the one losing out here."

Having said that, she took the lead and kissed his lips. At first, it was gentle, but seeing no response, she kissed him more forcefully.

He didn't respond, but he didn't reject her either—just like their first time.

The more Natalie thought about it, the more afraid she became. After a moment, she pulled away and looked at him with a frown. "I'm coaxing you. Are you still not happy?"

"Does you coaxing me make me happy? Nanna, you betrayed me."

His eyes were now like sheets of ice.

He had warned her before his business trip, yet the moment he left, she went to the other house to stay the night. Tonight, she even appeared as the wife of another man in public.

She really wasn't afraid of him at all.

Hearing him call her by her old name, Natalie knew she was in deep trouble.

Before she could slip away, he grabbed her by the collar and pressed her down onto the carpet beside the sofa.

Natalie didn't know what he intended to do. She had prepared herself mentally before coming back, but she couldn't stop shivering.

As she turned her head, she saw him unbuckling his belt. The scene mirrored her dream perfectly.

She instinctively grabbed his calf, her voice trembling. "No, no... please, don't..."

He chuckled twice. "Don't what? Speak clearly."

"Don't punish me. I know I was wrong. I won't do it again..."

"No, you know you were wrong, but you'll still do it next time. Did you think that just because I wasn't in the city, I wouldn't know what you were up to?"

As he finished, the sound of the belt whistling through the air echoed.

Natalie flinched violently, repeating frantically, "I won't do it again, I promise. I was just forced... I didn't betray you, and I don't want to. I haven't done anything to hurt you. With other men, it's all just an act..."

"So, it's only real with me?"

His voice from above carried a hint of playfulness. Each time the belt descended, it struck the sofa, leaving a mark.

Natalie's body shook with every strike, terrified that he might accidentally hit her. She wouldn't be able to bear it.

She was so nervous she nearly bit his leg. Her teeth grazed his trousers, and she quickly pulled away. "Of... of course. My person and my heart are both yours. Otherwise, why would I have cooked for you?"

To prove her sincerity, she slowly raised her head, enduring her fear to meet his gaze earnestly. "Indisputably, I am yours."

The ruthless sound of the belt striking the sofa finally stopped. He pinched her chin. "How can I believe you're innocent? Think of a way for me."

Natalie racked her brain before coming up with one: "I swear!"

He let out a cold laugh. "Do you think I'm a child? How about this: I'll tattoo my name on you. What do you think?"

"Huh? Where are you going to tattoo it?"

Surely not where I'm thinking?

Natalie's face turned incredibly pale.

"What do you think?" He sat on the sofa and pulled a tool kit from a drawer. "Lie down. Let me see where would be a good spot."

Natalie lay down as instructed, her chest heaving. "Sir..."

His warm, dry fingertips searched inch by inch across her body for a suitable location.

Natalie's breathing began to grow heavy. Her heart rate hadn't slowed down since earlier; now it was completely erratic.

He was doing it on purpose. He clearly knew where he wanted the tattoo, yet he insisted on teasing her like this.

He gave a mocking laugh. "Don't worry, I won't give you any anesthesia."

Natalie couldn't believe he was actually going through with it. The pain made her break into a cold sweat, her fingernails digging into the sofa. "Sir, I want to ask you... why did you save me five years ago?"

"Were you sent by my brother? ...Ah! It hurts..."

He continued his work, his voice steady and slow. "Because I have the ability to foresee the future. I knew you would become my girlfriend five years later, so I saved you in advance."

"What kind of nonsense is that!"

Natalie was both angry and amused. "You approached me five years later clearly to get the benefits you wanted from my former husband."

His voice turned ghostly. "You have quite a few informants. Who told you that?"

Chapter 40: Reincarnated

Natalie had heard it from the lawyer's side. Not exactly an informant; she just happened to get along well with the lawyer's girlfriend.

At that time, they were going through a breakup, and the girlfriend had accidentally sold him out to Natalie.

Natalie frowned. "Was I wrong about you?"

He smiled nonchalantly. "If you say so, then it must be true."

"What does 'if I say so' mean?"

The pain of the tattoo exceeded her imagination. She gritted her teeth, but when no answer came, her voice began to tremble. "I didn't betray you, and I don't plan to. Considering I helped you tonight, don't torture me too much..."

Despite saying all this, she made no move to refuse him. He looked at her with interest. "Your awareness is quite good, and you have self-knowledge. However, I don't need you to stand up for me. Don't do that again. I won't be moved by it."

Natalie: "......."

She hadn't expected him to be so cold. A sense of total frustration filled her heart. "But I just can't stand people speaking arrogantly to you. You're my boyfriend."

He didn't fall for it at all. "In public, the master protects you. You don't need to protect the master in return."

Natalie sneered. "You just think our relationship can't see the light of day, don't you?"

All that talk about protection—he just didn't want everyone to see them getting too close.

He stopped replying. When a man is being ruthless, he usually doesn't say much.

Sweat and tears poured down Natalie's face.

She watched the clock on the wall turn slowly, every second feeling like a year.

It wasn't until one in the morning that the tattoo was finished.

Natalie looked down. His name was clearly etched on a private area on her inner thigh.

It was conspicuous and humiliating.

Satisfied, he carried her into the bedroom.

"No more..." Natalie pushed him away weakly, her eyes welling with tears. "I really can't. The tattoo site hurts so much. I... how about I use another way?"

He had been pinning her down, but he shifted and cupped the back of her neck with his large hand. "You said it yourself. Don't disappoint me."

Natalie leaned down and kissed his Adam's apple. she felt him tremble noticeably. Then she gave a light kiss to the tip of his ear, biting it gently. "After the cliff fall, where did you go?"

"Don't get distracted."

"What if I insist on knowing?" Natalie looked at him seriously. "Think of it as telling me a bedtime story. Just a little bit every day, okay?"

No matter how cold or hard a heart is, it would be melted by this soft young girl. But he was the exception: "I went to be reincarnated."

Natalie glared at him. Unable to get any information, she felt a bit dejected and simply buried her head in his chest.

He looked down at her with hooded eyes, his expression virtually unchanged.

He was used to restraint and endurance. Sometimes, the version of him people saw was merely the one he wanted them to see.

The phone tossed carelessly on the bed suddenly began to vibrate.

Natalie hadn't even finished her task when she heard him answer the call.

She tried to pull away, but his hand pressed down on the back of her head, making her continue.

Natalie was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear.

"You have something to say?"

His tone was very cold. "Go to sleep early. Don't overthink things."

He listened to the person on the other end, his expression showing some impatience. After a moment, he said, "I'm going to sleep. Save it for the family dinner tomorrow night."

Seeing him hang up, Natalie felt a surge of relief. He didn't seem to be the type of bad man who enjoyed sharing such things with others.

He tapped her head with his finger. "She's having a spat with my brother. She called looking for comfort."

Natalie froze. Was he... reporting to her?

Hadn't he said their relationship wasn't one of equals?

After everything was over, she went to the bathroom. Just as she finished cleaning up, the half-open door was pushed open.

He walked in, looking relaxed but imposing. He gave her a lazy glance and began to undress. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

He was tall with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His muscle lines were firm and smooth, but harder than those of a gym rat—pure, functional power with quick reflexes.

Natalie shifted her gaze away and said, "No."

She left first and lay in bed listening to the sound of the shower. She fell asleep before he even left the bathroom.

The next morning, Natalie woke up and groggily sent an email to the elder brother.

As she rolled over, she unexpectedly bumped into a mountain.

A warm mountain.

Natalie's eyes snapped open.

---It was him!!

He actually hadn't left last night?

He didn't see me sending that email just now, did he?

It was quite a thrill to "betray" him right in front of his face.

The sleeping man turned over, squinted his eyes open, and pinched her cheek. "Why not sleep a bit longer?"

Natalie asked tentatively, "My alarm went off. Didn't you hear it?"

"No." There was a hint of confusion in his eyes, but a scrutiny hidden beneath.

Natalie felt incredibly guilty.

His lips curved slightly in a casual manner. "I was just dreaming."

"What did you dream about?"

"I dreamed of a fire. I watched the flames grow higher and higher. The heat hit my face, making my eyes dry and painful."

Natalie grew interested. "Then why didn't you run away?"

He rested his hand casually on her waist, his voice low. "I wanted to walk into the fire to hold her."

Natalie was stunned. "Did someone stop you?"

He nodded with a pained expression.

Natalie reached out to touch his head, but he grabbed her hand.

Unexpectedly, she met his dark, unreadable eyes.

He didn't look pained at all.

Natalie's mouth twitched. "I was interpreting your dream for you. Dreams reflect the subconscious; it helps you understand your recent state of mind."

"Then in your opinion, how is my recent state of mind?"

Natalie sat up and said seriously, "The person who stopped you from seeking death... she definitely wants to save you. And your subconscious is telling you to cherish her."

He raised an eyebrow, a smile seeming to play in his eyes. "Are you talking about yourself?"

Natalie blinked and took her phone to the bathroom.

At 9:15 AM, Natalie arrived at the office. As she entered, she saw the boy already sitting on the sofa eating breakfast. He said, "If the elder brother finds out you did this on purpose, will he come after you?"

"It's better than having the younger brother find out I betrayed him." Natalie closed the door, set down her bag, and took the iced Americano he offered. "Neither of them is a good person; you can't afford to offend either one."

"True." The boy nodded in agreement. "What's his purpose for keeping you around? Did you find anything out?"

Natalie spread her hands. "No."

Maybe he's just addicted to sleeping with me?

She guiltily looked away.

Half an hour passed, and as expected, the elder brother acted. News spread everywhere.

Public opinion was reaching a peak.

The younger brother received a call from the elder brother. "Need help? At a time like this, as long as I say a word to Dad, it's nothing. As for the partnership, as your older brother, I'll do my best to help you."

The air was silent for a moment. The younger brother gave a muffled laugh. "I believe that with you around, today's cooperation will be very smooth."

The elder brother said, "Of course. Your name is Zhao; we're brothers in the same boat. We share the hardships."

The younger brother checked his watch; fifteen minutes left. "Fine. I'll just wait for you to clean up the mess for me."

After hanging up, there was a knock on the office door. An assistant walked in and said formally, "Mr. Jin from the partner's side will arrive in five minutes. All reporters and media are in place. The signing ceremony can begin on time."

The younger brother took his suit jacket from the back of the chair and put it on leisurely. He nodded. "Let's go down now."

At 10:15 AM, the signing ceremony began on time.

Natalie watched the video of him. He was tall and imposing, still dressed in all black, with the aura of a lone wolf—a ruthless edge that suggested he wouldn't tolerate any intrusion.

The ceremony went smoothly.

The partner even solemnly explained the news released that morning in front of the reporters.

The boy clicked his tongue. "Well, that's great. We basically helped him use his brother to spread the news. Now the media is advertising it everywhere; he's made a killing."

Thinking back, the elder brother might even think Natalie and the younger brother had teamed up to play him.

Natalie shrugged, repeating her earlier thought: "Maybe the information we found on his computer was fake to begin with."

The boy had seen through it all. "You're on his side, aren't you?"